Mother

5

You tell the boys to stay close behind as you all shop at the Black Market as the inferno sun beats down on your form. You do your weakly rounds not having the desire or patience to visit other shops. You also don't have much coin on you either; you very well prepared to trade. Atlas is repeatedly grabs at your hand from anxiety, and you try your best to be nonchalant every time you pull away. You just wish he could understand you weren't a parental figure, and you most likely will never be. He eventually gets the picture fiddling with his hands from his sadness. You watch as Amartya saves the day by coming to his side and cracking some jokes that even amused you. His giggling made the atmosphere pleasant as you were about to make your way to your final destination. That was until you start hearing panic screaming, and you whipped around your breath hitching at the sight in the distance. Without thinking, you scooped up Atlas, and screamed at the boys to run. A wicked had broken free from their holding; the large cat running ramped as it destroys peoples' livelihood. Atlas is now wailing as his eyes never leaves the beast, or that's what you thought. Amartya tries his best to tell you, but you can't hear over the screams of the people around you. You find your way into an alleyway breaking the barrier that hides the Black Market to begin with, but when you turn around, you notice one of the boys are gone.

" Where's Roman?!"

" I tried to tell you! He went to help-!"

" Watch Atlas!"

You ran back into the chaos taken aback by what you see. There laid Roman who transformed into a massive form that loomed over the wicked inflicting wounds left and right. Your feet couldn't stop as you called out Roman's name over and over again. You see magicians and monsters surround the two pondering on how to contain the two. As you were only yards away, streaks of lightning flow from the clouds above striking them both.

" Hey! He's on your side damn it!"

You run underneath Roman quickly raising a hand once seeing the wicked was about to snap at Roman, and a force field is formed from the Astral. The feral cat scratched and bit at it struggling to attack Roman. You then released a wave of fairy magic it wrapping tightly around its figure. It struggles as the chains disabled it rather quickly bringing to lay down on all fours. Due to its sheer force, a few snapped kicking the rest into action to weaken it. You stared as different types of magic takes over eventually taking away its spirt and the urge to break free. You turn to Roman whose ears are now drooping over as he bows his head to you.

" What were you thinking?!"

You scolded him, and he lays down on his belly hoping you would show some type of pity. People were now staring at you two highly confused and amazed at what they were witnessing. You ordered him to return back to his natural state, but he just shakes his head denying your request.

" My... clothes."

Oh great...

You can't and wouldn't dare force him to walk home naked, and your eyes fall on an abandoned resale stand seeing they offered trousers. You make your way over and snatch them up leaving more than enough in gold for them. You glared at the people who seem to be entranced by him and his docility. You presented the pants to Roman who understood and unleashed a black cloud of smoke that filtered throughout the alley but only for a second. It amazed you like the rest, but you were more worried about getting him dressed before even more people appear. Once clothed, he hugs you scared you're going to yell at him again or find him to be a terrible monstrosity you no longer wanted. You didn't return it, but you did give him a head pat hoping it made him feel better.

" I'm not mad... I was just worried about ya' kid. I didn't know what happened to you once I seen you were gone, and when I figured out you went against a wicked? I thought you surely will get yourself killed. Never put your life on the line like that again, okay?"

He just hugs tighter as an audience begins to surround you two. You started rushing away as you realize how dangerous this was. You never seen anything like it before, and the news of a shapeshifting lycan like him might drawl in attention; the type that can get you kidnapped or killed. You were relieved to find Amartya and Atlas along the way. Atlas out stretches his hands in wanting to be picked up, and you just shake your head wanting him to claim an independency from you. He frowns but says nothing more as you all head to the barrier. As you were about to cross the barrier, Amartya tugs at your dress causing you to stop in your tracks.

" Your wings are out."

You turn your head barely able to see the monarch wings that have appeared like an apparition at your back side, and you recognizing them as your grandmother's wings. It makes you think about how the males had specifically targeted changelings loathing the excessive breeding and embarrassed if your secret got out. You thanked him as they diminished into nothing.

" Can you give me wings?"

Atlas asked sheepishly, and you don't see why not for you've altered Astral forms before being your job and all. You also think about Roman's wish for his birthday from what you know is around the corner now. Now you think about it, the boy will need a new magic source to protect himself for he has put himself in danger now. Maybe the horns of a dragon? It never hurts to be an elemental. From what you learned, he's more into intellectual side of things such as mind reading and mentality warping. You'll just have to see what you can do.

" I'll look into it. Lets go home."