When you take a wild animal out of it's habitat, you put it on edge. If it can be helped, one should avoid putting a beast in such a situation. An animal put on edge is arguably the most dangerous thing that a man could face up with; a creature that doesn't know a world beyond the one it came from.

In this sense, August felt like she was the animal taken away from it's element. The early morning sun was beating down on her and although it was far from the heat of the summer, the warmth of the southern state was something she wasn't used to. It was far too dry and it seemed like there was no rain to be had.

There was one aspect of comfort in this city however. It felt like it was alive and thriving, bustling with the movement of people actively participating in their daily routines. As August walked through the crowded space of downtown Clear Springs she found some familiarity which made her much less stressed about the entire situation because despite her loathing of the unfamiliar thoughts in the minds of those around her, any reminder of home was a welcome one.

Something was gripping at August though. It took every bit of strength she had to try and ignore it. Still, the sensation struck her. It was the craving to escape. All she wanted to do was simply escape the dreadful grasp of reality and of course August knew several ways to do this. The option that was the most appealing was another hit of heroin however. 

Of course, she lost everything with the move. That included her drug connections among other things. She had also lost a bad profession and a lot of other bad influences. The positives of the situation were never on her mind though. August just wanted to find happiness and although coming to this place on the suggestion of a friend and fellow working girl, who was also searching for a better place to be, she couldn't help but feel remorse over the decision. At least she knew how to handle herself back in New York.

It wasn't until August was close to her destination that the thoughts swirling around her head started to dissipate. Although she obviously knew where she was and what she was doing it wasn't until this point that she truly became aware of her surroundings and the strange feeling at the back of her mind. It was almost as if up until this point some sort of instinct had switched on in her mind and guided her on an irregular routine... or rather, it was creating a new one for her considering she lacked any sense of direction in this new city. August simply didn't know what to do with herself and just like before she felt aimless in life.

The click of the woman's heels on the hard pavement below stopped as she came to a halt in front of the coffee shop. The windows that allowed any and all to peer into the humble business also gave off some reflection, giving August the chance to look herself over before she went inside.

Within the reflection August saw a woman smoking a cigarette with sunglasses obscuring the visibility of her eyes and hiding from the public what ever she might observe. She wore her dreadlocks tied back this morning, giving some form to the usually uncontrolled mess of hair. Her dress was a dark purple which matched the paint on both her finger and toe nails, with straps on her shoulders holding the apparel to her body and revealing enough cleavage to draw attention. Lower still, the woman wore heels that raised her height significantly and showed off the painted nails of her feet, leather straps securing the shoes in place and the lack of a stiletto replaced by a more block like shape making them easy to walk in.

August thought that the most beautiful feature of her wardrobe on this day was the bow around her neck. It was a simple silk ribbon that matched the color of her dress, wrapped around her neck and tied into a small bow. It was a small detail but she felt that it tied the whole outfit together and completed it in a way.

After observing herself in the window for a few seconds with a warm grin, August brought the cigarette that was held firmly between her right index and middle finger to her lips, careful to avoid smearing lipstick on the filtered tip as she inhaled the harsh smoke into her lungs. She then dropped the burning tobacco, stomping out the flame with her heel before opening the door to the building and entering.

Immediately August joined the line that was formed inside, waiting to order a coffee that would hopefully wake her up a little more and heighten the senses that were dulled by the obscure thought process which was brought on by the unfamiliar setting. She had always liked coffee anyway, everything from the taste to the way it smelled. While waiting, she idly scratched at the crease of her arm where old scars had been located. Luckily, the marks were slowing fading without her regular drug usage and their origin appeared much less obvious.

Something seemed suddenly strange to August however. She couldn't tell exactly what it was but there was something in this very room that gave off a presence that was alien but strong enough to recognize all the same. Imagery of wild beasts flashed in August's mind and the very familiar sensation of wanting to shift and change shape into such a creature flooded the woman's thoughts. She was overwhelmed by the sudden desire for ultimate freedom, to let go of this world and everything in it; she wanted to allow a bestial nature within her to be free. 

August put those thoughts aside as she remembered where she was. Although she felt a presence that invoked such feeling... she still had to hide the power she had or risk losing everything she had worked so hard to accomplish. August was walking on a very thin line and even the smallest stress might just send her over the edge, pushing her to follow her instincts once again. 

That was the last thing she wanted.