Running into a dark alleyway, Callahan bumps into a strange cloaked figure and is handed a potion, strange feelings and sensations over take a slight shift within the world.


It's dark and I'm running through an alley way, bumping into a strange cloaked stranger and I profusely apologize. "It isn't a problem dear, have this for your troubles, I'll check on you in a few,” and almost like I found them, they strangely disappear. I'm now holding a strange bottle filled with an oddly blue colored drink. "I'll drink this first so you can test it out, then I'll take it to your place so you can have a drink." I take a long drink and immediately feel relaxed.
I can think clearly again. I make my way down the road, having these strange feelings and thoughts in my head. I'm not sure what to make of them but I know I have to act on them.
I don't know if this is my imagination but it feels like I've been doing this for a long time.
The world seems bigger, and I seem a lot more confident in myself as I'm walking down the road with a stride and not a nervous walk.
I don't know what exactly is going on but it feels like I'm moving towards something.
I continue on my way and the strangeness continues to grow.
I feel feathers as I move my wings down my body, feeling like having feathers isn't right, but it is, I've always had feathers... haven't I?
I can think freely now that I don't feel as dizzy as before. I'm now standing in a large meadow filled with flowers, with a clear blue sky above me and bright white clouds in the distance.
When did it become day again? Didn't I have a floral shop to work at? I curse as I run, then fly landing atop the building, I jump down and head inside for work, my boss somehow didn't know who I was, when I explained it to him, he still is confused but I still got work.
I've come here every day for the past two weeks, and I've been feeling so much better, more positive, and happier than I've ever been.
Maybe this is what it feels like to be alive.
I tend to the flowers as I should, everyone staring at me for some reason. "Can I help you guys?" I ask and they reply with a, "No."
I tend to my flowers, then tend to my customers. I'm a lot more cheery, a lot more up and happy than I was before. And it feels good.
I take a look at myself in the employee's bathroom, white feathers, orange beak, long slender talons, feathers covering my left eye up, vibrant and beautiful as always.
I feel that I'm ready.
I'm going to make this business a success, I'm going to become the very best florist ever.
I work a few more days, everyone I know commenting on how I'm different, but I'm not sure what they're talking about, I've always been an anthro swan, haven't I?
I take a couple days off to relax, I've never done this before but I feel great, I find myself home but this time with a tall, cloaked person.
"You seem different, it's like you don't feel the need to keep to the shadows and walk softly."
"And what's that supposed to mean?" I ask with a confident grin, but still... do I know this person? They seem familiar, but I am not quite able to place them.
"Never mind, you're probably just feeling good from all this positive energy, I've never seen you like this before."
They are rather strange and almost... I almost trust them with my entire body. "I mean working at a floral shop really does has it's perks!" I say, confidently flexing a talon in front of them.
I'm still rather unsure with this person, I've never been this open with someone before, but then again I've never felt so at ease with someone either.
"Well, it's nice seeing you so out there. Before you were so shy, so afraid, but now? You could admit the most weird things and not get ashamed of them later." The cloak person says, an odd blue energy surrounds him.
"You're weird, but in a good way, I like you."
The cloaked person visits weekly, and we chat, like always. Unlike everyone else, they don't try to say that I used to be human, they simply compare me to the past, pointing out the positives that have been in my life.
The cloaked person never says their name, they don't need to, their energy, their aura says who they are. They are the positive, the light, the happy, the joyous, and the good.
"Are you sure you should be trusting a feller like that? Ya hardly know him." An anthro stallion says, his wife a cow, agrees with him but I say it's fine, they have good intentions.
I don't remember there being so many Anthros in the area, is it already that time of year again? It's already been a full year? Dang time really DOES fly when you're preoccupied with life.
I continue tending to the flowers and tending to my customers, the same as always, and I continue to chat with the cloaked person, every week, always happy and positive, always cheery.
The festival is coming today, Anthros are gathered among humanity and are having a good time, as an I. Me, I've been mixing and mingling, not finding the woman or... Man of my dreams. Why does it feel so weird to think of men like that? I've never thought of them as... Potential partners. Just people to talk to, nothing more nothing less.
My thoughts distract me as I bump into someone, their paws on my back and hips. "My apologies sir... Er, ma'am?" A hyena tries to apologize, but doesn't want to mis-gender me.
"It's fine, I'm just on my way to the festival."
"The festival, oh I get it. Of course, of course!" He says, his ears flicking.
"Honestly, I don't care what you call me, Cal or Cally, he or she, man, woman. It doesn't matter." I say, patting my dress, cause I was just feeling like a giddy woman today.
"Well, I think you're really cute, and if you let me I'd love to take you to the festival tonight, it'll be a whole lot of fun!"
I just blush, he is rather handsome, in his collared shirt and dress up pants. "Yeah! That sounds lovely. Pick me up at 7, Rosein Flowers." I say and the hyena nods.
"Perfect! I'll be waiting for you, Cally!" He says, and I respond with a smile, patting his shoulder, before walking off.
The cloaked man comes in today, "I saw that exchange, it was rather... Wholesome. He is like how you were, confused, lost, unsure of himself. Perhaps you'll find him a purpose he can happily enjoy."
"I hope so."
"And you must continue doing what you're doing. This is your purpose, Cally. Don't let anyone take that away from you."
"I won't. Bye." I wave him off, going home to grab a decent dress.