Learning to Fall

Despite the rain pouring down on the capital, Aytin was optimistic. He'd actually made it. Wild beasts, unfriendly forests, impossible flights, and bloodthirsty brigands. Nothing had managed to stop him in the end.

He had a smile on his face as he stepped out onto the street.

And was immediately hit by an out of control cart.

There wasn't any time to realize what had happened. One moment, walking. An instant of terrible pain later, nothing.

Well, not exactly nothing. Instead of rising up to one of the god gates, there was only a formless grey void surrounding him.

Fortunately, he didn't have to wait long for answers.

"Well, look at you. Coming so far, only to falter on the last wingbeat."

"What?" Aytin asked the mysterious voice. Or tried to. He found that he couldn't move his mouth. Or anything, really.

Somehow, the voice heard his silent question, because it answered, "No sense putting it off. You're dead."

"Dead?! But I-"

"Had so much to live for. Mother, sister, mate. Yes, yes, I know. And you've had quite the interesting last few months. That's the important part."

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Aytin was reeling as much as a spirit could reel. Which wasn't much. The whole thing is kind of difficult without a body.

"Now that all of that is out of the way," the mysterious voice continued. "We can get on with why you're here. Now, a few gods have laid claim to your soul, so I suppose you could go to one of those. But the universe has gotten out of balance lately what with pulling people from other realms in. Even turning them into dragonettes doesn't help balance the ledgers."

"I don't understand. Other kingdoms?"

"More than that. Doesn't matter," the entity said, brushing off the question. "My point is, some souls have to go the other direction. So how would you like to be reincarnated in another world?"

"Can't I just go back home?" There was a hint of pleading in Aytin's disembodied voice as he thought about all the people he might never see again. Lin. Faelon. Rina.

"Can't do that, kid. Unless you find your own way back."

He latched onto that last bit. "So there's a way home?"

"Sure. We'll go with that. So are you in? Yes or no?"

He didn't even have to think. "Yes."

"Excellent. Now get ready. Oh, and I almost forgot," the voice added, almost as an afterthought. "There aren't any dragonettes in this realm, so you get to enjoy being a human."

"What's a hu-"

The question was cut off by a flash of lightning and the sensation of being stuffed into clothes far too small. An instant later, Aytin once again had eyes to open.

It was… different. The stone walls around him seemed perpetually out of focus. But he could see more. He had never noticed before, but his muzzle had always been in the way. When he reached down, he felt clawless fingers stroke a hide far rougher than what he was used to. A flick of the tongue discovered rows of flat teeth, the sort in a deer's mouth.

...

The rest of the story has been archived on the Hunter or Huntress website.