Running. That's all that was on my mind at the moment. Well, that and looking over my shoulder every few seconds to make sure that I wasn't being followed. The cold windnipped at my naked body, and not for the first time, I wished to be back in my natural form. Not this...thing.

Many minutes later, I stop by a slow moving stream. I get down onto all fours and lap at the water, quenching the burn in my throat. After that, I finally get a good look at myself in the reflective water. Fiery auburn hair surrounded my facial features, brushing against the middle of my back. "At least my eyes are the same," I thought, chilling, icy blue eyes staring back up at me. Hard, lean muscles moved under my flawlessly, tanned skin as I stood up, stumbling slightly. I still wasn't used to walking on two legs, but found that it moved his form faster than on all furs. My now long legs carried me forward as I continued to run through the snow covered forest. Moving kept me warm. And kept me away from the lab. I was never going back there. Ever.

I pause mid-stride, frowning. The soft ground under my feet had turned hard. I leaned down, brushing away the snow to reveal a large black surface. The road. I hurry to stand, to get off of this area before...

Too late. I turn my head just in time to see the two twin lights, hear the screeching of brakes, to feel the impact of the car against my side, and allowing the darkness to take hold.

"Kid, you all right?" a gruff voice called from far away.

I slowly opened my eyes, keeping them narrowed against the suddenly bright sunlight. I see the large, burly man standing just above me and instinctively cringe, tightening myself into a ball. A mistake. I hiss as a sharp pain slices through my ribs. I cover them with my hands, feeling the fratured bones.

"You all right, kid?" the burly man asked again.

I didn't know how to respond. How could I? I was in a different body than my own. I try to answer the best I could though. Instead of speaking, I whimper low in my throat, blue eyes full of pain. The man reached down to pick me up. Instantly, I twist, snapping at his fingers and yelp as pain shot once more through my ribcage. The man swore, backpedaling away from me. I notes that his dark eyes were on my injured ribs, not his fingers. When I had twisted to snap at him, my hands had come off of my ribs, showing the rapidly fading bruise. Looks like my healing power had finally kicked in. Didn't I mention that? I could heal myself of almost injury, including broken bones, like my ribs for example. I looked back up at the man, wondering what he was going to do with me now. He obviously knew that I was a mutant now. Though my scent of smell wasn't as good as it was in my natural form, I could still smell the cigar smoke and alcohol wafting off of the man. A shower wouldn't have killed him either. He gave a heavy huff.

"Well, you going to let me help you or what?" he finally asked.

Well, no duh! He should be helping me. Had had hit me with his car for crying out loud! I slowly get to my feet, keeping my eyes on the strange man. I was still cautious, in case he was from the lab or anything. Once I was standing, I watches as he ran his gaze down my body, pausing at my chest for a moment, before quickly averting his gaze.

"Wait here," he said, going back over to his car, which I now saw was more of a trailer than a car with something attached to the back of it.

I gave a small snort. Like I was going anywhere. I was tired from running and my body still hurt a bit from being hit by the car/trailer. I wait patiently for the man to return. He soon returns with a large, fleecy looking thing. A blanket, I quickly realized.

"Here. Cover up, would ya," he said, sounding more as a command than a question.

I take the blanket tentatively from him and wrap it around myself, covering my body and hiding it from view. The man gave what looked to be a nod of satisfaction and relief. I give him a shy smile, not really sure on what to do next. The man took over for me.

"Come on," he said, walking back to his car, trailer, whatever it was. The-thing-that-had-hitten-me. Any of the three worked just fine. I hesitate before giving into my instincts and follow after the man.

Welcome the first chapter of Spirit's Life. Hope that you enjoyed and please review! )