Strawbi woke up feeling odd. When they looked in the mirror, not much seemed to have changed except for the tuft of hair that grew on their head. They placed a nub on the mirror, and with sleepy eyes finally adjusting, saw a winged paca staring back at them. Strawbi rubbed their eyes, they didn't remember falling asleep in their winged form.
“Something's off…” Strawbi whispered to themselves, as they walked off to go eat something.
They thought that this feeling would go away after eating, like it was just a feeling that appears in the morning, but it stayed. Not long after Strawbi realized they didn't actually know what this feeling was, nor could they tell if it was good or bad. They looked out the window next to the table and moved the pink curtains out the way of the sun's bright rays of light. The sun felt nicer than usual, instead of being unpleasantly hot it was a gentle warmth. A lovely day to go outside, it would've been a shame to stay inside when outside looked so welcoming.
Strawbi woke Tootie up and brought her outside for a walk. Both looked up at the vivid blue sky and basked in the sun's warmth, a nice cool breeze came and balanced it out. Strawbi never felt so content in their life, pure bliss it was just being out with their pal and admiring the world around them. So much so, it kinda felt like it wasn't enough just strolling on the ground, Strawbi wanted to be up high. The sun would be closer, the breeze would feel even nicer, and they and Tootie could get a better view.
“Hey Tootie, How about a flight today?” Strawbi turned and asked their snekket, with much enthusiasm in their voice.
Tootie wagged her long tail and did a little happy dance.
“I'll take that as a yes, let's go!”
Strawbi bolted off, their little nubs moving in sync like a machine. Tootie soon followed with her wings already spread out and ready to glide, despite not even being anywhere high yet. Strawbi ran into the highest building they could find and made their way towards the rooftop, Tootie tagging along not too far behind.
Both had to stop a moment and take a breather from all that running, then they were ready. Tootie once again spread her wings out, allowing that wind that was passing by to duck and weave under the feathers that covered them.
Strawbi did the same, but this time, they had the urge to try something new. Tootie hopped off the building and wind currents caught onto her wings, she turned her head and looked at Strawbi, expecting them to do the same. Strawbi closed their eyes, hopped off the building, and simply allowed themselves to fall. The air whooshing by felt nice, but Strawbi could feel there was a panicked snekket diving down after them. Strawbi spread their wings and let the wind currents catch them.
They beat thier wings against the wind and flew up to meet Tootie, who in response thwacked them with her tail out of annoyance, causing Strawbi to flutter about for a bit trying to regain composure.They laughed it off and apologized with a nub gesture, as they rode the currents alongside her. They were right about everything feeling nicer, that odd feeling they felt was still odd, but a good odd.
It felt like freedom, but better. A beautiful new freedom with nothing but pure joy. It was almost overwhelming, so overwhelming that Strawbi could cry. It felt they could fly as close to the sun as they pleased and their wings could never melt, they couldn't, but Strawbi still knew to be careful. It didn't feel anything close to when they ate the cake with elixir baked into it. It was because they didn't feel it in their "tumtum" this time, they felt it in the best place to feel this kind of freedom: their core.