Her dreams were rather odd, and so eerily realistic that she wondered if she was really still asleep. It was like watching a virtual-reality holo, but with the exit cut-out malfunctioning.
First she'd found herself flying over a forest. That was rather exciting. There was a primal joy to feeling her long, strong wings beating the air. And after being near-sighted all her life, now she could see even the tiniest things at great distances.Yet underneath that was a feeling of emptiness, of searching for something and startng to despair of ever finding it again. But what was it that she had lost ?
*But humans don't have wings*, came a sudden thought crossing her mind. As if in response, abruptly there was a jolt and suddenly she must have become very, very small because the perspective of the scene was all wrong. Now she was in a farmhouse and her lovely wings had become small black paws. She lay in a soft pile of hay where she'd been left. The smell of sweaty horses and ponies was everywhere. But nowhere among it could she detect the one scent she wanted to find -- that of the child who'd absentmindedly put her down here not too long ago. Where was the girl, and what was taking her so long to come back ?
*...not MY body *, Kay protested softly. As much as her senses were telling her otherwise, she was NOT a kitten (no more than she was a bird).
The scene began to blur. Kay sighed with relief and tried to concentrate on how she KNEW she looked. But instead of becoming human again, the paws became great clawed feet and sudenly she had wings once more.
But it wasn't the same bird-body. This one was different. For one thing, it was definitely MALE. By the Goddess, this was bizarre. "Sacred One".came a voice suddenly over her shoulder. Kay turned his/her bird-head sharply around and saw an old man shrouded in dark robes. Power radiated out from him, and Kay was tempted to shrink back. But her new bird-body refused; it had known and loved this man all of his short life. This was the father of the young man who had once been his closest companion.
"You may not stay here", added the man, his eyes filled with sadness. "He is gone from us in this lifetime". He sighed deeply, then continued, "and in investigating his death, _they_ found out about his matrix experiments ... and about you. If you are found here, you will be killed as an aberration. We are gentle brothers here, and cannot protect you. As much as we wish otherwise, you must leave us ... fly far, far away beyond the reach of such bigotry. Take with you our the blessing of our holy Lord and our fondest hopes that you will find a new life somewhere". With tears in his eyes, the man then bowed low in respect, turned and walked away.
*...but ...but ... I don't understand*. Kay protested. The man didn't answer, just kept walking. When he was out of sight, her bird-body took to the air and then there was nothing but forests passing by beneath her again.
*I'm HUMAN*, Kay cried out, *Oh Goddess I'm HUMAN*. But there was no answer, except for a slow blurring of the scene as she slid back into the velvety darkness of dreamless sleep.