21st of Tarsakh:

This morning we were startled awake when Elisha's trap went off. We heard a male voice yelp. We quickly grabbed our weapons and headed to the cave entrance. Where just inside the entrance to the cave we found Val crouched atop a boulder like a scared cat. I was delighted to see him and laughed at his antics.

"Val! I'm so happy to see you! How did you find us?"

"I've been tracking you since you left the Carnath Roadhouse. The dwarves said you should have returned three days previous. And despite their reassurances, I felt it was critical I head out immediately."

"But why were you tracking us?" Yukouth asked.

Val never took his eyes off of me and answered, "I heard the news of Zira's grievous injury from a traveling bard in Leilon and I knew I should have never left you. That and the faint dreams I kept having of this cave."

Elisha helped Val down from the boulder and around the remnants of the tripped trap. Once free I hugged Val like I would have hugged Envon. I had briefly spoken about my dreams of Val, so they all knew who he was. However, since Val had never met them, I made introductions before we headed back to pack up our gear. We have almost a week of travel back to Carnath Roadhouse and I sincerely hope that it is less harrowing than the trip here.

Val and I did watch together tonight so we would have a chance to talk.

"Zira, I've never had dreams like these before. And I hope never to have them again. They were so real, but also intangible. Please ask Marat to spare me the dreams."

"Is that why you came?" I asked.

"No. It was more than that. From the moment I left you I felt like something was missing. And I've felt this invisible pull since I decided to return to you. I think I could find you anywhere," he chuckled, both amused and nervous.

"Oh," was all I could manage to say. I was speechless.

"Do you feel it?" he asked a little timid.

I thought for a moment, "Yes. Since that first day in Waterdeep, I've been able to find you at a glance, almost like my eyes were pulled in your direction. And now that you've returned, everything feels right."

A big smile appeared on his face, "Zira I have something important I want to tell you. I'm sure you've noticed that I'm a bit different," he chuckled a little, "My pride lives within the edges of the Dalelands near Ashabenford. We're a community of weretigers."

I looked at him in shock!

"Some of us are still full lycanthropes but most are shifters, part lycanthrope part human. And there are some humans among us as well. In fact, my own mother is a human," He puffed up with pride.

"I didn't know such a place existed. I didn't think werebeasts could live in harmony with others."

Val winced at the word 'werebeasts' and said plainly, "We prefer lycanthropes or in my pride, weretigers."

"I'm sorry Val. I didn't think…"

He reached over and touched my shoulder, "It's ok. You didn't know. Now you do," then he continued, "I don't know about other lycanthropes, but my pride lives peacefully with the nearby community in Ashabenford. They send those who want a shorter trip to Blackfeather Bridge to our tents because we know a shortcut through the woods. It's shorter, but not safer and that's why travelers hire us to guide them." He had a huge and prideful smile.

"Let me guess, you used to be a guide?"

"No. I was a scout for the guides because I can run so swiftly."

I laughed and pushed him away playfully.

"So your big secret is you're a weretiger shifter."

"No, I'll tell almost anyone about my home and lineage. And it's not so much a secret, more a custom of my people. Many of us have a wandering name we use with outsiders and a true name. We only share our true name with a few special people outside the community. Valentino Peacetalon is my wandering name. My true name is Swift."

"Swift," I said trying the name out for the first time, "because you're a fast runner. I like it!" A huge smile broke across my face.

Thank you Marat for allowing Swift to share his true name when he was ready.

"I'm glad you like it since it's my name," He laughed and smiled back. "Oh, there's one more thing. If you insist on being up in the action, then I insist on teaching you to fight and protect yourself when I can not. Deal?"

"Deal. Thank you, for trusting me with your true name. I feel the same way about you, you are as close to me as my twin, Envon."

We hugged and chatted until I told him I needed to write before our watch was over.

Thank you Marat for putting Swift in my path.

Z