A/N -
Yeeeee, I've had this idea in my brain for awhile now... Devin does not appear till later in the story...
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Conor's PoV -

     The rain continued to fall on the already saturated ground, lightning periodically lit the sky as thunder boomed overhead, all in all it was a dreadfully dangerous storm. "Come on guys, hurry up!" I coaxed the flock of sheep onward to higher ground.

     The ground had taken on too much water too fast and was staring to mix with the swirling currents of the nearby river and creeks. Only the high ground was suitable for our flock but the panicking sheep refused to listen to me, or the sheep dogs.

     Normally, I would have a few of my brothers to help me but due to the floods, our house was also at risk of the raising water so the rest of my brothers had to help with sand bagging around our home. So here I was, desperately trying to save our flock, our livelihood.

     Finally, I managed to get the flock to the highest ground, the sheep dogs patrolled our flock keeping them in line. That's when over the roaring thunder and rain I heard the dreadfully sad bahing of a sheep, I looked out over the landscape, the rain clouding my vision but I could just make out the cream white coat of a lamb. The poor lamb was stranded on a single small island barely raised out of the rushing floods below. I looked back at the flock, the dogs seemed to have everything under control.

     I hurried down to the lower ground and laid my crook down on dry land and dove into the flood waters below. I had to save that poor lamb! A few panicked moments later, I managed to steal a breath of air, I had misjudged how mighty the current really was. I beat against the current and managed, with aching muscles, to pull myself onto the lambs small island.

Bah, bah, the little lamb nuzzled into me. I gently picked it up and cuddled it close to me, I normally tried not to get too attached to my sheep but this little guy was my favorite, he had a slightly golden tint to his cream white coat. He was unique, compared to all the other lambs. Somehow I knew this lamb loved me too, but how was I supposed to get him back with the rest of the flock? The current was difficult enough for myself to swim across, it would be twice as hard with aching muscles and a lamb on my shoulders.

I pushed all doubt aside and gently positioned the lamb on my shoulders, the poor thing clung on to me for dear life. I waded into the current and finally dove into the water, I gasped for air as I kicked through the water but only managed to gulp down a large mouthful of murky water. I could still feel the weight of the lamb on my shoulders, driving me to push forward though my arms and legs protested. Finally, with a powerful kick I could feel land under my feet once again.

I hauled the lamb and myself out of the current. I immediately started coughing, fighting the water in my lungs for fresh air, the lamb trotted around, glad to be safe again till he noticed just how sick I was. I gasped but only small amounts of air filled my lungs at a time, dizziness soon won me over, I lay down on the grass hoping to keep myself from passing out.

Soon darkness overcame me and suddenly I could see myself lying on the soaked grass, I lay motionless, I waited for any signs of life but they did not come. The lamb I had given my life for was watching over my body from a distance, it stood and trotted over to where I lay. The lamb lay down beside me and gave a small lick to my face. Suddenly, I was thrust back into my body still laying on the ground. I coughed up the water that had taken my life, weakly I glanced at the lamb next to me. Now it was cold and limp in death, the lamb had restored my life to me. "Conor, Conor!" I could hear my brother's voices calling me, "what happened?"

They rushed over and bent down beside me. I cuddled the dead lamb as my brothers helped me sit up. A few of my brothers went to care for the flock while the rest led me inside. Apparently, they had managed to save our home from the flood waters. They sat me down at the kitchen table and I explained to them what I had been through.

After I was done talking my mother hugged me and cried about how close she had come to loosing a son. My eldest brother took the dead lamb from my arms and went to give it a proper burial. Mother sent me off to bed after that, saying that I need some rest.

     In the week after that night the flood levels lowered till they eventually lowered back into the bed of the river. I too slowly regained my strength. I felt closer than ever to the sheep I hearded, even to the point of refusing to eat lamb, something I've done my entire life.

     I awoke one day feeling slightly different, I couldn't really explain it. I stretched and got out of my cozy bed. My brothers were all still sleeping so I quietly snuck into the bathroom.

     I grabbed a brush and combed through my hair. I looked into the mirror as I styled my hair, I nearly screamed at what I saw, two lamb ears stuck out the top of my head. I dropped my brush in shock and tugged at my new lamb ears. Pain coursed through me, definitely real. I quickly changed into my clothes, thinking about how I would explain this to my family. Then I noticed my tail and the patches of wool along my chest and sides. This time I did scream, thankfully no one heard, attached to my lower back was a ball of woolen fluff. I was forced to cut a hole in my jeans to make room for my new tail. I looked in the mirror embarrassedly. If my tail and ears wasn't enough the added wool on my chest and side made my shirt puff up making me look fatter.

I donned a beanie to cover my ears and snuck out of the bathroom. My brothers were all awake now and I found my family gathered around the kitchen table. I took my usual seat next to my eldest brother and quickly dished up a bowl of oatmeal. Everyone ate and talked but I mostly sat in silence thinking about how they would react to my new looks. "Conor, why are you wearing a beanie, you never wear them?" my youngest brother questioned.

I shrugged, "I just felt like it today," I replied, he would find out the truth soon enough.

After supper before everyone left to work on their own chores I called them all to a 'family meeting'. I hated the feeling of having all their eyes on me but I forced myself to continue, "I-i have s-something I need t-to show you a-all," I stammered in pure nervousness, with that I pulled my beanie off reviling my lamb ears.

     My family just gasped and stared at me, I felt hot tears start to pour down my face, did they hate me now? Then my little brother bounded over to me, "Conor, that's awesome, do you have a tail too?" he asked and raced around me, "yeeeee, you do!"

     My little brother pulled at my tail and I actually let out a bah. I blushed a little, I really was more sheep like than I thought. "Do you all hate me now?" I asked as I self consciously stared at the floor.

     "Oh, Conor, we don't hate you at all, we all love you," my mother pulled me into a hug, the rest of my family mumbled in agreement, they too hugged me.

     I felt better knowing that I was accepted. Finally, they let me free from the group hug. I stood blushing my tail wiggling in contentment. We all dispersed after that to our chores. I helped mom with the dishes and cleaning up after breakfast.

     Later that night my eldest brother and I were to watch the flock. It was serious business lately since sightings of a wolf pack seemed to happen more and more frequently. Only the oldest brothers were to watch the flock at night here recently. My younger brothers wouldn't know how to handle themselves against a wolf.

     The flock, my brother, and I were about half a mile away from home. From a church, in the nearby town of Trunswick, came a series of 12 short chimes, it was midnight. A moment later I started to feel dizzy, then an incredible pain overwhelmed me. I must have blacked out, I looked around and found that I was only but one or two feet off the ground. My brother was crouching down next to me, "Conor, is that you?"

     Why did he seem so confused? I opened my mouth to speak but when I did only a loud bah managed to escape my lips. My brother pulled me close, what was wrong with me? I wiggled free from my brother's hug and made my way to a puddle left over from the flood. I bahed in fright of what I saw and backed away defensively.

     I had turned into a lamb. My reflection glared at me from the puddle below, the wool on the top of my head was a golden blond color and my eyes shone a bright blue. I turned back to find my brother, only to be met with a deathly yellow glare.

     A wolf stood before me, snarling. I turned tail and ran as fast as I could, my short week lamb legs didn't help the process. Soon a sharp pain shot through me as the wolf's jaws clenched around my hind leg. I bleated in pain. "Hey, get the hell away from my brother," I was glad to here the sound of my older brother's voice as he ran towards me.

     The wolf let me go and turned towards my brother, a moment later, realizing I wasn't worth a fight, the wolf ran off. The rest of it's pack, who had been slaughtering our sheep while my brother defended me, followed the alpha wolf. My brother picked me up and I bahed my thanks and nuzzled close to him, glade to be safe, but I couldn't help blaming myself for the deaths of nearly half our flock. He checked me for wounds but didn't find any that a tightly wrapped scarf couldn't fix.

     By then the rest of my family came running after having heard the wolves. They gasped at the horrid sight before them, our livelihood, destroyed. Then they rushed over to my brother and I. They asked where I was and my brother nodded towards me, still wrapped in his arms, he explained everything that had happened after midnight. With that mother told my brother to take me inside, where it was safe in case the wolves came back. My brother carried me back home and lay me down on my bed, I cuddled in between my pillow and blankets and curled into a ball.

     I awoke to the bright morning light in the same position I had fallen asleep in. I stretch glad to see I was human again. I got ready for the day and went to find my family. I awkwardly sat down with them at the table, everyone was unusually quiet and stressed, no doubt because of the loss of half our flock. I couldn't bear it any longer, "I'M SO SORRY!!!" I sobbed.

My whole family turned to look at me, my father finally spoke up, "for what?"

"If I didn't... er, if I wasn't so helpless last night then all of our flock would still be alive," I didn't want to admit to the fact I had changed into a lamb the night before, "I'm a horrible shepherd, what good am I now!"

Everyone stared at me with pitying eyes, "We don't blame you, Conor, we're just glad your safe," my older brother halfheartedly smiled.

I mumbled my thanks and excused myself from the table without having eaten anything, I needed some time alone. I wonder outside and found my usual trail through the woods. The trail with overgrown and narrow, not much more than a deer trail these days but once it had been a main road into Trunswick. I wonder along it trying not to snag my clothes on brambles, suddenly movement caught my eyes.

     My heart thumped heavily in my chest at the fear it was another wolf. No, too small for a wolf, I crept forward silently to stalk it. From my place low to the ground behind some branches I could make out a human figure, a male with dark brown hair, probably around my age. I fixed my hair so my sheep ears wouldn't show and stood so the boy could see me, "Hello," I called out to the boy, "what are you doing this far from town?"

     "Ahhh," the boy jumped in fright at my sudden presence, "You dare speak to the future Eral of Trunswick that way, I'm free to go where I like but if you must know, I'm Devin Trunswick."

     The boy stood and meet my stare, he dusted himself off. "Oh, a pleasure to meet you, Devin," I replied as kindly as I could, which I managed fairly well, "I'm Conor!"

The boy tried to hide his smile but failed, so instead he shifted his gaze awkwardly to the ground. "Why are you out here in the woods?" I asked again.

"I needed some time to myself," Devin replied and walked over to me.

"Same," I awkwardly rubbed my neck, somehow being around this boy gave me a weird tingling feeling in my chest and I couldn't help but stare into his blue eyes.

     Devin blushed, was I being too awkward? "Why did you need to get away?"

     "Stress, I guess you would say," I replied, "What about you?"

     "Family troubles," Devin practically growled.

     "Oh, I'm sorry about that," I awkwardly stared at the ground not knowing how to reply.

     "It's fine, anyway, I'm a long way from home, I should probably go," Devin stated, "Maybe I'll see you around..." Devin gave a quick smile and walked off.

     I mumbled a goodbye and flashed my best smile, after Devin was well out of sight I too turned and began my long walk back home. I walked in silence listening to the sounds of nature, then I heard a constant hurried thud of footsteps running towards me. "Conor, Conor, help!" This was Devin's voice he quickly turned a corner and almost plowed into me.

     "Woah, Devin, what's up?" I asked with concern.

     "I ran into a gang, after realizing I was the Eral's son they tried to kidnap me, I managed to break free," Devin panted, out of breath from his run. "They were chasing after me!"

     I grabbed Devin and pulled him behind a large tree surrounded by brush. "Be quiet and sit still," I instructed as I too settled down behind the tree.

I half expected the noble to defy me but he seemed to be scared enough to actually listen. Soon the sound of footsteps echoed through the trees and a gang of very tough looking men rounded the corner. They looked around, searching for Devin, "Branch out men, we must find that child, he would make us a lot of money!"

With that the men ran on, scouring the trails. Devin and I sat silently for awhile after they had gone just to be sure. "I think we're safe now," I finally stated in a slightly hushed voice.

"Thanks... for helping me," Devin replied with a grimace on his face, it was obvious he wasn't use to being polite.

I laughed, "How did those words taste?"

"Horrible, but don't antagonize me it should be a honor for you to sever your one day leader of Trunswick," Devin smirked.

I rolled my eyes. The two of us were still sitting at the base of the tree. "Conor, stand up first I don't want to get tangled in these thorns," Devin stated as he plucked a thorn off his shoulder, but he had no idea what he was asking of me, he would see my tail if I stood first.

"N-no..." I replied nervously.

"And why is that?" Devin crossed his arms definitely.

"Reasons," I cast my glance down to avoid eye contact.

"You dare defy me!" with that Devin pounced on me, shoving me too the ground, he smirked victoriously from his awkward position above me.

I smirked back and grabbed his right leg and arm, with a transfer of momentum I was now on him. I laughed but not for long, Devin grabbed at my hair. "Ouch, that's not fair!" I complained.

"You freak, get off me!" Devin let my hair go and shoved at me.

My feelings were hurt, what did I do wrong? I let him go and sat up. The noble hurriedly stood. Avoiding the thorn bushes I stood next to him. "Why am I a freak?" I asked sadly.

"Your sheep ears," Devin stated, he grabbed me and pulled me close but not in the kind hugging way, he grabbed my tail and I let out a panicked bleat, "oh my Tellun, you have a tail too."

Devin let me go and hurriedly backed away as if I were a monster. "I need to tell father," Devin half mumbled to himself, but I had heard and knew that if the Earl knew it could spell disaster to my family and myself.

"Devin, please don't!" I cautiously stepped forward, "Don't tell, you know what your father would do to my family and me, please."

"Stay away from me," Devin turned and ran down the trail towards town.

"Devin!" I chased after him, "Please, stop, I won't hurt you!"

I had finally managed to catch up with him near the end of the trail, it was dark now, stars graced the sky. I grabbed onto the boy's shoulders and spun him around to face me. His dark brown hair and normally pristine clothes were disheveled from running. There was a sense of fear and urgency that marked his eyes but somehow I though he was adorable. "Devin, please, your dad would kill me or lock me up, maybe my family too," I was crying now, I laid my head on Devin's shoulder, he flinched but allowed me to cry into his shirt.

I needed someone to understand me, my family though I was helpless, Devin thought I was terrifying. Now my fate was in the hands of Devin Trunswick, and he hated me. "Conor," Devin mumbled my name, "I won't tell..."

"R-really?" I choked on my words as sobs shook my body.

"Really, I couldn't hurt you, not after seeing you like this," Devin replied and wrapped comforting arms around me.

     The churches bell tower began to chime its twelve rings. I let go of the noble, "I have to go!" I stated urgently and ran back down the trail.

     "Conor, it's not safe, it's too dark!" Devin's beautiful voice followed me as I raced into the darkness ahead.

     Pain and dizziness coursed through my body once more. Then as my head cleared of the grogginess of my change I felt two comforting arms wrap around my fluffy body. I bleated with happiness knowing it was Devin who held me. "Conor?" Devin asked, confusedly.

     I bahed in reply and gently licked his face. "Why didn't you tell me you could change into a lamb?" Devin asked, already knowing I couldn't very well reply.

     Devin laid his head in my wool and mumbled something. Then a wolf's howl pierced the night. "We need to go!" Devin stated firmly, picking me up.

     Memories from the night before flooded back to me, I felt useless and horrible once more. Devin quickly carried me into town, he took alley after alley till we were at the base of Trunswick manor. I bahed my nervousness only to be promptly shushed my Devin. Devin quickly and maybe reckless began climbing up the vines that hung under his window. He held me in one arm and hung on with the other. Finally, Devin opened his room's window and climbed in. He sat me down on the floor. "You'll be safe here tonight," Devin whispered to me.

     He laid a pillow on the ground and patted it, indicating for me to lay on it. He crawled into his own bed after that. I was not happy with having to sleep on the floor like a dog, so I trotted over to Devin's bed a bahed at him to let me up. "Shush, Conor, you'll wake everyone," Devin hissed.

     This did not deter me, I bleated louder now. "Uggggg, fine..." Devin stood and walked over to me, he picked me up and sat me on his bed, "Conor, you're such a pain," Devin tried to hide his amused smile but failed.

     He climbed back in his bed and cuddled into his blankets. The boy shivered in the cold night air of his room. I trotted over to him and lay down beside him, sharing my warmth. Devin smiled and wrapped his arms around me, falling asleep soon after.

     Then next morning came and I was awoke by the sound of bird song. Devin still lay next to me with his arms wrapped gently around my now human form and his head buried in my chest. My tail twitched happily. I stared at Devin's sleeping form till he finally awoke. "Uhhh, Conor?" He seemed confused at first till he finally remembered the events of last night.

     "Good morning," I smiled at him.

     Devin yawned and ran his fingers through my hair. I couldn't help but bleat happily. "I should get you home, your parents are probably worried sick," Devin stated.

     He was probably right, I mumbled a reply not quite wanting to leave Devin's warm bed or Devin's loving embrace. Devin sat up and a moment later disappeared into the bathroom to get ready for the day. I sat up, letting my head clear and walked over to Devin's mirror. I combed out my hair so my lamb ears wouldn't show and tucked my tail into my jeans. I looked in the mirror content that I looked like a normal boy.

"You ready, lets get out of here before anyone realizes your here," Devin stated.

"Yeah, ready," I followed Devin out of his window.

Once on the ground level we made our way to the alleys and finally after some twists and turns found our way back to the trail. We both stoped to say our goodbyes. "Thanks for letting me spend the night with you," I smiled, "I'm actually very afraid of wolves."

"No problem, thanks for keeping me warm last night, now I know why woolen clothes are such a big comodidad amongst towns people," Devin awkwardly smiled at me.

We hugged and Devin told me to be safe. Then I started on my journey back home, I enjoyed the quiet walk but was glad to be home. My younger brother ran up and greeted me with a hug the moment I walked through the door. Mother scolded me for being out late and questioned me about what I was doing. My father simply welcomed me back home. Of course I had to explain everything, I left the part out about sleeping in the same bed as Devin.

It was late by the time I got back so after my explanation and a bowl of soup I went to bed.