And so, i did a maneuver i had saved for, well, some situation.

Some situation such as this one.

Whatever.

Whether this pather or tiger or whatever ate mushrooms or not, i still didnt want it to, you know, take my arm.

Hand.

Whatever 2.0.

The maneuver in question was a rather simple one.

A, quickly extend my roots, mycelium, whatever 3.0, up to the ground beneath my arm,

B, connect my mycelium to the arm-hand-thing,

C, pump in as much energy into it as i can and hope something happens.

And thats about it, really.

I think i had been subconciously supplying energy to it when it was naturally connected to me, but ever since that girl, boy, whatever 4.0, plucked it from my mycelium, i think its been losing energy since i every now and then move it around.

Im not going to wonder how i can move it, since that doesnt seem plausible in any way, shape or form.

If it can be explained in theory, existing here as practical proof of the theory might, well, compromise my freedom.

Who knows.

Whatever might have caused this situation in the first place is entirely unessesary to my current survival.

Which is why im currently pumping all energy i have in me, sadly making the allied and subservant trees nearby me, well, wither.

But i can feel my arm grow.

What was once simply a hand and a wrist has become and entire arm.

I would love to expand it further, but i really dont think its possible.

I dont have the time to make my arm expand, so im currently just pumping it full with energy to...

something. Whatever 5.0.

I dont really have time to think, considering how this large feline is currently tugging at my arm.

It has yet to tear through my skin, but thats just a matter or time.

I wish...

i wish i could see what the heck is going on.

Right now, all ive got going is the strange sensation of energy flowing through me and to me.

Seeing wouldnt help me too much, but it really would be nice.

Seeing.

Havent done that in a while.

Soon enough, ive barely got enough energy left in me to think, and so, i let go of the arm.

The large cats falls backwards, not much unlike the girl who had done so before, and i feel my arm dangeling freely in the air.

The cat doesnt seem to want to hurt me, i think.

Its grasping my arm quite gently.

Im not sure whether i should move around or remain still.

Well, i guess ill just let it be.

This cat seems to be headed somewhere, so ill just wait until then.

But ill have to say...

this is rather nice.

Moving about.

The warmth in her breath.

Reminds me of something.

Feels sort of, well, nostalgic.

Its nice, anyways.

She sways from side to side, her heavy body swinging me along.

Her gentle maw keeping me secure.

Where is she taking me?

Do i care?

Eventually, she stops.

She releases her grip on me and i fall a few centimetres and hit the ground lightly.

Its cold and damp and hard.

A cave?

Yes, that must be it.

So im in the lair or the lioness, then?

Neat.

Ive got enough energy to maneuver this arm for, well, a long time.

...

Nothing happens.

On this bone-chilling, dead rock, i feel nothing.

No tremors, no movements, no anything.

Did she leave?

Was she ever there at all?

I feel a sand-paper like tounge run over the back of my hand and i feel a pang of joy spread.

Im not alone.

Thank god.

I try to move my hand a bit and soon find it resting on the muzzle of some great furry beast.

Its vibrating.

If i had an ear or two, im sure i would hear the gentle, calming purr of a kitten.

But as it is, all i feel is that vibrating.

Which isnt all that bad.

The muzzle is soft and warm and the little nose is wet and cold.

I move my hand a bit higher and feel the cheek of the beast.

Its soft.

Oh, so soft.

I scarch a little, pet a little, caress a little, and i am happy.

Oh, so happy.

The warmth of another is, and will always be one of the most comfortable feeling, whether it be human or other.

In this case, a very friendly, very large cat.

I wish i could hear it.

That soft purring.

I really wish i did.

And i do.