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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Y9E6zj9Z0
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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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tpJVpBLIo
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GmuYxccjy
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAI0AaM6cy
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0hjq0yI9B
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIXBhCLc8M
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I was in clear sight of them now. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcOHY1mZGJ
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"Soup!" the tiny voice blew on the breeze to catch my attention again. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCZsoeaCXM
It was so faint, but it was the sound I was waiting for. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1OVZzzARj
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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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhGNGHifT7
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmHOvvAif2
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLF7rnvVnT
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4FNE0l1qd
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I used to call him Bartleby. He preferred Bartie.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9n2MUKBVX
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrmllTr5nk
"MISSY!" Bartie cupped his hands around his mouth before pointing them to me "you've got to stop feeding the beast!" 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYOS2EMtSV
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBEAqFVQrE
I snickered at his concern and walked past Bartie before he cleared his throat to halt me. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarbrPrzqhN
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJbR4yr9oj
"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!" 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBp7nQ3Xq5
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVE3TkFFF9v
He had no reason to worry so much. It was the same empty threat he had been giving me for three months straight now. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJI913Btpul
I just shook off Bartie's concern and raced for the woman waving for me to come. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSozCNBj5M
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwlZeFZC21
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsQPoVQUwm
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86GdXyaCBj
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNamYkdCCT
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliCEgUYQpy
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8OdIuSI2H
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPmMA76HkD
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OOIJaZySA
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXpHK8jTV4
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9OQ3aNdfO
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2cpZDIy6r
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUVODYLpMB
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdX1BdBEeIh
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJqgiTKl7L
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8ZEmGH77K
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYiauqJ2Gz
"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." 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PHWO03CZT
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhTfiEF33O
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5tWJ1qDkR
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc069Pqc5sv
"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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GFAfVj3sh
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIpT2erso4
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLpiHnMJTH
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LTKixGctS
She cradled her soup in her lap while I blew onto mine to try and cool it enough to scoff it down. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4z4rOKMdh5
My stomach was begging for the hot meal that little birds and discarded rubbish along the roads could never satisfy. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7V3reCmZ1s
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUSn61ePgC
"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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyc2IF1R9SQ
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZX8y9TXOu
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBD4gMoo1PG
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzG5mT6koHQ
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHz5DhTs8Y
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57vVxiv7Ta
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I placed the bowl beside her and lowered myself back down. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZECfPJELGI
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"More please" I pointed.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtq085v3ZVq
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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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PjHK9wALm
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb94bJTP4Sf
Missy liked it when I talked to her, and I liked it when I made Missy happy. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdOV0emliK
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsL2qs0eY40
"You're hungry today" she mused "did I not feed you enough yesterday?" 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GOrx8W5GS
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSU1NbMfroK
I just smiled and watched her retreat back inside, leaving her bowl on the stairs. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWKyKec8ti
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33h6uPgKNA
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlZDUiGrem
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJEiaC6RUG
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡed9VCqpmLJ
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3s0ppA0Vl
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQ8hpnFf0b
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVd92ixST9v
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7s7xzScsJg
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7Iu4PwYZn
I ate my soup and accepted her new name for me that spread through the town. It was simple and the way things were. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nHRGifqrT
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOythfEtMDg
"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." 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiwNGwNbdD
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0H8Q4EOph9
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.258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAgSDPH5cN
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggJUYULpRA
I took the filled bowl to drop one of the slices of bread into her own before shovelling this one down greedily. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2knacdR3Aq
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdO0R45FO3Z
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaR5O9Tqr4A
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvagB1gAOM
I snapped down the tough meat, licked the bowl, then headed back for the wall of grass awaiting me. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa981p3USDm
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGOl3d8dac
"See you tomorrow?" Missy called out with a worried frown. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbIpcTMntl
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Of course, she would. I would never leave her wondering where I had gone. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZoFgLhpmM
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAF38DFuQB
I nodded and disappeared into the grass to follow the train tracks back to the East. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMlKHUCZ4h
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuHBSIwmYb
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljoeRkgSQ1
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZ1MndcAVg
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsrigeMxQY
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpl40XjtXas
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnwHU0X6V0
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPI5VV7GSTi
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClaA1nTYK1
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgeYklnH69
One day I might go visit those places. For now, I had my reason to stay here. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxG8JpbzSk
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? 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuydRpyDQKJ
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RGH4AE6Sm
I smiled at the moon and laid back, so I didn't have to take my eyes from it. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUH6NvSCnPh
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. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DXmM5hJSF
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvpwFB1n1h
The moonlit field of fireflies would be nice tonight. I could wait until Missy gifted me with her wonderful food tomorrow. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1PP8kvmbH
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOZnWhvutM
I curled up with my hands wrapped around me, pretending they were hers cradling me and breathing warmth into me. 258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbpXCa76aD
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPvu2b2Wz7
One day...
Penana
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