Page 23 of Ash

The wren perched on the branch above them and flicked its tail this way and that. Hopping along the branch, she tipped her head down to look at them.

Uh oh.

His bear gave him a metaphysical side-eye.

What have you done now?

Me? I-

Wren leapt from the branch and fluttered down from the height of the towering pine and when she landed on the ground, she landed on bare feet, her hair unbound and around hershoulders, a warm brown cape loosely wrapped around her body.

She walked to the edge of the river and looked at them with her even and endless brown eyes.

"Ash Thomas."

His bear gave him a nudge and retreated back through their link leaving Ash seated in the ice-cold river on his bare ass and the hair on this head soaking and dripping into his face.

He still felt like a child again, but now he felt like he was being chastised.

"Hello, Wren. How are you?"

She arched a brow that reminded him of his mother and father and instead of cold, it left him smiling on the inside.

"What are you doing up here, playing in the river?"

Ash lifted his arms and let them fall, his palms splashing water. He was careful not to make it splash as far as the edge of the river. "Cleaning off."

"And then..." The tilt of her head was so close to the way she'd looked down at him from the branch above, he couldn't help but smile. "And then?"

"Then I'm going into town. My bear had been on me for quite some time to visit. What else am I going to do?"

The stern set of Wren's features eased into almost a smile. "You need to listen to your bear." She lifted her chin and arched a look toward his home. "Go inside. Dress. And go down the mountain."

He nodded his head along with each of her instructions and then stood up, the water from the river sheeting off of his body, catching on the curly hairs on his chest, stomach, arms on down back into the water.

Wren's expression mimicked that of a wise old owl instead of her true form.

"Really! Ash Thomas! I am quite..."

At that she rose up from the patch of early spring grass under her feet and with a flick of her warm brown cape she took to the air as a little brown bird.

Through their link, Ash's bear chuffed and rolled in glee.

She'll remember you for that, human.

She'll remember you, too. Ash shot back.We are one in the same.

Not when you stand up, buck naked in ice-cold water. To her you must have looked like a sorry example of a human male.

Reaching down, Ash took himself in hand, weighing the thick flesh of his cock in his palm.I'm sure I was nothing to laugh at, bird shifter or not.

His bear scoffed at the idea.You likely frightened her half to death. Now, let's go in. I want to get to town before lunch.

Suzannah woke with a start and looked at the ceiling over her head.

Wood. Not the popcorn ceiling of her apartment.

She turned to her side to look at the nightstand and saw an alarm clock radio with large numbers sitting on a crochet doily.

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