The Raven King

Chapter 8: Soulmate

"Theron, are you sure you know what you're doing?" His gaze turned from the door, where his queen had long since left with her sister.

Still, his brain replied to her smile and waved over and over again. She was getting comfortable around me. His feathers puffed up. That's all I ever wanted.

"Humans aren't like us, Theron." Vilem's shoulders stiffened. "They don't take these bonds as seriously as we do. They don't know the pain that we feel."

The pain? A laugh, heated and bitter, pressed against his throat. "You think I don't know about that pain?" He turned away. "Why do you think I was so desperate for an escape that night?"

No, he knew first hand about the pains of rejections. How it was a fire that started in the heart, burning and suffocating until you couldn't breath, until all you could think about are those words that replied over and over in your mind as you continued to spiral, wondering where you went wrong.

That pain was felt in the deepest part of his chest, a constant burning that he feared would never go out. Instinct wrapped his wings around himself as if to protect them from the burn. It was threatening to flare up again, consuming him like it did that day....

"I need to go." He stood up. He was barely out the door when he shifted, letting his raven form take flight instantly. The warmth of the drafts lifted him higher into the air, soaring him across the forest trees.

They don't know the pain...His wings flew lower. Despite how much they wanted to deny it, humans weren't that much different from them. It made sense when you consider their DNA, consider how they too had once been human.

Reaching a familiar field, his wings folded as he landed on the branch. Grasses, wildflowers, even shrubs had filled the overgrown field while insects and butterflies buzzed and fluttered through the growth.

Years ago however, this field had been bursting with life. He had remembered the day well, feeling the ache in his wings as he settled down onto this very tree. Exhaustion pulled at his wings and his heart throbbed, arched as it felt like it was shattering into two.

With each second, Theron could only cry out in pain. His body couldn't hold his shift any longer. His wings fluttered, sending him to the ground one last time just as his body started to grow. His wings curled around himself as tears burned his eyes.

Make it stop. He clawed at the ground. Someone please make it stop!

"Are you alright?" His gaze snapped up toward the voice. The woman tilted her head as those green eyes stared at him with concern. "Do you need any help?"

Theron tried to speak but words failed him. The woman, pulling back her cloak to reveal her dark raven hair, moved toward him. "Come on, let's get you some food." She held out her hand, helping Theron to his feet as she entwined her arm around his. "I know just the place for a guy like you."

And just like that, she pulled him into the fray. People dressed in various gowns, tunics, staff, whatever their heart desired. Their voices reminded him of his home as they communicated in old english. "By the way," the woman spoke up. "I love your costume." Her hands reached out toward his wings. "They look so realistic."

Theron snapped them to his back. "Don't."

The woman grimaced at his harsh tone as her face became a bright red. "Ah, sorry! I know that must have taken a while." She gestured to her costume. "This took me two months. Make everything myself." Theron looked over the gown. It was certainly beautiful, he had to give her credit there.