If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said that it'd be easy, they just promised it would be worth it. - Sarah O'Rourke

Sarah stood outside, in a clearing not far from the Royal Gardens. She was wearing her new Owl costume/dress so to speak. She had a seamstress who could create wearable art within days or sometimes hours.

It was a one shouldered, long gown, with a V cut from the bottom up to

her knees in front. This was the seamstress's suggestion, as not only would it allow her to walk more quickly, but would look stunningly intimidating as she approached. The one shoulder with a strap sported a spray of white owl feathers, longer than they would be in real life, that accented her face and hung partway down her back. She had seen Jareth's owl outfit years ago, during her first Labyrinth run. She figured she may as well have one too.

Eimile nodded in approval as she approached. "That," she said, "is outstanding. Impressive as hell. Jareth will love it too, but you do know that you don't need it in order to transform, right?"

"Right," Sarah said. "So where should we begin?"

"To start, you're going to be setting your intention," said Eimile.

"Relax your mind and body.

Close your eyes and take two long deep breaths, breathing slowly in through your nose and holding the breath as long as is comfortable for you. Breathe out slowly through your mouth.

Connect with your animal through images. If you can see the owl in movement – follow the it to see where it takes you and what messages it wishes you to learn. If you are having trouble following it, first visualize the owl, then see it moving away. Be open to where it goes; it might be through an ordinary Earth/Otherworld scene, or even though time and space."

"Once you have connected with the owl, mentally tell it that you wish it to take you on a spirit journey so you can learn more about your soul journey at this time."

"Keep your mind open and willing to go on the journey. I can't tell you specifically what will happen, as everyone is very different, but be prepared to go someplace that your owl wishes to show you. Pay close attention to everything that happens."

Sarah closed her eyes and dutifully tried to remember everything that Eimile had said. Slowly breathing, she envisioned the owl flying through the countryside. She could hear the wind passing her by. Time seemed to be moving quickly, as she could see the sun going down, and see the sunset bloom more rapidly than usual.

She noticed at dusk that she could hear, it seemed, everything. Crickets, wind through her feathers, small creatures on the ground below.

As evening set in, she was startled to notice how well she could see. Even in a world of shadows, she could see the outlines of the trees, the village below, and the castle. But it was her hearing that was most incredible. She felt as though she could hear every conversation, every animal sound, almost every blade of grass growing. And these were allowing her to make her journey all across the kingdom.

Feeling perhaps overly confident, she swept past the window of the library, hoping to catch a glimpse of Jareth. Then the throne room. Then the Royal Chambers, where he was reading in bed. When he saw the flash of white pass his window, he looked startled and set down his book.

Finally, she swooped down underneath the elm tree where Eimile was standing.

She landed clumsily on the grass at first, then dug her claws into the soil to right herself. She slowly opened her eyes, becoming human again, and suddenly felt dizzy and off-balance. She stumbled to the left, and Eimile caught her.

Eimile's broad smile was contagious. "How long have I been gone?" Asked Sarah.

"About two hours. I've never seen anything like it! I figured that we'd spend this first session with you just meditating, but before I knew it you had actually transformed and flown off! Where were you? What did you see?"

Sarah felt a rush of adrenaline throughout her entire body. She was operating on her own high, and couldn't wait to do this again. She sat down, and told Eimile all that she had seen and heard. They were excitedly talking when Jareth strode up.

"You made your transformation already," he stated. It was not a question. He looked so proudly at Sarah and swept her up in his arms. "I could feel you. I even had an image of you flying past me. This is incredible. You're incredible!" He was beaming.

"And," he took her by the hands and spun her around. "May I say that your owl ensemble is unbelievably flattering!"

"I don't want to push things, but could you do it again, with me here, this time? We could take a quick flight around the perimeter of the field together."

Still riding her high, Sarah nodded. "I have dreamt of flying with you, my love," she smiled.

Almost instantly, she transformed. She was a beautiful little white barn owl, smaller than Jareth's. She fluttered up to his arm, landed there, and chirped.

He looked down at his arm with a sense of amazement. "You are so beautiful," he grinned. She took off, going over his head, racing through the sky.

Within seconds, she could sense him flying behind her, catching up quickly. They flew together in an arc around the clearing. Her heart was soaring.

Suddenly something slammed into her from her right, taking her breath away. She could feel her wings slowing down, dropping. Suddenly she felt something large and heavy above her, tearing into the back of her neck. As she was spiraling down with the large creature on her back, it seemed inevitable that she would slam into the ground. Suddenly she could hear a type of screaming, again from above her. Jareth was savagely defending her against whatever creature had attacked her.

For a few brief seconds, the world turned upside down until the assaulting creature was torn off her back. Jareth flew next to her again, this time with one wing under hers, slowing her rapid descent to the ground.

They landed across the clearing in relatively soft grass. Sarah was stunned, and bleeding from tears in her shoulders and in the back of her neck.

"What was that?" She looked fearfully up at the sky around them, seeing nothing.

Jareth, using his four fingers to heal the gash on her neck, said grimly, "Golden eagle. They can take down foxes and even deer. They're also extremely rare."

What he did not say was that he was relatively certain that this was no regular Golden Eagle. That it had an almost Fae intelligence. That it was most likely a transformative being. What worried him in particular, was that he knew of every creature in the kingdom capable of transformation, and this was not one. He needed to look into this, but he wasn't going to worry Sarah about it yet.

"I can almost promise you that that will never happen again, love. It has never happened to me nor anyone else that I know. We were having a lovely flight before this happened. Let's try to focus on that so that this one event doesn't shake your confidence."

Sarah, still stunned, silently nodded. Jareth rose and held out his hand to help her stand.

They walked, hand in hand, back to Eimile. She was almost hysterical. "What the hell happened? Where did that eagle come from? Oh my gods, Sarah, you're bleeding!"

Jareth's mouth was a grim flat line. "Eimile, your healing skills are even better than mine. Take her upstairs, heal those shoulder gashes, and get her some tea. I'm going to scan the area to find out where in hell that thing is."