to spit on her.

Annalaya scurried away after her 'Master' before she did.

They were lucky that no one was present in the room of books. The librarian was at a raggedy desk with her back to them. That left Annalaya the freedom to look over all the books. Amazingly, Galian could read. They were both surprised at this fact.

After rows and rows of books, neither of them were having any luck at finding answers about the wishing stream.

Hours had gone by before they knew it and the librarian lady was impatiently tapping her hour glass.

Galian roughly pushed Annalaya out of the building for show. He gave her an apologetic look before walking in front of her again.

"We should get home. It's getting dark," Galian said lowly.

It was then an old peddler woman appeared, she had a cart full of books and bottles of weird exotic medicines. She was clearly a knowledgeable woman. So of course, Galian stopped.

"How may I serve you, good sir?" The peddler made a hand motion over her goods as if saying, 'Come to buy something?'

"I need information about a stream that is in the woods a little ways from here. It appears to be a wishing stream. I was wondering if you knew anything about it." Galian asked.

The woman smiled before landing her eyes on Annalaya. "I know of the stream. What do you want to know about it?"

Annalaya had a bad feeling about the woman and wanted to tell Galian that they needed to go, but she couldn't because of her slave status.

"How does the wishing stream work and is there a way to reverse a wish?" Galian's gaze landed on Annalaya and back to the peddler.

"I can answer your questions, but I will need payment." The peddler announced, steep-ling her fingers.

"I have nothing to give you." Galian frowned, about to walk away.

"I'll take the girl." The woman stared at Annalaya as if she knew something. And then realization hit here. She was one of the ones that helped murder her parents.

Terror bridled itself up inside Annalaya's stomach and she felt herself begin to shake. The woman wanted her so she could kill her. It was obvious to Annalaya.

"She is not for sale." Galian stepped closer to Annalaya.

"She is a slave is she not?" the peddler looked angry.

"She is my slave, and she's not for sale."

"Then I'm afraid I can't help you."

Galian grabbed Annalaya possessively by the arm and hauled her away.

By the time they were to the edge of the village and Galian let go of her arm Annalaya was sobbing.

Galian had known something was wrong with her by the tremors in her arm.

"She was planning to kill me." Annalaya kept walking, trying to quiet her sobs.

Galian stopped her and turned her around. "She what?!" He looked angry. Not at her but at the woman.

Annalaya stared at him, trying to stop trembling. She needed to be brave. "She was one of the people who murdered my parents."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Galian took her hands in his.

"I couldn't or I would have blown our cover." Annalaya stared down at their entwined hands. She didn't want to find out how to reverse the wish. She wanted Galian to stay this way as a human. She was being selfish and if she was being honest, she knew that she was in love with the sparrow man. She loved him before he had become a man. Maybe he hadn't been the same way, but she had loved him then. Now that he was a human she loved him so much it hurt. If only she could tell him her feelings.

A tear fell from her cheek and landed on Galian's hand.

"It will be all right." Galian let go of her hands and gathered her up into a hug.

The physical contact made her cry harder. Without realizing what she was doing she clung to him.

Galian didn't pull her away from him, in fact he held onto her tighter. "I'm so sorry I put you through this. Forgive me, Annalaya." Galian kissed the top of her head.

Annalaya closed her eyes and savored the moment.

Galian wished to be a sparrow again for Annalaya's sake of safety. He knew it wouldn't work but he could try.

"I love you Annalaya," he barely whispered into her hair. She couldn't have heard him, but it was true. He hadn't told her that he had wished to become human at the stream too. He wanted to be a human for her, but she wanted to help him become a sparrow again. He obliged her, secretly wanting to stay a human. Now, he knew he had to be a sparrow; to keep her safe. She would not stop searching for answers until she helped him turn back.

I wish to be a sparrow again. Galian wished in his head. At once, he felt odd.

Annalaya gasped as she felt heat coming from Galian.

She screamed as Galian disappeared. She fell forward and caught herself before she fell on her face.

There was a chirp and Annalaya looked down in surprise. "Galian?"

A familiar looking sparrow sat on the ground staring up at her.

So this was it. He was turned back?

Annalaya hid her tears.

Uh oh...

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