Disclamier: I don't own any of the characters but I live in hope.
A/n: If anytime in the story you are confused by any horsey terms, or just what is generally going on, feel free to message me.
Merlin had found the perfect place to practise his magic. It was a small clearing about five miles from Camelot but so densely buried in a thicket of brambles that no one would think to go there. Merlin himself had had to levitate to get into the clearing. Now, surrounded by five and a half foot high bushes with trees dotted in between, he could finally do one piece of magic that he had been really looking forward to: animal transformation. He had told everyone he was going to visit an old family friend and only Gaius knew the truth, so no one was expecting him back for a few days.
After memorising the page from his book, he put it in his bag, which he hid in a corner of the clearing. Concentrating on an image of a fox, an animal which he knew well from protecting the chickens in his village, he spoke the words of the old language. A strange tingling raced up and down his body, and his surroundings shot up around him. A wall of smells and sounds hit him as he completed the change. Merlin felt full of energy and could hear and smell, and even see, all the little creatures all around him. He wanted to pounce, to bite, to feel blood around his jaws. A sudden wave of nausea, caused by Merlin's own squeamishness, broke through the controlling animal instincts. Disgusted with himself, the warlock focused on the image of himself and spoke the counter-charm.
Next he decided to try something a bit different. He pictured yet another pest from his village life, the buzzard. As soon as the change was complete, he soared up to the sky. Flying higher and higher he could see almost all of Albion spread out below him. He could even spot Prince Arthur training in the castle grounds and Gwen hanging out some washing. But as the initial amazement of flying died down, the bird's hunting instincts kicked in. Again Merlin felt the bloodlust and was sickened by it. Only just maintaining control, he spiralled down to land in the clearing. Changing back, he sat and had some food, thinking through the problem.
"It's the predatory instincts that are causing trouble. Maybe if I try a grazer?" he asked the sparrow that was pecking at the remains of his sandwich. Thinking through all the various animals, he hit on a perfect idea.
A few minutes later, a jet black stallion stood in the centre of the clearing, staring around with brilliant blue eyes. Ears flickered as he listened to the sounds of the forest and nostrils flared as he took in the smells. Merlin was enjoying himself; this shape gave him the sheer sense of power and strength that usually only came when he performed magic. Rearing up, he took off, galloping round the clearing but never getting dizzy. Eventually exhausted, he slowed to a stop and focused on changing back. But something was wrong; every time he tried to picture himself something caught the horse's attention (it is a prey animal and anything could be a predator). After a few minutes, Merlin couldn't even remember the words he had to say. However, as he went to somehow retrieve the book, a branch broke off a tree nearby causing a cloud of birds to rush past Merlin's head. This caused the horse to panic, and before Merlin could stop himself, he bolted. Clearing the ring of brambles easily, he galloped off, the warlock struggling to control the horse part of his mind the entire time.
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