Moonblade's ekele was easy to find. She just had to track the wet- Moonblade scent and she was led straight to his tree. She could hear him speaking to someone and strange cheeping sounds in return.

:Pretty bird? Moonblade's bondmate?:

:Yes. Who?:

:Wynne. May I come up?:

There was a silence.

:Up, up!: The bird answered.

Wynne easily ran up the stairs and was met at the door by Moonblade.

"You wanted to know more about these people, did you not?" Wynne said when she saw his confusion.

"Right. Please, come in. "I was surprised you could talk to Darli."

Wynne stepped into the room. The bondbird, Darli, was watching her intently. "The others already know what they are walking into. Tyrsell is telling Katu. That just leaves you in the dark."

"What is so strange about them?"

"They aren't human." Wynne said.

"What are they then?"

"I'll show you." Wynne said. Moments later he was staring at a massive jaguar.

"What are you?"

:I am really getting tired of hearing that.: Wynne sighed. :I am a Shifter. We believe the settlement is a Shifter village.:

"Is that really you or an illusion?"

Wynne placed her paws on his shoulders. :This is me.:

"I am sorry but I had no idea such things as you even existed." Moonblade blanched slightly.

:Well we do. That is why the group has so many nonhumans. I hope to prove to them that they are welcome here no matter what they are so long as they obey the laws.:

Wynne returned to her clothes and shifted to human and dressed. "You are taking this well." She commented to Darli.

:Human and cat. Not prey.:

"Well, I will see you in a few days." Wynne headed out the door. Out in the night she took a deep breath and released it slowly. She hoped he was ready to face a clan of Shifters by the time he arrived at the village.

It was no longer a guess as to whether they were Shifters. She could scent them on the wind. She couldn't distinguish the many Shifters scents at this distance but she knew they were there.

~*~

Wynne found a stack of grey clothing by her bed the next morning. None were her Greys. She chose what looked like scout clothing only done in grey shades and pulled on a new pair of boots left for her. They fit well.

"You have returned." Tandee said as she brought in a tray.

"I was sleeping out in the branches. Thank you for the clothing."

"Looks good on you."

Wynne turned around to show off the finery. "It fits perfectly. Where is Caedy?"

"She is sunning at the lake. She is worried about not finding a partner."

"I am certain she will find someone." Wynne sat on a cushion on the balcony and started to eat breakfast. "Will you stay and join me? I would appreciate it."

Tandee sat carefully on a cushion. "We leave tomorrow morning?"

"At dawn. You should see about some food for yourself for our trip."

Tandee nodded. "I will. You are eager to see your mate again."

Wynne smiled fondly. "Of course I am."

"I will make you so beautiful he will be unable to resist you. I have fabric now to make you clothes. I can embroider while we fly."

"If that is what you wish. Please tell the cooks that they are true artists. The subtlety and variety of the flavours is divine."

Tandee nodded. "I will tell them."

When Wynne finished the meal Tandee stood at started weaving her hair into an ornate style without asking. When she was done she wove a beaded cord through the creation. "No you are ready to be seen."

"You don't need to do everything for me." Wynne reminded her.

"I know. I find pleasure in it and so do you so why not?"

"Very well. I should warn you, Daire is the untidiest Companion you will ever meet. He gets tangled just standing in the Stable."

"I have noticed." Tandee hissed dryly and her tail twitched in amusement.

"I assume you already have plans for the day."

She nodded.

"I think I will take a quick trip out into the forest. I could use the exercise."

"Tell them before you go."

"I will." Wynne stood and headed for the stairs. "See you later little friend."

It was nearly noon when she returned to the vale. She had not shifted for her explorations. She just walked through the forest enjoying the silence and peace.

She was very worried about the reactions of the Shifters. She hoped they would listen long enough for her to get a few words in before they either chased them out or attacked. If they had Keane's attitude of 'lowly humans' she was in for a fight. Her grandmother seemed to take the news that she had a human mate quite well but she could be hiding her true thoughts, it was a letter after all.

Wynne pulled out the letter and read it once more. She could only detect a touch of illness, a bit of worry, and a spicy perfume mingled with her grandmother's scent.

Her plan was only solid until she reached the edge of the town. From there she hoped to talk with the others, alone if necessary. Hopefully she could work out a treaty between them and Valdemar.

When she first read the letter she wanted to saddle Daire and ride out to meet them. Then it dawned on her, they were going to be noticed by the Valdemaran people and immediately distrusted. If they were keeping the Tayledras at bay they would be construed as a hostile force and as such they would be driven out by the army. The recent experiences with the northern tribes had made the people in the area rather paranoid.

If she failed she would still stand on the Valdemaran side. She would encourage them to move on and if they refused she would make certain they understood what they faced.

On her return she found Caedy already in the ekele.

"Still no luck?" Wynne asked as she flopped on to a pillow.

"No. There is none in k'Vala either." Caedy said.

"Why don't we go for a splash in the lake? It may be cold but it will be refreshing."

"Actually, I think that would be wonderful." Caedy stood and made her way to the balcony. "Shall I meet you there?"

"Yes, I am going to find some towels for myself."

"See you in a little bit." Caedy spread her wings and leaped easily into the air.

Wynne gathered a couple of fresh towels and hurried to the lake. Caedy was happily splashing in the water when she arrived. Wynne stripped and waded into the water.

"You are right, this is refreshing." Caedy said.

Wynne dove under the water and came up in front of Caedy. "I was thinking, if you can't find someone to become your partner, why not train a new partner?"

"Those who want to be Silver Gryphons already are." Caedy pointed out.

"What about looking among the Tayledras or Shin'a'in. Or even the Valdemarans for that matter. Maybe one of the mages at the new Mage Collegium?"

Caedy considered that for a moment. "That would be a solution. Thank you."

"Glad to help." Wynne scratched behind Caedy's eartufts. "Don't let it stress you too much."

Caedy hauled herself onto a large flat rock and shook vigorously. Several of her feathers came loose and fluttered to the ground.

Wynne picked one particularly large one off her face. "You look like a wet feather duster."

Caedy flashed an indignant look then settled on the rock to let her feathers dry. "You look like a half-drowned kitten."

Wynne laughed and brushed a wet, dislocated braid out of her eyes. "How apt. We are leaving at dawn, we should catch up with the others about sunset if we stop about noon so you can have a break. But please stop if you need to take a break."

"I will."

Wynne gathered all the loose feathers. She set them out next to Caedy to dry out. "You know, you could probably trade those for beads or the like."

"Do you think so?"

"Think about it, gryphons are new and fascinating creatures. One feather could probably get you a pig or a sheep."

Caedy eyed her feathers. "I had never thought of that."

Wynne pulled herself up on the rock and sat next to Caedy's head. "How do you like Valdemar so far?"

"It is very different but very similar. My father was assigned to the Black Court for a while and I got used to cities there so it wasn't such a shock."

"Be glad you don't smell what I can. They are still using fish oil lamps in Haven." Wynne grumbled.

Caedy chortled at the expression on Wynne's face. "Perhaps you should start dabbing perfume under your nose."

"I think I may. Maybe a citrus scent."

"Tandee can probably find something for you. I was surprised when she choose to serve you."

"I still don't understand why she did."

"You got into the basket with her. Many Valdemarans just see hertasi as nothing more than subhuman servants. You however were worried enough about her to give up a warm spot with your mate to join her in the basket."

Wynne was rather disturbed. Gryphons, hertasi, kyree, dyheli, and trevardi were all as intelligent as humans but as their trip north had shown they were being treated as animals.

"Now you are looking pensive." Caedy observed.

"Just thinking. Are you dry yet?"

Caedy preened her shoulder. "Not yet."

Wynne stared at the lake. "I hope we aren't going on a futile mission."

"If you can adapt enough to tell people what you are, they can adapt as well. I think we will succeed."

"I hope so." Wynne said quietly. "You know, this is a little odd, the prize creations of two enemy mages sitting side by side enjoy a spring bath."

Caedy tilted her head to the side. "You are right. I hadn't thought of that. I was wondering, why didn't you ask for a trevardi to accompany us?"

"They have very little natural protection compared to the rest of us and what if the Shifters decided to capture one? I can easily track trevardi, so the others could as well. I don't want to place any one in danger."

"What about hertasi and dyheli?"

"Dyheli can cause a massive amount of damage with those hooves and horns. Hertasi don't give off much scent, they are very hard to track. Also, they would have advantage over them in sheer numbers."

"You thought this all out."

"Actually I had help from An'desha and Firesong. They had plenty of suggestions."

Caedy fluffed her feathers and stretched her wings. "I am dry."

Wynne used a towel to remove as much water as possible from her intricately braided hair and dressed. She gathered the discarded feathers. "Do you want me to carry these back?"

"Yes, thank you. Who knew I could shed my own money?" Caedy chuckled.

"I wish I was so lucky." Wynne laughed.