Squeak and Sqwak with the animals (Amos)

[Amos Freeman]

It took only a few seconds for Casper to slither towards the exit of the maze, but it felt like much longer, and even reaching it wasn't a comfort.

There was no fat mouse in sight. The snake was clearly disappointed.

Maybe it's around the corner, thought Amos conversationally.

I doubt it, the snake didn't say. I don't smell anything.

Amos couldn't really argue with that.

Maybe it left.

There was a poignant pause.

Then I'll go back and get the other one.

The snake slithered in a circle and peered around the corner.

Wait! Amos panicked.

But I'm hungry, thought the snake impatiently.

Min will probably feed you if you go back outside.

The snake pondered this.

But I can feed me if I turn back and go get that mouse.

Amos was frustrated. Sensing that this negotiation was useless, he slipped out of Casper's mind and back into his own body. He returned with a slight gasp, like someone had dumped a bucket of cold water onto his head.

"I don't th-think it's working," he said sheepishly from his awkward position on top of about six pillows.

[Min Hee Wang]

Min observed the snake carefully. Watching the movements it made. It was clear to Min what was going on, though she could not see, or hear the interaction beyond impulses. she slid her fingertips over the snake's body, pulling him from the maze exit, and smiling to him gently as she heard the gasp of her student. "you will feast tonight my friend. " she stated before laying him in the container she'd brought him in.

She would take the mouse from the maze, her fingertips tingling a bit as the mouse squirmed in her hand, then became still though clearly still alive. She laid it in the container with casper before closing the lid. She would of course take him home immediately to avoid him becoming to cold. However, that would be after the session was over.

She turned toward Amos then, giving him a pleased smile, "It is working just fine. You did a wonderful job. You were able to get him through the maze without his instincts bettering his judgement." she stated watching the student on the pillows.

"How do you feel right now? " She began.

"To better understand how to avoid retaining the instincts of the animal you must be aware of what they are. The more aware you are of those behaviors, the more aware you are of yourself, the less likely you will be to act them out. They will always be an urge, but you wi ll be able to identify and suppress it in time." she stated with a nod.

"With that said, can you tell me what instincts casper had during your course, what behaviors or desires were based upon the instinct of survival. All animals thrive on instincts that enhance survival in one way or another." she pointed out the obvious.

[Amos Freeman]

Amos sat up and rubbed his forehead. He wasn't convinced that he'd done a wonderful job, but if she said so....

"Um, fine," he replied. "Kinda hungry," he added, realizing with a wrinkled nose that he was hungry for mouse instead of a decent salad. It disgusted him on several levels.

The feeling passed.

"Now it's gone," he reported.

He looked up at Min while she spoke, listening intently and trying to make sense of his thoughts and feelings.

What had been his? What had been Casper's?

He had never put much thought into separating the two.

"He was, um, mostly just hungry, I th-think," Amos said after a while. "And cold. He wanted to get in the maze because, er, because it was warm."

He hadn't been in the python's mind for very long, and explaining a snake's thought process wasn't an easy circumstance after any length of time. His mind was readjusting itself to his body and the feeling of synthesis was quickly evaporating.

[Min Hee Wang]

"Hungry for what?" She questioned with a smile. Though she knew exactly what he meant. Though the fact that he could identify the instinct made her all the more proud of the student.

"Gone already?" she stated in surprise.


Min watched her student closely. Judging his reactions carefully to identify the emotions he was feeling. Though she could have easily identified the impulse she did not feel it polite to do so constantly without the student being aware. It was a respect thing really. With the snake it was for safety, but outside of it was another thing entirely.

"That is understandable. It's important for a snake to keep their temperature regulated. Hunger is a very strong instinct in a snake. In alot of animals actually." She pointed out.

"And how did you feel during that point? What were your instincts during that borrowing?" she wanted to see if he paid attention to his own feelings as well.

It was important to seperate both asepects. Knowing which was which while you were in the mind of something else would make it easier for him to separate his instincts in the waking world from those of the animal he'd inhabited.

"how long do these instinct passings last for you? Is it typical something you feel for a moment? or are there times when they effect you for longer periods of time?"