"I didn't mean to hit you."

Maleficent glanced toward the girl who was still soaked from her game.

"So I assumed."

She retorted, sending a wave of magic around the girl to help take care of the mess.

"You aren't angry? Venjo said..."

That caught Maleficent by surprise.

"You are learning their names now?"

The look she got was something akin to disbelief.

"Why wouldn't I? They want to be friends and besides, it's respectful. How would you like to just be called just a troll or whatever?"

Maleficent allowed herself a rare grin of amusement.

"If one called me a troll, they would be sorely mistaken." She retorted, only to earn a look.

"oh you know what I meant!"

A rather cold gust of wind was the response she got from the fairy at that.

"Come on, it's time to see you home."

Maleficent was surprised when the girl faltered.

"Actually, could I stay here for the night?"

"If you wish."

❇️

The braying of hounds awoke Maleficent, although she knew there was no way for the hunters nor dogs to come beyond the barrier.

Even if a crafty human girl managed that without getting too mangled.

"I hate that sound."

The sudden whispered voice caused the wingless fairy to flinch in spite of herself.

"Dreadful isn't it?"

She could hear rustling as Aurora moved to sit beside her.

"They remind me of hellhounds. You know, omens of death?"

Maleficent spares a glance toward the girl then.

" Humans and your scary stories. although yes, they probably were inspired by hunts such as tonights."

Maleficent retorted, earning a look.

"Are you saying things like that don't exist? Even here?"

Maleficent just chuckled.

" All fae can be dangerous if crossed but most will not if you respect them. Humans have exaggerated things over the years but then again, war and persecution tend to paint darker images."

A silence passed over them for some time and Maleficent found herself almost content, that was until a panicked, shrill sound came from somewhere out in the forest.

"What do they get from it?"

Maleficent could hear the emotion in Aurora's tone.

"I have no idea Beastie. Come, it's time you were asleep."

❇️

Diaval was glad to be in his normal form when he woke up or else he possibly would have startled them awake by laughing at the rare scene in front of him.

Maleficent was still asleep—which was unusual in itself since the sun was up—but the fact that Aurora was cuddles against her was another.

Even in sleep Maleficent seemed aloof, however whatever transpired the previous night surely must have ended with the fairy given in to Aurora's request.

It painted a rather different picture of the fairy and the Raven must admit an rather adorable scene all together.