Five young women were obviously standing out front eagerly listening to the conversation inside. Obviously Wynne was not the only one who was vulnerable to curiosity. They ranged from about Wynne's age to twenty two.

"We heard." A redhead said without preamble. "Did you really choose a human mate?"

"Yes." Wynne grinned widely. "What can I say, he makes my soul sing."

"I almost envy you." A petite blonde sighed. "Here they are all my cousins and the thought of any of them as a mate is revolting."

"In case you haven't guessed, we are the few single lasses among the shifters, with nearly four hundred single men." The red head said dryly.

Wynne stifled a laugh. "Just five?"

"Just five of age. There are twelve girls younger than us." The red head commented. "What is it like out there?"

"It depends. It has its beautiful parts and its dark parts. I expected more people out here."

"They all scampered off when they heard you coming out. We wanted to warn you, the men are not likely to support you." The blonde said and grabbed her arm. "I am Seamara."

They herded her off to the edge of the forest. Daire trailed after them. Once they reached the trees the pulled her down to sit on some of the moss.

"I am Mayaleia." The redhead said shortly. "Fialawynne has been trying to convince the males for years to settle in one place and allow in outsiders but they are nervous we will choose outsiders."

Wynne nodded.

"We should all introduce ourselves before we dump our concerns on you. I am Teanamaeve." The oldest of the bunch, a strawberry blonde, said. "You know Sea and Maya, This is Kelletanda and Fionacomara, or Kelly and Fiona." She pointed out the still silent pair, one with black hair and golden eyes, Kelly, and the other with rich brown hair and sharp green eyes, Fiona.

"Sea, Maya, Kelly, Teana, and Fiona, got it. I am called Wynne. I assume you have a plan."

"Yes. Fiala was hoping you would bring us to the Queen's attention but the Leaf-men found us before the box reached you." Maya leaned forward. "When Keane said you had four half-shifters in your charge she thought perhaps if they could shift that would be the answer to our problems. You know, broader population base."

"They can't yet but they are all very young and most humans don't exhibit abilities until puberty." Wynne said. "So what are you going to do, threaten to leave if they won't agree to a treaty?"

"Of sixty five women, sixty three of us will leave with you if they don't agree." Sea said. "The other two are you and your grandmother."

"Wynne, are most humans like your Julian?" Kelly asked.

"Some, there are some truly evil men as well. You won't have any problem discerning who they are. They smell sour and reek of other's pain. You should take a trip down the k'Valdemar, there are more men than women, and they smell wonderful. I think you called them leaf-men." Wynne leaned forward conspiratorially. "They also work very closely with nonhumans and most will have no problems with our true nature."

"You really told your Julian?"

Wynne nodded. "He is a scholar of the histories and cultures of nonhumans. He thinks I am wonderful."

"Obviously." Teana chuckled. "The attraction between you two is so thick it fills the air around you."

Wynne sighed and purred slightly.

"You purr?"

Wynne blinked. "Of course. Don't you?"

They all shook their heads. "That trait hasn't been seen in generations. What forms do you have?"

"Snow leopard, jaguar, and house cat."

They all exchanged meaningful glances. "That explains it. It is very rare for a house cat to crop up." Sea explained. "And they always bring great change."

"Can only house cats purr?"

"Yes."

"Then I think my niece and youngest nephew will be able to shift. They both purr."

"Enough serious talk. Are you bringing in any eligible bachelors?" Sea said with a wicked look in her eyes.

~*~

Wynne and the five other young women were giggling madly when they returned.

Brennan scowled at them. "They are planning something."

"And if they are?" Fialawynne asked. "They are young, let them gossip a bit. After all, our Liawynne has never heard any of our gossip."

Wynne kissed Julian warmly in greeting. "How are you and my family getting along?"

"I adore your grandmother." Julian confessed.

"But my uncle is being a pest?" Wynne asked. "Caedy will be here in a few minutes. No one believed me when I said she was big."

Seamara fluttered her eyelashes at him. "You are a beautiful specimen."

Wynne mock growled at her. "Mine. Shall we go meet Caedy? Tandee is probably freezing. Oh, there was a slight change in plans, Moonblade is in the basket instead of Rris who decided not to fly."

"Moonblade, the Tayledras you mentioned?" Teana asked.

Wynne nodded. All five young women hurried from the room.

:We have sixty three very powerful allies. If the men make a fuss they will leave with us.: Wynne mindspoke Julian.

:You didn't agree to take them with us, did you?:

:No, they are thinking just settling in some town along the border and living as humans.:

:Good.: Julian relaxed now that he knew Wynne wasn't going to embroil Valdemar in a war of the sexes. "My Lady Leopard, shall we go meet Caedy?"

Wynne accepted his arm and her grandmother accepted the other arm. Julian escorted them both outside just as Caedy allowed the basket to touch down.

Moonblade helped Tandee out and held his arm out just as Darli came in for a landing.

The entire village crowded around them.

Wynne stepped forward to make the introductions. "Grandmother, Uncle, please allow me to introduce, Tandee k'Leshya, Moonblade k'Vala k'Valdemar and his bondbird Darli, and Caedalema k'Leshya. My friends, please allow me to introduce my Grandmother, Lady Fialawynne, and my uncle, Brennan."

Brennan gaped at Caedy.

"I am pleased to meet all of you." Fialawynne said with a smile.

Tandee was the first to extend her hand. "The pleasure is all ours. It looks like you are just settling in here."

Sea was the first to worm her way through the crowd to Moonblade. "Hi, I am Seamara. Are you really one of the Leaf-men?"

Wynne hid a smile.

:Apparently you aren't the only one who has fewer problems when they already know what you are.: Daire observed. :That poor boy.:

:Quiet Tangletail or I am going to laugh.:

"Leaf-men?" He asked dubiously.

"You look like a pile of leaves." Sea explained and tossed her hair flirtatiously. "You must be so tired from your trip."

Maya pushed her way through the crowd. "You are very welcome here Moonblade, no matter what those idiots say." She gestured to the glowering men.

Wynne quickly unclipped Caedy from the basket. "You made good time."

"The wind was with us. Poor Moonblade may be regretting coming ahead."

There were chuckles through out the crowd.

"Your people look like they need some organization here." Tandee commented. "These houses won't last more than a few years. Very poorly designed."

"They aren't meant to last." Someone explained.

Wynne could see the open curiosity on the faces of the people gathered around them. She didn't know how much they knew about what was happening and she had the feeling her grandmother was testing her.

Wynne stood on the edge of the basket so that her head was well above everyone else.

"I don't know what you all know so I will try to explain everything."

Fialawynne nodded slightly.

"My name is Liawynne. I was born and raised in the capital of Valdemar, Haven. Now, from what I understand you are here because of me." There were several nods. "Now the problem is you built your town just inside Valdemaran borders."

"We are aware of that, what does it matter? No one was living here." Someone called out.

"By Valdemaran law you are welcome to live here so long as you obey the laws and pay taxes. Unfortunately the people who have come to speak to you have been driven off."

"We don't want any outsiders here." Someone yelled.

"Has anyone ever mentioned you are paranoid?" Wynne yelled back.

There were several chuckles and the man was ribbed mercilessly by those around him.

"If you want to stay in Valdemar, you will have to sign a treaty with the Crown. If you don't sign the treaty you will have to leave, with the army on your tail or under your own power is up to you."

This caused an uproar.

"Quiet!" Wynne ordered in her best imitation of Kerowyn. "These people are part of a diplomatic party from the crown. I chose them because they are a fair representation of Valdemar as a whole."

"You chose them? The Queen didn't?"

"I did because I was the closest thing to an expert on you. The Queen is not a fool, she lets those who are best suited to a job do it." Wynne explained. "I chose representatives from some of the nonhumans who have allied with Valdemar; a gryphon, a hertasi, a kyree, a dyheli, and a bond bird. Three of them stand before you."

All attention was turned to the new arrivals.

"I also chose humans from among the allies of Valdemar. Moonblade is Tayledras scout and is accustomed to working with nonhumans. He lives at the k'Valdemar vale to the east. An'desha is a shaman of Shin'a'in and is a great mage. Dancingleaf is a healer of nonhumans and of the Kaled'a'in. Herald Kerowyn is a military leader of Valdemar. Herald Talia is the Queen's Own Herald which makes her one of the most powerful people in Valdemar. I consider all of them my friends and would trust them with my life."

"You told all of them?"

"I am not ashamed of being a Shifter, why should I hide it?"

"And if they react badly."

"Then that is their problem. What are they going to do to a creature that not even their creator was willing to face?"

There were several nods and whispered discussions. Wynne could easily understand all of them. Many were actually willing to try. They could always leave if things got too uncomfortable.

What surprised her was their belief that she was acting only in their own interest even though they didn't even know her.

:I think you are getting through to them.: Daire commented.

"You shouldn't have brought humans here." Someone yelled.

"Well, it was five now or fifteen hundred later." Wynne shrugged. "I have brought them here, it is up to you to make peace or to leave."

Wynne hopped to the ground.

"That was well done." Fialawynne said.

"You should go back inside. I know you are in pain." Wynne urged.

"Let's sit on the lawn. I would like to meet your friends." Fialawynne suggested.

Tandee appeared with several cushions from inside and scattered them on the ground.

"I am sorry, but what are you?" Fialawynne asked Tandee as she lowered herself on to a cushion.

"I am hertasi." Tandee explained.

Moonblade, with Darli on his shoulder, sat on a cushion across from Fialawynne. Caedy settled on the grass. Julian and Wynne shared a large cushion next to Fiala with Wynne leaning against his broad chest. Tandee chose a cushion between Moonblade and Caedy. Shifters stayed close enough to hear every word, those who were more in favour of her plans were closer.

"A hertasi, I think I remember something about them in the old history books."

"I had never heard of Shifters before Wynne decided to mount this little expedition."

"You are all close friends of Liawynne then?" Fiala asked.

"I consider her a featherless sister." Caedy answered.

Wynne blushed at the honour.

"I have only known her a little less that two weeks but she has proven herself a true friend." Caedy continued.

"She thinks first of others and rarely of herself. She rode in the basket with me even though she did not want to fly." Tandee added.

"I have heard only good things about the Heralds of Valdemar." Fiala nodded. "I am glad she is honourable. If she wasn't the others would not have trusted her."

"Are they that sensitive?" Moonblade asked.

Wynne nodded. "Scent tells us many things. Some things you just can't wash off, like the smell of fear, it will cling to a person for ages. Or rage. Their emotions and the emotions of others they are close to tell us a great deal about there personalities."

"I suspect Liawynne is better than the rest of us at it. We rarely have contact with the outside world." Fiala smiled at her granddaughter.

:Here they come.: Daire interrupted. :They want to know how to proceed.:

:Tell them to ride to here with their hands off their weapons.: Wynne answered.

:Are you ready?: Julian asked.

:I better be.: Wynne answered. :They made excellent time, far better than we did.:

:I bet Kerowyn had everything packed and ready to go just after we left. She probably also moved closer while they waited.:

:I wouldn't put it past her.: Wynne acknowledged.