Chapter Eight:
The sky had been visible and a healthy blue when Draco and the other fae had left the village. As they travelled deeper into the forest, however, that blue had become a distant memory and Draco's nerves had near snapped, leaving him to rely on his instinct, which seemed to be becoming increasingly dominant over his logical self.
"Honestly, I really don't see the point of learning your little trade." He had sniffed at the others who had merely smirked in response. "It's not as though I'll need it." Aaro chuckled deeply "Well how else do you intend to provide, faeling? You can hardly go back to build a life in the human world, not now that you are here."
"Besides," Asta had added, leering slightly, "how do you expect to catch a submissive if you can't even hunt?" The forest was filled with guffaws of manly laughter. Draco rolled his eyes at their terminology and could almost bring himself to believe that a deeper, more primal part of himself had not readied itself at that one word.
"Well, by all means," he exclaimed snottily, "teach me, o knowledgable one." Dara and the others stopped in a semi-clearing overgrown with roots, moss and decaying flowers. "Ah," the pink-eyed fae sighed blissfully, "acceptance at last." The boys seated themselves on the forest floor, followed by a disgusted-looking Draco.
"Now," Asta exclaimed, "I'm not exactly sure how this works with faeling be it should be just the same. Fae magic is different to a wizard's, Draco. No need to wave about that little stick, it's all elemental. Know what that means?" Draco sniffed, "Naturally, I assume it involves the elements; fire, water, earth, air." He states in a bored tone. Aaro grinned. "Alright, smart-arse." He sneered, "but you've got to be yourself before you can start using magic. Draco frowned "And how in Salazar's name am I supposed to just 'be myself'?" he asked in exasperation.
"Like this!" Zane exclaimed happily. He closed his eyes and dug his fingers into the earth before him. Draco watched in blank confusion as the air began to whip Zane's white mane around furiously, before settling down once more. When Zane looked at him and grinned, Draco found himself staring into whiteless black eyes and sharp fangs. His fingers, once removed from the dirt, had grown talon-like nails.
Draco gaped openly at the display before turning to Asta in disbelief. He was met with the same taloned, fanged creature Zane had become, only his whiteless eyes were gold and his smirk was undoubtedly familiar. "I didn't know we could alter form." Draco whispered reverently, watching in awe as each boy became more creature than man. "It's a necessity, both for protection and hunting." Dara's voice, though more guttural and deep sounded beside him and Draco found himself staring into glowing pink eyes. "It is only in this form that we can use the elements. After practice, it becomes child's play. Our instincts are brought to the fore with a thought. Now you try."
Draco set his shoulders in determination, closing his eyes he felt... silly. There wasn't much coming to the fore except maybe the desire to wee. He should have stayed with Harry. Harry... His gut twinged in response and a deep rumbling was pulled from his chest, almost a growl, almost a purr. He leaned into that instinct unintentionally and part of his mind purred in satisfaction, remembering the sight of Harry cradling the child.
He gasped at his own thoughts and his eyes flew open, causing the others to draw back slightly. "Well he got the eye bit right, that's gotta be a good sign!" Krik intoned happily. Draco surveyed the world through new eyes, seeing new colours, new distances, new pathways. It was a vision overload and Draco groaned before shaking his head dazedly. When he looked up, his world had returned to normal. The others grinned at him mercilessly, but none as intensely as Aaro's dark gaze.
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The deer, in all reality, hadn't stood a chance. It stumbled over roots and on rocks which seemed to crop up from nowhere. The wind blew into its eyes harshly, blinding it as it raced in vain. The heat of the setting sun seemed to magnify, burning her body and slowing her down enough for Krik to launch at her and twist her neck. Dead.
Though Draco felt distinctly ill watching the doe's head flop around bonelessly as she was carried, he could not squash the pride he felt at having helped, even minutely, with the kill. He was not a hunter, as his companions had learned quickly and humorously while watching the silver-eyed faeling race after a young hare, his fangs flashing in fury at every failed attempt. However, through practice, he would learn, was learning.
They were perhaps a mile from the village when it attacked. Cliché as it may seem, the beast had come from nowhere. It was a hippogriff, no doubt a wild one. It's eyes were wide, showing far too much white and it huffed ferociously, stamping the ground. Draco was not relieved to feel the other fae stiffen in shock around him. This would not end well. Draco cringed as he recalled his incident with Buckbeak and subconsciously took a nervous step backwards. Naturally, of course, the beast's wild eyes zeroed in on him and it advanced, stalking the men as their instincts kicked in and they began to hiss and lash out.
Aaro acted quickly, tearing down an overhanging tree canopy and wrapping it around the beast's body with magic to near painful levels. It was clever, but far too neat. The beast charged forward, enraged, slamming the butt of his head into Aaro's chest and forcing the fae to the ground. It reared back on its hind legs, intending to crush the youth. Aaro rolled away, out of harm's way as Draco charged forward, claws raking down one side of its thick, horse-like body. The beast shrieked and lunged for Draco, tearing a gash down his arm in one perfect, bloody streak with its beak.
The faeling cried out, clutching his burning arm as strong arms wrapped around him and pulled him backwards, away from the danger. The other fae advanced on the mad creature, magic bright and surging as they forced it back, into the forest. The arms which had rescued him turned Draco and the blonde came face to face with a shaken Aaro, colourless eyes flashing with anger. He wrapped an arm around the faeling's middle and started towards the village at a hurried pace, the other fae falling in eventually and Dara and Krik carrying the carcass of the doe. "Zane, get Mayca," Asta said, voice monotonous, as he watched the younger fae sprint for the village gates which were only just visible.
"Mama!" Zane cried, "It's Draco!"
The fae dragged a pale, quivering Draco passed the village gates and into the arms of their healer, Mayca. Temm rounded on her son. "What have you done?" she yelled, her dull yellow eyes flashing dangerously. "I'm so sorry Mama, it just happened out of nowhere, the beast was insane!" Aaro sighed and placed a hand on Temm's shoulder "Forgive me, Temm. It was I who took him out to hunt with us. It was not my intention for him to get hurt. The incident happened not far from here and the beast was unfamiliar, mad."
Temm glowered at the young men briefly before snarling and turning her attention to Draco. "Is he well, Mayca?" Mayca's black eyes swivelled to catch Temm's and she smirked. "He will be fine as soon as Zane returns with my balm. It is a nasty wound and it will scar but he will be healed in minutes." Draco sighed in obvious relief, not caring for the moment that his body would be marred.
As Mayca was smoothing a sticky green lotion into his numb arm, Harry's pale face came into view. Draco beckoned him over, watching as Harry chewed his bottom lip and stared at him through wide green eyes. Beautiful eyes...
"Are you okay?" Harry whispered it as he might have done had they been in the Hospital Wing and Draco grinned. "Perfectly fine," he swore, "like the charming woman said, it will heal in minutes. I do, however, apologize for leaving you alone without an explanation." Draco glanced up into Harry's relieved eyes eyes and smiled softly.
"What exactly happened, Dara?" Ria asked quietly
"A hippogriff, Ria" Krik said solemnly.
Draco looked at the fae with murder in his silver eyes before turning to Harry whose mouth immediately snapped shut as his eyes began to sparkle. "Not one word, potter!"
