I was hunting.
Ferus was back at the camp, setting up shelter. It was my turn to find food. I had ventured into the dense woodland, where deer, spriggen and
wood nymphs were known to dwell. All good meat for a minotaur.
I knelt amongst the leafy underbrush, gripping my spear tightly. Ferus had always been better at hunting than me; my bright white fur was
hardly the best camouflage. Over the years, I had learned how to conceal myself using the plant-life, which meant I couldn't move without
exposing myself. While Ferus was more of a run-and-grab-'em type of hunter, I subscribed to the patient strategy.
I sensed movement. I fought the instinct to move and tried to see out of the corners of my vision. I couldn't see what it was, but there was
definitely something moving. Something pale. Cautious. I waited.
It was moving closer. I felt my heartbeat slow down. And then-
In a flash, and with no noise, I sprung from my hiding spot and hit my target hard with my fist. It fell and I lunged with my spear.
I stopped just in time to not pierce his neck.
"Alright?" smiled Runt, "That hurt, y'know."
He looked no different. He was still the smooth skinned boy that had been etched into my memory, not a day older.
I on the other hand had a thick winter hide and my fair share of scars. He was naked, of course, and I was wearing nothing other than the
harness for my spear and the bones of things I'd killed in my mane. I made no attempt to disguise my boner, which had immediately sprung to
attention. I'd been gay and nude for decades now, I wasn't embarrassed this time.
"You," I muttered.
"I thought you'd be 'appy to see me," he complained. He tried to stand but I didn't move my spear. "Don't worry, I've come to take you 'ome."
"I am home," I grunted, "This has been my home for thirty years."
He blinked. "Thirty?" he repeated. Only then did he see how much older I was than when he last saw me, "Is that how long it's been?"
"You didn't notice?"
"When the Angels came I went to the world above," he explained, "Time travels faster there. Last time I saw you was only two weeks ago."
I felt my blood freeze. "Two weeks?"
He nodded.
"I came back as soon as I could," he told me, "I promised I'd get you home."
I moved away my spear. He got up though I didn't help him.
"Well," I mumbled, "Thank you. But you needn't have bothered."
"Don't you want to go home."
"I've got a life here," I explained, "I'm happy. I'm with Ferus."
He raised his eyebrows. "No shit! How is that guy?"
"I love him very much."
There was an awkward silence.
"How'd you find me?"
"Got lucky I guess, he shrugged, then he said, "Y'see, the thing is, I'm kind of still on the run."
"Not my problem anymore," I shrugged, "I've got food to find."
I sheathed my spear and turned away from him, heading back towards the camp. I thought that'd be the end of it, but as I walked, I felt
something tug on my tail.
I looked back to see him pulling on it. He was surprisingly strong.
"Let go, Runt," I ordered him. But he just grinned his malicious grin and gave a sharp tug.
Suddenly, I felt myself deflate. I was shrinking. I roared in fury and swing my arms for him. He dodged out of the way. I threw my spear but I
missed.
Next thing I knew, his hands were on me, pushing and prodding. He was pushing me inwards from all sides. For the longest time, all I was
aware of were his hands, and they were getting bigger and bigger.
My muscular body shrunk to a tiny size. My huge arms were pinched into tiny paws. My muzzle pulled into a pointed thing with long whiskers.
My legs pushed up into tiny, scampering things.
The bones slipped out of my mane. My spear's harness fell clean off. And in barely an instant I was a tiny, white mouse and Runt was holding
me by my tail. Gone was my body, gone was strength, gone was my life of happiness. Again.
"It's a full moon tonight," his gigantic face told me, "We're gonna ride it back down to your world."