<h4>Chapter 17:</h4>


    I knew what that Rune Tablet is capable of, have seen it first hand with my own eyes, but once I feel that strange light surround me in a warm embrace, I could not help but feel oddly giddy about it.


    So once the sensation fades, I rush to see the changes, ignoring the looks the three on the side were giving me, stumbling all way towards and almost falling in the water, using the trees around for support.


    The river wasn''t far from where we were talking, so by merely crawling towards the edge of the stone I could get a perfect view from the reflex below.


    And I''m left speechless.


    Chubby cheeks and fingers, heart shaped lips, big round yellow eyes and long snow white hair, but not only that is overflowing with cuteness but the pair of small white wings at the back add to the overall image, as well as the long fluffy ck and white tail twisting and turning at the back.


    This... what is up with this?! How can I be this cute?! Yeah, now even I am left speechless and cannot deny that fact, no matter how much I wish to.


    I''m so overwhelmed by my new strange appearance, however, that I do not realize that I have another major problem at hand... that is, that I''mpletely naked!


    Worse than that is that, the moment I realize the fact, thedies behind start giggling and looking away, while others treat me as a clumsy baby and stare with amusement in their eyes, especially mother on the side.


    "M-mother!" I barely manage to say beyond my embarrassment, which only increases the giggles.


    "What is it hon?"


    "Why am I naked?!" And why do I even have to spell it out for you mother?


    "Because you don''t have any clothes?" She says, tilting her head to the side. Is that an answer or a question?!


    I cover myself while cowering on the floor, my small wings trying their best to coil around my form, but that is a petty attempt after all the girls have already seen what is there to see, although my childish form has nothing to show really, but thinking like that does not improve my mood but rather hits another heavy blow at my manly pride.


    At that, unable to do much, I awkwardly embrace the wooden tablet around my neck and focus my energy there once, and only sigh in relief once I see my furry paws in front of me.


    "You are weird." I hear Lily say, and when I turn around I see hear hovering at my side, small white transparent wings moving at the speed of a hummingbird, making her long blond hair wave in the wind with grace, as if underwater, but what catches my attention the most is the crystal blue eyes shining at me like theke at my side.


    "What?" I say before her words sink in. "How am I weird?"


    "Thisdy has no obligation of telling you." Does she really need to make trouble at every corner? It is such a simple question. "But the great me will be kind enough to enlighten you today."


    "...Is that so?" I say, trying hard to keep myposure and not be impolite.


    "You are a beast, so why are you so bothered by being naked of all things? Aren''t you naked right now?"


    That... that is actually an interesting point.


    Not that I would admit it to her, I would just lose even more face at that, but that makes me wonder why did I felt ashamed of being naked in the first ce? Just because I changed forms? It is quite odd indeed, why would I have such reaction since I''ve always been naked like this, just like she said?


    Hum... quite odd indeed, but in the end I simply walk past her and ignore her words, going towards mother, saying:


    "Mother, can we go buy some clothes in town? I will need to be dressed properly if I want to attend the sses."


    "Oh, you think too much about it." No, mother, you are the one who thinks too little!


    I''m about to insist on the matter when I hear strong big wings ps in the air, and more than one pair at that, rmingly getting closer and closer, and mother does realize it too as she stands and looks towards the sky, a serious look on her face.


    "Alinda! Sorry to interrupt you on your leave, but we have a situation!" Says the one at the front, a mix of a wolf and a falcon, brown body and ck bird talons shinning as obsidian, being the same size as mother, though something in his demeanor makes him look less threatening than Alinda, especially when angry and attentive as now, a sharp glint in her eyes.


    Behind him two other griffinnd, other mixes of animals too, one looking like a goose, all white and with a long neck and an arrogant aloof expression, and the other being a small winged dog with a goofy smile on his snout, being simr just because of the bird legs and the pair of wings on their backs, but at least no lions here.


    "What is it this time?"


    "Demons at the southern inds, we discovered a hidden camp there and now they are arming an attack in one of the lowest outpost!"


    "I see, these demons are persistent, I''ll give them that. Very well, let us show them just how sharp our ws are." The others howl in agreement, trotting in ce in an animalistic behavior.


    "Son, I need you to stay with the fairies for now, ok? Here, take this, go have so fun while I''m gone, but just... be careful alright?" She gives me her bag full of coins before leaving, having to go so fast that I''m left with my beak half open when I try to ask her what is going on.


    I see her majestic figure take fly, both pairs of wings jolting her in the air with strength, and as her silhouette grows smaller and smaller I cannot help but feel anxious with her leave.


    After all, since my birth, this is the first time that I''m left without her presence and away from the safety of our nest, the first time I''ll give my steps out there alone.


    I cannot help but feel anxious about it.