A week has passed since the feral incident.

I rest in the garden of the lion king keeps. Queen Nailah sits on a bench nearby with Rafiel and Leanne, who are singing gently. Only half listening I begin to doze.

I wake to a gentle touch on my head. I wake to see Leanne crouched down her hand resting on my head. "You're awake" she says. I look towards the bench, Rafiel and the Queen are gone. "They went to be alone" she says seeing were I was looking.

Stretching, I get up. "Volug your heart hurts" she murmurs. She looks sad herself I notice. I shift to human form so I can speak with her easier.

Her hand on her heart she watches me shift, she seems on the verge of tears. "What is wrong?" I ask her in the ancient tongue. "I'm lonely" she whispers. "I'm here so you're not alone" I say trying to cheer her. "Yes I am. Rafiel has Nailah and Reyson has Tibarn. I have no one."

She was thinking the same thing I have been thinking of late. She is a heron and can sense others emotions. Is that why see is talking to me? Her sense of a person suffering from similar doubts.

"Let's sit" I say trying to think of what I should say to the sad heron. She sits beside me on the bench and we both stare off, each of us not knowing what to say. The silence stretches for what feels like several minutes when I feel something on my side.

Looking down I see Leanne leaning against me humming a sad little tune. Hesitantly I put my arm around her, being careful of her wings that look so delicate. She is so small I think still without anything to say. Humming she continues to lean against my side. I wish she would stop the humming. It is so sad sounding.

I need to silence her humming so I kiss her. She jumps, her hands on her lips staring at me. She looks so innocent. She is little more than a child, a child who was just sad because her big brothers had left her to pursue their own love lives. And I kissed her and scared her half to death.

I get up quickly, afraid of what other damage I may cause when suddenly Leanne leaps on me and kisses me. Startled I simply stand there as she kisses me. Still clinging to my neck she stares into my eyes asking permission. I can't refuse she is too beautiful. I wrap my arms around her thin body and return the passionate kiss she had given me just moments ago.

Looking around I realize the garden isn't the proper place for this, someone could find us. A grin spreading across my face I scoop Leanne into my arms and leap to the top of the garden wall. She giggles in my arms as I leap over the fence and into the nearby forest.

I stop on a shady knoll, first because it was as good a place as any and second because I'd likely run into a tree from distraction with Leanne kissing me while I ran. Laying her gently on a bed of ferns I scan the area to see if anyone was nearby.

Leanne begins to strip from her dress, all the while humming a merry tune. There is power in a heron's voice and I couldn't help but think that her song was influencing me as I got down and began to help her undress.

I cup her small breasts gently as they become exposed. Nibbling them gently, I can't help but chuckle when she blindly begins messing with my pants. Letting go of her breasts I help her remove my pants exposing myself to small heron.

"May I?" she asks, her hand already reaching. Nodding I begin nibbling her earlobe. She hesitantly strokes me. The wag of my tail showing my pleasure at her touch. She strokes me again while I kiss her neck, my fingers entwined in her hair.

We continue this way for a when a shriek splits the air. Looking up we spy a raven. The raven dives and perches on a tree branch. "Naesala!" Leanne shrieks, covering herself with her dress. I stand as the raven King changes and descends to the forest floor.

Anger is etched on his face, and sadness. It is common knowledge that Naesala is in love with Leanne. "You" he whispers his voice quivering. Suddenly he yells, "I'll kill you!" Transforming he charges me talons thrust forward. I dodge him and change.

His second attack comes more quickly with the momentum he gains from diving and I barely get out of the way. Only managing to swipe at him as he passes. I wait for him, a growl starting deep in my chest. He comes again and I leap up and onto the large raven.

Crashing to the ground he throws me off with a beat of his wings. Landing I charge him before he can gain the advantage of flight again. "Volug don't do it!" screams Leanne. Already in mid-leap I twist to prevent myself from landing on the raven.

I look at Leanne, her face covered in tears. Why hadn't she yelled for Naesala to stop earlier? Because you fool she loves Naesala not you. Lowering my head and exhaling a sigh I turn and dash into the bushes, only barely hearing her pleas for me to wait.

Wait. Why should I? You've already shown who you chosen. Twigs snapping under paws I run.

I stop as the sun begins to set to my left. I had been traveling in a mostly northern direction and I had covered more ground than most would expect. Judging from the position of the mountains to my right I am almost out of Gallia.

I find an abandoned animal den and crawl inside. Tomorrow I would decide what to do.