Friday of Completed Works
Someone Else's Skin
“Tara!.. Tara, your kitt—oh, I’m sorry, your tressss..itten—has run away again and was caught at the docks!”
Nobody reacted to his indignation.
“What do you mean, ‘they are perfectly independent’?! He is only a month old! He’s only just learned to fly. I wouldn’t say I’m outraged, but…”
Tara opened a single eye, slanting it toward the wizard who was pacing in irritation across the room. She gave a lazy flick of her tail, stretched her hind legs, and sprawled out even further on the sun-warmed windowsill.
The “Perfectly Independent” one hid behind his mother’s back, watching the scene with only his eyes showing, occasionally flattening his ears at the particularly loud exclamations.
“I do not understand your attitude, Tara. The esteemed Otto Fart literally fished him out of a basket from the morning catch! He could have been crushed, dropped into the water, or simply devoured by any of the local cats, gulls… or the fish themselves!”
"Independent" flashed his eyes angrily and immediately flattened his ears again, realizing his reaction hadn't gone unnoticed.
Gale approached the windowsill, extending an open palm toward the small creature, waiting to ensure his gesture wouldn't be mistaken for aggression. The little one thoughtfully sniffed his fingers. Sensing no threat from the human—only warmth and care, much like from his mother—he boldly leaped onto the palm. From there, he quickly scrambled up the sleeve onto Gale's shoulder, burying his nose right into his ear.
“Tara, I am speaking to you with the utmost seriousness. I cannot bear the thought of anything happening to them! Please, stop ignoring me.”
A loud pop echoed outside the window. In that exact instant, Gale felt a sharp rush of air against his cheek. The "kitten" vanished, instantly materializing right behind his mother's back.
“In-credible…” was all the wizard managed to utter. “Can they all do it?”
“All of them, Mr. Dekarios, from the moment they begin to see.”
“And you kept quiet, Tara?.. All this time you've let me worry about them, literally driving me out of my mind every time one got lost or went missing? That is terribly cruel, Tara.”
“Cruel?..” Tara finally opened her eyes. They held a look of genuine amusement. “Nothing cruel about it, Mr. Dekarios. I was simply enjoying the moment.”
“The moment of what?”
“The moment when you finally learned what it’s like to be in my skin.”
—
Original painting: "The Old Man's Treasure" by Karl Gussow (1843–1907) "Remake" by an unknown artist from the internet :)
This story is almost two years old, and I had a lot of fun writing it. Share something, even if it's old, that still brings you joy—a story, a photo, art, anything.
Everyone is welcome 💕😌

















