I'm laying in a large grassy field filled with flowers, stairing up at the stars. I've been in this place for three days now, and even in my sleep I'm nocturnal. I know I'm sleep because sometimes I hear Caden crying and brgging me to wake up. Or Lily and Sam telling me about how our group is adjusting to castle life, and all of the people there. Or the woman singing to me.
  I suppose I'm in some sort of coma. I feel fine, but what do I know? I think I pushed my body to far with my first shift into my dragon form. It's the only reason I could think of for ending up in this place. Here, I shift into my dragon whenever I want. I practice using my other forms too, but I can only hope it transfers over to my phisical body. I've gotten pretty decent at flying, and I really want to take Lily and Caden when I wake up to make up for being gone so long.
  I raise my aromas a gentle breeze blows the grass around me, causing it to dance and sway above me. I really do like above ground, even if this isn't the real thing. Closing my eyes I allow myself a small smile. It's so peaceful. Though  I feel a strange sense of loneliness that I've never felt before. Back at the cove there was always someone around, and something for me to do, someone who needed help.
  The air tenses, as if my thoughts of loneliness summoned him. I don't know who he is, but he came yesterday night as well. Another thing about this place, it's alwats night. However, there are two moons. The one to signify day time is the regular moon. The one for night time however, is purple, with a soft lilac glow. I let the smile slip from my face and drop my arm. He didn't really say anything, just sat in the trees surround my little clearing and watched me. He showed up around midnight, and at first this place was not happy. All of the animals fled, the birds screetching out their protest at the intrusion.
  After awhile though, the came back...and decided to be as close to me as possible. I felt like a fairy tale princess as I played with all the deer and birds, even a few squirrels. And when he left at sunrise, everything went back to normal. Or what I think this places normal is. And now he's back, earlier this time. Did he go to sleep later yesterday? I sigh, what is it to me? He's only someone who's invading my dream, if he's even real, because I have no proof that he is.
  After awhile I feel him approach me. "Are you going to ignore me again?" It comes out of nowhere. I open my eyes after he speaks to se a black blur leap over me and tackle him to the ground. He cries out in shock, the animal snarling in his face. I blink slowly as I process what just happened, then scramble to my feet. In my flights through the forest I've never seen any large animals, or preditors. But pinning the stranger to the ground is a black panther. It raises its head and turns to look at me, and I gasp softly and it's vibrant violet eyes. Looking closer as I slowly approach I notice violet highlights throughout its fur.
  I stop half a foot away, slowly raising my hand to it. It lowers its head, growling in the males face one more time before getting off of him and slowly coming to me. I can't help but apreciate how gracefully it moves, its predators prowl alerting me of the danger although with how it aproaches with its head lowered and tail still I know it means me no harm. The feline is big, its head coming to my breast, all of its body coiled muscles. It brings its head to my palm, and I sigh at how soft its fur is. Slowly and gently I stroke the crown of its head, watching as it closes it beautiful eyes and nuzzles into my hand, purring. I do coo then, dropping to my knees and wrapping my arms around its neck, burring my face in its chest.
  "So you prefer beasts over men." I ignore him but my new panther does not do the same. It snarls at him over my shoulder. I stroke its powerful shoulders comfortingly. Ignore him, I speak into its mind. He should not be disturbing your rest. I gasp in shock, raising my head. I can speak into anything's mind, human or animal, but I've never had a beast talk back. Though I do understand when they talk their animal speach.
  I am no beast, but do not fear me. I am yours. His voice is a low pur in my head, but despite his words I pull away. Standing I back away slowly from the two men, drawing myself up to my full height, straightening my shoulders and lifting my chin slightly. "Angel, I don't know who has upset you where you are, but I am here." I feel a phantom touch on my face, and my hair stirs slightly. Narc. I relax, letting my shoulders fall and dropping my chin. "I'm here too mommy." I close my eyes, only just feeling Cadens small hand in my own. I clench the hand shut. "We're waiting for you to wake up. I miss you." Sadness tightens my chest.
  The panther nuzzles my stomach and I lift my hands, stroking his head. "I need to wake up." I say quietly but firmly. "Your body isn't ready. You're still healing." The man says, a gentleness in his voice. I open my eyes and look at them. "People are waiting for me. There is a little boy who needs me to wake up. And if its because I'm not healing, then...well, don't take this personal." The panther backs away from me warily and the two share a look. "Take what personal?" The man asks slowly.
  I frown. "Please understand I don't do this under normal circumstances. I was taught to give, not take. But I can't listen to my pup cry anymore. Or my best friend blame himself for not making me take care of myself. Or the brothers pray because they fear I won't wake up. I'll return it tenfold, I promise." As I spoke I slowly approached the panther and began stroking his back. "I swear on my blood."  I say quietly, firmly gripping his fur in both hands. And I begin drawing energy out of him and into me.
  It's like a warm flow of water coming out of him and filling me. To his credit, he doesn't struggle, allowing me to. I tried doing it with the trees and grass the first night, even some of the animal, but it didn't work. But these two, they are real, not a part of my mind. And the energy comes easily, flowing into me and I feel myself strengthen, feeling more alive. The panther crumbles, but I draw from him a little while longer, kneeling next to him. When I release him, he promptly disappears.
  I look up to the man. "Well, I can't let that bastard show me up, now can I?" He comes to me and lays down, putting his head on my thighs. Smirking up at me he winks. "Be as rough as you like Princess." I can't stop the blush that colors my cheek and heats my neck, but I do frown at him. For a moment I wonder how to go about this but then he reaches back and grabs my wrists. He rests one hand on his chest and the other on his cheek, causing my face to heat again at the intimate position.
  "Such a pretty blush." He brushes a finger over my cheek and without thinking I snarl at him, turning my head and biting the offending finger. The metallic yet slightly sweet taste of his blood however causes me to quickly release him. I lick my lips causously. I taste the iron, but then there's the sweetness, like honeydew, mixed with a little bit of coconut. Swallowing I told my head, studying his face. I've never drank blood, leaving that to vampires, nor have I ever ate raw animals, because I never eat in my beast form, and I never imagined myself liking the experience.
  The man only continues to smirk at me, bringing his finger back to my lips. "Want another taste?" I flex the hand that's resting on his chest, digging my nails into him, my talons extending slightly. He hisses lowly, eyes flashing from green to black for a second. Demon. Of course. Before I can retract them though, he raise into the points. "Is that little prick supposed to hurt?" I have to force myself not to rise to the childish taunt, reminding myself I am not a creature of violence.
  Retracting my talons I close my eyes, drawing his energy into me. Instead of the cool river, I feel a hot explosion, like rushing lave, flowing into me. I feeling spreads through me quickly and my blood thrums, head buzzing like I'm intoxicated. The power of his energy consumes me and I clutch at him, causing him to groan. I feel myself start to lighten, and I know I'm waking up, but I want more of this feeling. Taking my hand off his face I lean down, curling my body over his, every fiber in my being intent on continuing to consume this addicting energy. As my mind slips into darkness I register him biting into my stomach and-

With a jolt my eyes fly open and I gasp for breath. There's a surprised yell next to me, and a heavy weight covering my whole body. The weight being a person, their head buried in my neck. With a groan the person rolls off of me and a door flies open, banging on the wall. I wince, rolling into my side, squeezing my eyes shut. My head is spinning, my mind sluggish and muscles sore, but I still feel the energy I consumed flowing in me. I'm on a bed, tangled in soft sheets. Opening my eyes again I sit up, eyes darting around as I first pat myself then lay eyes on Caden first.
  "Caden!" I try to jump up but only manage to fall off the bed, still tangled in sheets. "Phie, calm down!" Sam urges, coming to help me. Tears well in my eyes and instead I pull him to the floor with me, my chest tight. "I'm back." I choke out, gripping my best friend tightly. He holds me just as tight, rubbing my back. "It's okay. You're okay." A small body wiggles between us, Cade forcing his way into my lap. "Mommy! You woke up!" I switch my focus to him, though Sam doesn't let me go. I wipe Cade's tears as they fall, ignoring my own and kissing all over his face. "Of course I did pup. I'm sorry it took so long." His small arms wrap around my neck and he buried his head in my chest. "Sister!" Another small body launches at all of us as Lily joins us. "I thought you might not wake up!" Leave it to her to be the bluntest. I smile through my tears, opening my arms to include her in my embrace. She tucks herself next to Cade, who makes room for her on my lap. "Nothing can keep me away from you guys. No matter what happens to me I'll always come back, okay?"
  Cade looks up at me, sniffling. "Promise?" I wipe his face again. "I swear on my honor little cub." I say wiping his face again. He nuzzles his face back into my chest, sniffing me. I look around for the two people missing from my group and see the brothers by the door. Their eyes are focused on the bed I fell from, but that can wait for a second. I gently untangle myself and Sam takes the kids, understanding my intent. With a little more grace I rise to my feet and cross the room to them, wrapping my arms around Narc first, kissing his cheek, then doing the same to Lyson. Both are stunned because I've never been open with touching them, expecially in their mortal form.
  "Thank you. All of you. I didn't hear everything, but I heard alot when I was asleep." Tears start to prick my eyes again. "Not alot of people from home would have stayed by my side while I was in that state, taking care of me and trying to bring me back." I wipe my face, giving the brothers a smile. "But these past three days have showed me a kindness I was taught my people didn't not receive." I curtsy to them deeply. "I am honored to have been in your care, and happy it was you who journeyed with us from the cove. On my honor I swear my loyalty to you. May you need a beast at your defence, a hand to heal, or a heart to share your burden, I offer mine."
  "It is our honor to serve you, nes el marrow." I rise at Lysons words, and Narc lifts me up into a hug. I laughs, hugging him back. He sets me down and Lyson hugs me as well, though more gentle. "I really don't want to cut the celebration on you waking up short." Sam starts and I look over to him. The kids are standing behind him looking at the bed, and I look as well. Right. "But may we please address the man who appeared when you woke up?"
  The man in question is casually sitting up on the bed, looking at all of us with a smirk on his lips, eyes dancing in amusement. "And here I was thinking I was forgotten. But please, don't dampen your mood because of me." I flush, eyes casting to the floor. "Well...I brought him here?" It comes out a question. The man chuckles. "No need to be shy now Princess." He stands up. "I am Aristotle one of Princess's mates."
  There's a heavy pause in the air as we all register what he said. And then all hell breaks loose.

*******************************************
2428 words. Are y'all happy with me? I hope you enjoyed.