Among a multitude of small planets, Yoorana’s pristine blue waters surrounding lush green islands stood out as one of the more striking worlds in the distant galaxy. Exotic gardens and buildings majestically carved from marble exhibited beauty beyond compare. The inhabitants of Yoorana were an exquisite life form, considered elites among the other planets. The Yooranian’s took pride in being above all others and rarely left their planet.

Blessed with the use of magic to preserve life, the habitants of Yoorana devoted their lives to love. Aware of the other universes, their arrogance meant they did not interfere nor visit these worlds. Rather, they spent their endless days doing what they pleased within the splendour and grace of their own world. However, occasions existed when a Yooranian did leave. Curiosity, something Yooranian’s were renown for, often saw older generations travel the galaxy exploring different worlds. Then, there were times when Yooranian’s left for reason’s not their own. This rarely happened but when it did, the reasons were often poor and misunderstood, as was the situation Lannor found himself in.

Sunlight streamed through the large stain glassed mosaics roof in the centre of the circular bedroom and a multitude of colours reflected around the stark white walls and floors. In the large bed, the only item in the room, lay a young naked man of twenty-two. Half awake, the thin sheen of perspiration over his body and the devilish nature of the bed evidence of his recent undertaking. His long black hair fell softly around his angular face, lids fluttering sleepily over his bright green eyes.

“Lannor, darling are you in here?”

Lannor took a moment to register the interruption before glancing toward the archway and his mother, Moyra, standing in the entrance. Her long ebony hair hung down around her knees and her white silk gown clung firmly petite figure. Much shorter than Lannor’s six foot two, her form was never to under estimated, Moyra was a powerful woman. Lannor was fortunate to inherit his mother’s hair and beauty and his father’s height and flawless skin. Between both parents they had produced a magnificent son, if Lannor didn’t mind saying so himself.

Unashamed of his current state, Lannor draped the silk white sheet over his lower body as his mother approached the bed.

“There you are, where’s Marissa?”

Lannor’s expression indicated he didn’t know where Marissa was nor did he care.

“Wasn’t she with you?” Moyra asked.

Lannor realised where his mother was going with her questioning. Lannor sat up, adjusted the pillows behind his back and leaned against the headboard before replying.

“She was. I invited her to stay, but she declined. I’m waiting for Shelly to arrive now.”

With a look that indicated her dislike, Moyra’s glare pieced Lannor.

Lannor rolled is eyes, undeterred by his mothers reproach.

“Lannor, Marissa is in tears saying you do not love her.”

“Here we go again.” Lannor sighed. “Mother, I do love Marissa. I tell her all the time.”

“But you are waiting for Shelly now.”

“I love Shelly too. I see nothing wrong with that.”

Moyra shook her head and came to sit down on the bed.

“Lannor that’s not love you have for these women. It’s only pleasure.”

Shocked by his mother’s words, Lannor shook his head, and replied, “No mother I do love them. I can’t believe you would think I would not love them. I would never share my bed with them otherwise.”

“Lannor listen to your self. This is not love; this is not a devotion to a person whom you would do anything for. I worry you will never understand love.”

“Mother, why must you continually badger me about this. If a person loves me isn’t it in my nature to return that love.”

“That is not how love works, Lannor.”

“According to you, that is not how love works. But my willingness to love anyone should not be suggested as wrong.”

“Once you have experienced a love you would die for, only then will you understand.”

“Love is not something you box up and present as a neat little package. Love is unending, always growing and changing. My ability to love more than one woman should not qualify as not understanding love.”

“But Lannor, these woman you love do not want to share you with anyone else. They want you exclusively. If you were to choose one and make them your life.”

“Choose one. Are you forcing me to choose?”

“I’ve spoken to your father, your reputation is damaging our family name. You must understand Lannor; love is a binding emotion that seals us to people. It is our way and will always be our way. You saying you love these women is nothing more than desire and lust talking.”

“No.” Lannor grabbed the silk sheet tight around his waist as he knelt on the bed, hovering over his mother. “Don’t tell me what I feel is desire and lust. Do you think I would bed these women if I didn’t love them?”

Moyra, undeterred by Lannor’s brash behaviour, stood and faced her son.

“As someone who discovered true love and understands the potential it has on our magic and our existence–I will tell you this Lannor. What you have is not love.”

Moyra shook her head, a mixture of sadness and resolution flashed across her face.

“I’m sorry Lannor, I hoped to talk sense into you but I made my decision. Until you understand true love, I banish you from here.”

With a sharp intake of breath, Lannor gaped at his mother. “You don’t mean that.”

“I’m sorry son.”

It happened before Lannor had time to respond. The change in his surroundings was instant.

Panic immediately set in and Lannor found his ability to adjust to his new environment impossible. For starter’s his perspective of the room appear wrong. Either the room was enormous or Lannor was incredibly small. It wasn’t until Lannor went to move did he understand. The two black paws in front of him momentarily brought confusion until Lannor realised he had transformed into a feline. This explained the size of the room but not the reason Lannor was now a cat.

With stumbled movements and the inability to gasp the motion of being feline, Lannor fell to the floor as he tripped over his paws. Lannor’s head clashed with the floor with a large clunk and he stared out across the dark polished floor’s contemplating his next move. Somewhere within the house there were sounds of other people and this brought on an anxiety of being found before Lannor was ready. Determined to master his new form, Lannor worked on understanding how to function as a cat, while moving around the room. The bedroom appeared smaller than Lannor’s and less inviting. With no glass ceiling and only two small windows covered in drapes on one wall allowed only a small portion of sunlight into the room. It made the room appeared dark and drab and Lannor found it depressing.

The bed in the centre of the room wasn’t near as large as Lannor’s and a small wardrobe and chest of drawers were the only other furniture in the room. The only attraction was the fireplace. Created with slithers of slate carefully stacked on top of each other to create a beautifully crafted masterpiece, a large oak mantle several inches thick finished the look. The floral wallpaper on all four walls were extremely distasteful and the floral bedspread not much better. Whoever decorated the room had no experience in matching colour.

When Lannor became confident he’d mastered being feline, only then did he venture beyond the bedroom.