"Let's go out and try shape shifting again, magelet," said Numair when Daine came to his rooms for her lesson.

Daine was apprehensive about changing shape again, she could still remember the last time she had taken wolf- shape to catch Yolane, and didn't want to repeat the experience.

"But Numair, we just got back to Corus two weeks ago, and I'm still, um, tired, from the trip," she replied. "Why don't we try it again some other time, when I've settled back into my routine and-"

"But magelet, I think you've had enough time to get back into your routine, since it has been over a month since you last tried to change. I think you just expect it to go badly because of last time you tried it." Daine opened her mouth to protest, but was cut off again by her teacher.

"But I assure you, it isn't nearly as bad the second time you try it, you're merely sore for a few days; it isn't anything to worry about. You wouldn't keep your poor teacher waiting, would you?" He motioned out the window toward the forest.

"Are you sure it won't be like last time?" Daine looked up at Numair and tried to hide the fear in her eyes.

"I'm positive, Daine, I know from personal experience. In fact, you recovered faster than anyone in recorded history. Two weeks is an unheard of time for being in bed after shifting. The quickest known is Faunus of Interesque, who only took a month to get out of bed, but he died soon after from complications… There was a Nelery of Ickenham who recovered after a month and three days, who lived until-" Daine coughed, trying to get his attention. This particular list wasn't doing anything to help her confidence, and she wanted to just get on with it.

"How about we just go out there and try it?" She said. He looked at her apologetically.

They walked down to the edge of the forest and stopped under a shady tree, sitting down in its impressive shadow.

"So, magelet, what shape do you wish to try today. We know you can do a wolf and a horse, so I think we should try something else now. Of course, the decision is up to you,"

" Hmmm, I don't really want to try being a wolf again. But what should I change into?" she looked up into the branches of the tree thoughtfully. There are so many different animals…"

"Well," the man began, "since you were mainly a predator last time, maybe you should try a prey animal this time. Just to get a view from both sides."

"Maybe a deer?"

A slow grin spread across his face. "A fantastic choice, magelet. Shall we try it now or go farther into the forest before you attempt a change."

"Let's go further in, so nobody can see us. I don't want to scare anyone."

They walked into the woods along the path for a good Quarter-hour, then decided it would be best if they went off of the path and find a more secluded place for Daine to put her clothes in case a traveler happened by when she changed back.

"This is good," she said when they came to a small clearing.

Numair smiled at her in encouragement. He always seems to know just what I need, she thought as her stomach began to flutter. Here I go! She filled her mind with cloven hooves, sweet grass, large black eyes, and everything she could think of about deer.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Numair saw standing, where his student had been a moment before, a spindly legged doe, which came over to him and tentatively stuck her nose into his hand. He stroked her neck gently, marveling at how soft her coat was.

Daine walked over to her teacher and hesitated before putting her nose into the palm of his hand. He didn't seem to mind, reaching up and running his free hand down her neck. She shivered and then looked at him before nodding her head in the direction of the woods surrounding them. He removed his hand, much to Daine's chagrin, and nodded.

She turned and bounded off into the woods, trying to find a herd of deer to spend the day with. Along the way she spoke with the People she passed, stopping for conversation if they wanted to talk. After doing this for about an hour, she was cropping a particularly sweet patch of grass when she heard the clear call of a hunting horn pierce the silence. She tensed; that cal meant that the hounds had caught a scent. Frantically, she scrambled to find the location of the hunting party. She finally found them, and discovered that it was her they were after. She tried to reason with the dogs, trying to get them to leave her alone, but she couldn't get past the cloud of blood-lust in their minds.

She tried for a longer time than she probably should have, and then wheeled aroud and ran. She tried everything she could thinkof to get rid of the hunt, but the royal hounds weren't the best in the realm for nothing. She ran through streams, doubled back on herself, and even shut off her wildmagic in hopes they would be less able to sense her. She didn't know how long she had been running when she realized how tired she was. She knew her pace was slowing, and that they were gaining on her. She knew that she would keep going until she dropped, and that time was approaching fast.

Numair sat in the clearing wondering where Dainewas. She had been gone for far too long, in his opinion. He comforted himself with the thought that she had probably just gotten caught up in talking with another animal and lost track of time.

Suddenly, a clearly terrified doe shot through the clearing. Following after it was the royal hunting party. It only took Numair a minute to figure out what had happened. He shot off after them, trying to catch up and knowing he probably wouldn't make it in time.

He was right, when he finally caught up with the riders, they wre standing in a circle around hhis unclothed student. And they're staring like heathens, too, he thought with an unexplainable surge of rage. He managed to push his way inot the middle of the circle and drape his cloak over her prone form. It seemed to break the hunters out of the trance they had been, and the stammered apologies began.

" Please, master Numair- If we'd known-"

"We didn't know it was the wildmage, honest sir-"

"Your mageness-"

He cut them all off with a look. He turned to the nearest rider, "Get me a healer. Ride as hard and as fast as that horse can manage, and bring me the best healer you can find, now."

With a last terrified look back at the livid mage, the young man galloped off.