Mardichi walked through the mist. A great splash of red and tan amongst the dim gray. He was eyeing me like something foreign.

And I couldn't help noticing that the bit of leather he'd worn when we left was long gone now. Leaving the thick bit of flesh exposed against his leg. He was as heedless as any animal as he sidled up to me.

"You should've become a wolf or a beast."

"A beast?"

"Well, you'd be the first woman I marked."

"What does that mean?" My voice rose.

"I'm not entirely certain of the details as to how it's supposed to work." Mardichi entered the clearing and looked up at the trees just above us. Blotched with darker spots.

What are those?

His voice drew my attention back to him. "I've heard others of my kind speak of it. They explained how the woman became a wolf soon after she was marked as their mate."

He eyed me purposefully. Making it a point that it was odd.

"Mate?" I frowned at him. "So, what does that mean?"

"It means magic is activated in you as it should be. But there was something older...Something long before me residing in you. And it is that, which is coming to life now."

***

I stared at him in horror. Utterly confused about his meaning.

He slowly gestured upward, and I looked back up at the dark shadows above. One of them splayed and I could clearly see the outline of massive wings.

"Birds?" I queried.

"Looks that way." He crossed his arms over his head and then waved them down to his sides. Banishing the heavy curtain of fog which lowered. Seeming to seep into the ground like reversing steam.

Once everything was clear, the birds littering the trees were apparent. Filling every branch above for as far as I can see. All their dark, shiny eyes were intent on me.

Waiting?

For what?

***

"Speak to them." Mardichi had turned nearly back-to-back with me. Observing them in a full circle. "There's so many..."

He's right.

"I don't understand why they're here."

Mardichi rounded on his heel to stare down at me. Towering over me like a looming shadow. "Because you called them. Clearly."

I blinked. "But I didn't."

"You did. Your cry."

I instantly recalled the moment the wolf had rushed past me. It's teeth grazing my arm and making me screech as I had.

That sound.

"How could that be in me and I didn't know."

He sighed. "That's a bit harder to explain."

"Try." My voice surprised me with its strength. Sounding nearly commanding as I barked orders at this massive barbarian.

What was I thinking?

The slow quirking of one red brow indicated he was wondering much the same thing.

"And this was one mere squawk." He said thoughtfully. Staring up in awe. "I can't wait to see what happens when you truly try to use your new power."

***

"This isn't what you expected." I stated matter-of-factly.

"Not in the least."

"So, your disappointed I didn't become an animal?"

"No." He shook his head adamantly. "This is far more intriguing. I'm even more interested in discovering who you are, Pretty Raven."

"I'm your slave." I said blandly.

"Not now." He disagreed. Mouth tight. "Yes, you're still mine to mate. But far from a slave. You're an evolving creature."

"Evolving into what?"

"No idea."

He stepped toward me quickly. Hooking an arm around my lower back. His huge, meaty fist winding in my hair and yanking backward to expose my face and throat to him.

I yelped and he held fast.

The sound of beating wings thrummed above us as birds began to pour in a hailstorm. Violent feathers pounding around us and claws raking him and catching me in the process.

I gasped.

Mardichi released me to bat several away.

I took advantage of the moment to slide to my knees and shield the back of my head. Shrieking as I tried to protect myself. It seemed that my cries only incited the birds attack to newer heights.

Mardichi was laughing as he ducked. Swinging his arms over his head until the birds were tossed aside.

Each one he struck made it feel like I was hit. I felt his strikes in my sides, cracking against my ribs and bruising along my arms as he knocked one bird to the ground. Making it belly crawl along the ground with a wounded limb.

It drew near me and tried to tuck under me as though it expected me to protect it now that it was injured.

I sat up some and looked down at the huge brown bird. Shocked at its strange behavior.

It worked further beneath me. Like a baby chick nestling under a hen.

***

"Mardichi!" I cried in panicked confusion.

I saw the flash of a brown wolf in my peripheral. Dashing one side as he tried to get through the birds. Then rushing past me in another direction. Going the other way.

Then suddenly, amidst the feathers and screams of attacking birds, I saw one large, browned hand stretching through the mass to offer to me.

I reflexively clasped it, and he yanked me to my feet. Before I could fully register what was happening, he was guiding me through the woods.

We were fleeing on quick feet. Retreating back toward Mardichi's hut.

Back to my prison.

I slowed. Dragging my heels. But as I turned, I saw the huge cloud of dark birds clustered together. Flying between the trunks to emerge out behind us. Rushing on urgent wings to catch up. I felt the panic of the birds, attack washing over me. The surge of their energy pounding through me.

An overwhelming feeling.