It was the turn of the year. Another journey around the sun. It was time for a change.
A physical change.
Meret was dizzy. The bird. The pelt. The cave. The powder. Her breath was ragged as her change continued. She could feel her blood pumping around her skull as her brain screamed in pain. The winter winds whipped outside of her safe haven but her body burned with heat as the pelt burned into her skin. There was no going back. There was no going forward before. This...This was what she wanted. Change. A new her. Wing.
It was all for the wings. Her dream.
Meret's vision faded in and out of consciousness as she writhed on the ground. The ringing of her ears almost drowned out the sound of bones snapping together. Almost.
She barely managed to sit up before she emptied the contents of her stomach on the floor in front of her. Her body rejecting the plant matter she had eaten before. The taste of copper filled her mouth. Blood? Why was she bleeding? Was she dying? She was going to die. This was a mistake. She should have listened. She....She....
The world spun around in her vision a few more times before eyes rolled back in her head and she passed out.
The howling sound of the winter wind blew outside of the cave. How long had she been out? Hours probably. Her head was still throbbing against her skull. She was gasping for air weakly. She could barely move. Her mind was so foggy. She felt...Different. The pelt on her back didn't feel like weight anymore. The feathers. She could feel the frost nipping at the feathers. She felt the same but everything was different. It was a weird feeling.
Time had no meaning as she laid on the cave floor. The wind outside being her only companion. She could feel the frost surrounding her, moving in like a beast that had found helpless prey. That comforting wind she had been listening to became a deep growl. That cold started to snap at her limbs. She needed to move. No. She needed to fight. If she didn't fight she'd be dead.
Meret closed her eyes and tried to steady her breathing. Hadn't she fought enough? All she had been doing all her life was fighting. Fighting for love, fighting for her kids. It got her no where. The wind seemed to whisper in her ear now. 'You are weak. Give in to the frost. Sleep eternally forever more. The cold and dark will embrace you;.
...
No. No. No no no no no!
Meret let out a howled scream and the wind went silent. She was on her hooves now. She was up. Her breath ragged, her legs shaking, her wings dragging against the floor.
...
Her wings. She had wings now. That feral scream changed into a hollow, dark laugh. Her dream. The only thing keeping her going in this dark, cruel world. She had done it. She slowly lifted her wings, looking over the beautifully decorated feathers. Reds, blues and golds. Colours of her past, her future. They all left her. They left her alone. Her mate, her children. On their WINGS. Did they think they were so much better then her? her daughter should have stayed with her! She had no wings but no! She was gone too! All of them. All of them gone. JUST GONE!
Meret started to pace. Rage building up in her soul. Everyone. Everyone left her. Alone. To rot. To never be happy again. It was her against the world and the world was even against her. Not any more. She was done giving up. Never again. She wasn't weak. She did the unthinkable! She was strong. Stronger then anyone else. Stronger then her family. Yes. Their wings. What she coveted for years. She'd rip them out. Pluck out every feather. They'd never laugh at her again! She'd never be alone. She....ONLY SHE would be finally better then them all. She'd make sure of it. She was ready. She had been reborn. A new her.
The mare took her first new steps out into the New Years night cold. Dawn would be coming soon. She had changed. She'd make them pay. All of them. All of them who laughed at her. The world. She took in a deep breath letting the cold fill her lungs. She could feel her wings rise to the sky. The sky was finally hers. Her New Years resolution...
She'd make them all pay.
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