Lupus.
It was a soft drone, similar to that of wings on a hummingbird. It spoke barely out of hearing, so soft that if she was not paying close attention, she would miss it completely. It would happen more or less at night, when the world had fallen asleep but Iris remained awake. Often, she would look up at the night sky and wonder why its gloomy darkness, peppered with white lights, felt so familiar and comfortable. Unlike humans, she had noticed that common desires, such as eating or sleeping, was not entirely needed. Of course, it was something enjoyed nonetheless. Upon her time on the earth, Iris indulged mostly in reading and taking interest on what children and adults did in their spare time. Observing parks, schools, and the like. Iris would then find herself troubled by the massive gap in her memory, as if the final piece of the puzzle was removed and erased. Iris would ponder, staring at the night sky as if the sea of stars held the answer she desperately wanted.
Of course, Iris grew completely and utterly lonely. She knew she was different, and feared of being cast away by the world she had grown to love. Children shied away when they saw her. Adults looked at her with a curious but weary eye. A child, with no known guardian, lost in a crowd.
I am here.
It was always the voice, the voice in the back of her head that cooed to her whenever the gripping feeling of loneliness crept onto her. It was warm and comforting, and the stuffed cat felt more like a friend than just an object. Iris would talk to it, fully aware that it would not reply. In a world full of strangers, the stuffed cat was her home. Iris wandered, with no known home in sight, no known goal.
Be safe, my child.
After so many months of wandering, wandering the planet and learning, Iris soon realized she could not just continue to walk. When Iris took her journey to the earth, she chose the first form she laid eyes on; a small female child. However, she was completely bare. Knowing nothing, she wandered bare and alone through forests and hills, looking for a destination but not knowing what. It was an itch, an itch that would stay with her for a very, very long time. Her wandering was interrupted when a group of children found her in the forest. A house made from boards and wood stuck into the side of a tree. They were older and one may have even been younger, but otherwise unaffected by her sudden naked appearance. Iris almost didn't understand when they offered her clothing, pants that were much too large, and a small coat with a zipper and a hood, coupled with cute little shoes that fit just right. They brought her into the small house that rested above the ground, high in the trees. Iris hardly said much. By then it was dusk, and the children left their tiny house and vanished, leaving her within the four wooden walls. However, an odd dreariness overcame her. It was confusing and disorienting. Did Iris actually need sleep? She had gone so long with none at all, but her body refused to move and her eyelids closed.
I will be with you.
The stuffed cat was nestled next to her cheek. It was warm, as if someone had been holding it before her. It was not there beforehand, but yet felt so familiar in her arms. From then, until she woke up in the house in the trees, the cat was with her. The itch was also there, ever present, to find something. Find what, she didnt know the answer. She was searching, constantly, always.
You will be safe here.
And it when then Iris found it. A looming house, beautiful in its structure. People crowded near the door, outside, and within the building. A sweet scent filled the air, and any weariness that gathered instantly vanished. Iris had no idea what this place, but there were others. They were different. In what way, she couldnt answer it, but could tell. A girl with small ears placed a top of her head, another with horns sprouting from his forehead. Iris stood a ways away, observing quietly. She didnt think for a second they were hostile, but approaching was not always the best option with strangers. The itch was gone. Had this been the place she was searching for? What was its significance? It was beautiful. Iris had not seen many well built places, but this place had charm. It was home.
