Wow already 7 chapters in. Hard to believe for me. Whoa works been hectic the last few weeks. As always thank everyone for the reviews. I'm writing this in my free time which hasnt been much lately. As this is for my enjoyment and yours there will be mistakes, however i probably will not go back and fix all of them.

This indicates elvish speaking. When they would otherwise be speaking common.

Over the next few months Avery became acutely aware that something else, something that she couldn't describe was living within Mirkwood. Snapped branches, a dark musky smell, splintered trees. Only she seemed to notice though. Legolas would try to ease her mind simply saying that things always happened in the dark that were no business of elves. Nor nosy shifters. The last was added with a fond tug of her dark hair.

"I'm being serious." Dark brows lowered over electric blue orbs as he shouldered his bow. They had been scheduled to run patrol together this time. The first snow of the season had blanketed the ground the night before and the human was happy to have brought along extra layers just in case.

"As am I." Signaling the others to head out the prince sighed. "Avery, there are creatures far worse than spiders inside our borders. But they do not bother us, so we do not bother them in return. If you wish, speak to Ada about it when we return so you may tell him that you wish to hunt an animal that is unknown for no reason other than it has offended your olfactory." Avery understood why he was more reserved in front of his men, but still that was an asshole move. Emerald eyes narrowed before she snapped her heels together and saluted.

"As my prince commands." Icy blue darkened. Before he could utter a word, she had bounded to a tree and scrambled up it. A shiver ran down his spine when he realized she hadn't made a sound on the fresh snow. No crunch, even as her weight had settled on the new powder. She was still getting used to her new shifting ability. She had yet to notice her little changes, he doubted anyone would really. As her Bond it was his privilege to go through them with her. Her eye sight for one, was nearly as enhanced as his now. He had only realized when she had commented on how bright the orange of Ever's feathers were in the streams of light filtering through the trees of his father's garden. She had spotted the bird perched on a far away branch grooming its tail. She had not noticed it the months before when it was in the same spot. Her sense of smell was heightened as well. She had commented on the charcoal at the ends of his fingers even after he had scrubbed them clean. He wanted to surprise her with a special drawing he was working on. Yet she could tell every time he touched the parchment. Sighing he scanned the area before taking to the trees behind them. Even as hurt as her feeling were that didn't stop the emerald eyed female from watching his back when the first wave of spiders emerged from the caves they were scouting. Being the only member of the guard that wasn't of elven blood she growled and wiped her face when she realized she was the only one covered in spider goop as she called it. Wiping her blade clean on her tunic she sheathed the blade dashing after the last member of the patrol as they disappeared back into the trees.

Avery didn't figure out how Thranduil kept up his trade with lake town until Maethon had invited her to join in on a late-night raid of the wine cellar. The empty barrels were stacked over a trap door that would be opened the next morning so they could drift down the river's current to the mouth where a barge man would collect them. The shifter had a sudden flash of wild untamed hair as a pack of orc's chased them down. Shit. Would the orcs be in this world or was that just for the movie? Her memory was starting to fade on what was to happen. Did orc's chase the dwarves in the books at all? A boney elbow stuck into her side drawing her away from her train of thought. Legolas had yet to be released from his duties as Prince so Avery was left to her own devices. Hefting a sizable bottle of wine, she started up the stairs. Maethon had grabbed a chunk of bread while others took cheese or crackers. Just something to snack on to keep the wine from affecting them too quickly. This was the first time she had been asked to tag along since word of her shifting had reached Mirkwood. Even then only Maethon really got that close to her. Lauriel was no doubt playing look out to what ever room they planned to end up. Avery regretted her choice to join in when she was the only soldier available for guard duty the next morning. Someone always followed the barrels down stream to make sure none of them got stuck on anything. As she was the only one without motion sickness that early it fell to her, or they would all be punished for their night of fun. Legolas gave her one look and shook his head. When he'd gone to wake her that morning she was quiet clearly hung over. Seeing his disapproving look she hissed digging deeper for her sunglasses. With a half hearted 'shut up' from her the platinum haired elf chuckled as he poured her a cold glass of water.

"It is comforting to know you are enjoying yourself while I am at the mercy of the council." Gingerly taking the glass from him she pressed it to her aching forehead before taking a small sip. Setting the drink down she laid her head on her desk welling the sudden pounding to stop. Feeling her pain through their twining fea Legolas moved behind her gently rubbing her shoulders and neck. Distantly he remembered seeing his mother do the same thing when his father was over worked. He was not expecting the moan that escaped her throat. Sighing she leaned further into his hands, urging him to continue.

"I was having enough fun for both of us. Teasing Lauriel and Maethon is an all-night job. Maybe Maethon will finally notice her if I drop enough hints. I mean surely, he can't be that blind to not see what's right in front of his face. She's beautiful, kind, and she's in love with him. That's like prefect, right?" Neon emerald peeked through burgundy bangs to find his eyes in the mirror. He shrugged, working on a particularly tight muscle on her shoulder.

"Maybe he does not feel the same for her? I do not know him very well, as you are closer to the younger guards than I." She rolled her eyes sitting up in the chair. What ever magic he was doing on her was working wonders.

"I'm sure if he would just take the time to see her properly it would be love at first sight." She rotated her shoulders slowly, feeling the headache starting to fade away. "You know I have a sense about these kinds of things. I set my brother and his wife up on their first date. Not even a year later they were married. Although Will has always been a sweetheart. He probably would've been fine without me sticking my nose in." A warm invisible blanket was wrapping around her and if she didn't get up and move, she was going to go back to sleep. Giving his hand a squeeze, she pushed to her feet. "Where have you been all my life? I could've really used your elf magic back in college." Opening her door, she let Ever fly on ahead of them. "Seriously thanks. You saved me so much pain this morning. It's been forever since I drank that much." She laughed turning a corner towards the kitchen. "Look at me hanging out with the kids that are actually twice my age." Legolas snorted behind her, something he only did when they were alone.

"Avery you are 1/100th of my age." She smirked.

"You're right. Careful you don't break a hip out there, old man." He reached for her hair to give it a firm tug only for her to dance out of the way and disappear down the opposite hall towards his father's study. No doubt to get her assignment for the day. That was how Avery found herself racing down the side of the river knocking any barrels loose that lodged on anything. She slipped several times thankful that no one was around to see her. Once she even ended up falling into the shallow water, that was only deep enough to soak her calf. She thought she heard a stick snap off to the side but by the time she had pulled herself out what ever had made the noise had been long gone. When the current began to ease up she slowed to a light jog taking in the slightly salty air. The long lake was quickly appearing in front of her just past the marsh. Spotting the boat, she slid to a stop when the man abroad it rounded on her with an arrow drawn.

"You'll have to steal barrels from someone else, least have an arrow between your eyes." He'd probably heard her coming or heard the splash when she stumbled into the river. Raising her hands in surrender she sighed.

"I know its been a while, but I would've hoped you had remembered me." Dark eyes squinted against the glare of the water. Letting tension off his bow the dark-haired human nearly gapped. Avery had accompanied the elven prince the last two years when it was time to renegotiate the town's trade agreement. The emerald eyed woman always stuck out in the crowd so it was easy for him to spot her when he knew to look.

"Lady Avery? What are you doing? This is no place for a woman." Rubbing the back of her head she shuffled over guiding the barrels if she happened to pass them. She would let the woman comment go if he didn't push it. Hoping up onto dry land she grinned.

"The elf that was supposed to do this today is no doubt suffering from a horrible hangover. And as Thranduil loves to pick on me I got volunteered for the job." Bard's eyes widened finally seeing the sword hanging from her side. Normally in Lake Town she didn't take her sword out in public with her, choosing to carry her knives instead. Legolas had commissioned them when she had finally passed her test to join the patrol. Even if he was against her choice, he still supported it.

"The elf king truly acts as such? The tells in Lake Town are that he is cold and unforgiving." She shrugged moving to help him hoist a barrel up on to the barge. "You need not strain yourself my Lady." She raised an eyebrow.

"They weigh like 30 pounds. Plus, it'll make the time pass faster if we both do it." Lifting one out of the water she missed his look of surprise. She was most unusual indeed. "Has Bain made anymore headway on his figuring's?" His son Bain had bumped into the burgundy haired female last year while she was browsing the awful selection of books Lake Town had to offer. The boy had always been more interested in books than swords.

"None. He had hoped you might look at his papers the next time you and your mate are in town." She hummed only half listening. Wait a second.

"Mate? Who would- Oh Legolas? Oh no, he's my best friend but that's all. He must marry a princess or someone important. Not me. I would be horrible for the job." Setting another barrel on the boat's deck she looked further up the river to scan her surroundings. "I doubt Thranduil will let just anyone marry his son. She'd have to be able to put up with him as well. Which in and of itself is nearly impossible." Moving out of Bard's way when he started over with his load, she changed the subject. "Next time I do venture into Lake town I'll be sure to stop by and help Bain in any way I can. Are Tilda and Sigrid well?" Avery truly lost track of time talking of normal human things with Bard. Before she realized it the sun had started its descent. The time when she planned on training with Legolas, meaning she should've been back home hours ago. Springing to her feet the emerald eyed girl cursed a string in elvish spooking the bargeman.

"What is the matter?" The man froze when a party of elves surrounded the boat, arrows pointed at him. Half way through rising Bard swallowed harshly. "Avery?" But the female wasn't paying him any mind. She was firing off rapid elvish making the guards lower their bows before stopping right in front of a platinum haired elf prince who had a terrible scowl covering his face.

"What's the meaning of this, Legolas? He wasn't doing anything." Electric blue orbs scanning over her form she saw him sigh in relief more than heard it.

"What was I to think when you didn't return home? Anything could happen to you outside of the walls." Rubbing her forehead, she sighed. She really needed to get him out more often. He was starting to sound like Thranduil about keeping everything safe.

"You can't do this every time I'm out of your sight, my friend. I can handle myself fine. Tauriel would not have made me a Lead if I couldn't. I wish you wouldn't worry so." Reaching out she squeezed his shoulder for reassurance. "I promise I'm not going anywhere anytime soon." The look she gave him spoke volumes. Mainly 'we will continue this later'. "I'm fine, Legolas. I was only talking to Bard." If it was possible his already icy stare turned colder. Looking over her head, something which the elf could do easily, he motioned his men back into the trees.

"I believe that I would also like to talk with Bard." Fighting an eye roll Avery grabbed his tunic to slow him down.

"Behave. He's my friend." Knowing the other elves were out of ear shot he smirked.

"You wound me, pin myril. I am always on my best behavior." She gave him a look that spoke volumes. Sighing she moved her hold to his hand giving it a firm squeeze.

"Just don't scare him to badly, please." Continuing past him she huffed. "I swear all men are the same. They find something they like then they have to fight over it." Bounding up the nearest tree she found the next highest ranking elf. "Lead the other's back to the palace, I'll stay to make sure the prince gets home." The brown haired elf gave a quick elven goodbye, moving her hand over her chest then outward the female returned it. Sliding down on to a branch Avery hummed a soft tune. Legolas didn't keep Bard much longer as he was smirking down at her in just a few moments time. Offering his hand, he pulled her gently to her feet. Planting her hands on her hips she grinned. "Well? Did he swear to never look at me again?" Dark brows dipped down over bright eyes.

"Oh, and how do you know it was you we were discussing?" Hopping to the next tree the shifter tutted.

"You and Bard have nothing in common other than me. What, you talked about the weather? Nice day to catch barrels at the mouth of a river? The marsh is unusually murky this time of year?" Cocking an eyebrow after her the prince chuckled.

"I suppose you and he had much to spoke on then?" Using a vine to gain ground she swung out and nearly slipped off the branch she landed on. Grabbing a limb to keep from falling she tested her weight on it.

"Human things. His son wants to be a scholar. Sigrid has just started her cycles and Tilda is beginning to give him back sass. His wife passed away a few years back of an illness and he doesn't know any other women that will explain things the way I do. I was giving him pointers." Biting her lip, she looked up at him when he landed on the same branch. "Legolas, everyone in Lake Town thinks we're married." He could see the emotions whirling in her emerald orbs, feel the confusion in her fea.

"And? There are far worse things then being mated to an elf." She gapped. That was not what she was going for here.

"Of all the… You think I would have a problem being married to an elf?" Pinching the bridge of her nose she wanted to smack herself. "Leaf, you're a prince. I'm a nobody. I'm not even from here. I'm ruining your reputation." Catching her hand, he frowned.

"I have told you before, I care not for their opinion. You are my dearest friend. For you to care so much for my image and wellbeing truly means the world to me. I know no matter what happens you will always have my best interest and feelings in mind."

"Except when you're intentionally being an ass." A smile spread over his lips.

"Except for then."

Avery had realized that the further away from Thranduil's palace that she got the more she could feel a wildness growing inside of her. When she asked Tauriel the redhead had given her a wide-eyed look. "Has no one told you? The King had spells put in place years ago to keep shifters from invading. The enchantments make it, so a shifter is unable to build up enough magic within to change forms. I was sure that the king explained this to you when you returned. He told us he was giving you lessons." Ah so that was how he explained away her partial imprisonment. Clever. She shrugged playing it off. Now that she thought about it that made sense. Thranduil would never tell his son just how badly he had treated her those few weeks after she had returned to Mirkwood. Legolas would've never forgiven him. Going back to sharpening her sword the burgundy haired girl scanned the trees. Only a black squirrel or two were chattering in the leaves. The spiders had been pushed back a decent distance today, but it never hurt to be overly cautious. Squinting into the darkness Avery swore she could see eyeshine. Maybe her mind was playing tricks on her. A stick snapped off to her left and she nearly gave herself whiplash spinning around.

There! Something dark was moving in the shadows. Tilting her head towards the sound Tauriel caught her meaning. Nodding the Captain gripped her knife. The other elves were merrymaking around the camp fire, paying no attention to the females slowly sneaking into the trees. Knowing it was seen the dark shape took off further away from the light. She hadn't told anyone yet, but Avery was positive her eye sight got better with no light around. It was odd the animal was tripping and making noises. Like it was still a baby. But the size would suggest an adult. The edge of Mirkwood was fast approaching. If they didn't catch it in here, they would lose it. Pushing harder the shifter didn't realize she had out paced the she-elf. Didn't pay attention when her form started to shift, and she was running on four legs instead of two. The magic had swelled up and taken over as soon as she had cleared the barriers around Mirkwood. Lengthening her stride, the jaguar over took the smaller cat and pinned it. Massive paw pressing down on its neck. The kitten yowled, ember eyes pleading with her. A strange ancient tongue was flowing from its maw, but Avery was still focused on the hunt, the chase, the kil-. Shacking her head, the black cat let her more human side back in control. The kitten continued to plead. It was broken and barely understandable.

"Please. Don't kill… Your territory… Home." The kitten was an orangish yellow, like a normal cougar. If Avery let it up, it could probably walk under her without touching. The larger cat snapped her teeth to get the smaller one to quiet down. In the middle of the fields they were easily spotted. Tauriel was no where to be found and Avery didn't want to be left out in the open for too long. Setting back on her hunches the black jaguar watched the cub slowly roll onto its feet. Now that it could breathe properly it had a better way with words. "I'm sorry. I didn't know the forest was claimed again. Dad said all the cats in the woods had been killed." Avery cocked her head to the side. A deep twitting and chuffing sound escaped her as she responded.

"They were. I should be the only one left." The kit gave a sad mew. "Were you the one I've been scenting?" A yellow tail gave an extra hard wag to the right.

"I'd never smelled another skin changer that wasn't family before. I was curious." A dark furry chest expanded with a deep sigh.

"You're lucky it was me that caught you. The elves still don't take too kindly to your kind." An orangish ear twitched.

"My kind? You're a skin changer too." Avery blinked neon green eyes.

"That's hard to explain." A deep growl rumbled from behind her. Jumping to her paws the black jaguar gave a growl of her own locking eyes with another adult.

"Why don't you try." It wasn't until then that Avery made the horrible realization that she was surrounded. Yellow eyes gleamed from every direction in the darkness. Oh she was so screwed.

Being forced to follow behind the group? Pride? Pack? Gang of shifters Avery kept glancing behind her. Tauriel had been right beside her the last time she remembered looking over. Surely, they hadn't cleared that much ground after she had shifted. She could only clear 20 to 25 feet if she stretched and was at full speed, right? Shit she didn't know. Legolas was never going to let her leave the palace again. They trotted all night. The kit had to sprint to keep pace with them. The Misty Mountains were growing closer, almost covering the whole horizon. The giant bear Avery had seen in passing over the years watched from atop a distant hill. What was his name? The group marched on into the thicket at the bass of a cliff where a small cave entrance was hidden. The tunnel wound through the mountain until it opened into a large ravine. Star light lit up the world around them as huts and house came into view. It was a little village hidden away from the world. Coming to an alcove the other felines began to shift, taking their human forms. Avery blanked. They wanted her to change in front of them? Shit. Yowling drew the leader's attention who was yanking on a pair of pants that had seen better days.

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way. I'll let you decide." Funny. Avery remembered her mother saying the thing when she was young. Gulping the female shifted pulling the closet cover she could find over her form. Jason had been the only man to see her naked before she had come to this world. Call her old fashioned but she wasn't one to flaunt her assets very often.

Even if she had been as fast as she could they had still seen and the blond haired leader cursed. Shaking his head the man waved a woman over. His wife as they exchanged a kiss in greeting. She approached cautiously. "Miss if you'll come this way please, we'll find you clothes and a place to sleep." Pressing her lips the burgundy haired female wanted more than anything to go home and snuggle into Legolas's bed and drift off. That wasn't possible now though, so she sucked it up and followed. It had been a long night and it was sure to be an even longer day tomorrow.

Avery really didn't like Grim at all. The supposed leader of the small clan of skin changers that had kidnapped her… Was it still kidnapping if you were an adult? He had been the cat to make itself known while she was talking to the cub, which was of course his daughter. Mavis, the blonde haired golden eyed girl was humming by the table watching every move the emerald eyed woman made. After a shitty nap that had only served to make her crankier Avery was ready to go home. The clothes they had given her were itchy and smelled funny. Not like flowers and pine and oak. Grim had been pacing since he had demanded she tell him everything. She had given him an abbreviated version of the story she had told Thranduil years ago. Sighing he ran a hand through straw colored hair. So far everyone in the village had light hair. Maybe it contributed to the color of fur when you shifted?

"You're sure you're the last one?" Fighting the urge to throw her head back and scream Avery took a lesson from Legolas and controlled her emotions. Outside the boarders of Mirkwood, Avery found it was surprisingly easy to shift, she'd had to stop herself once already this morning. She was weaponless and as good as defenseless. These people had been shifting longer than Avery had been alive.

"Yes. I didn't even know there were still any skin changers left. I've changed maybe 10 times my whole life. I didn't mean to last night but, your daughter triggered my hunting instincts I think." Pushing off the wall she had been leaning on she huffed. "I'm the last of my family still alive in this world. That makes me the last forest skin changer. The elves hunted them to extinction over two thousand year ago." Dark eyes narrowed on her.

"Yet they kept you alive, why?" She shrugged.

"I was already useful before they figured me out, so they kept me alive? Does anyone really know what the elf king is thinking? If you want to know the reason, you'd have to ask him yourself." Running a hand down his broad face Grim shook his head.

"All that matters is you're free now. They can never harm you again." Avery blinked, then blinked again. Um what? Shit she knew he had seen last night. Her C-section scar was a bit high and jagged. She had torn it open when it was nearly healed doing something stupid. It didn't help that her wounds from the high pass had peppered her body with marks, the worse being the one from the black arrow. Where the poison had spread left spider web white marks along her side for about 8 inches around. With her coppery complexion they stood out. Only Arwen and Elrond had seen it. Legolas would be horrified and disgusted.

"They haven't hurt me. Not the way you're thinking at least." A fierce look darkened his expression. Muig, his wife jolted at the look coming to rest a gentle hand on his arm. The tension eased away. "Yes, I am covered in battle scars. I was in an orc ambush last year. Took a black arrow for a friend. That was when I discovered I wasn't human." Shaking her head to clear the memories away she looked up. "The point is, the elves have been kind to me. They're no doubt looking for me as we speak."

"To take you back prisoner?"

"To take me back home." He snorted, clearly thinking they had cast some sort of brain washing spell on her.

"You will remain here for one week." Avery opened her mouth to protest, loudly and unkindly, but he held up a hand. "That is normally how long it takes for spells to wear off and the next time we will run patrol that close to Mirkwood. If you have not changed your mind, then we will escort you back." Well shit. She could just shift and run back herself. "Mavis will be your guard, to insure you do not do anything foolish." Avery's bottom lip jutted out in a fierce pout that would rival Legolas on his best day. Great.

Avery found herself wondering around the small village with a constant shadow. The little girl wasn't bad company though. And Grim's reasoning was solid she would admit. It was creepy seeing monstrous cats roaming the streets and the rocky mountain sides. Only to watch them become a person when they dropped back into town. Was that what she looked like? No wonder the elves didn't want her shifting. She was terrifying. Mavis giggled beside her watching the other kits rolling around in a heap of human limbs and feline tails. Nodding her head towards them the older female smiled.

"Why don't you go join them? I promise not to run off." Golden orbs narrowed.

"Really?" Avery nodded.

"Really, really." With one final look Mavis skipped off to join the fray. Avery shook her head. Ah to be young and naïve again. Finding a suitable log she rolled it over and took a seat. Crossing her legs at the ankles she tilted her head back to look skyward. The sun had already started its descent in the sky which meant only six more days. Leggy was gonna be pissed.

The next few days passed in a blur really; if Avery could think of any questions to do with shifting, she asked Mavis. The kid was smart for her age. At 10 Avery was far from running all the way to a forest filled with mean elves and giant spiders. She'd just wanted a 64 pack of crayons with a sharpener on the back. Mavis was sharp as a tact though. And she was proud to be the next in line as leader. The village only had about 40 members but it was enough. The morning Avery was to set out with the patrol it was raining and dreary. It only got better when she realized that the patrol… Well they patrolled as cats. Finding the most deserted corner she could in the cave entrance she shrugged off her barrowed clothes and let the magic within her rise. Shaking her fur out the black jaguar flexed her claws in the gravel along the rock floor. It had been a fun week, she'd learned many things from Mavis and actually enjoyed herself. She loved Mirkwood and the elves there but there was a certain freedom with being with the shifters. Even working as much as she did at the hospital she still took vacation. Which was what she had been on when she had started to explore her tribe's caves.

Maybe she needed to shoot the idea of vacation to Thranduil. They still had jobs and assignments when they were off duty. Maybe the next time Legolas had to go to Lake Town she would suggest taking the scenic route back. Avery was sure he'd never been able to be himself for long periods of time. He was always the Woodland Prince, or the heir to the throne. At one point she had heard him referred to as Thranduilion. That was it. They had never actually said his name the whole time they spoke. What made it worse was it was a marriage proposal. The elleth's father had been so concerned with Legolas being Thranduil's son he hadn't bothered to remember his name.

Waiting for the last skin changer to shift the pack moved swiftly towards the dark boarder of Mirkwood in the far East. If they kept up their pace, they would reach the trees before midday. Traveling in feline form was much faster than human or even by horse. Beorn shuffled along further South on the plains barely a black spot even with their enhanced vision. The bear shifter had made an appearance during the week she was being held semi-hostage. The man was taller even than the elf king, kept mostly to himself other than trading with the other skin changer clans that lived within moderate range of his house and had a loud bellowing laugh that carried. He had sniffed at her in passing but otherwise didn't say a thing unless it was to the merchant that had been next to her. She remembered he was the last bear changer. That he had been chased from his home in the Misty Mountains but that was pretty well it. By the half way mark Avery was panting harshly. The others were a lighter color than her and used to running great lengths in cat form. She was solid black and still new to this. Taking pity on her Grim slowed slightly so she could catch her breath. A small relief was when they crossed the Great River. Avery wadded longer than she should have in the water letting it cool the pads of her paws and soak into her fur. Slightly after midday, due to her poor conditioning to running the group was just getting close enough to see individual trees. The sun was almost completely under the tree line by the time they entered the Greenwood. Thinking she was far enough in the black cat turned to bid farewell to the others only for Grim to trot right past her, further in.

"Um, did I miss something? I'm home. You don't need to take me any further." Rolling yellow eyes the cougar snorted shaking his head.

"I promised Mavis I would take you home safely. I can't leave you here with no weapons in the middle of spider territory." Bounding forward the emerald eyed cat blocked his way. Others in the group hissed warning her of her boundaries.

"If you get caught by the elves, they'll kill you." Grim raised a brow, silver whiskers twitching.

"That is for me to worry about." She planted her paws, claws digging into the soil between them.

"You don't understand. The King's wife was killed by one of us. If they see you and possibly me, they'll kill us."

"I am well aware." The male shouldered past. Avery snarled low but fell back in line. They were following the trail on the ground. At the very head was a marble statue in the likeness of the late Queen. At least she had always assumed it was. She would have to ask someone the next time she thought about it. The path was winding through the trees and more than once Grim had to double back. As he had explained, they hunted here often. Avery snorted.

"You visit, I live here." Pushing past the larger shifter she cut into the trees. Many of the others growled, fur bristling in anger. Grim was much older and kept a calm mind. He was level headed expect when he thought someone was hurt. "If we keep following the path it'll add two days to the trip. I plan on sleeping in my own bed tonight." Coming to the murky river she leapt over barely upsetting the foliage. She had fallen in once and woken up a day and a half later in the healing ward in the castle. Before she knew it the trees were brightening and the sickness that pledged most of the forest was nearly gone. They were nearly at the gate now and Avery thought it best to change. Disappearing into a thick bush she willed herself to be human again, fought all of her senses back into a tight little box in a far corner of her mind, and thought positively human thoughts. Tugging on her barrowed clothes she emerged just as an elf horn sounded. The gates to the palace opened and a party of elves rode out. Seeing platinum she dashed forward forgetting all about the other shifters still hidden far from sight. "Legolas!" The elf prince jerked the reigns of his horse so hard he nearly reared. Spotting the burgundy haired female flitting through the trees the blue-eyed elf was dismounted and sprinting. Avery slowed down just on the edge of the path. Legolas barreled into her at nearly full speed, like an over joyed elfling. They tumbled to the ground snow powder dusting them as it settled again. Chest heaving the prince stared down at her with such a look of wonder she felt the need to blush. Eyes flickering they lightened to a near silver blue as a warm invisible blanket wrapped around her. Beaming up at him Avery laughed as his arrows tumbled out of his quiver. Pushing him back gently she pulled him back up and towards the bridge. Giving his larger hand a soft squeeze, she let go only for it to wrap back around hers more firmly. "It's good to be home."

Having watched the interaction Grim moved further back into the shade of the trees. The shadow cat heir was in good hands. The elf prince would let no harm come to his chosen mate. Rounding back the pride made for home.