• The moon was full the day I slipped my skin. I remember walking on two legs. I remember the feel of the leaves under my feet. They broke with every step. I remember the smell of the forest, of pine, of water. I remember the sounds of the crickets, the sounds of life…of the forest.

    I don’t remember my life before or my life after. I just remember being. I don’t know how it happened. I just know I was compelled. I felt as though I was being led. By what I want to know still till this day, though it still eludes me.

    I was walking along my own path, a path that I had walked many times before. It was just a normal night. At least I thought it was. I remember walking along my path, in the woods that had welcomed me many a times. I know every branch, leaf, and rock. I know the feel of the road, the curves that it has, and were it leads me. I know my destination. What I didn’t know was what I was.

    I took a step into the forest, shedding my skin. All that was left was small, furry, and helpless. A beast of my former self. What I had become was that of the forest itself. I was here and I was home. Finally the forest had welcomed me, and I ran.

    On all fours I yipped and danced on my own. I played and jumped, a mad man.