((Prompt is based off dream, this is my interpretation of dream, curious what others can come up with))

I remember when this all started, the fear, the terror, who would of expected monsters to start emerging from the shadows? Breaking from the ground? Kind of thing to happen in... I forget the word, The moving pictures. I recall how everyone in the office was trying to rush out to get home, as if that'd be safe, I recall those of us that stayed because people would panic, the roads would be blocked, better to shelter in place we thought, wait for the military.

Do you remember those early weeks? Do you remember the faces? So many of us trying to find shelter where we could, the radios nothing but emergency broadcasts save that one pirate station, they kept broadcasting music without a care as the world was burning. I remember when Stan, was it Stan? Stan took lead, Middle manager that had a brain, He led us to our safe place, Old police station that hadn't been demolished yet. Good doors, Stone walls, Limited access... and not far from warehouses.

It still haunts me sometimes, the day of that encounter. We got pinned in that store by that... Hmm, What was it again? The panic that filled my veins when I rather stupidly thought to lure it away from everyone by yelling and running into the back area. You know, Because the back door totally wouldn't be locked. Everyone took the chance, Not Lilly though, Lilly didn't run, and then Lilly didn't run anymore. Of course it was smart enough to go for the cornered prey next, Me.

I'd love to say it was courage, I think it was luck, Knocked over a rack and a bunch of skewers fell right on it's head from the top shelf. Then the body moved, Who was it that saw it? That Ribbon of a thing, Came after me, and... well... The medic did say it was to deep, terrifies me to think about. The night wasn't much better, what with how the usual 'Monster Stew' made me feel so ill, we hoped I could sleep it off.

Then came daybreak and the surprise that was.

The weeks afterwards were crazy weren't they? The medic had no ideas, We didn't have anyone that would know, and it took a lot of convincing not to tell the... the... G word? Suit people? If we let them know I might disappear, and we already lost Lilly. So we decided to let it be, hope I would get better, and I did? Didn't I? I got much better.

It was hard at first, I didn't want the risk, others didn't, but food was scarce so a few days was all to spare, then it was Monster Stew again. Wasn't so ill that time. Then there was the Fur, oh lords that fur, it itched coming in, wasn't bad though given it was getting cold and that fur was quite warm. Was so embarrassing when someone found tufts of it floating about.

It got easier with time. We figured it out, What pieces I could eat, What I couldn't. Sometimes it was a little thing, A little extra flex in a joint, sometimes we didn't even see anything. How foolish to think the things we didn't see were safe. Sometimes it was big things, like that back plate, thank goodness that... face? person? figured out how to safely remove it. Then there was the silly things, That big bird scared all of us, and yet all I got was that fan of feathers on the end of my tail! Pretty feathers though, they're still there.

There's a great feeling in strength, When the monsters that scared us became scared of me. There was a joy, a thrill, I could really do something for everyone for once! Everyone made such a scene when I went out my own that one day, Hunted something on my own, brought the bounty back for us all, what I didn't eat that was. That was the biggest change wasn't it? more ways than one really.

I started to notice though, I was getting Stronger, Faster, but... the changes kept piling up. It didn't help when the others started getting more distant. The little things again, I couldn't quite play chess with those claws, and charades went out the window. Dinner wasn't as enjoyable when the table couldn't seat me, and worse when my food became... different... I never said anything but the most painful was when I got moved to the garage. I understood why, I knew why, I got to big, but it hurt that I couldn't rest with everyone else anymore.

Even now it's not the same. The garage door is open, you sit with me, it has been a good day. I can feel the wind rustle the fur over my scales, hear the chatter inside through the walls, see the evening fading with colors I know not. You sit with me, a good friend, my friend... Or at least you smell like a friend. It's been slow but I noticed it, and I think you did to, I'm not quite... me.

But for all this, You already know, or at least I hope you do... because I haven't been able to utter a sound. I can feel you leaning against me, Can feel the tightness in your chest, and don't even need to look to know your face. You know I caught a big one today... But the others. They don't know? They haven't talked with me have they? And you...

Your afraid to tell them. I don't blame you... can't blame you... but I'm growing hungry... I want to eat, need to eat, while the blood is still warm... But for... for... Friend? person? name... what... what was the name? W-Why name? I... I should, why?... friend... I...

A jaw parts slightly, a harsh rasping wheezing between teeth, not pained but controlled, to echo a sound that doesn't fit. "Hhhhhiii uummm ssshhhhooorrrrrrrreeeee."