Soul Between Lives

[What's this? My arms and legs feel strange yet powerful. And what is this weird feeling on my butt?]

Alex's eyes pop open and he sees a wall of green all around him. [What a strong leafy smell] He closes his eyes and basks in the new world of scent he was experiencing for the first time. Finally, the soft rustle of the canopy's leaves high above his head brings him back to his other senses.

[This is the first time I've ever seen such a lush forest. Not even the forest I went through as a goblin was like this.] Happiness welled up from the bottom of his feet to the top of his head all at once as he took in his new environment.

Such a pleasant feeling spreading throughout him gave him a boost in understanding his new form. Whats more, he could feel an extra appendage coming from the back of his rump which he couldn't help but swing around in an attempt to get a good look at. [My god! Have I become Eeyore? But this feels fantastic! How could he be so down all the time?]

The first few steps he tried to take forward ended in disaster, but being so close to the ground from the start meant he only got a little shock when he unexpectedly kissed the forest floor. As he tried to stand back up his nose told him something delicious was hidden just under the dirt and leaves in front of him. It felt completely natural to stand up and walk forward as he rooted around with his nose to dig up the tasty truffle.

Having just had good food with a good body was like having a good BM in the morning. With a joyous heart Alex got the hang of moving forward and found running into stuff was more fun than avoiding any of it or digging his hooves in to stop.

Now that he had the hang of using his new body Alex started running around laughing at how all the other wildlife would run away from him and even small trees would bow before his might. [This is truly a good life. Thank you old man God!] He exuberantly yells out in his mind before he runs into the back of a massive brown bear just on the other side of a clump of bushes.

He hit the bear with such force that the impact makes the bear give a surprised roar as it looks back at what just poked its behind. Seeing the impertinent boar and becoming hungry with such good timing the bear gives a more menacing roar as it fully turns around and starts chasing lunch. Luckily Alex had good enough practice with his short legs he was able to dash between enough of the larger trees and through the thicker brush such that the bear could only roar in frustration and give up after a few minutes of intense calorie burning.

His heart hammering with the thrill of adrenaline, Alex smells something very different from the rest of the scents of the forest and decides to follow it back to its source. Tromping among the trees and over fallen leaves, his ears begin to pick up foreign yet familiar sounding animal calls.

After he pokes his head through some stubborn weeds Alex is in awe of the sight before him. Strange bipedal creatures, that in the back of his mind he could remember were called People, were splashing about the small stream and jumping from rock to rock making a bunch of noise.

[I don't know who they are but for some reason, I just want to attack them!] Fully getting into the role of an impertinent wild boar Alex rushes out of his cover and charges at the biggest of the strange animals. He thoroughly enjoys the screams and exaggerated reactions he gets as the funny beings start thrashing and falling about trying to get away from him.

...

Sometime later after all the excitement, Alex realizes how thirsty he's become and follows his nose to the nearest source of water for a drink.

[Haha! These small mosquitoes are no match for my mighty hide!] Alex exclaims to himself with pride.

Just as he finishes marveling at the toughness of his magnificent hide and bends down to get a drink from the pond, Alex is deeply impaled through the vulnerable flesh of his exposed butt. The hunter behind him sees the poisoned arrow he loosed hit the bullseye and can't contain his laughter as Alex jumps forward into the air in surprise before splashing into the calm water with his legs moving so fast he's almost running on its surface before the poison takes effect and he sinks down and bobs in the water no longer moving.

...

Back in the white space, the old man doesn't have any words to say to Alex. It seems to be all he can do to contain the warring emotions evident on his face as he tries to keep them from manifesting and ruining his dignity.

"What the h*ll killed me?"

The old man just tosses an orb at Alex and waits just long enough to see that he's in the next world before letting out a strange roar of his own.