A little story about the people from my caravan. They're mostly Clavats and Selkies, with one Yuke who will show up later. In the mean time, here's some info on the three who appear in the first chapter.

Conro- Clavat, Age 18: Oldest son of the town blacksmith and leader of Seraphine's caravan. Has dark reddish-brown hair and grey eyes. Wears a long black coat with a grey shirt and black pants underneath.

Mari- Selkie, Age 17: Middle daughter in a family of alchemists. Has long navy-blue hair and sea-green eyes. Wears a dark blue dress that goes just past her knees with a slit up the left side to the hip, black knee-high boots, and a black ribbon in her hair.

Zenas- Clavat, Age 17: Second son in a family of farmers. Has light blonde hair and green eyes. Wears tan pants and coat with a cream colored shirt and black dragon embroidered on the back of the coat.

"Conro, snap out of it!" A loud shout beckoned him back to reality.

"Huh? What's going on?" the dazed swordsman asked, looking at the Selkie girl who'd shouted directly in his ear.

"What do you mean what's going on! You were zoning out again! What happens if we're attacked by bandits or something while you're daydreaming?" Mari continued shouting at him.

"Relax, Mari! Jeez, you know you don't have to shout when I'm right next to you!" Conro complained, "Besides, there aren't any bandits out here, you know that!" He sighed as Mari scowled at his last remark. She was always like that, always worrying about every little thing. In that regard she really reminded him of his mother. Walking beside the wagon, he heard his best friend Zenas echo his sigh. All business as usual, the anti-social Clavat seemed to simply disregard the antics of the two in the wagon.

"So, where shall we go for the last drop of myrrh?" Zenas asked quietly. His two companions stared at him for a moment in surprise. It was unusual for him to even join a conversation, much less start one. "It was just a simple question…" he said returning his friend's stares with a calm look.

"Well…um…" said Mari, at a rare loss for words, "since this is our fourth year out here, why don't we go to the River Belle Path? The tree there ought to be refreshed by now, and it's right on the way home after all."

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea." Conro agreed with a nod. Reconsidering his statement a moment later he said "Actually, why don't we go the Goblin Wall instead? It's on the way too and I kind of feel like taking out some of those dumb goblins, just for fun" With a grin he began to finger the handle of his sword in anticipation. "Besides, next year Niora will be coming with us for the first time, and I figure it will be a good place for us to show her the ropes." As he added this last part, Conro shot a sideways glance at Zenas, looking for any change in his expression. It was a well known fact in the town that he liked her. In fact the only people who didn't seem to realize it were Niora herself and her best friend, Kriah. But, Zenas' face remained as expressionless as usual. Conro just sighed again. Maybe things will be more exciting next year, he thought closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep once again.

He was completely surrounded by the darkness; he could feel it closing in around him, smothering him. Suddenly, a woman appeared before him, dressed all in black with blood red hair settling in waves about her shoulders and reaching down to her waist. A quick glance at her eyes revealed them to be the same striking shade of pure, blood red, but he could only look for a moment before he averted his gaze. It wasn't the shade of her eyes that bothered him, but rather the look in them, as if she was staring straight through him.

"Look at me, Conro." She said, speaking in a calm and gentle voice. Hesitantly, he brought his eyes back up to meet hers. He nearly jumped at the sight, now noticing what he had apparently missed before, the pair of pure black feathered wings upon her back.

"Y…you…what are you?" he stammered, now staring at her with wide eyes.

"What a sad child…" she said, shaking her head. "You don't even know what you are, do you?"

"Wha..what do you m..mean?" He continued to stutter. Trying to regain his composure he began again "Who are you exactly? And what do you want from me?" At this she smiled and replied,

"Why, child, I am your ancestor, and I'm here because I need your help"