~Chapter 14~

Wynne's days fell into a routine.  In the mornings she studied out in the field or the library or attended classes.  In the afternoons she had mending or cleaning, riding, and weapons.  In the evenings she met with An'desha.  Part of her night was spent with Julian, the rest was consumed by more studying and being a cat in one form or another.  She often played games of 'catch me' with the foals.

Her two months were nearly up and she had yet to find another person she felt comfortable enough to confide in.  She wasn't certain if she still wanted to go searching for her kind but spring did make her long for the freedom of the mountains.  Poor Daire had already suffered through one little trip out there and she didn't want to inflect it upon him again.

"Pay attention."  An'desha snapped.

Wynne, who had been distracted by the sounds of footsteps outside, turned her attention back to her teacher.  "Someone is coming."

Her presence, and lack of clothes, would be awkward so she shifted and hid in the bushes.

"An'desha, there you are."  A woman dressed all in white appeared in her field of vision.  Her hair was almost completely white except for a few strands of dark brown. 

"Elspeth, do you need something?"

"Do you mind if we have a meeting out here?  One of our new students has an uncanny tendency to over hear everything and we need to discus her."

"I don't mind.  What student?"

"Her name is Wynne."

Wynne's ears perked up.

"She has formidable shields but seems to have very limited knowledge of magic.  She also won't answer our questions about her history."

Wynne glanced up at An'desha and saw a slight smile tugging at his lips.

"Maybe she has a reason for being so secretive."  An'desha suggested. 

"Perhaps.  But we are at out wits end over what to do with her.  Half the time no one knows where to find her."

:You should leave.:  An'desha suggested.

:Who?  Me?  I am just a little kitty.:

:Exactly.:

Wynne did give in and started towards the door.

"I didn't know you had a pet."  Elspeth commented.

"That's Blackberry.  She shows up from time to time to hide in the leaves."

Elspeth picked Wynne up.  "I heard about her.  Apparently she is an incredible little thing.  Perhaps she wants to be your familiar."

An'desha eyed the pretty little cat with the too knowing eyes.  "I doubt it."

:No, you don't need a familiar when you are one yourself.:  Wynne winked at him.

An'desha suppressed a laugh. 

"Is something funny?"  Elspeth asked. 

"I think she only wants my wilderness." 

Elspeth put her back on the ground.  "She is a darling."

Wynne wrapped her tail around her feet and smiled at An'desha.

:You think this is amusing.:

:Of course, wouldn't you?:

"Thanks for letting us disturb your peace."  Elspeth turned and went in search of the others who would be privy to this little meeting.

An'desha looked down at Wynne.  :What do they mean you over hear everything?:

:Simple, I can hear everything that is said in the Collegium.  I just only pay attention if something is called to my attention, like my name being mentioned.:

:Ah, you better go before they get here.:

Wynne rubbed her cheek against his leg.  :Tonight you are cordially invited to join Julian and I at the Purple Cat.  I would really like it if you came.:

An'desha hesitated. 

:Please?:

"Very well."

Wynne took a meandering route back to her room.  She was on the ledge when she heard some one moving about in her room.  She stalked closer and could smell it was Dirk.  She paused to consider her options.

The door opened.

"Has she returned yet?"  Elspeth's voice asked.

"No.  I have been waiting for over a candlemark now."  Dirk sighed.

"Where could she be?"

"Not a clue.  With her this is normal.  If I didn't see her every once and a while I would think she was only a figment of our imagination."  Dirk admitted.  "I have been trying to help her settle in to the routine but she can't even pay attention long enough for me to finish a sentence."

"Is she that flighty?"

"She isn't flighty, that's what's so odd.  I would say she is worried someone is after her."

"That would also explain why she is so secretive.  I have tried to track her with magic but it is like she is invisible.  The only creature I have seen that has that ability are the Change Creatures of the Pelagir."

"Maybe she was caught in a Circle."

"All the more reason to find out where she has come from.  She could be a danger.  Gwena says Daire has become secretive and refuses to answer any questions about her.  I would also give a great deal to know where she was for two months after she was Chosen."

"You are not going to get her to talk to you by demanding answers."  Dirk warned.

"How else are we going to get answers from her?  Can you honestly say she is not a threat to us?"

Dirk couldn't answer.

Wynne's blood froze in her veins; they thought she was a threat.  She turned and ran down the ledge.   All of her worst fears had come to pass, they didn't even know what she was and they thought she could be a threat.  She was tempted to go to Julian but he didn't need a weepy little Shifter hanging off him.  Instead she headed for the palace gates and out into the city.

She ran heedless of the wheels and hooves.  Once out the gates she shifted to a jaguar and ran along unmindful of her destination.  Her dark coat made her nearly invisible to the few people on the road and her unnatural stamina allowed her to keep her fast pace up for hours.

~*~

Daire could sense Wynne's distress and understood why she ran away as she did.  She'd was very nervous abut how people would react to her, it was almost a phobia.  He now knew it was something that had been bred into her nature and not something under her control. 

Before she even left Haven he started to follow.

:Where are you going?:  His mother, Cymry, stopped him.

:I am going after Wynne.:  He admitted.

:Where is she?  Did she go visit that tavern she used to own?:

:No.:  Daire didn't elaborate.

Cymry looked concerned but didn't press him.  :Try not to take six months to find her.:

Daire nuzzled her neck affectionately.  :It won't take that long, I should return soon.:

:Take care of yourself.:

Daire continued his trek after Wynne.  A small cat could easily avoid all the delays that struck him, when he finally reached the open road she had a large head start on him.

He mused grimly that he was the only Companion who could be outrun by his Chosen.  It was noon the next day when he finally caught up with her.  She was sprawled under a bush, her sides heaving.

:Do you feel better little cat?:

Wynne raised her head.  :Just tired.:

:What happened?:

:Elspeth thinks I am a threat.:

:Elspeth is suspicious of everything she doesn't know.:  Daire lowered himself next to her.  :Kitten, you have to tell them.:

Wynne raised her head and glared at him.  :Sleep now, think later.:

:Very well.:  Daire was also feeling the effects of their mad race.

When both had recovered enough to function it was nearly dark.  Wynne located a small but deep spring fed pond for them to refresh themselves.

As Daire drank she jumped in.  The cold water chased the last of the cobwebs from her mind.

:I acted like an idiot, didn't I.:  She commented.

:No.:  Daire assured her.  :You over reacted but I think Elspeth's suspicions just hit too close to comfort for you and you reacted as your instincts dictated.  Run before they catch you.  It has probably served your king well in the past, getting you out before the ones around you turned on you.:

:Do you want to go back?:

:Do you?:

:I want to think and there is too much sound there for me to think straight.:  Wynne submerged herself up to her neck.

:We can stay here for a while if you wish.:

:Thank you, Daire.:

:I didn't know cats could swim.:

:I can.  It feels really good too.:  She sighed.  :My feet still hurt.:

:I would say you should ride back but a naked Herald would cause even more of a stir than a cat of your size.:

:I don't normally run for so long, that was twelve candlemarks!:

:I was thinking earlier that I am the only Companion who has been out run by their Herald.:

Wynne chuckled slightly, a feat for a cat.  :Poor horse.:

:Careful, or I will make you walk for you internship.:  Daire mock threatened.

:You wouldn't be able to keep up.:  Wynne shot back.  :Get in.  You look like a disaster.:

As Daire waded in she shifted to human.  Using her fingers she separated his tangles and scrubbed off the road dust. 

"You are right.  I should tell the entire truth, at least to the Heralds."

:Can you is the question.:

"It would be like pulling teeth but I think I can.  If I can keep from dragging Julian off every time I get close to him I should be able to conquer this instinct as well."  Wynne brushed a wet strand of hair out of her eyes.  "I just have to make a plan for how.  Should I just shift in the middle of lunch or just tell a few and let the news travel normally."

:You still haven't told the whole truth to Julian.:

"What am I supposed to say?  'Hi Julian, do you mind being my mate?'  How will that go over?"

:I think he will be very honoured.:

"Maybe, but he is a Herald, I noticed the Heralds don't take mates."

:Some do.  Like Dirk and Talia, Elspeth and Darkwind, and Selenay and Daren.:

Wynne considered this in silence as she finished detangling his tail.

:You want him for more than a mate.  You love him.:

Wynne blushed.  "I know.  My mother said it would be like someone calling my soul.  But is that just me?  I don't think I could bear it if it wasn't reciprocated."

:I can't answer that, you will have to ask him.:

Wynne expected that answer.  "How about you eat while I think?  You must be starving."

:I am, tell me when you are ready to leave.:  Daire ambled out of the water to a small clearing.

Wynne emerged from the water and sat under a tree watching Daire graze. 

"Wynne?"  Julian called from the road.

:Did you tell him where we are?:  She asked.

:No.:

Wynne stood and peered towards the road.  "Over here."  She waved.

Julian turned his Companion towards her.  "What happened?"

"I acted like an idiot."  Wynne shrugged.

Julian's Companion stared at her.

"How did you find me?"

"I asked people if they had heard a running Companion."  Julian answered.

Wynne shot a glance at Daire.  "I am sorry if I caused problems."

Julian pulled her close and kissed her warmly.  "You just vanished."

"I over reacted to something I heard."  Wynne purred.  "Your Companion is gawking."

Julian smiled at Tevren.  "He is very curious as to why you forgot your uniform."

Wynne rested her head against Julian's shoulder and met Tevren's gaze.  "I am a Shifter."  She forced herself to say.

:Good first step.:  Daire assured her.

Tevren stared at her and Julian looked surprised.

"I have decided I have to tell the Heralds about me."  She explained.  "You don't mind do you?"

"Of course not, it is your choice."  Julian assured her.  "Do you want to head back now?"

"We wouldn't make it back before it rains."  She gestured to the sky.  "We should find a Waystation and head back in the morning."

"Sounds good to me."

Wynne stepped back and shifted into house cat and jumped into his arms.  :You didn't have to follow me.:

"Yes, if any Trainee vanished we would search for them.  Unfortunately only An'desha, Daire, and I had any chance of being able to track you."

:Hopefully that will no longer be a problem.  An'desha is fairly certain that my shields are open to those I trust.:

Julian mounted the still stunned Tevren and turned him back towards the road.  "I suppose that telling someone about your true nature is the ultimate form of trust for you."

:Yes.  I am still considering how to tell them.  I think I will just tell a small group of those who should know.:

"That's probably the best way to proceed.  I know Heralds will take the news well but there are many closed minded people among the general populace."  Julian stroked her slightly damp fur.

:You have a century to stop that.:  She purred.

Julian smiled.  "You are going to cause a lot of change in the Collegium."

:I doubt it.  I am only one Trainee.: