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We will fly. I will teach you. And where else did you think we woudl end up, in this neck of the woods? Budapest is the city of the vampire, you know. Ever since Carthage.

*Quirking an eyebrow, Raoul chuckled*

Does it matter? But for the sake of your curiosity, it is good. UNLIKE when Roan came here and made a thorough pest of herself, they seem to believe you are pleased with them, and are the spirit of the hunt. The woman downstairs has recieved a wealth of gifts thanks to you, for which I am grateful. Are you ready to go?

That is up to you. From what I hear, you've barely been in town. If you wish to say goodbye, may I suggest leaving the clothes you were given folded and this on top?

*He produced a small deer's antler, which he passed to Iden, then he turned to the window and stood up on the sill*

See you in the forest.

*Springing out into the night, Raoul performed his usual sprint tactics, and was soon away, leaving Iden to make any goodbyes he needed in peace*

*From one side, something solid hit Iden and rolled him over, the massive black wolf actually SNIGGERING before hurtling off again*

.: Mad streaker... you DONT give up, do you? Maybe I should take you to Wallachia instead... :.

*The wolf ran furtehr and faster than Raoul had in human form, skidding to a halt near a lake, where he sat down and shifted back to normal, not bothering to even TRY and hide his nudity this time*

There is an osprey in the tree in the middle of the lake. Watch him.

*And no sooner had Iden come to Raoul's side, he too would see the great fish eagle, see its massive wings as it unfurled them, then dipped and stooped into the water, rising with a squirming fish, powerful, steady beats in a circular motion taking him aloft*

Is he not beautiful?

They have two chicks. Unusual in birds of prey that large. We will journey a mile further on foot, then take their form - to do so here woudl cause a territory battle we would lose. They will defend their nest.

*Raoul stood up again, winked and Iden and took off. He was very impressed with the kid's speed, which had NOTICABLY improved since his trek into the forest, which if nothing else mad ethsi worthwhile.
That aside, Raoul stopped at the top of another bluff in teh forest, staring down teh grey stoine to teh valley below as his body started to shrink, feathers curving from his hair, hands, and then the rest of his bronzed body as his mass became less. Soon enough, the yellow-godl eyes of an eagle were all that observed Iden, waiting for him to follow suit*

.: Good. You have the physics down well enough. Now, form affects mind, remember? To that end, you shoudl be able to FEEL the animal instincts just behind your eyes. To fly, you simply let them take over. I used to hum music in the back of my head whel flying to remind me I WASNT a bird, but you have me along today so dont worry about losing yourself. :.

*Spreading his massive wings, Raoul turned his head sideays twice, letting his powerful eyes guage distance and height, then, he crouched, flapped hard and took off, beating into the sky and riding the heat that rose up the cliff face, circling as he waited for Iden, knowing the drop shudl be large enough that if he failed his take-off, he could turn the fall into a swoop*

.: Think of a song, I mean it. Try and remember EVERY single lyric in the song. It will stop you getting in the way of the animal brain. :.

*Raoul wheeled lazily over their take-off spot, screeching back out of instinct to Iden, but ignoring the predators desire to go into a dive at this clearly young blooded, amateur upstart in his turf...*

.: Hold your wings steady, lean into the turn like you would on a motorbike, then let go. Let the eagle do the flying while you do something else with that supposedly higher consciousness of yours. Whats it like screwing a midget, by the by? Your Isabella is tiny... :.

*the question, vulgar as it was from the Prince no less, and fired out of the blue, was intended to throw Iden's thinking mind for a loop, so that his body could follow Raoul as he turned towards where he KNEW Budapest to be, and started riding the thermal upwards, before gliding down itno teh next one, and so on and so on, saving energy and making good time through the darkening night*

.: You're talking to a master of the animal kingdom. You'd be disturbed just how warped as a stallion I can be thanks to the efforts of a certain faun in our midst. Dont make me test the theory on you... or your puppies. :.

*Raoul sounded smug as he suddenly swooped up, then went into a stoop, diving just over Iden's head, barely missing him with razor talons, before he rose again, lazily flipped and turned on a wingtip, then picked up another thermal, master of the air*

.: Let me know when your wings start to ache. We'll land, I'll teach you as I promised, then we'll rest for a few hours before taking wing again. We'll hunt on the next leg of the journey:.

*Eagles are not meant to be able to look smug, or to laugh, but Raoul seemed to as he turned his head back to Iden, then back forward again*

.: As you wish. I suggest you learn a little more respect then. I AM your Prince, whether you WANT to accept that or not. :.

*Raoul winged onwards, leading Iden eventually to ground at the edge of a clearing, where he shifted easily back to his own form*

Time for afew hours rest. Its not safe to sleep out here - there are wolves everywhere. Shall I teach you how to sleep safely?

*Raoul touched the earth... and his hand sank into it*

Earth meld. The first thing to do is slip into the trance I showed you before. Think of sleep, think of rest, even think of the grave itself.. one of these will let you do what is necessary. The earth becomes as resistant as water, and you can slide into it until you are ready to rise once more. Have a try.