Paul POV
My mind traced the etchings on my ceiling, creating entire islands and livelihoods from mere blotches.
If I had a morning routine, this was it.
I carried on like this for some time until I was interrupted by a lone raindrop landing on my window. I watched it trickle down until it flattened at the base of the glass. Soon, it was joined by another droplet.
Then another.
And another.
Until my window resembled a gentle creek.
Snores coming from down the hall meant my dad was still asleep, so I knew it was early.
How early?
I couldn't tell apart from the peeking sun hinting it was just before 8 am - I normally slept for another 30 minutes. I quickly mourned those precious minutes of rest before comforting myself with the idea of a run.
Not wanting to wake my father down the hall, I slowly opened my drawer pulling out a pair of black, mid-thigh shorts along with a pair of socks and an olive t-shirt. Bringing myself in front of the bathroom mirror, I splashed cold water on my half-sleeping eyes and brushed my teeth before throwing on my clothes.
After tiptoeing to the front door, I reached for my trainers, the smell of yesterday's forest still fresh on their soles. I slipped them on and opened the door just enough for me to slip out.
The steam forming as my breath met the air told me it was cold. Seeing as my body was at a constant 110°F, I barely noticed the difference between my room and where I now stood outside.
Letting my greedy nostrils breathe in the fresh morning scents, I made my way to the edge of the forest already tugging at my shirt. I took off my t-shirt, then my shoes and socks, my shorts, and finally my briefs. After tossing my clothes behind a nearby bush, I took a deep breath and instinctively lunged forward landing on what were supposed to be my hands but were now massive paws. I shook heat into the air and fully adjusted to my new, towering form.
Already, I was picking up smells and sounds I was oblivious to before. The smell of crushed grass I had just walked over and the scent of lavender detergent lingering on my clothes caught my attention. I then closed my eyes and let my ears pick up what I presumed were the quick thudding heartbeats of a squirrel and her children nestled in a tree somewhere. I even managed to make out the snores coming from my house half a mile away.
A gentle breeze ran across my nose, and with it, the scent of a patch of Lewisia flowers. The smell was faint yet strong enough for me to follow. Before I took another breath, I began sprinting in the direction of the patch. Letting my legs push me forward, I took in the sights of the forest. A greyish, brown bird perched on a branch, startled by my presence, was beginning to take off, but I was long gone before its feet had even left the tree.
Running was the best part of being a shifter. We were faster than any animal, faster than any car.
Nothing could outrun us.
Well, almost nothing.
3rd Person POV
As Paul arrived at a clearing, the scent of the flower patch danced in the air.
He looked around and found what he had been looking for. A perfectly symmetrical patch lay at the center of the clearing as if it was performing for the trees around it.
He laid down next to the patch not wanting to disturb it.
His breathing slowed and soon he was on his side slowly closing his eyes.
A/N: Run by Hozier ( track/2AEKTA8tQnXUullpmN8NkL?si=B4rpD8doT92tOzZ9CDIy1w)