Kokoro screamed. She was falling, and they weren't slowing down.

At the moment, Baron certainly wasn't helping. Though, being unconscious from the whack on his head, she couldn't really blame him.

Clinging to his motionless body, she squeezed her eyes shut as she tried not to cry.

Look at you! a voice inside her head shrieked. You're acting like a scared little fraidy-cat, no offense to Baron. After all he did for you, after all he went through for you, you're just going to let him, and yourself, die? You were so proud of yourself back there, when you told off that queen, but you have no reason to be. When you're most needed, you freeze up, and that's why you're so helpless.

It was a wake-up call, really, the voice in her head lecturing her. And it made her angry, but it also made her feel so ashamed. How could she let Baron just die? How could she let herself, after everything Baron and Toto and Prince Aidan and Belinda had gone through for her, fall to her death?

She wanted to steel her resolve. She wanted to be braver. Being surrounded by such courageous people, how could she still be such a coward?

You're right she thought sadly. You are so right. I am a fraidy-cat… but I don't want to be. For once in my life, I want to be able to help. Baron offered to help me without a second thought. He wore that silly green outfit for me, traveled to the Cat and Fairy Kingdoms for me, saved my life a dozen times. I don't want this to be the way I pay him back.

She cringed. I'm tired of being the damsel in distress. For once in my fifteen-year-old life, I want to save someone who means so much to me. The one person who said he liked my name.

And as Kokoro was thinking these thoughts, something happened. Something miraculous, something she never thought in a million years would happen.

They slowed down.

But it wasn't just that, because as she peeked out, she saw that the world was coming to a complete halt, and, surprised, opened her eyes and looked around. Shocked, she covered her dropped jaw with her hand, making sure to keep a firm grip on Baron's waist.

Her wings were flapping. Her wings were flapping!

She began to laugh. It wasn't that it was funny, but she was just so relieved that they were actually going to live it made her giggle. And it only got better, because then Baron's eyelids fluttered open, and he groaned.

Gasping, Kokoro squeezed Baron even tighter. "You're alive!" she shouted, laughing harder.

"I won't be if you don't loosen your grip," he wheezed, lifting a hand to his forehead. Squeaking, Kokoro relaxed her arms, but it didn't wipe the ecstatic grin off her face.

Baron winced and turned his head slightly to gaze back at the girl around his waist. "What happened?" he asked, his voice laced with restrained pain. "I remember hitting a branch and falling, but how are we…" Moving his head further, he saw her glittering wings waving, keeping them floating in the air like a hummingbird. A slow smile spread across his mouth as he patted her hands. "Good job Kokoro," he said, and Kokoro beamed.

"There you guys are!" Looking up, the two spotted a black crow flying toward them, concern sparkling in his ebony eyes. "I was so worried when I heard Kokoro scream, and I…" His voice trailed off when he noticed they were suspended in the air, and he grinned at her. "I knew I liked you!" he said, landing on a nearby branch.

Carefully, Kokoro maneuvered over to the branch and relinquished her grip on the cat figurine's waist. "How's your head?" she asked gently, cringing as she saw his forehead swelling.

Baron tried to smile, but it came out as pained grimace. "I'll be all right," he assured. "Trust me, I've had worse injuries than this."

"I still feel bad though," she said, turning away some. She looked up to meet jade eyes as Baron touched her shoulder.

"It's not your fault. Now, let's get you home, before you're missed."

Kokoro nodded as he helped her straddle Toto's back again. "Right," she agreed.

~*~