subject #3078, Keegan


Voices surrounded him in the darkness. He could not make out what was being said but the voices seemed heated, angry. They were almost to the point of yelling. In the distance he could see the shadows of two people facing each other. They were the source of the voices.

As the incoherent arguement continued, the smaller of the two shadows suddenly roared into shouting. The shadow finally stopped and turned to leave but the larger shadow didn't seem to want to allow it. It moved across and grabbed the smaller shadow by the arm. The smaller shadow struggled to break free but the larger shadow was stronger. It struck the smaller one and twistd it around, slamming it across the top of a nearby counter. The shattering of glass could be heard and the smaller shadow let out an inhuman scream of pain, as if it's very soul were being ripped from it's being. The larger shadow paused for a moment, looking at the form of the smaller shadow on the floor. For just one brief moment the voice of the larger shadow could be heard clearly.

"Well aren't you the little fierce one. Your mother and I should have named you Keegan," it said in a warm but malevolent tone.

His eyes slid open as he heard the voice of his fellow creatures around him. They were debating what the groups next course of action should be. Obviously they couldn't remain here but they apparently were located on an island so departure presented a few logisitical problems. It was no doubt an impossibly long way to swim and not everyone was gifted with flight, including himself.

As he slowly rose to his feet, much of his body still sore around where he had been shot, the hooved wolf turned back to him and seemed almost relieved to see him awake and seemingly better. He scanned the faces of all the creatures and it occurred to him that they all had names and he knew not what to call them. He didn't even truly know what to call himself.

"You are well?" the hooved wolf asked even though she seemed to already know the answer. "You may call me.......Z."

'I........I have been given no name. The white coats referred to me as subject #3078,' he thought to the creatures and as he thought it the malevolent voice came back to him for just a moment. 'I think you may call me.......Keegan.'

A few of the creatures took the opportunity to manage an introduction of names but some remained quiet, keeping to themselves. As they spoke he looked out at the sea and noticed the dark clouds creeping towards them. They would want to be well clear of the island before the storm could reach it.

'Perhaps we could find something to use as a raft for those of us who cannot fly,' he suddenly thought to the whole group. 'I believe it would be much easier for two or three of the flyers to pull a raft than it would be to carry us individually. In any case, we need to start moving now. I fear that storm brings with it more than rain and thunder.'

He once again scanned their faces to guage their reactions. They were all in the same boat but he did not yet truly know any of them. Even though it felt right that they at least left the island and reached shore as a group, some of them may not have felt the same. Perhaps some of them even felt they should all seperate. He watched their faces closely to see what they might decide.