A Change of Lifestyle

Chapter 1- Dreams Can Become Reality

It was one heck of a dream, that's for sure. I woke up in a cold sweat, but the heavy breaths that followed weren't from fear, but instead a sense of thrill and the ensuing adrenaline that follows. I took a look down at myself in bed. Being sat up, the covers kept below my torso covered from the cool night air. I couldn't explain it, the dream itself had been exhilarating, but I couldn't remember any of it.

Wiping my brow, I decided to go and get myself a drink, slipping out from the warm confines of my bed. It wasn't long before I navigated my way to the kitchen. It struck me as odd how cold it was in the house, though the t-shirt and shorts I wore for bed weren't the most suitable for the chill in the house. Still with droplets of sweat on my face and neck, I grabbed kitchen roll to dab it away, binning it as I grabbed a glass from the open cupboard. The cool feel of the glass was lost on my already chilled hand. Still, I didn't see much appeal in the cold water, but my thirst demanded some fresh H2O. The tap handle was twisted so the order was completed, allowing me to down the liquid. It left my insides wishing for warmth to follow.

Naturally, having woken up, nature called, though not from the drink consumed moments before. I am not one to deny the call of nature, so I padded my way across to the bathroom, making sure I didn't wake anyone up. Being in a house full of fellow students meant they would not appreciate an early morning wakeup call from their stumbling housemate. The door was shut, and the lock was done. Nature took its course and soon I had to wash my hands, opting for the warm water. Not that I needed waking up, but I felt I should freshen up my face a little bit at least. Without any thought, I cupped the water in my hands, bringing my hands up and my face into them. With my face in the arm water, I felt relaxed, warm all over for just that moment. A moment later the water escaped back into the basin as I could hear it, even a few drips coming off my face.

To see my reflection in the mirror, I lifted my head, the lights just above and below the mirror meant I wouldn't miss myself. I looked pretty much how I would expect at that time; tired, rough and somewhat confused. I forced myself to blink a couple of times, smacking my lips together as I sighed. For a second though, I was caught off guard when in my own reflection, I could see another outline in there, within myself. It looked like a lion cub. As weird as it was that I could identify it, I just could, like it was my own body. Before I could examine it further though, it was gone. When I looked at myself again, all I could see was a more confused expression. "It's official, my stress and sleep cycle have made me start hallucinating." I laughed at myself.

Now that the shock had woken me up, I took the time to admire myself in the mirror. Perhaps admire isn't the right word. I looked at my features, my medium-short length hair, a hazel brown with edges going blonde with the curls they had. My grey eyes scanned over to pick out all my flaws, a perfected routine at this point. The facial hair that hadn't been kept in check for a couple of weeks, a darker colour than my hair, although with some ginger tinge to it. As I looked more, I could make out my rounded chin through the facial hair, admittedly it wasn't even disguised a little bit. My eyes drifted along to look at my form. I was by no means a complete mess, what with the competitive sports I had been part of, but I wasn't the ideal physical shape either. I was a guy who liked all food groups, but mainly guilty of indulging in the wrong ones. Fortunately, I wasn't one for complaining about it.

None of this could break my thoughts on seeing a lion cub as an extra reflection looking back at me. With one final sigh, I turned off the lights and made my way back into my room. Once I was back under the covers, I turned onto my side and grabbed at my phone, unlocking it and accessing the wonderful thing that is the internet. From there, I opened a browser, searching for Explanation for hallucinating a lion cub in my reflection. Of course, the search came up with nothing but news stories of how lions had been found or raised by people, as well as the obligatory image suggestions of lion cubs. I couldn't help but get the feeling something was up with that. It wasn't because of what I saw, but more to do with the fact I felt like I knew who I saw in the reflection that wasn't human.

It troubled me more, because I had no connection to lions other than a work experience placement that landed me in a zoo when I was trying to build up my application to a vet school. That was a couple of years in the past and I never interacted with the lions. I admired them from afar, but not enough to distract me at the time. At best, it was a tenuous link, so I found it odd I might have had this happen. It wasn't like I could discuss it with anyone at the time, they were all asleep and even if they were awake, arguing I had seen a reflection of a different species in the mirror wouldn't have been seen as the most rational. With the internet failing me and my housemates not likely to believe a word, I sought help from books, at least for a second, I did, until realising that there was no chance something like this would have been documented in a small collection of books instructing the reader the various procedures a veterinarian may have to perform.

I sighed in defeat, making sure my alarm was still set for the early start. I looked at the clock at the top of the screen to see it was half past two in the morning, giving me only an extra four hours sleep if I was lucky. With all the checks made, my eyes closed, I could finally embrace warm slumber once again, a little frown on my face whilst thoughts started to clear from my mind, except from the one that bothered me the most. Despite this, it didn't take me long to get back to sleep.

The area around me felt familiar. It was a hot day, almost unbearably so. The grass around me was so tall. I made a mental note of the way the wind was swaying the savannah grass, knowing it would affect what I was aiming to do. I was the one that had to adjust to the conditions, not the other way around. I had been told that so many times I could repeat the words before they were said to me again. The excitement built up as a small temptation to let that excitement rumble through my chest came. Again, the voice in my head spoke to refrain me from doing so. Following the path around in the savannah until I laid eyes on my target: a red billed hornbill. I couldn't help but grin. He had no idea where I was but was looking around in desperation to find me. I could see him call out for me, although my hearing was very distorted, and I couldn't make out the words. I could just tell that it was me he searched for. Before he could call out again though, I made my pounce, landing on him with force enough to shove the poor bird's face into the dirt. Despite this giving me a peak in energy levels, I knew I couldn't finish the job. I had been told it was practice more than anything. A voice came from behind me and even though I didn't know what was said, my body tingled with pride.

Just as I was going to turn to my admirer, my eyes shot open, startled by the alarm going off and throwing me out of my bed had I not saved myself by stretching out an arm to the floor. Having recovered from that ordeal, I stood up, looking to the mirror on the far side of my room, across from my bed. Yes, I was still the same as before, albeit with bed hair. A part of me was hoping to be shocked by the same lion cub in my reflection as before. It didn't happen, further assuring me I was going crazy. My bed though, suggested that my dreaming had been rough. I could remember the dream, although wouldn't have said it was a scary or intense dream. It happened so smoothly, so real, just without clear sound, which didn't make that much sense either.

Regardless of this, my day had to continue as normal, getting myself ready as any person would, with a shower, brushing my teeth as well as a hearty breakfast, though one could only be as hearty as a student budget would allow. As soon as I was ready though, I got out the door, heading to the veterinary surgery I had been getting experience at as a vet student, finally able to get involved with minor surgeries, still observing major procedures. It was not a profession where they could allow too many risks in the search for experience.

Inside the building, I removed my coat, straight into work as I observed a few consults. One of the patients, a dachshund, had been admitted because the small canine had attacked, killed and proceeded to eat a whole chicken. That is a lot of food in a short time for such a small dog. Feeling its stomach, it was solid. Through all the routine checks, I couldn't hep but chuckle in my head at the thought of the dog stalking its prey before striking. Much like I had done in my dream, although this animal wasn't held back from the final rush of adrenaline in its action. I snapped out of the thought quick enough to not worry the owner or the lead vet, instead suggesting the route of treatment that should be taken for the patient. At midday, I was granted leave, thankfully it was the day I only worked until midday, having satisfied the practice with my service, I got my coat on again and made for the local supermarket.

My phone buzzed as I pulled it out of my coat pocket, seeing a message that had been sent my way. Not a friend, instead it was my mother. Being the caring mother, she asked if I needed her to send over any extra pairs of socks. It made me chuckle. Despite being twenty-one years old and away from the family household, she would still do anything to make sure I was comfortable. A short decline was my reply, I didn't want to have to rely on my parents, not now. Swiping through the pages on my phone notes I found the shopping list. It wasn't massive, but it would last me a week, largely consisting of pasta, sauce and meat to accompany it, then something that I really shouldn't buy, but would anyway, such as a tub of ice cream. That would always come after getting the necessities, of course. During my shop though, I noticed something peculiar. Not so much about the shop itself, but more to do with my reaction to the pet food section. I had passed through there many times before, but this time I felt disgusted, as if I could smell each individual component of the food and it made me want to wretch, feeling too nauseous to stay there for long. I was good at hiding my reaction from others, only showing a small grimace as I looked back to the aisle.

After that little episode in the supermarket, everything seemed normal enough. A short walk got me back home, putting everything I bought in their place. I may not have been the most organised, but when it came to food I bought, I was precise in where I would place them. Food matters.

With all the concentration my work at the vet's required, even a half day would feel draining. It didn't matter if it had only been four hours of work. As soon as I sat down on my bed, I felt the crash of energy hit me, slumping me from my sitting position as I let out a long sigh. After this, I let a smile grow on my face, flopping back so I was laying on my bed horizontally. All but my legs were on the bed, allowing me to relax once more. I knew the next few days would be mentally tougher with ten hour shifts on the horizon, but it didn't intimidate me, instead motivating me. I knew it was what I wanted to do. Of course, a small glance across and I could see my study books. "Nope. Ed Rigas, you have earned this nap, as part of your rights as a student, I demand you use this free time to sleep." I spoke to myself. It was likely my housemates were out anyway, but even if they weren't, they had heard me talk to myself like that before.

It didn't take long to convince myself this was the right idea and so I was soon ready for bed again, though I made sure to close the window in case the air decided to be crisp again when I woke up. Naturally, I knew the nap shouldn't become a full sleep, so I set a timer onto it, putting it at two hours, adding ten minutes for me to fall asleep to. Before too long, I was off, my eyes shut as I waited for the bliss of sleep to take over me, removing any stress that the waking world had with it.

The sun was setting, but I wanted to stay out longer, using my smaller form to hide within the grass. It required all of the stealth skills I had been taught to let the larger being pass by me. I knew there was no malicious intent with the large one, but at the same time a small pang of fear was with me, although maybe dread would have described it better. As I was passed, I started to back up, thinking my ordeal was done. However, I was definitely wrong, bumping into something behind me. I looked up to see a face, although it was blurred in my direct sight, I could tell there was a caring smile to it. I gave my own smile, having been caught in the act of hiding from what was an inevitable ending. Hiding didn't really work when it was hiding from the one ho taught you how to sneak. All they had to do was know my pattern, which wasn't as unpredictable as I would have liked. I didn't like being beaten at something I thought I was good at, feeling the rumbling from my chest grow before I suddenly felt weightless, dangling in the air. I was being accrued, having given up any fight as I accepted my fate. I looked on in the distance as my home was closer and closer with each step. When I did get home, I wasn't put down in the way I expected, not allowed to roam freely, instead pinned down in what I could only feel as an affectionate nuzzle. I felt close to this larger being, so nuzzled it back, a rumbling coming back at me, showing the larger size, but the gentle intentions. I felt safe, I knew I was safe. In that knowledge and with the sun now set, I could let go of my waking moments.

My eyes opened. My eyes proceeded to shut again, the bright light making me wince. I didn't realise I had left my light on in my room, but damn it was bright and right in my eyes apparently. The next time I opened my eyes, I did so with caution. Squinting through, I could tell something was up, so deciding to be bold, I allowed my eyes the full access to sight. What I saw was enough to make my heart stop for a moment. I could see the sun in the corner of my eye. Not my room light, but the sun. The ceiling was gone. Apparently so was the winter air, because it was already very warm, and it didn't appear to be that late in the day. To add to my confusion, there was a lot of grass around my room. Not just any grass of course, savannah grass. It took my newly woken mind to realise finally that this was not my room, and something had gone very wrong. Very wrong indeed. I encouraged myself to remain calm as I checked my surroundings. The savannah grass was a big giveaway as to where I was, but it couldn't explain why I was there. "It is all okay. Clearly this dream is like a two-part episode. Sleep psychologists would love me right now. It won't be long, and that damn alarm will wake me up again." I tried to assure myself in my thoughts, trying to keep calm with the only logical reason I could give for this. Not even a moment later, I could feel my left arm start to cramp up, so I tried to stretch it out, looking to the limb only to find the most jaw dropping moment, for me at least. Right before my eyes, under my control, was a paw. A feline paw I very quickly found out as the claws…my claws showed themselves before hiding again. For a moment I was so taken by this that I couldn't help shaking the leg and paw again just to make sure. I could feel each movement in the limb and that was pretty scary. Looking over at my other limbs, including a feline tail, I discovered I was a lion, and a cub at that. I shook my head on the ground. "Nope, this isn't an actual happe-" I had to pause after speaking. My voice had regressed to become childlike and not only that, but most notable of all, it was a male voice coming from me. I had woken up and found myself as a female lion cub and was at a loss of what to do in this wilderness. As if on cue, that is when my ears perked to the sound of something approaching in the tall grass. I could almost make it out if it didn't blend in so well. That is when I realised what it was looking back at me.

This couldn't be good for me.

A/N: That felt really nice to write. It is a little change up from the sort of things I used to write, and I do hope that you enjoyed it. Due to my busy schedule, I cannot confirm if the next chapter will be out very soon or not, just know I will get it done. I would encourage you, my dear readers, to leave a review of any kind, just to let me know what you liked and what could be worked. See you next time