"That's kinda cool…" Duncan murmured, "I mean that you're all stronger and stuff." I glared at him, "No it isn't. It just makes things worse, don't you see?"

"What do you mean?" Eric asked.

I sighed, "The stronger you are, the stronger the Creature is lured to you… it makes sense doesn't it?" I glared at Duncan, as if this was all his fault. He gave me a sad look, and then turned to smile at Eric warmly, "But you're safe here. I can't think of a safer place you could be in." he stepped over and placed a hand on Eric's shoulder, giving him a squeeze, then he hugged him. "Aulma and I will look out for you."

I could see Eric's face turn a little red over Duncan's shoulder and I had to bite back a giggle, Duncan had never really understood the whole 'personal space' thing… I was about to rescue Eric and say something when a soft whimper distracted me.

I looked over at my sleeping big brother, his eyes were shut tight and there were tiny beads of sweat on his forehead, he was tossing and turning – I hurried over, wondering if it was a good idea to wake him up.

"Adam..!" he gasped in sleep, and I grabbed his shoulder, shaking him awake. The last thing he needed was to sleep talk something he'd regret Duncan or Eric overhearing.

He came to with a loud whimper and looked up at me wild eyed.

~

I was 14 years old, and lounging in the sun. Peggy was dozing nearby, ready to shade me with her wings if I asked, and Adam was off exploring somewhere. I could hear the birds singing softly and the insects buzzing, it was a perfect summer's day.

"Think fast!" Came Adam's sudden voice and before I knew it a huge slug dropped right onto my face.

"Auaggh!" I screamed and sat up, throwing the slug off me, and wiping the slime off my face as best I could, I could hear Adam laughing his head off somewhere nearby. The moment I could open my eyes I'd-

"Here," something soft and dry touched my face, and when all the slime was wiped off my eyelids I saw Adam's smiling face, and his hand holding a yuck-covered handkerchief. "Better?"

"You're a jerk."

"I know." He grinned, "But you have to admit that was funny."

"It was not, it was disgusting!" I gave him my best glare, but he just giggled at me. Then very suddenly he broke off. "Do you hear that?" he asked me.

I suppressed a shiver, "Hear what?"

"That! Listen – flapping!" he held a finger to my lips and looked up, apparently listening hard. I tried as well, but I couldn't hear a thing.

Then suddenly, I could.

Sure enough, a flapping, like the sounds Peggy's wings made when we flew. A shadow crossed the rocky ground and I looked up.

"Get on Peggy!" I hissed at Adam, then got to my feet and mounted as quickly as I could, Adam scrambled up behind me, and before we knew it Peggy had us in the air. Adam's arms were tight around my stomach and his head rested on my shoulder, his breath tickling my ear. We were flying fast, the wind whipping some of the hair out of my ponytail, and forcing Adam to shout so I could hear him. "Is it following us?!"

I glanced back, and saw a vague winged figure land atop the hill we'd just fled, and breathed a sigh of relief. "No it isn't."

"What was that thing anyway?" he asked as I slowed Peggy down, then he playfully nibbled on my ear. I laughed, "Cut that out! And I have no idea."

"That isn't the truth, though, is it?"

That wasn't Adam's voice. Adam wasn't behind me anymore, and I wasn't even riding Peggy, the sky around me swirled into a colorful but shapeless void, where I hung helpless. "What's going on?!" I screeched, my voice breaking.

"You did know what that monster you fled was, which was one reason you were in such a hurry to get away."

I swallowed hard, "What are you talking about, who are you?!"

"Come on Nat, are you telling me you didn't recognize the first, and only time you and I have ever met?"

My breath caught, my insides turned cold, "The Creature?!" I couldn't help gasping.

"No!" the voice was adamant, "No, not the Creature, though it is a part of me… it's me, Gy."

A sadness welled up in me; I'd never actually met Gy, but I'd heard enough from my parents and aunt to know that his case was truly a tragedy – a good man consumed by evil.

"H-have you broken free?" the thought was too fantastic to be possible, he'd been a prisoner for so long…

"In a way… the Creature now has the full use of my body and frame, but… he's left my mind untouched. For the first time in years, thanks to the complete freedom I've given the Creature with my body, I'm able to contact someone in this way…"

"But why me?" I asked, Gy was Dad and Aunt Aud's friend, he'd run away before I was even born!

"Because you are the only one asleep at the moment…" Gy sounded amused, "The times of freedom the Creature unwillingly grants me are short, I need to get this message across as swiftly as I can, and you are as good a recipient as any."

"Message? What message do you have?" I asked.