It had been as painful and terrifying as it had been thrilling.

And he remembered almost nothing of what had happened to him after it.

Image and sensation were all that remained with him from the day and his transformation into a raven.

Stevie Rae had gone with him up from the deep, earthen tunnels to the tree nearest the depot-the one that, not so long ago, had served as an escape route for them from the blistering sun.

"Go back inside now. Dawn is breaking," he'd said to her, touching her cheek gently.

"I don't wanna leave you," she said, throwing her arms around him and hugging him close.

He'd only allowed himself to return the embrace for a moment, then he'd gently unwound her from around him, and guided her firmly back to the shadowed, grated entrance to the basement.

"Go below. You're exhausted. You need to sleep."

"I'm gonna watch until you're, uh, you know. A bird. "

She'd whispered the last part as if not saying it aloud would change whether it was so. It was probably foolish, but it made him smile.

"It does not matter whether you say it or not. It's going to happen."

She'd sighed. "I know. But I still don't wanna leave you." Stevie Rae had reached forward, out into the lightening morning, and taken his hand. "I want you to know I'm here for you."

"I do not believe a bird knows very much of the human world," he'd said because he hadn't known what else to say.

"You're not gonna be just any bird. You're gonna turn into a raven. And I'm not a human. I'm a vampyre. A red one. Plus, if I don't stay here how are you gonna know what to come back to?"

He'd heard a sob in her voice that had made his heart ache.

Rephaim kissed her hand. "I'll know. I give you my oath. I'll always find my way home to you." He'd been about to give her a little shove through the entry to the basement when a sickening pain had torn through his body.

Looking back on it he realized he should have expected it. How could it not be painful to change form from a human boy to a raven? But his world had been filled with Stevie Rae and the simple but complete joy of taking her in his arms, kissing her, holding her close ...

He'd not spent time considering the beast.

At least he'd be prepared next time.

The pain had ripped him. He'd heard Stevie Rae's scream echo his own. His last human thought had been worry for her. His last human sight had been of her crying and shaking her head back and forth. She'd reached for him as animal had completely replaced human. He remembered spreading his wings as if he was stretching after being imprisoned in a tiny cell. Or a cage. And flying.

He remembered flying.

At sunset he'd found himself cold and naked beneath the same tree beside the depot. He'd just pulled on his clothes that had been left neatly folded for him on a little stool when Stevie Rae burst from the basement.

With no hesitation she'd hurled herself into his arms.

"Are you okay? Really? Are you okay?" she kept repeating as she'd studied him and felt his arms as if searching for broken bones.

"I am well," he'd assured her. It was then he'd realized she was crying. He cupped her face in his hands and said, "What is it? Why do you weep?"

"It hurt you so bad. You screamed like it was killing you."

"No," he'd lied. "It wasn't so bad. It was just surprising."

"Really?"

He'd smiled- how he loved to smile- and pulled her into his arms, kissing her blond curls and reassuring her. "Really."

"Rephaim?"

Rephaim was wrenched back to the present by the sound of his name being called by the professor.

"Yes?" he responded with his own questioning tone.

She didn't smile at him, but she also didn't taunt or admonish him. She simply said, "I asked what you believe the quote on page seven means.

The one where Montag says Clarisse's face has a light that is like a 'fragile milk crystal' and the 'strangely comfortable and rare and gently flattering light of the candle.' What do you think Bradbury is trying to say about Clarisse with these descriptions?" Rephaim was absolutely astounded. A professor was asking him a question. As if he was just another daydreaming fledgling-normal-the same-accepted. Feeling nervous and completely exposed he opened his mouth and blurted the first thing that came to his mind.

"I think he's trying to say this girl is unique. He recognizes how special she is, and he values her." Professor Penthasilea's brows lifted and for an awful heartbeat Rephaim thought she might ridicule him.