Hurts. Cramped. Lonely. The thoughts drifted through the unformed mind.

Relax, child. The voice seemed to float in. I trusted the voice, and drifted.

Excitement. I can feel her. The thought came unbidden, then. I can think.

Of course you can, child. The same voice as before.

I can feel her. I thought.

Yes, child. Warmth suffused the tone. She will be here when you are ready.

I can be ready now. I thought back. I am hungry.

Patience. You are not quite ready. But soon. The voice was amused.

Tell me of HER. I demanded, my young mind easily distracted.

I could not, I do not know her as you do, child. Tell me what you know.

She is kind, I say, hesitation clear in my tone. Her mind is bright. When can I meet her?

Soon, child. Rest. I take the chance to drift.

Humming brings my mind swimming to the surface once more.

Heat. Excitement. Hunger. Her. I feel her, that bright spark, dimmed just a fraction with uncertainty.

Why is she uncertain? Does she not know I am waiting for her?

She does not. The voice drifts in, seeming to be a touch distracted. She does not yet know of these things as you or I do, child.

Why do you call me child? I ask. I have a name.

You have not yet told me of it. The distraction is gone. I will know it when she does. It is her right to know first.

I know this, I can feel how right it is. Hunger. The thought pervades once more. This cramped shell hurt.

Soon you will be free. The voice says the distraction back.

What is happening? I query.

You're brothers and sisters are finding their way. The voice answers.

Oh. My turn?

Soon.

What if she does not love me as I love her? I hate the fear that creeps into my voice.

She will have no choice. Once your minds have touched, everything will change. I read the sheer unadulterated joy of the minds first meeting in her voice.

It drove the hungry momentarily from my mind.

I am ready I announced.

Hush child, just a few moments more. The voice ordered with a hint of steel.

But I am so hungry. I answered. I begin to move, to try to break free from the hard prison to stretch my aching, too confined limbs.

Wait. The voice orders. I cannot but obey.

But she is near. I plead. I hunger.

I know, child. The voice is soft and warm once more. This shall pass. You must wait but a few moments more.

An eternity seems to pass before I know. It is truly time.

Relief. I feel it surging through my veins as I see the world for the first time. Sights and sounds pervade, I sense I am meant to find her among the expectant girls ringing around me, but I don't see her.

Where is she? I keen. Does she not love me. I stumble, and it hurts. My wing has caught. A gentle hand rights it, but as I meet my rescuers eye it is not her. My distress grows strong.

Where is she? Am I to be alone. Panic sets in. What had seemed so logical, in the warm darkness of my shell is now too much to bear, as I am crushed by too many things. Alone. Hungry. Please where are you? More stumbling steps, as frightened but still hopeful girls flee my claws.

Where is she? I keen again. I make out the hulking golden form watching me in my misery.

She is near. You told me yourself. Relax child.

I cannot. I am alone.

You are never alone. She is near. Feel her, as you did in the shell. All will be well child.

Using the voice as an anchor for the storm raging in my mind, to rise above the fear, hunger, heartbreak, loneliness, dread, pain. I was able to surface, for an instant. It was all I needed. Her fire was near. Not in the warmth of the sands. Further in. Amid the stone. Onlookers panicked as I neared them. But she did not flee as others did.

Good. I did not want to chase her. I was nearing her. Joy.

She was sitting alone. Fear on her face, but joy also. She knew.

As I scrambled the last few steps, she fell to her knees, joy suffusing her face as her eyes met my own.

Joy. Belonging. Love. Together. Mine. Our minds intertwined with an irrevocable bond. Together we were transformed to something more. Something greater.

Herra. I spoke to her mind, with all the love I could muster. I am Berenth. We are one.

A/N I really had a great time writing this i hope you all enjoy it. I might do some more with this story... .possibly. But it would be separate from this. Anyway, tell me what you think :)

-Wolfgirl