whatever comes, let it come
what stays, let it stay
As Maea smiled hesitantly, Loren smiled back even more tentatively, though it definitely didn’t reach his eyes. However, there wasn't time for further words as he took to the skies. Hearing her cry from below, he honked back in his best attempt at agreement.Hopefully the fact that he pumped his wings furiously to gain altitude before flying over the paths he wanted her to follow conveyed that he'd heard her adequately enough.
Goose eyes weren't the strongest, but he felt his stomach plummet at the sight of squirrels massing on the route to the quickest path out. Letting out an alarmed honk, one that he hoped might warn the pale woman, he folded his wings. Although this form wasn't really designed to dive, he did his best, ignoring the stings as thorns buffeted him and the whistle of wind through his feathers.
Flaring his wings at the last moment, ignoring the tearing in his shoulder muscles as they moved in ways they weren't really designed to, he stumbled into a landing. Shifting to human, he grunted in pain. "Bunch of squirrels up ahead, with an exit just beyond. I'll handle it." With that, he sprang into motion, turning the corner with a wild cry.
One that was echoed by the dragon that he summoned in the path of the attacking rodents. It swiped at the squirrels with claws and tailed. Then it opened its mouth and lightning shot from it with a crackle, blackening the hedge. The squirrles scattered, with their trademark screams of "Yes!" "No!" "Follow me!" screeching through the air. The Launceleyn sped past his dragon, the exit from the Labyrinth now tantalizingly in sight. Somehow, he still had the sack with the herb on him.
His magic reserves felt dangerously low, but hopefully he had enough for this last stretch.
what goes, let go
LOREN
