AP: Woof

You don't believe it?  You want me to show you? 

Of course I can, and no, it's not a problem.  But you'll need to get small for this, we can't be noticed, it would be terribly unfair to everyone.

Why?  You have to ask?  Because you want to see the real thing, that’s why.  This won’t be a couple of porn pros fucking from a script like you saw in training.  These are real people, my people.  This is part of their life, their reality.  

Did you hear a word I just said?  No I'm not going to tell you their names, where they live, where they work.  You don't need to know that.  Look, you’re new here.  It’s not official but it’s considered good manners here on planet to respect their privacy ok?  After you’ve been here a couple of centuries you’ll understand why.  It’s for them, and for us as well.  What you do need to know is these people are not casual, they're deep to each other, and getting deeper by the day.

Yes, they are, deeper than they know.

***   ***   ***

And you graduated?  Of course they’ll lie to each other, sometimes it’s the lesser of two evils for them, and of course there can be fear, discomfort, even pain.  They're mortal, no part of being mortal is exempt from those, this part of being mortal even less than most things.  

Look squab, this is more than I thought it would be, I may need to go active here.  If I do I want you solid on my left wing so I know where you are.  Sense stream with me if you want but don't interrupt, I'll be to busy to answer questions.  And for God's sake don't even think about trying to sense stream with them, I don't want to have to pick you up off the floor before you get stepped on. 

***   ***   ***

Yes, it’s part of nature, it’s part of her as well but don’t be an arrogant fool.  What that little human is feeling right now would curl your wings out your nose before you had time to sneeze.

OH GOD, OH GOD, PLEASE NOW, PLEASE, I CAN’T STAN... *gasp* i *pant* can’t take any…

***   ***   ***

Woof?  Woof?!?  *lol*  No, you’re not broken, just beat up and bruised.  You’ll be all right by tomorrow.  By the by, while you were busy getting knocked ass end over wingtips did you happen to notice a sizzling sound, sort of like a bolt of lightning going by your head?

Good.  Remember that sound squab, it isn’t anywhere in the training, but that’s the sound of a soul arriving.  You think you can fly yet?  Ok, we’ll take it easy.  Let’s go find some supper, about the time you figure out just how sore you really are you’re gonna need it.  *chuckle*  C’mon Woof, I have a real strong hunch you and I are going to be working together for about the next fifty years, we might as well get to know each other.