I kept my eyes closed, my body relaxed, and just listened.

There was nothing to listen to. No faint chirping, no leaves rustling. Nothing.

I snapped my eyes open, instantly regretting it as bright lights filled my vision, blinding me. 

I hissed loudly, clawing at my…wait.

Claws… Where were they?

After a few moments I squinted my eyes, looking down to see…a hand? 

What the fuck.

I looked around, seeing nothing but bare, white walls. I was on a mere mattress on the floor, that being the only thing in the room besides the big, heavy metal door. 

What was going on..?

I looked down, seeing….legs?

I was frozen in place, my eyes darting from legs, feet, arms. I reached up after a few moments, gripping onto thick, tangled hair.

What the actual fuck…

I snapped my eyes open as I saw a small red light flicker on in the corner of the room. It was a camera, small and almost unnoticeable. I stared at it, feeling the rumble of a growl vibrate through my chest. 

I didn't know what to think. I didn't know what to feel. Everything felt so…surreal in a way.

Suddenly I felt anger. I told myself…promised myself I wouldn't allow anything like this to happen again. How could I have been so stupid? IT WAS JUST A DOG! My nails dug into my thighs as I grew more worked up, before I jolted.

“Hello there Dakota.” A voice came from the camera. 

Who is Dakota? Who was the voice? Where the hell am I? What happened?

I sat there quietly, staring at the ground as I got overwhelmed in the tsunami that was my mind at the moment. Suddenly the voice spoke again.

“I know you must be confused, or scared, but you're safe here. This is your new home.”

New home? I didn't like that. I let out another growl, this one louder than the last.

The voice didn't speak again after that.

I was left to my own thoughts, trying to piece together the jumbled bits of knowledge I had, but it was hard to put together a puzzle with missing pieces…

My body ached and my head throbbed.

Finally I stopped my racing mind and focused on one question. 

What happened to my body?

I frowned, closing my eyes as I focused on raking through my brain.

Suddenly a low growl rumbled through my head. 

I opened my eyes, being met with…myself? 

No…not me. Not right now at least…

“What's going on..?” I asked it, my lips remaining sealed shut as I spoke in my mind.

It heard though. I knew it did.

It studied me with its pink eyes for a few moments.

“You shouldn't have killed him.” Was all it said, its voice a deep rumble.

I wanted to be confused. Really I did. But I knew who it was referring to. 

“The man..with the weird device..?” 

It didn't respond, slowly turning towards the door. “They're coming. You won't be able to-” 

I stood, angered. “We said we wouldn't let this happen again!” I knew everything wasn't it’s fault, but I needed someone to just listen…

It looked back at me. One would say its eye's were the same as always, but I knew now…they were ones of sadness…

“I'm trying my hardest. They…they gave us something. I don't know what it was, but we're stuck like this until it wears out…” It said softly.

My eyes softened before I approached it, kneeling down and wrapping my arms around its neck, digging my fingers into the thick feathers on it's back.

“Just relax…i'll try to figure out who they are. You need to rest, save your energy for when we find a chance to get out of this.” 

It didn't say anything, slowly wrapping its massive tail around me.

Suddenly I blinked, and I was still sitting on the mattress, in the bright, white room.

Soon the door slowly creaked open…