~Chapter 6~

Julian arrived at the Purple Cat just after the first rush as he did at least once a week.  The past few times Wynne had been no where in sight but he hoped she would be there this time.

"Herald Julian, I am glad to see you have come back."  Geeva greeted him.

"Is Wynne here?"

"No, she left yesterday.  She decided to do a bit of traveling."

Julian was surprised to find he felt disappointed.

"She should be back in a few weeks.  Was there anything you needed to talk to her about?"

"No, I was just curious.  I haven't seen her in a while."

~*~

Daire had searched much of Valdemar and still he hadn't found her.  He was starting to wonder if she had died seven years ago when he first felt the Call.  He had gone out and been unable to find her then too.

If this was true, why hadn't felt Called to Choose some one else?

What if she was a ghost?  Maybe one that could take the form of a cat.  That would explain how he could only sense her for a few seconds before she vanished.

Daire froze in his tracks.  Since he was still feeling the Call she must need his help.  Had he failed her by thinking the Calls had been false starts? 

~*~

Wynne took a deep breath.  The rich smells of the earth and scent of the changing trees filled her mind.

She had missed this.  It had been three years since she last left Haven and she had almost forgotten the scent of the leaves.

She could also smell a change in the weather that was a few days off, an autumn rain.  There were also beasts in the field, stored hay, field mice, farm cats, dogs, grubby children, abandoned birds nests, and farmer's meals.

She licked her lips and anticipated her meal.  She could always smell the kind people and found if she meowed at their door they would give her food.  If she did that three or four times she could get quite a meal.

Since it was barely noon now and she only took an apple from Sand orchard and continued walking.

Her journey wasn't aimless.  She knew exactly where she was going, the mountains.  Nor was the time of year a coincidence.  Most Shifters had three or four forms they could take.  Wynne had three, house cat, a black jungle cat, and a snow leopard.  She was almost driven to go to the mountains to feel the strength and power the form of a snow leopard offered.

One of her brothers had five forms but none were small so he had rarely been able to shift inside Haven.  Fortunately the urge to shift was not as strong in males.  The other had three, also all large.  Her mother had also been able to shift into a small house cat, but her only other form was a small wild cat called and ocelot.  She had never felt any need to run of to the mountains to test her strength.  Wynne's father only shifted once before her so she only knew he could become a plains cat.

The sound of chiming hooves caught her attention.  A Herald was coming.  She tensed immediately, ready to run.  As the Companion came into view she saw it was riderless.  His tack looked shabby from wear and he had a matted mane.  He froze and stared at her like he had never seen a human before.

~*~

Daire knew he had only a candlemark or so until he reached the gates of Haven.  As he round a stand of trees he noticed a dark young woman watching him.  This wasn't unusual, most people stared at Companions and he was far from spectacular today since he hadn't been groomed in months.  What was odd was he felt the same thing for her that he had felt for the cat.

She was his Chosen.

She was tensed to run so he held as still as he could.  He tried to project an aura of peace and assurance.  Slowly she relaxed.

"Sorry sir."  She sidled around him and headed down the road.

Daire followed her.  He was not going to let her out of his sight and as soon as she let him close enough he would Choose her.

~*~

Wynne was surprised the Companion was following her.  Perhaps his Herald was injured, but she didn't smell any pain or fear clinging to him.  Perhaps he just wanted someone to groom him, he did look rather rumpled for a Companion.  She could tell from his smell he hadn't been inside Haven in months, maybe he was trying to find his Chosen.

"Do you want something?"  She asked over her shoulder.

He seemed to nod.

"You look a fright, do you want to be groomed?"

He seemed to be pleased and nodded again.

"I'll try but I have never groomed a horse before."  She warned and turned to face him.

He stopped inches from her.  Suddenly she felt like she was being measured against something.  :Don't worry, you will have plenty of practice.  My name is Daire, and you are my Chosen.:

"Chosen…" Wynne echoed.  Love welled up within her and knew it was from Daire.

:Yes, Chosen.  I have been trying to find you for seven years.:  Daire nudged her chest.

"Seven years?  Why?"  Wynne shook off her daze.  "Why me?"

:I will explain as much as I can on our way back to Haven.:

Wynne bit her lip.

:Is something wrong?:

"I really don't want to face walls right now."  Wynne said apologetically.  "I just left Haven."

:How about we find a Waystation then.  I have a few questions I would like to ask.:

Wynne looked about, "Where is the nearest one?"

:Mount up and I will take us there.:

Wynne stared at his high back, "I have never ridden before."

Daire moved off to the side of the road and knelt.  Wynne carefully straddled his back.

"Tell me if I hurt you."

:You won't.:

Wynne found her balance easily and quickly found herself revelling in the experience.  He started to canter when he knew she had her seat.  Daire was fast and the feeling of the wind in her hair stirred her blood.

:You like that?:

"Of course."  Wynne grinned.

Eventually he had to stop and she dismounted beside the shed like building.  Wynne felt a stab of when she first entered and saw there was no windows.  She took a deep breath and leaved the door open.  "Where's the brushes?"

:The bucket next to the door.:

"There we are."  She took the bucket outside.  "How do I take off your saddle?"

Daire patiently explained how to undo the straps.  Wynne hauled the saddle off his back and barely kept it from hitting the ground.

"Does this have to be so heavy?"  Wynne dragged it inside.

:Yes.:  Daire dropped to the ground and rolled on the ground with relish.  :I have wanted to do this for so long,:

Wynne laughed as he heaved sighs of pleasure.  "That looks like fun."

Daire gracefully regained his feet.  :I don't know how Rolan did it.:

"Who is Rolan?"

:The Monarch's Own Companion.  He is also my father but I have never felt comfortable calling him that.:

"What brush do I use?" 

:The one with the teeth.  Use it in circular strokes.: 

Wynne focused on making his coat gleam.  She was stunned at this turn of events, she had never even thought of becoming a Herald.  Her family was on the wrong side of the law.  Why would they need a Shifter as a Herald?  Shifters were not known for their loyalty to anything but family.

:Thank you, I am starting to feel normal again.  Why don't you make yourself a meal and we can talk.:

Wynne grimaced and glanced over her shoulder at the waystation.  "I can't cook."

:Well…I think there is dried fruit.:

Wynne poked her head in the small building again and sniffed the air.  It only took her a minute to find the fruit and quickly hurried back outside.  She sat on the ground and Daire lowered himself next to her.

"Why did you Choose me?  What do you need a thief for?"

:You're a thief?:

Wynne realised he knew as little about her as she did about him.  "I thought Companions knew all about their Heralds."

:You are a little different.  I couldn't even sense you when you were more than a few feet away from me.  You seem to have a natural defence against magic.:

Wynne bit into a dried apple ring.  "It runs in my family."

:Can you tell me what this gift is?:

Wynne started taking off her clothes.

:What are you doing?:

"Showing you."

As the last article of clothing touched the ground she shifted.

:You are the cat!:

Wynne rubbed her head on his cheek and purred.

:What are you?:

Wynne shifted back.  "I am a Shifter."

:But they are only legends…:

"We rarely reveal what we are to anyone but our mates."

Daire watched her, obviously stunned.  She curled up next to him and rested her head on his shoulder.  :Can you tell me about Shifters?:

"Well, our history says we were created by a great mage to be spies.  Being part cat we didn't take orders well and he tossed a group of forty or so into the back of beyond and left them to starve.  The first ones all had strong instincts to fight each other and no survival instincts so they had a lot to overcome.  They were made from mages and had been aware for many of the changes inflicted on them so they worked on themselves until they could survive."

:A self made species.:

"One of the instincts that had been created in them was loyalty, however instead of being loyal to their creator they were loyal to their families."

:Do you still fight when you meet others of your kind?:

"I don't know.  I have never met any outside my family."  Wynne shrugged.

:Where do you live?:

"Haven.  I own the Purple Cat."

:You were in Haven?:  Daire asked, his mind voice tinged with humour.  :I have been searching for you in the rest of Valdemar.:

"I was heading to the mountains.  I am sick of walls, there are too many in Haven."

:What would a house cat do in the mountains?:

In response she shifted again, this time into the massive snow leopard form she had not taken in years.  Her silver and black fur was incredibly soft and she had big silvery eyes.

:Can you take the form of any cat?:

Wynne, human once again, shook her head.  "I can be a black jaguar as well which is more suited to forests or plains.  I am lucky, most Shifters are only suited to one area, I have a form for the city, a form for the mountains and winter and a form for forests and plains."

Daire consider this for a moment.  :I think you are incredible.:

Wynne found herself purring with pleasure at his acceptance.  "How do you talk in my head?"

:Well, try sending your thoughts to me.:

Wynne focused on one thought.  :Can you hear me?:

:Yes, well done, you are a quick learner.:

Wynne shifted into a cat again and curled up between his folded forelegs.  She tucked her nose behind her tail.  :Would you come with me to the mountains?:

:I would like to get you back to the Collegium.: 

:I can't face more walls right now.  I haven't left Haven since I was fifteen and I am desperate for some space.:

:What aren't you saying?:

:Herald Julian.:  Wynne would have blushed if she was in human form.  :Every time I get near him I feel like I am about to crawl out of my skin.  I want to ambush him and drag him off into the shadows.:

:He makes you go into heat?:  Daire asked with a laugh.

:I think there has to be a better way to put it.:  Wynne grumbled.  :He just smells so wonderful and that body of his…:

Daire nuzzled her tiny body.  :Most women don't think him very attractive.:

:Most women are fools.  Will you come with me to the mountains?  Just for two months.:

:Very well.: