A/N: Thanks to:
Mad-4-Manga- That confusion is totally understandable- apparently some formatting doesn't go through including stars and question marks. I fixed the last chapter and am about to fix this one. Sorry about the trouble! I hope this story becomes awesome too and I shall try!
Stormy Phoenix- Okay, thanks for the idea!
Kathleen McCrory- Wow, two people suggested the same thing!
Asra Ky- Thanks, and I shall- here's the next chapter!

:Is there anything you can't do?: Raul asked with a teasing voice, standing before Fao with an amused expression on her face as she scanned the cards laid out on the table beside the bed.

"I can't cook Karsite," Fao answered with a chuckle that came out like a giggle and then she paused, suddenly serious and looked up at the filly, "I can't do archery."

:Weren't you in an army?: Raul inquired and then pointed her nose at a Jack, :That one.:

Faolan nodded, to both statements and flipped the Jack over before saying, "Yes, but I was a scout, not an actual soldier. Most of my lives I've done more on the sidelines, working with horses and stuff, when I've been fighting. Most of my lives haven't touched much warfare."

:Except your most recent one: Raul said and Fao nodded with a grin, flipping over a Queen so it lay face down.

They both stared at the cards in thought, but Faolan had the feeling that Raul had stopped thinking about the game, for her eyes, thought pointed at the cards, didn't move, and didn't look quite focused. Fao waited, and her wait was paid off.

:You know we will go to Haven eventually, yes?:

"Yes," Fao said softly, abandoning all thoughts of the game as she pulled the blankets around her shoulders tighter.

:We do not go until you can control the change: Raul stated simply and Fao stared at the Companion in surprise.

"I can't- that won't be for… it might not ever be!" she cried out and jumped to her feet incredulously, this movement only adding about a foot to her height.

Raul simply stared back at her and finally Fao sat back down and whispered, "Can't I just… be locked up?"

:Too risky. You would end up either hurting yourself or someone else. The only place for a werewolf that is not in control of herself is in the Pelagirs and even there she is not always safe, for the Hawk Brothers have no mercy for one taken by their own anger.:

Fao looked away, abashed and chastised and then finally shrugged and said, "Do you think it's possible?"

:For you to control it?: Raul asked and without waiting for an answer she nodded, :Yes.:

:How long?:

:One year, give or take: Raul answered.

"A year," mused Fao, looking back at the cards as if to consider their positions.

:And you're going to learn archery: Raul added and Fao looked up once more, startled again.

"What?" she said, "How? You can't show me and there's no one to teach me."

:You will teach yourself: Raul said and tossed her head, moving around her forelock to her satisfaction.

"I can't teach myself," Faolan sputtered, "You just can't do that."

:You can: Raul answered and turned to glance at the fire and then said, effectively ending the conversation, :I'm going to go get more firewood. And you can, Fao, it just takes longer.:

:So much longer you might as well not try: Fao muttered to Raul as she pushed open the door, letting in a gust of cold wind and making Fao crawl back under the blankets.

Raul deemed not to answer and simply disappeared, kicking the door shut with an arrogant switch of her tail. But it didn't anger Fao, the way it had the night before. It made her smile and she leaned back against her pillow, staring at the wood rafters and wondering if Raul was going to have her make her own bow as well.

:No actually: Raul put in from outside, :There is a spare bow here. It's a little big for you but it will build your arm strength.:

:You should build your arm strength: Fao retorted without malice.

:I don't have arms: Raul pointed out wickedly and Fao fell silent, a smile drifting across her face, and when Raul came back in, dragged a blanket load of firewood through the door, Fao had fallen asleep.

Later...

:Do you know how to hold a bow?: Raul asked of Fao.

They stood outside, on the road a hundred feet from the Waystation. No one traversed it this time of year, and even in busy seasons few walked it, so it was most certainly deserted for archery practice. There was no snow yet, so moving through the woods was easy, although Raul stood out like the sun in the sky, gleaming white and long legged.

Faolan had found a old blanket which she'd folded up and drawn on a target with charcoal. A nail and large rock had sufficed to attach it to a tree near the edge of the road.

For starters, they stood twenty feet from the target and they had driven ten arrows into the cold dirt of the ground. Fao stood, dressed in all her clothes once more and outside for the first time as a human. The bow was small for a Herald but it was a good six inches taller than Faolan.

"This is really awkward," she said, "I'm not going to be able to pull the string back all the way. And yes, I do know how to hold one. I learned how, just never practiced."

:That does make it more difficult: Raul said, and Fao could tell she was amused, :But that's why we're only twenty feet away- you should be able to pull it back far enough to get it to go that far, and if you can learn to aim it well then size and strength shouldn't matter too much, although we should consider making a smaller bow for you. Any woodcarving in those pasts of yours?:

"No, actually," Faolan said, looking up at the filly and then staring at the sturdy wood bow in her hands, "But I do know metal working and baking, so my hands are used to that sort of work. I can figure it out if it comes to that. After all, we're stuck here a year… What happens if Heralds need to use this Waystation?"

:They won't: Raul assured her, :This one is really sort of a spare, the Heralds only use it if absolutely necessary… in fact, circuits don't use this road anymore, which is why we aren't too well stocked. You should learn to use that bow quick or we'll have to go and claim trainee's right in a town.:

Fao looked up again, startled and frightened by this prospect, "You mean go and… talk to people?"

:Afraid so, love: Raul said, nudging the three year old on the shoulder gently, :But there are some traps in the wood shed and we still have a months worth of oatmeal- and I can live off the grass until it snows so I won't be infringing on that supply.:

"Let's go sooner- I'm sick of oatmeal," Fao said, making a face and Raul snorted her amusement.

:Now get that bow ready and show me what you can do: she ordered, sniffing the arrows curiously.

Faolan nodded and positioned herself, setting her feet into the right position before pulling up an arrow that was almost as long as she was tall and she muttered, as she knocked the arrow, "This is so ridiculous."

:You look lovely: Raul assured her Chosen and stood back, well out of the way of the arrow.

"Here goes," Faolan said and pulled the arrow back to her face, moving it about seven inches and then sighting down to arrow at the target. She relaxed her fingers, letting the string magically slip by them and the arrow out of her hands. It clattered down to the ground about two feet in front of the target and three feet to the left of the tree.

There was a snort from behind her and Fao turned around to see the Companion filly looking curiously up at a tree. Then she coughed and turned her blue eyes upon Fao and said, very seriously, :You're doing great.:

"This is gonna take a while," Faolan muttered and picked up another arrow.

Three months later...

:There is a reason you're doing this: Raul said, three full moons later as Faolan lay on her bed, aching and tired from the night's change and staring at the piece of wood she was slowly shaping into a bow. They had spent two of the last three months trying to find a piece of wood the right age, type, and size.

"Doing what?" whispered Faolan, staring blearily up at the ceiling and ignoring the wind beating against the doors. The winter snows had started long ago and this part of the country turned out to get lovely blizzards in February.

:Archery: Raul said. Fao was surprised at how much both of them had grown recently. Raul had to be a good couple of inches taller and she was starting to fill out a little more, and had less of that fillyish look. Fao too had grown, but not enough to fit the bow, and so while she was still working with the too big one, they had decided to attempt to make their own as well.

"Why?" Fao asked, if not for curiosity then for conversation's sake. Her voice certainly voiced no enthusiasm.

:Concentration. As you hone your skills with the target, you focus your mind and strengthen your control. I cannot teach you much in the ways of your gifts, so this was the second best. As you sharpen you mind that will carry over to your change. And it has. Have you noticed?:

"No," Fao answered dryly, thinking of the way she shredded a bush to pieces the night before and ended up with twenty-three thorns in her hide and paws as a result.

:I've noticed. And I think a year was a good estimate: Raul announced and Fao let her eyes fall sideways so they stared at Raul.

"You think?" she asked.

:I do: Raul replied, :And let me tell you, I'm really missing the Companion's Field right now. Not that I don't enjoy your company, my Chosen, but it's cramped in here and oatmeal just isn't the same as the fine grain there…:

"You're not the only one missing a variety in food," Faolan pointed out sarcastically, "I mean you don't get a change whether or not the traps catch anything, but I sure would like a rabbit."

:I never actually had rabbit before: Raul said thoughtfully and Fao blinked at her.

"You don't eat meat, remember?" she pointed out and Raul nodded quickly and laughed in Fao's mind.

Silence passed between them and finally, as the fire burned lower, Raul inquired, :You know you won't be able to tell anyone, don't you? Even the Heralds.:

"Tell them what?" Fao asked, her eyes closed now and her mind wandering.

:About your past lives. And being a werewolf. A few will know about the second, like the Queen of course, but none others: Raul said and Fao rolled onto her side, hugging her pillow.

"Not even the Heralds?" Fao asked and her voice sounded troubled, "I thought they could know…"

:No: Raul said and fell silent for a long moment, :Not even the Heralds.: But Fao didn't hear the last part, for once more, she was asleep.

:You are centuries old in your mind, yet your body is still that of a three year old's: Raul mused at the child and then lay down beside the bed.