Erudeln completely lost track of time as he gazed up at the night sky. Clouds, as shadows within the opaque darkness of night, curled over the stars. Gradually their pinpricks of light dissipated into inky blackness swirling with hints of the darkest shades of green and violet. A wind rose, ruffling Erudeln's feathers so that they brushed against his skin, a light tickly sensation. It was not until heavy drops of water began to land on his head from the heavens that Erudeln shook himself and decided he should do something. He was not sure what, but he was sure that simply standing in a clearing in the middle of a storm was not the best idea.

Lightning backlight towers of clouds fraying on the strong winds. Thunder rolled seconds later, nearly deafening Erudeln. Embellished hearing seemed more of a plague than a use at the moment.

"Let's go, Uilia," Maern's voice urged.

Erudeln glanced around him but saw neither of the guards.

"What?!" exclaimed Uilia, "And just leave him here? You can be so cold sometimes, Maern!"

Footsteps sounded in the distance, muffled by the curtain of air surrounding the Trissting Tree. Several minutes passed before Uilia stepped through the divider. The air curled and shimmered around her, turning her horns liquid silver before closing around her and shoving her backwards. Erudeln could hear her hit the ground on the other side even if he could not see her. A moderate amount of soft swearing followed mingled with Maern's snorts of laughter.

Silence rained for a few minutes broken only by the rolls of thunder and whistling of wind through the bows far above. Erudeln shivered, his wings folding closer against his skin, warming him slightly despite the temperature drop.

"Look, if you can hear us," began Uilia, breaking the silence, "There is an outpost tavern not far from here where we can stay the night. I suspect that you do not want to remain outside in this lovely weather."

Erudeln pondered the proposition for a moment. He should go home but what with the storm and knowing just how hospitable the desert was at night, he figured he should wait.

"Thank you for the offer," he called through the barrier.

No answer came.

Sighing, Erudeln took a step forward. And fell over. He blinked. It was not that anything hurt but rather that he felt a flush creeping over him to join the mud he had collected from the ground. He tried again. This time, he stumbled but managed to keep himself upright. He hobbled over to where Uilia had been repelled by the air barrier, fighting against the weight of his wings to keep his balance.

Erudeln held his hands in front of him until he could feel the air swirling around them like water around a boulder. Slowly, he stepped through. The air parted for him. As he passed through the void, he could feel nothing. There was simply a lack of air. His feeling returned as he found himself standing unsteadily in front of Maern who was helping Uilia back unto her feet. She glowered at the fennec-elf before both realized that Erudeln was with them. Erudeln tilted his head to one side puzzled.

"Could you not hear my answer?" asked Erudeln.

"You said something?!" exclaimed Maern, eyes widening in shock.

"Yelled," corrected Erudeln, "But I guess I should assume that both of you are deaf from now on since I was but a couple steps away."

Uilia stamped a hoof, her pelt tossing with the motion and scattering mud and raindrops onto Maern. The latter glared at Uilia's back who did not notice anything.

"Whatever you need to tell yourself," Uilia sighed, "but what was your answer?"

"To stay out here in the storm of course!" Erudeln replied, sarcasm flooding every syllable.

Maern rolled his eyes. Wordlessly, all the made their way back to the horses. The Atmospheri were nowhere to be seen. The horses were waiting at the entrance, eyes rolling and hooves stamping in fear. The wind rippled their coats and buffeted Maern with such force that he almost toppled off his steed. By now, all three were soaked through and their clothing clung to them awkwardly.

Erudeln moved to mount behind Uilia only to find himself flying through the air. He landed with a soft thump on the muddy ground. Rivulets of liquid earth splattered all over him. He looked up to find Uilia doubled over with laughter, her belly-heaves shedding water in every direction even as more fell from the murderous sky. Even Maern had a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips despite the fact that Uilia was drenching him again.

"Am I to know the source of amusement?" Erudeln inquired.

"Hmph," grumbled Maern, "I can clue you in that it is not how the rain just picked up."

The guard frowned, shaking his head in frustration. Erudeln wondered if it were even possible for Maern to crack a smile. Unlikely...

Uilia managed to swallow her laughter, a smirk still plastered to her face.

"You're going to have to get those wings under control if you want to stay on the horse," Uilia stated, staring down at Erudeln in his puddle of muddy embarrassment.

He guessed now that his wings had caught the wind and that they were the culprits behind his current predicament. Perhaps they were also responsible for the loss of his impeccable balance.

"There is only one problem with your suggestion, love," he replied through gritted teeth, "and that is that I don't know how and thanks to you dear, they are permanently attached to me."

Uilia winced as he said 'love' but smirked as Erudeln finished.

"Well, I guess we'll have to tie you again in that case," she proposed cheerfully.

If there had not already been thunder clouds in the sky, Erudeln felt sure that some would that a particularly large one would have appeared over his head right then. But he would not let her see that it bothered him. He forced a grin even if he felt like grimacing at the prospect of that blasted itchy rope.

"Since you seem to enjoy the excuse to touch me, love, how could I deny you?" he quipped.

Uilia rolled her eyes as Maern spluttered slightly, but she looped the rope around his waist and around his bedamned wings so that they could not move. Erudeln stood, rivulets of murky water streaming down his features and tried to mount again. This time he succeeded though he landed rather hard on the poor horse with zero grace.

"You alright?" Uilia inquired as she mounted.

"Never better," Erudeln replied cheerfully.

Inside, he was seething.

They set off in silence as sheets of rain drove over them, twisted into glistening formations by the wind. The moon shed little light as it peeked through ragged, flying clouds. Erudeln fidgeted. He could not help it. On the way out, the prospect of being bonded had kept his thoughts occupied. Now, even after everything that had happened, he seemed to only be able to focus on the godforsaken rope. Sure, it had itched him just as much on the way out, but he could only think about how confining it was.

Having his hands free was an improvement. Erudeln drummed his fingers on his thigh, his mind always coming back to the fact that the rope was restraining him. As thin as the strands were, in his mind, they formed the bars of a cage that seemed to shrink until he started to be crushed. His eyes flicked from the clouds to the grass along the sides of the path to the sway of Uilia and Maern's pelts. He seemed unable to focus on anything or distract himself from the trap his own mind held for him.

Erudeln tried constantly shifting in his seat but that only made it worse because he realized just how little he could move with his wings bound. Finally, he tried kicking the horse's sides that it would speed up it would speed up its gentle trot without Uilia noticing. The horse ignored him but unfortunately, Uilia did not.

"Can you sit still for two seconds?" she griped, "We're almost there!"

Erudeln nodded and muttered something he hoped would sound like an affirmation before starting to drum his fingers on his thing again. Tap, shrink, tap, shrink... with every tap the bars closed in further on his vision. At this rate, he would be insane by the time they got to the tavern.

Lightning flashed and Erudeln squinted as it illuminated for a second the profile of a long low round building up ahead. As they drew closer, his metal cage shrinking in sync, he could discern a wooden facade with large glass panels built into a mound of earth. Ivy and honeysuckle covered the earthen walls. Warm lights twinkled invitingly through the glass and from under the crack beneath the door.

The threesome dismounted and Maern raised the large iron knocker. Before he let it drop, the door opened and a rosy-cheeked florauori beckoned them inside. Erudeln fidgeted, annoyed that Uilia had not untied him yet. He could also feel his sanity and patience dripping away. He was also leaving a puddle of water on the floor in front of the cute innkeeper which did not help anything.

She shut the door hurriedly before the rain could attempt to invite itself in.

"A room for three if you please and some warm food if you have any," requested Uilia.

Maern seemed to have lost his voice and was staring dewy-eyed at the florauori. As if feeling his eyes on her, the petals of her skin turned from dusty pink to a deep red. Erudeln guessed that her spirit-plant was probably a rose both from the color and the delicate cracks and petals of skin covering her body. Larger layers of skin crisscrossed her torso forming a gauzy dress. She led them down a narrow corridor that branched off to the right. The innkeeper opened the fourth door down.

The interwoven bramble walls and doors somehow managed to block the rain which combined with the warm glow of candlelight within the small chamber to create a welcoming embrace. Uilia and Erudeln filed in while Maern reluctantly followed, sneaking glances back over his shoulder until the florauori shut the door.

"He really could stand to learn tact from me," thought Erudeln.

His felt about ready to scream when Uilia began curl up by the clay pot in which a fire burned brightly. He coughed.

"Don't tell me you caught a cold!" she exclaimed, extending her hands over the flames.

"Stay away from me now. I have no wish to become sick," carped Maern who sat with his back to the door, his legs stretched out before him.

"If I do get a cold, it will be your fault since I can hardly dry out like this," Erudeln nearly shouted, his calm fraying rapidly.

The bars of the cage seemed nearly there with him in the room now. A shriek started to bubble in the back of his throat. His swallowed it but it forced its way back up, inching forward, pushing to be released.

"What's wrong?" inquired Uilia, looked at him, her head to one side.

"Just untie me, damn it!" yelled Erudeln.

He clamped his mouth shut after that for he knew if he opened it again, the shriek would escape.

"Woah, hold your horses!" exclaimed Uilia, "I'm coming."

She fumbled with the knot for what seemed an eternity during which Erudeln felt himself cracking. Just when he thought he would give in and let the shriek out and crumple to the floor, the rope came loose. Erudeln sank to his knees as his wings spread, slapping Maern across the face and knocking Uilia off her feet onto one of the three straw pallets on the floor.

"Oi, watch it!" she protested, spluttering.

Maern simply shoved the wings, which had nicely soaked him, from his face which caused Erudeln to fall on top of Uilia. She let go of a breath of air as he landed on her. He turned red and tried to scramble off her but one of his wings had managed to become pinned under her and threw him onto her chest. She pushed him up away from her, but they wound up in a sort of stalemate due to her still being on top of his wing.

The door creaked open shoving Maern forward and hitting the back of his head cruelly. The innkeeper looked startled at the scene which presented itself to her. Her mouth opened into an adorable 'o' while her eyes turned into saucers. The florauori hurriedly set down the tray of food she was carrying and scurried out of the room, slamming the door shut.

Various choice swear words, groans, and moans were uttered as the threesome managed to extricate themselves, rubbing various sore spots. Both Uilia and Maern's glares shot daggers at Erudeln, each probably blaming him for this mess.

"Come on, loves" encouraged Erudeln, "at least there is food!"

"I'm wondering if you should even have any after that whole escapade," threatened Uilia.

"Just you try and stop me!" Erudeln threw back with a wink as he dived for the tray.

Maern snatched it before Erudeln could so much as touch it.

"With your record for knocking things... and people over, I'm not letting you get at this except what is your share. Here," Maern explained handing Erudeln a hunk of fresh break with cheese and a bowl of potage.

They ate in silence except for the occasional slurp, crunch, and mmm. Erudeln found that his muscles were gradually relaxing as were his thoughts now that he was not tied up literally and mentally. Uilia kept glancing at him across the top of her bowl. Finally, she broke the silence.

Setting down her bowl, she said: "You get used to it, you know. I know it feels foreign, but you'll realize that this is more you than anything else..."

Erudeln was planning on laughing her comment off but the question 'does it?' came out instead. Uilia's expression softened and she turned so that her body was facing his. Erudeln stared at the rag rug on the floor.

"Yes. Is none of your family bonded?" she inquired.

He hesitated, stalling by taking his last bowl of stew.

"No... we, they thought it is not natural and some form of control over free thinkers," Erudeln admitted, his shoulders drooping.

Maern looked at him quizzically.

"How now? Control, eh?" he asked, his eyebrows raised, "That is funny since we think that you 'free thinkers' control your body by not letting it adapt to a more natural state for the soul. We cannot understand why you would sacrifice your individuality for the sake of keeping a common norm of appearance."

Uilia nodded. "I felt sorry for you when I noticed you looked too old to be unbonded," she admitted, gazing into the flames of the fire-bowl they were all seated around.

Erudeln bristled, his wings ruffling in response.

"I don't need your sympathy and I don't need your advice. I, for one, am going to get some sleep," he declared, walking awkwardly to the pallet furthest from the door.

He squatted before rolling onto his side on the soft straw mattress. His wings wrapped around him like a cocoon, blocking out the stares of the others as well as their mutterings.

...

He awoke well before dawn. The room smelled of the fresh earthy smell left behind the storm while the embers of the fire allowed Erudeln to tiptoe out the door. Rubbing his eyes, he slipped out of the inn's front door and began the trudge along the right-hand track. It seemed familiar so he assumed it was the one Uilia and Maern had taken with him from the market. Thinking of them, he felt a twinge of guilt. He had not had any money with him, but it bugged him that he could not pay for his stay at the inn.

Erudeln found that he had a hard time focusing his eyes. Everything seemed slightly out of focus, including his thoughts. He blamed his lack of sleep. He had always believed what his father had told, and it was not that he doubted him, but...

He tucked the train of thought away. He had spent more than enough time agonizing over it until he had finally fallen asleep. The sun lightened the horizon turning dew drops on pine and oak bows to become sparkling diamonds. Erudeln squished along, his satchel thumping comfortably on his back.

His satchel.

He snatched it from his back where it had lain forgotten all night. Unlacing with trembling fingers, Erudeln sifted through the contents within. Smushed grapes, ruined cloth, breadcrumbs and other useless waste greeted his eyes. He swore, loudly enough to startle a passing Faunori mother and her child riding in the opposite direction. She glared at him and clapped her hands over the child's ears. Erudeln reddened, relacing his satchel and launching into a jog.

The Faunori had been one of the few other travelers at this hour for which Erudeln was grateful. He seemed to have mostly adjusted to his cumbersome wings, but he still felt embarrassed by the unsteadiness of his gait. That, and that he doubted Uilia and Maern would set off this early. Or at least he hoped so...

More and more dwellings, both up high and down low, began to appear along the roadside as the sun reached a quarter of its journey through the sky. Soon, lanes of traffic emerged with riders in the center and those on foot on the outsides. Erudeln strode on, ignoring the confused glances of those who passed him.

At first, he could not figure out why they were looking at him differently. By the time, the fourteenth person looked at him sidelong, it clicked. He had wings and he was not using them. Considering how difficult walking felt, Erudeln decided not to test out his new appendages. He would, however, light-finger more food for his family on his way home.

Ten minutes later, he could see the highest levels of the market off the right. Five minutes after that, he mounted the flights of stairs to the second level. There, an aroma of fresh bread made his mouth water and his stomach gurgle in sync. Following his customary method, Erudeln sauntered towards the first backer's stall. The burly ox Faunori baker stood with his arms crossed bartering with a young Florauori with long thin green leaves in strings for hair. As he approached her, her face became familiar: the willow maid.

Unfortunately for him, she recognized him as well, her eyes widening in shock. Erudeln put a finger to his lips imploringly but too late.

"Thief!" she shrieked, alerting the guards at the entrance right behind Erudeln.

He looked around him, trying to find a way to escape but guards were running towards him from either end and two of them were Maern and Uilia. Erudeln's heart pummeled his ribs as he took a blind leap of faith, literally. He pitched himself over the bridge, praying that flying would come through instinct.

His head swam as he plummeted. Sweat dripped from his palms and from his forehead into his eyes. Even through the smarting, he could see the ground beneath him perfectly as if rushed up to meet him. Everything else around him blurred but the branches, earth, and fallen leaves stood out in unnatural definition before he was jerked backwards.

A split second before he was to kiss the dirt and break his teeth, nose, ribs, and possibly a kneecap, an immense force yanked him skywards, giving him whiplash and causing spots to blossom in front of his eyes. He hung midair for a second before he heard a snap as his wings shut. He tumbled to the ground and rolled.

Scrambling in the moss and leaves, Erudeln heaved himself upright as he heard clattering and heaving breathing behind him.

"After everything we did, you went and stole?!" screamed Uilia, closing the distance between them rapidly.

Erudeln did not spare her a reply or curse his bad luck that she was one of the guards on duty as he struggled to gather speed while his head spun. He could barely see right in front of himself. He slipped and fell and panted and stumbled franticly, weaving between tree trunks and shrubs. At one point, he had to twist free of Maern's grasp to keep going.

He had no idea how long he could last. His legs and lungs burned while his vision had not cleared, and his head throbbed. His heart seemed determined to break his ribs. His feet ached. His knee stung where he guessed he had cut himself. His blurred vision darkened as something loomed ahead of him. Without slowing his pace, Erudeln plowed into it... and ran into a bramble wall. Thorn tore at his flesh as he began to climb. Desperate in his craze to remain free, he unflinchingly grasped branch after branch as thorns oozed into his palms hungrily. Below him, he could hear shouts as the guards tried to figure out how to follow. The shouts soon turned to whispers as one mentioned: "We should not be here."

Erudeln wondered why but kept climbing until suddenly his hand caught only air. He wavered for a moment until a gust of wind ruffled his wings and unbalanced him. He teetered forwards and backwards until he plunged earthward.

Brambles clutched at him as he spun around but always down, down, down! He could see clearly again ironically. Erudeln gazed up at the puffy cotton clouds, trying to force his wings to unfold. They would not budge. Tears streamed down his face and into his mouth as he fell, chocking him. He had an ache in his chest. Surely, his time was not up yet? He had so much more to do with his life!

His wings opened with a snap and he fell, at a controlled pace, upright this time. He landed, crouched, on all fours, his bent limbs absorbing the shock. Before him stood a short altar of marble upon which rested an egg. In a haze, Erudeln only barely realized that it was cracking. A puff of smoke curled up from inside as a deep voice thundered: "We have our next dragon rider!"

A hum vibrated in Erudeln's skull as a voice whispered: "I am Parlaek. What is your name?"

"Mae Erudeln," Erudeln mumbled and then blacked out.