Allison had passed out when the man said he was Memento Mori and he tucked her back in; his hands brushed her skin and he shivered. It was so soft that he ran his finger down the side of her face and under her chin; she warm again but he didn't remove the turtle neck even though he saw she wore something under it. Very slowly he pulled away from her and watched her sleep again as he had earlier. He'd heard her tell those four children the story of the man in the cabin, living alone finding the goddess in his forest. He knew Allison would never go alone into the forest or at least without telling someone first.

His kidnapping her, there was a reason, a reason his cause would make her laugh at him. He found their fortress years and years ago and then they began discussion about horses; he saw Allison walking alone in an open field and as a black stallion, he approached her. He remembered her face all too well.

"You're beautiful," she'd called him but didn't try to get on his back.

He followed her home and she called out her parents and after begging, she was allowed to keep him. she named him Memento Mori, Latin for 'Remember that you must die' and he grew fond of his name although she often just called him 'Mori' (death or die). When Max asked her why such a depressing name, she said.

"Because his coat is black Maxi, because he reminds me of it and now that I have him, I don't have to be afraid anymore; Mori will keep me alive," she had faith in him since the day she brought him home. "Max, Memento Mori… he's my savour- I have something to look forward too now." He thought she meant that because she was depressed, later it was because she had him to look forward to coming home to from her job with Max.

He still didn't understand as much as he wanted too, part of him didn't care, he loved the name she'd given him. It didn't bother him one bit, what his name meant- at first it had, but not anymore. Now he took pride in it.

When they'd began their project with the horses, he honestly felt better, not as alone but at night he would shift into a bird and fly to her window. He's seen her sleep- awake and talking with her mother about her future. He's seen her shower but he still respected her privacy and turned away, with gentle peeks every now and then. When she had longer hair and then came into her room with it gone, he'd been furious. Max followed her into her room and he teased her about it.

"Stop it Max."

"You're so cute with short hair."

"I said stop it, you're so mean." She said but she was smiling, he was just teasing her after all.

After watching her brush it out, he forgave her and perched on her window sill for several minutes before she saw him- the blue jay in the window. He'd flown over to her and she smiled, she's called him gorgeous and handsome. Then as her door opened, he flew out and back to the stable. She'd noticed Memento Mori's strange behaviour but didn't tease him like Aeron or Reyes did, she even scowled at them for doing such a thing; she called him perfect and when they walked away whispered in his ear that she loved him.

If he'd known she would be so easy to fool, he'd done this sooner as a dog- that way at least he could sleep in her bed, watch her shower and dress. Run and play with her; that way he could sneak her human kisses while she slept and go back to being a dog before she woke. He'd learned a while after entering her life that her favourite dog was a boarder collie and brown-spotted Dalmatian.

Last night when she'd been so upset, he knew that something was wrong, he could her yelling- the window was open. They all had heard her and her brother arguing about something and then she came into the stable house and had the wine.

…

He watched over her as she turned and jerked awake suddenly as she said his name. Mori! He sat watching her and she pushed herself up and groaned as she held her head- her headache or dizzy from sitting up too fast. He pushed the bottle of aspirin towards her and another bottle of water was in the bucket; she didn't look at either item but him.

"You… you- why?" She forced out, her voice was rough.

He shrugged, "Because I wanted you."

"I've never met you before."

"Remember what I told you about Memento Mori?" she nodded, "Then we have met."

"Well, I lied." He believed that.

He cleared his throat, his leg crossed and his elbows on the arm of the chair he sat in with his fingertips together. "I'm a shape shifter Allison. I became that horse years ago- when we met in the field… you took me to your home."

"Are you a hunter?" She whispered.

He nodded and she tried to get up but he stood and she fell against the wall, she stared up at him. "I'm an ex-hunter actually- technically. I faked my death several years ago when I saw you; you gave me a new reason for living all over again Allison."

She shook her head, "Why. I didn't do- do anything for you."

He smiled, "But you did." He said and stepped away from her, she sank more into the wall it seemed, "When I saw you, I decided to change everything about myself. I was a good hunter too, several people assumed I quit, most thought I was dead, but to ease their pain and worry, I sent in letters explaining I met this girl and decided to stop working with the Hunters. You and Max… I laughed then when I heard, working for the CDA. I was angry with you when you were gone for so long this one time months ago. Almost two weeks you were gone." She remembered, he knew her expressions. "I remember when you saw me, waiting for you; you hurried with your parents and then ran to me."

She shook her head, but stopped. She fell onto her side- seriously dizzy. The room was spinning, "No." she forced out, "I ran to Memento Mori… not you!"

"I am Mori, Mori is me- I am the one you've said you love repeatedly over the last several years."

Allison this time, argued with her demon. We need to get out here Demon.

You think I don't know that? She responded.

Think of something dammit! Allison thought loudly.

The Shifter stepped towards her and she jumped away from him, but he grabbed her wrist and she tried to kick him, but lost her balance and fell onto her back- dragging him down on top of her. He smiled, "Prefer the bottom huh?" He teased and she closed her eyes and looked away from her.

"Please, I want to go home. Please," she whispered. He shook his head, "Why- what do you want with me?"

He frowned and she opened her eyes slowly, blinking to see him so close. "I thought that was obvious Allison… I'm in love with you." Allison stared shakily into his eyes and saw the truth behind them. His brown eyes were exactly like Memento Mori's and she faced the truth by looking into his eyes. She was being held captive by her own horse.