Borealis flew overhead for some time, and gradually, his soul began to stabilize. The constant projections slowed until at last they vanished, falling under his conscious control. He circled once more before exploding in a cloud of stars identical to Fable's, reducing in scale until he was the size of an eagle again. He tucked his wings and dove toward me, slowing at the last second, seeming to relish my panicked squeak.
"At least that part of you hasn't changed," I said, catching him in my arms.
He cawed softly, content to let me hug him again. His feathers were as warm as they looked, despite their crystalline appearance. They tinkled like glass, but were soft and downy. I couldn't help but nuzzle him with my cheek, something like a purr vibrating in my throat.
"Would you let me see it?" Arantius asked, coming up behind me.
"Him," I said, turning to face him, holding Borealis a little tighter.
