Chapter 4: Introductions and explanations
AN: Sorry for the long gap between updates, I prefer reading to writing and did not take the time to write. Depending on inspiration it could be even longer before the next update, or even a few weeks from now.
As Willow followed the male tiger-cat, she wondered what would happen now. Even being on her own was better than living with her 'relatives', but it would be much better if she did not have to live on her own. Although this male seemed friendly enough, his brief mention of a Queen and Warlord worried her, since they would be the ones to decide whether she could stay, not him. Willow continued to follow the male deeper into the mountains. As they walked, Willow gradually saw signs of other predators, and smelled the faint presence of many others that smelled similar to the male, but different enough that they could not be only from him. Eventually she started visually seeing the others, and faintly felt a buzzing in the back of her mind. She thought that might mean there were private telepathic conversations going on around her. By changing into this form she had been given undeniable proof of magic, or whatever it was called, existed so why not this as well.
After walking a bit more, she came they came to two tiger-cats sitting, surrounded in a wide circle shape by many others. The male tiger-cat stood near the two others, and Willow heard a his voice, somehow knowing that the others could hear him too. He told everyone that he had found her, a she-cub with power wandering alone. She has run away from humans, and believes she was once human herself, but the humans who were to take care of her abused her. She wishes to join us, as she is only a cub-ling and cannot properly care for herself. At that many of the others gave off a sense of outrage and sympathy for her, and the two who seemed to be the Queen and Warlord turned to look at and examine her. Willow trembled with fear, but forced herself to meet their gaze. What is your birthright jewel color-I assume it is in the pouch? A powerful but gentle voice that came from the female tiger-cat, Kindred the male had called his kind and hers now. The female had a black jewel inset in her collar, and had almost normal coloring- with reddish orange fur, black stripes, and a cream belly. Willow concentrated again, and tried to direct her thoughts to the female. Blue, mixed with bits of yellow. Why does that matter though? The female blinked in shock but said The colors tell us your power potential and affinities- you will be quite powerful and have a strong affinity for wind and water. If you agree to stay you will be quite welcome and admired for that power once you are trained-not that we would turn you away if you were weak, but it lets us know how much we will have to protect you if humans come after us. Since you likely have a human name it will also help us come up with a name that is more suited for a Kindred. Now it was Willows turn to blink in shock, and rising hope. She would be useful and welcome here, not a disgraceful freak. The Queen- for if Willow was staying she would be her Queen as well, turned to gaze upon the others. The cub-ling is joining us, and already has her birthright jewel. If those with water or wind affinities could volunteer to teach her when they have free time, and if anyone could become her mentor and guardian that would be welcome.
The others shifted and that buzzing occurred for a time- then a female with a pale blue jewel set in her collar stood up. Her fur was dark-gray and black striped. My mate and I have been wanting a cub for some time, and I could easily teach her water and ice. My mate is still out patrolling but he will easily agree. She turned to face Willow. My name is Mizura and if you agree my mate and I will act as parents to you- protecting and providing for you as well as teaching you. My mate is Hougumo, a good hunter with affinity for fire and a Red jewel after his offering, Mizura said with pride and affection. Willow gazed at Mizura in wonder-she wanted to be like a mother, a real one. Eagerly, with a brief glance a the Queen to make sure she heard too, Willow thought at Mizura That would be wonderful, thank you so much, you won't regret it, I'll do my best to learn quickly and be useful.
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Over the course of the next months Willow met Hougumo, told her story in more detail, and started learning what would be the basis for her name. She quickly learned that she wasn't all that good with pure water manipulation, but could create ice and wind very well. She was given the name Mistral, and sometimes jokingly called Little Wind-ling because she practiced so much with wind manipulation and was so energetic and enthusiastic. She learned that the tiger-cats were merely a type of Kindred, and that there were wolf, unicorn, spider, and many other types of kindred that were scattered and spent most of their time hiding from humans who hunted them. Her new parents did start teaching her to hunt small prey, but mostly they brought her extra food from their own hunting, and the starved look and matted fur gradually disappeared. Mistral, as Willow was starting to think of herself, managed to alter her collar and pouch so that her jewel could be easily seen. She wore her birthright Sapphire with pride, having learned that when she was old enough to make her offering she might manage to get an ebon-gray, just one rank below the Queen and Warlord. Even as a cub, which she would be regarded as for many more years, she had some respect for her power amongst her new and extended family. For the most part meetings such as the one she had seen were rare, Mistral learned that a meeting had already been taking place when Kazmaro, the original tiger-cat who had found her had brought her before the Warlord and Queen. He had also taken an interest in her, and was the one who taught her the most about wind manipulation. Mistral considered him an honorary Uncle because of the time he spent teaching her. Mistral learned that although Kindred borrowed from many languages, since they were scattered across the world and the more powerful could thought speak from nearly any distance, they used Japanese and English the most. Mistral also learned of the Kindred's way of transportation when they did not walk or run. It was generally called riding the winds, even by those with earth, fire, and water affinities. The winds were also called by the level of power required and speed, with white winds being the same as running normally. Mistral still retained an eagerness to please and a fear of humans, but as years passed her memories of her human life faded and she was only reminded of her past by the occasional confusing nightmare. Mistral had learned from the beginning that she had crossed a barrier from the mundane world sometime in her wandering, and thus knew that her relatives would never find her, so she felt mostly safe. All she had to worry about were other magic users, especially the human ones.