This story and its contents and characters are © 2008 to Dale Robert Jenkins (a.k.a. Asalis) and may not be duplicated, or sold without the authors explicit permission. Any character likenesses to people living, dead, real, or unreal is strictly coincidental.

Wings of Trial
By Dale Robert Jenkins (A.K.A Asalis)

	I was falling; occasionally I’d see a glint of light from above followed by a thunderous roar but it lasted for only a few scant seconds. With the wind rushing past me it seemed like I would fall forever. I was on the verge of screaming for life when I was abruptly submerged in water. I felt so helpless thrashing about. I thought that I was going to die, but then hand brushed against something. From that light brush I flung myself out in that direction once more and my hand latched onto something. Clinging for dear life I managed to pull myself on top of whatever it was I found. My body was heavy from all the water. With every gasping breath I heaved myself out of the water and onto this large rubber life raft. I was frightened and alone with nothing but water in every direction. A storm raged around me as I sat adrift. Still frightened I called out into the night to someone who I couldn’t entirely remember. The thing that seemed to stand out most in my mind was her soothing voice and a lullaby she used to sing. After a while my body had finally given out and I drifted off to sleep.

	I awoke later that night on a sandy beach. The storm was now nothing more than a light tropical thunder storm. I was too exhausted to move so I had resigned myself to just lie there and try to get some sleep. Fate however had decided to intervene. I don’t know how much longer afterwards it was but I felt something prodding at my left shoulder. I opened my eyes and jumped with fright to see a female human-being standing there looking at me. I startled her as well when I sprang awake. After I had once again calmed down my mind began to wander over things how I was ever going to get back home, wherever or whatever that was. I managed to pull myself to a sitting position, curling up into a ball against a fallen tree that was behind me. My wings were clinging to either side of me. I was shivering and cold so I did the only thing that came naturally to me, I cried. The sounds I made were more like soft chirps. Of all the places I have never felt so alone.

	After a few moments I felt a hand touch my bare-furred right shoulder. I looked up at her once again to see her now compassionate face. She was smiling at me. I couldn't see her face that clearly but I could tell at least that much. I watched her curiously as she extended a kind hand out to me. My gaze went from her, to her hand, and then back up to her again. I figured I had nothing else to lose so I took her hand and she hefted me up into her arms. I couldn’t explain why but for some unexplained reason I felt safe in her arms.

	We walked along a path through the tropical jungle at the edge of the beach. It was very dark and cold. I could see and feel the rain begin to pick up. I took a whiff of the air and somehow I knew that this storm was about to get worse.

	Aw we walked through the jungle I noticed a light up ahead. At first I thought it was a way back home but was quickly disappointed when it only turned out to be a small house situated in front of a huge rock cliff. The a memory of a similar house came to mind that I had guessed I visited once long ago yet that memory had faded just as quickly as it came. As we approached the wooden porch she put me down a sharp searing pain shot through my left foot. Yelping in pain I began to hop back on the other foot. The woman who found me seemed very concerned as she placed me in one of the chairs on the covered porch to try and investigate the injured foot. When she pulled her hand away I noticed that it was covered in my blood. Apparently I had inured myself but I couldn’t remember how or when. As she inspected and bandaged my foot that same feeling I felt earlier in her arms crept over me once more.

	After she finished tending to my wound she picked me up and we went inside. As we entered the threshold I was amazed to see a spacious room with a couch on a very large rug in the middle of a hard wood floor. On the rug also sat a small wooden table that came to about my waist in height. It was almost as long as the couch which was long enough for a full grown adult to lie on. The room was lit up by two odd looking lamps on either side of the couch. There was no fire atop of either yet they still remained lit by some strange object I couldn't understand. Across from the couch was a brick fireplace that was crackling with burning wood. The warmth it gave off was inviting.

	The woman carefully placed me on the couch before disappearing into an adjacent room that was only separated by a wooden counter. She flipped a switch and the room was soon lit up from above. It was coming from the same kind of strange object that seemed to be atop either lamp. One of them was well within reaching distance so I was curious as to what this strange object was. With a cautious hand I reached up towards the bright glowing object. As soon as my finger touché it I quickly learned that this was a bad idea as pain shot through my fingertips. I let out a short yelp and yanked my paw away quickly. What ever it was it seemed to be as hot as fire, maybe more. The woman returned and was no tending to my hurt paw-like hand. She spoke to me in a rather soothing voice. I couldn't understand her words but I didn't have to. It was in this light that I got a very good look at her. She was in her mid to late thirties with short dark brown hair. Her complexion was kind though starting to betray its age. She was very athletic and slender in physical build. The clothes she wore were light tan shorts with pockets all over it and a sky blue button up collar shirt with a pocket on the left front. Her face and especially her eyes told me just how much of a kind and caring person she was. I felt comforted just being near her.

	After a few moments she handed me a small cup and urged me to drink it. I lifted it up to my mouth and took a sip of the warm liquid. It’s sweet textire was the best I've ever tasted so I quickly drank down the rest. After I had finished the drink she had given me I let out a rather wide yawn leaning back on the couch. She said something else I couldn't understand before helping me to a very small room that was lined tiles. The objects in there seemed very strange to me yet one of them I immediately recognized as a white bath tub. Though it looked stranger from the baths I apparently remembered. It had a spigot but there was no handle to pump the water. Instead it had two knobs on either side of it which she turned to begin filling the tub with water. After she had the water height where she wanted it she began helping me out of the pair of pants I was wearing and placed me into the warm water, bathing me like an infant.

	I couldn’t exactly describe the feelings coming over me at that moment. I felt secure and safe in her presence, like a son would with his kind and caring mother. She was probably saying what I was thinking but her words fell on disinterest for the only thing I cared about at that moment was the squeaking rubber duck. Of course it didn’t squeak anymore after I bit into it with my large buck-teeth.

	After my bath had finished mom helped me dry off and into another set of really comfortable loose fitting pants. Picking me up once more she carried me into a room and placed me on top of a very comfortable bed on my stomach. It didn’t take long after that before i nodded off to sleep. I dreamed of a beautiful place yet it all felt so familiar, a sense that I belonged there. I could only assume that the dream was about the home I once knew. About the many places I had once visited there. I also saw this woman, someone who I could only describe as an angel without wings. When I saw her face I began to feel sad and insecure. I somehow felt that she was the one responsible for abandoning me above the sea and leaving me to fend for myself. Cast away from a world I might never see again.

	I awoke again to a gentle touch against my shoulder where. I must have been crying because the pillow I was damp with tears. With my eyes locked on her she began talking to me again in a soothing tone which soon turned into the hum of a lullaby. Within moments I had once again drifted off to sleep, the woman staying with me through part of the night.

	I awoke the next morning to an unusually good smell. Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes I noticed something unusual on the wall across from me. I got out of the bed and padded over to the odd creature who was now staring back at me. He was in a room almost identical to mine. He had long ears on the top of his head, puffy cheeks, and completely green eyes. Two long teeth were protruding from the upper lip of his short muzzle. His feet were as long and as wide as mine. I also noticed that he had wings and brown colored fur just like I did.

	I reached out with my right hand in an effort to touch this individual only to see him reach out with his left. When I extended my hand I found a strange barrier between us. I moved my left hand a little to see that he did the same with his right. Slowly an idea began forming in my head. After a few experiments I figured out that I wasn't looking at another individual, I was looking at myself. I felt my furry face while looking at my reflection. Never before had I seen a reflection so crisp and clear. I couldn't' help but smile at this little revelation. I fanned my rather large wings out a little bit and half turned to get a better look at them. They were a perfect mix of brown and white on each feather. I was definitely pleased with what I saw.

	The strange smell I noticed earlier returned to the front of my mind which caused my stomach to growl. I followed the smell to the partially opened door in the room and poked my head through. I took a few light sniffs of the air and followed the smell to its source. It was the woman messing with something over a stove. I attempted to try and get her attention but I only wound up making a mewing sound instead. She looked in my direction while saying something I couldn't understand, gesturing towards the table for me to take a seat. It took a little effort but I managed to finally climb into the semi-tall wooden chair. There I waited patiently as she continued scraping into this shallow pan over the fire. Whatever she was cooking it smelled really good. I didn’t have to wait long as she placed a couple of plates on the table and scrapped the contents from the pan onto my plate. I immediately recognized it as scrambled eggs. They smelled a little different but there was no mistaking what I saw.

	Not wasting any time I grabbed a little bit of my food and popped it in my mouth. I was immediately rewarded with a very sweet taste. The woman watching laughed lightly while saying something to me, holding up this four pronged object and pointing to it. I looked at the table in-front of me to find that I had one identical to hers. I had no idea what to do with it though or why she was trying to draw my attention to it. Ignoring her prompts I grabbed another piece of the food and stuffed it into my mouth. The woman laughed once more. From the expression on her face I could tell it was becoming more evident that I didn’t understand a thing she was saying, but then again she didn’t have to. I could see it in her eyes that she was now looking at me as if I was to be her own child. I smiled and reached over, giving her a big hug before going back to my meal. For the first time since I arrived here I felt safe, like I belonged. Giving my new mother a smile I was happy in knowing that here is where I was going to stay.