Chapter 2: Chapter 2
I spotted them below my gathering grounds, down in a valley I’d never visited before, owing to the steep descent needed to reach it. I gasped at the sight of them. They looked like me, however oddly they were dressed. They stood on two legs, moved their mouths like I did, had hair like mine, hands like mine. They were far down below, but I saw them clear as if they were twenty feet away. Again, I’m a superhero. I have superpowers, super sight. But just wait, that part of this tale is coming soon enough.
Anyway, I’d never seen humans before, never even given my humanity much thought. I knew I was different from my mom and dad and siblings, but so what? They loved me in spite of my differences. Or maybe because of them. I loved them because they were my family. Love is love. Still, upon seeing these strangers, I was immediately intrigued. Adam, I’m guessing, bit that sweet, little apple for the same reason. Curiosity killed the cat—which, by the way, tastes like chicken. Not that we had chickens in that part of Montana, but cats, yeah, cats made for a tasty little snack.
In other words, I risked the climb down for a closer look-see. Only, like I said, the path was steep, treacherous. And though, while super, I wasn’t impervious to tripping. Or to gravity. And when your head hits a rock, super doesn’t quite cut the mustard—which the wolves surely could’ve used, cat being rather bland.
When I eventually came to, I was in a strange room of smooth white. No rocks, no trees, no shrubs, no berries, and certainly no wolves. I blinked into an unnatural light, my eyes watering, tears streaming down my cheeks. I was in a light hide of some sort. I wondered what animal it’d come from. A cold one, I figured. Mainly because I was shivering in it.
I spoke. I said, “Where the fuck am I?” Only, I barked more than I actually spoke. The wordfuckcomes out more like a growl, by the way. The wolves didn’t think it a curse word, either. Wolves, after all, fuck like rabbits—which also taste like chicken and could’ve used some mustard.
A hand reached out and smoothed my hair. I’d never been touched by a human before, at least from what I could recall. It felt nice. Not like a paw, no, but it’d do. “He’s awake,” I heard. “Do you know where you are? Do you know who you are?”
The noises these animals made scared me. They didn’t sound like anything I’d ever heard before. I cowered beneath the strange pelt they covered me with. Again, I cried. Where was I? Where was my mom, my dad? I whimpered, I barked. I was fed a hamburger, with mustard andketchup. Suffice it to say, I quieted down some. Why, I thought, didn’t my parents make food like this for me? And where was all the blood and—cough—fur?
I cried for my mom and dad; my cries went unanswered. I cried for my brothers and sisters; I was fed a candy bar. I stopped crying. People came in, took my picture, talked to me in soothing words I couldn’t understand. I was scared, though still intrigued. I sensed I belonged, even as I missed my home and family.
Men in white came in, ran tests on me. They pricked me with needles and shined lights in my eyes and looked inside my ears and mouth. I was poked and prodded and peppered with questions. I shrugged throughout, devouring the hairless, bloodless food as I watched the strange box that hung off the wall. A woman named Maude—or so I gathered—was henpecking her husband, who was named Arthur—again, or so I gathered. Me being a gatherer, like I already mentioned, my gathering abilities, even at seven, were astonishing accurate. Anyway, this Maude woman reminded me of my wolf mom, graying black hair and all. So, I ate and watched and allowed for the poking and prodding, with only a few of my own nips and bites given in return. Tit for tat, I figured.
Eventually, I was taken from the white place and put inside a car. The device scared me. I’d never seen metal before—let alone an orange Prius. It might as well have been a flying saucer, for all I knew. I scraped and scratched at the glass and leather. I barked and whined. I ignored the candy. I threw the hamburger in their faces. I howled to the ceiling for my parents.
What was happening to me? Where were they taking me? How were we moving so fast on these round feet? Would Arthur ever escape Maude’s clutches?
Questions, questions, questions. But there were so many more to come for the likes of me, for a fish out of water, so to speak.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone