Lieutenant Muk Chin-Hwa, the quartermaster of the regiment, watched as a blue jay, a chicken, and what he suspected was a ranger approached the gates. Not since he’d stumbled into a meeting with Captain Bell had he seen such a motley array of animals working together. Sure, the mice and the rabbits worked hand in hand, and the foxes were there as well if in reduced numbers, but to see what was clearly a magically augmented otter? With such a well-trained chicken?

If he squinted, he could see the resemblance to the chickens that Freya had kept in her pens. He wished he’d spent more time looking at them. The thirty or so scouts that had been using the trained beasts had reportedly become very efficient at their jobs.

He’d heard rumors that Freya had been training chickens, perhaps this blue jay, private that she was, had encountered her?

He held up a hand in greeting the otter and blue jay.

“Well met, fellows, thank you both for patrolling,” he said.

“Sir, it’s a pleasure to serve a coalition officer,” Private Kay said.

At least he thought her name was Private Kay. She seemed pleasant enough, but he reminded himself of her proclivities for explosives.

“Well, the pleasure is mine, fair sapper, as I can not serve a populace that I don’t love.”

Sela smiled, placing his hand on the beast. His warm open posture put Muk at ease.

“I believe that I’ve sent an invitation to my cousin that your party dine with me this evening, in honor of your honorable service.”

“That’s awfully charitable of you, sir.”

“I for one was not thinking of it that way,” he replied.

The otter stood on one side, gleefully waiting for his turn to interject.

“I’m quite interested in telling you some things in confidence, Lieutenant, as well I haven’t had a proper meal in ages,” The otter said.

Muk nodded absentmindedly. He’d acquired fish for his fox brothers and sisters in arms and would have to remember to save some for tonight, as well as have someone cook it. Or what did foxes do to fish, bake it? Clearly, he needed to deal with otters more.

“I’ll see to it that we have something suitable for you.”

Visiting with the heroes that had saved his desperately needed run of supplies from the home country would be an excellent experience. He was reminded of the feeling that he’d tried to impart to his Soldiers, once. The feeling that help was not coming, and that they would have to support themselves.

If only they had taken the lessons to heart. Many of them just realized that the front lines had it bad. Their own particular positions were not so much better, they just knew when the trains would arrive.

The rest of the coalition didn’t.

Muk knew that a well-placed delivery of supplies or its absence could make or break the war.

Now he just needed to set some aside to toast a few special friends.

***

“So, you’ve made your decision, then?” River asked.

“I have. I’ll go, I have one condition,” Freya replied.

“Name it.”

The blue jay in front of Freya had better control of her face than Freya did and she hoped that she wasn’t giving anything away.

“I want to be able to make my own way as a druid.”

River’s blue white and black plumage looked bright in the late afternoon light. Freya didn’t doubt for a minute that she’d probably never look as radiant, if not as shiny.

River hummed a whisper song to herself, a verse that was far from familiar.

“It would be with great difficulty that you could do so, however….no one I have ever recruited could make a better case than you for such a thing. It cannot happen until your studies are complete and you are accepted by the circle, but what I can do for you I will.”

River let the statement stand in the air above the fire.

“I will accept you into the circle. One thing that I will tell you is that we have many rules, but many rewards for service.”

Freya waited.

“Is that all…druid?” She whispered.

“When we return to our natural shapes, I will have you re-swear the first of three oaths. This first one will not bind you as the third will, but consider it more or a guiding hand. You must assume this first oath without any hint of avoidance in your heart. Now let us commune with the Raven before our dinner.”

The two sat in silent meditation for a brief while.

Magical lines danced around River when Freya opened her eyes.

“Observe,” River said in the faintest whisper.

One moment they moved, the next they formed a clear criss cross pattern. A lattice formed around River, slowly lowering itself down to where she sat.

It was a large expenditure of energy, and Freya sat in rapt attention.

For three minutes, River built up weaves and broke them down.

Mesmerized, the mouse wild shaped into a blue jay tried to take down everything. She so wished that she’d thought of bringing out her stationary set to take notes, but she didn’t want to break contact.

Undeterred, she kept her eyes locked while she brought out her book. A lady needed to know how to draw, but no one every said why.

Freya had her why.