Just Another Day

"Well, there's a familiar face!" Katari called out cheerily as he landed beside Bara. "Collecting herbs again?"

"Collecting, drying, grinding, storing, and living the herb life to the fullest," laughed Bara. "How have you been, Katari?"

"Out earning my right to my own apprenticeship," Katari replied. "Looks like you're doing well with yours."

"Time will tell. If you're looking for Onami, he's out by his home, hanging some fresh gatherings," Bara said and pointed.

"Thanks," Katari nodded and followed Shanku as she began to walk off.

"Hullo, Onami!" Shanku greeted him as he came into view. "Need help with anything?"

"No, but I suspect you do," he said with a smile. "Out roaming with permission, I hope?"

"Foterutu," Shanku said proudly. "We got kicked out the right way."

"Not the description most would use, Shank," Katari sighed.

"Same difference, we can't go home for five years," Shanku shrugged.

"Can your friends become human?" Onami asked.

"They're all yours," Shanku said with a broad grin and stepped back, her arms extended grandly.

"But it's forbidden!" Ina yipped.

"We're not in Scissortail territory anymore. Fair game now," Shanku chuckled evilly. Ina glared at her and Shanku laughed more. "If I survived it, you will. C'mon, it's not that bad! How can you cast water protection on your feathers if you don't get your feet wet?"

"We better not get caught," Ina grumbled.

"When would you like to begin?" Onami asked them.

"When you're ready," Katari replied. "Do you need our help with anything until then?"

"Sit. Tell me your future goals when your journey is completed," Onami gestured before him as he continued to hang leaves and stems to his drying rack. The Sylvans complied and helped Onami pass the time by indulging in conversation and aspirations. He invited them to stay for the summer, suggesting that Katari could go on hunting trips with the Heyen to learn how to take prairie game, Ina could study with their storytellers, and Hilael could assist Bara and learn more about the plants in the fields. Shanku, of course, would be tasked with helping him teach the Sylvans how to change forms in between general chores. The cubs found this quite acceptable and looked forward to their summer stay among the Heyen clan.

"Are we going to have to be separated?" Shanku asked uneasily. "The last time we visited, we stayed with Vikeso and Makehe, and she didn't really let me see my brother the whole time we were there."

"I am afraid that is the way of things at your age," Onami apologized. "I am sure she would be happy to have you again. I will need your help in teaching them, so I can promise some regular contact."

"Thank you, Onami," Shanku said and bowed her head to him before turning to the others. "C'mon, let's get this over with."

"How many times do you think you'll get yourself smacked with the spoon this time?" Katari teased.

"Too many," Shanku said flatly. Makehe often built her home near the same neighbors each time the clan moved, which made it easy for Shanku to find her.

"Greetings, Makehe!" Shanku said as she approached the matriarch.

"Ah, you have returned," Makehe nodded, and noted Ina. "I see you have a new friend along this time."

"This is Ina, she's traveling with us on our Foterutu," Shanku said as she introduced them. "Shaman Onami asked us to stay for the summer so he could teach them how to change forms properly."

"I hope you're prepared to work while you're here," Makehe said sternly. "There is much to be done in the summer."

"If it's the only way to repay your for your hospitality, we are glad to help where able, ma'am," Katari said.

"Smart lad," Makehe chuckled. "You two, go to Vikeso, and you two, come with me."

Katari and Hilael left to find Vikeso as Shanku and Ina joined Makehe in tending the garden of corn, squash, and beans, helping weave, and mending and washing clothes.

"You are unaccustomed to work," Makehe frowned as Ina stumbled through many of the tasks.

"I have worked for many years at home, it was just in the library," Ina stated. "I am a scribe. It was my job to help preserve books. I have helped us maintain our history and further our knowledge."

"Which doesn't get supper cooked," Makehe said and gave her a pot full of dirty roots.

"And now you learn new things to put in new books and enrich our people even more," Shanku said warmly and took her to the fire. "Forgive her. She lost her only daughter many years ago and was never quite the same afterward. Neither was her daughter's mate."

"What happened?" Ina asked as she scoured the roots.

"The war never ended here on the plains. One day, Tashina, Anoki, and his parents passed too close to some Arnthian soldiers. Anoki was the only one who survived," Shanku explained. "Many Arnthians are still very leery of kurach, which is why this had to be our first stop if we were to leave the Nyre."

"I see," Ina said quietly. "How long does it take to master the shift?"

"I had Shalu trained within a few nights," Shanku answered. "It shouldn't take us that long to get you three ready to go further out into the world."

"I'm a bit more open to it now," Ina said. "I wouldn't want to put my own family through that. What's the first step?"

"Well," Shanku looked up at the sky thoughtfully. "You have to be able to feel the magical energy down deep in your gut before you can use it. Onami is the one who awakens it in those who've never managed it before. I think he said he'd try to work with you three tomorrow morning so you can get started. It's a little harder to do when you're older, that's why he usually starts with cubs, and probably why he asked us to stay for a season; to make sure you've got it down."

They finished with the roots and began to boil them. Makehe joined them with spices and a bit of meat to make a proper stew as they waited for Vikeso and the others to join them for supper. Kadin was very glad to see them again, but Shanku had to regretfully inform him she was under orders to behave herself and couldn't disrupt the entire camp with an impromptu ball game.

"Traitor," Kadin grumbled under his breath before he was shooed away to prepare for bed.