Gwen saw four armed men enter the gas station store from her spot in the trees. They were wearing masks so she couldn’t see their faces, but she definitely heard the gunshots that rang out. She watched as they ran out of the store, followed by four beams of light that struck the thieves in the back. They all crumpled to the ground as sirens blared and flashing lights appeared down the road.

The scene unfolded before her more as people left the store. She watched as a woman ran to her car and left before the police arrived and as a man left the back of the store and dove into the woods. The branch she sat on swayed in the wind and she dug her claws into the bark. In squirrel form, Gwen could go pretty much wherever. Squirrels were common animals in the area and were mostly tolerated by the population. There were a few crazies who tried to run her over but for the most part she was safe.

She watched as the police, EMS, and firefighters came and taped off the area while escorting people out of the store and getting each person’s story on what had happened. Gurney’s were brought for the deceased and a woman was brought out with an oxygen mask on. She sat up on her gurney, surprising Gwen in her perch and also, it appeared, surprising the man who was wheeling her out.

The squirrel girl watched everything until she grew bored. Scurrying down the tree, Gwen quickly transformed into herself and started the walk home. Across the street and down a quarter of a mile sat an apartment complex where the girl lived. She had wanted to stretch her limbs earlier and found that a quick run to the gas station did her good in animal form. 

Cars drove past her as she walked along the road. The loose gravel shifted under her feet with each step. She had made this walk many times since moving into the apartment and felt perfectly safe on her journey. The cars lights shone in her eyes but they all stayed their course. She watched as one after another drove by, leaving her alone in the twilight, until the next car came down the road.

A bigger vehicle with bright headlights was coming towards her, when she noticed it was coming much faster than the others had. It grew larger with each second until Gwen could see the red paint covering its surface. The truck veered towards her as it got closer. She stood petrified. Without thinking Gwen felt herself shrink. The truck drove over her and away, then quickly turned around and came back.

The opossum that now lay where Gwen stood, sauntered away from the road and made for the woods that ran along it. It scurried as fast as it’s legs could manage and crawled under the first bush it came across. The red truck pulled over along the road and two men in black suits got out.

They searched the area where Gwen had been and then walked towards the woods. The opossum made its way deeper into the woods, trying its best to keep quiet in the underbrush. She could hear the men behind her, snapping twigs and pushing aside branches. Gwen hadn’t quite mastered her power and her fear caused her to stay trapped in whatever form she was in. She would have loved to have turned into a snake or a fox, but the opossum would have to do for the time being.

She climbed a tree and watched the men make their way past her. They both had a gun and a flashlight. In their ears, she could see little ear pieces that must be feeding them information. They walked past and disappeared deeper into the woods.

Knowing that she wouldn’t get another chance, Gwen climbed down the tree and scuttled back towards her apartment. When she had gotten far enough away and gained control of her emotions, she transformed into her human form and ran for the building. Pulling her key from her pocket, Gwen unlocked her apartment and dove in.

She ran around the room stuffing necessities into a bag. The men would come looking for her apartment next and she couldn’t risk them finding her. She needed to run.

Gwen packed a backpack and ran out the door, locking it on the way out. She raced down the stairs and peeked out the door. When she found that the coast was clear and that the red truck was still down the road where the men had left it, Gwen took off in the other direction. When she transformed, her clothes and the things in her pockets melded to her body and became apart of whatever animal she was turning into. She had never tried to transform with a bag and she prayed she wouldn’t have to find out.

Without a car, Gwen knew she wouldn’t get very far. She also was feeling very uncomfortable out in the open. Seeing the woods as the only viable option, the girl ran into it again, sticking to the edge that held enough protection that she would barely be seen but also so that she could do some seeing. Being ambushed wasn’t high on her priority list.

Gwen felt like she had walked miles. The sun had completely vanished and the moon was high. There were times when she thought she heard a noise or someone behind her or of a helicopter, but nothing came of them. Feeling as if she walked far enough, Gwen found a bush that concealed her bag effectively. Seeing it was perfectly hidden she transformed into a skunk and crawled into the bush and slept without fear of being found.

The sun rose before Gwen woke up. She noticed a shift in noise that brought her out of her slumber. The skunk that she was opened its eyes gingerly and smelled the air. Birds were chirping and the forest seemed more alive than it had the night before. There was no longer any silence and Gwen knew she would need to go to work or risk being fired. 

The girl crawled out from under the bush and grabbed her bag, walking down the road to the nearest bus stop. Reaching the stop, she took a seat and waited nervously, expecting one of the men to appear out of nowhere to take her god knew where. Her mother had always said that her power would get her into trouble someday, she had just prayed that day would never come. 

The bench under her grew hard as she waited and people gathered around her, hoping to catch the next ride into the city. The bus could be seen coming down that road and people began to jostle as they got their money or bus passes ready. Gwen reached into her bag and grabbed her pass, feeling the smooth edges and finding security in the piece of plastic. 

As the bus came to a stop in front of them, the crowd surged forward, pushing past each other. People clambered on and took seats near the front, forcing Gwen to walk to the back. She found her seat beside an elderly woman and looked ahead trying to remain invisible. A ding went off as the bus started to move forward and the frightened girl let out a breath. This was comfort. This was safe. The bus moved along its journey until her stop came up. 

Gwen walked to the front and took a step off of the bus, smiling and thanking the bus driver who merely nodded. The feeling of concrete under her shoes and the sounds of the city filled her with hope that maybe she was safe for another day. Groups of people walked by and Gwen turned towards the coffee shop she worked at, only to find the street blocked off. 

Men and women in uniforms walked beyond a barricade that was set up, restricting the flow of traffic and people. Gwen stared at the coffee shop, another place of security and turned the other way. They had to know that she worked there and had come to get her. 

Gwen walked and turned into an alley where she leaned against the wall trying to control her breathing. They had found her. She didn't know who they were but they knew who or what she was. Finally making up her mind and clearing her head, Gwen made a quick decision: She would run. With her ability she could stay hidden for a long time and then maybe they would lose track of her. 

The girl dropped her bag to her side and shoved as many valuables as she could into her pockets. She didn't know how much would meld to her body but she had to try. Thinking instinctively, Gwen felt her body begin to shrink in the chaos of the city around her and a rat soon took her place, running for a grate and to the sewer.