The morning came around, and I woke resting my cheek against Theo's shoulder and latched onto his arm. I lifted my head looking at the sun rays pouring in from the window, and dropped it with a small groan.

"Nice to see you're awake." He said to me.

"Not quite yet. Give it a few minutes."

"A few minutes for you to fall back asleep?"

"More or less." I mumbled sleepily.

He laughed. "Okay, now really Skyler, we gotta get up." I didn't respond. "Skyler?" I continued to keep my eyes and mouth shut. The sudden jolt of his shoulder bounced my head up.

"Okay, okay." I knelt up on the bed. He was looking up at me with a satisfied smile, but after a moment, turned his gaze to his foot, and sighed.

"I should be the one procrastinating getting up." He stood up from the bed, and test walked the room.

"How does it feel?"

"It healed up pretty good, mainly just sore. It shouldn't be that bad to walk on."

I got off the bed, and we got ready for the day. We ate, got Theo a new shirt, and headed off to Riystone. The next few days were perfect spring days, with good sun and good breeze. The only problem was stopping more often for Theo.

We walked on a wide road that was bordered by green woods. I could see the towering gate of Riystone in the distance. We were almost finished with our journey.

"What's our first step in the search?" I asked.

"Well... I had an idea, probably the easiest way to find him." He reached into the satchel, and pulled out the remains of Flynn's cloak that the inn keeper in Mendrick had given us. I looked at him confused.

"You're going to want to be in your natural form for this." I changed, and looked at him as he brought the cloak to his face, and inhaled. "Here," he handed me the cloak. "Smell it."

"Why?"

"We're tracking his scent." He breathed in the air. I mimicked him, taking in the scent of the cloak. It held the natural musk of the forest, with something else that smelled a bit like cinnamon. I inhaled the air and caught a scent that matched it.

"I got something," I said, "It leads into the woods." I recaptured the scent, creating a firm trail. "This way." We left the road, and followed the scent into the forest.

After a half an hour of walking, it was beginning to feel like we were chasing nothing. The air was beginning to cool as the evening deepened.

"Maybe we should head back." I said, "We might get lost if we stray too far from the road, and we need to find a place to stay before for the sun goes down."

He clenched his jaw lightly, then said, "Let's keep going on, we won't get lost." He widened his eyes, as an effort to keep them open, as he walked on. I caught his elbow.

"Theo, you look exhausted, we should go back."

He looked on at the forest eagerly. "Just a little longer, we'll be fine." I gave him a tight smile. I knew arguing with him would do nothing but waste of time. I sighed, and followed him, but stopped when I caught something in the corner of my eye. Something fiery red.

"Why did you stop?"

"Umm... nothing." I continued on. After a few minutes, I saw it again darting behind a bush.

"Theo, there's something out there."

"What do you mean?"

"I keep seeing something red."

"It's probably just an animal."

"Well... I feel like we're being watched... I don't know why."

He moved his arm behind me and cupped my shoulder. "You're probably just paranoid after what happened in Velberis."

"I don't know... I just feel like we're walking into some kind of trap."

"Again, you're just paranoid. Besides, I would see any trap before we walked into it. I have pretty good eyes."

"Yeah, well your eyes are having trouble on focusing anything other than staying awake right now."

He scrunched his nose. "Nah, I'm sharp as ever." We continued on, and the ground under us spring up. In a quick moment, I was dangling many feet above the ground, entangled in a net with Theo.

When the commotion paused, I pushed myself off Theo's chest to look him in the eyes. "Sharp as ever, eh?"

"Well, in my defense, it was very well hidden."

"That's cause I made it." Our eyes darted from each others, and to the newcomer. The man was dressed in black pants, a white shirt, and a light, black jacket that hung to his knees. His hair black with white tips, and eyes of burning embers. He stared up at us with narrowed eyes, and crossed arms. "Who are you?" He commanded rather than asked.

"Flynn?" I asked.

His eyes widened for a millisecond, before narrowing back down. "Who are you?" He repeated stiffly. Unsure how to react to the predicament we were caught in, I glanced down at Theo who gave an unhelpful shrug. I looked back to Flynn with an awkward smile.

"My name is Skyler. And he..." I gestured with my hand, "Is Theo." Theo gave Flynn a thin lipped smile. "And you, I presume, are Flynn."

Flynn cocked an eyebrow. "How do you know my name?" I looked down at Theo, and urged him, with my eyes, to speak.

"We have been looking for you," Theo said, "We need your help."

"With what?"

"To save your mother." I added.

"What?"

"If you would just cut us down, we'll explain everything."

"Or you can explain everything, then I might consider cutting you down."

Theo's face dropped into annoyance. He handed me the dagger from his belt, and said, "Cut us down Sky." I took the knife, and began sawing at the thick rope.

"And I'm done here." Flynn began to walk away.

"No, wait!" Theo called out. Flynn continued, and I sawed at the next rope more vigorously. "We need you to save your mother, to save our parents."

"And why should I believe you? For all I know my mother is dead, I haven't even heard any word of her in years, till this moment." He kept his back turned to us, and casually walked away.

"At least hear us out." I shouted, opening a hole big enough to get through. Handing Theo back his dagger, I crawled off his lap, through the hole. Getting out, I ended up tripping on the rope, leading me to fall with a squeal, and faceplant in the dirt.

As I got up and brushed myself off, Flynn was staring at me wide eyed. "What?" I asked. Theo jumped down beside me, and lightly tugged at the cloak hood that had fallen off my head. My hands darted up to my ears that now we're bare. Theo put down his hood as well.

"You're Arikan's?" after he asked it, something seemed to spark inside of him. He came towards us.

"Well, yeah, that's one of the things we need to talk to you about—" I stopped talking as a fiery translucent flow rapped around Flynn. He came out with the same burning tail and ears that seemed to glow against the black. He had a fox like grin on his face.

"If you want me to help you two, then first you'll have to do something for me." He stood in front of us with only a few inches on me. He seemed like he would be taller, he was definitely on the short side.

"What is it that you'd need us for." Theo asked. Flynn met Theo's eyes and his smile tightened, probably because of how far he had to look up to make eye contact.

"Just need some help getting a few things, it'll only take a day. Is it a deal?" Theo looked down at Flynn's hand as he held it out. Then, after a small moment of hesitation, took it.

"Deal."

"Well, there's one more thing, we need a place to stay for the night, and we are almost out of money." I said, I'd rather not go into to town searching around for a place to stay with the low change we had. "Could we stay with you?"

Flynn looked at me for a moment, then sighed, "Sure, on one condition, you come blindfolded."

"Why?" Theo asked

"I barely know you, that should be grounds enough." He pulled out two bandages from a bag. I took one, thinking it seemed fair. Theo on the other hand gave him a hard stare before taking it. Theo glanced at me before tying the cloth around his eyes. I did the same. Dropping my hands to my sides, I felt Theo's hand against mine.

Theo linked his fingers with mine then said, "Lead the way."

Theo's hand guided me along, as we trailed into the unknown. We walked for what felt like twenty to thirty minutes, then stopped. I took off my blind fold , and saw we were standing at the base of a clutter of tall trees.

"You don't live in town?" I asked.

He laughed, "Definitely not." Theo and I exchanged a glance. Flynn walked in front of a trunk of a group of trees. "Come here, and look at this." He said. I looked over it, then again, and came to the same conclusion both times. It was a tree.

"What about it?" I asked.

"Here," He pointed to a small dent in the wood, "Is your first foot hold." His finger trailed up, "And this branch is the next. He continued on, then started to climb. Theo went next, then me. Once it was pointed out to me, my eyes formed a perfect ladder in the tree that was invisible to those who weren't looking for it.

I climbed high into the tree, and emerged on a small wood platform that held a lantern, and some kind of pulley system. There was a few steps carved into a thick branch that led up into a larger platform. The large platform had cloth nailed down between the branches, creating walls. There was a slit between two cloths that marked the entrance to the large platform.

Walking through the entrance, I was impressed. There was the necessity of life on the fairly wide platform. In the center was a metal bowl secured on top of stones and dirt. With in the bowl was the remains of a simmered fire. There was a table with a book sitting on it, and a chair on one side of the room. On the other was a bed of animal skins, cloth, and pillows. Some chests were at the edges, and lanterns along with a few other small things were scattered around the platform.

Connected to the platform was a small hut built with a roof.

"Did you build this all?" I asked Flynn.

"Who else would have? Make yourselves at home, and you're free to arrange that," he gestured towards the blankets and pillows, "As you please." He strode off to one of the chest and opened it.

"So you live alone?" Theo asked while hanging his satchel on the chair.

"Yep."

Flynn tossed Theo and I both an apple, then I asked, "What about your dad?" He froze, and his face tensed.

"He's gone..." After a moment, he turned back to the chest.

"Oh..." I said softly, "I'm sorry."

Circling back around toward us, his face had softened, and there was even a small smile on it.

"So, explain to me exactly what you needed me for." He directed his words mainly towards Theo.

We all sat down and ate as Theo explained the situation we were in, and what we needed Flynn for. When he got finished, he yawned, and said, "Well I'm going to call it a day."

"But I can stay up and answer any questions you might have," I said.

"You sure Sky?"

"Theo, I think I'm knowledgeable enough on the subject to answer a few questions."

"I know, I was wondering if you were tired?"

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine." He gave me a quick smile before changing into his lion form, and laid down behind me.

"So," Flynn began, "According to what he was saying... you guys are from another world?"

"Worlds, it's plural." Flynn gave me a questioning frown. "I know it's hard to believe at  first..."

Flynn muttered something.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing."

"Well, as I was saying, the idea begins to feel natural. I mean, didn't you always feel like their was more out there?"

"Sure..."

I leaned back against Theo. "You know, you're kind of a strange person, Flynn."

He let an amused grunt, "No, just realistic."

"You don't believe us, do you?"

"No, I believe there is truth to what you're saying. Honestly, I'm a little curious as to where all this would lead me."

I studied him for a moment. There was something strange about him, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I decided to ignore it for the moment. "So, do you have any questions for me?"

"No, I think I got the gist of it all. You and your boyfriend just—"

"Boyfriend?!"

"Well, yeah... I kinda assumed..." He gestured to my fingers brushing through Theo's fur.

After the realization of what I'd been doing, I instantly pulled away.

"We're not... no!"

Flynn raised an eyebrow, "Huh... well I'm gonna go to bed, and leave you to categorize what this is," he waved a hand in mine and Theo's direction, "If you two aren't in a relationship."

I felt my cheeks grow hot as he got up and left into the hut. Blowing out the lantern beside me, I felt the dark still the world, letting life lay as a dream. With a sigh, I laid back against Theo, care free of anything other than comfort for my tired body. Looking up, I watched the swaying silhouette leaves against the cool star light, and listened to the lullaby of silence. My eyes began to flicker as I watched the world of my new life. The one I felt I belonged in.

***

The song of birds echoed through the morning air. I nestled into Theo's maine, enjoying the warm contrast with the cool breeze. Lifting my head from Theo's paw, the sun looked like it hadn't quite risen yet. I hugged a blanket around me and relaxed back against Theo. He stirred beneath me, and his head rose to give me a glance before laying back down. His tail lazily flipped back and forth.

It was a peaceful moment before the life would begin again. Before the sun would rise. This was one of the joys of nature. Watching everything begin anew.

I stood up, and Theo's head bobbed up with me. As I walked to one of the trees, his eyes traced my footsteps. I began to climb.

"What are you doing?"

Looking down I saw Theo as a man again.

"I wanted to watch the sun rise." I continued on until I reached a good branch. As I sat down, Theo came up behind me. I made room for him on the branch.

"Why the sudden urge to see the sun rise?"

I shrugged a reply. "I just wanted to sit and enjoy the moment."

"Mind if I enjoy it with you?"

"Not at all."

He moved a hand around my waist.

The first white rays streaked over the horizon.

This moment reminded me of the castle. The kiss. It began replay in my mind. I glanced up at Theo, and his peaceful smile. He was completely clueless. The moment played again. I wish he would kiss me again.

The new and constant sun rose.

Maybe someday.

After a bit, we went back down, and saw Flynn coming in onto the large platform holding a dead rabbit.

"Glad to see you two love birds are up."

"What?" Theo said.

Flynn glanced at me and didn't respond to Theo.

"Let's get to business, shall we?" Flynn said.

"Wait, what did you mean by—"

"That's not important right now," Flynn cut Theo off, " Right know we need to go over the plan for tonight."

"Plan?" I asked.

"You need to help me, before I can help you guys."

"What is it that you need?" I asked.

A Fox grin came on Flynn's face. "How good of thieves are you two?"

A/N: Please remember to vote, and thanks for reading!