Part 6 -Regret-

          She could feel it inside her, a burning sensation much like hunger. But it was not for food...

          They had been flying for what felt like hours. They made it out of the ruined city safely thanks to her, and were now gliding above the emerald treetops of the dense forest that covered a fair amount of the land outside the city. It was rare to find humans wandering inside it, terrifying beasts made the trees their home. But in all honesty, it would be the safest place to go for someone that did not want to be found. She saw a clear spot next to a high cliff edge and made her way towards it, slowing down. With a graceful swoop of her wings she stopped in the air and came softly onto the ground. The sun was starting to set and there was no place that made a suitable shelter nearby. No problem for her, she could sleep outside in clear or rainy skies. Then she remembered the man that had apparently fallen asleep on her back during the flight.

       “Get off!” Her voice echoed aloud although she had spoken nothing. Shoul gave a startled leap and fell off to her side. When she saw him the sensation within her grew stronger and she took a step turning to face him without intending to. He got up and casually dusted his clothes off.

      “So... where are we?” He sounded more sarcastic than curious. Meerin couldn't answer him. She knew the answer but she could not will herself to speak. Something was wrong. “Well? Where are we.. other than a forest”. She took another step towards him unwillingly. “What are you doing?” He stepped back out of concern for being stepped on by her massive feet. “Can you at least change back to your smaller form, it makes it easier for conversation”.

     “...grrrr..” her beastly voice rumbled off her tongue. A deep threatening growl. Things were getting worse, Meerin was unable to control herself. Her legs became numb and her vision blurred a little momentarily then, suddenly, it was as if she was only able to watch herself. Shoul was staring up at her with his usual calm expression, however with a new twist of fear. A spike of pain shot through her mind, she found herself turning, looking to the sky at a distant silhouette of a winged being slowly growing larger. Her body turned swinging her tail like a weapon into Shoul, sending him into a patch of spined bushes. She let out a roar that shook the ground nearby, many birds fled their perches in the trees. Meerin felt her body change, morph, back into humanoid form and she yelled at the figure coming ever so closer.

     “You! Coming back to use me again no doubt!” she pulled her sword from its sheath and held it firmly at her side, prepared for anything. “Worthless lizard! You are nothing but a family reject!” She had become someone else, no she was still herself but in a different mind. She did not understand what she was saying let alone understand anything that was going on. Her vision began to blur again only it was not returning. The figure remained a dark smudge in her eyes even as he landed in front of her and drew its own weapon. She felt the exhilaration, the adrenaline and the pang of pain that went through her arm holding her sword with each blocked blow. But along with all the usual sensations, there was excitement.. overpowering joy, and even pleasure when a blow surely struck the opponent. She was terrified and wanted to scream, but another voice in her mind just laughed seemingly at her suffering. Then she did hear herself scream, for seconds she thought she had regained control until the sting of a wound on her body pulled her from the momentary relief. Her vision cleared enough to see the form of her opponent, a man with long hair the same color of her own. But he was getting farther away. Her limbs began to follow her will again, but not long before she came to the horrible realization that she had fallen over the cliff edge. She flipped over belly down, and spread her wings struggling to stop or even just slow her fall. It was too late, she crashed through the roof of an old abandoned forest home and landed flat on the stone floor below it. Several sharp pains spread over her chest. The roof creaked above her. Meerin turned her head to look out the newly created hole in the roof and saw her long haired advisary take flight and leave, whilst what looked like her companion diving over the edge towards her. The building creaked more under the strain, and gave way collapsing onto her.