A/N: Here's the next part~ Did you guys guess right? I bet you did. :) Either way, enjoy!

Disclaimer: Nintendo owns Fire Emblem.


"Are you alright?" Ike reiterates, watching Alita.

Alita glances over at Ike and grimaces at the movements when her shoulders pull. "Mist, heal her again," Ike waves at Alita prompting Mist to come closer. Alita takes note of the concern in the young girl's eyes before they close and her staff lights up. Another wave of cool energy engulfs Alita taking away the soreness and tenderness while leaving a slight tingling sensation at the base of her wings. When the healing finishes and fades away Alita shivers slightly then gives her wings a little shake, surprised to find that they feel as if they've been with her since the beginning.

"Why didn't you tell us you were laguz?" Ike questions as everyone else keeps quiet for now.

"Lethe and Mordecai knew" Alita scoffs, already tired of his interrogation. The sudden stillness of his army immediately gains Alita's attention, then she realizes what she said. "How do you know them?"

She blames the healing for her sudden carelessness and inwardly curses the fact that she gave them information. Vowing to stay away from clerics if they're going to muddle her mind, Alita turns a hard look on the group. "It doesn't matter how I know them."

"Then I guess it doesn't bother you to not know what you are" comes the taunt. "Soren?" Ike looks over to the windmage who is staring at Alita intensely, arms crossed in satisfaction. "How do you know what she is?"

"From my studies. I'll let you know later. But if she wants to know, then she needs to give us some information first."

Alita growls a bit, hands tightening into fists and wings pulling tight in tension. "And you think I need that information to continue my life?"

"Of course. It's what you've been living for. What you've been fighting for. You want to know what you are, where you came from and what you can do. You want to know your purpose." Soren explains having a slight upturn of his mouth, mocking. "You wouldn't be able to live with yourself if you let this opportunity go."

"How do you know that I don't already know what I am?"

"If you did, you wouldn't still be standing there. Now, how do you know Lethe and Mordecai?"

Alita takes a breath to calm her self so she doesn't do something stupid. While some of the beorc weren't as bad as she thought, Soren is definitely not one of them. It rankles her to even have to consider answering his questions when she is still in the dark about so much. As soon as she can, she's getting as far away from him as possible.

"I'm the thief" is Alita's simple answer.

"The thief?" comes the droll response from Soren.

"Did I stutter?" Alita scowls, earning an arched brow in response which only makes her want to rip it off the mage's smug face.

"What thief Alita?" Ike interupts the staring match, earning her attention. She looks at him, briefly glancing at Soren then sighs. "Fine. I'm the thief that your horseman brought to the tavern in that port town," Alita starts, counting off on her fingers as she does. "The same one the hawks saw with Naesala that day," another finger gets tapped. "And the thief that Naesala was complaining about escaping." The last two points were directed at the hawks and Reyson before her attention turns back to the beorc.

"Wait, you escaped the crow castle?" Alita turns her attention to the hawks, the sandy hawk the one who spoke up. "Yes. How else did I make it to the king's meeting?"

"Now," Alita pins Soren with her stare, "it's your turn."

Soren studies her for a moment, face blank and impassive. The silence drags on, but Alita keeps her gaze locked with his, refusing to look away. She already had to lower herself below him once. This time she will make sure that she is the one on top instead. Finally he looks away with a roll of his eyes, but the small victory pleases Alita.

"You are an eagle."

"An eagle?" Alita raises an eyebrow, glancing back at her wings to take a look at them. "How do you know Soren?" Ike questions, taking another look at Alita as well. "Like I said before, my studies."

"That is too vague beorc mage," Tibarn's baritone cuts in. "We would like to know how as well." Alita snorts as Soren gives a long suffering sigh. "From old books. Only the ancient ones ever mentioned anything about eagle laguz." He looks over at Alita, eyes narrowing at her, "But what gives it away are the markings that appeared coupled with the coloring of her eyes and hair."

"Tibarn has the same colored eyes though," Mist points out in confusion. Another sigh escapes Soren as he rubs his forehead. "Golden eyes are signature in the raptor species, specifically royals. You don't see the crows or herons with them do you?" He scoffs and mutters to himself.

"There was a clan of falcons long ago whose leader had golden eyes" the darker hawk retainer offers. "That makes sense with the eyes..." Ike nods. "You mentioned my hair and markings" Alita regains their attention.

Grumbling Soren nods. "Yes, the silver of your hair indicates a white or transition into a white headed eagle. Those types were only mentioned a few times. And," here he pauses to glare at Ike who had his mouth open to speak. Instead he quickly closes it to allow Soren to finish. "And the markings are an indication of family, perhaps a particular lineage but there was no detail on what those were."

"Did it say where the eagles came from?" Reyson finally questions, having been quiet as he listened. Soren shakes his head, "Nothing specific. There was speculation that they could have migrated from beyond the Begnion and Daein borders, or that they were secluded to an island up north."

"At least you know now though, right Alita?" Mist smiles. Alita nods in agreement. She got at least this much. It's better than she had hoped for, and she's sure she can still get information from her father when she finds him. "There's one thing that just doesn't sit right," Soren chimes in. "All of these traits were suppressed. They weren't awakened until the song."

"So?" Alita scowls, crossing her arms. "So one of your parents had to be a beorc, I'm guessing your father. Unless of course it was a really strong spell placed on you, which I highly doubt since I didn't detect anything..."

"Soren!" Ike yells appalled.

Alita narrows her eyes, a growl building. "My father was a beorc, but my sire wasn't. Don't try to understand things you've only read about" Alita sneers before whipping around and stalking away. Her departure starts the return of the group to the main army. Thankfully the trek was short so Alita didn't have to talk to anyone else. The sandy hawk did make an attempt to come over, but was pulled back by the other to stay near Tibarn.

"So this is the one the princess was talking about." Alita looks over to see a child examining her. "I thought she was a beorc." "She was," replies Ike as he walks over to her, "but Reyson's song did something to awaken the laguz in her."

"I see. So what kind is she then?" Alita narrows her eyes as the child blatantly ignores her, speaking as if she weren't standing ten feet from her. "Eagle is what Soren said," Ike responds with a nod.

"Excuse me! If your little beorc self is dying to know something about me," Alita walks up to Ike and the child with a hand on her chest, "then I would suggest you ask me first instead of pretending like I don't exist. Understand?"

"Alita..."

The girl holds her hand up, cutting Ike off. "First, don't interrupt your betters. Second, you would do well to hold your tongue with me. You are standing in my country after all."

Out of spite, and instinct she didn't know she had, Alita flaps her wings to lift her up, hovering maybe a foot off of the ground. The girl narrows her eyes causing Alita to smirk in satisfaction. "As I recall, this continent is owned by no one. We just happen to here. So don't tell me you own it!" comes the withering snarl.

"Have you always been this disrespectful of your rulers or did this come with your new power?" Before she can change her mind or give anyone the opportunity to stop her, Alita drops to the ground taking the step needed to be in reach and slaps the girl across the face. Various warriors suddenly shift position, gripping their weapons more effectively. Alita ignores them, narrowing her eyes at the beorc before her. "You are not my ruler, and you are not my better. In fact, you are nothing to me but some pompous little girl who's never had to work for anything in her life. Don't expect me to help you in any way." Alita sneers and turns, making sure her wings hit the girl again before walking off. She's spent enough time with these beorc, it's time for her to begin her search again.

"You're not leaving, are you?" Leanne's soft voice halts Alita's departure. Alita tilts her head to look at the heron, encouraging the woman to come over. "There's no point in staying." "What if you stayed with us? I'm sure Tibarn wouldn't mind, and you need to get used to your wings" she points out, holding onto Alita's arm. Alita sighs, glancing up at the sky that's just barely able to peek through the canopy.

"I don't mind if she comes." Both women turn to see Tibarn walking up with his retainers and Reyson. "She's right you know. You do have to learn how to fight with wings now."

"See?" She smiles at Alita. "Now I won't have to worry over wondering where you are." Sighing again Alita nods. "Alright, but only because I need to learn how to live with the wings." "Of course" she trills, laughing lightly. Alita shakes her head, but smiles at Leanne's antics, following the rest of them into the air. It takes her several tries to get the movement right, but she does manage to stay with the overall group.

When they reach the top of the canopy, Alita takes a moment to look over the now sea of green. It seems to stretch on forever and it gives her hope. Hope for what, she can't discern, but she enjoys the feeling. Alita is brought out of reverie by a caw, drawing her attention to two hawks and two herons. Tibarn is the only one, besides her, left in human form. Alita frowns slightly, then shakes her head. "I don't know how to do that."

"That's what I'm here for. Now, I want you to look within yourself," Alita raises her eyebrow at this but says nothing, "and find where your power inner animal, as it were. Once you find it, you essentially cloak yourself in it while molding it to shape yourself into an eagle."

Alita frowns but does what he says, closing her eyes to concentrate more. She takes stock of herself, searching within for some kind of spark or nuance that something is different. Briefly she wonders if mages go through this process, but continues her soul search. A couple times she comes across a nest of energy residing in her that seems new, but every time she tries to grab it, it's no longer there.

At first she thinks it's because she's not approaching it right. But then the more it eludes her, the more she starts to belive that it's them playing tricks on her. Annoyed, she turns her sparking gaze on Tibarn who's been patiently waiting for her. "Did you find it?"

"Maybe. It keeps disappearing" she grunts crossing her arms, hating to admit she couldn't do it. All he does is nod. "I thought it might happen, but wanted to see if you could do it on your own first. When we get back I'll get you a beaststone to jump start the process." Before she can respond, he's already waving her to follow and flying off after the group. Grumbling to herself Alita follows Tibarn as they begin their flight to the hawk island.