“You understand that these words might break the circle if uttered aloud.”

“I do not say these words obliquely or for the purpose of humor. Those ragamuffins, they were something else, something magical.”

“You’re to only bring this up to the Red. He will know what to do. It has been so long since we’ve seen magic used in such unnatural ways.”

River straightened. Spring had never been so aghast at anything she’d ever told her. Not even when she’d admitted how she felt, and River had expected her to balk.

“This magic… It belongs to the White circle. I’ve never… no, I was told that they had special powers, a special weave brought down through the ages, but nearly every cat I’ve met without fail has been of the White. It must be a part of their bloodline.”

“Their bloodline?”

“You sensed it, didn’t you? Druids making more druids?”

“It would make sense,” River said, thrumming on the table they were seated at.

“It would make sense.”

“How else are druids made?”

“I’ve got an inkling that there is another way, but I can’t prove anything. I thought I would be able to, but…”

“I understand, druid.”

“You must gather some brothers and sisters, and investigate the scene. The magic that built those ragamuffins would still be strong for months afterward, and those of the White wouldn’t have reason to travel through your burrow.”

“I’ll take my rangers.”

“This mission… you’ll need a trusted Grey or Purple. Chip will serve another purpose.”

River smiled. He’d been growing in his small ability. Now, it would be tested.

“And one more thing, River. I’ll be going back to the circle myself. If I send someone to you before I return through the burrows, take them along to the ride. It has been a long time since I took an apprentice and Yellowrock will be guarded by another in my absence.”

“Have they picked your successor here then?” River said, a catch in her throat.

For so long, Spring had been not only her teacher but her line back to the circle. Both the red grove, her smaller organization, and the larger druid circle connected for her through Spring. The fact that she might not return to Yellowrock meant that River might be moving from the place she’d been calling home for three years. Druids needed to move around for the benefit of all of society.The disparate races had chosen all different areas of woodland to take hold.

“They have not. Two druids will remain in my stead to advise the queen and coalition.”

River nodded along. Spring, a mouse herself, had stuck around for so long due to a combination of her abilities and her upbringing. She’d been born in Yellowrock, and the circle liked to reward those that have completed a more difficult term of service with a follow-on mission of choice. Druids lived long lives, compared to the creatures they spent their time shepherding, so staying too long in one place could be a recipe for stagnation or worse, familiarity. River knew that she would be shuttled around according to the needs of the circle though they would take into account her preferences from time to time.

“Two to replace you? What an honor.”

“It is. Not one that I would ever have wished for. But my time with the Red will be fruitful, I imagine. Freya has been working on her ciphers, I hope.”

“With as much enthusiasm as a newly married mouse could have. Which is so say, a slight amount. She does keep her book with her so she can use it when she is not otherwise occupied.”

River had seen the book and Freya’s notes on it frequently in her paws. River had her own book which she had been updating so the two could use one of three ciphers between them. Muk had also been copying the same three ciphers so that they could all switch based on the day, season, or any number of unusual things they decided on that week.

“Don’t forget to bring some of those delicious rolls, otherwise, you’re fired.”

“You can’t fire me!” River faked outrage.

“Sure I can.”

“Well, good luck replacing me with a Raven of the same or similar talents.”

“Fine, you’re rehired then.”

“I accept.”

“You shouldn’t, but I accept your acceptance.”

They embraced and River said her goodbyes before heading up to the top of the inn and taking flight. She flapped up to a height and caught a thermal, taking a slow flight around Yellowrock. The days were growing longer

"So you're here on the map," Muk said, illustrating his point on the embossed map his family maintained in its parlor. "And you need to move a mix of rabbits, foxes, and supplies here."

Muk showed a point on the opposite side of the country's territory.

"Is this for the military? Or for the business?"

"You know what? Make it a case for either and explain the differences."

"Alright," Hem said.

Quartermaster Master Sergeant Yates sat behind his charge. He had been drilling Hem day and night. Hem would be sent to the summer course at the academy, and if he did well, would be taking officer courses to make up for lost time when needed.

"If we're moving let's say a payload from the far eastern reaches of Yellowrock all the way to the west, we have several options, based on the size. If the payload is small, we can call up the bluejays and pay a hefty fee to get it there ahead of anything else. If we can get carts set up to arrive by the Riverfolk docking area and ship the payload upriver and then across the northern lake, we can count on it getting there without being seen by that many creatures."

Hem paused to take a breath, looking at Muk to see if his face would betray any hint that he was on the right course. With Muks newly heightened senses and resolve, it was not even close.

"That would be the clandestine option. Of course, there is the rock standard sending it overground. The best option if you're not trying to hide or hiding something in plain sight. This could be done overnight alternatively or in a covered wagon. I would send it via covered wagon overnight as the primary way if I had no cause to use the other routes and was trying to get it there if the arrival time didn't matter."

Hem took a swig from his flask. Muk was reasonably certain that it was water, but the mouse had a nervous tic when under pressure.

"That's the strategic view of it, yes. Now go into depth on the tactical plan. What are you telling your Sergeants or dispatchers?"

"Well if we go in the same order, I would start by sending a message to the bluejays quartermaster to see if they would accept the task, then find a suitable payment for the move..."

Hem continued his explanation of the different things he would have to take into consideration for each faction involved which wasn't in his employ, then make sure that those in his employ knew what they needed to know. A lot of the dealings had already been settled long ago and were worn grooves in their particulars.

As such Hem would need to learn how to create the new grooves, lest he fall into a rut. Muk had him for a few days for just that purpose. Quartermaster Yates would continue Hems internship. There wasn't much that Muk knew that Yates didn't. Hem would need to learn and bridge the gap.

Muk took his time explaining how he would have to ensure a wall between his own business and the crown's business. It was true that he was being given the money on behalf of the Chin-Hwa family, money being managed by Crenshaw on the civilian side.

The merger of the families could be everything that Hems' mother always wanted. Muk just had to make sure it went as good as possible.

After Hem gave a sufficient enough explanation, Muk nodded.

“‘That is a start. Next, we will have to set up some war games for you. The academy is great for those kinds of things. Thankfully I set up something for you to work on with Crenshaw and Yates while I am gone.''

Hem’s look of horror and resolve showed briefly before he laughed.

“Honestly, I would be concerned if you didn’t.”

“Me too.”