A considerable amount of grogginess awaited Lucinda upon waking. Had she been more clear-headed, the realisations that she was not alone, and that she was entirely naked would likely have come as less of a shock than they did. Fortunately, recollections of the events from the night before soon came to her; as did a considerable amount of unfettered joy.

I did it… I really did it…

While some concerns for the future still lingered, that she had thoroughly enjoyed herself was an undeniable truth. With the still slumbering partner to her joy cuddled up against her back and draping one arm over her waist, snuggling backwards, closing her eyes, and dwelling upon all that had happened was simply too tempting to resist. Had Varmia not stirred a short time later, she may well have returned to sleep to the pleasant thoughts.

“Hey,” the young Druidess whispered, before planting a gentle kiss upon Lucinda’s shoulder. “You up?”

Twisting in the loose grip that held her, Lucinda turned to face her bed-partner. As their eyes met, keeping a smile from her lips was all but impossible.

“Yes.” A similar smile met hers, but then fell out of view as Lucinda moved forwards to plant a light kiss upon her friend’s mouth. “Thank you!”

“No, thank you,” Varmia replied in a regal tone, immediately sending Lucinda into a fit of giggles, which the young Druidess soon joined her in.

Their mirth subsided gradually to be once more replaced with a pair of wide smiles and matched gazes.

“No regrets?”

“…That I didn’t say yes sooner?”

“And risk falling completely in love with me after all?”

“I am going to miss you.”

“All the more reason to come and visit again soon!”

“I will. Although…” A grimace crossed Lucinda’s face as she tried and failed to find some way of explaining away her worry.

“I promise not to be too upset if you happen to be with someone else by then. Or maybe it’s me who’ll be with someone? It’s true what Kellon said, Nat’s older sister does have a really nice bum. Too bad you didn’t get to meet her.”

“I guess I’ll have to take your word for it.”

Adopting a prominent grin, Varmia gripped Lucinda’s shoulder and then pulled her closer while twisting her body to the side. Peering past where her hands still sat, the slightly older woman’s grin soon widened further.

“Mmm, still think I prefer yours though.”

“Really? You seemed a lot more interested in other parts of me last night.”

“Did I now? And what parts might those be?”

“You…”

Lucinda’s teasing retort was drowned out by a sudden explosion of noise from behind her. Temporarily startled by the unexpected occurrence, she had not quite turned enough to see the source, before a strangely familiar voice reached her ears.

“Eeeeeek! What happened to clothes!?”

“Yes, a peculiar turn of events all things considered…”

“Never mind peculiar. Fix it!”

Upon seeing the two arguing individuals, Lucinda’s mouth fell open. Even with the warning their words had provided, she was still shocked to notice their nakedness; however, it was their identities that were the truly surprising part.

“Mother…?”

Even before the red-haired woman’s eyes met hers, there was no mistaking her identity.

“Lu…”

Another explosion of noise cut off the words her mother had been trying to convey. It did not bring any additional arrivals with it; instead, it signified the creation of a new branch-wall, that shot upwards in an instant to form a fully enclosing prison around the newly appeared duo.

“You are intruding.”

Hearing the loud but bodiless voice of Fi echo through the clearing was still quite a surprise for Lucinda, even with all that had transpired. Yet it was not enough to stop her worrying about what might occur next.

“Fi!” she shouted out. “It’s okay! Please don’t hurt them!”

A few panic filled seconds passed before a reply came.

“As you wish. We will put them in the care of Yalia.”

Barely a second after the female dryad’s reply had concluded, the newly grown wall collapsed back into the flowery ground it had sprung from. There was no sign of anything beyond; no hint anyone had been there only moments before.

A delicate hand fell upon Lucinda’s shoulder as she stared at the spot her mother had appeared in and then just as quickly disappeared from.

“They’ll be okay,” Varmia offered, applying a gentle squeezing pressure as she did.

“I hope so…”

“That was your Mum, then? She looks almost exactly like you. Just older.”

Despite everything that had occurred, Lucinda released a brief laugh at the comment.

“You’re not the first person that’s said that.”

“Yeah? Who was the guy? I don’t remember your Dad being a Wizard.”

“Is that how they got here?”

“Probably. I remember my Mum saying something about teleportation once.”

“Teleportation?”

“Magic that moves you long distances. You do know him, yeah?”

“Saseligan. He has a tower in Kloip. I… never expected to see him naked.”

“I don’t think he ever expected to see you naked either.”

The barest hint of a laugh made it past Lucinda’s lips, before her entire body froze in response to a horrific realisation.

“They saw!” she exclaimed. “No…! No one was supposed to know!”

“Woah, Luci.” Varmia took Lucinda’s hands in hers and held her gaze. “You don’t know that for sure. I was mostly peeking out from over you, and Fi threw up that wall pretty quick.”

A dark abyss seemed to open up in Lucinda’s stomach, with every part of her threatening to fall in. She shook her head violently.

“They saw… They know…”

As tears came unbidden, the arms of her friend wrapped around her and pulled her into a tight hug.

“Hey, it’ll be okay,” Varmia whispered comfortingly into her ear. “Just tell them we were enjoying the scenery. They’ve experienced the rule about clothes first-hand, no reason for them not to believe you.”

“Oh…” Lucinda pulled back from the embrace to frown at her friend. “You weren’t making that up?”

“You’re still doubting me after seeing that? I told you, it’s a defence mechanism.”

“Mmm… I guess I can try.”

“Come on. Should be time for a quick dip in the baths before you go see her. Pick a form that can carry the basket, and we can even skip the getting dressed part.”

With the remaining items from their picnic quickly tidied away, a last look at the beautiful surroundings helped Lucinda ensure her time spent there would remain fixed in her memory for years to come. Then, shifting into her wolf form, she picked up the basket between her teeth and made to follow her otter-shifted friend.

Back in Varmia’s hut, word that her mother was free to be visited reached Lucinda just as she was finishing donning her clothes. She departed for the temporary residence alone a short time later. Less than halfway to her destination she decided to arrive in shifted form; the subsequent choosing of which form to take was a trivial matter.

“Oh, Hefnopt!” The exclamation made by Lucinda’s mother was not overly loud, yet led to considerable amusement on Lucinda’s part all the same. “Off with you, little one. There’s nothing for stray dragonlings here.”

Shifting back to human form at that moment allowed a perfect opportunity to witness a great deal of shock upon her mother’s face. That in turn forced a beaming smile upon Lucinda’s face as she finished her transformation.

“How about for stray daughters?” she asked.

“Lucinda!” Her mother raced across from the table she had been sat at, her arms wide and inviting. “Oh, I’ve missed you so!”

“I’ve missed you too, Mother.”

Barely a few seconds into the hug, tears of joy began flowing down Lucinda’s cheeks. There was no denying how pleased she was to see her mother again, even in such an unexpected time and place. When they separated again moments later, she discovered she was not the only one with dampness upon her face.

“Look at you,” her mother said. “Where did you get armour?”

“From a shop in Malart. It was made especially for me.”

“I can see that. Did it have to be quite so… form-fitting? And the skirt… Even with the shorts…”

“Mother! It’s fine.”

“It…” Lucinda’s mother sighed wearily. “No, you’re right. We haven’t seen each other in a month and the first thing I do is chastise you. That wasn’t my intention. But then neither was appearing here without any clothes…”

If not for the nagging doubt that was still plaguing her, the comment would have undoubtedly brought Lucinda to laughter; instead, her full attention was put to searching for some hint of impending judgement.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been so mortified in my entire life. I suppose I should count my blessings the entire camp wasn’t there to see it. Although, considering that Yalia woman said it wasn’t an accident, I have to wonder what you were doing there, Daughter.”

“…Enjoying the scenery.”

A stare of intense scrutinisation landed upon Lucinda. It was a struggle for her not to wither under its potency. Several exceedingly lengthy-seeming seconds later, another, lesser sigh signalled its end at last.

“Then I suppose you won’t be introducing me to the blond-haired, young man I caught a glimpse of?”

Ah! She thinks…

Though still concerned that she might inadvertently reveal something even while remaining silent, a great deal of relief did come about as a result of her mother’s slightly inaccurate question.

“There can’t be too many young men here.”

“Umm, there is someone I want to introduce you to. But it’s not… that.” Managing a smile despite how tense she felt, Lucinda was further relieved when her mother’s desire to continue her probing seemed to abate. “My animal companion.”

“Oh! I wasn’t sure you had one with…” her mother’s voice trailed off and continued in a near whisper. “They do know you’re a…”

“Yes. They don’t mind at all!”

“No wonder you seem so happy here. Would I be right in assuming this mysterious animal is the winged sort?”

Lucinda giggled happily. “You would! I’ll call her now.”

“Marrow! You can come in now.”

From her position not far from the door to the hut, it took only a matter of moments for the young vulture to waddle into view. Of course, Lucinda was more focussed on the reaction of her mother.

“Oh my, she’s so big! What kind?”

“Ah… A vulture.”

“Really!? She looks so…”

“Cute? Fluffy? Huggable?”

Lucinda’s mother laughed heartily. “I see there’s no reason to ask why you chose her.”

“Friend? Mother?” Marrow sent.

“I know we look similar! Or are you telling me bearded vultures don’t look like their parents?”

Through her bond, a great deal of amusement was conveyed in response to her slightly irate question. Marrow then hopped a short distance through the air to land at the feet of Lucinda’s mother.

“Hug?”

“Her name’s Marrow. She’s hoping you’ll hug her.”

“Is she? How do you…?”

“We speak into each other’s minds.”

“Ah, that makes things easier I imagine. I suppose I best hug her then. But could you tell her to be careful with that beak of hers? I need these robes in tact for later.”

“She won’t…” Lucinda fell silent as her mother’s words brought her to a new realisation. It was only after the brief human-bird hug had concluded that she managed to vocalise the question it had brought about. “Mother… Why are you wearing the High Cleric’s robe?”

“Daughter, you disappoint me. Not only has it taken you this long to realise, but you seem to be under the strange impression that one of High Cleric Chester’s robes could actually fit me."

With her question still unanswered, there was little for Lucinda to do but pout.

“Oh, stop that. You’re right in that I’m wearing the robe of a High Cleric. And that would be because I’ve recently been appointed into that role.”

“What!? But…? What about…? And Father?” Lucinda blurted out her half-formed questions in quick succession, much to the amusement of her mother.

“That’s partly how I convinced Saseligan to bring us today; to let you in on the good news. To answer what I think your questions might have been: High Cleric Chester has been re-appointed to the capital as the Grand Cleric. Someone had to fill in his position in Kloip, and with his recommendation it ended up being me.”

“…He’s the Grand Cleric?”

A feeling of dread filled Lucinda as the news sank in. While before her time at the circle, the event might have been only unsavoury, the talk of unnaturalness in Kloip that may have been related to the man in question lent a more sinister edge to the situation. Or so she believed.

“What happened to the old Grand Cleric?”

“Passed away peacefully in his sleep about two weeks ago. He was quite advanced in years.”

“But why him?”

“Honey… I know you had a falling out with him over your class, but he’s not a bad man. The other High Cleric’s chose for him the role, and I’m sure they didn’t make the decision lightly.”

Though possesed of a great dislike for the man, she knew there was nothing to be said that could change her mother’s opinion. Instead, she decided upon a different approach.

“Has Saseligan said anything about that?”

“Only that he’s very glad it’s me filling the hole left by the Grand Cleric’s absence. Not glad enough to grant me a spot on the council, however. That position went to the school headmaster. Then again, it’s probably for the best; I’m already swamped with duties.”

With her line of inquiry leading to nothing of great importance, moving on to other things seemed wise.

“What about Father? Is he okay?”

“He… took your departure hard. There have been… arguments between us since. Some quite heated.”

“Oh-no…”

“It’s not your fault, Honey! We should have paid more attention to what you wanted. I know he’ll come around still. Just not as quickly as I’d hoped.” The sad tinge in her mother’s smile suddenly evaporated. “That’s quite enough of that. Tell me what you’ve been up to. I want to hear it all!”

“Are you staying long?”

“Long enough to hear all of what you’ve been up to in only a month, I’m sure.”

“A lot happened…”

“Then the sooner you start the better.”

Grinning at her mother’s enthusiasm, Lucinda took only a moment to collect her thoughts before beginning her recollection.

“Goodness, Honey, I shouldn’t have doubted you. Dragons, harpies, wicked Hierophants… It’s a wonder you’re still alive.”

Before Lucinda could reply, a man’s voice called out from the entrance of the hut. “Did I hear something about dragons?”

“Hi, Saseligan!” Lucinda greeted as she turned to see the speaker.

The strength of the smile she offered alongside her words was hindered only slightly by their recent encounter near the dryad’s tree. That the dark-haired Wizard appeared to be far less intimidating than when she had first encountered him helped, though there was no telling if the change was related.

"Ah! Do you know of a battle involving two dragons that took place near Relocamia?"

Saseligan's mouth had opened to voice a reply when Lucinda's hasty question reached him. One of his eyebrows rose upwards as he shut it, but was soon replaced by a friendly smile.

“Good to see you again, Lucinda. I dare say things turned out alright in the end, eh? As to this talk of dragons, I cannot say I recall anything of the sort. However, if you are desperate to know more, I can likely set aside some time to look into the matter in the not so distant future.”

“If it's not too much trouble. I'd really apprciate it.”

“Very well. I shall let you know.”

While there was clearly a reasonable amount of mutual gladness at the reunion, that did not prevent a somewhat awkward silence from descending upon the hut. For her part, Lucinda’s lingering embarrassment was lessened by the realisation that her mother appeared to be noticeably more upset by the recent happenings than she was.

“Am I right in assuming you two have caught up at this point?”

“We most certainly have,” Lucinda’s mother replied. “My daughter had a great deal of interesting stories to share.”

“Alas, I missed them all. What about the news?”

“I didn’t get around to mentioning the King’s announcement.”

“I see. That would be the next logical topic of discourse then. However, let me just make one thing clear for your benefit, Lucinda. Despite how you may feel about the previous High Cleric after all that transpired in Kloip, his relocation to the capital, and promotion within the ranks of the temple, has put him far beyond even my reach. In other words, I strongly suggest you forget about him entirely.”

“You make him sound almost criminal.”

“Believe me, I understand your reluctance, Chloe. It’s true I still have no evidence of any wrongdoing, yet the unnaturalness Yalia spoke of is of note, wouldn’t you agree?”

“She told you?” Lucinda asked.

“What unnaturalness?” her mother asked. “If she could have been clearer I might have an easier time accepting it.”

“Oh… Doesn’t that mean Yalia could send someone to investigate now?”

“Indeed,” Saseligan confirmed. “Now that I’ve inadvertently revealed my ability to travel long distances in a short time, Yalia has insisted I put that ability to use for her benefit. As such, I will be facilitating a visit to Kloip in the near future. Whether she will find anything now that Chester has departed remains to be seen.”

“Would you stop that!?” Lucinda’s mother shouted out. “He is not the bad person you are making him out to be! Sixty years… Sixty long years at our temple. You don’t think someone would have noticed sooner if he was anything other than a kindly old man?”

The conversation paused abruptly following the sudden outburst. There was no denying the pang of hurt Lucinda experienced in the aftermath. Even though she could see the situation from her mother’s point of view, having her own opinion on the matter believed would have been vastly preferable.

“My apologies, Chloe,” Saseligan said. “I shall say no more on the matter. The King’s announcement, however… Shall I?”

A swift nod from Lucinda’s mother prompted the Wizard to continue.

“Very well.” He turned a half-smile upon Lucinda as he began. “By a most staggering coincidence, it appears that the unfortunate event from three-hundred years ago is once again affecting the Kingdom of Prilemia. You know of which I speak?”

“The Shifter assassins?”

“Indeed. What I’m positive you don’t know, is that the three-hundred year anniversary of that event arrived a mere two days ago.”

“Oh… Okay?”

“Quite right. That in and of itself is hardly noteworthy. However, our King, in all his wisdom, took it upon himself to make it a noteworthy occasion through an entirely unexpected announcement. Considering the overly flowery language used, and the excessive duration, I will skip straight to the point: The Shifter class is no longer outlawed in Prilemia.”

“What!? But… Really?”

“That is not far removed from how I reacted.”

“You weren’t the only one,” Lucinda’s mother added.

“No doubt.” Saseligan turned his steely blue gaze upon Lucinda once more. “However, before you get too excited, Lucinda. I would still caution you against returning despite the sudden change in circumstances.”

“…Because people would still hate me if they knew?” Lucinda asked.

“Since you came to my tower I have been wondering about that exact point. It is highly unlikely anyone in Prilemia has been negatively affected by a Shifter in their lifetime. Should we expect them to closely follow such an outdated law? A large part of the King’s announcement was even dedicated to informing the populace of the event’s existence, and rightly so.”

“If Baldor is anything to go by, then the answer is yes,” Chloe interjected. “If not for my mother I might have been the same. Though I dearly hope not.”

“A fair point. Yet as it happens, that was not exactly the reasoning I had in mind. I shall not bring up the whys or the whos, but I now firmly believe that something is afoot in Prilemia. Furthermore, I believe there is a very real possibility that Lucinda has been targetted.”

“Surely not…”

“Please, Chloe. Even if you believe nothing else of what I have said, there is no refuting the existence of the man that tried to kidnap her. Only a short distance from the walls of our quiet town, no less.”

“You think they’re still after me?” Lucinda asked, her voice revealing her sudden concern.

“I think dismissing the possibility would be unwise.”

“But… What can I do?”

“Keep your wits about you, and befriend a powerful Wizard. Though I believe you may have accomplished that second part already.” Saseligan offered an amused smile as he concluded his statement; Lucinda was too confused to respond appropriately. “May I borrow that necklace you’re wearing for a moment?”

The request came as a clear surprise, especially as Lucinda’s necklace was currently hidden beneath her armour. Even still, it did not take long for her to decide to go along with it.

With the piece of jewellery in hand, Saseligan hoisted it up to eye-level and looked upon it intently. “Provides an extra fifteen Endurance, I believe.”

“You can tell just by looking?”

Saseligan grinned proudly as he sent a wink in Lucinda’s direction. “A trifling matter for one such as I.”

“If only teleporting two people and their clothes was likewise trifling,” Lucinda’s mother said with considerable exasperation.

“My dear High Cleric, I am sure you recall the many warnings I provided about the dangers of instantaneous transport to a previously unknown location. Regardless, I shall now take a moment to upgrade the enchantment this fine piece of jewellery contains.”

“…You can do that?” Lucinda asked in amazement.

Saseligan’s proud grin returned anew, but was followed only by a nod. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he threw the necklace upwards into the air. It rose about a hand’s span before gravity seemed to take hold once more, yet the expected fall never came; instead, it froze completely in mid-air, much to Lucinda’s further amazement.

She was halfway to mindlessly stating that awe, when the red gem that the silver bird housed popped outwards towards the Wizard that was magically manipulating it. With both pieces hovering in place, Saseligan began casting a spell. The method was familiar to Lucinda, involving a number of glowing white lines that were drawn in the air with a single finger. Unlike the other few occasions where she had witnessed Wizard spell-casting, the desire to understand what was being written seemed largely pointless; the speed at which they were being drawn and put to use was simply too great.

“Ah-ha,” Saseligan declared some time later, his work still ongoing at a furious pace. “Almost there.”

That a few minutes had passed since he had begun mattered not at all to Lucinda. Never before had she seen such a spectacle. However, true to his word, the process came to an end after just a dozen more or so series of symbols.

As the last of the glowing lines faded from view, the red gem snapped back into place, allowing the re-combined necklace to hover through the air towards Lucinda. Her subsequent efforts to catch the flying jewellery proved pointless, as the piece moved into the correct place seemingly of its own accord. With even the chain re-attaching itself behind her neck, the whole experience was bordering on mind-blowing.

“Wow… I…” Lucinda stammered. “What did you… How did you…?”

“I must say, it has been far too long since I’ve had a chance to show off like that.” A hand came up to stroke Saseligan’s bare chin. “Perhaps I should accept that offer to demonstrate my Wizardly prowess for the school children after all. Something for me to consider… As to your question, Lucinda: I have added an anti-scrying enchantment to your necklace. Put simply, anyone seeking you through long-range magical means will not succeed. At least not unless they are considerably more powerful than myself; a highly unlikely eventuality.”

“Oh. Thank you…”

“Ah, but I’m not done yet! You see the gem about your neck was far from being at capacity. As such, I have managed to sneak in an extra ten points of Endurance on top of everything else. That still makes it only a middling piece all things considered, but hopefully you won’t be tempted to dispense with the scrying protection in lieu of another necklace anytime soon.”

“Twenty-five Endurance!? How can I ever thank you enough…?”

“At this exact moment in time, there really is no need. However, if in the future I have need of a reliable Shifter, the ability to request a favour would be of value to me.”

“That better not be anything dangerous,” Lucinda’s mother added.

“Naturally.” Saseligan adopted an expectant look as he turned back to Lucinda. “Well?”

“I’d be happy too!” Lucinda replied.

“Then I believe our business here is concluded. Would you agree, High Cleric?”

“Aww, you’re going already?”

“Sorry, Honey,” Lucinda’s mother replied. “I’m liable to receive an earful from the other Clerics as it is.” Rising from her seat at the table, the older woman moved to embrace her daughter once again. “Stay safe. We’ll have to meet again soon, and keep sending me letters in the meantime!”

“I will!”

“Then farewell for now. And farewell to Marrow.” Lucinda’s mother laughed suddenly, as the large bird waddled towards her with wings spread wide. “You want a hug too, do you? I suppose that’s only fair.”

Lucinda shared a smile with Saseligan as her mother bent down to embrace her animal companion.

“Actually,” the Wizard began. “If you learn anything from your friends here, I would greatly appreciate hearing about it.”

“Won’t Yalia tell you?”

“Alas, I fear she has taken a strong dislike to me.”

“Oh. I guess I can then.”

“Glad to hear it. Although, if you can convince her to do so, that might be preferable.”

“Enough,” Lucinda’s mother interrupted. “We need to get going.” Turning a sweet smile upon Lucinda she continued. “See you again soon, Honey. Love you.”

“I love you too, Mother.”

“Could you move back a few steps?” Saseligan asked.

“Oh, sorry…”

“Better. Then I shall bid you farewell also. Make sure to keep that necklace on you at all times.”

Placing one hand upon the shoulder of Lucinda’s mother, Saseligan began a new spell. It turned out to not be a particularly quick casting, giving Lucinda’s mother ample time to offer several pieces of last minute advice. She continued to do so, right up until a bright flash of light, and an accompanying burst of magic signalled their complete disappearance from the small hut.

“Well, here we are, Apprentice. Our teary farewell at last.”

Lucinda smiled at her mentor’s comment. With her bag mostly packed, there were just a few last goodbyes to make before she departed from the circle for good.

“I’m not planning on crying… Are you?”

Matching her smile, Waflaw moved forwards to embrace her.

“Take care,” he declared upon releasing her. “If word reaches me that my favourite apprentice has fallen in battle, that’s when the tears will start.”

“Favourite, huh?” Grissa called out from her position a short distance behind the male Druid. “Remind me. Did you bed any of the others you’ve taught?”

Waflaw rolled his eyes dramatically, causing a healthy dose of laughter from Lucinda.

“Of course, I have some gifts for you.” A small bundle appeared from underneath Waflaw’s robe. “My armour repair kit, only slightly used. But far more exciting: two pairs of shorts made by the finest dryad craftswoman.”

“Oh, thank you! Those will all be useful, I’m sure.”

“Don’t mention it.” Nodding sharply, Waflaw turned to look over his shoulder. “You get her anything, Gristle?”

“’Course I did.” Grissa moved closer and then ushered Lucinda’s mentor aside. She held out a tiny bag in one hand. “I’m not great at gift giving, but thought you might need some coin. It’s my winnings from the games. And don’t go complaining! Ain’t much left in there.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. Thank you, Grissa!”

Lucinda shared a brief hug with the other woman, and then offered both Druids a smile as they stood side-by-side in front of her.

“What are you planning next?” she asked.

“Travelling together, as you guessed,” Grissa replied.

“I had a feeling that might be it… Is it serious?”

“No.” Waflaw and Grissa replied together.

“Umm… Okay. You make a nice couple though.”

“Too bad he’s still average in bed,” Grissa said.

Seeing the extremely displeased look that appeared upon her mentor’s face, Lucinda couldn’t help but giggle – though she did feel somewhat guilty at doing so.

“Or maybe you’re just not attractive enough to warrant my full set of skills,” Waflaw belatedly replied.

“Oh-ho!” Grissa boomed out. “You’ve gone and crossed the line again, Waffles. Ain’t no way I’m taking that from you.”

“Fine. Another duel, is it? Don’t think I’ll go easy on you this time.”

“Easy!? I kicked your ass last time!”

“Well, I’ve had plenty of time to re-evaluate my strategy since. You really don’t stand a chance.”

“You are so full of it! Fine. We’ll duel! This way.”

Lucinda watched the two Druids walk off with a smile on her face. They had not made it far, when Waflaw turned to offer a final wave in her direction. She returned it eagerly.

“Ah, leaving us at last. Such a pity I couldn’t convince you to stay, Dear.”

Standing by the branch-wall that led out from the circle clearing, Lucinda was fully equipped for her journey, with staff in hand, pack upon her shoulders, and most importantly, bird companion at her side.

“Thanks for everything, Yalia. My time here… Well, it’s probably the most fun I’ve ever had.”

“I am equally saddened and gladdened to hear you say that. I dearly hope you return to visit us before long. If not, I might have to demand you do.” Yalia cackled loudly as she made her declaration. “You are an honorary member now, after all.”

“I’ll be happy to return and help out if you need me to.”

“You know, it almost brings a tear to my eye to see your manners have survived your stay here. Especially with how some of our other members are.”

“Grissa?”

“Exactly so! Though she’s just the worst of many. Now, before you leave, I have a gift for you. Likely the last you’ll receive too.”

“Ah, that’s a relief in some ways… I’ve been trying not to feel guilty about it, but everyone has been so generous.”

“Then I expect I’ll be adding to your guilt considerably in just a moment. Could you hold out both hands in front of you? Together, I mean.”

“Like this?” Lucinda asked as she did as suggested.

“That will do nicely.”

Yalia continued to smile warmly, but showed no signs of further action. Neither did Fi or Cro who were standing on either side of her. However, just as Lucinda was starting to feel awkward, an object fell into her waiting hands; dropped from above by a familiar owl.

Taking the dropped object more firmly in hand, Lucinda discovered it was a statue of sorts. Carved from a light-brown wood, it depicted the not especially attractive form of a giant caterpillar.

“Umm, thanks,” Lucinda replied as she continued to look over the seemingly mundane object. Her assumption of its mundaneness lasted only up until a piercing cackle emerged from the circle leader before her.

“Hideous, isn’t it? That’s intentional, and with good reason too. You see it is, in fact, a powerful magical artefact; one I have created especially for your use.”

“You made it for me? Ah…”

Lucinda desperately wanted to complain in the face of the incredible generosity, but once again Yalia’s words from the day before prevented her from doing so.

“In case it wasn't already clear, Dear, you should know that we always provide whatever we can to those of us that wander beyond the circle’s walls. There are too few of our kind to do otherwise. Of course, in your case, we may have been more generous than usual, but that too is to be expected. Shifter’s are rare, as you well know.”

“I… I’m very grateful.”

“I should hope so! Now, as to what this ugly carving actually does: I have instilled within it, the power of my animal companion. By clutching it tightly and saying the correct phrase, you will be able to shift into his form for… some amount of time. I cannot say exactly how long, unfortunately. Though enough to get you out of whatever pickle you have found yourself within, I’m sure. And that is the only time you should use it, as there is only a single charge.”

“Oh… You mean I can become a level 40 or so animal?”

“Exactly so! There may be a chance that you could recharge it; however, that is far beyond my capabilities, just as constructing another within the foreseeable future is. Wizards are usually more adept at creating and enchanting items, yet this is not the sort of item a Wizard could produce. I hope that has not diminished its worth in your eyes, Dear?”

“Oh-no, not at all! How could I not value something that might save my life?”

“Wonderful. The command word is my name uttered backwards.”

Deciding it was probably wise to test her pronunciation of the word, Lucinda took a moment to tuck the statue inside her pack before doing so.

“Ah-Il-ay?”

“Yes, I believe that string of gibberish will do the trick. Now, there is just one more thing to take care of before I can let you be on your way. I need you to make a decision, Lucinda. From one of our two dryad friends, you must receive a kiss; the choice of which is up to you.”

“Ah, what?”

“It is the final step of your acceptance as an honorary member. By accepting their blessing, we will be able to maintain an idea of your general location; provided you are close enough.”

“And that requires a kiss?”

“It does.” Yalia adopted a broad grin. “Which will it be?”

A frown creased Lucinda’s brow as she considered the question. There was no missing the underlying meaning behind the choice she was being forced to make, though Yalia’s insistence appeared to be quite uncharacteristic.

Does it matter? I’m sure she doesn’t mind about… that. Ah, I’m not sure it’s really a choice… I’ve hardly spoken to Cro at all.

“I choose Fi,” Lucinda declared.

As the towering female dryad stepped forwards to carry out the deed, Lucinda felt her pulse pick up slightly. Despite the non-human status of the other woman, there was still a strange beauty to be found within her facial features. Her body, on the other hand, was more closely aligned with the aspects of femininity Lucinda had recently discovered she was partial to.

Though she managed to remain relatively calm, a certain amount of anticipation had built within her by the time Fi lowered herself into position. But as she came face to face with the dryad woman, and saw the faint hint of a smile there, that calm slipped away in an instant.

Her heart beating rapidly, Lucinda closed her eyes to accept the soft touch of lips she was expecting. A short stint of darkness was all it took for them to arrive; however, her own lips remained untouched, for the kiss landed upon her forehead instead.

Lucinda’s eyes shot open just in time to watch Yalia explode into the loudest cackling laugh yet. Even then it took her a moment more to realise she had been had. From there, her expression turned into a frown, then a pout, until finally her own laughter burst forth.

“I completely fell for it,” she admitted with some chagrin once both her and Yalia were back to only grinning in amusement.

“I’m ever so glad you did. I have been sitting on that one for a while.”

“I apologise, Lucinda,” Fi chimed in. “Yalia begged myself and Cro to take part in her plan.”

“I did at that,” Yalia admitted with a series of nods. “Had to go down on my knees and plead with them for several minutes. Hardly befitting a circle leader, but I was sure it would be well worth it.”

“It is good that Lucinda found amusement in your duplicity,” Cro said.

“I was positive she would! However, the blessing part, at least, was not a deception.”

“Oh… Umm, Saseligan enchanted my necklace to prevent scrying,” Lucinda said. “Is that going to be a problem?”

“I doubt it. But show it to Fi and we can find out.”

Once the piece of jewellery was out in the open once more, the female dryad reached out and held it one hand for a short time. Her face remained unreadable throughout.

“It will not,” Fi declared. “The magics are incompatible.”

“Well, there we go then, crisis averted. And with that, I believe it is time to bid you farewell, Dear.”

“Ah… What about what you said outside the maze?”

“Oh! Dearie me, that had entirely slipped my mind.” A pained look crossed Yalia’s face briefly. “Of course. Have you reached any conclusions?”

“Mmm, I’m not sure. I was thinking, maybe, ‘trust your instincts’?”

The circle leader nodded slowly. “Yes, yes, that’s about right. ‘Be true to yourself’ is what I had in mind, but that will do. And the other lesson?”

“…I couldn’t really think of anything else.”

“That’s not a problem, Dear. It would not be untrue to say that it is both harder to acknowledge, and harder to accept. It pertains to the natural state of life. I would sum it up as follows: There are times when despite our best efforts, things still turn out poorly. The unavoidable death of a loved one, for example. Or all potential choices of some decision leading to an unsavoury outcome, as another. Of course, that does not mean you should not try your best all the same; rather, that we must accept the bad as well as the good. Life goes on regardless. Does that make sense to you?”

“Mmm, I think so.”

“Well, as I said, it is not an easy lesson to take in. I shall leave you to think upon it further.”

“Okay.” Seeing their conversation had reached a new end, Lucinda smiled warmly at the circle leader. “Thank you for everything, Yalia. And Fi and Cro too. I promise to return before too long.”

“Safe journey. You shall be missed.”

“Farewell, Lucinda,” Fi added, while her husband offered a single nod.

“Bye!”

As Lucinda set off from the outer wall of the hidden clearing, troubling thoughts did not take long to fall upon her. Despite having managed to offer a farewell of some kind to nearly everyone in the circle, there was a certain young Druidess that had remained conspicuously absent since not long after the aftermath of their shared picnic.

The urge to send Marrow off to find the slightly older woman, even if it meant she would have to temporarily return, became increasingly powerful with each step she took. If not for the familiar squeak that sounded out from behind her a short time later, she would likely have succumbed.

Turning to see a pair of brown otters behind her, a bright smile lit up Lucinda’s face. The sudden transition one of the two underwent to reveal the human form of her friend, then served to make her smile brighter still.

“Varm…” Lucinda greeted. She barely managed the utterance before a fit of giggling took her. “…You’re naked still?”

Smiling in a similar manner, the young Druidess sauntered across the intervening distance.

“Didn’t feel like getting dressed,” she offered with a shrug.

“Where were you? I looked all over…”

Lucinda’s words ended abruptly as Varmia wrapped her arms around her waist and pulled her close against her.

“Sorry, Luci. I was… thinking.”

Staring into the eyes of her close friend, a strong desire to initiate a kiss struck Lucinda in that moment.

“Did things go okay with your mum?”

“Yes. She…” Lucinda giggled as she recalled her mother’s words. “She thought you were a man.”

“Oof… I guess that’s good. Can’t say I’m totally happy with that though.”

“Sorry… I wasn’t ready to tell her.”

“Tell her you decided on enjoying a casual night of debauchery with another woman? Yeah, probably not what she wanted to hear.”

“Probably not,” Lucinda agreed.

Once again gazing intently into the eyes of the woman that held her, the same desire returned even more strongly. She did not manage to resist it for long.

With her own arms wrapped tightly around Varmia’s bare back, Lucinda savoured the intimate moment she knew was likely to be their last for the time being.

When they finally separated once more, there was no hiding the elation she felt.

“Mmm,” Varmia uttered, her tongue snaking out to lick her lips. “I’ve never kissed anyone goodbye before. Not bad.”

Lucinda turned her expression to that of forced shock. “You mean even after all the times we’ve done that, I’m only ‘not bad’?”

Her words did not fail to produce a hefty amount of giggling from her friend, just as she had hoped.

“You know what I meant.” The young Druidess released her hold upon Lucinda, and then stood back a pace. Her eyes scanned across Lucinda’s form, before finding her eyes once more and beaming a smile her way. “Go get ‘em, Miss adventurer!”

With a last nod, and some reluctance, Lucinda turned to depart. She made it only a single step before Varmia called out to her again.

“Hey! If you find yourself feeling lonely all of a sudden… Send a letter my way. I’d be happy to drop by, even if you only want to chat. Yeah?”

“Thanks, Varm. You might not be Fi’s favourite Druid, but I think you’re mine.”

“You only think!?” The young Druidess shook her head as Lucinda giggled some more. “Go on, get out of here, you.”

“…Bye, Varm.”

“See ya, Luci!”

Feeling positively buoyant, Lucinda turned towards her patiently waiting animal companion.

“Time to go, Marrow.”

“Fly?”

“No… I think I’ll walk for a bit. But you can if you want.”

“Ride?”

A smile crept across Lucinda’s lips as her companion sent a mental image along with her words. It clearly showed the antlered head of a stag from a position closely behind it. Having not quite decided which animal form she wanted to assume for the beginning of her journey, Marrow’s suggestion was easy enough to accept.

Once shifted into deer form, Marrow wasted no time in claiming a spot upon Lucinda's back. With a few mental checks to ensure her companion was comfortable, Lucinda looked back the way she had come. There was no sign of Varmia, yet that did not diminish her lingering joy.

“Onwards! To adventure!” Lucinda sent to her companion.

A flap of wings and a piercing shriek met her directive.

“Friend! Ride!”