All that night and all the next they ran and played and loved together. They hunted too, working together to pull down one of the big northern deer. Aidan found a fierce predator’s joy in him that he’d never known before as his fangs met in the doe’s neck and he broke her spine with a hard twist of his head. He lapped at the blood that steamed in the cool night air while Flame ate her fill of the fresh meat. He felt a soft touch of regret at the creature’s death but he knew, with a deeper knowledge than he’d ever known before, that death was only a part of life. He pondered for a moment where that left him, who had died and yet was not dead. Had he been removed from the turning of life’s circle? Then Flame looked up at him, beautiful even in feline form with blood on her muzzle, and he remembered how truly alive he felt when he was with her. True he’d put off death for a time, perhaps even for centuries, but eventually true death would claim him too. And when it did, his body would return to the earth to nourish the grass that fed the deer, and that was all as it should be.

“What are you thinking?” asked Flame.

He smiled. “Just pondering the purpose of life,” he replied.

“The purpose of life?” Flame laughed. “Why everybody knows that life is for living. Life is its own purpose.”

“That’s either just plain silly, or really profound.”

“Well, maybe it’s both,” said Flame. “I think the gods have a sense of humor sometimes.”

Aidan smiled wryly. “No kidding.”

“Enough philosophizing, let’s run!” and with that she took off over the starlit grass. Aidan raced after her, leaving the remains of the deer for the scavengers.

Much later as they lay contentedly side-by-side Aidan said softly, “All good things must come to an end.”

“Hmm?” asked Flame drowsily.

Aidan sighed. “I think we’ve left Littlespark with Belak long enough. We ought to go get her tonight and go home.”

“I think you’re right,” said Flame. “Though I could wish for more time.”

“Yeah. And once I change back to my usual self the spell will be used up. It was a once only thing.”

“How long until sunrise?” asked Flame, knowing that Aidan carried an accurate internal sundial.

“A little bit more than two hours,” he replied.

“Well, that should be more than enough time,” said Flame.

“For what?” asked Aidan, with a mischievous grin.

“For this, among other things,” replied Flame, and seized his ear between her teeth, tugging gently. Aidan twisted around, freeing himself, and then tackled her, sending them both tumbling. Flame somehow still ended up pinning him. “Gotcha!” she said gleefully.

“Now that you have me,” he replied with a twinkle in his eye, “what will you do with me?”

“Oh, I’m sure I can think of something,” she said.

It was just past sunrise when they arrived, Flame Song slightly out of breath and both still laughing from their last race, at Coppertop. Aidan stayed in firecat form, putting off the moment when he would have to return permanently to his own shape. They moved swiftly down the cobblestone streets to Belak’s place. Flame didn’t ask Aidan to change and knock, nor did she shift shape herself, but instead balanced on her hind legs and managed to lift the knocker with one paw. Aidan grinned at the sight. He wanted to surprise his dwarven friend, and Flame Song no doubt had guessed and was playing along.

When Belak came to the door he jumped. “What the…? There be two of you!”

“Hi Belak,” said Aidan, a feline grin on his face.

“Have you become a shapeshifter too, my friend?” asked the startled dwarf.

“No, much as I wish I could. This is a once only deal.”

“Well, you nearly scared the life out of me, so you did.”

Aidan laughed. “Where’s Littlespark?”

“One moment, I’ll go get the wee lass,” said the dwarf and vanished into his house.

A moment later Littlespark came running out. “Mommy!” she said and ran up to Flame Song and hugged her. Then she looked at Aidan, asking hesitantly, “Daddy?”

“Yes, it’s me, fuzz-ball” said Aidan, rather curious to see how his daughter handled his change of shape.

“We’re all firecats!” she said gleefully, and shifted form herself. She immediately started stalking Aidan’s long, feathery tail. Her own tail was still kittenishly short, and she still hadn't come into her stripes. Belak shook his head at the sight.

“You’re quite the unique family, so you are,” he said.

Aidan nodded and smiled. “You’re right about that. Thank you for tending Littlespark for us.”

“’Twas my pleasure, lad. Though next time I might do well to remember that the lass is used to being up all night. I didn’t get a wink of sleep.”

“I’m sorry about that,” said Aidan with a wry smile. “And thank you again.”

“Ach well, ‘tweren’t no trouble really. That lass is a charmer, so she is.”

They said their farewells and got ready to leave. The sun was well up in the sky as the tired trio followed the path that led to their home. It wasn’t long before Littlespark stopped and said, with a yawn, “I’m tired. Carry me?”

“I’ll carry her,” said Aidan, stopping Flame just as she began to shift. “I can’t say like this forever.” He shimmered back into aerian form and took the ring off of his finger. It was nothing more than a thin circlet of gold now, worth no more than the value of the metal. He put it in his pocket anyhow before picking up his kittenish daughter. As he cradled her she shifted to human form and, snuggling her head on his chest, fell asleep.