Ugh. My wings felt like stone. I had been flying for hours, and yet I still had hardly reached the Tennessee border. The one near the Mississippi river, I believe.

It was high enough that any passing human would think I was a bird. A big one, but still a bird. It helped that I was short for a bird kid. Average human sized, not freakishly tall like I had seen some bird kids.

Upon finding a patch of forest, I alighted down, tucking my wings in a little early so I could land on my feet like a cat. I may have awesome landing skills and excellent balance normally, but I still manage to trip over my own feet. And tail. Go figure.

This patch of forest was close to the river. Yet it was still wild and overgrown. Perfect. No one would be able to see me here.

I padded through the forest quietly for a few minutes before finding a suitable mossy hollow in between some tree roots. Now, I was starving!

Just as I managed to find a rabbit, and kill it (yeah, no weapons required, I got CLAWS), a movement in some bushes made me look up. A small, brown tabby cat stepped out.

Now, I had company. I could use a skill of mine. "Hello!" I called to the cat.

The cat looked shocked for a moment, before meowing, "Uh, hi? You, a human, really speak cat?!?!"

I giggled for a second, remembering how funny it was to talk to animals who didn't know I could understand them. "Of course I can. Care to join me for a meal?"

The cat, which now I could tell was a lady cat, got over her shock and replied, eying the rabbit, "Maybe I will. You might wanna find a second rabbit, though."

Later, as I curled inside my makeshift shelter that night, the brown she-cat came back.

"I thought you might be lonely," she said quietly as she settled down beside me.

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it," she replied, "By the way, my names Leafia."

"Mines Spark."

When she woke the next morning she left. I was still admiring her kindness. Leafia had told me last night that she didn't have a mate or kits, so her nights could be lonely and cold.

I never had been treated kindly in my life, except by the occasional animal. A small wolf pack that took pity on me when I first escaped. A pair of pumas that taught me how to hunt and fight. And now Leafia. What was I going to do with all this kindness?

I sighed, and began to look for breakfast. I actually found a decent one, a rabbit like last night, and some berries.

You might wonder why I eat meat when I can talk to animals, and I'm 8% more of one than humans.

Well, the truth is, that humans are animals too. Every animal type has it's own language. Humans have a lot more that one language for their species. I just understand ALL the animal languages, and one human language, English.

Now, although I understand all these languages, and speak them fluently, that does not mean I won't eat meat. On the contrary, I like it. Turns out I can eat raw meat safely because I was mixed with a cat (carnivore), and I believe a golden eagle (again, carnivore).

Also, there is a common animal philosophy that the pumas, Nuri and Nova, taught me. "It is not the way of the predator to eat like prey." Nuri had said when I explained my dilemma about understanding prey's words, too. He taught me to block out their pleas, to not listen. But Nova had told me that, although a hunter still eats prey, he does not hunt and kill more than he needs.

She fixed me with an intense stare. "And that, Spark, in the way of the hunter. Do not let humans waver you in that knowledge. For you are above them, a hunter, and they believe you are below them, as prey. Do not believe this, young one, I have seen greater beauty in nature that the humans world."

I looked up at her, confused and a little sad. "But Nova, I was created by humans."

Nova shoke her head. "No. If Queen Nature had not wanted you in this world, she would not have let you live. Believe me, Spark, you are a work of beauty. And never, ever, forget that."

Nova and Nuri were my only parents. They didn't teach me how to fly, but they taught me how to survive.

I lived with them for 7 months. But, eventually, I wanted to go out and explore the world on my own. They let me go willingly, if a bit sadly.

I hadn't realized how much I had depended on them until my first night alone. They normally curled around me, protecting me, keeping me warm.

That night was one of the hardest of my life.

I thought this all over as I flew towards my destination.