"Did Boris make it back?" Xiara asked, to which Xopil shook his head.

"That's a bit unfortunate. We should continue on..." Xiara trailed off as her mind wandered.

"You think he's alright?" Xopil asked.

"He'll be fine, remember his duty is to keep you in line." Xiara laughed lightly. "So you're saying you stayed here because you were worried about us?"

"And them," Xopil referenced the five women, currently in their animal forms, that were surrounding him and Xiara.

"Is that right? They look like they can take care of themselves though. But... that aside for now, what happened to my people... the survivors?" Xiara asked.

"Oh? So you don't know the history here either? I was hoping that was the case though." Xopil took a moment to explain the abridged version.

"So you woke up in the past, killed a powerful sorcerer and now the elves won the war, but they're worse off than before?" asked Xiara.

"Better or worse isn't for us to decide... they seem to be okay with it, and..." Xopil took a deep breath and transformed himself into a skunk, "I've been affected too, I'm not certain on the how since all I have are unconfirmed theories... but according to the locals, I also used to be a bear."

"...I see..." Xiara was so taken aback she just stared. Xopil clapped his paws together to bring her out of her daze.

"Alright, next would be if I was also similarly affected..." Xiara trailed off again, I hope not.

"You'll just have to try it to see. It may be a property of this world and not something that was inflicted on the people, like a natural state of being." Xopil offered one of his theories as an explanation.

"..." Xiara contemplated that possibility as she focused on visualizing herself changing.

Xopil just shook his head, "A panther? I guess I imagined worse though."

"What?" Xiara asked, "You thought I'd be a succubus or something else that doesn't exist?"

Xopil threw his arms up in defeat, "Guilty."

Xiara glared daggers at him, which scared everyone present. "I'll kill you later, first you have some explaining to do."

"That look in your eye frightens me." Xopil was about to tear off running for his life.

"Indeed, this form does have some advantages. Tell me Xopil, why do I smell the scent of these five women on you?"

"That would be..." before Xopil could even start to explain, he found himself pinned down by Xiara. Sensing that now would be a good time to leave, the five women in question bolted for the door and scattered into the town.

"A disadvantage... one that I'm sure you also share in." Xiara's eyes narrowed as she listened, "Will you let me up so I can explain properly?"

"..." Xiara cast a baleful eye at Xopil as he returned to his human form.

"So, they love to be petted and cuddled..." Xopil spoke slowly as he watched her reaction.

"And?" Xiara demanded.

With a sigh, Xopil scratched her head to demonstrate... knowing full well he was going to create a new monster. He was instantly pushed to the floor, found a head in his lap and she purred one word, "More."

"So you understand now?" Xopil asked, while obliging her request. Xiara was in her own little world, and simply purred in response. Finally she sighed contentedly and fell asleep where she was, which annoyed Xopil.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

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"Ok, I'm setting some house rules." Xiara spoke coldly to her captive audience of Xopil, Beda, Lexi, Calypso, Winter and Felicyta.

"Xopil is MINE. Any questions?" Xiara glared at all of them.

"That's only one rule though?" Xopil asked.

"Correct. That's the only rule that matters." Xiara retorted, "No slacking though, we all have a lot of work to do."

"..." Xopil stared at her.

"What?" She asked, "I finally understand why your pet cat was always trying to get into your lap."

"...Why isn't that comforting for me?" Xopil asked himself. "I'll be off practicing, I still need to figure out how time magic works."

"..." Xiara looked at him incredulously, "Just what have you been doing here?"

"My best." Xopil retorted as he left the room.

You're capable of so much more. Xiara silently shook her head as she followed after him. Xopil sat down in the grass and cast his gaze skyward as he fell into thought. Xiara meanwhile busied herself by observing the girls as they practiced their magic with every fiber of their being.

"You lot are awfully focused." Xiara commented.

"Yeah well... Xopil shared an exquisite experience with us, but it didn't last very long. He said we'd have to practice to have it again." Felicyta explained.

"Really? And what experience is that exactly?" Xiara asked a little too intently.

"Oh... that broken hot tub over there." Felicyta replied.

"Well, he certainly knows how to motivate people, that hasn't changed at least." Xiara relaxed.

"You've known each other a long time?" asked Felicyta.

"Longer than you can fathom. Hundreds of millions of years." replied Xiara while she was thinking about something else.

"What?" Felicyta dazed.

"Yes, quite. Hard to believe?"

"His naivety makes it difficult." Felicyta answered honestly.

"That is part of his charm though... at times." sighed Xiara.

"Then..." Felicyta didn't want to ask, but she felt compelled to finish, "he's not the prince is he?"

"...For now he is. His incarnation is that of the prince Xopil Wragnaith. There was a time, long ago, when that was his only identity. And... I was the princess of the neighboring kingdom. Though, so much went wrong and everything has changed since then."

"Eh?" Felicyta dazed again.

"Forgive me, I said too much. I was caught in a wave of nostalgia. Of what could have been, what nearly came to pass. This result, though unexpected, isn't so bad either. We can be together, seemingly forever."

There was a rapid movement in the direction Xopil was that drew the attention of Xiara and Felicyta. "Hmm, seems that he's learning to control time."

"He sped up the time of a sapling?" Felicyta dazed once more, looking at the giant tree that was not there mere seconds ago.

"Yes quite. As miraculous as it seems, it's not something to rejoice over. Controlling time is forbidden for too many reasons to keep track of. Just as an example... that one tree could change the entire future of this world."

"How so? Isn't it just a single tree?"

"A tree that's lived a lifetime in a matter of seconds. That kind of experience changes things, as it is unnatural. Such phenomenon often gives rise to an insatiable greed. This tree could cause this area to turn into a desert in the future, or worse; and that is why..." Xiara paused, the tree suddenly burst into flames and disintegrated in an instant, "he couldn't leave it there."

"You talk about the tree like plants are sentient." Felicyta said.

"I'm afraid your ignorance will not be dispelled this day, however I shall try. Plants are indeed sentient. They feel pain, starvation, humor and even fear the same as you do. They do not have the same methods of expressing themselves though, and as such the warning signs are most often missed and ignored." Xiara pointed at the surrounding trees, "Do you notice how the leaves are rustling even though there is no wind now?"

"Now that you mention it... yes."

"Although this is a universal signal for all their feelings... with enough observation over time you can discern the subtle differences; right now they are expressing relief. The tree Xopil just burned was an entity of fear and oppression for them. They enjoy peace, fairness, and freedom just as much as any other living being."

"You're really not making this up are you?" Felicyta asked.

"Far from it." Xiara replied shaking her head. "And don't ask me if wooden houses are sentient. Would you still be sentient after you are brutally chopped and sliced? Fortunately for us trees are not vengeful creatures and accept that they play a role in our survival, providing us with shelter."

"It almost sounds like you revere plantlife."

"Plants have survived as long as we have, if not longer. It's just another path of evolution and adaptation, shouldn't they be respected for surviving the same harsh environments we have, especially when you consider how they are thriving?"

"I guess you have a point. Just never gave it much thought before."

"Same goes for all the animals you hunt for food." Xiara added. "Life is surviving against all odds in many shapes, forms and types. But we never stop to think about it."

"...You really are hundreds of millions of years old."

"I've experienced much, and there's still so much I don't know." Xiara replied.

"Spoken like a true wiseman." Felicyta commented.

"I hope you find the wisdom you seek, miss fox. Oh? It seems Xopil is ready to try reversing time."

"How can you tell?" Felicyta asked.

"...The trees told me; they have a language too you know... It's not like I could see him from here." Xiara replied.