The duffle bag swings back and forth in my jaws, the jolt of my running causing it into motion. Filled to the seams with clothes, food, blankets and a sleeping Faen. My paws land softly in the light dusting of snow that fell during the night. A frigid wind weaves it's fingers through my long fur.

I've been running for a solid four hours. Having left early afternoon, the sun has lowered considerably, dimming the light filtering between the trees. With the light, the warmth recedes, turning the air ice cold. It's a good thing my Weretiger genes grant me a higher body temperature than humans or I would be freezing my ass off right now. I guess my thick pelt helps some bit too.

I'm guessing by now that my parents have noticed my absence and are stringing together a search party. I have no doubt they are already hunting me down. Which makes me glad for the light flurry of snowflakes that drift lazily around me, concealing my tracks and scent. Delaying my capture.

I also have no doubt that my Alpha mate has turned up at the castle, requesting me. Oh, the surprise he must feel. Finding out his beloved mate is missing and the Princess of the Weretigers. Oh, how his face must have looked. Priceless.

'Why are we doing this to mate?' Aris whimpers, feeling the strain on the fresh bond that has already spun.

Because, I shrug mentally, I'm not ready to be tamed.

'But mate is sad...'

So? I smirk, All he wants me for is to be his Luna and bare his cubs for him. I'm not ready to be couped up in a house full of wolves.

'Mate needs us. We are his equals.'

No. If anything, he is below us, I scoff at her, I am royalty and he is a measly Alpha, who probably thinks he's better than me.

'And what if he doesn't?' she growls, 'What if you are making a mistake by running away from love? By running away from what is fated.'

He can find me, if he truly wants to.

'You're impossible,' she huffs, then severs the link.

I allow her to simmer in her self-pity and continue winding through trees and leaping over fallen logs. The sky continues to darken, the daylight seeping into the distance, like oil through your fingers. I run as fast as I can, needing to pass through boundary that is my parents' territory. Their land runs for miles, needing to accommodate all Tigers that seek my families protection.

I cannot be here at night, the patrols will find me while I rest. I have come too far for that to happen now. I need a break from everyone and everything. I brought Faen to keep me company. I don't want to be completely alone.

The duffle bag shift's with signs of movement from within. A small black nose peaks out through the opening I left on the zipper. The baby stag sniffs the air tentatively, letting out small snorts and grunts. I know I will have to stop soon to let the youngling out, to feed and play.

My ears pop with sudden pressure as I pass through the invisible boundary line. I shake myself out, causing the little fawn to let out a quiet squeal of surprise. A low rumbling sound vibrates through me chest, Aris chortling at the small animal.

I run for another mile or two, putting as much distance as possible between us and the castle. The snow has come down harder now, coating my already white fur in snow. I only stop when a large hulking willow tree comes into view.

The dense canopy of the tree yields the snow from reaching the base of the ancient tree. Here the rich brown soil is clear of snow and dampness. I slink under the iced tendrils of the willow's branches and into the shelter of the tree.

I drop the back carefully, not wanting to hurt or startle Faen. I quickly shift, my bones snapping and realigning themselves effortlessly, into my human form. I quickly unzip the bag and layer myself up in the warm clothing I packed.

Just because I have a higher body temperature than humans, doesn't mean I won't freeze to death.

I swaddle myself with the blankets and snuggle up against a root of the thick tree. I nestle between the hollow in the roots, keeping my body out the biting wind. Faen peaks out the bag, his black eyes blinking lazily and his little nose twitching.

I watch with a fond smile, Aris on alert for predators as she protects her adoptive 'cub'. Faen turns his small head to gaze at me, his big eyes full of innocence and curiosity. He wobbles a little as he struggles to climb to his stick thin feet. While he explores the small shelter, sniffing every little thing, I reach into the bags and pull out a baby bottle, filled with milk. I tuck it under my arm in an attempt to warm it a little, the cold weather making the liquid frigid.

Faen tiptoes about on unsteady legs, cautiously, but full of wonder. The thought leads me to thoughts of the future and how my cubs will be. I quickly throw that out the window, my thoughts quickly taking a turn towards visions of me and my mate.

No. This is the whole reason I'm doing this, to get away from that. I'm not ready to be tamed, not yet.

Faen let's out a little grunt, black eyes looking at me. I grin at him, pulling the bottle out for him to see. It's completely night out now, the sun having giving up it's time in the sky and making way for the beautiful moon. As a Weretiger, I can still see pretty well in the dark, even in human form. It makes me wonder if Faen can see me all that well.

With mewl, Faen springs in my direction, his wide eyes on his meal. I chuckle at him as he drops himself into my lap, completely trusting and thrusts his head for the bottle, hungrily.

Allowing him to suckle on the nozzle of the bottle, I run my free hand over his back. He shivers slightly every now and again, but he continues to suckle hungrily at the bottle until the contents are depleted.

"Hey boy," I coo, scratching under his little chin.

He leans into my hand, letting my pet him further. We sit there for a while before I yawn and when I look background down at Faen again, he's in the middle of an adorable yawn. I giggle fondly at my little fawn, Aris purring contently along with me at her 'cub'.

I pull him into my arms, engulfing him in my warmth and blankets, then make myself comfortable against the tree. He snuggles deeply against me, his little heart slowing to a slower pace as he falls asleep. I close my eyes and let darkness consume me.

"Good night, my cub," I sigh sleepily.

~•~•~

So what do you think of Maurice adopting a fawn as her cub. Cute? Or weird? Both? Anyways... don't forget to:

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LilMissImperfection xoxo

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