“What are the beasts like there?”

Sela pursed his lips.

“The raw magical potential of beasts from the burrows, generally exceeds those beasts from our world, and sometimes one will pass through a portal, or in rare cases, becomes able to transport themselves of their own will,” River said as if reciting a lecture she’d memorized painfully, “most druids can sense a such a potent creature, in fact, they often have an otherworldly cloying smell. You’ll become familiar with it.”

“When you go there, often you forget what our world smells like, then it comes back to assault your senses, and the absence, it’s just gone,” Sela said, sighing.

They still stood near the bridge, looking at the scene.

“Then there are those magical creatures that have intelligence, those that…”

Sela shuddered.

"Ragamuffins," River said, "we can handle them if we see them. They're not as bad as the Inujag and those are still rumored to be a myth."

“Generally not as bad. Generally,” Sela said.

"They're a myth, right? Creatures with antlers and the ability to shapeshift into other creatures?" Freya said, a note of panic in her voice.

"There is a house inside of the circle that is dedicated to fighting them. You believe that magic is real, but not all of these magical beasts? Or magical creatures?" River said.

"Best start believing in magical stories," Sela said, "you're in one."

The strange setup of the furrows led the group to the base of the first of its twisting walls. The trickle of moving masses from Marwei all converged at the same entryway. A few peddlers with carts stood outside, and Freya pawed her pockets for clams, only to come up empty.

“I’ve got it, lass,” Sela said.

The ranger queued up at the best-looking peddler, behind two badgers as Freya and River stopped. Freya noted that not only was the peddler's craft immaculate, the peddler, but a raccoon also looked dressed to the nines.

“I smelled some Ragamuffins recently, a first since training,” River said quietly,” There are definitely some working in the area. I know that the regiment wouldn’t work with them, so that leaves some other actor using them. I shudder to think that it’s the cats.”

“What’s so dangerous about them?” Freya replied, her eyes casting about for any threats.

“They can take on the form of someone else,” River said.

Freya paused, her ears twitching.

“Isn’t that what we do?” Freya replied.

“We can take on the form of another creature, but the form tends to be pretty different. If you recall, when I wildshape into an otter? I always look the same. That is the same for the Inujag. Ragamuffins can take on the form of another creature, wholly. The creature has to be dead for them to absorb their essence, but they are indistinct. They can maintain another form for a long time before their essence degrades.”

Freya put a paw to her face.

“They can kill others, and then take their form?”

“They’re excellent spies. And assassins, when they want to be involved in mundane issues. One of the houses in the circle makes it their mission to find them.”

The implied part flew through Freyas mind.

“You told me that there are other houses, correct?”

“Correct. I’m realizing now that I haven’t said much about the others. You don’t really have much of a choice in the matter. If you join, you’ll be a part of my house because of your abilities. Druids like Spring are a part of the Nithe house. They advise the mundane world on war and politics, and parts of their powers rely upon their augury abilities. No Nithean druid can perfectly predict the future, but they’re often attached to offices very high up. Nithe is revered as the god of war, flora, and water among other things and you’ll probably hear a good story from Sela at some point about it if you want to ask.”

“Spring is such a druid? Would my mother have been one as well?”

River paused.

“Chances are that she would not. Usually, druid ability is passed down bloodlines. Sometimes it gets stronger, sometimes weaker.”

“Usually?” Freya asked.

“Usually.”

“What about the other houses?”

“There’s the Raven house, which everyone thinks I should be a part of… has powers that deal with light and creation. I hear that they are very handy in a fight. Of course, they have many of the normal weaves that we all have. They are the largest house. Their house colors are white and black. Nithean druid's colors are blue and green. The final house, that of Miru they have the cognitive power that grants sapience. They are the doulas between life and death, as they call themselves.”

“They’re a right nice lot, I tell you,” Sela said, “Great at a party, what with their purples and greys. Something about living life to the fullest. Can’t say that I don’t blame them.”

Sela had arrived without a sound, and briefly, Freya wondered what Muk doing the same as a ranger would do for her nerves. At least with the bond, she would know how far he was at all times.

“River telling you about the houses, eh?” Sela said, passing out rolls,” Did she tell you which races were the biggest part of which house? She hates this one.”

“The biggest part of Raven house is not surprisingly Corvids like me,” she said, “the others are more mixed. I know Sela wants to tell you all of the things, but really they’re not so rough.”

“They do mix it up a bit more with their ranger selections, but usually you see a pair of a druid and a ranger of the same race.”

Freya munched on her roll as she crunched through what she’d heard, hoping that there wouldn’t be a test.

“There isn’t going to be a test, right?”

Sela grinned.