Discovery

The forest crackled and smoldered.

Over the sound of the burning woodland there was barking. Off to my left I heard several loud yaps. Barry barked back in response. Three dog like shapes ran into the clearing I’d inadvertently created.

Barry ran to meet them.

It seemed Barry was working with the eel to keep it from eating his family. Good to know. If ever I needed to coerce him into doing something for me…

Barry growled in my direction as though he could read my thoughts.

“No, I was thinking anything nefarious. I was just thinking how cute your family is.”

I hadn’t clocked it as we were entering this part of the forest but there didn’t seem to be any wildlife around, it was likely the eel had either scared them all away or eaten them.

Now, that this area was blackened and broken it was unlikely anyone would be back anytime soon. In fact, nothing would probably grow here again for a long time.

“All because of this. Stupid. Eel!” I made an attempted to kick it’s stupid dead face in with my bare feet yet for some reason it disappeared. More than that I was now looking up from the ground.

I tried to stand and slowly rose from the ground and then continued rising. What was with my breath, it wasn’t this bad a minute ago, and why was the ground getting farther away? Barry and his family were looking up in fear. His haunches were raised and his teeth bared.

I was a frenemy not an enemy so why was he suddenly acting so malicious. Bad dog, I felt a sudden heat rising from my skin and an electric tingle run across my spine and exit out the top of my head, a bolt of lighting struck just in front of Barry.

No. There was no way? Right? I imagined myself swimming forward and around and lo and behold my body moved. I caught a golden tail out of my peripheral. That sealed it, I was the stupid eel now.

I attempted to speak exhaling nothing but hot air. I wanted to speak again. I needed to tell Barry I wasn’t his actual enemy.

I needed legs and person shaped mouth. I slowly lowered myself to the ground. Legs. Legs. Legs. With a lot of focus I now felt the ground under feet.

“I…” I attempted to make sound. My vision became more narrowed and my arms peeked out in front of me. Check. “Marble made maple and marveled magnificent mental marimbas.” Voice, check. I looked down at my voluminous chest. Doubles check.

My skin however had taken on a blue, scaly texture. My legs and hands were webbed. I’d also be willing to bet I had fish ears. Everything sounded like I was going through a tunnel.

I focused even harder on my voice, “Barry.”

My dog friend was clearly incredibly unnerved by whatever he was looking at. I ran some electricity across my palm. “Come to the dark side, become my apprentice. Mwah ha ha!” I couldn’t resist.

He just stared at me. Apparently, the alien demon dog had never seen Star Wars, go figure.

To be fair, it was rare even on my world to find someone who had seen such an old movie. Only Entertainment History majors like me and millennial film nerds (meaning people who were fond of movies from the turn of the millennium) would probably appreciate that reference.

“I think I’ve discovered my cheat ability, for now let’s regroup back at base. I need to do some more tests.” I began walking but didn’t hear Barry following.

“What’s wrong?” I looked back at Barry standing firmly next to a dog that was slightly slimmer and smaller than his.

It seemed Barry didn’t want to leave his family behind.

“I’m fine with that. You all are welcome to join me.”

Barry aaaaand Iris looked at each other lovingly.

“Come on, do you want me to say ‘I forgive you’ cause you’d be asking the wrong person. I’ll still let you stay though.”

Barry looked straight at me, seeming to come to a decision.

He walked forward, “Cool I-” Before I’d finished my sentence he bowed his head. I don’t particularly like dogs yet I didn’t totally hate him and it seemed like he was asking to leave my company.

Part of my wanted to light him up but that wasn’t truly in my character. He didn’t want to travel with me since his family was safe now. I was just a means to an end and I’d fulfilled my purpose.

“I guess I’ll have to hunt my own food. Wait! Shit! I still don’t have a conductive material. Haha! What was all this for again! Ha!” I was laughing now, at the same time I was also sad.

The no-good devil nestled up against me.

“You still haven’t fulfilled your end of the bargain. I’ll still hold you to it. You find a dragon or something, you come get me wherever I am. Got it.”

He pulled away and nodded.

That was that. I waved goodbye and continued on my journey.