Kintla Flatlands My undead mummy and me

Junior remained oblivious as a strange pup crawled up to her and snuggled between her mutilated legs like some sort of teddy bear. When her aunt arrived on the scene, eyes wide with horror and concern, she did not stir. Even as the Healer began to pluck at the weeping, angry scabs and Lasher drew up behind her, the juvenile didn't rouse. It was lucky, really, because the pain would have been unbearable.

As the medic tended to her infected wounds, she drifted and dreamed. In her dreamscape, she wandered through an immense, dark forest, the trees so large that they dwarfed the sequoias near the coast. Eventually, she realized that they weren't actually trees at all but the many legs of a colossal mastodon.

She darted out of the way to avoid being stepped on, only to bump into Pura. She smiled at him, then turned her two-toned eyes back to the great animal—only it had abruptly vanished. Junior shot Pura a quizzical look, only he had somehow transformed into her Uncle Atticus, who said, "I had to walk away. She never would have had a full and happy life with me..."

Unsure what to say, Junior blinked down at her feet. Her mouth opened in a silent scream when she saw that they were pale yellow talons rather than paws. I'm an Osprey! she thought in horror. This time, a real scream tore up her throat as young Junior suddenly shrieked herself awake.