A great eagle, proud and fierce.

"My partner, Nasir" The warrior smiled, a look of pride blooming across her beautiful face. Marcus shivered in her arms, peering into the gloom at the large creature standing there in the trees, two massive wings folded neatly on its sides. It looked like a very, very large bird, the head alone as big as he was. Its wicked beak was curved like a hawk's, and it rested there on two huge feet with talons like scimitars. He would have been terrified, but with his little body still held tight by his gorgeous savior, it didn't feel quite as scary.

"What is it?" He asked anxiously, shifting on her arm.

"A Roc, little one." She explained. "A great bird from my homeland. We are good friends. He has saved my life many times, and me his. Because of this, he allows me to ride his back, but he is still very proud." As if on cue, the massive bird puffed out its chest, bristling the white feathers there. "Riding him, we can travel far from your uncle and his soldiers, to a place of safety." She hoisted her spear and stepped forward. The bird watched them approach with those gleaming golden eyes. It cocked its huge head and made an odd chirping noise which made the young prince shiver. It looked like it could swallow him whole in one massive bite. "Are you frightened of him?" The warrior asked.

"Yes." Marcus admitted, biting his lip. He wished he didn't have to, but she'd clearly noticed him shaking and lying would only make him look sillier now. He'd already been stupid enough to think this bird was her man instead and then almost started crying like a baby.

"Don't be." She laughed, a high, clear sound that sounded so beautiful it made him smile. "Nasir is very fierce, but only to his enemies. He has seen me carrying you and knows you are a friend." The young prince swallowed, trying to be brave, when she carried him over to the side of the huge animal. Sure enough, even though it was staring right at him with those golden eyes, it made no move to eat him. As soon as they were close enough in fact, it lowered it's huge head towards the warrior, like it was bowing. Resting her spear against her arm, she reached out that hand and rubbed his beak gently. The bird made that same low, cooing noise, its eyes fluttering shut. "There, see, he is calm now." The woman nodded. "He will allow you to ride with me."

In the arms of his savior, Marcus was carried round to the side of the massive bird. On it's broad back, the animal had a large leather saddle, with bags hanging from the sides. It made the young prince feel a little better to see it did seem to be domesticated. He trusted the warrior, but this was all rather much for a boy like him who'd only ever ridden a small pony. He tried to keep still as she lifted him up onto the saddle. Sitting so high he felt a little unstable, up until the moment his savior lifted herself behind him and wrapped a gentle arm around his chest.

Her hand settled on his shoulder, guiding him back into her so that he was resting against her armor. She seemed to...like having him close. Marcus blushed at the thought, biting his lip and reminding his stupid brain not to read into things too much again. He rested back, letting her hold him, as she slipped her spear into a set of leather loops running alongside the saddle, then reached down to grab a pair of reins that were tied to the massive bird's head. She flicked them with her hands and beneath them the animal spread its huge wings and launched itself into the air.

Marcus couldn't help but scream and shut his eyes as he was carried up into the cold night air on the back of this monstrous bird. The warrior was holding him really tight now, and he desperately tried to focus on the feeling of her arm wrapped around him. She was here to protect him, he had to remember that. It took a moment for him to manage to stop shrieking, but as soon as he did he burrowed back into her, wishing again she wasn't wearing all that hard armor. The wind whipped past, and he knew they had to be moving really fast. It was all so sudden and scary. She seemed to sense his distress, because he felt her hand on his chest gently stroke him through his shift.

After a little of that, Marcus was calm enough to open his eyes and peek. They were soaring through the air, really high up. He wanted to look over the edge of the bird and see just how high, but that sounded a little too scary right now. Instead, he just stared in wonder at the night sky around them. It seemed so clear, like he could see every star. And then ahead of him, the dark horizon loomed in the distance, a band of black shadow.

"Are you alright, little one?" He heard the warrior ask over the whistling of the wind.

"Yes..." Marcus replied quickly, already embarrassed by how scared he'd been. She must think he was such a wimp! He shivered against her as another blast of wind whipped past his almost naked body.

"You are cold." The warrior said. There was a rustling noise behind him, and before he could even think to protest, she'd wrapped a warm fur cloak around his body. It did keep the wind off at least, so he decided not to try and act tough. Especially once he realized she'd wrapped herself in it as well, leaving the pair of them together in a little pocket of warmth on top of the saddle. It felt really nice, and he couldn't help but lean back even more into her body. "I will protect you, little one." She heard him breath in his ear.

Marcus nodded, his chest tight and tears in his eyes. This had been the scariest night of his life. He was still terrified of his uncle and worried about his parents, but this bird was carrying him far away from them, and he trusted the warrior, more than he'd trusted anyone in his life. No matter where she was taking him, he knew in his heart that she'd keep him safe.