Maleficent woke shortly after dawn to a loud clap of thunder. she turned over and snuggled into the arms of he mate who was, of corse already awake.

"S'a good thing you built this place the way you did, I don't think I've see weather like this since I was a hatchling."

She really didn't want to wake up, she was warm and comfortable. But she knew that her mate was, and always had been an early riser. Action was called for.

When he tried to sit up he couldn't, because his mate was clinging to him like some kind of lovely vine. Not that he minded you understand. But ravens (in fact any kind of respectable birds) were always up with the sun! Alright, so there wasn't any sun this morning. But still!

"D'you mind letting me up?" He whispered.

She grumbled and whispered back. "Yes, I do mind. This morning you are my pillow, and as my pillow I would appreciate it if you would be quiet."

Sighing he admitted defeat, after all, being trapped in a comfortable nest with a beautiful fairy wasn't such a bad fate.

The rain had stopped by the time Maleficent awoke, though it was still quite dark and cloudy.

"Ah, so the clinging vine is awake is she?" He said laughing.

Maleficent turned to look at him with a wry smile on her lips. "Yes, well she had a very comfortable pillow this morning."

Suddenly it started to rain again, and they both groaned in irritation. It's all very well for the weather to go to pot when you're warm in bed. But quite another matter when you have to go out in it.

"Do we really have to go out in that?" He fussed.

"Yes, we do." She replied.

She could hear him grumbling about 'wet feathers.'

Maleficent laughed silently at this, he was adorable when he fussed. But they had things to do. "Really Diaval, it's just a little water. And you didn't seen to mind being wet last week when we were in the river and you were doing unspeakable things to me." She grinned.

"That was different." He said pouting just a bit.

She wanted to laugh but she didn't dare, her mate was very sensitive about such things.

And she had no wish to hurt him.

"If wet feathers are such an issue, you could try being a dragon. A small dragon mind you."

He thought about this, since gaining magic his transformations had been more complete, and less painful. Scales wouldn't get wet, and it did sound interesting.

As Maleficent finished dressing she heard a soft rush of displaced air. Turning around she could see the cause. Diaval had taken her advice and transformed into a lesser dragon. She couldn't help but admire the deep blue-black color of his scales. She also couldn't help giggling just a bit when he landed on her outstretched hand, his little claws tickled!

He was quite pleased with this new form, it wouldn't get wet and more importantly, it was interesting. He could tell Maleficent was as interested in this new form as he was, after all dragons are incredibly rare, and neither of them had ever seen one before.

She smiled and gently stroked the scales on his neck. "Alright then, let's go."

Small wings fanned and she watched as he took off. They would have to meet with the forest guard today and convince them of the need for patrols along the wall.