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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNBZmlMaHB
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4fMmhKWQL
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipb0uJz28R
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEManQ5PCZ
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzcXCLdkmL
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6w9uC7dXG3
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4P2VTUfpKW
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OBbA5Z8sy
I was in clear sight of them now. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yysLZFtWb
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZIccDcyfY
"Soup!" the tiny voice blew on the breeze to catch my attention again. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIx383H9L4m
It was so faint, but it was the sound I was waiting for. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYae7tOKMQ
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTK2VEh5OQ
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rhnEQ2CKJ
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqY8XVCZGil
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRmcacmRss
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnJGVXKbon
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyuQumedGb
I used to call him Bartleby. He preferred Bartie.392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGJNDbGgZI
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRVt9DAZuj
"MISSY!" Bartie cupped his hands around his mouth before pointing them to me "you've got to stop feeding the beast!" 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYODiYeqWrP
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGtXf4TaD1
I snickered at his concern and walked past Bartie before he cleared his throat to halt me. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQt6dF7gXg
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfxvPRpcE3
"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!" 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNr7yf4fPg
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVglSOJoyZO
He had no reason to worry so much. It was the same empty threat he had been giving me for three months straight now. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JVfPINCXV
I just shook off Bartie's concern and raced for the woman waving for me to come. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy96REB7nYj
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZP9sOZQDg
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnBo6tkB0G
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIWPsuxGPr
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPTvhuRtGN
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPCTzOHxXu
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZlK9k6zEP
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIt5W67iiT
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98EW5Afw1S
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96DfDaNFZF
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmcYwZoJnE
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJejt1MfJp
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4pkIEHsN1
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucIN0Av4DW
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbullLc4Wp
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlRnO5AfMA
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkxcptgRfo
"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." 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sbvXk7FO8
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2nGCzblo2
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXT3j7QeWk3
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsQN3krS69
"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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hzXxoOFHe
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOB8J5RK0U
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvmsru7KN0
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NPPZyGOb7
She cradled her soup in her lap while I blew onto mine to try and cool it enough to scoff it down. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhBqUCeSrS
My stomach was begging for the hot meal that little birds and discarded rubbish along the roads could never satisfy. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabs0h4XLoi
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAKELcvEbj
"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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHVQR5LEDM
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWukILRgyHW
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpSxTsFVwr
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzOrCWUJbs
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoAtq1pIlX
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAuUO330mn
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmicGdvoADY
I placed the bowl beside her and lowered myself back down. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZMYvjbAJe
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzwSWlObgw
"More please" I pointed.392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHg3W1DCdeT
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4SAXcgvFA
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIULG41QPV
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIecNQ5e0a
Missy liked it when I talked to her, and I liked it when I made Missy happy. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDodKAF65dT
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIa3Vo4kPXL
"You're hungry today" she mused "did I not feed you enough yesterday?" 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEpi8QAHB0
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGRYnZO1vM
I just smiled and watched her retreat back inside, leaving her bowl on the stairs. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEty9ZEdZRn
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7sPoTyhjB
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtpeIsh81Q
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPL92XTYhd
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vzGR966j2
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTZdlICwou
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZSZIDKWMq
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIssEy4SLn
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkjmwbFYeL
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpghP4dn19
I ate my soup and accepted her new name for me that spread through the town. It was simple and the way things were. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ysMTWC42Q
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqWfuN9OUz
"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." 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzRJJlDzLk
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhu5PCfRET
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.392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYqinBxiiw
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zj8P6kYp3
I took the filled bowl to drop one of the slices of bread into her own before shovelling this one down greedily. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7wnt1fsjP
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP21kcWi92z
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYv3gyBZXZi
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybsPLq4FXR
I snapped down the tough meat, licked the bowl, then headed back for the wall of grass awaiting me. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjD819P9J6f
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXv8AiSnXd
"See you tomorrow?" Missy called out with a worried frown. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3I34BeXHQF
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrq4FMRskv
Of course, she would. I would never leave her wondering where I had gone. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSdoMD6tuW
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwa2RvT8Q1h
I nodded and disappeared into the grass to follow the train tracks back to the East. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JoevIukHg
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2s8UZKzVCP
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IQWY9LuOb
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmJywUFJph
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1LWrVdHPO
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPORprq1p3
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOs5G4eUPRN
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySq1qYmMRf
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xuqykqjLu
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuyPkCf6ae
One day I might go visit those places. For now, I had my reason to stay here. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0PYhLWe2f
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? 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVHp8EAGyx
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJH04kfPvg
I smiled at the moon and laid back, so I didn't have to take my eyes from it. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lD586u9KV
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YUnkzIXpB
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRegcfHP1v
The moonlit field of fireflies would be nice tonight. I could wait until Missy gifted me with her wonderful food tomorrow. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9tpv67wm6
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDybhmTGuUI
I curled up with my hands wrapped around me, pretending they were hers cradling me and breathing warmth into me. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MCTcDEpg1
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKrloJyDoR
One day...
Penana
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