My long nails wrapped around the old wooden boards of the train tracks buried amongst layers of grey gravel. The steel beams running either side were boiled under the sun slowly cooking them and my own body. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdR7jyLOOBE
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0YBnt4Lqx
The sky was clear, as it had been for a week now, with not a grey cloud in the sky. It was the perfect temperature too. The air was cool but not cold enough to freeze me or hot enough to choke me. It was pleasant to idle in on my wander to the house in the distance. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs51eHAWRBt
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRkySXreWn
I kept my eyes locked on the tracks running as far as the eye could see through overgrown fields of grass that rippled like water in the breeze. My pace turned to excited running and my heart gripped at my chest when I saw a flash of orange and blue emerge from the house in the distance. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vXWnvQHF6
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSvjPTnReC
I bounded over the river and paused on the other side where people were moving across the empty road to the shops lined either side. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9br29A9R4
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I was in clear sight of them now. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizF9RdYI48
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNTAYNJaXT
"Soup!" the tiny voice blew on the breeze to catch my attention again. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6T5toqAem
It was so faint, but it was the sound I was waiting for. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRWnA19NIa
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERf6dCatcw
A portly man approached the tracks as quick as his waddling body allowed, placing distance between us so he could squint in the direction of the house. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnb9UZuZEyE
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoXOSFSufN
He was the news agency owner here. His balding head with a halo of grey hair and leathery skin once roughed by laborious work in his youth was easily distinguishable. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgt8n8f9n7u
His corner-shop was only a few meters from the tracks so he could have the time to waddle out each afternoon I made my appearance to make himself known. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TxTPL09jt
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFvU8f2o06
I used to call him Bartleby. He preferred Bartie.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkEtMaDVTq
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZnPZHyWsG
"MISSY!" Bartie cupped his hands around his mouth before pointing them to me "you've got to stop feeding the beast!" 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JJuLq4v6L
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8yXr8y5MT
I snickered at his concern and walked past Bartie before he cleared his throat to halt me. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFwoG5JKQ5
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYnv6PjRRO
"You be good to her, Soup, you hear?" he scowled and waved a finger to me "I'll know if you do anything to her!" 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9K67ARSbN
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQozGGo2kym
He had no reason to worry so much. It was the same empty threat he had been giving me for three months straight now. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhec0Wwi3T
I just shook off Bartie's concern and raced for the woman waving for me to come. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMjSQ7nosD
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmK2BOLt919
I was smitten with her. She was so kind and had this wonderful light voice that was rougher around the edges. She had the most adorable freckles painted on her face and a lovely round body that she liked to swamp in knitted jumpers or flowing dresses she made. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XRqyf4ePT
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZia9aRdH0
When her features began to form on the figure bobbing closer into focus, I grinned wildly and pushed myself to sprint for her laughing face bent down to search for me through the sea of grass. I swam through it to break through to her open gate held back for me. Her scooter was heaved back into its stand here too. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuzSWCBxwD
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlVn3Z6uIb
Missy stood on the wooden stairs to her porch hugging the front half of her little wooden home. It was a very cost place made entirely of old wood painted in a muted green. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uxfyfBrWv
It had herbs growing in the windows glimpsing into her sewing room in the left where she had spools of fabric hung on the wall next to her machine and dotted cloth mannequins. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexqUmlM95R
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKBQoMxFce
Her right window had parts of her kitchen on show. I had peered into it a few times when I had been too eager to wait, watching her cook on her gas oven nestled within stone countertops while she shooed me away with a smile. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDl7AAgSY7
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqcF98ZNC7
Missy had the window wide open to waft out the smell of the food she had been cooking. The rich beef spiralled around the earthy tones of stock and tangy herbs freshly plucked from her windows. I could smell the carrots and buttery pumpkin I knew were harvested from her garden nestled out the back. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80Ch1H7sHb
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPmLISXB0u
That's how we had met. I had been raiding her gardens at night before she caught me and chased me off. After a few nights of futile attempts to stop me, and several vegetables left discarded in my escape, she started offering me her leftovers before it became proper meals. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkKS8pERA5
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAVdaZlPpk
She didn't know what to call me, so she called me Soup. It was her favourite thing to feed me, and the easiest on her budget made selling homemade dresses. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bTpm8QTv6
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UZxOXTkEB
"Soup!" Missy cooed down to me waiting at the bottom of her stairs "I missed you! I'll grab your food. I think you'll like it today." 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzn2vvjYdbJ
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wUZYn2fEF
I liked how her voice rose excitedly when she saw me. It sounded like she was greeting a lifelong pet dear to her heart. I didn’t mind that; I was just glad she loved me so dearly to put this much effort into caring for me. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1P1DrV7RWm
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcOPZRp5L1
"Beef soup with my own vegetables and the local meat. I cooked it with teriyaki before putting it in" Missy exclaimed as she returned carrying two stone bowls and carefully placing one down on the grass for me. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsBr4PYIuw
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLudwWqEF27
My mouth was watering when I saw the mixture of colours beside me. Steam spiralled from the fresh meal Missy set down so she could fan out her checkered blue and white dress to sit on the stairs. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolMV6paVR5
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UBRa9NhiW
She cradled her soup in her lap while I blew onto mine to try and cool it enough to scoff it down. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9v7w0u3VjB
My stomach was begging for the hot meal that little birds and discarded rubbish along the roads could never satisfy. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdcBSc49yt
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVI9NBr4Cu
"Thank you" I grinned to her and wrapped my hands around the hot bowl so I could lift myself onto my legs and drink it down. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwDhlklSUz
Soup spilled down my chest to burn trails down my skin before I could swipe then up. The chunks of beef were chewy and wedged between my teeth. The bitter teriyaki coated all its layers to bring out the meaty flavour. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZudnAhVCar
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSqgyc2sGg
It was the cheap meat again. I don't think Missy could afford anything like the ones that fell from the bone or had soft marbles of fat throughout rather than thick coats. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakmtjBXGH8
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dN0UHg4fa
She grinned and watched me try to keep my balance as I felt the meal burn a new hole in my stomach that growled for more. My legs trembled, not used to being so relied upon when I had all four of my limbs to power me effortlessly now. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtma2vluAO
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCk8hDDojzV
I placed the bowl beside her and lowered myself back down. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEf7Po6bJ3g
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSK3ukeKVdg
"More please" I pointed.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLRhOPvCyJ
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPU4ZWjVzN
She couldn't understand me but smiled like she had. All she heard were the same noises I did whenever I spoke in this form. It was just a mixture of growls and low snaps that I preferred to keep quiet, so I didn't scare her. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVXivAsEe5
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCfobbZI01
Missy liked it when I talked to her, and I liked it when I made Missy happy. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8J1oiHfI4z
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wAslx4r0l
"You're hungry today" she mused "did I not feed you enough yesterday?" 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJUGQHHyiq
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdn47hp5YW
I just smiled and watched her retreat back inside, leaving her bowl on the stairs. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIw2cskWPx6
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdD9hwRYnW
Missy was the type of person I would grow old with as a human. I often let my mind wander to what we could be if I hid behind my skin again as a human and tried to form a relationship with her in this home built for two. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIaGceIQRk
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EX1IIU4fJ
Despite having a sunny personality and being loved in town, Missy liked her quiet life. She didn't want her heart to be broken or taken advantage of. She was worried she was too poor to ever please a man or mother children. She hated that she was too scared to reach out and form those connections. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL25oVbhLHu
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTcXQHPbQK
She liked me because I was an animal to her. I had no commitments other than one hot meal a day. I wasn't going to make her sad or upset her simple lifestyle with big ambitions. I didn't drain her trickling budget or offer anything outside the trinkets of lost belongings or junk I presented her with. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKiruAtlEV
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCo5fMyeKYJ
I didn't want to ruin that. I kept in this form and didn't dare to try and act on my daydreams of being accepted into her life as her partner with open arms. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiSB7AFE26
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwCItZDdsX
I ate my soup and accepted her new name for me that spread through the town. It was simple and the way things were. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGSe8iihT2
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYf2aMKpvk
"Here we go!" Missy returned from the house along with two slices of crusty sourdough she had pushed into the bowl "buttered it for you too, you greedy guts. I'm surprised you didn't eat mine." 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkA1oblzMH
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4I0CEofvz1
I was lucky to have her. She was too kind to be so afraid of life itself. Missy deserved more than it was handing her.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwZN3WUOML
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIqmRlaJ2V
I took the filled bowl to drop one of the slices of bread into her own before shovelling this one down greedily. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqzQtM9TZr
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVihbBonUiU
I could feel the warmth of it leaking down my front from the inside and bubble in my gut gurgling from so much liquid drowning it at once. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNUuAd50rz
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKp8nh1Rvz
I snapped down the tough meat, licked the bowl, then headed back for the wall of grass awaiting me. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLf3QFiQsP
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzMFF9tSj3
"See you tomorrow?" Missy called out with a worried frown. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bLiYyUcBc
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcVfo1PX5P
Of course, she would. I would never leave her wondering where I had gone. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBPF9ZeYUG
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4qFU39JlX
I nodded and disappeared into the grass to follow the train tracks back to the East. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcjCwfZZ8v
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyy1BkNOr2C
I stared up at the moon nestled in amongst the glittering stars from my grassy ledge curved over several meters from the tracks behind me. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmLadrr3Ny
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6I1Ahr9lJK
The field surrounding me was dancing with wildflowers that stirred at the touch of glowing fireflies blinking through the air like showers of floating embers. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiWRDgvIRr
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiHATE4QS1
They flitted like fire in the cool air and amongst the flowers. The fireflies reached for the stars themselves and I watched them ascend to the dusted void above. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3ykyvCVaT
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aYQ0HwbVA
It was so peaceful here with only the moonlight basking over the land. There was no artificial glow of streetlights or the sound of cars screeching on tar. The only sound piercing through the silence was the scraping of metal as the train thundered by on its nightly route to distant towns. Each lit window slashed over the grass below, reminding me of the loud and bright reality amongst the dark serenity until it was gone again. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuWnD6CAXF
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UQrL5Rnrd
One day I might go visit those places. For now, I had my reason to stay here. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtHhyhvYhd
I wonder if she just stopped to stare at the beauty of the moon too. Maybe she sewed in her room while wondering about things beyond her reach like I did? 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXFR7DDofj
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9hAxmEwPs
I smiled at the moon and laid back, so I didn't have to take my eyes from it. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3uDXk4Dgs
The soft grass would be my bed tonight. Usually, I roamed for food or trash on the roadside for several kilometres to try and salvage something until sleep sapped my energy and I collapsed wherever I was. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EHPoZQm3i
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYr3OI0FBxW
The moonlit field of fireflies would be nice tonight. I could wait until Missy gifted me with her wonderful food tomorrow. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRg5b4cbcE
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3ao9afo86
I curled up with my hands wrapped around me, pretending they were hers cradling me and breathing warmth into me. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWm28GCYNIx
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6CCF6uPF0
One day...
Penana
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