Rat
You stand before the mirror, the rat costume draped over your arm. Its worn fabric feels strangely alive beneath your touch, as if it's whispering secrets only you can hear. Curiosity gets the better of you, and with a shrug, you decide to try it on. The moment the fabric envelops your body, a jolt of energy courses through you. Your muscles tense, your skin prickles, and you feel a rush of warmth that starts at your fingertips and radiates outward.
As your vision blurs, you catch a glimpse of your reflection morphing. Your body shrinks, limbs retracting as your form changes. Gray fur sprouts from your skin, sweeping across your body like a soft wave. You gasp as your face reshapes, your nose extending into a snout and your mouth widening. The mirror reflects your bewildered eyes as your ears shift, growing larger and more rounded, now perched atop your head.
A sensation like a gentle tug at the base of your spine catches your attention, and you glance over your shoulder. A long, slender tail has sprouted, swaying rhythmically as you move. Your hands and feet contort, forming dexterous paws with retractable claws. Your voice changes, taking on a chittering quality that resonates with the vocalizations of a rat.
Your senses sharpen. You detect scents you never noticed before, each one telling a story you hadn't been able to read until now. The colors around you seem richer, more vibrant, as if your eyes have unlocked a new spectrum of perception. Your muscles flex, your body lithe and agile, primed for movement in ways you never imagined.
Whiskers sprout around your snout, twitching and swaying with every shift in the air. Your posture adjusts as your center of gravity shifts, making you feel more comfortable on all fours. An instinctual connection to the rat world fills your thoughts, a curious urge to explore, to dig, to climb, to claim your territory. Your heart races, beating with a rhythm that is both foreign and familiar.
The sounds around you become clearer, your ears honing in on every rustle, every footfall, every whisper. You realize you can hear conversations from a distance, piecing together snippets of human chatter that you never would have caught before. Your body temperature adjusts effortlessly, ensuring your comfort whether in warm or cool surroundings.
Fine motor skills wane, your dexterous fingers now paws meant for digging, climbing, and gripping. Your diet preferences shift, your digestive system adapting to your new rat-like dietary needs. The rat world's social structure and hierarchy become apparent to you, guiding your interactions and forming a deeper understanding of your role.
As the final stages of your transformation take hold, a surge of empathy washes over you. You feel a kinship with your fellow rats, understanding their struggles, their unity, and their resilient spirit. The memories of your human past start to blur, replaced by the rich tapestry of experiences that come with your newfound rat identity.
Amid the quiet rooftop, you cast your gaze beyond, taking in the cityscape that stretches before you. The world has transformed along with you, revealing a new layer of existence that you had never before perceived. Colors seem more vibrant, details more intricate, and scents more layered.
Written by - on 18 August 2023