She left the town center, unease gnawing at her after the encounter with the man. Pushing the thought aside, she focused on her immediate need: food. She headed toward a nearby overgrown park, where the tall, unkempt grasses swayed with the movement of small creatures. The chirping of birds filled the air, and she caught the faint, earthy scent of their nests hidden among the branches.
Her stomach growled, sharp and insistent. She crept through the undergrowth, each step measured as her eyes searched for an easy target. A flock of birds took flight, their wings beating the air in frantic bursts. She froze, muscles tensed, ready to pounce, but they were too quick. Frustration simmered as she watched them vanish into the sky.
Undeterred, she pressed on, her hunting instincts sharpening with every step. As she prowled through the park, her gaze caught on a tree. High in its branches sat a bird's nest. Her heart quickened. She had never climbed a tree before, not in her old life or in this form, but hunger pushed her forward.
Approaching the tree, she flexed her claws against the bark, testing her grip. Slowly, she began to climb. Each movement felt awkward and uncertain, the rough texture of the bark scraping against her paws. The higher she climbed, the more the ground seemed to fall away beneath her. Her heart raced, but she forced herself to keep moving, whispering reassurances to herself.
"Okay, let's not panic," she thought. "You've taken down birds bigger than this before."
But a glance downward made her breath hitch. The distance to the ground seemed endless, and her thoughts spiraled. What if she fell? What if she missed her footing? She shook her head, trying to push the fear away.
"Come on now, you're a cat. You can do this," she muttered again, though the words felt less convincing as she climbed.
Reaching the nest, she swiped it with her paw, sending the eggs tumbling to the ground below. Relief flooded through her, a small triumph against her hunger.
Now, she just had to get down. Her stomach clenched as she looked at the long descent ahead. Each branch seemed thinner than the last, the ground far below. If she slipped, there would be no second chances.
"Well, nothing like a little excitement to start the day," she said, forcing a dry chuckle.
The wind picked up, ruffling her fur and making the branches sway beneath her. Slowly, she began the descent. One cautious step at a time, her claws gripped the bark as she edged downward. The wind tugged at her, but she kept her focus, her body moving instinctively.
Finally, she reached the lowest branch. It wasn't as close to the ground as she'd like, but it would have to do. With a steadying breath, she leapt.
Her paws hit the ground, absorbing the impact as she landed. A wave of relief washed over her, followed closely by satisfaction. The hardest part was over.
Moving to the fallen eggs, cracked by the drop and lapped up the contents. The texture was slippery and strange, the taste a blend of salty and faintly sweet. It wasn't what she was used to, but it was enough. For now, hunger would no longer be a distraction.
As she bit into the raw egg, the slippery texture surprised her. It coated her tongue in a way that felt strange, but the taste, an unusual mix of salty and slightly sweet, was unexpectedly satisfying. She savored every bite, relishing the new sensation. Pride swelled in her chest; climbing the tree had been a risk, but it had paid off. She would do it again if the need arose.
Her belly satisfied for now, she began the trek back to the town center, content but wary. It wasn't long before she realized that finding her way back wouldn't be simple. The tall grass stretched endlessly around her, hiding the path she had taken. Unfamiliar sights and sounds pressed in from all sides, stirring a flicker of unease.
She paused, scanning her surroundings and trying to orient herself. Closing her eyes, she pictured the town center, the tall building, and the man she had seen lying there. Taking a deep breath, she willed herself to stay calm and let her instincts guide her.
Moving cautiously through the dense grass, she strained to recall landmarks and scents from earlier. But the park looked entirely different now, the overgrowth concealing everything. The disorientation made her heart race, but she refused to panic.
Sniffing the air, she searched for any familiar scent that could lead her back. All she could detect was the sweet fragrance of the grass and the occasional chirping of birds overhead. She hesitated, unsure, but reminded herself to keep moving.
She let her nose guide her, weaving through the tall grass and leaping over small streams. Eventually, she emerged onto a street. Relief washed over her at the sight of the cracked pavement beneath her paws, a stark contrast to the chaos of the overgrown park. The street offered clarity, a way forward.
The coolness of the pavement under her paws was grounding. She moved carefully, ears twitching and senses alert for any sign of danger. The street was lined with dilapidated buildings and abandoned cars, remnants of a life long forgotten. The desolation pressed heavily on her, a reminder of the strange and unsettling world she now inhabited. Still, she pressed on, intent on reaching the safety of the town center.
As she followed the street, her nose caught an all-too-familiar scent. Something strange. Something she had smelled before. She froze, the fur along her spine bristling as she cautiously followed the trail. She darted around corners and crept through shadows until the scent led her to the edge of the road.
There, hidden in the tall grass, she spotted something lying just out of sight. Her curiosity urged her forward, but her instincts kept her steps light and silent. Drawing closer, she saw them, bodies scattered among the grass, their forms obscured by the overgrowth.
The sight sent a chill down her spine. They looked as though they had been there for some time, their skin pale and stiff. But it was their hands that seized her attention: the black discoloration staining their fingertips, just like the man she had seen at the town center.
The gruesome scene was a stark warning, a reminder to stay alert and tread carefully. Suppressing a shudder, she backed away, her mind racing as she resumed her journey with a renewed sense of caution.