A lone figure heads down the road of the all too familiar town, the darkness of the hour a fear for others, makes them feel all the more at home. Prey know to fear the home of predators. The thought brings a faint smile to his lips, the kind of smile that makes children cross to the other side of the road. It’s short lived though as they remember the cause of the encounter. Two in the same place could be an accident...but this many had a reason. Greed or heart, either one needed...rectifying.

He watches the rogue from a distance, the town just on the edge of a forest. The buildings too far apart to keep the height advantage, but a simple drone is nothing against a soldier. They drop down from their hiding place to trail their target, keeping close as they creep around the corner.

“Drone.” They instruct, no need to dignify them with a name. The figure halts in their tracks. Slowly turning to face the advancing soldier. The solder's trained eye catching a flicker of light in their grasp. “You had one simple job. Keep them apart and here you are now...on my turf of all places.”

“I...frankly thought this was public property,” they quip. Is that...a smile I see on the defects face? That alone removes any doubt that this one is broken, perhaps even infected with that filthy virus of friendship. The mere thought of the word making him want to gag at what it had done to their race.

“Get it out of here.” The soldier turns, heading back the way he came, sick or the imbeciles he had to work with…

“No.”

“That wasn’t a request drone.” He clenches his fists, a rather disgusting human habit he’d picked up. He’d tried to be a good commander, being as merciful and effective as he could be, yet disloyalty could not be tolerated.

“I’m going home.”

“The portal is sealed, you know that. None of us could get through it or even open it if we wanted to. To speak of even trying is treason.” The warrior stalks closer, shifting his hand into the comforting form of a blade.

“I’m going to open it, back to a world of magic and actual food not the table scraps from this hell of humankind.”

“Then you leave me no choice, By order of the Queen I declare you defective, submit yourself for termination.” The drone takes a step back, having none of it. The warrior rolled his eyes, one of the perks of a human form that he’d begrudgingly admit. Before striking forward and stabbing for the traitor’s chest before hissing as their arm hits something solid wincing as they retreat back. The drone moving out a thick blade of iron wielded with thick black gloves.

The warrior winces back screeching eyeing the burning along their leg. “A filthy human toy.” They hiss, before diving forward and slicing at the drones forearm, causing the fool to drop their pitiful weapon. With a blade so thick and dull how could they ever cut anything with it? They follow-up the cut with a kick to the chest sending the fool to the ground.

“What did you honestly think you’d accomplish with this? Even if by some twist of fate you won this fight, what then? I’d be replaced, you’d be eliminated and everything would go back to the way it w--”

BANG!

A splatter of green erupts on the soldier's chest, their mouth gaping as they stumble backwards. Their form shrinking, retracting like shrink-wrap under heat to resume their true form, one hoof clutching to the wound.

“I’m going home, brother. To a world better than this, I only wish you could’ve joined me.”

Another crack splits the night as the alien creature collapses, to move no more. The drone tosses the gun aside, along with the gloves. “I’ll get there, for both of us.” They close the soldier's eyes, before covering the body in gasoline and igniting it. “May the hivemother bring you peace.” They turn around and run, leaving the remains to crack and splinter within the flames.

I wake slowly, then the alarm goes off followed by several incomprehensible grumbles as I fumble for my phone, but grab something metallic instead. I open my eyes blearily and see some sort of necklace with a purple stone on a gold chain. Lapis? No amethyst...I think. Just looking at it, the jewel seems to swirl into itself with a spiraling inner design. Why would Lindsay leave her jewelry in my room? Better yet, what was she doing in my room?!

I take a look at the clock and roll my eyes quickly getting ready for school. I set the necklace on her dresser and grab some toast. The house is abandoned by this point, my dad and aunt off at work and Amanda already dropped off at school. I take a bite of the toast and head to school for an early start.

The morning has the chill of fall, yet feels dry as sandpaper. I get to class in good time before the bell. Gym, unfortunately. I visit the library and check out an interesting novel before the bell rings, stashing my things and heading off to the dreaded class.

I enter the changing room, the smell of male musk thick in the air. Unwashed gym shorts and sweaty armpits galore. I take a small breath as I enter the room trying to evade looking at the others, a new place like this I could hopefully last more than a week before the rumors start. Forget what would happen if my father ever caught wind of it.

As I jog outside I feel something metal bounce against my chest. Moving to the side of the crowd I reach a hand around my neck feeling a familiar thin chain. The stone no bigger than my thumb is honest to god glowing and burning rather uncomfortably.

“Hey! Get over here whatever your name is!”

I quickly let it go and move in line with the others, unfortunately I spot the hyper girl from yesterday in the other row. More importantly, how the hell did this thing get around my neck? Did I not put it onto the desk? If I’m being honest it wouldn’t be the first time I’d failed to do something I thought I did in a daze.

The group takes off running laps, round and round the torn up soccer lawn. I hang back thinking I can maybe dodge her, or at the very least convince her I’m not a runner.

“Hi again!”

Goddamn it, she’s lapped me already, but it’d be rude to change my pace now. I jog along just giving her a polite wave and slow down a bit more so I have the air to breathe properly. “Hi….Abig--” I manage to get out trying not to be rude. I could’ve sworn I was in way better shape, yet my legs are burning and my back is killing me. “I swear I’m usually better than this.”

“It’s Angela, but sure.”

I try to hide my embarrassment in a chuckle, but it turns into a groan as I double over from a charlie horse that would make a charlie horse whimper. I collapse on the field as much in emotional as in physical pain. My ankle and calves seem to be ripping apart, it only takes a few moments but Angela is staring at me the pain disappearing almost as soon as it started.

“Damn that hurt...never had a charlie horse like that.” Several of the other students pass us, not giving us more than a passing glance. Those that don’t cat-call us anyways. “We should get going, got a lot of laps to catch up on.” Angela just stares, I track her eyes and see she’s staring at the amulet that had slipped out of my shirt during my little episode.

“Where did you get that?”

I follow her gaze and see it lingering on the necklace that had slipped out of my shirt when I doubled over. “It’s uh...from my mom. She got really sick when I was younger.” The pinnacle of honesty, I was not. I quickly tuck it back into my shirt then get up moving to jog again but am stopped by her hand on my chest. I look up to see that she has a similar pendant in her grip, but instead of purple, hers is red.

She raises an eyebrow. “Sure you didn’t find it this morning?”

“How did you--?”

“Because I found this one this morning, but I tur--”

“I don’t see any running!”

The coach, teacher? Comes around the corner jogging toward us and we both start moving hurrying to get back to running. Yet he just speeds up and starts jogging right beside us. “We’ll talk at lunch, don’t you dare try to hide!” I can do little more than nod, out of breath at trying to match the coach’s pace, and then she just rockets off like our pace was nothing. How did I get so out of shape?

The class passes slowly, but eventually I finish the laps. Angela keeps giving me worried glances when I pass by her. I eventually just wave for her to go change, the amulet around my neck seeming to get heavier and heavier. I don’t even complete my laps by the end of period and have to rush to my next class pleading to all the gods I don’t believe in that I might make it before the bell. Always have time to get answers to our questions later. Track meets after school don’t they? I could wait a few hours to find out what some girl knows about this petty jewelry.

I barely make it to the next class before the bell. Nursing! One of the classes I was actually quite looking forward to, well at least a little. Unfortunately at the entry levels I know I’m likely going to be stuck cleaning bedpans and other such muck, but progress! I smile a little to myself as I sit down and ready myself for the lesson.

Roll call is taken, then our instructor crawls forward into a lengthy discussion of the syllabus while handing out textbooks. As the teacher drawls on about the minutiae of what constitutes various grades I’m already flipping through the textbook to look for something that’s quite clearly a better use of my time.

I flip through the pages a few times but I’m quickly reminded of the amulet hanging around my neck that has started feeling a bit tingly again. I move to take off the thing but wince back in surprise. It’s warmer than I was expecting, not only that but it seems to be getting warmer. Was this thing radioactive? I quickly dismiss the idea, no idiot in their right mind would do make radioactive jewelry. I quickly take it off and stash it in my backpack.

The class passes by, the teacher not seeming to have that much passion for the subject. Just sitting back in their chair and clicking away at their powerpoint certainly doesn’t do much to help my expectations of class, yet the calm pace works wonders on my nerves after the embarrassment of gym class. Though my muscles certainly seem to be protesting my lack of proper stretching.

The class, despite its rather uninformative content eventually concludes. I’ll admit I was a rather...bad lesson? We had just read from the textbook the entire time. Does that make me a bad student? No, but it might’ve been a bit disrespectful in retrospect. Yet if the teacher wasn’t expecting or even seeming to desire our attention, was it really disrespectful? I shake my head to clear my thoughts, I could get stuck in such loops for ages on the silliest things.

As I pack up my things and head to lunch I feel the metal of the amulet around my neck once more. This time I know for a fact that I hadn’t put it back on, but honestly, what could I do? I enter the cafeteria, my entire body definitely reminding me that straining exercise from Gym doesn’t combine well with sitting in a class for around an hour.

I grab my food and a tray, starting to move for an empty seat. I let out a yelp as my leg suddenly tightens in an all too familiar pain. It gives out as I fall forward, my tray launching forward in a mass of potatoes and gravy as I crash to the floor with the rest of my food, my eyes looking upward to see two individuals splattered with its contents. I groan with emotional and physical distress wishing I could melt into the floor when my chest tightens suddenly and I can’t get enough air.

My chest heaves as I gape breathlessly, seeing spots. I see a few concerned glances, at least one camera goes off scarring my vision like a flashbang. Everyone’s voices grow distant, its seems to suddenly be a million degrees, then suddenly I’m not there anymore.

I’m back in the cave. The insectile leg, tossed ahead of me still twitching. My scream concludes with the others around me, for several agonizingly long moments there is a scuffle just out of view. I yank several times at the sticky goo encasing my legs. Eventually, a giant beetle? No...it only has 4 legs? Some sort of dog insect? “Changelings” My mouth whispers, terror deeply infused in my tone. Memories not my own spring to the front of my mind. Tails and stories told late at night, of the old Queen locked away in stone. I needed to get out, I needed to escape!

I needed to run. I get to my hooves, they seem quite different from what they should be, yet I have no time to figure out why. I instinctively shift to stand on my rear legs and take off finding myself take on an unfamiliar rhythm with ease. Everything hurts, it's all too bright. So many strange creatures that look...like me? I screech my voice so scathingly unfamiliar. I look around seeing only more of the strange buildings but...the forest! If I could just get there I could find Zecora! She would know how to fix things! Not having any better option I dive into the forest.

I don’t know how long I’ve been running, but I’m surrounded on all sides. This...this isn’t the everfree, but where was it? Wait...what the hell is the everfree? I snap out of my daze, what had I been running from? Talk about an anxiety attack, I try to get to my feet then wince. My back hurting something fierce. I try to reach for my phone but it keeps slipping, I get an awkward sensation as my fingers brush against its smooth surface.

I glance down and let out a very unmanly yell. I stare blankly at the empty space where my hand should be. Below my elbows is covered in a light blue fur , the tip seeming to have solidified into a colorful keratin mass. Looking downward I see my mouth has elongated slightly and is still growing outward. My scalp tingles as dark blue hair with an odd pink accent drifts forward into my vision.

I start to scream again, but my throat latches itself closed as the changes spread down my neck while burning as if I’d just swallowed ash. My muscles twitch and spasm as I fall to the ground unable to do more than yell as my body contorts and shifts in agony. My muscles shift beneath my fur like snakes slithering under my skin. My bones cracking as they compress or lengthen causing my body to stretch horrifically to adapt in ways I am certain aren’t physically possible. When my innards start to shift and swirl I just can’t take it anymore and black out as the changes continue spreading inch by merciless inch across my grotesque frame.

I don’t know how long its been when I re-awaken. I can’t even bring myself to move. The pain has faded leaving me in a stir of agony induced euphoria. It must’ve been a couple hours given by how the evening light shines through my eyelids. I hear something moving through the grass behind me and my ear twitches, flicking again at a strand of hair. I groan once more only to cough, my throat raw from all my screaming.

What the hell just happened?

My ear twitches again as I start to hear voices. Thank god someone must’ve heard my screaming. I try to roll onto my knees but the world spins as I right myself and I just fall right back over.

“I’m over here!”

I yell, or at least try to. My throat catches after just a few syllables as a voice passes my lips that is definitely not my own, nor does it resemble anything that could pass for English. A quick glance at my 'hands' quickly reminds me of the impossible I had just seen earlier. I’d been drugged, clearly, but by whom? I try to steady my uneven breathing, trying to stay calm. Yet knowing its an illusion doesn’t help as much as I wish it would. Plenty of vivid dreams come to mind on that as I try to cope with my terror through rationale. I just needed to get help, you can't trust yourself if you're hallucinating.

I inch forward, not trusting myself to walk in my current state. My knees aren't where they should be anymore, forcing me to rely on my hips and the stubs of my misplaced arms as I work towards where I had heard the voices. I try to yell a few times, knowing that they’d at least hear me even if it sounded distorted. Drugs could definitely do that to you. Heck, I could even smell them mixed with the scent of fuel exhaust more potent than I had ever smelled anything before. My ears now able to pick up the sound of an engine getting really close.

The sound keeps getting louder and louder as the smell gets exponentially stronger. I swear if they run me over...Yet just when I think they are right around the bend it just keeps getting louder and louder as if they were doing laps around my head. I give a yelp as I see a four-wheeler ATV roll over a bush at the edge of the clearing. Since when did they sell such a massive version? I weakly flop one of my arms at them as they turn the monster off. One of the riders seems to be about my age with brown hair and matching eyes with a toned build, while the other is a bit of an aged man looking much the same but with blue eyes. I’d guess them to be in their 50s. A spike of panic jolts through my system as I see they both have rifles and hunting equipment. Why the hell did I run into the forest!?

“The hell is this Pa?”

“I ain’t got a fuckin’ clue, looks like a miniature horse with a dye-job.”

Horse? Dyejob? How could they know what I was hallucinat--Oh...Oh no. Oh hell no! My eyes widen with horror as I look down at my arms again seeing the mud smeared fur.

“You think some blockhead did some illegal hunting?”

“Nah, not enough blood. Poor thing was probably tortured by some kids, look at those clothes it's got on it.”

When did he get so close? I try to inch away a bit further, but my hind legs just refuse to work properly. Instead I feel a disturbing sensation as the feedback for sensation only vaguely comes from my hand as I brush up against a tree. I see “Pa” unfurling a length of rope and start tying a knot. It takes only a moment for me to put two and two together and I redouble my efforts to get away. I can’t get captured like this!

“Whoa now Bessy, I ain’t gonna hurt’cha.”

My eye twitches as he starts making clicking noises as he starts to spin up his rope. Like hell am I going to listen to him! I try to scramble away once more but my now oversized shirt quickly trips me up and I feel the rough texture of sinew slide over my neck and it gets pulled tight yanking me back as I see it tied to the ATV. Stupid stupid! I’d never been to a rodeo before, but now I was about to get a very personal experience with hogtying!

I bite at the rope trying to loosen it but it’s a futile effort. Pa rushes at me grabbing two of my legs before dropping me back onto the ground knocking the wind out of me and making me see stars as some sort of stick jabs at my head. I barely even register as he loops the rope around my legs tying them up in just a few moments as I lay there gaping for air once more.

“Nice one Pa! What’s that thing on its head?”

Pa circles around and I do my best to keep watch. What does he mean what’s on my head? He keeps a good distance out of biting range, clearly experienced as he stares at something above my head.

“Damn kids must’ve glued on a cone.”

It’s at this point that I realize I should probably start talking before one of them gets a muzzle.

“H-hey! Stop! There’s been a mistake!”

They both stare at me for a moment before they start dragging me towards the ATV, not giving any indication that they’d heard me.

“Please! I-I’ll pay whatever ransom! I’m a human!

“Sure does sound weird for a horse, don’t you think?” The kid asks.

“Lil’ Bessy here probably is just worn out. Sure was walking funny. We’ll take them to the vet in the morning, will call animal control tonight. Would be a shame if they had to put her down though. Kids these days, no respect for wildlife.”

“Looks like there is some stuff over there, cops might want to see it.”

Moments later I see the remains of my torn clothes and backpack brought over, tossing it on the back of the ATV. Then the son returns back then carefully position themselves on either side of me.

Buck buck buck buck! I curse as they work together to pin my head down another length of rope crudely being wrapped around my mouth, ignoring all of my frantic pleas as I’m silenced then plopped onto the front of the ATV and tied down on a bag that absolutely reeks of death and even has several bloodstains on the inside. I’m sorry I made fun of my sister! I’ll never eat meat again! My thoughts growing increasingly incoherent in panic as the ATV starts up again and heads back down the trail.

I wince as the ATV goes over yet another rock slamming my head against the metal grill on the front my spine twitching in frustration as I’m reminded of the newest addition to my skeleton, not sure what the spike...no Who am I kidding?! I’m a bucking unicorn! A tiny little unicorn just over two feet tall! My heart pounds in my chest and I’ve got a headache like no other that keeps erupting when my horn bangs against the damn vehicle.

I twist my head over the next bump taking a hit in the mouth? No muzzle rather than having another horn pounding. We finally seem to have cleared the forest. “Pa” just grabs me around the waist like a dog and holy crap is that a long fall! I stare down at just how much higher a few feet seems like now, my limbs locking up at the thought of just being dropped from three times my height while tied up. Oblivious to my plight they just get into the passenger’s side of the car.

“Park the ATV and drive, I’ll be sure to handle our lil’ unicorn till we get them into a stall at home.”

His son just nods, obviously quite disappointed about his hunting trip and I hear the rev of the engine as he goes up the ramp and onto the truck. Moments later we’re on our way down the road. Even though Pa is keeping a painfully tight hold on my horn I twist my head slightly to look at the sunset. Had they even noticed I was gone yet? How long would it take for the cops to start looking? Then to stop looking? I quiver at the thought as I’m held a little tighter, rolling my eyes at the irritating noises Pa keeps making.

“I’m not a dumb bucking horse!”

I yell at him, but he doesn’t understand a word of it and only smiles and--errrgh--pets me some more. The ropes around my legs and muzzle have formed abrasions across my sensitive skin making the whole ordeal somehow more miserable.

“It’s okay girl, it’s alright.”

I huff in exasperation, then blink. Did he just…? I try to look downward but his firm grip on my horn makes that a non-option. Come to think of it my voice does seem higher and there seems to be something between my--Nope! Not gonna go there. To my surprise I find my eyes watering as the reality of my situation starts hitting home. The adrenaline and panic fading away just for dread to start twisting in my gut starts to make itself known. The same kind of feeling I get after I would get caught staring at a guy from across the room and realizing they’d known what that stare was.

I grit my misformed teeth in a sob mixed laugh. Least my dad would never know now! Damnit why does his petting have to feel so good! My tears soaking into the fur below my eyes, of all the problems I have right now the fact that this one gets me to tears is beyond it all.

“Son...I don’t think this is a normal horse”

“Oh, you’re just getting that dad?” His son mocks from the driver’s seat. “Looks a lot more like some sort of freak from a cartoon, just look at those eyes! Wait...is it? Crying?

I feel my ears flatten at “freak”, yeah, tell me something I don’t know kid. I notice him looking at me and quickly turn my head, no sense in letting them find the human trying to hide in this little horse.

“You think they’re doing experiments up at the military base?”

“Hell if I know, but I wouldn’t put it past them, in either case we shouldn’t have them for very long. I’ll call the vet tonight instead. That face is more expressive than any critter I’ve ever seen. Kind of gives me the creeps to be honest.”

The car pulls up and they both get out. There is a fairly modern looking country two-story house that seems to have a modern take on a log house. The property itself seems to be several acres, their fences extending well beyond view in every direction. A barn larger than the house is behind it. The whole place reeks of manure and soiled hay.

Once again I’m hefted like a toy by Pa and dragged off towards the barn. Should I escape? What would I even do if I did? No one can understand me, I look more like an alien than anything on earth. What would I honestly do? So, I just wait.

The barn smells even worse on the inside and is dusty as can be with dirt infused into every nook and cranny of the place. Thankfully he cleans out the cubicle? No, stall. So at least that’s something. Then I feel him grip the remains of my clothes and I just lose it. I yell and try to escape his grip. Please! Don’t let him take away my last shred of humanity! God, the idea of just being as naked as the other...as the horses just makes my skin crawl. I’m not one of them damnit! Unfortunately Pa seems to greatly misunderstand the situation.

“Poor gal, they sure did a number on you. Don’t worry, I’ll get those off for you.”

“You touch me and I’ll ram this horn were the sun don’t shine and buck you up a few octaves you son of a--”

“Oh you’re such a cutie, don’t worry it won’t hurt a bit.”

I very nearly break down again, it’s hopeless. Do I try to reveal that I’m at least intelligent? Surely they’ll notice at some point. I give a whimper as I hear the snip of some sheers as the remains of my clothing are cut off, feeling the ground push directly on my skin feeling filthier already. They grab my horn again seeming to look over it before sighing then carefully start untying the ropes around my legs retreating quickly as soon as they’re loosened.

I just lay there, thankfully Pa seems to leave moments later clicking the door shut behind him. The compartment seems huge compared to my small size. The walls towering over me several times over. I inch myself over to the corner, feeling the reassuring wall against my back and just let it all out.

My tears have long since dried up when I hear the barn door open. I never did get the kid’s name, but he steps up to the gate of my stall and stares down at me for several moments. I just stay huddled in the corner until I see a flash and hear a click then look up to see him holding his phone.

“Sorry gal, wanted a pic. Dropping you off at the vet, okay? Don’t uh...gore me with that spike of yours, alright?”

I nod, but he wasn’t waiting for my reply, obviously, being an animal and all. He’s carrying a small cage, judging from the feathers and their excrement is from their chickens. I retch and gag at the smell as my nostrils fill with it at a strength I feel should definitely give me a headache, but doesn’t. Thankfully he seems to notice, chuckling.

“Probably should clean it out first, shouldn’t I?”

I’m given a few more moments as I hear the water running and some scrubbing. The sun has just slipped past the horizon. Yet I still seem to be able to see alright, and speaking of sight it is truly weird to have such a wide range of view.

“You know, you’re definitely not a horse.”

He’s at the gate again with a clean cage that now makes my eyes water from cleaner. He gets in and opens it, arms spread wide as if trying to spook me into its direction. Instead I just sit there and scowl not moving batting away his foot as he tries to push me over.

“I’m not moving.”

He pauses, staring at me for several moments. He seems to be texting on his phone. While he’s distracted I examine the cage, then look at my...hands. It is a simple latch flip, not that I could reach it with these things, but...I look upward trying to spot the horn that had sprouted from my head. I could certainly flip the latch with this...thing. With that idea in mind I just crawl into the cage trying not to breathe through my nose too much.

The guy just stares at me, clearly confused, and I just scowl right back at him. He shrugs, picking up the cage making me wobble back and forth a little from the sway and off-centered balancing of the thing. My horn banging more than once painfully against the wire walls.

I’m set in the back of the truck along with...Oh YES! He tosses my backpack and the scraps of my clothing in next to me. Probably submitting it as evidence. Now I just need to escape!

The truck starts and the cage slides a bit across the floor but I quickly get to work. I slowly poke my horn between the wires trying to flick the latch. It’s quite harder than you’d expect. Not being able to really see where it is even from looking right up I can barely see the tip and my eyes quickly start to ache from the strain.

Several strenuous minutes pass. How far is the vet? I honestly don’t have a clue. Finally I manage to position my horn in the right spot then push forward. I quickly realize with a pit of dread that my horn is too thick to pass far enough through the bars to flip the latch. All my pushing manages to do is painfully pinch against the damn thing and I eventually yank it back out with a wince. I try pushing it, I try kicking it, hell I even tried to lick it open. My tongue definitely longer than it used to be but I can’t get a grip.

I’m pissed. Truly and fully enraged. I start to see houses pass knowing that I really am running out of time. Above it all I’ve got a huge headache, probably from bashing my head to hard against the latch. I start hyperventilating, my mind scrambling for more ideas. I glare at the latch, that tiny piece of metal wouldn’t have stopped me if I...if I hadn’t been turned into this!

I suddenly feel a strange set of muscles unclench above my forehead and I see a spark of light as a beam shoots forward from my horn and sears straight through the latch and burns a hole into the rear bed of the truck. My headache vanishes as if it was never there but now my body starts to tingle slowly intensifying like I’ve got pins and needles all over my body as if I’d just relieved a shiver with every inch of my body.

I look down at the lock, the metal still glowing from where the beam had struck it. I waste no time pushing the door open. I bite onto the strap of my backpack and fling it out the back where it rolls to a stop on the road, quickly followed by the rest of my stuff. I hop up, my arms hanging over the edge. I can figure out what the hell just happened later.

Now how do I jump without killing myself? I glance down the road, but there isn’t a stop sign up ahead. I take several deep breaths, my rear legs are near useless but before I can psych myself out of it I pull myself up and over using my mutated arms and over the side.

The wind is knocked out of me as I strike the ground. Despite being grass it still hurts like hell. I tumble head over heels, landing quite painfully against a mailbox post. For several moments I lay there catching my breath before I remind myself that I can’t be seen. I crawl forward gathering up my stuff, the tingling in my limbs keeps intensifying, surpassing the bruises and overextended injuries and all else.

I see a green-ish glow on my horn and it starts shrinking before disappearing entirely. My mouth and throat start changing as the glow works its way down, It hurts, but I’m turning back! I’m so relieved as I see my fingers start to re-emerge from the stump at the end of my arms. Nowhere near as painful as the first time in just a few minutes I’m back to my old regular self!

I let out a whoop of sheer elation, then quickly remember I’m kind of...in the nude at the moment. That is...except for the glowing pendant on my chest. I stare in shock at the small thing, even as its light dims to nothing. I rip it off and fling it into the grass, I’ve had enough of the damn thing.

I dress myself as best I can, putting on my gym clothes from my backpack. I’m still bruised, and my ankle feels sprained just as it was before but I hardly care. I hobble my way down the street, looking for familiar landmarks as I make my way home practically crying with joy.

Author's Notes:

Special Thanks for Ephemeral for editing advice!
As always comments good or bad are welcome.