Chapter Seven

His face was not shocked or scared as I though it would be. He was completely excited. His face shone with admiration.

"Airi! You're a Nomas!"

He glanced into the trees and looked back at me with disappointment written across his face.

"I should go find Mr Tree, he doesn't like me to be gone very long"

With those words he scampered off into the nearby woods. I smiled internally, I didn't know if I could smile as a bird. I snuggled into the tree and decided that I would sleep during the day, I would rather spend my time as a dryad than a falcon.

Since I had fallen into a deep sleep the night before I could no longer rest, my body wouldn't allow it. I had found a bush of berries in the vicinity of the glen and had marked the foliage as my meals for the next span of time.

I looked about at my newest location, this was a place I had never heard of and yet I knew that if this had been discovered it would be impossible to keep a secret. The were small patches of trees and bushes surrounding a silver lake. The lake consisted of two levels, a small coy pond spilled from a small waterfall into an smaller lake near the bottom of the small hill.

The lake then opened up into a grassy field which I deemed most ideal to practice flight further. I hopped to the end of the branch, gripping the claws around the branch I tested to see the strength of my talons. Stretching one wing and then the other. I started out with little glide across the glen and started getting higher and higher.

I practiced turning on a dime and landing abruptly. By after noon I had mastered flying. I am not sure how I caught on so quick, but it felt nice to master one more skill.

Whenever I was able to learn a new trade or skill it filled me with pride. I guess I was always trying to prove to myself that even though dryads were hated among the humans I was still an equal to them, I was a good person never the less about my heritage.

Flight was the only thing I enjoyed about being a falcon, the absolute freedom. Nothing could hold me down when I was in the air. Who I was, what I had to do, who was holding me captive, was all forgotten. I felt happy, I hadn't felt this truly happy since my mother was around. While flying I was able to sort out all that had happened lately.

I never got the chance to digest what Ashlin had told me. Soulmates is what he called us, we were not compatible, he was the complete opposite of me. Calm, collected, polite, and yet he could be just as irritating as me. I had only caught a glimpse of who he was when relaxed in the forest when I first met him.

I guess I didn't really mind him, I just minded the closeness he had to me. I had closed myself off since my mother had died, my trust never fully belonged to anyone since that day. When someone gains truths about you without your trust a hatred grew. I didn't know what he would do with that information.

Could he be trusted with it? I was never afraid of the unknown until now. I also worried about the men, who could I trust? I should have guarded myself closer. I softly landed on one of the branches. Wait! Branches? I looked around, I was in the forest.

The force field only allowed me to go to the lake and the few trees surrounding it. How did I get past the shield into the forest? I guess that the shield was only there to stop my human form from getting out, he underestimated my ability to do damage to his plan as a bird.

I took off flying north, I didn't know where to go? How could I find the camp without knowing where I was first. Something had to give me a clue to my location, I had to eventually see some sort of land mark. A town, a burned down village, a widely known rock formation.

The further I headed I could tell that this was the wrong direction only the mountains bordering the northern territory lay ahead. I swiftly swung around to go south when I could feel a soft thrumming in my chest. The memory of these sensations were dreamlike but I remember Ashlin mentioning a connection between our bodies and minds.

If he truly wasn't lying then this was my need for Ashlin manifesting itself into a compass, pulling on our connection and leading me to him. Ashlin must have remained at camp, this curse seemed to be a blessing after all.

Just as I passed back over the glen I realised that the faintness of the thrumming made it clear he was very far. I wouldn't make it there and back before nightfall. Reyon wasn't stupid, if I was missing, the shield would be strengthened.

I dove towards the glen, twisting in the wind. Revelling in the last bit of my freedom. I may not be a caged bird but I was a prisoner of men and of my shortcomings. I skimmed my wings across the water, watching the splashing droplets trailing behind me and moving in the wind.

I landed in the middle of the glen. Sleep and practice had absorbed the day, soon though I would have nothing to do during these many hours. My captor needs to either come more often or leave me some sort of new entertainment. The sun was almost to the ground.

I was certain Reyon was a man who wanted his beauty sleep and would try to persuade me in the early evening. I waited out the time by scouring through the trees for the one tree that would hold little Juni. Most tree were marked by some sort of symbol to warn woodsmen that these trees were not to be cut down.

A whistle cut through the air. One guess at who it was. He was so arrogant that he thinks I will come like some sort of animal. In my anger I abruptly turned and flew as only a bird of prey could. I came up from behind and dove at his head. Lucky for him he ducked in time.

I didn't care if I was stuck like this forever, if he was dead my life would be just fine. As I hit the ground, I hit it running. The change only took about 2 seconds as my body was now used to it, it happened in the blink of an eye and I had begun to gage the exact second it would occur.

Sad to say even with only a few changes I was a quick learner. I smirked in Reyon's direction to see his disappointment in the fact that I had already adjusted. All my life I have had the mentality to accept things and move on so my attitude allowed me to learn quickly and adapt quickly.

The only issue I had never been able to move on from was that of my mother and my father. I looked him over and crossed my arms, just to make sure to give off the impression I didn't appreciate his efforts.

"You know, if you're going to try and woo me I would try some different tactics. The old trap a girl and threaten her till she loves you idea has no effect on girls not in fairytales."

The anger on his face after this comment was beautiful. "I guess I am not the only one with priceless expressions" I mused softly, but he caught it.

"That's enough, don't push me, I am no villain. Other men would fully take advantage of you and your situation. Instead I promise you happiness, and the power you were born to have. I do not strip you of what you have, I add to it and merely ask to join you."

He spoke to me with a very edgy angry undertone. I could tell that he was straining to keep his temper in check. Although after he speech I have to admit that he was convincing.

Technically all he wanted was a share in the glory which is what any spoiled prince wants. But he forgot one crucial thing

"You may ask only to join, but you forgot that I don't even want to do it myself let alone with someone else. I refuse to follow those old woman's words. You are just another person put in my path by the fates to push me back towards my destiny. I refuse to have my path chosen for me! I want to kill my father for what his has done for me but I won't commit that crime if I am forced. I have my own life. The fates can't use me any longer!"

I couldn't believe that I practically spilled my guts to this man. But every words of it was true and the shock on Reyon's face had shown me that didn't believe one word of what I was saying.

"Even now you don't believe me! How could I ever marry you if you trap me like a prisoner and refuse to believe a thing I say!" I screamed at him.

The look of triumph was clear in his stance, "Well I will take that as a no to my offer. I guess you need another day. I will be back tomorrow, I expect an answer, not meaningless drival."

With that he turned and sauntered off. Now I was past furious. If he want to treat me like pond scum than fine but he better not expect me to take it lying down like some submissive wife. I will not be caged. Mark my words, I will escape and he cannot stop me.

As I stood there fuming in my anger I didn't notice Juni coming up behind me and grabbing me in a bear hug. "You were so brave Airi! I want to be just like you when I grow up! I can show daddy how brave I am!"

I turned to pat the small boy on the head. He was such a comfort. I needed the true honestly and bravery that only a child can possess. "Hey Juni, did you have fun with Mr. Tree today?"

"Yep! He was showing me how to grow flowers! I grew a daisy! Did you want to play hide and seek?" this child must have a attention disorder but oh well. I spent most of the night playing hide an seek with the child.

I had fun cheating by using the trees to feel for which one he was against. I had become a lot more comfortable with who I was and my powers around this boy. He wasn't afraid or angry at Drayads, he liked to tell me how pretty I was and how amazing he thought my power of nature was.

The small boy was like a drug, he optimism always kept me from wallowing in self pity. Even when he finally noticed my markings he just grinned and told me that he thought they made me look pretty. I had never felt this accepted by anyone but by Robin. I knew I would eventually have to leave this boy when I left to find Robin. I promised the small boy that I would come back to find him once I could.

The night went by so fast. It was Juni running off that reminded me that morning was near. As the sun rose I took to the skies. I began to head south this time. I passed over the trees and cliffs while I soared through the clouds.

I was on my way home.