@tellmeitsadream
Emrys couldn’t remember what happened, couldn’t remember what caused the burning pain in his back or why he was fully shifted or why he couldn’t shift back. The only thing he could remember was laughter and pain and running away like a coward.
The life of a shifter was never easy.
He managed to force one eye open, he was in some sort of wooded area and he could hear footsteps getting closer.
“Fuck…” He thought, either it’s a human and they’ll ignore him or call animal control or it’s whomever hurt him coming to finish the job.
Jack often found himself walking the wooded path near his apartment. It helped him calm down after a stressful day. A look of confusion contorted his face when two kids ran by, laughing at something.
He just stood out of the way to let them go. He sighed, wishing their parents were around. Laughter like that was usually accompanied by actions the kids should be reprimanded for.
He slid his hands into his pocket and continued walking on the path, watching his feet crunch on the early autumn leaves - and to make sure a large rock or branch wouldn't trip him. His carefulness didn't work. In a second, his foot caught a tree root growing out of the ground and his body fell forward. On the way down, he scraped himself up. "Ow ow ow," he whined, opening his eyes and seeing a little bird, frozen in the foliage and covered in blood. He gasped, that's what those kids were doing.
Disregarding his own injuries, he scrambled to the bird, moving carefully so as not to spook it. "Oh you poor thing," his voice crooned as his scraped hands scooped the bird up. He cradled it close to his chest. "I have to get you home. I'm so sorry," he talked and apologized to this bird as if it could understand him. "Don't worry, I'll fix you right up."