“He’s back.” Mag’s familiar voice cut into the darkness. Sino felt like a Rock Goblin used him as a punching practice dummy. He groaned, holding his head as he sat up. Every muscle twinged sharp pains as he moved them. He felt a soft feminine hand on his back rubbing circles. He groaned again, his eyes trying to open, but the light hurt. “Shitacki, that’s bright.”

Several voices laughed.

He squinted. Three wares and Bo stood in a half circle, looking at him and laughing. The three had red orbs glowing behind their heads.

“You speak to the Moon Goddess and come back sane.” Mags tisked at them.

He scrunched his eyes towards her voice. She was rubbing his back. She had a weird orange glow about her. He swatted at a white light that popped in front of him. “What’s going on?”

“Long story or short?” Mags asked.

“Short.” He groaned. He tried to stretch his muscles. They seemed different, longer, wider, stronger.

“Jin crashed our party. It attacked Evo so you went rogue-minded. Bo killed the Jin, you tasted its blood and was lost to the ancient bloodlust magick. You found the missing piece of my statue. Evo put it back. You both disappeared. Now you are back and the statue is glowing gold.” She pointed. The statue was pulsing golden whisps.

“Did it do that before?”

“Definitely not.”

“So why is it doing it now?”

“We were hoping you could tell us.”

“Wait, you said Moon Goddess?” Sino groaned, trying to move his legs and arms to stand up.

“You kept saying her name when you got back until you woke. I just assumed.”

“Did I hit my head?” He groaned again; the lights around him gave him a headache like stomping feet.

“You don’t remember anything?”

He shook his head. “Last thing I remember…” He paused. Suddenly, he had to move. It's like his muscles were hurting. He had to run. “I need to run.” It was a need.

“I don’t think-“ Mags started.

He scoffed, cutting her off. He took a deep breath to relax his muscles. He would feel better in his wolf form. As he shifted, his bones and muscles glided into his four-legged form. He stretched his back, pushing his head towards the sky. His muscles felt better. He sighed in relief.

Several gasps interrupted his calm.

He cocked his head towards Mags, who backed up to the group of wares. Every being had their mouths gaping. He looked behind, nothing seemed to be out of place. He reached out to Mags via mindslink. Dropping his protective walls, “What’s wrong?”

“What the fungi did the Goddess do to you?”

“What? I feel fine.” He moved and bounced. In fact, he felt like a pup again. “I feel great.”

“You have… wings?”

“Have you lost your mind Mags? Maybe you should shift and run with me. My mindache is gone. The brightness isn’t as bad. My muscles feel normal again. I wanna run!” He put his butt up in the air and playfully nipped at Mags.

“Ok, but lets go get a drink at the lake. Let’s run that way.” She shifted into her light grey and brown wolf.

“You look smaller. Are you eating enough?” Sino asked.

“No, you have doubled in size. Lets see what you can do. Can you catch the fastest ware in the pack?” She asked back and took off in a run.

Ha! He laughed and let her run for a few moments. “You must be getting slow in your old age shewolf.” He said and shook his butt before taking off to follow. She was quick, but his muscles stretched, and he powered past her in less than a breath.

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He slowed, and they weaved around the brush. He allowed her to get ahead as she pushed as fast as she could go jumping over a fallen tree. A family of forest fairies squealed in delight watching them leap effortlessly past their home. They didn’t stop until the lake. He jumped right in. The cool water felt fantastic on his hot, sweaty paws. He jumped back out and twisted his body to shake the water from his fur.

Mags panted, but she was giggling at him. “You are acting like a pup.” She mused.

“I feel like one. It’s like a huge weight off everything.” He laughed and licked his huge paw. It did look big. He cocked his head.

“You should take a look.” She said. “Its amazing.”

Another fallen log stretched into the lake. He was able to balance so he could look at his reflection. She was right. His dark grey-brown fur was the same, but dark brown wings were folded to his sides. On his forehead, a golden chevron gem above his light grey blaze. It sparkled in the sun’s rays. He stretched and found the muscles that widened his wing out. The sudden change tipped him off the log and he splashed in the shallows. He scrunched his face. Mags howled in laughter.

“Try again.” She said, trying to stay her giggles. He snorted the air from his snout. Again he made his way out, shook out the water, and went to the log firmly planting his feet using his claws as anchor. He concentrated on stretching again and felt his wings move out to stretch as well.

“Oh. My. Goddess on Faeland. Simply Beautiful.” Her voice didn’t mask her awe.

His mind was racing. How did this happen? “What is going on?” He asked. He moved the dark feathered wings feeling the air moving around him. He laughed as he released his claws and felt his body lift. “Mags!” Sino still laughing. “I’m-“ His wings stopped, and the little lift he got was lost. His body fell again into the water below.

Mags laughter broke through his mindslink as he slunk out of the water. This time when he shook off, he made sure to do it in just the right position to drench Mags with the spray as he wiggled the water free from his fur. She squealed. “You hobgoblin navel fur.” She laughed.

“I feel happy for the first time in cycles. Even though I’m confused by this. It just feels like I’m finally complete.”

“It means everything to hear you say that friend. When you lost your family and as the cycles passed, I hoped you would find your happiness. Maybe even your actual mate. Seeing you waste away your entire pack especially when you pushed us all away.”

“It was like I was trapped, but then… Evo. Where is she?”

“She said you would find her when you awoke. She said something about checking on something called a dung beetle. Does that make sense to you?” Mags cocked her ear to the side.

He nodded, inside smiling. He knew exactly where she was. We should head back to the field so that I can thank Bo for his help.” Sino wondered aloud.

Mags nodded. Their run back was slower. His muscles fully stretched. He felt a peace wash over him as he practiced pushing his wings with the wind as he leapt over the fallen log again. He surprised even himself when he yipped in joy as his stomach flipped when he dipped suddenly up into the sky. “Whoooo!” He laughed. He pushed higher, but kept an eye on the running wolf under him. The trees seemed to be waving at him. He almost missed the airstream, but a fresh air of wind pushed him forward.

Relief.

Peace.

Calm.

Freedom.

Its like he could finally be himself. The wolf he used to be, he now knew, felt wrong, especially after his family was murdered. He swooped down towards the gawking wares. His landing not so perfect. Okay. He crashed. He landed on his left shoulder, but shook it off. “Ouch.” He said as he shifted to his two-legged form. Mags had beat him and stood already shifted next to Bo. He bowed. “Guardian Jackson. Thank you for all you did to help the wares and for protecting Evo when I couldn’t.”

Bo returned a deep bow. “Sino, I would say anytime, but I have a feeling I’ll see enough of you as it is.”

Sino chuckled. “Ya, I have that feeling as well. Did Evo say anything to you before she left?”

“I got a hug and thanks. She said she was gonna go bug watching.” He smiled to Sino.

“You heading back to the Lore Estate?”

“Ya, Seems like you have things wrapped up here. Just make sure that Statue is placed somewhere safe. I really don’t want to have to go through literal hell again. It’s not on my FaeLand Bucket List.”

“Bucket List? What list is this?” Sino asked.

“List of things to do before you kick the bucket. Oh nevermind. It’s kind of macabre just thinking about it. Let’s just say humans try to make the most out of their short lives and that a list is a some of the things they want before they die.”

Sino shook his head, bemused. “Did you want to travel together?”

Bo lifted his light blonde eyebrows. “I’m actually going to head west since I’m out this direction. Make sure the Fae out here don’t need anything.”

“Ah. I’m going the opposite way. Take care my friend.” Sino said.

Bo smiled and offered his hand out.

“Why do you do that?”

“You shake it . Like this.” He grabbed Sino’s hand and gave it a firm shake. “It’s a greeting and a good bye gesture showing respect in some cultures of humans.”

“Oh.”

Bo then gave Sino a bow and said, “Until next time… friend.”

Sino bowed, then turned to face Mags. “I’ll be back before the Bramian Festival.” His eyes tracing her face to try to understand the emotion written on it.

“Understood. I am taking a group of warriors with me to place Ishtar’s statue in the Wisdom Cave.”

“Take my satchel. It has two books and a stone tablet that should be returned there as well.”

She nodded. “I’ll make sure it gets there safe. What are you going to do next?”

He paused. “I’m leaving it up to the Fates.”