A/N: Here is that fun little adventure you asked for, Mad-4-Manga! And thank you also Stormy Phoenix for reviewing!

:It gets easier to act my age the more I do it: Faolan admitted one morning as she rode Raul along the edge of the Companion's Field, moving easily with the filly's smooth walk.

:As with everything: Raul conceded, nipping at a few long strands of grass as they passed them by.

:I want to continue learning Archery: Faolan announced, looking up at the bright morning sun, shining through a few fluffy clouds that wandered lazily across the sky.

:All right: Raul nodded in Fao's mind.

The girl fidgeted uneasily and then added, "Now, Raul. I want to start now. Let's go find the Weaponsmaster and get me in an Archery class."

Raul's footsteps paused momentarily and finally she said, :All right.:

And then she turned around and moved into a graceful trot, her mane and tail bouncing lightly, heading up towards the Salle and training grounds. This was a part of Haven that Faolan hadn't been near or had a chance to explore, and as they approached the training grounds Faolan took in the lines of gray uniformed youngsters, holding wooden practice swords and listening attentively to a golden haired man in Whites, who stood with a casual easiness as he spoke.

:Looks like they're practicing outside today: Raul commented, stopping about ten yards from the edge of the area.

:Do they practice inside, sometimes?: Faolan wanted to know.

:Yes, in winter or very bad weather: Raul said, :Although they're trained to be able to fight in all conditions.:

The Herald, whom Faolan presumed to be the Weaponsmaster, had noticed them, and he gave Raul a wave to tell her to wait, causing a few trainees to glance in their direction curiously. A few minutes later they were paired up and hacking at each other with clumsy, confused blows that were blocked with equal awkwardness, and the golden haired Herald was making his way over to the two of them.

"How may I help you?" he asked in a lilting voice, glancing at both Faolan and Raul and clearly unsure as to which of them he should be addressing.

His hair was tied back in a loose ponytail and shown in the morning sun. His eyes were a bright, fervent blue, set in a face that was still handsome despite a few signs of aging- slight wrinkles at his eyes and an expression born of long years of hard work.

"I want to learn Archery," Faolan announced, and Raul dropped down to her knees, allowing Faolan to slip off and walk up to the Herald, Raul trailing behind.

"Is that was this is about?" he asked with an easy smile and he leaned down, "You will learn archery Faolan. Every trainee does."

"I want to start learning now," Faolan announced and his eyebrow momentarily twitched upwards.

He shrugged and said, "Faolan… Not yet. You will learn Archery… but not now."

"Why not?" Faolan asked, "I already know a little and I have a bow of my own, just set me up with the other trainees!"

The Herald look a little surprised at this tirade and he asked, "Why do you want to start learning now so badly?"

"I just want to," Faolan sighed, "Why not?"

The Herald paused and then he looked up at the sky and laughed, turning back to her with a shake of his head and said, "You got me there. From what I hear you're probably mature enough to handle it. I think mostly we didn't put you in weapons classes because we figured that it wouldn't interest you nor would you be up to it, but I can see from this conversation that you are both interested and able to handle it. You have your own bow?"

"Yes," Faolan nodded and then smiled as she said, "I made it myself."

The Weaponsmaster now took on an expression that said he doubted it would be up to standards if she had made it, but once more he shrugged and said, "Okay. I'll talk to the Dean and get word to you when to come on over."

"Thanks," Faolan said with a grin, and climbed back up onto Raul, leaving the Weaponsmaster to his students.

:You handled that well: Raul said as they headed back to the Companion's Field.

:It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. He's nice: Faolan said, scratching Raul's mane.

:I'm glad you'll have some structured exercise in your day now: Raul said, :Something to concentrate on and focus on. It'll help your change.:

And nights later Faolan found herself, for the third time now, laying on her bed in nothing but a pair of gray breeches, staring fervently out the window at the night sky. The moon was barely above the horizon and so Faolan couldn't see it, but she could sense it. It rang through her blood like fire and she burned, the way she could imagine Lavan Firestorm burning when he called down the firestorms on the Karsites.

And when she awoke from the mix of pain and fear, she awoke someone who was not quite the Faolan she considered herself as a human. Being a wolf unlocked part of her inside that she normally didn't let out, or wanted to let out. Raul had stayed in the Companion's Field, as she and Fao had decided, to not arouse suspicion. Besides, there wasn't much Raul could do for Faolan- the amount was equal no matter where the Companion filly was.

:Ahh…: Faolan sighed, yawning and stretching, letting her claws dig holes in her sheets, before jumping off the bed with a clicking of claws, :Somehow I don't feel at all tired…:

:Faolan: Raul's voice rang cautionary in Fao's mind and she sighed, feeling a sullen, childish anger at the Companion for being so overprotective.

:Raul: she sighed, :I look like a puppy. I don't look like a wolf. No one will suspect a thing.:

:What exactly do you plan on doing?:

:Going for a walk: Faolan declared and leapt up onto the chair by her window and bit at the latch. She managed to slide it to unlocked, but there was no way she could get it open.

:Damn: she thought, nosing at the latch, but her soft nose had no power to lever it up and she bit at it in anger, feeling the moon rising within her and along with it, the desire to be out.

Miffed, she let out a growl, scratching at the windowsill to vent and finally snapping, :Isn't there some way I can get it open, Raul?:

:If you can't… and you already locked yourself into your room…: Raul said slowly, not wanting to sound happy about the fact that she couldn't get out.

:Ah ha: Faolan laughed and ran over to her door, leaping up and pressing her paws against the wood, but she couldn't reach the door latch, so she ran over and sunk her teeth into the leg of one chair and slowly, awkwardly, she dragged it to the door, her claws sinking into the wooden floor and leaving even more claw marks that didn't worry her in her wolf form.

With an easy jump she perched herself on the chair, and ignoring the pain in her gums, she bit the latch and pulled it open with her teeth, relishing the salty taste of blood in her own mouth as she jumped back down and dragged the chair out of the way and then, giving a powerful jump with her hind legs, she latched onto the door handle with her teeth, and let her weight drag it down.

But, as she hung there by her teeth, literally, she realized that although her door was able to be opened, she had no way now to pull it open. She tried to pushed off the side of the door, but that didn't work, and her jaws were beginning to ache.

:Crap: she thought miserably, but just as she was about to let go, there was a knock on the door and it was pushed open by a surprised Christopher Alaska, and Fao slid out of sight behind the door.

"Faolan?" Alaska asked, "Are you here?"

He looked at the chair in the middle of the room and the bite marks on its side and the mussed up sheets and gave a shrug.

:Maybe she's in the baths: Faolan heard with a stark clarity in her mind and felt relief seep through her as he turned to go back out. Quickly, and to the joy of her aching jaws, she dropped to the floor and padded around, slipping behind Alaska as he swung the door shut, moving like a small shadow in the darkness of the hall.

:What a stroke of luck: she thought with delight, and ran down the hall in the opposite direction as Alaska, her puppy claws clicking on the wood floor. Faolan could feel Raul sighing in the back of her mind, but she ignored the filly and managed to slip outside as a few trainees slipped in, unnoticed by all in her even smaller form.

The night air was cool and Faolan stopped on the steps outside, her nose twitching as she breathed in deep and took in the various scents of a living city. Then, eagerly, she trotted down the steps and soon made her way to the Companion's Field, slipping under the fence and delighting in the beautiful feel of grass beneath her paws as she slipped between stalks that grew taller than she did, her large ears pricked and excited.

Suddenly a white form materialized before her and Fao stopped short, sitting down on her fuzzy bottom and looking up through eyes as blue as they were before she had changed. A pair of deeper, more intense blue eyes peered back at her, a pair of very familiar eyes.

:Fancy meeting you here Raul: Faolan chuckled and the filly stomped a hoof. Fao thought, as she tilted her head sideways, that Raul had definitely grown since her first change in that Waystation.

:Nice to see you as well Faolan: Raul said amiably, but with a pinch of sarcasm in the back of her voice.

:You don't like me do you?: Faolan inquired, feeling surprisingly hurt all of a sudden and she lay down, resting her head on her paws and looking up at the filly with endearing eyes.

:Of course I like you Faolan: Raul answered sharply, her blue eyes flashing.

:I mean you don't like the wolf me.:

:Well… you are sometimes a bit much to handle, but I love every bit of Faolan- even the parts you can't always control: Raul said and reached down a soft nose, pressing it against Faolan's back and breathing soft breath into her fur.

Quick as lightning as only a puppy can, Faolan whipped around and snapped her jaws shut millimeters from the filly's nose. Raul jerked backwards and stared at her in surprise as Faolan jumped to her feet, and tongue lolling, looking up at Raul with a barking laugh.

:Fooled you, huh?: she said and ran off through the grass, cackling in her mind.

:Faolan!:Raul shouted, angry but laughing at the same time, :Don't DO that Faolan! That isn't funny!:

:Then why are you laughing?: Faolan demanded wickedly as she danced through the grass and the filly chased after her with long strides.

:You: Raul growled at Faolan and the wolf laughed again and shied away from the thick scent of Companions, sticking to the lonelier patches of forest and running along the edge of the river, inhaling scents and the thrill of everything running through her blood, the chill wind, the crisp air, the trees moving gently and exuding the powerful scent of pine and sycamore and oak, the cooling dirt pressing up against the pads of her feet, the bushes pulling at her fur, she inhaled it all.

"Arroooooooo!" she sang to the moon as she reached a small meadow in the field, abandoned by the Companions. The moon was high and Faolan felt the lonely longing of the wolves and she called this out to the moon, sending shivers down the spines of all who heard it and deep inside recognized that it was not the calling of a common wolf or dog.

And then she ran again, playing with her shadow, chasing Raul and simultaneously hiding from her until the poor Companion never knew what game her Chosen was playing. She darted past a few Heralds whom she hadn't know where there because the wind had been blowing their scent away from her, a few Heralds who were momentarily startled to find a lost puppy running through the Companion's Field, but what startled them even more was the young Companion who came through moments later at a brisk trot, going and coming in the same direction as the puppy.

And the next morning, when Christopher Alaska found Faolan curled up asleep outside the Herald's Collegium, completely naked, he didn't comment, only carried her into her room, ignoring Faolan's half asleep and mumbled excuses about a 'mor'ing walk.'