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Trella: First Impressions

Running was good. Healthy. Mind clearing. Thoughts were easy to follow and sort out while running. She hated that usually, she was sedentary. Being a shaman usually kept her with her people too often. The fact that she was a shaman for a pack of warriors, who by definition were scouts and protectors, allowed her more time to move than usual. She shuddered to think what shamans of the clans were relegated to. Running was everything that was good.

Her introspective on running and her happiness with her less sedentary position as shaman for the warriors under Kyrre done, her thoughts raced ahead of her. Sahm's note, delivered by bird, had seemed strange enough. But also, too clear. "He is gone. His heir is here. She is less ktisune than he. Please bring the moon clari-hold potion. Meet at Broad Tree. Will be waiting."

Trella had already read into that note as much as she could, while she was running this last day. So, they had an heir, but she was even less kitsune than her father. This would be tougher and riskier than she had supposed. Trella despised having to think about consequences if they were to fail. But... she was less certain of success than before. But they were out of time. It was now, or never. Or both.

Finally seeing Broad Tree ahead, Trella should have known. But Kyrre hopped out of hiding and surprised her anyways. Skidding to a halt and almost falling back at the sight of the kitsune hopping down in front of her, it took all of Trella's self control to not start hitting him. Instead, she drew herself upright, cleared her throat, and pulled her staff from her pack.

Standing there, her hair having settled back to its normal position and her earth-staff steady in her hand, Trella merely cocked an eyebrow at Kyrre.

"Respect, Leader Kyrre, is a lesson for another day. Unless you'd rather...?" she asked, leaving the question hanging.

She watched as Kyrre's face fell. He had been thinking to prank her more, or at least tease her about this, she knew. But he wouldn't now.

"Tell me you haven't been idle this entire time?" Trella asked. Her voice, like usual, was soothing. Feminine, casual, but with a certain tone that was thankfully not motherly but still intimidating. No one angered their shaman on purpose.

"No. We've been filling her in." Kyrre replied, and led Trella around the tree.

There, at the roots of the tree, laid a young girl. Trella almost grimaced. She thought that, of late. She was of a similar age as this girl, likely. But being a shaman made one... older, in many ways. But the girl, passed out, was something else.

She seemed to shine, to Trella's eyes. She'd never seen that before. But she had the ears, tail, and whiskers of a kitsune... but not the skin. Also, there was a shadow with her. Akin, she recalled, but not as strong as those of the demons they so often kept away from their forests. And... something else.

"Well?" Sahm asked. He had been sitting near where the girl slept. "What do you think?"

Trella scoffed. "I think you are lazy. But of her? I... am uncertain. She has potential. Did she agree to the potion?"

Sahm and Kyrre nodded in agreement. Odd, she thought. Most beings of... a mixed nature, would not agree to be bound by one. And this girl was at least three things, from what Trella could determine. This girl had a reason for going along so easily. Trella would not trust her until she knew why.

"Well then. Wake her. We need to get started. I brought a cot, so you two can carry her back." Trella stated. This was going to be... interesting.