Wynne did not particularly care for the feeling of flying but the view was incredible. The air at this altitude was incredibly cold this early in spring and Tandee, the hertasi, was almost catatonic after just a candlemark. Wynne had volunteered to join her in the basket. At this moment Tandee was curled against her silver fur with her heavy tail used as a muffler.

Herald Talia had decided to join them as a crown presence at the last moment so the packs they had to move had been easily relocated.

:You are very warm, thank you.: Tandee mindspoke.

:It is my pleasure. The view is incredible.: Wynne answered so that both Caedy and Tandee could hear her.

:You are very useful.: Caedy teased. :Hands and fur.:

:I am glad you think so.: Wynne chuckled. :Have you been north before?:

:No. I have always wanted to before. Do you think we could visit the northern Vale?: Caedy said longingly.

:I can see no reason not to. Is there anyone you are hoping to see?:

:My partner, Goldhart, has returned to the Kaled'a'in Vale, she was pregnant. I am hoping there is one there who would become my partner.:

Wynne raised her head to look up at the grey gryphon above her. She was a beautiful gryphon even if she was not as large as the other gryphon females she was incredibly agile. :We can fly a few days ahead if you wish. So long as we rejoin the group before they arrive at the town.:

:Thank you.:

Tandee heaved a sigh of longing. :A Vale with hot water pools…:

Wynne chuckled. :Ah, the simple pleasures. A quick 'just us girls' escape sounds wonderful.:

Tandee poked her blunt nose out of her bundle. :Don't let them see those spots of yours, I want to copy them on a design. When we get back to Haven you are going to be the best dressed Herald.:

:I have my uniforms.: Wynne protested.

:Tandee has not chosen someone to serve yet, it sounds like she has settled on you.:

:The first nonhuman Herald, it would be an honour to serve you.:

:Thank you then.: Wynne acquiesced. :Is that Brightspring below us?:

The basket circled and lowered as Caedy landed near a signpost.

:Good, it is. We will have several candlemarks before the others catch up.: Wynne read the sign since she was the only one who could read Valdemaran.

Caedy took to the air again and a few minutes later landed in the empty town square. Wynne used the time to shift and dress.

People came running as word spread about the gryphon.

"What's going on?" A well dressed man asked as he huffed up to them.

"There are several Heralds following us, will we be able to find quarters here?"

The man looked at the gryphon and hertasi warily. "So long as your friends sleep outside of town, yes."

Wynne a flash of anger.

:Relax, he is just ignorant.: Caedy soothed.

:And an idiot.: Tandee added with a hiss.

"Are you the innkeeper?"

"Yes."

Wynne raised her voice slightly so it could be heard to the edges of the crowd. "Is this the only inn here?"

A chorus of nods answered her.

"Very well, the nonhumans will find quarters elsewhere." Wynne said coldly. She lifted Tandee from the basket and grabbed bags from the basket. "How many rooms are available?"

"Five."

"Three will be used by the Heralds, one is the Queen's own. This should cover the other two rooms." She dropped a small pile of coins into his palm. "They will be arriving in three or four candlemarks. They will probably want a bath and quiet meal when they arrive."

"Of course." He hurried away to prepare the rooms.

She beckoned some of the more fearless children over. "Will you help me carry these to the inn?"

The children eagerly gathered the bags and led the way. She left the bags in the largest room for the others to sort out later. She then disconnected Caedy from the basket and had it moved to the inn stable.

"How shall we spend the afternoon?" She asked the other two.

"Maybe they have a market today." Tandee suggested.

Wynne asked a gawker about a market and got directions.

"Too bad we don't have funds." Caedy commented.

"I brought some. Not much however." Wynne said. "I can hunt for you later. So all we have to worry about is you, Tandee."

"I can manage." Tandee hissed assurance.

They earned many strange looks as the walked slowly through the town's market. Wynne bought a warm used blanket for the next day's trip. Tandee eyed the offered fabrics with an expert's eye and pronounced them inferior. Caedy was fascinated with the humans who were fascinated by her. They had a good laugh over the crude clay gryphons being sold.

It was nearing sunset when Daire called her. :We will be there soon. Less than a quarter candlemark.:

:Good, I'll see to your meals and baths.:

:Baths would be very welcome.: Daire relayed from the riders.

Wynne chuckled and led Caedy and Tandee back to the inn. The innkeeper was still very wary of the other two but took her requests easily.

"Shall we go find a waystation or something?" Wynne asked.

"You are not staying here?" Tandee hissed.

"I need very little sleep." Wynne assured her and led the way out of the town. They found a waystation with a large stable. "If it rains tonight at least we will all be warm."

Tandee promptly tidied the station.

"Do you have any preferences for meat?" Wynne asked as she removed her uniform.

"I can hunt for myself." Caedy protested.

"I am restless from being still all day." Wynne countered. "I am eager for a hunt. How about deer? I smell some close by."

"That would be good." Caedy capitulated.

Wynne shifted and padded out into the darkness. It didn't take her long to locate a buck that had broken his leg. She leaped and landed on his back and with one bite crushed his skull, killing him instantly. He was rather large but she managed to drag him back to the waystation.

"Impressive." If gryphons could lick their lips Caedy would.

Wynne dropped it next to the trees. :I am going to find my self a nice stupid rabbit.:

Caedy didn't acknowledge her but Wynne knew she was probably hungry. The rabbit took a little longer but she returned with a fat male.

Caedy's trondi'irn was sitting by a fire in an open pit when Wynne returned. She dropped the rabbit and shifted.

"Caedy was impressed you managed to bring down such a large deer."

"He had a broken leg." Wynne dismissed it.

Dancingleaf prepared the rabbit and placed it on a spit over her fire. "She is still grateful. They get tired of the tame meats very quickly."

"I don't blame them, but it is better than cat. They actually tried getting us to buy some cat meat when we were first opening the Purple Cat." Wynne grimaced as she dressed in her uniform. "Did you decide not to stay at the inn?"

"It is more to keep from breaking at pompous blob's neck." Dancingleaf pushed a black strand of hair out of her shockingly blue eyes.

"That's why we are out here." Wynne sprawled on her back beside the fire.

"I am honoured you asked me along on this little trip."

"I wanted a healer who has experience with nonhumans. And you smelled nice."

Dancingleaf laughed. "I should have known you would have keen senses."

"When we get back I think I will introduce you to my niece and nephews. I call them my kittens, for obvious reasons." Wynne chuckled. "They are darlings."

"Who created you?"

Wynne watched Dancingleaf carefully. "Ma'ar."

Dancingleaf looked a little wary.

"Early on in the war in the war he learned cats don't take orders if they don't want to. He tried to force us with magic but he made us too well and the magic just flowed over us. He made a gate and used wind to blow us through it."

Dancingleaf relaxed. "I am sorry, but I like the idea of his own creatures turning on him."

"To make it worse we were the equivalent of Urtho's gryphons." Wynne smiled. "We were his prize creations."

Dancingleaf's grin widened. "I like that even more."

"Picture this. He storms into a room and orders half cat creatures to take a fort and kill the inhabitants. They look at him, blink slowly and say no. He loses is temper and flings mage bolts to kill the offender and they don't even blink, let alone flinch."

Tandee and Caedy were obviously listening. All three had amused expressions on their faces.

"Now the eldest of the Shifters, my ancestor, she stands up and walks up to him and says 'no, we are not killers.' The seventy others stand up behind her and each unsheathed their claws. Here is the great mage, facing magic immune creatures armed with claws as sharp as razors. Panicked he makes a gate and summons a powerful wind and blows them out into the wilderness."

Caedy chuckled. "I like that image. Too bad they didn't succeed."

"Tell that story to Rris. He will love it. The too perfect creation." Tandee laughed.

"Not too perfect, just too well planned. We changed ourselves to look human when we were on our own. There are other problems like one female is born for every six males."

"That does sound like a major problem. What are you going to do?"

"I have a few vague ideas but I know very little of them. I grew up in Haven away from all the rest. I have the noble distinction of being not only the first Shifter-Herald but also the first Valdemaran born Shifter."

"A Herald of great change." Tandee teased. "I have chosen a good person to serve."

Dancingleaf quirked an eyebrow at that little revelation. "Why Wynne?"

Tandee prodded Wynne to sit up and combed the tangles out of her hair with her stubby fingers. Wynne started to purr immediately.

"Where else will I find such obvious gratitude?" Tandee asked. "She also has the most darling Companion and mate."

Dancingleaf laughed.

Caedy finished the last of her deer and settled down with a full crop.

The only sounds in the comfortable silence was the very content Wynne, the snap of the fire, and the breathing of Caedy.