"What exactly is this potion supposed to do?" asked Drizzt.
Beside him was Catti-Brie who was holding Ruth.
"This is the animagus potion. It was a headache getting the ingredients that were still viable this far north. I know you have some affinity for magic, even if you rarely use it...so this will show what your inner beast. Once we do that, we can progress to the next stage which allows you to freely turn into that creature on command," said Cerri.
"Inner beast?" said Catti-Brie. "Will Drizzt become..."
Cerri immediately shook her head.
"Unlike the cursed kind, this potion allows the one who drinks it to maintain their sanity. They'll just be in a new form is all."
"I just have to drink this potion?" said Drizzt.
"I'm mostly doing this to give Ruth a basis for the spell that will allow him to shift into the form of a human," explained Cerri. "The fact it can become a useful tool for you later is a bonus."
"What about me?" asked Catti-brie.
"You really think I would leave my student out on something that you can learn too? The potion was originally developed by humans after all, and you do have the aptitude to learn the higher tier stuff. Even your father said you seem to have a knack for this sort of work."
Catti-brie blushed. Because if her father said that, he meant it.
"Besides, I plan to take it as well," said Cerri. "Why would I poison myself for the sake of a transformation spell?"
Drizzt looked at the vial...then decided to trust his sister. She hadn't actually given a reason otherwise.
It was right as the potion hit his tongue that she decided to warn him.
"Just to let you know, these potions usually taste unbearably foul even if they work."
It took everything in his power not to gag at the taste and then the effects hit.
His eyes saw clearly even in the daylight, and were sharper than he could remember. His form felt far more powerful. Looking down, he saw sharp talons where his hands should be. His back also felt heavy...it took him a moment to realize he had wings.
"Why doesn't it surprise me that you're a hippogryff," said Cerri amused.
Drizzt let out one mighty battle cry, before the potion wore off. He fell flat on his bum once it did.
Needless to say Catti-Brie was all for trying the potion regardless of how bad it tasted.
In her place was a rather magnificent pegasus, filled with the youth and vitality of a wild mare.
She still gagged something fierce.
"I suppose it's my turn," she said. Without hesitation, she downed the potion.
She felt rather...floaty.
"Mew?"
"You're...a blue cat," said Drizzt, confused.
"How adorable!" said Catti-Brie.
Cerri dove towards her brother...apparently her animagus form had psychic abilities, and she wanted to confirm her suspicions.
Drizzt pulled out the compact mirror she had given him, and she let out a sigh.
"A shiny Mew, really?" she said telepathically.
"You can talk in that form?" said Drizzt in surprised.
Cerri let out a shrug.
"Mew are psychic creatures...telepathy is child's play for them," explained Cerri.
Ruth seemed anxious, seeing his foster mother transform into another creature.
"Ruth?" said Drizzt.
"Mama!"
Everyone was stunned silent.
"Mama!" he repeated.
Cerri stared at him in shock, before she bent down so he could come up to her.
"Good boy," she said smiling gently.
Cerri did not miss the glance Catti-Brie shot her brother. And to be honest, he could use some happiness in his life.
She had seen the barbarian child Wulfgar that Bruenor was disciplining. She also knew the way that close quarters and shared experiences could bring people together.
It seemed she needed to have a chat with Catti-Brie alone.
"Well, now that we know what our inner creature is, we can work on the next part. Transformation. It's a good thing we're good at meditation, because it's going to require a bit of it," said Cerri.
It would take them all three months (for Drizzt and Cerri) to at least semi-master the ability. It took Catti-Brie four, but then again she had far less magical training compared to them.
On the plus side, she could finally fly again, even if Drizzt and Catti-Brie still had to improve the muscles of their wings before they could join her.
Catti-Brie had an embarrassed expression on her face. To be fair, Cerri had asked a rather personal question.
"Well?"
"Wulfgar is a good person deep down. And while he has grown a lot, he's still rather brash," said Catti-Brie. "But...if I had to chose between who I would rather marry, it would be Drizzt, hand's down."
"I thought so. The barbarian might be the same age and species of you, and you have been spending a lot of time together, but honestly, you're more compatible with Drizzt. Even if he's too proud and stubborn to see it. Not to mention the headache of trying to date when people hate drow for obvious reasons."
Catti-brie blushed at that. To be honest, Drizzt was her type but she didn't think he would ever lower his defenses long enough to agree to courting her.
"Besides, it might not be as long of a shot as you think," said Cerri. "Bruenor obviously approves of him, you know he cares for you and you have enough in common to at least work with."
"Do you really think I have a shot?" said Catti-Brie.
"More than you would have with Wulfgar. He's grown up a bit, but he's still a headstrong idiot who comes from a tribe that is more interested in producing fighters than mages," said Cerri. "I know the type...he'd never let you achieve your full potential."
Catti-brie was a natural mage...it was a shame she had gone so long without being found, but Cerri had experience teaching people how to use magic. The fact she picked up the animagus transformation so quickly was proof her talent.
Unknown to Catti-brie, but known to Cerri, Bruenor was listening in on the whole thing.
As much as it pained him to consider the idea of his daughter getting married, he could stomach it as long as it was to someone as honorable and trustworthy as the elf.
Now the real trick was convincing Drizzt to admit he liked her without his 'manly pride' getting in the way. The whole woe is me thing really irritated her at times, but it wasn't her business.
(Drizzt...absolutely did not expect his baby sister to play matchmaker and he would deny it to his dying breath that she was the reason he had Catti-Brie later got together. Cerri would never let him hear the end of it otherwise.)
Elsewhere, in an undisclosed location
Nailo had a nervous look on his face. And who could blame him? He was about to tell Ren his greatest secret.
The priests were rather firm...the only way he would be permitted to train with his best friend or learn from the clerics (with Mystra's permission) was if he hid nothing about his past.
Ren knew he was half-high elf...the problem was what the other half was. It wasn't human like his mother told everyone. It was something far worse.
Ren listened to the full story. Of how there was a raid from the Underdark, and Nailo's mother had been attacked in a horrible way. How reinforcements had come in time to spare her life, but not from the trauma.
She loved her son with all her heart...even if the circumstances of his birth were less than desirable.
"Wait...I highly doubt that the high elves would be taken by goblins or the other lesser creatures of the Underdark. They're too smelly and the elves would have noticed them almost immediately," said Ren. His eyes widened as he put two and two together. "You're half drow?"
Nailo winced, and waited for the inevitable rejection. Drow were hated and feared, and it was only because he inherited his mother's fair skin instead of the telltale ebony of the drow that he had avoided detection thus far. He barely got away with his red eyes by claiming they were a unique shade of brown.
He did not expect the hug from Ren.
"You...don't hate me?"
"You're kidding right?" deadpanned Ren. "You're still my best friend. Besides, I'd be a complete and utter hypocrite if I hated someone who had drow blood in them, considering who raised me."
Nailo looked at him baffled.
"You remember my aunt? The one I planned to look for once I had more experience?" said Ren.
"The one you never shut up about and quote constantly?" said Nailo.
"Her full name is Cerridwen Do'urden. She's a drow mage," said Ren as if he were commenting on the weather.
"A drow...mage?" said Nailo, incredulous.
"Auntie never told me specifics, but apparently drow society really didn't suit her so she faked her death. She spent several years adventuring before she found and raised me," said Ren.
"Hold up...how were you raised by a drow mage? And a female one at that? Female drow consider men lesser species! And all my studies say they worship Lolth, not Loki!" said Nailo, practically shouting.
"Why do you think I never mentioned it? I'm sure auntie would train you...she was always trying to teach me magic, but I was more interested in learning her sword style," said Ren.
"Why am I not surprised?" said Nailo. "Your blasé attitude had to be learned from someone..."
Honestly, he should have expected this. Ren would be completely fine with announcing to the world the woman who raised him until he was brought back to the high elves was a freaking drow.
"To be honest, Auntie never told me what type of elf she was. I had to find out when she left, and why she kept it quiet. I think you'd like her a lot...she loves to read to. She's the one who taught me how to speak dragonic."
Nailo was just so done with Ren's behavior...he should have expected this to happen.
"What am I going to do with you?" he said exasperated.
"...Act as my enabler to the situations we keep ending up in because I'm such a nosy bastard?" said Ren, in mock thought.
Nailo twitched.
"Who in their right mind thinks it's funny to go into what's obviously the lair of something foul and unholy just to see what sort of treasure they have? If you weren't so good at blind fighting we'd be dead!" shouted Nailo.
"Auntie taught me. She said if I was so determined to be a ranger, then I needed to learn how to use other senses than just my eyes. Though the last leg of that training sucked, it was so worth it!" said Ren.
"Well if she really is a drow then it makes perfect sense she would know how to fight blind... most drow can't stand natural light," said Nailo. To be honest he found it painful at times too, but he had learned to bear it. He could switch between his natural vision and that of the drow, but he hated doing it.
"Wait, seriously?" said Ren.
"From what limited books I've been able to read, there are no natural lights in the Underdark. Drow see on a different spectrum and one of the ways to nullify their threat is to use bright lights. They absolutely hate sunlight, which is why they most commonly attack during night."
"...So that's why auntie made those weird glasses...I always wondered why they made things so dark," said Ren.
"Weird glasses?" said Nailo.
"Yeah, Auntie had these weird glasses that she made that made things super dark even during the brightest day. She said she used the same enchantments she put on her veil," explained Ren.
"Do you have any of them?"
"Auntie only had the one pair, and she took them and some of the other things with her when she left. I only have a few of her items with me," said Ren disappointed.
Nailo took one look at the enchantments...and suddenly understood why his patron goddess had told him to stay close to Ren. It was obvious that his auntie was a powerful sorceress and a great master. He was honestly curious about meeting her in person.