"How long?"

"Two weeks."

"I was out for TWO WEEKS?" Tegryn looked at Musa in disbelief, still holding her hand. "Well, that explains why my back is aching so much."

A different voice made itself heard. "Well, actually that's more to do with the bruising on your back," said Ofelia as she walked into the room, "Tell me, how do your legs feel?"

He hadn't really noticed them because of the pain in his body, but now that Ofelia mentioned it, they did feel rather numb. He tried to move them - after a great deal of effort, he was finally able to wiggle his toes.

"What's happened? What can't I move my legs?"

"I think the bruising may have affected the nerves in your legs - don't worry though, I'm sure it'll heal in good time. You know, you really are lucky to be alive. It's a good job Musa here found you when she did. Maybe now that you're back with us, she'll go back to her place!"

Musa blushed.

"How do you mean?" asked Tegryn.

"She's been keeping a vigil by your bedside all this time. She's hardly ever left you. I guess she felt responsible for you."

"Is this true?"

Musa blushed again. "Yes" she said quietly, looking down with a bashful grin on her face. "I just felt as though I couldn't leave you, not after finding you like that".

Tegryn beamed. "That's so sweet. Thank you."

Musa looked up coyly, staring into his blue eyes. It was such a romantic moment... they would've stayed like that all day, but an excited chatter from the doorway disturbed them. Musa looked and, recognising her dearest pals, ushered them in and introduced them to her newest friend.

After he said his hello's to the gang, Tegryn asked Musa "I know this is totally daft, but there's something I need to ask. It's probably my mind playing tricks on me but... back in the forest when I saw you the first time... I could've sworn you had wings."

Musa giggled. "Heh. Yep, it's true."

Tegryn's eyebrows leaped in astonishment, so much so that they seemed to be clinging onto his forehead for dear life. "Excuse me? You have WINGS?"

"Yes."

"We all do," Stella chipped in. "We're fairies."

"Fairies? Oh. Right... fairies." If he heard this anywhere else, he would've said she was lying but after what happened before, he would believe anything right now. "So, what about those girls that attacked me? They're not..."

"If it was who I think it was, then no, they definitely are NOT fairies. They're witches - nasty ones too."

The next week or so was one of great happiness for Tegryn. Musa was his constant companion, leaving him only to sleep at night or when she had to go to her classes. Tegryn told her all about the wonderful things he had seen on his travels. They listened to each other's favourite music... Musa's opinion of Tegryn's MP3 collection was 'not enough rap but still pretty damn cool'. They chatted, they laughed, they found out everything they could about each other... that is, everything except their true feelings. Being a wanderer, Tegryn had never had any need to talk about such things - he was too busy trying to survive to worry about matters of the heart. And Musa, emotionally fragile as she was, was reluctant to take that step.

The two grew ever closer, but were too afraid to break that final barrier. And so it continued... until one fateful night as they both slept, Tegryn in the bed where he had stayed for the last month, and Musa in her room.

In the darkness some distance away, a dark trio hatched a plan.

"I told you we'd have some fun with him. It's time... let's do it."