Her giant black wings unfurled behind her and she grinned in elation as she took the one step that carried her from the safety of ground to the abyss that loomed in front of her. She just let herself fall, at first. Then, halfway down the cliff, she angled down and dove at the ground. The air tore at her tunic and her hair, but it felt like a soft caress against her face and hands. Like the embrace of a long-lost friend. She had never felt this free or happy before in her life.

The scent of water and forest hit her and she took a deep breath, savoring the added tastes of pine and maple. There were deer in the hiding in the trees below her and her stomach rolled in anticipation of the feast to come.