SHIFT

Chapter 1

Wenny ran. The breeze she generated ruffled the fur along her sides on down her back from the tip of her nose to her tail. The feel was addicting. Scents swirled up through her nose and tickled her tongue as she breathed out. Most of the scents were familiar as she loped through the woods of her home. There was however one enticing scent that she didn’t recognize. She followed it down through the low part of the forest and was now winding her way among some foliage up along a slight rise. The edge of her normal territory was approaching. 
She stopped at the far edge of the forest. She was standing on a grassy knoll looking down into the valley. She was not a stranger to the valley nor to the village nestled among the rolling hills. She had friends there. However none of her friends knew her in her wolf form, they only knew her as Wenny the bar maid. 
As a bar maid she lived in the village. While her ability to smell was better than the average human, while in human form it was greatly diminished. She never went to the village as a wolf. People were frightened of wolves. 
She sat back on her haunches. Returning to human form would eliminate the scent. She wasn’t ready to do that. She lifted her nose to the breeze. It was a narrow scent. She could only detect it while she was surrounded by it. If she went too far to one side or the other she would lose it. 
She had identified it as another shapeshifter, but it was not a wolf. She had never smelled that particular scent before, so she didn’t know what exactly she was looking for. It seemed to lead to the village, so perhaps the new shifter was there. She sat enjoying the sun on her upturned face. Her eyes were closed and her nose and ears surveyed the world about her. She wondered about the other shifter. Where did they come from? What form did they take? The scent told many things about the shifter. Wenny didn’t know how to decipher all the information. The only other shifter she had known was her mother. Her mother had died years ago when the villagers caught her out as a wolf. Her mother’s taste for lamb had gotten her killed. 
That had frightened Wenny, so she stifled her cravings for domestic livestock and only hunted the rabbits and squirrels of the forest. She also kept her distance from the regular wolves. Her mother had warned her that shifters weren’t accepted in either the human or animal world. Both worlds regarded her kind as unnatural. 
Wenny had always wondered about her Father. Her mother had shrugged him off as a passing merchant that had gotten her pregnant and she had never seen him again.  Her mother had been somewhat of an outcast in the village. She had no family there. Her mother had been somewhat of a stray. Wenny had no idea where she was from or who her family was. In fact, since her mother was killed in wolf form, it was assumed that she had abandoned Wenny and left the village as she had arrived. 
The Innkeepers Bart and Metta felt sorry for the orphaned girl and took Wenny in and made her part of their family. Wenny had been seven years old at the time. The only person in Bart and Metta’s family that had a problem with her was their teenage son Ferd. The girls Dina and Toma were excited to have another girl in the family. 
Wenny, afraid of facing the same fate as her mother grew up keeping her shapeshifting a strict secret. Now she was twenty-five years old. Bart had passed away two years ago and Metta, pined for him. She sat idly on the porch telling stories to the young kids in the village, but hardly doing more than that. Dina and Toma ran the Inn Wenny worked for them and lived in the small cottage behind the Inn. Ferd had long ago accepted Wenny as one of his sisters. He had purchased a farm, gotten married and raising a brood of children who all helped him on his farm. He was completely uninterested in the Inn.
Dina and Toma had done well with the Inn. They were both smart, bright and bubbly. The Inn was as much a social spot for the locals as well as it had become a vacation destination for outsiders.
Wenny loved working at the inn and meeting all the strangers that came to the village. 
The village itself had grown over the years, thanks to it’s location on a protected bay. Marine traffic had increased to a point that Merchants had started using it as a convenient port to ship and receive goods.
For Wenny it brought the outside world to her door. 
She sat on her haunches for a few more minutes fixing the memory of the scent. She then turned and loped back in to the forest. It was still early in the morning, the sun barely lighting the eastern horizon. She could have shifted back to human, and more than likely not be seen, but she was careful. Only twice had she nearly been discovered and the fear made her extra careful. She crawled down through some brush that obscured a dry hole that led to a shallow cave. As a human she could stand in the cave. Indeed it was her second home. Over the years she had outfitted it for both human and wolf. There she could shift in safety. 
As she entered the cave she immediately began her transformation, her last few steps on two legs, her hands reaching for the flint box to light the small lamp. As her eyes adjusted to the small flame she became aware that she was not alone. Sitting in one of the caves natural niches was a lizard. 
It was not unusual for rodents, birds and other animals to occupy her cave. But the lizard was not native to her little forest. In fact, belatedly she realized his scent was not of an animal. He was a shifter. 
“Who are you?” She asked guardedly. 
He spoke in a raspy hiss, as she clothed herself, “Very good! You know the difference between Humans, Animals and Sintafor.”
She pulled her tunic over her head and stared at the lizard. That word, she had heard it before, but a very long time ago. Her mother had said it, but she had said it with derision. Wenny had always assumed she was cursing in another language. To understand it was the word for her type of people shook her. 
“Who are you?” She asked again, demanding a direct answer this time.
“I am Camron.”
“Sintafor,” she murmured softly, rolling the word through her mouth. To her it had the bitter taste of the wasted life of her mother. The chameleon watched her without interrupting her thoughts, his tongue darting in and out of his mouth. She glanced at him, desperately wanting to ask a lot of questions, but she restrained herself, that iron control she had to keep her secrets safe.
Finally she said, “I need to go.”
The lizard said, “would you like company.”
She considered for a moment. “No.” She said. 
“Very well,” hissed Camron. “I’ll look for you in the village.”
“Uh, as a lizard?” She asked dubiously.
“Oh no. In my human form,” and then he was gone. He scurried up the wall and out through a crevice at the back of the cave.
Instead of leaving right away, Wenny sat down to ponder the enormity of meeting Camron. She knew because of her mother that there were others, but until face to face with another shifter, Sintafor, she corrected herself, her life had been safe and orderly. Her secret was hers alone. She wondered if she had run in to other shifters and hadn’t known. She dismissed that thought, simply because she caught on to Camron right away. She also figured if a shifter stood in front of her in human form she would know immediately. She didn’t know how she knew this, it was just a feeling of knowing. 
She looked around her homey little cave. She felt as if she were looking at it for the last time. A sense of change had entered her life. She felt at one sense fear of the unknown, but yet an exhilarating sense that she was beginning something new. Went shuddered with anticipation. She got up and left the cave. The sun had begun to rise above the eastern horizon. She would be a bit late, but suddenly it really didn’t seem to matter.
Lighthearted she strode back to the village.

Chapter 2

“Ah Wenny! There you are!” Called Dina as she bustled about the dining room setting tables in anticipation of the morning crowd.
“Hey! Dina!” She called back hurrying to the kitchen to grab her apron. She returned with an armful of wood for the fireplace. She dumped the wood in the bin next to the fireplace and dropped to her knees to start the fire. She stretched and yawned as she stood up. Dina laughed from across the room, “How can you be tired? You slept in today!”
Wenny did her best to look chagrined. She was grateful her ruse held. She grabbed a broom from the corner and swept away the debris from the wood and ashes, then proceeded to sweep the back veranda of the inn. The Veranda looked out over the bay toward the south. The bay was protected from the westerly winds by a steep rocky headland crowned with pines. Waves crashed in to the headland leaving the bay calm and smooth. To the south was the mouth of the bay. Another rocky outcrop curved from the south to the east. Beyond the outcrop the sea stretched endlessly. If she went to the back side of the Inn she would see the grassy valley disappear up slope into her patch of woods. The woods stretched upward in rolling hills until they climbed the northern mountains with their jagged snowy peaks. 
As wolf Wenny had explored the woods all the way to the rocky base of the nearest mountain. The villagers called it Old Man Peak. No one could remember why it was called that, it just was. 
Wenny heard a crash of pottery. She sighed. Toma was at it again. Toma regularly tried to do too many things at once and the pottery always suffered. She finished the Veranda and went back inside. She stopped dead in her tracks.
At the double front doors of the inn stood three large hooded figures. Their backs to Wenny. She could hear Toma whimpering in fright. She did not see Dina. Quickly she ducked behind the bar. As she crawled along the floor under the bar she found Dina sprawled in the doorway of the kitchen with a gash in her head. She appeared to still be breathing.
One of the hooded figures snarled at Toma, “Where is the shapeshifter?”
Wenny could barely hear Toma’s trembling voice, “I don’t know what you’re asking me,” she cried, “There are no shape shifters here!”
Wenny went cold. Who were they and why would they be looking for her? Then she thought of Camron. She dare not show herself, if they could spot a shapeshifter they might be able to tell that she was one. She leaned back against the bar hoping they would believe Toma and leave.
Dina started to stir. Wenny glanced at her and back at the hooded figures. One of them snarled at Toma who whimpered in fear as she crouched near the ground.
Another of the figures spoke, the voice a deep gravelly sound, “These fools don’t know anything of shifters. Let’s go, we can turn the hunters loose to find the lizard.”
The third voice spoke, sounding low and feminine, “Come Zarna, Joaquin is right. Shifters rarely come this far north. It’s not surprising to find they know nothing.” 
A frustrated snarl issued from the first figure. Wenny assumed that was Zarna. 
Wenny noted that Dina had stopped moving. Toma remained on the floor at their feet whimpering softly. The three left, slamming the doors behind them. 
Toma stifled a sob as she rose up and slammed the lock down on the doors. She then stumbled to the prostrated Dina. Wenny was already there wiping the blood off Dina’s face and checking the severity of her injury.
As Toma fell to the floor beside them, sobbing, Dina pushed Wenny’s hands away and pulled herself up. She sat leaning on the doorway wincing with pain. “Are you all right,” she croaked at Toma and Wenny. 
“I’m fine,” said Wenny curtly. “Toma?”
“I’m fine,” gulped Toma, “Just afraid.” Her voice shook. Wenny hugged her and attempted to tend Dina’s head wound again.
“Stop fussing with me!” Groused Dina, “I’m not frail!”
“That looks like a nasty cut!” Exclaimed Wenny.
“Oh it pains for sure, but I’m sure the door got the worst of it.” Dina attempted to humor them.
Toma smiled a little through her fear. Wenny scowled.
        “Who were they?”
Dina said, “Never seen their likes before. They walked in like they own the town. Demanded I tell them who all my guests were.” She huffed, “no manners at all. I asked them who they were. That’s when they started threatening me. The short one got aggressive with me. I would have clobbered him, except I had my hands full of mugs. He came at me and I went down, not because of him, but because I tripped over my own two feet.” Dina sighed ruefully.
Toma said, “The short one scared me!” She sniffed with indignation. Dina growled, “Guess he’s got a problem with women being taller than him.”
“He did seem to defer to the woman,” noted Wenny.
“Woman?” Said Dina and Toma.
“The one with the high soft voice.”
Toma shook her head, “That was no woman, Nor was it a human. Only the short one looked human. “
Wenny frowned, “What were they?”
Toma shook her head, I don’t know, I’ve never seen anything like them. The tall one with the soft voice was a deep dark brown color with jet black hair. I could not see the eyes because the hood of the robe obscured much of the face, but the hands looked very strong and masculine. The other with the deep voice was very pale with snowy white hair. He looked to be hairy all over. He had hands that looked like furry paws and two fangs that showed as he talked. I was afraid he would try to bite me.”
Wenny was astounded. She had never head of anyone looking like that. Dina and Toma were just as surprised. 
Wenny cleaned and bandaged the wound on Dina’s head. As Toma poured them each a hot coffee with a bit of rum, to calm the nerves, a sharp rap on the double doors startled them. Toma stopped mid pour and looked Dina and Wenny,      “Do you think they’re back for more?”
Dina shook her head. She pushed herself up off the stool, and stumped to the door. She didn’t unlatch it. She simply shouted, “Who’s there?”
“It’s me! Ferd!” Shouted their brother, “I heard you had some trouble, Let me in!”
Dina was already opening the door as he shouted.
Ferd Strode in followed by two of his sons, “What happened here? I heard there was a scuffle!”
Toma and Wenny started talking all at once. Dina said sternly, “Enough! Get the boys something to eat. Ferd, come with me.” He and Dina went out to the back Veranda. Wenny and Toma took the boys to the kitchen and got them breakfast. 
“I wonder what shapeshifters are.” Toma mused idly as she poured the boys some milk. 
Wenny said nothing. She was afraid she would betray herself if she said anything about shifters. She poured the boys mugs of cider, then sat on the stool in the corner of the kitchen. Normally she would be tending the fires and helping with the cooking in the kitchen, but since the visitors left it was an unspoken consensus that they weren’t opening for business.
Twenty minutes later Dina and Ferd came in and sat at the table. The boys looked at their father expectantly. Ferd leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. He was a large man with heavily muscled are and shoulders which made him thick and sturdy. Years of manual labor kept him fit and strong. His receding hairline and weathered face only hinted at his age. 
Scowling, he said, “I’ll have a look around town, but I want a couple of the lads to remain here and keep a watch on things. 
“Really Ferd!” Protested Dina. “I told you that’s not necessary. We were just startled. No one got hurt” She touched her forehead, “Not really, besides that was my fault!” She blushed. 
“Maybe the boys here wouldn’t be such a bad idea?” Offered Toma hopefully.
Dina frowned at Toma.
Toma continued, “Seriously Dina, maybe they didn’t frighten you, but I was terrified!” She turned to Wenny who was staring at nothing, lost in her own thoughts. “Weren’t you scared Wenny? Wenny!” She said louder.
“Oh, uh, What?” Asked Wenny rejoining the conversation.
“Afraid! Weren’t you afraid?” Asked Toma again.
“Um, kinda, but no not really.” She admitted.
Toma huffed, “She didn’t see their faces like I did! If she had she would have been afraid too.”
Wenny shrugged. She was more curious than afraid. She wondered what they wanted with Camron. She was wary of the lizard shifter already and these three looking for him, didn’t make her feel any more trusting of him. If she was afraid it was because Camron might expose her secret and then where would she go?
As the conversation in the kitchen continued, Wenny receded back to her own thoughts. Why was Camron here? Why hadn’t there been any other Shifters here since her mother died?. For the first time she even contemplated the difference between her and the rest of the villagers. As far as they were concerned she was a human just like them. Only she knew the difference. 
Her fear of anyone finding out stemmed from her mother. Every day her mother had made sure she knew that humans could not be trusted to treat her as anything but an outcast, simply because she was different. When she died it became clear to Wenny that if she wanted a safe home, she had to keep her true self secret.
A small part of her resented this. It felt completely unfair that she couldn’t be her wolf self whenever she liked. With Camron here it seemed that perhaps there was such a place where Shifters could do as they liked. He frightened her though. There was something about him that seemed amiss. As a wolf she would identify it as a wrong smell. A smell to be avoided.
As she sat on her stool amidst the heated conversation in the kitchen, she decided she would seek out the the three who had come to the inn. As rough as they had seemed, they didn’t seem like the violent type. At least not violent until pushed.  She trusted her instincts about them and decided that they were probably safer to approach than Camron.
She stood up and everyone stopped talking and looked at her. Startled, she said, “Are we going to open today?”
Dina and Toma exchanged looks, but it was Ferd who answered, “Not paying attention to the conversation I see,” he chided but not unkindly.
Wenny blushed, “Sorry I got lost in my thoughts.”
“It’s ok,” he smiled, “Go, enjoy the day off. You work hard, I’m sure a free day will be fun for you.”
Dina added, “We’ll reopen as usual tomorrow. I think we all need a free day. Toma and I will take care of the three guests we have. The locals will just have to make dinner for themselves today.” she smiled but Wenny could see she was worried.
“Thank you,” said Wenny. She tousled the youngest boys hair as she left the kitchen. She could hear the conversation resume as she left. She had always remained aloof from the family conversations. She had no desire to be apart of their angsts and worries. She was glad that they had not expected her to take a more responsible role in the running of the inn. In fact, Dina and Toma had been happy that Wenny had wanted to get her own place to live once she was old enough to be on her own. 
She went back to her little cottage which was as near the edge of town as she could get. It made it easier for her to leave at night and go to the woods without the fear of anyone seeing her.
The moment she opened the door, she could smell him. She growled instinctively. It took all of her control not to shift to wolf form. 
She walked in leaving the door ajar. She only had one room. A cot in one corner, a table and chair in another with a wood stove along one wall. She only used the stove in the winter when it got too cold. Even then she only lit it to keep people from wondering why she didn’t have a fire lit at night.
She had a low trunk which held her extra clothes and other possessions. On top of the chest was Camron in Chameleon form. She almost didn’t see him. She could smell his unique scent however, which helped her find him. 
She growled again, “What are you doing here?”
He shifted. A tall man with long wavy white hair and a long white mustache stood before her. She wasn’t sure if his mottled skin color was due to age or because his shift form was chameleon. He stood upright and strong like a young man, but he looked very very ancient. His eyes retained their beady lizard look. His smile under the long mustache looked feral.
“Now now,” Camron soothed, “You really should have more respect for an elder of your kind.” He made to step in her direction, but stopped as she growled low in her throat. Eyebrows raised he remarked, “even in human form you sound remarkably like a dog.”
“Dog?” Snorted Wenny, “I’m no dog!” 
“Very well, wolf, really what difference is their really between wolf and dog? One can argue that dogs are domesticated wolves and to me,” he spread his arm around to indicate her cottage, “you appear somewhat domesticated.”
Wenny didn’t answer, she knew she was disadvantaged by her lack of knowledge of her own kind.
His next words startled her, “I knew your mother.” 
“How?” She asked guardedly. 
He smiled as if he had her hooked on a fishing line.
“Get out!” She snarled, not liking his smugness.
“Oh stop! Your wolfish suspiciousness is losing its charm.” He said annoyed.
She stopped growling but she remained close to the open door. 
Camron eased himself back down to sit on the trunk. He looked less imposing and more like a harmless old man. He smiled up at her. She noted his teeth were yellow, and he seemed to be missing a few.
“Sit down,” he said as if he were inviting her into his home instead of invading hers. 
She crouched next to the door.
Ignoring her wariness he continued, “Your mother was born in the Spring of the blood moon.” He launched into his story. “Her mother and father belonged to the  Styrulava . According to their lore birth at the blood moon was auspicious. It meant the next ruler would emerge. Unlike mundane wolves, Sintafor wolves typically only have one pup at a time. Your grandmother had the misfortune of having two. That meant one had to die. Your grandmother couldn’t kill either of her pups, neither could your grandfather. Your aunt grew up not knowing that she had a sister. You see your grandparents concealed your mothers life by sending her to another pack. They had a cousin in a lesser pack that would raise her. All would have been fine and neither sister the wiser except that in their teen years they actually met. Every thirty years there is a gathering of Ulava nation.” He noted her confusion,  “Ulava is what wolf sintafor call themselves,” he explained.
She frowned, annoyed with herself for getting caught up in the story, but she hungered for knowledge not only of her mother, but of others like her. She decided to hear him out, so she nodded at his explanation.
Camron continued, “Your mother and your aunt were about thirteen years old. They of course looked very similar, but because your aunt was being groomed to lead and your mother was being raised as a commoner they looked very different in the ways they dressed and behaved. To the girls it didn’t matter, they were drawn to each other and became close friends as thirteen year old girls do.  For the entire gathering the were inseparable. It wasn’t until the last night of the gathering when the entire nation convened for the closing ceremonies. This was the ceremony where your aunt was to be presented as the up and coming Styrulava leader. The girls had talked excitedly about the ceremony all summer and were looking forward to it. Your aunt had invited your mother to join her family as a guest for the ceremonial hunt and feast. It was then your grandmother realized who your mother was. I fully believe if your grandmother had done nothing no one would have realized her thirteen year old lie. But fear of discovery leads people to desperate actions. Your grandmother forbade your aunt to see your mother ever again.” He paused and looked about the small cottage.
Wenny looked at him quizzically.
“My mouth is dry from the telling of this tale, do you have anything to drink here?”
“No.” Said Wenny. She never kept food in her cottage.         She either hunted for her meals or ate at the Inn.
He sighed, “Unfortunate. Very well.” He hacked in the manner of very old men, a wet nasty sounding gag. After a minute or so, he cleared his throat and then continued, “Where was I? Oh yes, your grandmother forbade the girls to see each other again. Well as we all know, young teenage girls can be very rebellious when forbidden something they want. During the hunt they met up and decided to run off together. Silly girls,” he shook his head and eyed her with a feral gleam in his eyes.
Wenny shivered at the malevolent look.
Your mother missing would not have caused much of a stir, the family she was raised with would not have missed her, in fact they would have welcomed the fact that she was gone. Apparently your mother didn’t fit in well with the poor relatives.”
Wenny snorted. That was a fair assessment of her mother, she seemed hell bent on not fitting in anywhere. Wenny knew that even as a small child. She had forgotten to a degree her wariness of Camron. The story had drawn her in, she had sat down cross legged on the floor.
Camron continued, “The disappearance of your aunt however was a big deal. The culmination of the gathering was to confirm her birthright!” Camron coughed again. When he resumed his voice sounded rougher, “The ceremonial hunt turned in to a search party that lasted three days. The girls were found, but not by the Ulava, they were found by me.” 
His attempt at a reassuring grin failed. Wenny was back on her haunches growling at him.
Camron rolled his eyes. “Calm down! I didn’t hurt them” he snorted. 
She sat back down, but remained warily tense.
“I found them and they told me what they were running from. I convinced your aunt to go back. Your mother didn’t want to separate from her, but I explained to them both what your aunt already knew to be true. Your aunt had an obligation that she could not run from. She would be hunted. They would not stop until they found her and your mother would bear the brunt of the punishment, possibly including death.” Camron appeared to wipe a tear from his eye as he recounted the tearful parting of the sisters who did not know they were sisters.
“Did you abandon my mother here?”
Camron looked at her, “No she ran away from me a couple years after I rescued her from the hunters. It wasn’t until a couple years ago that I found out what happened to her. I had hoped to find her here. I was surprised to find you.”
Wenny’s eyes narrowed, “Why did she run away?” 
He shrugged, “A young girl hanging out with a stuffy old man? She had met a pack of Dyrulava, rogues, and ran off with them. I heard of her from time to time, but over the years I lost track of her.” He stopped while another coughing fit took over.  Weakly he said, “I was hoping you could fill in the last years of her life.”
Wenny said nothing. She was not ready to tell this ‘Sintafor’ anything, the word resonating derisively in her head with her mothers voice.
Camron sighed again and stood up, “Look,” he said sternly, “I know you don’t trust me, I get it, I’m a total stranger. I had hoped that telling you your mothers history you might be willing to talk to me.”
She stood too, but remained impassive.
He nodded with resignation, “Very well. I will be staying at the inn,” he said with the malicious glint back in his eyes. He nodded at her low growl, “Maybe you will see I mean you no harm.”
She jumped out of reach as he moved toward the door.
He exhaled with exasperation, clearly tired of her wariness, but he said nothing.
He opened the door to leave. Without looking back he said, “I’ll see you at the Inn, try to be more polite.” 
Then he was gone. She wanted to howl with rage. Instead she paced restlessly in her cottage until the sun set and she could escape to the forest.

Chapter 3

The ship lolled with the gentle tide at the dock. Devoid of masts the ship was powered by steam. It was a noisy clanking thing when underway, but at the moment the only sounds were the slap of water along its wooden hull. In the aft captains cabin below deck, sat three robed figures. Zarna sat brooding in the corner. He had removed the offending boots allowing his talons to flex and stretch. The hood of his robe lay limply on his back. His face looked almost human. Aside from the hawkish glint to his eyes and his prominent nose. Behind the Captains desk was Azeria. Her face took on the broad ape-like aspect of her Gorilla form. Except for the unusual length of her arms in relation to the rest of her body and the wide broad hands of her gorilla self she appeared mostly human as well. Joaquin was the only one that had retained his mostly animal appearance. He stood nine feet tall. White thick fur covered his entire body including his face. His feet and hands had returned to human as had his facial features other than the two fangs protruding from his upper jaw. 
Azeria reclined in her chair, her giant hand wrapped around a steaming mug of cider. She contemplated their next move. They knew the Chameleon was here. His scent was unmistakable. The odd part was the other shifter they detected. She had not heard of any shifters this far north and this deep into human territory. A low rumble from Joaquin made her look across the desk at the hulking lump of white fur. Poor Joaquin. At least she and Zarna could pass for human in this state. He could not. But as impossible as his looks were he had the most patient of demeanors. Azeria smiled. Her own fangs showing. Joaquin was asleep and snoring softly in the corner of the cabin.
Zarna glared at her, “What now?”
She shrugged, “The same as always. We send out the sisters.”
Zarna scowled. “The sisters have failed us before.”
“It wasn’t their fault,” she chided.
“They didn’t do anything to stop it either,” he sulked.
Azeria sighed deeply. She loved Zarna, but he was an emotional handful. Anger at his plight robbed him of any other joy in life. Admittedly she didn’t like being stuck halfway through her shift, but there was no pain. She relented in her thoughts a little because Zarna had probably lost more than any of them. Which brought her back to their issue at hand. “Do you want to accompany the sisters?” She asked, knowing he would refuse.
Zarna remained in his brooding silence for a few minutes and then surprised her by saying, “Yes, I will go with them this time.”
Azeria stood, masking her surprise, “Very well then you need to go now. I told the sisters they would leave as soon as the sun sets.”
The sisters were half shifters that had remained in their animal form of snake but with human heads. They were hard to look at. Two very beautiful women as humans, and very vain. Their vanity led them to believe they were more beautiful as half-shifts than as either human or snake form. Indeed they could charm humans into believing whatever they wanted. They were probably the only half-shifters that had benefitted from the blight.
Zarna reluctantly began to pull his boots back on.
Azeria said, “It’s dark and your deeds this night will require you to remain unseen. Do yourself a favor, leave the boots.” 
Zarna nodded and stood up. He dropped his cloak and stretched out the wings that had been folded on his back. 
“I’d still wear the cloak,” she advised.
He sighed and picked up the cloak, but he only draped it over his arm and glared at her.
“I’m only looking out for you,” she scolded, “don’t look at me like your troubles are my fault.”
Zarna nodded and bowed to her. Then he left, softly closing the door behind him so as not to disturb the sleeping Joaquin.
Azeria sat for another ten minutes staring out the starboard porthole. The narrow straight led to the open sea. She wanted to pull up anchor and leave. The Chameleon had already exacted a heavy price on her and her crew. After the incident in the Inn, she was afraid of what else they would face. It worried her that she had detected another shifter, but no one in the town seemed to have ever heard of shifters.
A harsh knock on the cabin door startled her out of her thoughts and Joaquin out of his slumber. 
“Enter!” Ordered Azeria, with a look at Joaquin.   Another half-shifter poked her head through the door. Chittering excitedly was Poka. Poka’s shift had only affected her head. Poka was a chimpanzee from the neck up and girl from the neck down. She was Azeria’s cabin girl, her errand runner and messenger girl. Azeria relied on Poka, more than she wanted to admit.
Now Poka was telling her that there was a girl on the dock wanting to speak to her.
Azeria pulled her cloak on and covered her head with the hood. “What’s her name?” She asked as she signaled Joaquin to do the same. 
Poka chittered rapidly.
Azeria frowned and looked at Joaquin, “Have you heard of this girl before?”
Joaquin shook his massive head. 
“Follow me, but remain out of sight as much as you can.”
He nodded.
The sun had long set. Lights were sparse on the dock, illuminating only the warehouses. Her ship and others had their own lights lit, but all were subdued. She glanced about the main deck and saw each of her night watchers in their positions, as they should be. Behind her the hulking shape of Joaquin followed. His footsteps thudding on the wooden deck. She waved at him to stop so he crouched down and remained still, blending with other equipment on the deck. 
Poka stopped at the top of the gangplank. She too blended in to dark shadows of the deck. Azeria sniffed the air. She smelled the distinct scent of a Sintafor. She smiled to herself. It would save her the trouble of looking. She moved to where Poka stood in the shadows and looked out over the gunwale. The dock appeared empty. To a humans eyes it was empty. Azeria used all of her senses to see the woman standing in the shadows. She saw her eyes blazing yellow like a wolfs up at her. Azeria tasted the scents by breathing in deeply with her mouth open. The usual scents of salt water, decaying marine vegetation, the oil of her ships engines, and that sweet bitter scent of her half-shifts mingled with the sweet and heady scent of a shifter not affected by the blight that had arrested her and her crew in their half-shift state.
By the scent she knew the woman was a Ulava. She even smelled of the Styrulava, though that scent was very faint. Azeria nodded at Poka, who chittered to the deckhand.
As noisy and clanky as the ship was under steam power, her working parts were well oiled and painstakingly cared for. Her ship looked to be a well worn heap. That look was cultivated. No one gave a thought to what was aboard such hulk and tended to steer clear. 
The woman warily approached the lowered gangway. She stood at the bottom looking up. Azeria knew that if she were truly a Styrulava, she could see her and her crew as clear as day. The woman’s gaze swept the ship, then slowly she ascended the gangway. She stopped just out of reach of Poka and the deckhand. Azeria said, “Welcome aboard Styrulava Sintafor. 
The woman cocked her head as if she knew the words, but not their meaning. She looked at Azeria with interest, trying to see the face that went with the voice. She sniffed the air as if she wasn’t sure what her eyes were telling her. Azeria only detected wariness, but definitely no fear. The woman exuded the curiosity of the very young as well.
Azeria stepped out of the shadows and removed her hood. The woman looked at her curiously, without fear, but also with a look of trying to understand. It was as if she knew instinctively that Azeria and her crew were afflicted with some sort of unnatural shift. 
“Why are your here Ulava Sintafor?”
“That’s not my name.” Said the woman. Her voice had a distinctive throatiness that confirmed to Azeria that she was Ulava. 
“Very well,” she played along, “what is your name?”
“I’m Wenny,” said the woman.
“Why are you here?” Asked Azeria.
“I’ve never seen anyone like you.” Wenny said, “Where do you come from and why are you here?”
A low murmur echoed through the deckhands. No one demanded answers of the Captain! 
Joaquin stepped forward and towered menacingly over Wenny. 
She stood her ground and looked curiously up at him. “You’re amazing.” Said Wenny with awe in her voice. She reached out a hand as if to touch him, but quickly snatched it back when she realized what she was doing. She looked back at Azeria, “Who are you looking for? I saw you at the Inn today. You frightened them.” She demanded. A hint of a growl issued from her chest. Her eyes glowed yellow in the the darkness.
Several of the deckhands moved towards Wenny as if to subdue her. She insulted their captain after all. Azeria held up her hand. She noticed Wenny’s gaze study her hand. The deck hands remained tense ready to spring in to action, but they stopped where they stood.
“Go back to your posts!” ordered Azeria. “Come,” she said to Wenny as she turned to go below decks. She didn’t wait to see if the woman followed, but descended below to her quarters.
Poka preceded her and opened the door, as she sat at her desk she was pleased to see Wenny had followed without question, followed by Joaquin who entered the quarters last. She pointed to the chair that Zarna had occupied earlier. 
Knowing her place, Poka closed the door as she departed. She would wait outside for Azeria to need her again later.
Joaquin crouched in the corner where he had been sound asleep before. He kept a relaxed watch on the two women, but remained silent.
“It’s clear that you are just as curious about us as we are about you. We are surprised to find any Sintafor this far north and this deep in human territory, and even more curious that you are not only Ulava but your scent identifies you as Styrulava. How did you get here?”
Wenny looked confused, “I was born here. I had no idea that there were even others beside my mother and I here. Why are you here? And who are you looking for?”
Azeria decided to be up front, “As you can see by my appearance and that of my crew, that we all appear to be stuck in the middle of shifting either in to or out of our human and animal form.”
Wenny leaned forward, listening attentively. 
“My crew has mostly been a bunch of misfits,” Azeria smirked, “ok Pirates, most call us Pirates. We survive by taking what we need and redistributing the rest. This ship is our home, the one place we truly fit in, the one place we can count on each other.” Seeing Wenny’s interest in her tale, she continued, “A long time ago, before I became a deckhand on this very ship, It was a sailing ship with tall masts and rigging. Like all Sintafor we begin our lives appearing to be human, but as we grow, unlike humans we find we have another aspect. So is true with our ship. We call her Rasbuq. 
Many years ago, and under my command, we weathered a nasty storm upon the southern sea. It spit us out in the mist of an archipelago. A maze of tiny islands, most wind swept and barren but a hardy few. Our Mains and Mizzens were gone, rent from our decks and devoured by the storm. We lost a fair few of our crew as well. Ragtag we drifted through the archipelago. Despair began to set in amongst the survivors, I myself nearly succumbed to the desolation. It was then our fortune began to improve. Impossibly we had unintentionally navigated the maze and found our way to the center. The gem at the center was volcanic tropical island. Lush jungles of palm trees, beautiful beaches, inland waterfalls, and two large lakes brimming with sparkling fresh water. Brightly colored birds, lizards and animals inhabited the island. 
Indigenous to the Island were a child like people, who seemed happy and carefree. They were delighted to see us. (We were all in human form when we arrived.) They welcomed us, fed us and treated us like honored guests. When they discovered our ability to shift, they at first were wary, but soon we all began to settle into an amicable coexistence. As you can imagine a bunch of pirates do not settle for long. My crew was itching to repair the ship and head for home. But we had a dilemma. The materials to repair the ship did not exist in this island paradise. 
Azeria had not spoken at length for some time, her voice was becoming raspy. She called for Poka to bring water. After a few mouthfuls she resumed.
“The headman of the islanders told us of a second island. On that island was a crazy man. He had a halo of fluffy white hair, and a permanent sunburn, because he never seemed to brown. The man had also inadvertently discovered the center of the archipelago. He had the means to leave, but he chose to go only as far as another island. Aside from a dog, the man remained hermitted on the island, happily doing research, tinkering, and inventing all manner of noisy exploding things. At least that was how the Islanders saw it. Occasionally and explosion and lots of smoke could be seen. To us, we saw the possibility of getting underway again. I set out with some of my crew. We found the crazy old man and discovered he wasn’t as crazy at the islanders thought him to be. Indeed he was brilliant. He had all sorts of fantastical inventions throughout his island. He said he occasionally blew things up to keep the islanders from being overly curious.”
Azeria took another large draught of water. “His name was Dr. Eloy Fenning. He dabbled in everything from geologic studies to mechanical creations.” She shook her head, “I couldn’t name a small portion of the things that man had created. Needless to say he was more than eager to help us with our ship. Our payment? Bring him supplies once a year. He provided us with the maps to navigate the southern sea and avoid its perils.”  She looked around the cabin with a soft expression,  “Rasbuq was ‘shifted’ into her new form, inside and out. We no longer needed our Mains and Mizzens. Dr. Fenning built what he called a steam powered engine. My deckhands were transformed from deck monkeys to grease monkeys. Everyone of us participated in the transformation.”
Azeria stopped abruptly. There were footsteps and voices advancing from the above decks. She recognized Zarna’s voice. 
Poka opened the door for Zarna, who stalked in on his taloned feet, followed by the slithering twins. 
Azeria noted that the woman’s eyes lit up as the three entered. She noted the women continued curiosity. It was an attribute she would need to find a way to exploit.
Zarna stopped and stared at the woman. He glared at Azeria, “Who is this and why is she on board?”
Azeria chuckled at his ill temper, “Don’t you know who this is? Come Zarna, use your natural senses!” She chided. “This is Wenny, if you haven’t worked it out, she is Styrulava.”
“What is a Styrulava doing here? I thought they only ran with their own kind.” He squawked with disgust.
“I was born here.” Offered Wenny, “I have no idea what Styrulava is, or really what Sintafor is either. Today is the first time I am really hearing these words.”
“Let’s see her shift,” challenged Zarna.
The twins hissed with delight at this suggestion. They had flanked Wenny and were sizing her up. Wenny ignored them and stared at Zarna.
“What are you?” She asked him.
“Not rude like you,” he replied with disgust.
“Zarna!” Scolded Azeria, “That will be enough. Wenny is my guest. If you can’t be civil I’ll ask that you leave.” She glared at him until he looked away.
Zarna looked at the twins with obvious disgust, “I went with them like you said. I think they spent more time trying to ditch me than actually look for the lizard.”
Indignant the twins answered in unison, “We know where the lizard is, we just refuse to work with this oaf.”
Azeria sighed, “Very well, we will talk in the morning. Someone find a cot for Wenny.”
Wenny shook her head. “I have a home, I’ll come back tomorrow.” She stood and headed for the door. Poka attempted to block her. Wenny shifted to wolf and growled at Poka. No one tried to stop her as she leapt up the stairs and disappeared.
Azeria smiled. The tide was turning again for her and her crew. The chameleon would pay and they would be free from their blight!

Chapter 4

The sun would be up soon. She would need to be at the Inn to light the fires and sweep the floors. But right now she just ran. It helped to clear her head. The last two days had been incredible. Her whole world turned up side down and as far as the village was concerned nothing had changed. It was like there was a whole secret world that she could see but the people she had lived around all her life were blind to! 
Wenny stopped and sniffed the mist shrouded forest. She had followed the coast northward steadily moving upward in elevation. Now she pushed her way through the brush. A small clearing on a rocky out crop gave her a view of the ocean. Mist obscured the shore and rose up the cliff but it did not come abreast of the cliffs edge, where she stood. Over head the stars glittered in their black back drop. Low on the horizon the moon was descending toward its rest. Soon it would be gone and  the light of dawn would break behind her. 
She looked at the horizon and for the first time, wondered at what lay out of sight. The tale the captain had told her seemed so fantastical, like one of the wandering bards tales. She had wanted to hear more, but the return of Zarna and those awful snake women had made her hackles rise.  She wondered how Camron fit into the story. It was clear he was somehow responsible for the half shift the captain and her crew endured. She wondered if it was painful.
Her thoughts turned to what she had learned about her mother from Camron. As much as she wanted to believe it, she wasn’t sure how much truth their was to his tale either. Wenny had spent enough time listening to people tell their stories. The one thing she had discovered was that the story teller always had a truth they wanted to convey and it wasn’t always the most accurate of truths. More it was accurate the way the teller wanted it to be. Her childhood had made her wary. Her mothers death had honed her wariness. She watched the people around her. She listened to them and could detect minute changes in their moods, simply by the inflection of their voice or a simple involuntary gesture. She instinctively knew who she could trust. Or she thought she could. 
The last two days had shaken her confidence in her instincts. On the surface she wanted to believe both Camron and the Captain, but from what she could tell is that they were mortal enemies. She was uneasy around both of them. She found she could not read them the same way she could the villagers she had grown up around. This made them both exciting and scary.
The captain was clearly looking for Camron. She knew exactly where he was. But Camron had revealed himself to her twice now and even told her that he was staying at the Inn. It wasn’t like he was hiding, so why couldn’t the captain find him? 
She sighed. She stretched out on the ground and rolled on a particularly fragrant patch of wild oregano. The scent distracted her from her thoughts and she reveled in her wolf self. After a short nap, she woke to light beginning to creep up the eastern sky. She loped back to her secluded den. She was relieved to find that Camron had not been there since that first day. Back in human form and dressed, she hurried down to the Inn.
Dina was lighting the two massive stoves when Wenny entered the kitchen. “Ah good you’re here. Toma will be along shortly. Apparently she had a bad night. I think she was more frightened than she let on.” Dina shook her head, “Poor thing is still raving about the fangs. Can you believe it? I guess when you’re afraid for your life you will imagine all sorts of monsters!”
Wenny said nothing, she just listened to Dina as she worked lighting the fire in the fireplace. 
“Could you take these buckets and get some water?” Dina tried the knobs on the tap. “It seems our plumbing is having an issue. Ferd will be over later, I’ll have him check it out and see where our waters gone.”
“Sure,” said Wenny as she picked up the buckets and headed for the well in the back yard. From the back Veranda she could look downslope and see the ships in the harbor. The ugly hulking mastless ship sat bobbing below. Wenny stared at it but could see no movement on the deck. She continued down the stone steps to the lower courtyard. It was grassy with scraggly bushes encircling the yard. When she was young the bushes had been a formidable hedge. Now parts of it were dead and other parts had lost their domestication. Unlike their parents, Dina and Toma struggled to run the Inn. Like most children they had thought that they could improve on their parents modest management of the Inn, A few grandiose failures and they struggled to return to their parents success.
Therefore the grounds suffered the brunt of their poor choices. Having Wenny as their sole employee and Ferd as their handy man, really helped. 
Wenny hooked the first bucket to the rope and lowered it down to the water. She was pulling up the second bucket when she spotted Camron in Chameleon form sunning himself on a rock. He did not move or attempt to speak to her. She found that odd since the two times she had talked with him he seemed to not draw a breath between thoughts!
As quietly as possible, so not to disturb him, she started walking back towards the stairs.
“Good Morning,” Drawled Camron as she put her foot on the first step up.
“Umm ok Good morning,” she said back.
“So, how was your visit on the Rasbuq last night? Did you tell the twins I was here?” He snarled at her, his tone had gone from congenial to angry.
“I listened, more than I spoke,” she replied not moving from the steps.
“Did they say why they were looking for me?” He mocked the captain, “Oh that Camron, we have to find him or we will never find the cure!”
Wenny shook her head, “No they didn’t ask.”
Camron closed his eyes and hissed, “ I doubt that. But go ahead, keep your lies. You’ll see I’m right,” he sniffed as if his feelings were hurt.
Wenny said, “I have to get this water upstairs, it’s getting heavy.” She turned and stumped heavily up the stairs. 
Until that moment her early more run through the forest had restored her calm. Now she was angry. What was she being drawn in to? Her life until a few days ago, was comfortable and easy. While she wished she could shift whenever she wanted, not being able to was still a small price to pay for having the run of the forest. She had never wondered what lay beyond her village or the ocean, or the northern mountains that were always whit with snow. Any traveling beyond her boundaries could be had from the stories of the wandering bards and the merchants. She had enjoyed the stories, but never wanted to have any of those adventures of her own. She had wondered if there were other shifters, and she had at least guessed that there were others like her that shifted between human and wolf form. To know that there was as many varieties of shifters as there were animal species, boggled her mind!
She thought back to all the tales she had heard, but she really couldn’t think of any that mentioned shape shifters. She supposed that the Captain was right, humans and shifters didn’t really interact, at least the humans weren’t aware. The captain had also been surprised to find any shifters, beside the one she was hunting, this far north.
Wenny filled the basins in the kitchen. When she returned to the well she noted that Camron was no longer there sunning himself. She looked around warily, but she was definitely by herself. She refilled the buckets four times. No one interrupted her, so she continued examining her recent encounters.
She wondered if there was a map that showed human territory and shifter territory and how did shifters keep humans from encroaching?
Wenny was at the well for her final draw of water when a small bird landed on the winch. As she went to shoo it our of her way she noticed that the bird did not have talons, but a pair of human feet. As she looked at the birds face she noted that instead of a beak it had human lips and teeth. (It was smiling at her, which she found somewhat creepy.) It was covered in brilliant green feathers with equally brilliant scarlet and yellow markings on its wings.
“What do you want?” Wenny asked tersely.
The bird had a lilting voice that was actually rather pleasant, “Captain Azeria would like you to join her this evening, for dinner aboard her ship.”
Wenny sighed. She was beginning to feel that her curiosity which lead her to boarding the ship in the first place, was a bad idea. 
The bird cocked it’s head and pursed it’s lips. It whistled brightly and cheerfully while it awaited her answer.
“Why does the captain want me?” 
The small bird held out it’s wings, “I’m afraid the Captain does not confide in me, she simply requires I deliver a message, extend an invitation and return with your response.”
Wenny slowly filled the buckets, without saying a word.    Finally as she hefted the water filled buckets she said,    “When should I arrive?”
“You’ll go then?” Said the bird.
Wenny nodded and repeated her question, “What time?” But the bird had gone. To herself Wenny muttered,   “Fine, then dinner at dusk works for me!”
She hauled the last two buckets up the stairs and into the kitchen.  She soon forgot about the bird, Camron and the Captain. 
Ferd had arrived and was banging around the kitchen with his oldest son. At one point the kitchen was so crowded that Wenny ducked out. She spent the rest of the morning picking up service trays from the guest rooms, and bussing tables in the dining hall. By the time the sun hung low over the ocean horizon, she hung up her apron, bid Dina and Toma good evening and headed back to her cottage.
She was relieved to see that Camron had not snuck in again. She grabbed fresh clothing, her hairbrush, a thick cake of yellow soap, and a towel. She then trudged up the hill to the womens bath house. After hauling buckets of water throughout the day, until Ferd repaired the plumbing, her neck and shoulders were stiff and sore. A soak in a hot tub of water was all she could think of.
By the time she was done and leaving the bath house, night had settled softly on the village. Looking out across the Valley from the vantage point the bath house had, she could see points of light dotting the hills and dales of the village. It was very beautiful as the moon rose above, it’s waxing surface brilliant on the night sky.
It was as her gaze swept over the port that she remembered the dinner summons. Wenny sighed. What was in store for her this night?

Chapter 5

Camron watched as Wenny left her cottage for the bath house. The twins had nearly caught him this morning. They were getting too close. He needed to hide the pilots logs he had stolen from the Rasbuq. He had intended to sell the logs, but Azeria had found him way too quickly and the buyer he had hoped to meet had turned up dead. He had managed to stay one step ahead of the Rasbuq and her crew, but he knew his luck was failing him. 
He pulled the cowl of his robe up to cover his head. The walk to Wenny’s wolf den would take him much of the night to get there. As a wolf she could get there quickly. Whether in his human form or Chameleon it would be slow going. He had originally discovered her den by accident. He had found her scent and had followed it. He was surprised to see how comfortable and well lived in it had been. It was the perfect spot to hide the pilot logs. 
As he walked he thought about the logs and what they represented. The mysterious archipelago housed many secrets. Azeria and her crew had spent quite a long time plying those waters. He had been marooned on one of the islands. He had lead Azeria and her crew to believe his island was nothing but a rocky island with not much to offer other than coconuts and fish. He had survived just fine as a Chameleon. In fact it was as a lizard that he had discovered a subterranean cavern littered with diamonds. It had been depressing at first knowing he had found wealth beyond measure and he was marooned. But as the Rasbuq sailed in to view, he began to formulate his plan to not only be rescued but to bring his own ship back to collect the gems. 
At first he hadn’t even thought to steal the pilots logs, but as the Rasbuq sailed back toward Sintafor land, he realized he would never be able to find the archipelago again. At first he had tried to coerce the pilot in to telling him how to get there, the he asked to copy the logs, not realizing how valuable the logs were in the first place. Then he simply decided to steal them. To his dismay, the first chance he got to look at the logs he realized they were written in a code, known only to the pilot and perhaps the captain. At this point, as far as he could tell, he was as far from seeing the gems again as he could get. So his next best option was to sell the logs to someone who could figure out how to read the logs. At least he hoped the logs would net a decent price.
The unfortunate part were the twins. Where Azeria dug up those two crafty slitherers, he had no idea. They specialized in lizard hunting. All they wanted to do was tear him limb for limb. He intended to keep his limbs so he tried to steer clear. 
He had poisoned the crews water supply once they had arrived in the Sintafor port.  Then he stole the logs and ran for it. The crew had not noticed the missing logs right away. They were too preoccupied with their half shifts. The poison was originally intended for humans. Clearly what could kill a human only messed up the ability to shift with a Sintafor.  He had not counted on their survival. As soon as he heard that the crew had survived he knew he had to leave. They would be hunting him down, shift or no shift.
It was nearly a month before they began to pursue him. He had followed the Dyrulava nomads long before he had met Wenny’s mother. He could disappear among their numbers … or so he thought. 
He had managed to elude the Rasbuq crew who were too concerned with their half shift woes. 
The Dyrulava, outcasts themselves, attracted the outcasts and misfits from all the Sintafor societies. There were others, like himself, Bugalon. Humans called them Chameleons. His people were slowly turning to pure animal. They didn’t trust each other and they certainly didn’t trust humans. They were natural swindlers and manipulators. Bugalon tended to keep company with their animal counterparts. Few true Bugalon remained. The ones that did, lived extremely long lives. Camron had been around for a very long time. Now his only goal was to return to the Archipelago, retrieve his wealth and settle down in a quiet village. He would go to a human village, much like Wenny’s. Had Azeria not followed him here, he would have returned to this village to make it home. Unfortunately, he would not even be able to win Wenny to his cause as Azeria had poisoned her mind with tales of other Sintafor. 
He stopped his circle of thoughts and listened to the sounds of the night. His breathing was labored as he had been climbing up a hill. He could hear animals sounds in the forest. As a man he had little to fear other than large predators, but with Wenny patrolling the forest all her life he assumed those predators respected her territory. Confident that what he heard was small animal noise he continued. The waxing moon had risen over the trees. He could see glimpses of it through the leafy canopy. An owl hooted softly over his head. He shivered. Large birds of prey had taken many of his kind over the years.
He got to the top of the rise and looked around. He was close to Wenny’s cave. He could smell her scent which lingered strongly in the area. In order to get in he would need to transform. With the owl around he would need to be careful. 
He poked around until he found the entrance. He crawled underneath the brush that concealed the mouth and transformed. He backed slowly into the cave, dragging the bag with the log books. In human form that had been easy. As a Bugalon, it was a slow painstaking process.


Wenny hurried back to her cottage and dressed. As she stepped out the bird with the human face fluttered down to her shoulder. “You’re late,” the bird scolded in that singsong voice. 
Wenny nearly laughed because it sounded so ridiculous. Composing herself she said, “I’m sorry I didn’t remember until I got out of my bath. I had a really long day at work.”
The bird chirped haughtily, “For a Sintafor, you really don’t understand that humans are beneath us do you!”
Wenny frowned. “Why do you say that? That’s absurd.   They’re just different, that’s all.”
The bird scoffed, “Then why do you hide yourself from them?”
Wenny didn’t answer. She was afraid for people to know she could shift. She didn’t have a real concrete reason. It was just a fear she had always known. It was what her mother had taught her. She had daydreamed about being able to live among the humans and shift as she pleased. But as the years went by, and she got along as a human and keeping her wolf-self hidden, she had questioned it less and less. Now with the Rusbaq in the harbor, reminding her daily that there were others like her, she began to yearn for more knowledge. She wanted to meet others like her. She wanted to see if the stories Camron had told her was true.
She hurried down to the dock. The bird took flight and preceded her to the ship. The gangplank had been lowered. Two hooded figures waited at the gunwale as she climbed aboard. Once the gang plank was pulled and the ship secure, the figures pulled their hoods back revealing half-shift faces. One was the face of a donkey, the other had feline ears and eyes, but the rest of it’s head was human. Wenny did her best to stifle her look of horror, but she couldn’t help being taken aback. Neither figure seemed to take offense however, she thought maybe they were used to the reaction.
They lead her not to the Captains quarters, but to the galley. Seated at the head table was the captain and her officers. Only two actually sat in chairs at the table. The one with white fur and fangs sat cross-legged next to the table. If he moved too quickly he would knock the table over. Wenny liked the big fur beast. He had a surprisingly calm and gentle nature. He didn’t speak much, but seemed to watch everything and everyone.
The Captain looked up from her plate as Wenny was led toward the main table. “You’re late for dinner.” Said the captain sternly. “I expect my crew to be prompt.”
Wenny stopped. She glared at the Captain, annoyed. She crossed her arms and stood her ground, “That’s fine for your crew.” She snarled, “But as I recall, I am not one of your crew, nor have I even indicated that I’m interested in being a part of your crew. You came to my home and disrupted my life. If you think you can order me around then it’s time for me to go home.”
The captain laughed. Her eyes remained hard. “You’ll leave my ship when I give you permission. Your laws and rules don’t apply when you’re in my home.”
“Then get to the point of why you ‘invited’ me here? It would seem you need me. I certainly have no need of you.” Wenny growled back. She refused to let the Captain intimidate her. 
Poka, put her hand on Wenny’s arm.
Wenny shrugged it off with a snarl, “Keep your hands off me.” She glared at the Captain, “Unless you intend to make me a prisoner.”
The big hairy fanged one huffed. He gently laid a paw on the Captains shoulder. The captain glared at him briefly, but then nodded.
“I apologize,” choked the Captain with difficulty, “You are not a member of my crew and you are not a prisoner.” She continued in a more even and authoritative voice, “You need to understand, the last guest we had onboard this ship betrayed us. He killed our pilot, who was human and stole the pilots logs. He also poisoned the rest of us which placed us in our current states of half shift.”
Wenny was shocked. She had thought the crew was possibly hybrids of humans and Sintafor. She shivered at the thought of not fully shifting either to human or wolf.  “How were you poisoned?” She asked with compassion.
The Captain dismissed her question, “A tale for another time. Come, sit with us, I have a proposal for you.” A deckhand pulled a chair up to the Captains table, next to Zarna. Wenny wasn’t thrilled about being seated next to the angry half -human. She sat on the far edge of the chair and eyed him warily as the Captain layed out her proposal.

Chapter 6 

The moon had fallen low in the night sky as Wenny approached the forest and shifted in to her wolf self. Heightened senses told her that Camron had entered her woods a few hours earlier. She growled deep in her throat, annoyed at his continued intrusion. Her annoyance deepened as she considered the conversation on board the Rusbaq. She knew instinctively that the captain only wanted to use her, but she had made a compelling argument. If she were to join them in helping to get the pilot logs back, the captain would take her to meet her family. Her mothers sister. Wenny could walk freely among the humans. It was difficult for the half shifts to get around without spreading alarm. 
Wenny loved her home and her life. She knew every nuance of the forest and the village. She knew the smells. It was safe. But now she also knew there was a whole civilization of people that were like her! How could she not go, not find out what her life should have been like, had she grown up among her own kind. 
By the time she had taken leave of the Rasbuq, she really had already made up her mind to go. She told the captain she would give her answer in the morning. Truly she wanted to wander her forest one last time. She also wanted to gather her things from the cave. There was nothing in the cottage that she wanted.
Now that she could smell Camron, her joy of the forest was diminished. Instead of making her usual rounds she headed straight for the cave.
As she got close his scent was stronger. She paused. She could hear a struggle going on at the mouth of the cave. She padded quietly over in time to see a bag sliding under the brush. She ducked under the brush and grabbed the bag with her teeth. She could hear the lizard hiss as he tried to pull.
Wenny let go of the bag as the lizard pulled harder. The bag and the lizard tumbled backward into the cave. Wenny followed and stood over the dazed lizard, teeth bared, and a low growl in her throat. Camron didn’t move. He rotated one eye to look at her. He then hissed, “Pleased don’t kill me.”
She sat back on her haunches and glared down at him.   “Why shouldn’t I after what you did to the crew of the Rasbuq.”
Camron didn’t say anything. He just rotated his eyes looking for a way to escaped. 
“What’s in the bag?” She snarled.
He didn’t answer.
She snapped at him.
“Books.” He said.
“Not the pilot logs?” She asked suspiciously.
“Pilot logs?” He asked innocently, “what are pilot logs?”
Wenny growled and grabbed the bag in her mouth.
“Alright! Alright!” He shifted and grabbed for the bag.  He was too big. He hit his head on the cave ceiling, knocking dirt out as he went. Wenny left the cave and stood up on the hill looking down into the brush at the mouth of the cave.
Cursing Camron crawled out of the brush, “Give those back!” He shouted.
Wenny took the bag and ran deeper in to the woods.   She was hoping Camron would try to follow, because she would double back, get her things from the cave and leave him there. She stopped and listened, but there were no sounds of him following.
She took another route back to the cave. He was no where in sight. Wenny assumed he had transformed back to a lizard. She dropped the bag and sniffed the air. It was hard to tell where he had gone. She picked up the bag and ran deep in to the forest. There was a hollowed out tree that she had found years ago. She stashed the bag in the tree and went back to her cave. She sat outside the entrance deciphering all the scents and listening for even the tiniest noise.  After a short while she heard nothing, but her hackles remained raised. The stench of Camron was all over her cave. She shifted as she entered the cave. Still wary that he would try to attack her, she quickly located the one object for which she had returned. It was in a small pouch which she fastened around her neck. She shifted back to wolf and left the cave for the last time. She hurried back to the hollow tree. Not even bothering to return to human form she grabbed the bag in her teeth. As she set off for the village, she heard the resident owl screech over head. A glance told her the owl had marked it’s prey and was beginning to dive.
As the moon disappeared over the horizon and the sun lightened the eastern sky Wenny stood on a secluded knoll overlooking the village. She looked down at the roof of the inn and said a silent goodbye to the people who had been so kind to an orphaned girl. She wished them well and felt bad that she would just disappear so suddenly from their lives.
The captain had warned her not to leave any notes or tell anyone what she was doing. She shifted back to human, threw a cloak over her shoulders and the hood over her head. 
She had started down the hill, when a commotion shattered the silence of the predawn forest. It wasn’t loud enough that the village would hear. It sounded like a predator fighting with it’s prey. She turned to see Camron, bruised and bloodied, stumbling down the slope toward her. An indignant owl, screeched harshly as it flapped back in to the air. 
“Give me back those books!” He shouted. 
She looked nervously at the village. She didn’t want to wake anyone.
She strode toward him and told him to be quiet.
He had what looked like a long talon scratch down the length of his face. It was bleeding. He limped as if he had hurt his legs in the fall. His clothing was torn and she could see blood on his torso as well.
She pushed him back into the forest. “You are not getting these books back!” She growled at him.
“They are mine!” He he argued.
“Hardly” she said. “I know the story, you murderous thief!”
“How do you know Azeria isn’t lying to you?”
“The same way I know you are!” She retorted. “I may be young, compared to you, but I can judge character.” she spat at him.
“I’ll bet Azeria hasn’t told you everything!” He said, trying to edge his way around her to grab the bag.
She noted his attempt and remained out of reach. “I wouldn’t expect her to,” she replied, “Now I am going down to the dock. If you follow me, they will know. I am to meet the twins. I suggest you stay out of sight if you mean to keep your limbs!”
She started back down the hill, but before she could go two steps he called after her, “I know your father. He is still alive.”
Wenny stopped. He had hit a nerve. She knew her mother was dead, but she knew nothing about her father. Briefly she wondered if Azeria knew, but dismissed it as she thought it. Azeria only knew what Camron had told her, and Wenny doubted that she or her family had ever been a topic of conversation between Azeria and Camron.
“Well?” She said not turning around.
“Don’t go and I will tell you all I know of him.”
She shook her head. “Sorry, that’s not enough of a reason to stay.” And she continued down the slope. It was the hardest thing she had to do, but she really didn’t trust him. Just the knowledge he might still be alive was enough. She would find some other way to discover who he was.
Suddenly she was knocked to the ground. Camron had jumped her, and was trying to wrestle the bag off her back. This was more difficult as it was under the cloak. Wenny immediately shifted to wolf and became entangled in the cloak. She was snarling and snapping trying to get the Wiley old man off her back. Her teeth sunk in to something soft and Camron howled with pain. She had gotten her teeth in to his calf.
He let go. Wenny rolled away, still caught up in the cloak. He tried to rush her again, but couldn’t get around her snapping teeth. He stood back. She continued to growl while she untangled herself. She shifted back to human. “Come at me again and I’ll bite your arm off,” she snarled at him.
He sat glaring balefully at her while he tore off a strip of his tunic and tied it around the wound in his calf. 
She readjusted the pack with the pilot logs and threw the cloak back over her shoulders. This time she made sure she arranged it so she could shift with out impeding herself.
Angrily she said, “I’m leaving now. Don’t follow or I will kill you.” She started off down the hill with one eye fixed on him. He didn’t move. He sat glaring at her.

Chapter 7

Azeria stood at the helm and watched her crew. They had been back out on the open water for three weeks now. Once they left Wenny’s village they stopped briefly at other small ports to restock provisions. She had set a course for an island off the Eastern coast of the main continent inhabited by the Sintafor. She was glad to be away from humans. Sintafor, though horrified by their half-shift state, understood it and they could walk freely on the docks. Since the war that tore asunder the races, humans had nearly forgotten the Sintafor. They told their children ghastly tales of evil shape shifters to frighten them into good behavior. The name Sintafor no longer existed in their language. Snorting with disgust, she switched her thoughts to her newest crew member.
Wenny was strong and able-bodied. It was clear that years of half-shift had taken its toll on her crew. Having Wenny among them, made some hungry to be whole again, while it caused jealousy among some of the others. There were the occasional fights that broke out, but even those had subsided as they got used to her. Wenny could certainly hold her own. She also never seemed to hold grudges against the ones who had provoked her. Her compassion for their plight was evident in the way that she listened to their personal tales of woe.
Now as she watched, Wenny was on the deck repairing fishing line with other deck hands. Her life as a scullery made had kept her humble, so earning her keep was never an issue. Azeria had other plans for Wenny, plans that were slowly being formed as she got to know her better.
A large white hulking beast emerged from below decks. Joaquin, half shifted from polar bear, moved with remarkable agility. He didn’t stumble. He was surefooted as he maneuvered the deck. He sat on the deck next to Wenny. She continued to work while he spoke to her. She looked up and laughed at whatever he said and then nodded. He grinned back at her with a broad fanged smile. It was somehow charming if you could overlook the massive teeth!
Azeria had encouraged her officers to get along with Wenny, but she was concerned that Joaquin was taking a special liking to her. She would have a conversation with Joaquin later not to get too close.
A shout from the acting pilot took her attention off Wenny. Jorga was a hawk like Zarna, his half shift had left him with his hawks head, but the rest of his body was human. It also left him with his keen sight. When their pilot was found dead, Jorga took over the duties of pilot. He couldn’t read, but he understood charts well enough. Therefore when presented with the dead pilots charts, he was able to plot a course for the island of the eastern shore of the Sintaforan continent. It was helpful that they had sailed there many times before. 
Now Jorga was shouting that soon they would see the island. Azeria went to the pilots station.
“How long do you expect until we see the cliffs?” She asked as she approached Jorga.
His voice was a throaty birdlike sound, “Within the hour captain,” he cawed.
“Very Well,” she shouted for Poka who scurried up to her. “Tell Joaquin to raise the colors when the cliffs are in view.”
“Yes Captain,” squeaked Poka as she turned around and left.
“Where’s Zarna?” She asked Jorga.
“He was headed to the galley when I last saw him, Captain.”
Without a word, Azeria stepped out of the pilothouse and headed for the forward hatch. She saw Joaquin as he headed for the poop deck where the colors were stored in a locked box. Wenny, head bent over her work, had remained. Azeria nodded to herself and went below decks.
As she headed to the galley she could hear the clanking and hissing of the engine room. Shouts of the engineers occasionally rose above the noise of the engines. She smiled, her crew had taken to the new technology.
As she got to the galley she heard the cooks voice rise in anger. Zarna responded in a raised voice. 
Azeria sighed. They were arguing over rations again. Zarna kept an excellent watch on the purse strings, but some times he was just too rigid. She entered the galley to find the cook, Selius, waving his large wooden spoon His tail waved angrily in rhythm with the spoon. Feline fangs glinted out the corners of his mouth and fur sprouted all over his head and arms. He was barefoot and had paws rather than feet.
“Gentlemen,” greeted Azeria. “Can I assist with settling a dispute?” 
Zarna opened his mouth to speak, but Selius’ snarl cut him off, “He’s saying I’m over portioning the crew!”
Zarna squawked. “That is not what I said!” He glared at Selius, “I said you need to more closely monitor your portions!”
Azeria sighed loudly, “Do you suppose the two of you can come to some sort of accord, or do you need me to step in?”
Zarna shook his head and grumbled, “Just monitor the portions is all I ask. We’re going to embark on a long voyage soon…” he trailed off.
Selius snarled, “I watch my portions. I will continue to watch my portions.”
“Fine,” said Zarna.
“Good,” snorted Selius.
Azeria raised her eyebrows. She put her large meaty arm around Zarna’s shoulders, “Come, we need to talk.” She regarded Selius, “As for you, I have a solution, Poka will give you our voyage details and Zarna will give you a budget. When we get to Penyorga you will be tasked with provisioning for the voyage. I recommend you purchase well and make your allotment stretch, because the first ones with reduced rations will be the galley staff!” Without waiting for a response she turned and lead Zarna out the door. “My cabin,” she muttered walking behind him.
Zarna settled in to his usual chair in Azeria’s cabin. Azeria sat in a chair across from him. We should be in Penyorga by tomorrow. I need you to head straight to our contact there and find out what you can about Dr. Fenning.  Joaquin and I will find a pilot.”
Zarna nodded. “What about the twins?” 
Azeria shrugged. “The twins asked to stay behind. I’m sure Camron is not long for this world.”
“As for Selius,” he looked out the window as he said, “Do you really want to hand him a budget and let him make decisions on our provisions?”
Azeria laughed, “You don’t trust me after all this time? Come on Zarna, all you have to do is stroke Selius ego a little. He will take Poka and she will see to our provisioning. She already knows what the budget is and he won’t waste a penny with her there.” She yawned, “I was up with the night watch. I’m going to take a nap. See that you keep Joaquin busy. He seems to be a little too interested in our newest crew member.”
Zarna frowned, “What’s wrong with Joaquin making friends with her?”
“She’s Styrulava. Her aunt is the leader of the Styrulava. I’d like her untarnished when we ransom her back to her people.” Her expression hard.
Zarna scowled, “I don’t recommend getting involved in those politics.”
“I don’t intend to,” she replied lightly, “I’m an opportunist and I see an opportunity to get some well earned money. Once we get our lives back, I intend to remind these waters who is queen of the seas.”
“Ahh,” he said softly, “regain glory.” He stood, his talons scraping the wood floor, “get your nap. I’ll wake you at three bells.”
Azeria yawned and waved at him as he exited her cabin. She sat for a moment more, daydreaming about having her shift ability back. Another yawn and she moved from her chair to her bunk.

Chapter 8

Camron watched as Wenny disappeared, down the hill and into the village with his last possession that was of any value to him. For the first time he felt his power wane. The weight of all his years sagged in his chin and pulled it down toward his belly. He sat forlorn and defeated as the sun rose. The glorious rays heralded a beautiful day. Through the tears that landed on his knees, he only knew that he was a very old man. 
Eventually as the sun reached its noon-day zenith, he looked up. For once in his long and manipulative life, Camron did not have a plan. Nor did he have an escape route. He didn’t even have an idea of what should come next. For once Camron was just Camron. His mottled old man skin, wrinkled and thin, was starting to redden under the sun, in a blotchy sort of fashion. He could feel the heat beating on his head. 
Though he was at a loss, he still had a spark of survival instinct. He was at his lowest point to be sure, but for Camron, survival had always been the top priority. He struggled to his feet, aches and pains groaned throughout his body and limbs. Dried blood flaked from his face. He had a couple more nights left on his tab at the Inn before he couldn’t afford to stay there anymore. Fortunately he knew of a newly vacated cave, if he really needed a roof over his head.
The cool darkness of the inn was a relief from the heat outside. It was still spring, but the days were quickly sliding toward summer.
A shriek startled him. He squinted, his eyes still not acclimated from the bright sunlight. “Are you ok!” Cried the younger of the two women who ran the inn.
Camron wondered if he looked as bad as his body felt. He slumped into the nearest chair and groaned, “The forest won.”
The older and more formidable woman came out of the kitchen. She took one look at his face and hurried back through the door. A moment later she was bustling out carrying a bucket of water and some rough towels. She began barking orders.
Camron wondered if she had missed her calling, by running an inn. He decided she would be in her element on a battle field tending to the wounded. Soon he didn’t care. They cleaned and bandaged his wounds and splinted his left leg. The younger one found him a walking stick. They helped him up to his room. Soon he was fast asleep. For the next two weeks, Camron allowed the women to treat him as if he were their patient. He paid for his stellar care, but flattering them to no end and praising their beautiful and wonderful selves. He also listened raptly to all the stories they told him of themselves, their family and how Wenny came to stay with them. They were very sad that she had left without telling them.
Camron pretended he knew nothing as he encouraged them to spill their secrets. As his bruises mended he slowly cultivated their concern for him. Soon he had made his way into the family fold. On Sunday nights, he, Dina and Toma would close the dining room by six and walk down to Ferds. There he would entertain the boys with tales of all sorts. He would even sing when Ferd brought out his guitar. 
Camron was actually enjoying his life playing at human, but he knew he would tire of it eventually. He would need to figure out where the family kept their gold. Then, like Wenny, he would disappear.
But for now, he was in no hurry. The pain in his left leg was nearly gone, but he had taken a liking to walking with the cane. He felt distinguished. Indeed, the girls had outfitted him with a very nice suit and dashing looking hat. He also noted that with plenty of restful sleep and good food, he didn’t look like the skinny mottled old man anymore. 
Yes, it would be hard to give up this life, but the village was small and life here was slow and sleepy. Camron was starting to miss the wheeling and dealing of the big cities.
One afternoon, he decided it was time to go back to Wenny’s cave. He had not been back there since she had stolen his books and sailed away. It was time.
The girls were busy as summer was in full swing. They wouldn’t miss him until dinner time. He took a small sack and his cane. He climbed up the hill and entered the forest. He looked around for the owl that had tried to eat him, but it was the middle of the day, so he supposed it was sleeping. He was grateful. That was an experience he hoped to never repeat.
It was late afternoon when he found the cave. The brush in front had thickened. He looked around, making sure there were no predators waiting to snap up a lizard. He shifted and crawled in to the cave. Warily he tested the air with his tongue. It was evident that other animals had used it recently. The musky scent of weasels and stoats lingered in the air. He detected the unmistakable scent of snakes. Half shift snakes to be exact.
Camron froze as he heard the sound of scales slithering through the dirt. He wedged himself into a crevice and allowed his hide to blend with his surrounding. His scent however, would not fool the two snake creatures that had just entered the cave. Camron was doomed. There was no way the twins would let him live. He cursed his foolishness.
“Oh Bugalon,” hissed one of the twins seductively, “We know you are here!”
“We’ve waited all summer for you,” lisped the other.
“Don’t be shy!” Called the first, “We just want to give you a little kiss!”
Both cackled gleefully at their joke.
Camron remained frozen, his breath as shallow as he make it with out suffocating himself to unconsciousness. He hoped they would give up and go away, but he really didn’t believe that would ever happen. They continued to slither about flicking out their tongues. 
Eventually his luck ran out. Their search was thorough. “Ular,” called Nista, her voice sultry, “I’ve found our little friend!”
Ular slithered over to her sisters side. The had him cornered. 
Horrible grins were affixed to their faces, which would have been stunningly beautiful, had he not know how absolutely evil they really were. Even Camron, as wicked and opportunistic as he was, could not possibly bring himself to do the things these sisters had the reputation for.
Nista picked him up with her tail end and held him aloft. He gave up trying to blend with his surroundings. 
“What do you want with me? Azeria has the pilots logs.   I’m useless to her at this point.”
“Why yes you are,” purred Nista.
“Ah but one woman’s discard,” continued Ular.
“Is another woman’s treasure, my sweet.” Finished Nista as she flicked out her tongue.
Camron attempted humor, “It’s been a long time since a woman considered me a treasure.”
“Silly lizard,” smirked Ular.
“You’re not that kind of treasure.” Scoffed Nista.
“But we will keep you alive while you remain useful,” assured Ular.
“And provide us with the information we need.” Hissed Nista.
Camrons cultivated smile as a man, looked painfully ridiculous on his lizard face, “I can be quite useful, that is true, but what’s in it for me?”
“Oh life if you provide facts!” Smiled Ular.
“And death if you are false!” Grinned Nista.
Camron figured as much. At the moment he was just grateful they weren’t tearing him limb from limb. For the moment he was at their mercy. He was confident he would find a way to escape. Depending on how well he felt he was treated would determine their fate when he did escape. 

Chapter 9

Wenny Leaned on the bow. The wind tore at her hair. She shifted to wolf so she could taste the scents as they pulled in to the port of Penyorga. She shifted back. She couldn’t shake the fear of being discovered. While on board the shift and after she got to know the crew, she would prowl the decks as a wolf, but now they were in a new place. She wasn’t quite ready to trust that her wolf form was just as acceptable as her human form. 
Penyorga to her inexperienced eye was majestically fascinating. The approach to the port was a heading toward sheer cliffs that rose high above the water. As they skirted the cliffs, the mouth of the bay opened to reveal a city that climbed from the waterfront in to the hills. Tiers of buildings and dwellings adorned every inch of land. To a small village girl, it was magical. She looked forward to exploring this civilized forest. There was so much to see, she didn’t know what to look at first. The consequence, she couldn’t remember anything she had seen. It was just so overwhelming. Even in human form the scents, sights and sounds assaulted her. So much to explore, she had no idea where to start first!
As she continued to marvel wide-eyed, Joaquin joined her at the rail. He grinned down at her, fangs glinting in the brilliant sunlight. “Penyorga is quite the glittery jewel,” he said, “But it is a mere bauble to the great Sintaforan cities on the mainland.”
Wenny shook her head, “This is the most amazing place I have ever seen! In my wildest imagination, and from the descriptions of the wandering storytellers, this place exceeds anything I could conjure in my thoughts! To think that there are cities greater than this?” Again she shook her head.
Joaquin chuckled. “Ah, hopefully one day I can show you some of those places!”
Wenny grinned, “That would be so much fun!”
“Joaquin!” Commanded the Captain as she strode up to them.
Joaquin sighed as he looked at Wenny, then turned, “Yes captain?” He murmured.
“I need you to help the crew tie up, and please see that   Poka pays the Harbor Master for our slip.” She instructed.
“Aye Captain,” said Joaquin, “Come Wenny, I’ll show you what type of knot we use when we tie up to the dock.”
“Not so fast,” ordered the Captain, “Go about your duties Joaquin, I need to speak to Wenny.”
      Joaquin waved at Wenny and said, “I’ll see you later for exploring!”
Wenny grinned and waved back.
Neither saw the Captains frown.
“Walk with me,” said the Captain.
Wenny fell in step with the captain as she moved towards the aft part of the ship.
“Wenny,” she began, “I’m pleased that you are getting on so well with my crew, but,” she sighed sadly, “ I must ask that you distance yourself from Joaquin. I know he seems sweet and friendly, but there is a darker side to him. I would hate to lose my Quartermaster because discipline on our ship usually results in death.”
Wenny frowned. Her wolf instinct could feel the falsehood in the captains words, the problem, she wasn’t sure what of her statement was false. After all the time she had spent with Joaquin, she was confident that he would never willingly harm her. She never once felt the same falseness from him. True she had felt conflict, but she knew better than anyone that everyone had secrets. She would never press anyone to reveal their secrets. However, all she said was, “yes Captain.”
The captain grunted, “good now that we have that understanding, I need to warn you of the perils of Penyorga.”
Wenny simply nodded, she knew that when a person of authority was in tell mode, it was just better to be silent. Whether she agreed or not with the captain would remain in her thoughts.
“While Penyorga is a Sintafor city, it is also a major trade city. Races from other lands ply these waters. You will see and hear many things in Penyorga. Try not to get yourself in trouble while you explore. I would also suggest you keep your shifting secret.”
Wenny stopped. That just did not make sense. “Why? I thought shifting was just a part of everyday life in Sintaforan cities?”
“The world is not that simple.” Cautioned the captain.
Wenny frowned. 
“Wenny, the only you know is your small human village.  Don’t let your ignorance get you in to trouble. There are many ways to stumble in the world, until you learn the ways of the world.” The captain sighed. “You don’t know what you don’t know, so don’t go in to the city without someone knowledgable in it’s ways, someone who can show you how it works.” Soothed the captain.
Wenny grinned, “Oh no Captain, I will have Joaquin with me. He has promised to keep me safe.”
“No!” Said the captain adamantly.
“But why?” Asked Wenny.
“Joaquin is my quartermaster, he is not expendable. While we are in port I have many duties for him to attend to. He will not have time to galavant around Penyorga showing you around.” Her tone meant the matter was settled.
Wenny continued to frown. Why was the captain so against her friendship with Joaquin? She would ask him later. The captain was asking her if she understood. Wenny was annoyed at her tone, but felt she wasn’t really in a position to make her feelings known. Years of practice taught her to conceal her real thoughts. She slid her familiar mask of concealment over her real feelings and said, “That makes complete sense. Who do you recommend I see the city with?”
The captain smiled. Wenny could tell she was relieved. She would not forget this conversation.
“Let me see,” the captain appeared to thoughtfully consider her choice. Finally she grinned broadly, “I will send Membosa to accompany you when we are docked and the harbor master clears us to disembark.”
Wenny groaned inwardly. Membosa was nice enough, but afraid of his own shadow. He was so paranoid that he told tales of intrigue that surrounded him. He swore that his father had not really been his father, but a spy from the queen. Membosa was Rafinn, a raven, from what Wenny understood about the Ravens were that they were Nobel shifters. They kept the secrets, discovered information and could spy like no other. Membosa had a bad accident when he was a child. He didn’t tell her but the others did. The two Ketts Ember and Kepa, had enlightened her to most of the crews stories. She figured if she couldn’t go with Joaquin, Ember and Keep would have been a lot of fun. At least Membosa was smart. He could probably tell her lots of interesting things about Penyorga.
Wenny went back to the bow to watch as Jorga piloted them into the slip. She could see Joaquin as he ran up and down the starboard side throwing lines to the dock workers. He waved to her when he saw she was watching. 
Once the boat was secure, the captain allowed the gangplank to be lowered. A pompous looking man waddled up the gang plank. He had a bald head with a ring of wooly white hair. A large whit mustache sat on his upper lip and twitched as he talked with the Captain. She was taller than the rotund man and had to lean to one side as he spoke. Apparently, part of the procedure was a physical inspection of the vessel. Wenny sat on a stow box and waited. The Captain, Zarna and Joaquin disappeared below decks with the man. Poka remained topside, scurrying around, issuing orders and securing the ship. She was handing out the watch schedule to Jorga when the delegation returned topside. The man looked pleased. He nodded at the captain and then waddled back down to the dock. The captain looked annoyed, but Zarna and Joaquin stood expressionless. 
Wenny turned to look at the city. The upper levels of the city rose into mist. She had noticed the mist was shrouding the top of the island as they pulled in to the dock. It seemed to be creeping lower. In the west the sun was beginning to dip lower as well. Still there was no order that they could leave the ship.
Jorga was shouting the watch assignments and Wenny was disappointed to hear that she would be on night watch. That would restrict her shore leave considerably. She wondered if the captain had anything  to do with her watch assignment.
She remained above decks until the fog had settled over the bay and the sun had set over the horizon. The city had lit the street lanterns which radiated dimly through the fog. It gave the city a mysterious glow. Wenny would have loved to shift to wolf form and go exploring. The fog would not have hindered her in the slightest. Her nose would lead her true every time.
The bell rang for the first watch to begin. Membosa did not come to her. She began to suspect that the captain had forgotten to tell him. She was being kind with her thoughts, because deep down, she felt the captain never intended to tell Membosa.
Disappointed at being so close, but unable to explore, she went down to the galley. It was warm and well lit. Selius, the big furry cook saw her and grinned.”Waynee!” He called, “Come, I have a treat for you!” 
She smiled. Selius acted ferocious most of the time, but he had a really big heart. He handed her a fresh made meat pie. It was hot and juicy. The smell made her stomach rumble. She realized she had been so excited to see Penyorga, she had forgotten to eat!
“Thank you Selius,” she mouth full of juicy meat pie. “It’s delicious!”
Selius rumbled with a feline purr at her praise. “You are always so gracious!” He smiled.
Wenny blushed and wiped gravy from her mouth with her sleeve. “Do you need any help Selius?” She asked. 
“Not tonight Waynee. I have the Ketts helping me later. Go, enjoy Penyorga!”
Her smile fell a bit, but she didn’t bother him with her disappointment. “Thanks I will!” She waved and left the galley. She decided to go find her bunk and take a nap until her watch began.
When she got to the deck hands hammocks, she saw there were others with the same idea. Quietly she found her own berth. It was some time before she drifted off. Lots of thoughts continued to crowd her mind.

Chapter 10

As it was they sat in the harbor for five days before they could disembark. The officers were allowed to leave. The captain had remained on board, but Zarna, Joaquin and Poka all got sent on various errands. 
Captain Azeria kept them all busy however. The decks were all scrubbed, the bilges cleaned, the engines cleaned and fluids replaced. A couple of the deckhands were sent in to the water to examine the hull for any damage. 
Wenny was kept busy as well. Every pot in the galley shone like the king was going to be dining there. At least spending time with Selius was fun. He told many raunchy and funny stories. Wenny was disappointed that she had only seen Joaquin once since they arrived. She tried to talk to him, but he could only say hello before the captain was sending him off on an errand.
Finally on the fifth day, Jorga sounded the assembly bell. All the deck hands converged on the main. The captain stood on the quarterdeck flanked by Zarna and Joaquin. Poka and Jorga stood off to one side. 
Zarna raised a hand to quiet them, but it was the captain who spoke. “ I would like to thank you all for your hard work. The Rasbuq has never looked better except maybe when she rolled off the shipyard line for the first time. I’m sorry we could not allow shore leave when we first arrive. It’s been a long time for many of you, especially since our sojourn to the human village where no one could go ashore.” She glanced at Joaquin and Zarna, “We will still be limited with shore leave. The city has restricted all ship crews entering the port to only ten crew members ashore per day. You are required to be back aboard by eight bells.” 
A groan rose up from the main deck.
“I know, I know,” said the captain, “but something happened here, that the harbor master wouldn’t say, but he did say there is now a curfew. The curfew extends to the residents as well.” She let the deckhands grumble among themselves. Then she said, “ten of you will go at a time. Either Zarna or Joaquin will accompany your shore party. You will remain with them and do as they say. Anyone strays from the party, you will be arrested by the city watch. If you’re fortunate enough to return here without arrest you will be disciplined by me. Is this understood? Anyone not liking the terms will be denied shore leave.” She glared at the crew, emphasizing how serious she was. The grumbles died out.
“Now!” The captain said brightly, “See Poka for your ashore assignment.” With that she waved at Joaquin and Zarna. They followed her below decks. Wenny remained seated on a crab pot. She had waited this long, there was no point in rushing Poka with the rest of the deck hands. 
Membosa sat next to her. He was a short skinny man. His half shift left him with a mohawk of black feathers from his beaky nose down his back. Pin feathers sprouted off the backs of his hands as well. Like Jorga he tended to squawk when he spoke.
“I understand I am to be your guide,” he said  softly looking around to make sure no one was listening to them.
She nodded. At this point all she wanted to do was see the city. With all the restrictions, her enthusiasm had waned. For as small as her village had been, she had more freedom there to do as she pleased. She had thought getting to see a Sintafor city would be more liberating. 
Membosa continued, “I know this city well. Many family members live here.” He squawked a bit, “the last time we were here I did have a tough time explaining my inability to shift. Many thought it was contagious until I could get them to understand that we had been poisoned!”
Wenny looked at him. She really couldn’t blame him for being paranoid. It seemed Rafinn’s (Membosa’s people) were a touchy paranoid lot in the first place. From the Ketts, Ember and Kepa, she had heard tales of the Raven people that involved intrigue, spying, thievery and subterfuge. 
Wenny looked at Membosa. She realized his eyes had not shifted back to human either. They were solid black, which gave him a rather creepy look for a human. “It sounds like we really won’t have much opportunity to explore,” frustration colored her voice. 
Membosa bobbed his head a few times in agreement, but said, “It depends on whether we have Zarna or Joaquin leading our shore party.” 
Wenny’s spirits sank lower, “I can guarantee it will be Zarna.”
He fixed a beady on her, “How do you know that?”
“For some reason the captain doesn’t want me to talk to Joaquin.” She shrugged.
Membosa looked around and leaned closer to her speaking so softly she almost couldn’t hear him. “The captain hasn’t always trusted Joaquin. He is Quartermaster, because we the crew want him there. Zarna is her creature, Joaquin belongs to us. I think she is afraid you might topple her as captain.”
Wenny’s eyes widened in surprise, “I seriously have no desire!” She sputtered.
Membosa squawked, “Keep your voice down,” he hissed.
“Sorry,” she muttered contritely.
“Come on, let’s go see what Poka’s list says.”
She followed him across the deck. He hopped as he walked, much like the bird of his kind. She smiled, it was an endearing trait and made up for the creepy black eyes.
The bulk of the deckhand crowd had dissipated around Poka. As Wenny had predicted, Zarna would lead their shore party. 
Membosa swore, but brightened as he heard the rest of the names of the party. Tabmal the Hemsk, Bodah the Leytid, Sokpin the Oron, Halus the Uvo and the two Ketts, Ember and Kepa. Poka and Selius were also to go with us. They apparently had provisioning for the voyage to the Archipelago, to complete. 
Membosa’s mood improved knowing their companions were his friends. Wenny couldn’t help but let her mood improve as well. Kepa and Ember were particularly adept at creating fun. Knowing those two would be there meant anything could happen. Their shore party was set to leave at four bells, they would be back by the dog watch. 
Wenny assumed she would be on watch as soon as she got back. Membosa’s theory that the Captain was afraid Wenny would take over disconcerted her. Why would she even consider it? She only agreed to go on the journey because the Captain offered to take her to her family. She had never intended to go to the Archipelago, but again the captain had insisted that they had to go there first. In their half shift state they would never be allowed to ply the heart of the Sintaforan waters. Penyorga was one of those rare places where Sintafor and human intermingled.
  Wenny knew they were trying to get back to the Archipelago so that Dr. Fenning could counteract the poison that had stopped them mid shift. She wondered what they would do if he couldn’t help them. She was beginning to understand that there was much more to the Rasbuq’s plight than a poison that arrested a Sintafors ability to transform. If that information got in to the wrong humans hands, they could do serious harm to all Sintafor.
Not for the first time did she wonder what she had gotten in to. Then again, it wasn’t like she had much of a choice. She sighed. It would be awhile before the first shore party returned. 
“Membosa!” She called.
He turned, from the heated conversation he was having with Tabmal and Sokpin, “Awk? Yes?”
“Wake me when it’s time to go. I am going to take a nap, I’m sure I’ll have dog watch tonight!”
He waved at her. She went belowdecks. She didn’t see the look that passed between Zarna and the Captain. The captain smiled sardonically, as if she had won something. Wenny didn’t see it, but Joaquin did.

Chapter 11

“Do you have a problem with my decisions?” Snarled the captain.
“No!” he growled back.
“Then quit snarling at Poka every time she relays a request from me!”
Joaquin huffed. Most of the time he didn’t care what anyone else did. Most of the time no one really cared what he did. It was how he preferred things to be. He was big, especially stuck in half shift. His size made him a target for smaller Sintafor who wanted to test his strength. Joaquin was not combative. He preferred amicable interactions. Right now, however, he could feel his ire going toward the captain. It made no sense to him that she would interfere in his friendship with the Ulava Wenny. 
It had been a very long time since any of the crew had been able to engage in conversation with any one outside the Rasbuq. They were considered pariahs, not only by the humans, but by Sintafor. None of them could ever return to their own people, at least not until their half shift condition was remedied. 
Now that Wenny had joined the crew, she was a breath of fresh air. She had compassion for their plight rather than treating them as if they were a contagious disease. She also seemed to understand what it was like to be separate and apart from everyone else, simply because she had been the only Sintafor living among humans. She had known, whether instinctively or because her mother had taught her, that humans feared Sintafor. So she had kept her own identity secret all her life. Joaquin was impressed with Wenny and found her fascinating. He loved talking with her.
It angered him that the Captain had ordered them all to give her a chance and be friendly with her. An order that really didn’t need to exist since Wenny herself was an easily likable person. He didn’t understand why he was the only one not allowed to talk to her. He understood his role as the Quartermaster of the Rasbuq. He had been placed in that role by the crew. He advocated for them, but he also made decisions on their behalf. He had good rapport with the crew. He felt his friendship with Wenny wasn’t any different than with the rest of the crew, so why was the captain so adamant that he shouldn’t talk to her?
As he prepared to lead his delegation of deckhands out for their shore leave, he saw Wenny wave to Membosa and go below decks. Above her on the quarterdeck stood the Captain and Zarna. The captain caught his eye and gave him a twisted smile of triumph. Joaquin snarled softly. He saw Zarna look from him to the captain. Zarna was absolutely the captains lacky. He didn’t trust him either. 
Joaquin turned his back to them. He located Membosa who had hopped up to the Forcastle and was looking around at the deckhands waiting to disembark. 
“Membosa!” Called Joaquin, “A word please.”
“Joaquin!” Chirped Membosa, “So sorry I can’t make your party.”
“Me too,” lamented Joaquin. “Hey I need a favor.”
Membosa grinned, making his black eyes shine like onyx. 
Joaquin wondered if he could see as well as his Rafinn form did. 
“What can I do for you my friend?” Asked Membosa.
“I shouldn’t be saying this,” he confided quietly, “But I trust you.”
Membosa cackled, “That’s high praise for a Rafinn! To what do I owe this honor?”
Joaquin grinned, “You’ve never done me wrong.”
“Ha!” Chortled Membosa, “I happen to like my form, well sort of, crossing you would be physically detrimental at the very least.”
“Truly,” acknowledged Joaquin, “but seriously,” and he lowered his voice again, “Please watch out for Wenny, the captain has it out for her. Don’t let her do anything rash while you’re out with Zarna. Please?” He begged.
Membosa looked away. “What about what she wants?”
Joaquin was taken aback. “What do you mean?”
Membosa fixed his beady black eyes on Joaquin,  “Wenny has never seen a Sintaforan city. Wenny has hidden herself all her life not knowing there were others like her, until we sailed in to her village. Who are we to tell her how to behave?”
Joaquin nodded. The Rafinn was right. “Just make sure she gets back here unscathed and don’t give Zarna anything to report to the Captain. ok?”
Membosa grinned, “That I can do.”
Joaquin nodded, not entirely convinced, but it was all he had. He raised his large paw and called his shore party to him. “Now remember, we stay together and we are to be back by the time the sun reaches it’s zenith. I am aware that this is not the ideal way to see Penyorga. But this is what we have, I hope to show you all a good time, please do me the favor of sticking together.”
They all murmured, some agreeing some grumbling with complaint, but no one really objecting. It had been a long time aboard the ship and no one wanted to be left behind. 
Joaquin knew Penyorga very well. He had spent a large part of his youth prowling the streets with his two brothers. His oldest brother Stobridir had died during a brawl with another clan, his younger brother Litbarn had returned to the family’s ancestral home afterward. He now had a family and had taken over for their mother running the Clan’s ranch.
Joaquin had followed his wandering spirit, which had lead him to the Rasbuq. He had met Azeria in one of the taverns. She was recruiting crew members for the ship she captained at that time. Several acts of piracy later they acquired the Rasbuq. Joaquin was one of the original crew. Zarna, Jorga, Poka and Selius were the others. Poka was the only one who had been with Azeria from the start. Poka and Azeria had grown up together. Selius had joined shortly after Joaquin.
Zarna had been rescued from a human hunting party, along with Jorga. Humans had caught them in their raptor forms. They had been hunting with other members of their flock. They had gotten separated and flew too near a human settlement. The humans had no idea they were Sintafor. They had captured them and mistook them for birds of prey to be tamed and used by Nobles as hunting hawks. Azeria had regularly sailed the human ports to trade her pirated goods. She had been invited to the Noble’s estate. The Noble, proud of his latest acquisitions brought Zarna and Jorga out to show them off.
Joaquin had been by her side. They knew immediately the raptors were Sintafor. Azeria, angry at the enslavement of Sintaforians nearly disclosed to the Noble’s that they too were Sintafor. Joaquin had managed to talk her down. They went back to their ship and created a plan to rescue the two.
Joaquin had engineered the plan. They would conclude their business and sail away. That way once the two were rescued it would be assumed that they escaped and flown away. 
The plan was very simple. They sailed around the head land and anchored off shore in a secluded stretch that where it was difficult for humans to navigate. For Sintafor it would be easy. They waited until nightfall, and rowed a dingy to shore. Joaquin in both human and Bear form could not climb the sheer cliff. Poka and Azeria, shifted to Chimpanzee and Gorilla forms. Poka’s skills with locks allowed them to gain entry to the Falconry. They released Zarna and Jorga, both very grateful. They nearly got away without anyone knowing, except for the Nobles gardener. He saw two figures prowling around the falconry.   Fortunately, it was dark and the gardeners eyesight wasn’t the best, so he thought he saw two men. 
As the gardener went to sound the alarm, the four disappeared in to the darkness. They were already in the dinghy with Joaquin and Azeria rowing back to the ship by the time a search party had been formed. Since humans would not have left over a sheer cliff, the search party went the other way. No one saw the ship sail off in to the distance.
Zarna and Jorga decided to remain with Azeria. Joaquin felt no one remembered his part in the rescue. For the most part that never bothered him, but now he wasn’t sure if he was being sabotaged by Zarna. Of the two Zarna had always had the hot temper. Jorga had always been easy going. Over the years, it was clear that a rift had formed between the two. Joaquin was certain it was Azeria’s penchant for favoritism and pitting people close to each other, against each other. He saw her pattern and was annoyed she was now using it on him. It was how she felt she needed to maintain the crews loyalty to her.
He shook his head. He had been leading his shore party through the streets of Penyorga. They had arrived at the Mermaids Lair. He looked at his charges, “Ok crew, you can spend some of your hard earned wages here. The captain has another errand for me, so you are to remain here until I come back for you. If anyone leaves, you will be subject to arrest by the city watch or discipline by the captain. It’s your choice.” He heard mutters and grumbles, but they all filed into the tavern.
He then set off to find the pilot they wanted to hire to get them to the Archipelago.

Chapter 12 

Despite the disappointment of Zarna leading their shore party, Wenny was elated by her first visit to another city. Not just any city, but a city full of shifters. She wondered what she would see.
Zarna stumped in front of their group. He squawked his warnings about what was expected and what would happen if they separated from the group. Wenny half listened. She was peering around Zarna and watching as Joaquins group boarded the ship. They all seemed relaxed and happy as if they had a good time. Some of them were carrying wrapped packets of things they had purchased.
Wenny put her hand in her pocket and felt the small bag of coins she had saved just for this event. Membosa had showed her how to conceal the coins so that they wouldn’t be obvious and she wouldn’t be the victim of a pick pocket. She was grateful to Membosa for being so kind to her.
As Zarna started down the gangplank she saw Joaquin meet him at the bottom. They spoke for a minute. Zarna nodded. Then Joaquin turned around and looked back up the street. Zarna looked too. From where she stood she couldn’t see what they were looking at, but soon it strode in to view. A very tall man with long chestnut colored hair and a matching bushy beard stopped in front of Zarna and Joaquin. He looked a match for Joaquin. They could look each other in the eye. He shook Zarnas outstretched hand. He gave Joaquin a bear hug. Wenny wondered if he was a Sintafor. 
Zarna turned and shouted for his group to descend the gangplank. They filed down and stared at the man as they did. As Wenny walked past him she smelled a familiar scent. She was surprised to realize he smelled a bit like Joaquin!
Joaquin saw her and grinned. He was about to say something, but somehow the Captain seemed to know. She called from the ship, “Joaquin! Bring your brother up here!”
Joaquin made a sly nod at Wenny and lead his brother up the gangplank.
At the same time Membosa was pulling her to follow Zarna.She glance back at the ship, but both Joaquin and his brother had disappeared with the captain.
As much as she wanted to see Penyorga, she couldn’t wait to get back and learn more about Joaquins brother. Soon however, she lost herself to the wonders of the tiered city. The city rose up the hillside. The higher up the hill the more elaborate the buildings became. It was clear that the ones near the docks and harbor were for receiving, shipping and storing goods. It was a merchantman paradise. Now as they walked through, the days activity was winding down and the workers were heading home for the evening. She saw armed guards wandering about in pairs. 
Membosa said they were part of the city watch. They patrolled the streets days and night. They would arrest troublemakers. He pointed to a block of stone buildings. The architecture was drab and utilitarian. “That is where troublemakers are jailed.” His pointing finger rose up to the next tier. The buildings were still stone, but the masonry had a more pleasant aspect. “That is where the guards are housed, and further up is the court house, offices of the magistrates, and high above that is the residences of the judges.”
Wenny took in as much as she could, but their group was moving rather quickly. Zarna seemed in a rush to get their shore party started. 
They hurried to keep up. The Ketts were flanking Zarna and speaking rapidly to him. Once they climbed the steps to the third tier, Zarna turned down a narrow cobbled street. Soon the street widened and finally opened to a large square. Brightly colored tents and stalls crowded the square. Some where being taken down and the goods packed away, others were still in full swing and selling their wares. 
Zarna turned and addressed the group, “The market closes in one hour. We will meet back here at that time. You will NOT,” he emphasized, “Leave this area.” He pointed to a tavern at one edge of the square. “I will be just there, From that vantage point I can watch you all. Try to slip away and I won’t pursue you, but I will note it and the captain will be made aware.” He looked pointedly at each member of the group, “she will be made aware EVEN if you turn up here at the appointed time. Am I understood?” He glared at them all.
Nods accompanied murmurs of agreement.
“Very well, enjoy your time at the market.”
Wenny decided Zarna wasn’t so bad. She smiled at him as she walked by, but he seemed to deepen his glare. She sighed. 
Membosa and the Ketts crowded around her. “What do you want to see?” Asked Kepa.
“I want to see other Sintafor! I want to talk to them!”
They all gave her a somewhat uncomfortable look.
“What?” She asked.
“Well,” slurred Bodah, “There are Sintafor everywhere. It’s the humans that are unusual here.”
Halus pointed one cloven hooved hand toward the far corner, “Over there is a caravan from the Dyrulava. Maybe you should start there?”
Wenny had heard that term from Camron, she grinned at Halus, “That’s a terrific idea!” She started toward them when Membosa grabbed her arm.
She looked at him with surprise as did the others,    “What?” She scowled.
“They may be your kind, but I would caution you, do not tell them too much. In fact, it’s probably better you invent a story. You don’t know enough of your kind to know who would take advantage of you or do you harm.” He warned.
Wenny could smell his fear. This annoyed her. She knew he was right, but being cooped up on the ship for five days, then having a supervised visit to the city, on top of being ordered around by the captain, was too much for her. She didn’t intend to be unkind, but her words came out harshly,    “Quit babying me, I can take care of myself.” She snarled,   “Everyone keeps treating me like I can’t do anything!”
Membosa frowned, but lifted his hand from her arm and said nothing. 
Halus was shocked as were the others who had not witnessed an outburst from her.
She instantly felt bad, but as she opened her mouth to apologize, Ember and Kepa laughed. “That’s the spirit Wenny!” Chortled Ember.
“C’mon” encouraged Kepa, “Let’s go have some fun!”
Membosa’s frown deepened. “I refuse to get arrested or reported!” He objected.
“Fine then go hang out with Zarna, in fact, go distract him while we have fun!” Agreed Tabmal.
Wenny looked apologetically at Membosa, but she didn’t object to being lead away by them. The last time she saw him, he was standing, watching them go looking deeply disappointed. She suddenly felt like she had committed a serious error. She stopped to say that maybe they should listen to Membosa, but Ember and Kepa were already conversing with the Dyrulava and pointing at her. Tabmal was grinning eagerly. She noticed that Sokpin and Halus had remained with Membosa.
Wenny saw the Dyrulava looking at her. There were three women and two men. One of the women looked to be very old. She sat on a stool, and was sharpening a long dagger on her knee. She had long white hair, bound loosely back. She wore a leather jacket and a soft green tunic underneath. Leather breeches disappeared in knee high soft looking boots that were laced all the way up. The woman had kept her attention on the blade as the Ketts chatted at her and her equally dangerous but younger looking companions.
As Wenny stood before her the woman looked up and stared at her. She snarled low in her throat, then she spat on the ground. “What do you want Styrulava scum?”
Wenny stared at the woman. She was enthralled. These were her people. She was reminded of her mother, who had a similar snarling hardness about her.
“Well?” Growled one of the men, “When Qaskiri speaks to you whelp, you answer!”
Wenny started and looked at the man. He was young and thin. He looked as if he didn’t get enough to eat. His cheeks were sunken. His eyes were hard dark marbles in his sallow face. He definitely didn’t look well. 
“I, um, Hi” she stuttered.
She noticed that the Ketts and Tabmal had moved back to a safe distance. She was feeling set up. Her annoyance was beginning to rise again. She glared at the three, who stared innocently back at her.
With a confidence she didn’t really feel, she turned back to the group and addressed Qaskiri, “Hello, my name is Wenny. I was raised in a place where I knew none of my kind. You are the first Ulava I have met, other than my parents.”
Qaskiri looked interested but she answered with a snarl, “We are Dyrulava. Why are you in the company of these abominations?” She pointed at Wenny’s companions.
Wenny frowned, “They are my friends. They,” but she didn’t get to finish. Suddenly she was lifted off the ground by the back of her neck, like a puppy.
She gasped in surprise. The dyrulava had all shifted to wolf form and stood as a pack and snarling and growling. Wenny found herself face to face with an angry Captain. 
The captain turned to the Dyrulava and snarled, “Back off before I call the watch!” The captain threatened them with her big meaty fist.
Qaskiri reverted to human form, her voice husky and menacing, “Kebas Ara, Your people are mighty. Why have you allowed yourself to be trapped by that ridiculous Bugalon?” She spat again, “I know who you are. Get out of my sight and keep your tribe of misfits on your boat. Your little whelp bothered me.” 
With that she didn’t wait for the captain to respond, she waved to her pack and they ducked in to their tent.
The captain sat Wenny back down. “I am not done with you. All of you, back to the ship now!” She growled. 
The Ketts and Tabmal hurried back the way they came.   Wenny didn’t move. She was angry.
“Not here.” Warned the captain.
Wenny looked up, she saw worry on the captains face as she looked at her. Her fight went out of her. There was something she didn’t know. She decided to meekly follow the captain and fight later.
As they left the square, Wenny glanced back at the tent. She caught Qaskiri’s eye as she poked her head from the tent. The Dyrulava gave her a ravenous smirk.
Wenny shivered. She now knew she made a dangerous misstep. She was sure to see Qaskiri again.
She quickened her step and followed the Captain back to the Rasbuq.

Chapter 13

Loud fierce voices argued on the other side of the cabin door, which muffled the sound and made the words indistinct. Even Wenny’s acute hearing in wolf form could not make out more than a random word here and there. After they boarded the ship the captain deposited Wenny outside her cabin and warned her to remain until she was summoned. 
She had sat in human form, but the floor was hard and soon became uncomfortable, so she shifted to her wolf self and lay with her head on her paws. She kept her eyes closed and relied on her sense of smell and her hearing. 
After awhile she stopped trying to listen and thought about the Dyrulava and tried to remember what Camron had said about them. What she had understood was that the Dyrulava were like feral outcasts, and the Styrulava were the ruling class or nobility of the Ulava. There seemed to be no middle ground, you were either the top of the Ulava pack or you were at the bottom. Without having met the Styrulava she really couldn’t form an opinion about the Ulava.
According to Camron, her mother had been raised among the Dyrulava, but it sounded as if she wasn’t exactly welcome there either. But what prompted her to leave and conceal herself among humans? 
Wenny remembered very little about her mother. She did remember her as being a loner. Even in human form she and Wenny had kept to themselves. Her mother had a job and took care of them, but it was a very solitary life. She remembered seeing the other kids and wanting to play with them.
One time she had shifted and snuck out of the house and went and played with the kids as if she were a dog. Her mother had discovered her. She had waited until Wenny tried to sneak back. She met her at the door. She could still remember the pain of the strap on her backside. It was beat in to her that she would never appear to humans in wolf form. It was just not done. She had not understood it, and even now she didn’t know why Sintafor knew of humans but humans did not know of them.
She also didn’t understand why the captain was keeping her from talking to other Sintafor. What was everyone hiding from her?
The captains door opened. Poka looked out. She looked confused, then she saw Wenny’s wolf form lying on the floor, looking up at her. Poka flinched. Her monkey head chittered in alarm. 
Zarna’s form filled the doorway behind Poka. He came to investigate Poka’s alarm. He too flinched as he saw her there.
Wenny sat up, puzzled at their alarm.
“Shift back to human,” Squawked Zarna.
She did as commanded.
“Follow me,” said Zarna. He turned and lead her in to the Captains room. 
The captain was pacing. Mid stride she began talking, “Zarna is ultimately responsible for your actions while you are on shore. He told you what was expected, yet you chose to do your own thing!” She turned and glared at Wenny, “You could have gotten yourself in to a very bad situation, in addition you put my crew and my ship in danger!”
Wenny felt her temper rise. She had enough of the captain. It was time to stand her ground. “Look” she snarled, “You said you would take me to my people if I got those books Camron stole from you. I did my part, yet you seem to think I am someone you can just push around at will! You think you can tell me who I can or can’t talk with!” Wenny growled deep in her throat, “I am not your child or even your ward! I realize that I know absolutely nothing about my own family or heritage. Unless someone around here can tell me any of that then I want to hear that person out!” She sucked in her breath, “I have fulfilled my part of our bargain and until you fulfill your half I am merely a passenger on your ship! I realize your ship has rules. Tell me what they are and I will abide by them, I will even help out where I can, but make no mistake, I am your guest not your subordinate!”
Wenny stood spent, glaring at the captain. 
The captain glared back at her.
“You put us at serious risk today.” She said flatly.
“Then maybe you should be a little more forthcoming with me? Maybe let Joaquin and I be friends?” She snorted, “Why that is such a problem makes no sense to me, maybe it would if someone would enlighten me!”
Joaquin laughed. 
Azeria glared at him, but he kept laughing.
“What?” Asked Wenny? “Why is he laughing?” she pointed at Joaquin but looked at the Captain, “This is what I mean. What is the point of keeping me in the dark? Does he know some dark secret of yours that you’re afraid he’s going to tell me?” She snorted. “Get over yourself, Joaquin and I have many conversations, but you are a passing remark if you enter the conversation at all!”
The captain sighed. “You’re right. You are extremely ignorant.” She said it flatly without trying to insult Wenny. “as for your friendship with Joaquin, I don’t want you to get too attached to him. Nothing romantic can happen between you!”
There were three splutters of surprise as Wenny, Joaquin and Zarna reacted to the Captains statement.
“Whoa, oh no!” Exclaimed Joaquin, “Wenny don’t get me wrong, you are a beautiful girl, but I am an old man, perhaps older than even Azeria and Zarna realize. You remind me of my daughter, who was killed, many many years ago!”
This time Azeria looked shocked.
Joaquin looked at the captain, “We Sintafor are arrogant, thinking we know all there is about our kind. But my kind are ancient, not just as a people, but we live for thousands of years. We bear young very rarely. And when one of us dies, it is a terrible tragedy. No my people, while Sintafor, are vastly different than the rest.”
Zarna squawked. He looked at Joaquin. “I had heard rumors about your people, but I thought they were just tall tales.” 
Joaquin sighed. “We keep our histories close.” He said.
Wenny smiled at Joaquin, “All the more reason you and I need to talk, you’re a walking historian, and more than anything I need history lesson!”
No one addressed Wenny’s statement. Instead Zarna was sitting with a puzzled look on his face. “How old are you?” He asked Joaquin.
Joaquin grinned, “I am but a youngling among my people. I am three hundred and twenty three years old.”
Wenny’s eyes went wide. “How is that possible?”
“A history lesson for another time.” He looked at Azeria,  “I recommend you lift your heavy hand on me and the crew.  It will make it much easier on you when we get our ability to shift back.”
Azeria frowned at him, “Why would you say that?”
Joaquin sighed, “Am I not your Quartermaster?”
She nodded.
“Then heed my council. I have the ear of your crew. I hear many grumblings about the many restrictions, the rationing, and this control of shore parties. I understand your decisions, but your crew is beginning to see you as a dictator rather than their elected captain.”
“Why have you not told me any of this before?” Complained the captain.
Joaquin looked at Zarna, who looked away. “Perhaps you need to talk to your first mate who has counseled me into holding off so as not to upset you or disturb you.”
Zarna stood angrily, he glared at Joaquin and then the captain, “I will not be blamed for this!”
“Who’s blaming you?” Shrugged Joaquin. “I’ve heard her berate you, belittle you and threaten you. No I rather worry that if there was a mutiny, it would be led by you!”
Zarna’s mouth fell open, but he only spluttered, “I would never!”
Joaquin nodded, “You would never, be pushed far enough to do something drastic?”
“Of course not!” Zarna’s voice rose.
“You would not let your anger control you actions if pushed hard enough?” Joaquin continued evenly.
“No!” Shouted Zarna.
Wenny watched in morbid fascination as Joaquin spun Zarna into an angry fervor.
“You could watch your crew be abused day in and day out, starved on impossible rations, and forced to endure horrific conditions, all because your captain ordered it so?” Joaquins voice remained soft and even, but his eyes were hard and mirthless.
“Never!” Roared Zarna leaping to his feet and standing before Joaquin, ready to fight.
“Very well,” finished Joaquin, “I believe you.” He said wryly.
Azeria slammed her fist on the desk, “Enough!” She growled. “Do you think me a tyrant Joaquin?” 
“Do you?” Asked Joaquin. He sighed, “We’re done here. I will see to the provisioning and getting my brother settled in my cabin. We have a long voyage to prepare for. I suggest you two mentally prepare.” He opened the door. 
Poka looked from him to the captain, fearfully. Something had changed in the dynamic and she knew it instinctively. She   knew better than to make a sound.
“Come Wenny, you’re with me from now on, I need an assistant.” Said Joaquin.
Azeria glared at Joaquin but said nothing. 
Wenny, happy to have her friend back, shifted to wolf and capered after Joaquin. 
Unnoticed by any of them, Poka slipped out as well. She decided it was best to remain in the corridor, and wait until she was needed.

Chapter 14

The ships provisioning took three more days. Wenny followed Joaquin whenever she could, but the captain kept him busy and he spent a lot of time on shore. 
She had gone looking for Membosa, but he seemed to be avoiding her. The Ketts and Tabmal also looked warily at her. Her elation at having her friend back, started to dissipate as the rest of the crew acted as if they didn’t want to have anything to do with her.
Annoyed she had taken to sitting on the bow and watching what she could of the city. She had a really good view of the docks and could see a lot of the comings and goings. Many times she would just lay there in wolf form and allow the sounds and scents to tell her everything that was happening.
Every now and then she would catch bits of conversation, but she let it drift lazily across her ears. Suddenly she heard a shout at the end of the dock. She lifted her head off her paws and looked for the origin of the shout. She was surprised to see the skinny Dyrulava from Qaskiri’s pack. She couldn’t remember if she had heard his name or not.
He was in man form. He was arguing with another man Wenny had not seen before. She could not hear their actual words, she only knew their voices were raised. 
Curious she made her way closer, by sliding across the bow on her belly. She padded along the deck until she was closer. She put her front paws on the Gunwale and looked down at the two men.
“I told you there is someone on this ship I need to speak too!” Shouted the skinny Dyrulava.
The other man appeared to be one of the dock watchmen. He stood with his back to the ship and simply said, “No.”
Skinny man waved a piece of paper in the guards face, “I need to speak to this woman!”
Wenny tried to see what was on the paper, but it was too far away.
The guard remained steadfast, “The captain of this vessel has told us that none are allowed aboard except by her leave. She told us she would let us know when she was expecting someone and their names. The captain told us nothing about you!”
“I told you, my name is Horas, and the only person I am looking for is this woman! It is reported that she is on this boat. My Alpha needs to speak with her.” He whined in frustration.
The guard stared stonily at the skinny man, but said nothing more.
Skinny growled and stalked off toward the warehouses.  The guard happened to glance up and look at her. He nodded, then turned back around.
Wenny dropped back to her haunches. She was pretty sure he was looking for her. She wondered what Qaskiri wanted with her. She ambled slowly back to the bow and flopped on to the ground. She was intrigued by the Dyrulava. They were her kind. Since Camron had showed up in her cave, she had begun to wonder more and more about the people her mother had hidden from. Why had she hidden? A small voice in the back of her head warned that her people may not be thrilled at meeting her. She pushed that thought aside. She didn’t want anything from them, other than to understand where she came from!
She watched as Joaquin returned from whatever errand the captain had set him on, followed by Zarna and his brother. Wenny had discovered that Joaquin used the term ‘brother’ loosely. His brother’s name was Filagi. He and Joaquin were similar in age. Unlike Joaquin, Filagi had always been a wandering bachelor and therefore never had a family. Joaquin met him shortly after his family had died in the war that split the Humans and the Sintafor.
The evening after her shore party Joaquin and Filagi had enlightened Wenny on some of the Sintafor/Human history, but she still had many questions, because most of their tales were personal stories of their adventures. She learned next to nothing about her own people, the Ulava.
As darkness fell and the dog watch began, the dock had emptied of it’s daily business and quiet settled on the ship. Wenny had not been assigned a watch since that day either. Frankly she was getting bored and restless and somewhat lonely.
Suddenly frustrated and feeling left in the dark again, she decided she would arrange her own shore party. She figured no one would miss her.
She remained still as the dog watch patrolled the deck. As soon as their attention was averted, she padded to the rail. Looking down at the dock, it would be a long jump for her wolf self. She left deftly on to the gunwale. Surefooted she padded quickly along the rail, one eye on the watch. She leapt lightly into the dinghy hoisted alongside the boat. She crouched in the bottom until the watch above and the dock watch below passed. She shifted to human, clambered over the side of the dinghy and slid down a rope to the dock. She saw the dock guard turning to walk back down the dock. Swinging down she was able to crouch on one of the beams under the dock. Fortunately the tide was low or she would have been under water.
She heard the guard stomp over head. As his steps began to fade, she pulled herself back up. She immediately shifted back to wolf and loped silently to the deepening shadows of the warehouses. She looked back at the ship, it remained quiet. No one had noticed her absence. Briefly she wondered how she would get back on board, but then she pushed the thought away.
Keeping her nose attuned to the direction of Qaskiri’s tents, she remained alert to the night watch. She decided that creeping through a forest at night wasn’t a lot different from creeping through a city. It was simply a matter of being unseen. Wenny had been practicing that all her life!
Skinny’s scent still lingered as she made her way to the market level. 
She reached the spot where Zarna had lectured them. The market ground was deserted. The colorful stalls and merchants were all gone for the night. Wenny hovered in the shadow of a building and gazed out over the square. She lifted her nose to the swirling air. 
The salt odor of the ocean permeated everything, but here it was not as strong as it was on the docks. She could smell the residual odors of the food vendors, the perfume sellers, a scent of tanning oil and leather and finally the unmistakable scent of Dyrulava. She skirted the edge of the market keeping to the deepest shadows. 
She could hear rodents rummaging through debris left from the day. 
Suddenly she was surrounded by three snarling wolves. 
Wenny yelped. She hadn’t heard them, or smelled them. She crouched submissively to the ground. She wasn’t here to fight anyone.
They stopped snarling. The biggest one with golden yellow eyes growled at her, “What are you doing here Styrulava?”
“I understand Qaskiri is looking for me!” 
“Who says?” Snarled a sleek female with grey eyes.
Wenny didn’t say anything. They surely knew whether Qasikiri was looking for her or not.
Yellow eyes growled again, his lips curled back revealing large dangerous fangs.
Wenny was at one level afraid, but more than that she felt alive, and dangerous. These were her kind. Instinctively she understood them at a level that words could not convey. She felt like she belonged for the first time in her life, even though she could die in the next instant. It didn’t matter. The answers to all her questions would be found with the Ulava. She just knew it.
The one behind her, that she had only heard and smelled, nosed her. She stood, and followed the other two, the silent third trailing behind.
As they reached the tents, they all shifted to human form. She did as well. She had not seen these three before. 
Yellow eyes was tall, with a mane of golden hair. She had never seen anyone with hair that color. His eyes as a human had faded to a soft brown. The woman was slightly shorter than the man but still towered over Wenny. Her hair was light brown and her eyes remained grey.
The silent one was much younger. He had green eyes and coal black hair. His skin, unlike the other two was the palest of white. Wenny sniffed in his direction. He did not smell like the others. She couldn’t identify his scent, but it was somehow familiar. 
Yellow eyes ducked in to the tent followed by the woman. Green eyes remained silent, but he pushed her toward the tent. She stumbled forward and fell through the tent flap. She managed to stay upright, but flushed with embarrassment at being so clumsy. The tent was well lit with lanterns hanging about. In the center, lounging on a large cushion was a large silver wolf. Wenny immediately recognized Qaskiri. 
Qaskiri sniffed the air as Wenny entered but she remained silent. There were wolves lounging all over the tent, intermingled with humans. Wenny sniffed the air, she could not detect human scent at all. Despite the danger she faced, she grinned. It was a heady feeling to not be the only one; to be with people just like her. 
Qaskiri shifted back to her human form. She looked at Wenny quizzically. “You should be terrified, yet all I smell from you is a great joy. You smell healthy and right, so I don’t understand.”
Wenny bowed her head in respect to Qaskiri. “I can’t help it, I’ve only ever known my mother. I have never seen another Ulava in my life, and now,” she whispered, “There are so many!”. She looked around excitedly.
Qaskiri snarled, “Apparently your mother did not teach you manners.”
Wenny shook her head, “My mother told me very little. She died when I was seven. I was raised by humans.”
Growls and snarls emanated from the Dyrulava. Qaskiri waved a hand to quiet them. When they continued she snarled, “Leave it!”
The noise abated, but Wenny could see raised hackles.
“Why are you here?” Asked Qaskiri.
“What do you mean?” Asked Wenny confused. “I thought you were looking for me?”
Qaskiri sighed, “Why are you in Penyorga? Why did you travel on that accursed ship the Rasbuq?
“Oh” said Wenny, not sure how much she should say, Membosa’s words ringing through her head ‘They may be your people, but you don’t know them.’  She decided to tell them an abbreviated version.
“Like I said, I was raised in a human village. The only Sintafor I knew was my mother. She called us Shifters.” Snarls and growls met her words. She looked at Qaskiri with confusion.
“Don’t mind them, apparently their mothers didn’t teach them manners either!” She chastised her entourage.
Wenny nodded, looking curiously around. “My mother died when I was seven. She liked to eat lamb, it was her favorite, but it got her killed. She was killed in wolf form. No one realized that the wolf they killed was my mother. An inn-keeper and his family took me in and raised me. I knew nothing of the rest of the world, I just thought that my mother and I were the only ones who could shift. My mother impressed on me that we could never shift around humans. She always said it was dangerous. After she was killed it made sense.” Wenny paused.
Qaskiri asked, “Who was your mother?”
Wenny didn’t know what to say. She had no idea, other than what Camron had told her, but she would not repeat that. She didn’t even know if what Camron said was true or just partial truth. “I don’t know,” she said softly. “I of course know her name, it was Kasta, But I didn’t know her. What seven year old knows their mother? I barely knew I was alive!” Wenny sighed. There were many times over the years she had asked her adoptive family for any small tidbit about her mother, but the answer was always the same, ‘Kasta was nice enough, but she didn’t socialize with anyone.’
Qaskiri nodded thoughtfully, “When did you move to the human village?”
Startled Wenny said, “I was born there.”
Murmurs rose from the group around Qaskiri, who raised an eyebrow in surprise. “How old are you?”
Wenny was puzzled by the question. “Why?”
Qaskiri sat thoughtfully for a long moment, “There was, a long time ago a Styrulava who stayed with us for a time, but she disappeared. We assumed she had been killed.”
Wenny looked hard at Qaskiri. Could she be speaking of her mother? “How long ago?” Asked Wenny.
“Oh it was a long time ago, I would say thirty five years or more have passed. 
Wenny frowned. She was twenty seven. If it was her mother then there was a gap of eight years. What had she been doing?
“I’m sorry,” apologized Wenny. Qaskiri had been speaking to her and she had not heard.
“As I was saying,” snarled Qaskiri. “Perhaps if you would answer my questions, we can learn a bit about each other.”
“Yes, I’m sorry,” Wenny said again. “You asked my age, I am twenty seven years old.”
“And your father?” Asked Qaskiri, “Who was he?”
“I don’t know,” shrugged Wenny, “My mother never spoke of him, even when I asked. I usually got a snarl or a growl. Although one time she did say I was better off not knowing.” Wenny frowned, and decided not to mention what Camron had said about him still being alive. “She said that to me shortly before she died. Again I am afraid I know next to nothing about my mother.” Wenny also did not mention the small wrapped object buried deep in her bag onboard the Rasbuq. She didn’t know what it was, only that her mother had kept it hidden. She had told Wenny, once in a rare moment of motherly tenderness, that it was the only proof of who her mother was. Until Wenny knew why her mother was in hiding from her own people, she would keep that bit of knowledge close as well.
Qaskiri sighed. “You are an enigma, but hardly a threat to us. Perhaps though, you can tell us what happened to the Rasbuq. There are rumors and stories. I would prefer to know which of those are true.”
Wenny nodded, “I honestly don’t know a whole lot about that either, but as it relates to me, the Rasbuq docked at my village in pursuit of a Chameleon name Camron.”
At this, snarls, growls and angry yips broke out. Startled Wenny stopped talking.
Again Qaskiri demanded they be silent.
Wenny gathered that Camron was well known. 
Qaskiri confirmed her suspicion, “That rogue thief,” she snarled, “he has swindled many in this room, including me!”
To this Wenny was not surprised.
“Go on with your tale, it matches so far to what another has told me.”
Wenny opened her mouth in surprise.
“Come now,” said Qaskiri slyly, “Do you think I’d be this old if I didn’t know a thing or two?”
Wenny replied, “I … well, right, I just ..” She fell silent.
“Go ahead,” coaxed Qaskiri.
She decided to omit anything that would allude to any conversation between her and Camron. “He was staying at the Inn of my adopted sisters. I didn’t live there, just worked there during the day. I had my own cottage near the woods.” Wenny thought for a moment and then the story spilled from her. “He had surprised me when I was out hunting in the forest one morning. I was on my way back to the village. I was expected at work. He was the first shifter, err I mean Sintafor,” she corrected as growls swirled around the tent,” I had ever seen beside my mother.”
She paused to catch her breath, “I knew right away not to trust him, there was something wrong in his mannerism.” She shrugged, she couldn’t explain it better.
“The term you are looking for is Rangari. It’s what we say when something is false. And yes Camron embodies Rangari.” Supplied Qaskiri.
“Rangari,” repeated Wenny. Another small piece of her people bestowed upon her. She continued, and told them about the encounter at the inn. She had realized then that they too were different. She told them of her arrangement with Azeria and how she came to be a passenger on the ship.
When she finished she could see that Qaskiri had more questions, but instead of voicing them, she merely nodded.
The silence stretched, broken only by murmured conversations among the others.
Qaskiri abruptly stood. Everyone fell silent. Wenny realized with a start that Qaskiri wasn’t much taller than her. Her commanding presence, and age just made her seem overwhelmingly tall.
“While you haven’t relayed everything, Ulalinga, it’s enough. I don’t think you’ve concealed anything of importance to us, but I caution you, the Styrulava is not so kind. They do not appreciate anyone with holding information, whether it is of personal nature or not.” She looked pointedly at Wenny.
“Regardless, you are welcome among the Dyrulava. I suspect I know your mother. Your father, on the other hand? Of him I have no idea. I can give you one small piece of information that may help you. If your mother is the one who stayed with us, her name is Tavi. The name Kasta, in our language, means outcast.” 
Wenny stood also, “Thank you for your kindness and for the information,” said Wenny politely. “I do have another question,” said Wenny.
“Oh?” Said Qaskiri with raised eyebrows?
“What does Ulalinga mean?”
Qaskiri laughed. It was not a demeaning laugh, but a happy mirthful laugh.
Wenny smiled despite not knowing why she laughed.
“It means youngling,” said Qaskiri. “I use it alot,” she said wryly, “I tend to be older than most.”
Wenny blushed. 
“Now,” said Qaskiri, returning to seriousness, “It’s time you returned to the Rasbuq. As I understand it you set sail on the high tide today.” She glanced around at her entourage. Her eyes lit on the young pale Dyrulava with the green eyes. “Foleinn, come here.” She ordered.
The somber young green eyed Ulava meekly approached. He showed reserve rather than fear. He was definitely younger than Wenny, but not by much.
He waited before Qaskiri, but still said nothing.
Qaskiri put a gentle hand on his head. “Foleinn will escort you back to your ship. Don’t bother trying to pry information out of him, he does not speak. He is not mute, because his wolf self is quite vocal.” She smiled fondly at him.
Foleinn did not smile. He just nodded and waved for Wenny to follow him.
Wenny turned to Qaskiri, who had already shifted to wolf again. “Thank you,” she said simply.
As she emerged from the tent, she could see it was still night, but she could sense that the sun would begin to rise in a couple of hours.
She spotted Foleinn who had shifted to a pale almost blue coated wolf. His eyes were red. He was by far the most unusual person Wenny had ever seen. To recover from her stare she quickly shifted and followed him across the deserted square.

Chapter 15

“Thank you my dear! As always your cooking is most delightful!” Gushed Camron as Toma cleared his plate.
Toma grinned. She just could not get enough of the kindly old gentleman. As she backed through the swinging kitchen door, she nearly collided with Dina. Dina frowned at her.
“Watch where you’re going!” Dina snapped.
“Sorry! Sorry” apologized Toma. She set the dishes in the sink with a clatter.
“For the love of the mother!” Exclaimed Dina. “Could you make any more noise?”
“I’m sorry!” Cried Toma. 
“Slow down! Maybe you would be able to control yourself better!”
“I know! I know!” agreed Toma. She sighed. She was always dropping something, running in to something or tripping over something. She just felt so ungainly and graceless. Dina was always on her for it as well.
Toma reached her hands into the warm sudsy water and began cleaning the stack of dishes from the mornings breakfast crowd. 
Dina was grumbling and muttering to herself as she began cleaning the cook pot hanging over the fire. Toma wondered, not for the first time, if Wenny was all right. No one had seen her in weeks. When she and Dina had gone to her cottage, they could find nothing that indicated she had left, nor that she had been attacked. In fact, the only thing that had even looked like she had been there was her bath towel, hanging on a hook on the wall. 
They did not find a note or any clue as to where she had gone. Everyone in the village had known Wenny, but no one really had spent much time with her. Like her mother she had been a bit of a loner.
When they had gotten back to the inn they had found Camron, beaten and bloody sitting in the dining room. He had been in the forest and had been attacked by a wild animal. He had been so weak and delirious, they couldn’t get a straight answer out of him, he kept saying he was attacked by a wolf and then by a snake. Which was ludicrous. The last wolf had been killed twenty years ago. Snakes were possibly, but they were small. Toma had thought he had been attacked by one of the rogues from the ugly ship that had been in port. 
Once they had gotten Camron settled they decided they would confront the ships captain. By the time the got to the dock, the ship had long since sailed. Toma believed the ship had kidnapped Wenny. Dina thought that was ridiculous.
In any case Ferd and his boys had spent a couple of days traipsing the woods looking for her. They did find some animal remains, but nothing human. Ferd declared her not missing, but simply gone of her own accord. He just was surprised she hadn’t run off years ago. Toma wasn’t convinced, and she didn’t think Dina was either, but Dina had stopped wanting to speculate.
Toma finished drying the dishes she had washed, and put them away. She was just replacing the dirty towels with clean ones when Dina yelped from the veranda. 
Toma hurried out the door. Dina had stopped dead in her tracks. A large lizard was stretched out on the back fence sunning itself. Its eyes moved independently. As they watched it slowing blended in to the scenery. When she blinked it was hard to spot it again.
“Did it hurt you?” Asked Toma quietly.
“No it just gave me a fright. I’ve seen plenty of lizards, but not one this big!” Said Dina.
“Maybe we should get Ferd to move it?” Suggested Toma.
“It’s ok, it’s not hurting anyone there,” said Dina. “It just surprised me, I wasn’t expecting to see a large lizard. Especially one that is definitely not native here.”
Toma squinted at it, trying to see through its camouflage. She couldn’t see it any longer. Possibly it had run away when they weren’t looking.
“Come on,” called Dina, “We have to get to the market for some supplies. I really miss having Wenny here, her extra pair of hands were very helpful!” Groused Dina.
Toma nodded, she also missed Wenny.
After the lunch service today, they would close up the dining room and walk to Ferds farm for dinner. Toma hoped Camron was going with them. He always livened up dinner with his stories.
Toma followed Dina down the narrow path that would take them down to the wharf. The market square sat at one end of the dock. It was always busy. The port constantly had ships docking with goods or picking them up. Some where even passenger ships, taking people to other cities, or villages.
Toma had an idea, she grabbed Dina’s arm and said excitedly, “I wonder if anyone down here saw Wenny get on a ship.”
“That’s a great thought, but I asked weeks ago. No one saw anything or anyone that resembled her.”
Toma sighed, Dina was always on top of things. 
Dina said, “Look, if she wanted to be found, she would have let us know where she is. If she was hurt or killed, I am sure we would have found her by now. If she were kidnapped, I would think we would have heard something.”
“You’re right,” Agreed Toma. As they shopped for their supplies, Toma couldn’t help thinking about Wenny growing up with them. She had only been a few years younger than Toma. Toma remembered the day her parents brought the girl home. She had been very quiet and wary. Dina had been much older and was not interested in playing. In fact, she had already begun working in the Inn as a scullery maid. Toma had helped out somewhat as well, but only with minor things like sweeping and helping her mother carry the laundry.
Wenny was enlisted to help Toma. Toma always did her best to include Wenny, but Wenny never did shake her self isolation. It was as if she needed time to herself.
“Toma!” Yelled Dina, “Watch where you are going!” 
Toma stopped, she had nearly walked off the dock! As she turned to walk back where Dina was waiting for her, she thought she saw the faces of two women looking up at her from the water. She turned back to look. There was nothing there except for the pilings. 
“Really! Toma, you have to be more careful!”
Toma blushed, forgetting about the two women.
Dina leaned over and said, “I was talking to the grain merchant, he was telling me that he thought he had seen a woman like I had described, a few weeks ago in Meridia.”
“Meridia!” Exclaimed Toma.
“Sshhh!” Shushed Dina, she looked around, but no one was paying attention to them. “Yeah he said she was aboard a strange looking ship without sails. Couldn’t be too many of those.” Dina nodded her head toward the merchant she was talking about. “He also said the captain and the First mate were an odd pair.”
Toma put hand to her mouth remembering the three who had come to the inn and questioned them. “You don’t think they kidnapped her do you?”
Dina shrugged, “The merchant seemed to think she was there by her own wish.”
In a way Toma was relieved. At least she was alive. “Did he say the name of the ship?”
“Yes,” said Dina, “The Rasbuq.”
“Is there a way to find out where it was headed?”
“I asked that too. He said they were a bit cagey as to their destination, but he thought he heard one of them mention an island called Penyorga.”
Toma’s eyes went wide, “No! Not the one from the great war?” 
Dina nodded.
“But that island was made inhabitable. Why would anyone go there?”
“I don’t know, but maybe we stop by the library later and see what we can find?”
Toma laughed, “I haven’t been there in years either.”
“Me either!” Said Dina. “Come on lets get this done and get back to the inn. Lunch rush will be on us before we know it!”

Chapter 16

Camron watched as the two women went back in to the inn. He remained sunning himself on the fence until he saw them disappear down the road to the docks. His independent eyes swiveled about making sure he was relatively alone as he dropped to the ground and shifted back to man. the twins, as usual, were not far away. He could smell their acrid stench.
After they had cornered him in the cave and interrogated him about everything he knew of the Ulava and particularly the Dyrulava, they let him live. He remained alive as long as they were content with the information he provided. They were very persuasive, even so he had managed to retain a few bits of information. Of course his life was now on a very short string. Soon he would need to secure passage back to the lands of the Sintafor. He would need gold for that. So far he had not found the family’s gold. Even the twins had agreed to help him search for that. Gold meant nothing to them, priceless information meant more and they assumed he was full of it. Of that they were not wrong, but again he refused to reveal all his secrets. Some were worth dying for.
He went back to the inn and was annoyed to see that Ferds oldest son was there. Since Wenny had left, the boy had replaced her. At the moment he was scrubbing the floor of the dining area. Camron waved to him and left him to continue his labor. He had wanted to get in to the office in the back of the kitchen, but he could never seem to be left alone long enough to do so. It wasn’t as if the family mistrusted him, there were just so many of them and none of them seemed to all be gone at the same time. 
He considered going to his room, but he knew the twins would have already gotten there. He really hated their presence. Their human faces, lustfully watching his every move. They poked and prodded him with their hissing voices, urging him to hurry.
An idea struck him. He went back to the dining room. “Mel,” he addressed the boy.
Mel looked up from where he was on his knees and scrubbing in front of the fireplace. 
“You look like you could use a break. Would you like me to finish?”
“Oh no I couldn’t do that,” said Mel wistfully, “My aunties would skin me if they knew I let a guest such as you do my work.” He shuddered.
“Very well,” agreed Camron cheerfully, “But certainly they would allow you a break? Even a quick one?”
Mel looked at the floor. He was nearly done, maybe another thirty minutes, but not much left. “It’s ok,” he grinned, “I’m nearly done.”
Camron was starting to flush. All he needed was five minutes!
A knock sounded on the door. Camron remained leaning against the bar. Mel stood up and wiped his hands on the bottom of his tunic. He opened the door to find the town drunk waiting to enter. Mel blocked the doorway and greeted the man who stood swaying on the porch.
“Hi Herska,” said Mel congenially.
The man swayed and then caught the door jamb to steady himself, “Hi Mel,” he slurred blearily, “I came for my little drinkee poo from Tohma.”
“Ahh,” said Mel regretfully, “Toma isn’t back yet and it’s another hour until we are open.”
“No drinkee poo?” Asked Herska sadly.
“No,” said Mel as he shook his head. 
Herska slumped dejectedly against the doorway and looked hopefully up at Mel.
Mel sighed, “Come on,” he said and helped Herska to his feet. “You can sit in the chair out here until Toma gets back.”
“Ok Mel,” Herska slurred amicably, as he allowed Mel to help him over to the Chair.
Camron watched the exchange briefly. When Mel shouldered Herska to help him to the chair, he ducked in to the kitchen. With luck the office door was unlocked. Quietly he opened the door and went in, softly closing the door behind him. He locked it as a precaution so as not to be disturbed.
Systematically, he began rummaging through the desk, cupboards and bins. Ten minutes later he had turned up nothing more interesting than a small locked box. He stood looking at the box and trying to figure the best way to pry it open when he heard Dina and Toma arguing about Herska.
Quickly, he slid the box under a cupboard. Then he silently unlatched the door. He peaked out the door and saw Dina enter followed by Toma. He quickly stepped back to the cupboard and shifted. He was agonizingly slow in Chameleon form, but he managed to conceal himself under the cupboard just as Dina burst through the door muttering to herself about soft heads and drunken fools. She dropped a bag full of something heavy next to the cupboard, boxing him in between the wall, the locked box and the bag. He hoped she would move the bag otherwise he would be stuck.
Dina was still grumbling. “Dammit,” she cursed, “Where did I leave that key?”
He could hear her searching through the same drawers and bins he had just searched. He didn’t remember seeing a key.
“Toma!” She shouted.
“What!” Came the faint reply.
Dina stood and shouted out the door, “Where is the key to the lock box?”
Toma’s reply was indistinct to Camron, but now he was starting to panic. He pressed himself as far in to the corner under the cupboard as he could. He tried to blend with the shadows under the cupboard, but at his age, he was so pale, his coloring didn’t change well.
Dina was muttering another complaint, this time about people who didn’t put things away in their proper place. “Toma!” She shouted again.
Toma opened the door and said, “What now? I am trying to get the fires started!”
“I can’t find the lock box! It’s not on the shelf, did you move it?” She asked.
“It was on the shelf last night,” said Toma. “That was the last time I was in here. Did you not open it this morning?”
Dina grunted. “I did and I remember putting it back on the shelf. I also put the key back in the pouch. The key was there, but the box is missing!”
Toma said, “Mel wouldn’t dare.”
Dina said, “I don’t think he would either, but we need to ask him of he saw anything.”
“I’ll be right back,” said Toma and her footsteps receded through the kitchen.
Camron could hear Dina shuffling around, Then the bag was lifted. He could hear her moving things around and he saw her feet as they walked back and forth in front of the cupboard. He had relaxed a little, hoping they wouldn’t see any reason to look under the cupboard.
He heard two pairs of footsteps approaching the door. One pair sliding lazily on the floor the other pair stepping purposely. The steps with purpose belonged to Toma who entered the room first followed by Mels large ungainly feet shuffling behind her.
“Go ahead Mel, tell Dina what you told me.”
“Um, I was scrubbing the dining room floor and beside Herska, the only other person I saw was Mr. Camron. He asked me if I needed any help and I said no, then Herska knocked on the door. When I got back from helping him, Mr. Camron was gone. I expect he went to his room, or out walking like he does in the afternoon.” Said Mel.
“And no one else since Toma and I went to the market?” Asked Dina.
“No Auntie, I swear, I have been busy working, but no one else was here.”
“I have to ask, did you come in to the office?”
“Oh no, I have no reason to be in here,” he said fearfully.
Toma said gently, “It’s ok Mel. We trust you. Go ahead and finish up emptying the bucket and then you can get your snack and go home.”
“Thank you Auntie,” said Mel gratefully as he shuffled back to the kitchen.
“What do you think?” Toma asked.
“I think I am mystified.” said Dina. “There is only one way in this office. If Herska had gotten past Mel I would suspect him, but we saw Herska, passed out in the chair out front.”
Toma worried, “You are not suspecting Mel?”
“No,” said Dina, “he’s a good boy. I’ve never even noticed a cookie missing when he is around. Growing boys eat practically everything.”
If a lizard could sweat Camron was sure he would be in a puddle by now. As it was he still had the presence of mind to wonder where the pouch was that kept the key.
Dina sighed audibly, “We don’t have time for this right now. It’s just an inconvenience anyway. There’s nothing in the box at the moment.”
Toma said, “Right and those fires aren’t going to light themselves.”
Dina said, “You finish the fires and I’ll get water.”
Both women left the office for their respective chores. Cameron left his hiding place and shifted. There was no point in trying to get in the box. He saw the bag that had been dropped in front of him. In it were potatoes.
Camron, peeked through the door. He could see no one in the Kitchen and he could hear no one bustling about nearby. He slipped out of the office. He was about to go back to the dining room when he heard footsteps. He went to the door to the Veranda, but Dina was approaching with the water buckets. He was trapped. He shifted and pressed himself up against the wall nest to the office. The floor was old stained brick and the walls were dark wood that had been there for years. He did his best to blend, but his old skin betrayed him. He could barely manage a slight beige color before both women were in the kitchen.
Amazingly, neither saw him. He spent the rest of the evening slowly making his way to a secluded corner behind a dust bin.
The evening meal was well under way by the time Camron was able to hide himself completely. He was exhausted. It would be several hours until the dining room was closed. Finally Dina and Toma extinguished the lights and closed the doors.
When all was silent, he shifted back and in the dark made his way to the Dining room. He barked his shins several times, cursing under his breath.
By the time he had returned to his room, he found the twins curled up and asleep in the middle of his bed.
Annoyed he sat in the arm chair and shifted. Then he drifted off to sleep. His dreams were of being torn limb from limb by an owl faced snake. 

Chapter 17

The next day Camron remained brooding in his room. The twins were getting impatient with him. Nista threatened to swallow him whole while he slept. While Ular had agreed that he was probably only useful for their next meal, she said they could wait a little longer for him to find a way out of the village.
He told them about the lock box and that he had hidden it under the cupboard, but that it was empty. He doubted whether the thick headed women had found it yet. 
Ula remained lounging on the bed. She watched him with sulky half-lidded eyes. Nista had slithered out when it appeared the inn was deserted. She said she would do what he could not. 
An hour later, triumphant, she slithered back in to the room with a cloth bag in her mouth. 
“Open it!” Ordered Ular.
It took Camron a minute to realize she was talking to him. She hissed, “Open it!” Again.
Quickly he got up and took the bag from Nista. He opened it and looked inside. He nearly choked on laughter, as he dumped the contents on to the bed next to Ular.
“This is what you found?” He picked up some pretty rocks.
“Are those not gemstones?” Sniffed Nista defiantly.
Ular inspected the contents and narrowed her eyes at him. “How do we trust what you say?” she hissed.
“I recognize these stones.” He said, picking one up, examining it and then tossing it back in the pile. “I even know where you found them.” He sat back down dejectedly, but also a bit mollified that they were as stupid as he originally thought they were. The stones they thought were gems, were colored bits of glass that Toma had collected over the years, down on the beach. She kept them in a jar, hoping to one day find a use for them.
He scooped them back in the bag. He was going to take them back. He knew if they caught him with these they would start suspecting him with other missing items. In which they would be correct he thought, but getting caught because of some colorful bits of glass, would be downright amateur of him.
“Where are you going?” They asked in unison.
“To return these. They are worthless pretties and not a good reason to get caught stealing.” He left the room, slamming the door behind him.
Downstairs he heard Dina and Toma talking as they returned from their errands. He sighed. He hoped Nista hadn’t disturbed anything when she stole the glass. He didn’t have much time. “Toma!” He called.
“Yes Camron?” She called back.
“Toma,” he said excitedly as he entered the dining room, holding the bag of glass aloft, “I think I have an excellent idea for your glass. I was just about to go out back and sort the pieces. I think we can make a really pretty wind chime out of them.”
Toma grinned, “That sounds like a lovely idea! Go ahead and I will be out in a few minutes. I have some thing to put away first.”
Dina nodded at him, a cool look to her eyes as if to say she suspected him to be up to something. 
He smiled his most charming smile at her. She seemed to warm up just a little. His smile faded as he walked out the door to the veranda. He took a seat at one of the tables facing the bay. 
The sun was beginning to move towards late afternoon. As he laid the pieces out on the table, he arranged them by color and by size. By the time Toma came out he had a striking arrangement.
All the while his hands worked with the glass bits, he was angrily trying to find a way out of his current predicament. Something in the glass sparkled. One of the shards of blue caught his eye. He turned to Toma and said, “What do you think of this pattern?”
She looked thoughtful for a moment and then suggested a couple of corrections. As he moved pieces around, he skillfully pocketed the blue piece that had caught his eye. It might have been nothing, but he had to be sure and he could not examine it with Toma around. He didn’t want to have to explain anything.
He and Toma worked on the chimes until Dina complained loudly that she could not manage the dinner crowd by herself. 
They covered their work with a cloth. Toma went in to dinner. Camron told her he wanted to take a watch along the beach and see if he could locate any more pieces.
Toma happily pecked him on the cheek and thanked him for the wonderful idea.
He felt a tiny twinge at his deceit, but quickly buried it under cynicism. Humans would never understand nor accept Sintafor. Having any feelings toward them did not serve him. As she hurried in to help Dina, he walked down the veranda steps and followed the rough path down to the small secluded beach below the inn.
From the Inn the beach could not be seen and when the tide was in it was a very small strip of land below an outcrop. All sorts of creatures harbored on the beach and in the protected alcove. It seemed people did not frequent the beach, which suited him perfectly.
He sat on a large driftwood log that was stuck partially in the sand.
Carefully he pulled the small glass piece out and held it up in the palm of his hand. Sure enough, encased in the blue resin was a gembug. Human eyes would have been hard pressed to see the insect embedded in the blue crystal resin. 
A gem bug was a tiny Sintafor that had a metallic outer shell that looked like polished silver. It was however, just the bugs outer skin cover. Gembugs (Tef Nirildi) rarely shifted to human form. They preferred their reclusive lives of creating homes that resembled gems, or colored shards of glass. As they grew they would shed one hard resin shell and create another. Eventually, they matured to their final metamorphosis in which they were large glittery butterflies. At this point they could easily shift to a human form, but again many chose not to. After their sleek and beautiful butterfly wings, most felt ungainly in human form. Capturing a gem bug while still encased in resin was better than finding a large bag of gold. 
Camron’s hopes rose. It still wouldn’t land him passage on a ship or buy him a horse in the human world, but it would provide him with an extremely handsome reward once he returned to the Dyrulava.
Camron sat quietly listening to the waves and plotted how he would leave this accursed place and also ditch the twins.

Chapter 18

Wenny leaned on the bow and squinted in to the distance. There were some fluffy clouds on the horizon, but nothing else to disturb the infinite blue sky. The deep green of the ocean rushed by as the ship plowed through its rolling surface.
For a few days Falaivol swam with dolphins, chasing the ship. Soon however, they were deep out to sea. Fishes, whales and other large dark shapes swam below. Once in awhile something would breach the water, but for the most part they were ignored by the world below.
Wenny remained fairly solitary. It was now her choice. She stopped trying to make friends with the crew. The captain had been livid when she returned to the ship with Foleinn. Wenny had remained in wolf form, refusing to shift to human until week after they had gotten underway. Anyone who tried to approach her, were met with snarls and growls. She had been angry. It seemed Qaskiri and the Dyrulava had been the most straight forward with her.
Now, weeks later, her anger had dissipated. But she still felt like a total outsider and really wasn’t interested in mingling with the crew. 
The captain had asked to speak with her. She had asked Wenny why she was even staying with them. The Dyrulava could have taken her to her people.
Wenny had retorted, “I paid for my passage with you. Therefore I will stay with you until you take me where you promised.”
That conversation had happened two days ago. She did admit to herself that her self induced isolation was getting old. She missed the camaraderie of the crew and listening to Joaquin and Filagi tell their tales. At this point though, she didn’t know how to reconnect. So she remained at the bow and watched the unchanging horizon.
Suddenly a shadow fell over her. She looked up to see Joaquin standing next to her, his gaze on the horizon. “Are you done brooding?” He asked matter of factly.
Wenny smiled. Someone understood her. “Yeah, I think so.” she said simply, relieved to not have to explain herself.
“I have a question,” said Joaquin.
She remained silent.
“What does your instinct tell you about the Dyrulava?”
She thought for a moment and then asked her own question, “Have you ever had any dealings with them?”
Joaquin laughed softly, “Yes I have, some good and some, well, not so good.”
Wenny nodded. “First let me say, my instinct seems to be all I have.” She waved a hand encompassing the ship. “Who on here was or is willing to tell me anything that might be helpful?” She raised her hand as he opened his mouth. “Let me finish, it’s a complicated thought I’d like to get out.”
Joaquin nodded and sat down next to her.
She was grateful, her neck was beginning to hurt from looking up. She leaned against the rail. They were eye to eye now. “Membosa was very helpful and looking back, I am ashamed of my behavior to him. I owe him an apology, if he ever speaks to me again.” She sighed. “You too have been the best and most reliable friend. I owe you an apology as well. I did not treat our friendship with respect. That you are willing to hear me now, well I am humbled.”
Joaquin nodded. He neither agreed or disagreed with her. 
She plowed on, “The captain demands respect, but she has not earned mine and therefore I feel while perhaps my actions were not in the best interest of the ship, if she had possibly shared more information with me, I wouldn’t have felt I needed to act.” She felt defensive now. She knew she wasn’t entirely justified, but she felt that if Azeria hadn’t tried to hide so much from her, things might have been different.
Wenny had learned a great deal about herself. She wasn’t sure what it all meant, but she had learned rather quickly that her wolf instinct was her greatest ally. 
Joaquin said, “And so I ask again, What does your instinct tell you of the Dyrulava?”
“It tells me that they are rogues, hot heads, thieves, and cheats, but they are not liars. In fact, lying is the one thing above all they don’t tolerate.” At Joaquin’s questioning look she said, “Oh sure, they don’t reveal everything either,” she snorted, “but they also don’t try to hide that they aren’t telling you everything. So yeah, I suppose they are keeping things from me, but it’s not the same. I can’t explain really.”
“You will one day,” said Joaquin looking at her with a smile. “Did you meet Qaskiri?”
Wenny looked Joaquin in surprise. “How do you know her?”
Joaquin chuckled, “I knew Qaskiri’s mother and father. I’ve also known her since she was a new pup.”
Wenny knew she shouldn’t be surprised, but she was. “Yes I met with Qaskiri. I took her to be a hard commanding leader, but I could also see her compassion. I also knew that getting on her bad side is bad place to be, but I think I did ok.” She shrugged, I came back without a scratch.”
“Qaskiri demands respect, and her people give it, simply because she sees respect as a two way street.”
Wenny nodded, that made perfect sense to her. She felt like she had more to learn from Qaskiri and the Dyrulava.
“Are you aware you met Qaskiri’s son?”
Wenny stood upright, a piece fell in to place for her. “Foleinn?”
Joaquin grinned, “yes, Foleinn. How did you know?”
“I didn’t until you asked me, but his scent, it had a familiarity I couldn’t figure out.” She mused.
“What you are learning is what most pups learn early in life, something you weren’t really exposed to since your mother died when you were so young, but I suspect you worked out on a level you couldn’t really put in to words.”
Wenny nodded. She pondered his words, and said, “I do feel very much at a disadvantage. Things most Sintafor grow up knowing, I didn’t know I was missing until now. I also noticed that being with the Dyrulava I had a sense of being home. Is that weird?” She asked.
“No,” huffed Joaquin, “it’s something I haven’t felt in a very long time.” He added softly.
She patted his shoulder. She was beginning to understand how the place she grew up wasn’t really home. Her brief time with the Dyrulava gave her the sense that home was possible, but she had a long way to go before she got there.
They remained there, lost to their own thoughts. Soon the bell was ringing. Wenny realized that the sun had dipped low in the sky. The bell was calling the crew to mess before the dog watch. Her stomach rumbled. 
Joaquin rose, “Come on let’s eat.”
She followed him down to the galley. 
Selius purred when he saw her, “It’s about time you visit old Selius!” He chided.
“I’m sorry Selius,” she apologized, “I haven’t been myself. I didn’t want to subject you to my grouchy side.”
“Aw now, if I can handle this crew, your grouchy side won’t worry me!” He grinned.
“Thank you,” she grinned back, “I’ll remember that.”
He handed her a bowl of stew and two rolls of bread. 
“Two rolls?” She raised her eyebrows.
“You missed breakfast, it’s your ration from this morning,” he winked at her.
“Just this time.” She said, “But from now on, no special favors.”
Selius grinned, “Enjoy your dinner.” He said.
Wenny looked at Joaquin.
He shrugged.
She pocketed the extra roll. She would save it for later. Wenny followed Joaquin to on of the benches. They ate in companionable silence.
Crew members filed in, got their food and sat around the galley. Noisy conversation filled the room as more people arrived.
Joaquin nudged Wenny and pointed to a small group huddled together not far from them. Wenny saw Membosa, Tabmal, Halus, Ember and Kepa. She looks up at Joaquin.
“Now might be a good time to deliver your apology?”
Wenny hesitated. She felt awkward.
“It will only get more difficult.” Advised Joaquin.
She sighed. He was right. She handed him her empty bowl and stood. She felt shaky. She had never been afraid to talk to someone. This was unexpected. Annoyed with herself she rolled her shoulders back, stood straight and strode over to the little group, hoping she looked more confident than she felt.
Halus was facing her. She smiled. Halus just looked at her, while tapping Membosa on the shoulder.
Membosa looked at Halus, and then at her. His expression was unreadable.
Wenny faltered. She stood looking back at Membosa. “Hi” she said.
No one replied. This annoyed and empowered her. “Look, I owe you all an apology, mostly you Membosa. You gave me really good advice and I … Well I ignored it. I’m sorry. I should have been less selfish and considered the safety of all of us.” She was ready to turn and go back to Joaquin.
Tabmal was the one who replied, “I owe you one too Wenny,” he said, “I encouraged you. I knew it was dangerous, but I wanted to see what would happen.”
“I appreciate that Tabmal, but it wasn’t going to take much to encourage me, I wanted to meet them really bad.” She flushed.
Tabmal grinned at her. “I’m glad you’re not mad at us anymore.”
Wenny was shocked, “ I was never angry with you!” 
Membosa finally spoke, “Was it worth it?” He said with sarcasm.
Wenny was hurt but she answered as evenly as she could, “Yes and no.”
Membosa waited for her to continue.
“I learned some things I needed to know about myself and my people. But knowing what I know now, there would have been a better way. It will never be worth it to put those I care about in danger.”
Membosa nodded thoughtfully. “It sounds as if you learned a valuable lesson.” He looked at the others and then back at Wenny, “I accept your apology.”
Wenny smiled gratefully. “Thank you.” She turned to go back to Joaquin.
“I have dog watch,” said Membosa. “Join me at four bells.”
Wenny nodded, “I’ll be there.”
Her heart light she nearly skipped back to Joaquin.

Chapter 19

At four bells Wenny made her way up to the Quaterdeck where Membosa usually started his watch duty. He was there with Halus and Bodah. Bodah waved as she approached. Halus and Membosa turned around. Membosa grinned at her. 
“Good you are here!” He said.
Wenny just nodded, she didn’t know what to say, or what he had wanted. 
“I’ll see you two later,” he said to Halus and Bodah. He motioned Wenny to follow him. They paced the Quarterdeck. Membosa checked that his area was secure. The sun was setting just off the starboard bow. They sat on crates and watched it set. As it began it’s journey below the horizon, Membosa lit his lantern. As they began the next pace across the quarterdeck to the port side he began to speak. “I know it was hard for you to come to us today. We wanted to speak with you, but the captain forbid it, unless you spoke to us. It was agonizing not to let you know that we were not upset with you.”
Wenny looked at him in surprise. Anger at the captain burning in her chest. She opened her mouth to let fly a tirade, but Membosa held up a hand.
“Look, we are all on this ship because we chose to be for one reason or another. We chose this family over our own. We chose this ‘village’ over the ones we knew as children. Therefore we choose to follow Captain Azeria. You too have chosen to be here. You are in our home and hers. She has every right to demand you follow her rules.” He looked at her, his eyes pleading her to understand.
She was dumbstruck. Put to her that way, she felt very small and stupid. She was a very willful and demanding guest. She knew Membosa had not told her this to humble her, but to keep her out of further trouble. Wenny sighed, “I feel a right fool.” She blushed, though in the dark no one could tell.
“Oh no!” Denied Membosa, “You’re not a fool! The captain, she doesn’t always come across in a way that everyone can understand.” He apologized.
“No really,” said Wenny, “You’re right. I’m a guest here. If this were my home, I would certainly want my guests to follow my rules. They are there for a reason. Reasons I’m sure were established long before I showed up.”
Membosa hung his head, “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to make you feel bad.”
Wenny smiled at him, “You didn’t! No you are a good friend. I appreciate you setting me straight. After the market, I promised myself I would listen the next time you told me something.”
He looked relieved. “Will you join us for watches again?”
Wenny shrugged, “That will be up to the captain. I need to apologize to her. Whether she accepts, well thats another thing isn’t it?”
Membosa nodded. 
Wenny remained chatting with Membosa until his watch was over. He went to meet with Halus, Tabmal, Ember and Kepa. Bodah replaced him at the watch. Wenny went her own way. She was tired and decided to sleep. In the morning she would seek out the Captain and try to make amends.

Poka glared at her. Wenny just sat silently and waited. The Captain was busy, meeting with Joaquin Filagi, and Zarna. Poka had gone in the cabin when Wenny arrived to tell the captain she had a visitor. When she came back out, she curtly told Wenny the captain wasn’t interested in speaking to her and she could go away. Wenny had started to leave, but decided not to, which had upset Poka, who had shouted at her to leave. She was making enough of a commotion that Zarna poked his head out and told her to be quiet. He had glared at Wenny, but didn’t tell her to leave.
Sometime later, the door opened again. Filagi and Joaquin emerged from the cabin. Joaquin knew why she was there. He winked at her as he and Filagi went by. Zarna exited next. He gave Wenny a hard look, but he left also. Poka ducked in to the cabin and slammed the door, leaving Wenny by herself.
She remained seated, her back against the wall, her knees drawn up to her chin. The captain was going to make her wait. She wasn’t surprised. Wenny had patience. She could wait for hours. As it was, Poka had come and gone several times, of course without looking at her or speaking to her. Wenny just watched her.
Poka had just scurried down the hall and disappeared, when the cabin door opened. Wenny didn’t move. The captain filled the doorway. She looked at Wenny with a frown and then beckoned her inside.
Wenny stood and followed the captain into the cabin. Once inside she remained standing. While sitting outside she had thought long and hard about what she wanted to say. Now that she was here, her words had left her, so she remained silent, waiting for the captain to speak. 
Captain Azeria paced back and forth. Her face set in a frown. Finally she stopped and turned to set her glare full on Wenny.
Wenny flinched, but met her gaze.
“What do you want?” Growled the captain. “I mean,” she hesitated, searching the cabin for the right words, “You refuse to submit to my authority, you flaunt my indebtedness toward you, you speak to me as if I am no more than a deckhand, and you speak ill of me to my crew! What more could you possibly want?”
Wenny thought for a moment, then said, “It is true, I do refuse to submit to your authority, or any one else for that matter. Flaunting your indebtedness, that is a stretch because I only mentioned it once and in this cabin. I hardly call that a flaunt. I never speak ill of you to your crew, and as for treating you as a deckhand? Hardly, I treat you as a dictator. I think I am fairly kind to the deckhands.”
Azeria began to growl. She was ready to unleash her pent up anger at Wenny, but Wenny held up her hand.
“Please, let me finish. It is true that I am a guest on your ship. I must apologize for not being a better guest. A guest does not flaunt the rules of her host. That is rude and I have been rude. For that I humbly apologize. As for how you and I speak to each other, perhaps we both bear the blame there.”
The captain glared at Wenny, but continued to listen.
“Look, the whole reason I am here is because I recognize how very wrong I have been. So I am apologizing. I am also releasing you from your obligation to me. If you will have me I will be a member of your crew until we complete this voyage and you can leave me with either the Styrulava or the Dyrulava, whichever is most convenient.” Wenny stood silent.
Azeria eyed her with a narrow gaze. “Why?”
Wenny was puzzled. “Why?” She repeated.
“Why all of a sudden do you care? Why the change of heart? Do you expect me to believe you lost your selfish attitude suddenly? Do you think I am that stupid? What do you want?” She scowled at Wenny.
Wenny rocked back on her heels. None of that had occurred to her. To be mistrusted by the captain came as a shock. She was certain that once she had apologized, all would be well. “ I - well, I,” stammered Wenny.
“You what? Want to make a mockery of me? Oh no. You are remaining as a guest on my ship. If you can abide by the law of my ship we won’t have any further disagreements, but as a crew member? I wouldn’t have a whining, churlish, cur such as yourself as a member of my crew. Out here we depend on each other for survival. As a guest, if we get in to a life threatening situation, know that you are my last priority.” The captain’s voice rose to a thunderous snarl. “Now leave me and remain out of my way for the remainder of our voyage or I will throw you overboard myself!”
Wenny stood her mouth agape. No one had ever spoken to her that way. Hot tears tried to leak out of her eyes, but she angrily held them back. 
“Leave now!” Growled the captain.
Wenny glared back, shifted to wolf, realized she couldn’t open the door, shifted back and left. She slammed the door behind her. She then shifted back. She had never been this angry in her life. She had never been spoken to like she would try to lie or cheat anyone.
She was so angry she just padded along, not paying attention to where she was going. She didn’t know what to do. She wanted to scream, she wanted to bite something or someone. She wanted off this boat. She wanted to run in the forest, run until she was no longer angry. 
Suddenly she found herself in the belly of the ship. The clanking of the engines were deafening, especially to her wold ears. She shifted back to human and put her hands over her ears. She had never been this far below deck before. In fact she couldn’t even remember seeing the crew that worked below. 
Curiosity mollified her anger. She cautiously pushed open the door to the engine room. 
The noise came from great hulking metal beasts that roared, clanked and hissed. The acrid smell of coal, mixed with water and oil burned her nose and made her sneeze. There were two half shifters running about adjusting knobs and checking little round glass covered boxes. Four large furnaces, two at each end of the room were being fed shovels full of coal. That took two half-shifts per furnace. Joaquin had told her about the engines and the engine room, but she had not been able to imagine what she now saw. 
She stood at the door and just watched. She was fascinated. She had been there for several long moments when one of the engineers saw her. He bustled over to her shouting and waving his hands. She couldn’t understand a word he said, but his meaning was clear, she needed to leave. 
She backed out of the room. The engineer shut the door. She stood outside, the hulking clanking beasts, still loud, continued. Slowly she walked back toward the stairs. She tried to remember everything Joaquin had told her about the engines. She shook her head. She hadn’t paid very close attention. She would have to ask again.
Wenny went to the galley. Her anger and frustration, not to mention her rage run though the ship, had made her hungry.
Though the captain was angry with her, it seemed the crew was ok with her. Selius, as ever was happy to see her, which mollified her angst a bit. She asked him if he knew anything about the engines. He had laughed and said cooking was his thing.
They chatted while she ate. When she was done, she decided to look for Joaquin or Membosa. Either one would have advice for her.
Membosa was sleeping. He would have the late watch tonight. Joaquin and Filagi were high up in the crows nest. 
Wenny sighed. She wandered back to her post by the bow. She had a lot to think about. Now was a good a time as any. She shifted back to wolf and lay on the deck next to the bow. She began by wondering how much longer before they reached the Archipelago.

Chapter 20

Azeria fumed. She had not wanted to lose her temper. It was a sign of weakness, but the girl was skilled at driving her mad! 
She stood and flung open the cabin’s portals. The sea spray bathed her face as is flew in on the tropical breeze. It was refreshing. They had finally arrived in the southern waters of the archipelago.
Azeria stumped back to her chair. 
She slammed a meaty fist on the table. How dare that whelp assume she could just apologize and everything be ok? It was not acceptable! 
A small voice in the back of her head was telling her she wasn’t being entirely objective. In fact, it had the audacity to suggest she might be somewhat jealous that Wenny could shift. 
‘Absurd’, she thought, ‘I don’t feel that way about Filagi!’ Or did she? These thoughts did not improve her mood.
An insistent banging on the door penetrated her thoughts. She growled. “Who is it?” 
“It’s me!” squeaked Poka.
“What do you want?” Annoyance edging her voice.
“Can I get you anything,” came the placating chitter.
“You can go away!” roared Azeria, “Jump overboard for all I care!” She continued loudly, “Just leave me alone!”
Azeria instantly felt bad. Now she was snapping at the one person on board the ship who was the most loyal to her. She got up and opened the door, an apology forming. The corridor was empty. Deflated she shut and barred the door.
Instead of returning to her chair, she stood looking out one of the aft portholes. White churning water from the screws left a wake trail stretching to the horizon. She saw dolphins playing in the wake. Momentarily lost in her thoughts, the significance of the dolphins did not immediately register.
She absently watched the pod of dolphins dive, leap and swim in the ships wake. The sight of the dolphins and the churning water soothed her, as did the smell of the tropical sea. Aside from the disaster that had visited their crew on their last voyage from the Archipelago, Azeria found that she loved sailing these waters. Her home port on Sintafor seemed cold and dreary compared to the tropics. If she could she would remain here.
She sighed. She was losing control. She and her crew had been in this distressing half-shift state for a few years now. Some of the crew had adjusted as their state of shift hadn’t been physically limiting, but others, such as Zarna, suffered terribly. Before this awful plight, Zarna had been happy and free spirited. Now he brooded, preferring to remain out of sight of the crew and others. It was only the force of her will that encourage him to continue with his duties. 
Her own shift, while awkward to look at had not affected her much.  She did not feel any discomfort. 
Most distressing to her was her crew. Two Failavol had lost their ability to breath above water and had suffocated before anyone knew what had happened to them. There had been other injuries as well. It had been extremely difficult to convince the crew to remain with her so that they could find the cure. In the beginning, nearly all of them had wanted to leave. It took weeks to convince them that they needed each other more than ever, to find the cure.
The even harder part was convincing them that they had to find the log books before they could set off for the cure.
And now, here they were, finally returning to the Archipelago. She found the closer they got, the more apprehensive she became. 
The small voice returned, pointing out to her that her short temper must surely be related to her apprehension and fear. Her fear that after all this time they would find Dr. Fenning either unable to help or worse yet, dead. She had labored for contingencies in these events and still had no idea what they would do. The crux of her fear, informing the crew they would be half shifters forever. She feared what would happen to Zarna. 
Azeria turned away from the porthole. A deep sigh escaped as she resigned herself to another fruitless search for answers. Suddenly, she stopped and turned back to the porthole. She watched the dolphins. They were small and agile. With wing like flippers. They were coastal dolphins. 
She smiled. They were within hours of the Archipelago. She corrected herself, they were in the Archipelago. The islands would begin to show themselves soon. 
Azeria shook off her melancholy mood. It was time to address the crew. 

Chapter 21

The horse snorted as it started the descent toward the valley. As they neared the bottom of the trail, leaving the thinner, colder air behind, Camron removed the fur lined hood from his head. He looked back up the trail to make sure he still wasn’t being followed, though he didn’t expect to see anyone. This route would take a couple of weeks longer, but no one would have expected him to go this way especially this late in the year. So far he had been lucky and the winter’s first snowfall had held off. 
It had been a stroke of luck that he had found the map. He had gone back to Wenny’s cottage after he had recovered from his encounter with the twins at the cave. He knew then he needed to speed up his exit from the village. He knew the map would be useful, but he hadn’t been sure how. After finding the Tef Nirildi, he doubled his efforts to plan his exit. 
The horse had been the final piece of the puzzle. One skill Camron had above all others was his skill at playing cards. He was able to win the horse off a pair of traveling merchants who fancied themselves competent gamblers. They had never met anyone like Camron. He didn’t gamble, he won. As old as he was he had also learned not to over win, but in the end he always walked away with his objective. 
The twins were the most difficult part of his plan. They were never very far from him. There was no way he was going to be able to pack any of his things and leave his room alive. He made sure the Tef Nirildi remained with him at all times. He didn’t have much, so leaving all of his things wouldn’t necessarily be a hardship. The morning after he had won the horse, he left his room for breakfast as he always did. He told them he would go to the market by the dock and secure passage for the three of them. That was the last time he had seen them. 
He did go to the dock in case they watched him from the window. At the dock market he purchased a few things he needed, including a cloak that he could wear and walk back past the inn without being recognized. 
That was three weeks ago. The only ones looking for him would be the twins. He just hoped the twins had not injured Dina and Toma when they were discovered in his room. Better them than him though, he thought. 
Minskia, the land he was now traversing, was full of mountainous ranges. He had just traversed the first range. It had been bitterly cold and up on the pass the wind was brutal. He was very happy to be in the valley, which was wooded and definitely warmer, despite the season. He halted by a shallow stream, letting the horse rest and drink. He pulled out the map and studied it to get his bearings. There was a village marked a bit southeast of his position. He decided a bed, a hot meal and if he was lucky a bath would be available. The sun however, was low in the western sky. He would need a sheltered area for the night.
He decided to continue further in to the woods. The dense pine forest would provide some protection from wind. He found a small clearing. He fed the horse and tied it to a tree. He put a thick woolen blanket over the animal and covered its head to protect its ears from the cold night. He then climbed back up on to the horses back and shifted. He would be safe and warm. The horse would also alert him to any danger.
Camron drifted off to sleep. Meanwhile in his saddlebag the Tef Nirildi began to stir.

Chapter 22

“Have you seen Camron?” Asked Toma.
Dina looked up from the desk. She had been counting the days proceeds and was nearly done. She was going to have to start over. “No.” She said curtly scowling at Toma as she started her count over.
Toma left the kitchen. She carefully hung her apron on the back of the door as she left. Dina snorted. She had lost count again. She sighed and started over. Some time later she finished and started to clean up the office. As she stood up she knocked the balance book on the floor. She bent down to pick it up and saw a box sticking out from under the cupboard. 
‘Huh?’ She thought, ‘How did that get down there?’ She straightened and examined the box. Aside from some dust, it seemed to be intact. Still puzzled she put the box back in the cupboard where it belong. She put the balance book on top of it and closed the door. 
She turned to the kitchen and screamed.
A woman’s face had appeared in the doorway. Her head sat atop a snakes body. 
Frozen to the spot, all Dina could do was stare at the hideous sight.
A bored hissing voice issued from the head. “Keep your mouth shut or my sister will swallow your sister whole.” 
At that Dina saw Toma wrapped up by another woman with a snakes body. The snake woman had wrapped itself around Toma pinning her arms to her body. Her head next to Toma’s head. Her mouth was open, Fangs resting menacingly on Toma’s neck. Toma’s face was devoid of color. Her eyes wide with terror and a cloth stuffed in her mouth.
Dina covered her own mouth to muffle the sounds of distress she couldn’t control.
“Now”, hissed the first snake woman, “Where is that sneaking murderer, Camron?” 
Dina looked at Toma. Toma’s eyes pleaded with her. “I don’t know,” squeaked Dina.
Toma grunted as the snake wrapped around her squeezed her a bit tighter.
Dina said hurriedly, “I really don’t know! Please don’t hurt us! We haven’t seen him!”
“When did you see him last?” Demanded the snake woman.
Dina wracked her brain, ‘When was the last time she had talked to Camron?’
Toma moaned again. To her relief the woman said, “Stop Ular, I told you he wouldn’t tell them.”
The other snake woman hissed in anger. Her tongue flicked out and across Toma’s cheek. 
Toma began to cry, a keening moan beginning to emanate from her.
“Ular!” scolded the snake woman in front of Dina, “Leave her be!”
Ular hissed angrily, shooting angry looks at her sister.
The snake woman turned back to Dina. “Now think, when did you see him last?”
Dina looked away from the crying Toma. She was shaking so hard she had to steady herself with a hand on the desk. As her hand hit the desk, she remembered. “He was here two days ago, helping Toma make a wind chime with her sea glass shards.” As she said that she wondered if he had moved the box too. She had been put off by his tone when he told Toma he had an idea for her glass. The first time Toma had shown it to him, he had been completely uninterested in it and looked bored as Toma told him where she had found the glass. Something in his mannerism had seemed contrived. Emboldened, she looked at the snake woman and said, “That was the last time I spoke to him, but he was here last night.” She snorted in disgust, “He was playing cards with some of the merchants.” She shrugged, “I didn’t notice when he left for the night, but he was definitely gone by the time we closed up.”
Toma, eyes still wide with fright was nodding her head in agreement.
The snake woman rotated her sinewy body and hissed, “They share the same story sister.”
Dina thought to say something, but decided that if Camron was in trouble, the less they had to do with it the better.
The snake woman turned back to her. “Who were the merchants?”
Dina thought for a moment trying to recall if she had seen them before. “I’m not sure.” Then she added as the snake woman grew agitated, “they aren’t regulars, which means they are probably overland merchants, not the ones that arrive on the ships.”
Both snake women hissed in anger. 
Dina wondered what that meant.
The one called Ular said, “We must find these merchants!”
“No.” Hissed the other, “It’s bad enough these two see us. We can’t risk anyone else.”
Dina saw an opportunity, “We can talk to them.” She suggested.
The snake woman eyes narrowed, “That might work, but” she glared at Dina, “Ular will stay with your sister. I will go with you and remain unseen.”
Dina’s heart sank, she needed to rescue her sister. She looked at Toma. Toma nodded at her. “Very well,” she agreed.
She followed the snake women through the kitchen to the dining room Toma struggled to walked with Ular wrapped around her. She left Toma and Ular sitting on a bar stool, and made her way to the stairs leading to the upper floors. She was morbidly fascinated with the undulations the snake woman made to slither up the stairs. If she hadn’t seen it she would not have thought it possible. She made a mental note to check for snakes in the future. 
The two merchants she had seen with Camron were on the third floor and in a room midway down the corridor. She pointed to the door and the snake woman concealed herself by coiling herself in a corner in the shadows. Before she knocked on the door Dina whispered, “Is there anything specific you want me to ask?” 
The snake woman hissed scornfully, “Yes, I want to know where he is!” 
Dina sighed. She rapped on the door. She waited, but heard nothing from the inside. She rapped again. She looked at the snake woman and shrugged.
“Can you open it?” 
“Yes but not unless there is a compelling reason. My guests are entitled to their privacy.”
“Fine, your sister will die for their privacy,” snarled the snake woman.
Dina sucked in her breath, “Thats compelling enough” she said. She patted her pockets. Her keys were missing, then she remembered, they were down on the desk. “I need my keys. They’re on my desk.”
“What are you waiting for? Go get them,” ordered the annoyed snake woman.
Dina hurried back down the stairs. As she passed Toma and Ular she blurted, “Forgot my keys!” Once in the office she grabbed the keys and was about to hurry back out when her eye landed on her fathers hunting knife. She had kept it as a memory of her beloved father. She looked around. Toma had not followed her with the other snake woman. She quickly grabbed it and put it in her pocket. She felt less vulnerable now.
She headed back to the stairs jangling her keys to show the snake woman wrapped around Toma. Toma who looked so very miserable. Dina hurried, she needed to rescue her sister. The look on her face was going to haunt Dina for a very long time!
Once before the door again, she knocked again, just to make sure. Again no response. She unlocked the door. A sweet acrid scent assaulted her nose. She hesitated to go further. The snake woman brushed past her nearly knocking her aside. It was dark in the room. Dina went to the table to light the lamp she knew should be there, but as she reached the table her foot bumped into the lamp which was lying on the floor. She picked it up and felt for the tinderbox. It was missing. 
An angry hiss came from the snake woman. She snarled, “They are dead!”
“What?” Exclaimed Dina, “How?”
“Poison!” Hissed the woman.
Dina slumped. There was no way to get away without a fight. She put her hand in her pocket to retrieve the knife when the snake woman said, “Get the light on! We can search the room.” Shaking she fumbled around looking for the tinderbox. Finally her groping fingers closed around the box. Quickly she lit the lamp. She looked around. The room itself was untouched. Then she saw the bodies. Two men stared sightlessly at the ceiling. Both had fluid pooled around their faces and heads. She winced and looked away. Her stomach lurched.
The snake woman seemed completely unaffected as she slithered about the room poking in to everything she could reach. “You need to look in the high places and places that require hands,” ordered the snake woman.
Dina nodded dumbly. There were two tables in the room, only one had a drawer. It was empty. She saw a sack sitting on a chair. She opened it, but all it had was some samples of whatever the two men were peddling. Snake woman was completely uninterested in the samples. 
“Search their pockets,” she said.
Dina was horrified. She didn’t want to touch the bodies. She stood still.
“Do it!” Said the snake woman harshly.
Dina obeyed, her gorge rising. She held her breath and tried not to look at their faces.
In one of the mens pockets she found a few coins. In the others was a map and some more coins. A scrap of paper fell to the floor from the folded map. She picked it up. It was folded in half, she opened it and saw that it was a wanted poster. The face on the poster, was one of the men lying there dead.
The poster said:

WANTED

DEAD OR ALIVE

BRING TO JORBAR 

FOR THE REWARD

200 GOLD PIECES

She read it to the snake woman.
The woman slithered over to Dina and looked at the paper. “Of course they are murders,” she said scornfully. “Where is Jorbar?” She asked.
Dina had never heard of Jorbar. She unfolded the map that was in her hand and spread it out on the floor. She kept her back to the bodies. The sightless eyes were unnerving.
The snake woman studied the map. It was fairly detailed, showing many towns and villages. Dina noted another spit of land south of Minskia. She had known there were other lands, but she had never traveled far beyond her own town. When she was a child, before Wenny came to live with them, her father had taken them on a boat down the coast to a much larger town that she now knew was Storvaten. Many of her guests came from Storvaten. They came for the pelts, grains and fruits that the farmers from her town of Lantamer produced.
As they traced the map, she saw the names of places she knew the name but had no real idea of where they were. They finally found Jorbar. On the map it seemed fairly close to Storvaten, but by the sound the snake woman made, she gathered it was a long way. 
“I’ve seen all I need to know.” hissed the woman. She slithered to the door. She swiveled back and looked at Dina. Her expression had softened. For the first time Dina realized her face was very beautiful. The woman said, “You have been very helpful. I am sorry we scared you. You are not the one we want to harm.” She sneered, “Camron has wronged us in ways you could never know. We are on a mission to bring him to our justice.” She left the room. Dina looked around. She needed to get the sheriff. It was clear these men had been murdered.
She left the lamp on and closed the door. The snake woman had already gone. She hurried down the stairs remembering Toma. She nearly ran in to Toma who was coming up the stairs. Toma saw Dina and hugged her, tears streaming down her face. Dina was relieved to see her too. The went back down to the dining room.
Through tears Toma told her that the snake woman came down. She and her sister spoke in some language she had never heard before. Then Ular had unwrapped herself from Toma and without another word they disappeared.
Dina went behind the bar and got two glasses. From under the counter she pulled out a bottle of rare whiskey. It was saved for the high paying customers. She poured them each a double. Once they drank it down she poured another and told Toma about the dead men upstairs.

Chapter 23

Islands of the Archipelago began to appear around them as they sailed into the warm waters of the Sau Mari. Wenny was still subdued after her encounter with the Captain, but she felt her excitement return at the sight of the islands sliding past the ship. She could see glittering beaches, funny trees that looked like tall poles with fans for leaves. The water was a crystal blue with brightly colored fish swimming in magnificent schools. Sea gulls began to alight on the vessel. Unlike the drab gray gulls of her home, these were a brilliant white with black faces and bills. The tips of their wings were a scarlet red. 
She had to go from port gunwale to starboard, to see as much as she could. Dolphins swam in the wake as well as another dolphin like creature. It wasn’t the blue-grey of the dolphin, but black with white markings. She had no idea what they were so she called them gull dolphins, since they reminded her of the gulls. 
Wenny did her best to remain out of the way of the crew. Filagi and Joaquin were at the helm. Joaquin shouting orders and Filagi steering. He had one of the books, that Wenny had taken from Camron, on the flat surface of the helm stand. Next to the books was a compass. Membosa and Jorga were stationed on either side of the bow, calling out terrain irregularities. Poka looked exhausted. She had been sent back and forth to the engine room to give speed direction. Wenny felt bad that she wasn’t doing anything. She could have helped, but the captain made it clear in her speech that Wenny was to remain out of the way. She knew she was lucky that she had not been sent to her bunk until they docked.
A large island was looming on their horizon. A mountain rose from the ocean to disappear in a shroud of billowing clouds. This was the largest island they had seen so far. As they drew nearer she could see that the island was larger than she originally thought. They skirted the rocky cliffs of the southern end, which rose high above them into the clouds. Birds swirled around the cliffs. Greenery scaled the rocks softening their sharp edges. Between the ridges she could see waterfalls pouring into lagoons below before mingling with crashing waves. The island had a vibrant lushness that beckoned her as if to invite her to explore its mysteries.
They sailed around the southern cliffs and made their way up the Northwestern shores. The imposing rocky cliffs began to give way to jumbled rocks and finally smoothing out to beaches, of sparkling black sand. As they continued up the coast, there were barren patches where black rock looked as if it had been poured out across the land and froze mid pour. The sights were so alien to her. She shifted to wolf so she could see with her ears and nose as well. 
As the landscape changed again to lush greenery and colorful flowers, so did the sand. They floated past a long stretch of white sand. She was so enthralled with the pristine beach, that she didn’t see the people, standing just inside the line of pole trees. Her wolf ears heard a strange bird calling, but she knew that it was made by a human. She suddenly saw them. Men, women and children standing along the tree line watching their ship arrive. She had never seen people like them. They wore brightly colored, light weight clothes which offset their deep brown skin coloring. Wenny couldn’t wait to go ashore and meet these people. 
Soon the entered a sheltered cove. They could not take the Rasbuq all the way to shore. They dropped anchors in the middle of the cove. The starboard side of the ship faced the shore. Port viewed the entrance to the cove. On the shore was a village of grass roofed huts. The huts appeared to be crafted out of poles. Wenny had shifted back to human. She was eagerly watching the deckhands lowering the rowboats. She looked hopefully at Joaquin, but he was busy organizing the crew. As the captain strode forward and boarded a life boat, she knew she would not be asked to go along on the shore party. She was disappointed, but not surprised.
She watched three boats depart. The captain, Zarna and Poka were being rowed ashore by two deck hands in one boat. The second and third boats held Jorga, Filagi and Joaquin. The third boat had Selius and his galley crew. She leaned on the starboard gunwale and sighed. 
Membosa leaned on the gunwale next to her. 
Wenny smiled at the deckhand, “You didn’t get to go either?”
Membosa shrugged, “Not everyone can go, someone has to stay and take care of the ship.”
Wenny nodded. “How long will we be here?”
“Only a couple of days,” replied Membosa.
Wenny’s heart sank. “I know she is angry with me, but to travel all this way and not get to leave the ship.” Tears threatened to spill out of her eyes. She looked away from Membosa, she didn’t want him to see her weakness. 
Membosa mumbled something and said he needed to get he duties done.
Wenny nodded and leaned on the gunwale trying to see what she could of the activity on shore. Her eyesight was good, but she really couldn’t make out much. Eventually she grew bored. She wandered about the deck but that too failed to amuse her for long. 
Finally she decided to go below decks. Since her discovery of the engine room, she had longed to go down and explore the noisy beasts that powered the ship. She padded down to the engine deck in wolf form. Her nose was more accurate than her memory of how she had gotten there before. The great beasts were silent. All the doors to the engine bay were flung open. The port side hatches were open and fresh air flooded the bay. Deckhands scurried about with tools, rags and grease.
She found a little alcove where she could remain mostly out of the way but still watch. That didn’t last long. A twitchy little half shifter spotted her. She had not yet met any of the half shifters that were related to prey. She immediately squashed the desire to chase the chittering engineer around the bay. Instead she made a great effort to understand the high pitched fast talking little man with a prairie dogs ears teeth and hands. He kept bouncing up and down as he gestured this way and that. Finally she worked out that he was telling her to help out or leave.
Wenny decided this was an invitation to do something. She said, “I would love to help, but I have no knowledge about these,” she pointed to the hulking machines.
The bouncy little man nodded and squeaked, “That’s ok I can teach you to grease parts. Follow me.” 
Wenny did her best to keep up as he scurried through the maze of pipes, and metal parts. He brought her to a table filled with piles of parts and a short vat of thick black liquid that smelled unlike anything she had ever encountered.
“What do I do?” She asked looking at the jumble.
“You take the parts from this table,” he pointed to the piles of metal bits, “dip them in the vat of oil, then drain them and set them on the drip pan on that table.” He pointed to the next table over where racks allowed the excess oil to drip into a pan. Every now and then another half shifter would pick up one the parts and take it away.
Wenny nodded, it looked like dirty work, but she relished it anyway. It beat boredom. 
“What’s your name?” Asked the little man.
“I’m Wenny,” she said. “And you are?” She asked.
“I am Kino, head Engineer.” 
“It’s nice to meet you Kino.” Wenny grinned at him.
The chittering engineer smiled and said, “I have other things that need doing. Thank you for your help!”
Wenny’s grin widened. “It beats pacing the deck!”
“I’ll be back later to see how you are doing.” He scurried off and under a pipe.
She looked at the pile and selected a piece that looked relatively uncomplicated. She turned the part around in her hands, but could not make heads or tails of what it was used for. She shrugged and began dipping parts.
By the time Kino returned, Wenny had finished two full tables of parts. She was hot, sweaty and dirty, but she finally felt like she had done something useful. By the look on Kino’s face when he returned, Wenny could tell he was pleased. However, he only grunted and said, “Good work.” 
“Thank you!” Said Wenny grinning happily.
“It is crew change time. You can clean up and be done for the day. If you like and are not going ashore tomorrow, you can come back. I always have work for someone who wants to learn.”
“Oh yes! I would like that,” smiled Wenny.
“Very well, I’ll see you here tomorrow at first bell. Now follow Karee,” he pointed to a small woman with tiny bird feet. She had bright yellow feathers instead of hair atop her head. Karee was also as dirty as Wenny.
Karee smiled at Wenny and chirped in a singsong voice for Wenny to follow her. 
In an aft bay of the ship were three winches which hoisted large metal buckets of water from the ocean. The winches then pivoted to one side where they were held over open flames to heat the water.
Karee said, “This is how we bathe down here.” She stepped into a stall with a latticed floor that drained back to the ocean. Above her head was one of the buckets. She turned a small crank that hung down from the bucket. It opened a sieve at the bottom of the bucket. Water rained down on Karee. She took a thick bar of white soap and washed with it.
Intrigued Wenny stepped into another stall and repeated Karee’s actions. She was thrilled by the warm rain. In short order she was able to wash the grime and grease off. However she noticed her nails around her fingers remained stained by the grease. She decided she didn’t care, it was evidence that despite the Captains reluctance to let her do anything, she had gotten to help out.
Karee said, “I’m going to the galley for dinner. What about you?”
Wenny’s stomach growled in response. 
They laughed and Karee said, I guess that means you’re hungry too!”
“I am famished,” admitted Wenny.
Forgetting her earlier annoyance with the Captain and her disappointment at being excluded from the shore party, Wenny went to the galley with Karee, happy just to be alive.

Chapter 24

A soft breeze strolled across the beach and rustled the tops of the palm trees. Azeria closed her eyes. The scent of roasting meat encouraged her stomach to rumble in anticipation. Joaquin was explaining the natives to Filagi. She decided not to join the conversation, but just sit and enjoy the breeze, the smells and the soft warmth of the air. To get back here had been a long journey. Not just the physical journey of sailing here, but the struggle to get the pilot logs and find their way. Filagi had done very well. She was grateful to Joaquin for finding him and persuading him to sail with them. She realized she had not seen Filagi shift to his bear form. She used this as a justification for her anger with Wenny. 
It was as if she was flaunting her ability to a crew handicapped by a poison they couldn’t cure. Azeria growled. Her softened, relaxed mood ruined by this thought. Yet, she reminded herself, if it weren’t for Wenny, they would still be trying to get the logs from Camron. She wished she had just taken the logs, paid the girl in coins, shoved off and left her standing on the dock. Then she would be done with the girl and Camron. Camron, she thought, should be dead by now. Surely the twins had finished him off. That thought brought a small smile to her lips, appeasing her ire at Wenny.
A shout from the water roused her from her thoughts. She squinted in the bright light glinting off the water. The natives were welcoming the Failavol as they shifted from dolphin to human. It was fun to watch their transformation. They would ride the wave in to the shore as a dolphin and land on the beach as a human. Their playful natures in the water continued as they danced on the beach. Despite her frustration over her own inability to shift, she could not be anything but happy watching the Failavol.
“Come, lets join the festivities!” She said happily to Joaquin and Filagi.
Joaquins broad grin was infectious. He and Filagi didn’t wait for her to change her mind. They hurried down to the waters edge to mingle with the natives and the Failavol. Azeria stood up intending to follow them, when Zarna, who had been stoically silent since they arrived, spoke up.
“Why do we waste our time here? Why did we even come here?” He complained.
Azeria sighed. She sat back down, her light mood deflated by his dour words. “You don’t remember our conversation before we left port in Penyorga?”
“I remember.” He said shortly, “But I never agreed with you, or them,” he gestured at two Norapik as they cavorted with the Failavol. “I get that Joaquin is old and has seen a lot, including the great war. But I don’t think he has ever seen Sintafor in our condition. We have been like this long enough! I don’t want to wait another day! I need to fly, it is my nature.” He growled.
Azeria patted his shoulder, “It is the same for all of us, including Joaquin.”
“Your really think so?” Sarcasm dripped from his lips as he lifted one leg and wiggled his claws in the air.
Azeria sighed. She studied his profile. He never looked directly at her. He tried to hide his hurt and anger, which made his hurt and anger plain and obvious to anyone who tried to talk to him. Zarna was anger on low simmer all the time. 
“Zarna,” she said gently, hoping to soften the blow of the words she needed to say, “What if Dr. Fenning can’t help us? What if there is no cure?”
He moaned deep in his throat. It was a guttural primal sound. She felt the hair on her neck crawl. “No,” she whispered in despair.
He turned his gaze on her. It chilled her. “I can’t live like this”. 
She saw the horror in his eyes. Her heart hurt. It made her understand which form Zarna’s soul lived in, and it was not his human half. He was more Hawk than human. She knew that some Sintafor were unbalanced that way. It was called Jafvega. Some Sintafor would avoid shifting to remain in primarily one form. Eventually, they lost the ability to shift, which was dangerous as it would cause the Sintafor to remain in that form and eventually have amnesia about their ability. 
The knowledge that they might not find a cure, while annoying and depressing, did not quell Azeria’s desire to live a relative happy and productive life. She missed the things she could do as a gorilla and the things she could do as a human. She figured she missed all of it equally.
“Zarna,” she started to say.
“No” he snarled and stood up, “I don’t want to talk. Talk does no good. Lets get back to the ship and get to Dr. Fenning.” He snarled.
She had enough, “We will,” she replied coldly, “Now either try to enjoy this break on the island or go back to the ship and annoy those who had to stay behind.” Azeria stood up as well. She looked at him and said, Well? Are you coming? Or will you remain here wallowing in your plight?”
Zarna glared at her. She glared back, before stomping off down the beach to where the rest of her crew were having fun.

Chapter 25

It was good to be back in the forest. In two days they would be back at the caves. Qaskiri inhaled deeply. The familiar scents enveloped her like a warm blanket on a frosty night. She looked back at the rest of the pack. Foleinn had fallen back with the pullers, which meant he had shifted back to human. She sighed and shifted. The strength of the scents faded in human form. She always felt diminished in human form, but it had its uses. She refused to go dyrlega, wild, and forget her human half. 
She waited until the pullers caught up to her. She found Foleinn helping Lilisa. They were nearly litter mates. Qaskiri had whelped Foleinn shortly before Lilisa was brought to their village by Jalpara and her mate Narmao. Jalpara was Ulava, but Narmao was Hundjall or dog in human language. Qaskiri’s village took in anyone who needed a home. They were primarily Ulava because the Styrulava were so intent on keeping the Ulava lines pure, the they rarely permitted any other sintafor species to even visit their cities. Qaskiri felt this was a mistake. A mistake that would return all of them back to the horrors of the great war.
“Foleinn,” she called softly.
The mute young man appeared next to her. He inclined his head respectfully. 
Qaskiri smiled at her gentle son. “How is Lilisa?”
Foleinn raised a hand palm up and smiled. That meant she was getting better.
Qaskiri had taken a contingent of her people to the Festival of the Moon, every year since she became Tolfin of the Dyrulava. This was Lilisa’s first time. The journey was long as they traveled on foot the entire way. Normally, when they went on hunting parties or other trips away from the village, they simply traveled in their animal forms. But the Festival required that they bring shelters as well as goods they could trade. Everyone in the party took turns pulling the carts. Qaskiri participated as well. No Dyrulava held special privilege above another. They were all equal. That she was Tolfin was by majority acceptance of the entire village. She could step down any time she felt like she could no long perform her duties, and the village could choose another if they lost confidence in her. Her first few years as Tolfin had been rather challenging, but she managed to hold the position. 
She only had one other rough patch. That was when Foleinn was born. Her mate had claimed to be human. Which meant her offspring would be human. That had caused a stir among her people. While she was pregnant her mate had disappeared. His body was found weeks later. He had died impaled on a stake. None of it had made sense to Qaskiri or the villagers. She had finally learned what had happened to him when A young Styrulava and a Bugalon asked for shelter. 
The two were an odd pair. The Bugalon was very old. If they had been humans he would have appeared to be her grandfather. Her name was Tavi and his Camron. 
Camron had met Qaskiri’s mate before he died. He seemed genuinely upset that her mate had died. When Qaskiri had asked him how they met, he had been cagey with the information. Eventually, she learned from him that her mate had been visiting his family, not in the human lands, but in the Archipelago. It would be more years before she learned about his family. She also found that he was not human, but he was not sintafor either. She found out he had been Sosgal, a race that could shift to bat, but their humanlike form was blood sucking vampires.
She, who was open and accepting to all, was completely mortified. It took all she had in her to not look at Foleinn as if he were an abomination. Foleinn was very special. He didn’t have the blood sucking desire when he shifted to human or Ulava, but his bat form put him in a blood feeding frenzy. 
As far as she could tell, Foleinn was the only one of his kind. Cross breeding always led to the offspring becoming the mothers species if the parents were both sintafor. If one of the parents was human, then the child was human. Foleinn’s true identity was known only to a select few. He would never become Tolfin. He couldn’t. The people would not follow him and they would call him an abomination. Her sweet gentle boy, her precious pup. 
Now she worried about his relationship to Lilisa. What would happen if they mated? Would the bat shift continue for Foleinn's offspring? Qaskiri thought it would be best if they did not have children. She wanted to talk to him about it, but the time was never right. 
“How are you doing?” She asked Foleinn. 
He grinned at her and gestured excitedly. 
She understood that he was happy and enjoying the entire adventure.
She patted his arm and waved at him. He grinned again and hurried back to Lilisa. She watched him go, her emotions mixed. She loved seeing him happy. She hoped she wouldn’t have to dash his happiness.
Qaskiri shifted back to wolf and moved effortlessly back to the front of the group. As she went she considered her conversation with the Ulava Wenny. She was certain that Wenny was the daughter of Tavi. She was also certain that Wenny’s father resided in the village. 
She knew he had returned to the village two years after he and Tavi had disappeared. He refused to say why they separated. Qaskiri was going to have to encourage him to talk now. She needed to let him know he had a daughter. She had hoped Wenny would return to the village with her, but she wanted to go with the Rasbuq. It was rumored they were headed to the Archipelago. She had other rumors of what had happened to the crew, but no one would talk about it much, fearing the possibility of being contaminated with the same affliction the crew suffered.
So much to think about. Her head was starting to hurt. Her stomach was also complaining. Qaskiri turned her thoughts to hunting. The other thoughts could wait for a more convenient time.

Chapter 26

Nista watched her sister sleep. Ular had coiled herself into the straw, her human head resting on a burlap bag full of grain. She hoped that Azeria was well underway in obtaining the cure for their plight. The half shift state was taking a toll on her and Ular. Their snake bodies, while strong and supple were not indefinitely up to the task of supporting the weight of human heads. Eating was also another challenge. They had to eat human food. Her threat to Camron that they would swallow him whole had been a ruse. If they had full shift ability they certainly could have swallowed him, even in his human form. 
Now they had lost him yet again. Fortunately they still had stealth on their side and they could sneak into places with relative ease. For now they bumped along in a farmers wagon. After leaving the Inn, it had been several days before they found a way to Jorbar. A farmer selling grain and chickens had been an opportunity. 
The journey would take at least a week in the bumpy cart. They were fortunate that a couple of the chickens were still laying eggs. That provided them with some sustenance. Ular however, wasn’t looking well. Her face was beginning to look gaunt. Dark patches appeared under her eyes. Nista felt ok but she wondered if she too looked bad. 
Before Ular had fallen asleep, they had discussed their options. They had agreed to find a way to the Archipelago as soon as possible. Which meant if Camron wasn’t in Jorbar they would need to abandon their vengeance until another time. Ular had not liked this idea, but Nista had pressed her. She finally agreed. 
The cart lurched to a stop. Ular remained asleep. Nista moved to the end of the cart and peered out. It was still early morning. The farmer had halted at a stream to let the horse drink before continuing. The cart resumed bumping down the rutted track. She went back to Ular and curled up next to her. She fell asleep plotting Camron’s torture and demise.
*** ***

The warm fire, a glass of brandy, and his belly full put Camron is a very congenial mood. He leaned back in the overstuffed chair. The woman and man in the other two chairs by the fire were talking in low hushed voices. Camron’s keen hearing took in every word.
The woman was speaking, her voice softer than the mans, so he held his breath to hear her better.
“How will we move it?” She asked.
“That’s the beauty of the plan,” smirked the man, “they will move it for us!”
“I still don’t understand how you are planning to make that happen.” She complained.
Exasperation filled the mans voice, “You don’t need to know. In fact it’s better that you don’t! Trust me on this. I know what I am doing!”
“It better not be like the last time,” she murmured doubtfully.
“It won’t!” He said assuredly, “This is a completely different situation, and we don’t have that shifty Telig trying to interfere.”
The woman snorted, “He’s your friend!”
“As you have pointed out many times I have better enemies than he is a friend.” The man said ruefully.
“Well I’m glad you finally agree with me.”
“Anyhow, you should probably get to bed. I’ll go to the warehouse and make sure the labels are swapped.”
The woman yawned and stretched in reply, “Good idea. Just be careful you’re not ‘caught’ near there.” She stood up and then said in a normal voice, “It’s late my dear. I shall retire. Please don’t be long.” She bent and kissed the man. 
She swept passed Camron’s chair without taking notice of him. Though he was in human form, he had long mastered the ability to blend in to his surroundings so that people did not take notice of him. He remained still watching the man through half lidded eyes. 
The pair were relatively young. The woman was pretty and as far as Camron could tell she appeared to be somewhat spoiled. Both were well dressed, but he could tell that their clothing was not the height of fashion. However, in Jorbar, any sort of fashion meant wealth. He smiled inwardly. These two were thieves. They probably went from town to town playing the role of a wealthy couple and stealing their hosts blind. Camron liked their style, but he was a master, he would take advantage of them.
The man stood up, also not acknowledging Camron. He pulled on a jacket and strolled casually down the stone steps from the sitting area and toward the rear door of the inn. Camron watched him go. There was no one else in the common room. As soon as the man exited through the door, Camron stood and followed him. 
As he went through the door he stepped in to the shadows and shifted. He stayed next to the inn and watched as the man strode across the yard toward the road. He crossed the road and walked around the back of the building on the other side. Camron waited a moment. A moment too long as it was.
“Don’t move Bugalon, and if you attempt to shift you will find a knife at your throat.” 
He swiveled one eye to stare at the Orason hunched menacingly next to him. This was one of the most feared Sintafor for a Bugalon. Their clans were ancient enemies. Even during the Great War they did not get along. Camron remained frozen to the spot. He silently cursed himself for not recognizing their stench.
“What do you want with me?” Hissed Camron.
The Orason said, “A friend would like to speak with you.”
Puzzled, he asked, “Your friend or mine?”
“That’s for you to figure out,” she sneered. Suddenly she shifted to the woman from the sitting room, scooping Camron up and putting him in a bag.
He struggled until she threatened to hit the wall with the bag. As it was she allowed the bag to swing uncomfortably as she walked. He heard the door close. He bounced along for only a short while then he heard her knocking on a door. A muffled female voice, a door opening and then he was tossed somewhere hard. The door closed and then silence. The next voice curdled his blood.
“Help me open this bag Nista.” Came the voice of one of the twins. How had they found him? He had been so careful! 
The bag opened and the hateful face of Nista peered inside. She glared at him. “We finally have you Bugalon. You will not escape this time.”
He panicked and tried to shift. Nothing happened. 
Both sisters laughed mirthlessly. 
He tried again, this time he burst through the bag, but his body did not fully shift! His lizards tail, arms and hands remained. He had ridiculous tiny arms and hands. He could not reach his head with his hands. “What have you done?” He screeched.
Nista hissed, “Keep your voice down, unless you want the humans to see you!” She cackled. “Never mind make a ruckus. We’re done here!”
Both twins were watching him with extreme satisfaction.
The realization that he had been poisoned with the same poison he had used on the crew of the Rasbuq hit him hard. He had not asked the old shaman for the antidote. He had not ever expected to need it. It dawned on him to wonder how the twins had gotten a hold of it.
Nista spoke, “I do have one last thing to show you Bugalon.” Her tail end was coiled around a vial of dark liquid. She grinned maliciously at him, pulled the cork with her teeth, spit the cork out and drank the contents of the vial. Her sister did the same with another vial. The transformation was immediate. Two very beautiful women stood before him. They were taller than him. It was then he realized he still had the feet of a lizard as well.
“We have been fortunate. An antidote was made for us by a sympathetic hostage you took.”
Camron was at a loss. He was alone, he had not taken any hostages.
A butterfly fluttered down and sat on Nista’s shoulder. It didn’t speak, but Nista said, “Thank you sister Nirildi for your kindness.” 
The butterfly shifted and a small dark childlike girl stood looking innocently at Camron. It was the first time he had seen a Tef Nirildi not encased in resin. Truly a rare sight. It grinned maliciously at Camron nodded to the twins and shifted back to butterfly. The Tef Nirildi fluttered gracefully away. 
Camron was stunned. He watched as it disappeared out the open window of the room. When he turned back to the twins, they had gathered up his things.
Ular sneered at him, “You are getting what you deserve. I wanted to kill you, but my sister convinced me that leaving you in half shift and taking all your things was a better punishment. Good luck getting help from the humans now, especially with the Orason here!”
Nista said, “Come sister, we need to be on our way. It’s time we go home and see our families.” 
Camron watched in despair as they left. It was then he noticed he didn’t feel well. Perhaps it was his age and the shock of the half shift or perhaps it was the fact that his Bugalon half did not blend with his human half. In any case, by the time the Orason returned to the inn, he was dead.

Chapter 27

The protected cove receded as the Rasbuq pulled away and turned toward the west. Wenny stood on the stern and watched the island she never got to set foot on melt into the horizon. 
The captain continued to ignore her, though Wenny went out of her way to pass her on the deck and smile pleasantly. Joaquin stood on the deck with her. 
“How do I get her to talk to me?” Asked Wenny.
“You don’t” said Joaquin.
“Surely there is a way?”
“There is, you wait patiently. If she decides she wants to speak with you, she will. If not, she won’t”
Wenny frowned, not liking the answer.
“You’re trying too hard. The captain is a proud woman. You made her look a fool, at least in her mind.”
Wenny sighed. She wanted to explore the islands. Even as a child in her remote village, she had heard of the Archipelago. She never dreamed she would ever see it! Now that she had seen it, it was unthinkable that she would not be allowed to explore.
Joaquin patted her shoulder with his massive hand. “It will happen. Just leave her be, she will forget. You in her face every day does not give her the chance to reconcile what she feels.”
Wenny decided Joaquin spoke with wise words. As the island disappeared completely under the horizon, she thanked him for his kind words. She then went down to the engine room. That had been an exotic adventure in and of itself. In the three days they spent at the island, Wenny had learned a lot about engines as well as made friends with the engineers. She had told Joaquin about this. He had been happy for her. 
She started below decks when she bumped in to Filagi. She had only seen him from a distance or in the company of Joaquin or the captain. She looked up. He looked fierce. She smiled weakly and stood aside. 
The tall man stopped and stared down at her. Then he smiled broadly. “You are the Ulava.” His accent thick, yet she understood him just fine.
She smiled back, blushing “Yes I am, and you are Filagi, the Aio Norapik,” she said using the formal name for the Nori’s as Joaquin called them.
His deep booming laugh caught her off guard, but it was infectious so she laughed with him, “Nori is fine little one, no one has used our formal name in a hundred years!”
She blushed again.
“Where are you off to?” He asked.
“I, um, well I’m headed to the engine room. I had never seen nor heard about engines before. Now I can perform minor maintenance. I’m hoping to learn more.” She added shyly.
“Oh yes, I saw that place my first day on the ship, but I have not had the time to visit it while we were underway.” He grinned at her. “Do you mind if I join you?”
“Sure!” She agreed. She found the giant intriguing. As she started down the steps, she happened to look up to the quarterdeck. The captain was there talking to Jorga. She glared at Wenny. Remembering Joaquins words to leave her alone, Wenny pretended not to notice and ducked down the steps followed by Filagi. 
She found him to be just as curious as her. He asked all sorts of questions about how she grew up and particularly the humans who raised her. He told her that the last time he was in the company of humans it was fighting them and tearing them limb from limb.
She shuddered at the grizzly thought. He said that was so long ago he was sure things had changed since then. She simply nodded.
They arrived at the engine room. She explained to him that there were lots of moving parts and how dangerous it was. He looked bewildered so she said to imagine a great loud hissing and clanking beast.
She opened the door and looked in. She saw Karee right away. They stood just inside the door of the engine room. Wenny wasn’t sure  if it was safe to wander around. So from their spot at the door she pointed out various parts of the engine to Filagi. She knew the names and some of what the parts did, but not all of them. She had to shout these things to Filagi as the noise in the engine room was deafening.
Karee spotted them, and waved, but she was busy running about, so she could not come talk to them. 
They stayed for a short while, but the noise and the heat made it uncomfortable. 
The look of wonder on Filagi’s face, made Wenny grin. She knew that look, she had felt the same way when she discovered the engine room.
Once back up on the top deck and in the fresh air, Filagi said, “In all my years, that is one of the most remarkable things I have ever seen!”
Wenny agreed. “It’s even more remarkable once you start to learn how it works. I certainly don’t understand it all, but I have a basic idea. I so hope to learn more.” She said wistfully.
“What is stopping you?” He asked excitedly.
She sighed and her smile disappeared. “I’m just a guest here. I am limited to just riding to my destination.” She said stoically.
“Surely if you asked Captain Azeria, she would let you work there?” He said.
Wenny just shook her head. He didn’t know and she didn’t want to elaborate. “It’s dangerous work, I’m sure she would prefer her guests remain safe.”
“Ah,” he agreed, “you are probably right.”
They stood quietly watching as the bow plowed through the water.
“Filagi!” Called Joaquin.
Both Filagi and Wenny turned to see Joaquin striding toward them.
“There you are! The captain wants to see us to discuss our arrival at Dr. Fennings island.” He grinned as he saw Wenny, “Hullo Wenny! How is your day going?”
“Joaquin,” she grinned happily, “It’s been a great day. I was just showing Filagi the engine room and what it’s like while we’re underway.”
Joaquins smile fell. He bent low to Wenny’s ear, “Keep that to yourself, I’ll tell Filagi, but it will be trouble for you if the captain knows you’ve been to the engine room. From what I understand, you are now limited to above decks, the galley and your bunk.”
Wenny frowned, “Why?”
He shrugged, “She just mentioned it when she sent me to find Filagi.”
Wenny was annoyed. If she could find another ship to take her, she would. The captain’s treatment of her was becoming more unfair by the day! What was worse, Wenny had done her best to stay out of the captains way and to abide by all the rules. She turned and stalked off, not saying another word to Joaquin or Filagi. She was too angry.
Filagi called after her. She turned and looked back. 
“I had fun, thank you!” He smiled and waved.
She smiled and waved back. She noticed Joaquins pained look. She waved at him too. No sense in being unkind to them, she thought. 
She found her usual spot by the bow, shifted to wolf and lay there until it was time to go to the galley for dinner. After that, she went to her bunk. 
As she lay in her bunk, angry thoughts keeping her awake, she decided that following the captains rules were not going to help her. Once they arrived at the Dr.s island she would go ashore. By the time she fell asleep, she had a well formed plan.

Chapter 28

It was nightfall on the second day when they entered a cluster of small islands that surrounded a larger island with craggy peaks. The sun dipped below the horizon to the west while stars began to glitter in the eastern sky. They anchored near a small strip That was a half a mile long and about twenty paces wide. A few stunted palm trees dotted the strip. In the falling darkness it was difficult to make out any details of the large island. As far as Wenny could tell, from the eastern side there were no beaches or coves where a ship could land. From the water to the top of the cliff, it was a sheer wall.
Joaquin and Filagi had remained too busy to talk to her since the day before. Membosa did tell her they were looking at the back end of a horseshoe. In the morning, they would sail around to the other side where  and opening would grant them access to the main island, within the island. 
She assumed it was like the other island they had visited with a protected cove. She remained above deck for a short while before going below to her bunk. She lay without sleeping, listening to the noises of deckhands around her. When only the sounds of creaking hammock ropes, punctuated by snoring deckhands, Wenny rolled out of her bunk and shifted to wolf form. She padded silently through the cabin to the aft deck exit. At the bottom of the steps going up, she listened carefully. She could hear the steps of the night watch as they strolled over head. When the steps receded she climb up and poked her head out. She neither saw nor heard anyone. She hurried along the rail, keeping to the darkest part of the shadows. 
Along side the rail, the rowboats hung in preparation for taking the shore party to the island. She looked around for the night watch. Seeing no one, she shifted and climbed over the rail and dropped onto the canvas of one of the boats. It rocked, clunking the side of the ship. She froze, listening intently for someone to notice the noise. When no one came to investigate, she worked her way into the boat under the canvas cover. Once in the boat she shifted back to wolf. She made her way to the bow. There was a storage deck built in to the prow of the boat. Normally it held provisions if the crew was going on a hunting or fishing expedition. All that was in the storage were some canvas sacks. She crawled into the space and curled up under the sacks. She was fairly certain she would not be discovered.
Wenny woke to the sound of the canvas being pulled off the boat she was in. She lay still, tensed and ready to bolt if she were discovered. She felt and heard members of the shore party clamber into the boat. She was relieved to hear that the Captain would be in a different boat. She recognized Jorga and Joaquin’s voices as well as Ember, Kepa and Halus. She wondered if Membosa would be part of the Shore party.
The boats splashed heavily in to the water. She was disappointed that she could not see where they were, or how they had arrived at the main island. Resigned to her stowaway status, she remained curled up beneath the canvas.
It wasn’t long before they were pulling the boats on to the beach. She heard voices talking but could not catch any clear words while under the noise muffling canvas. She edged her head to the opening and poked one ear out so she could hear. She could hear the captain ordering a boat back to the ship to pick up the remainder of the shore party. 
Wenny nearly panicked, she did not want to go back to the ship! She was about to scramble out of the storage space and not worry about being found out, when she heard Joaquin say, “Take the bigger boat. This one has the sacks we’ll need later.”
Relieved she pulled herself as far back under the prow storage as she could. The next moment the sacks were being pulled out. Before she could move, she was staring in to Joaquins face. His startled look was comical. At any other time and place, she would have laughed. Now she was afraid. She knew he was in a tough position. He would have to report her.
He shoved one bag back into the space and withdrew. All he said was, “I have the sacks. We should go now so that we can get up to Dr. Fennings huts before sunset.”
She heard the captain reply from far enough away that she could not make out the words. Joaquin too was muffled as he had moved away from the boat.
Wenny sat still, twisting her head and ears to hear everything. When she was sure the shore party was at least some distance away, she poked her head cautiously out of the storage space. Carefully she peered over the edge in the direction she had heard the voices move. The beach was deserted. The shore party had moved into the foliage and out of sight. The other boat was well on it’s way back to the ship.
Before hopping from the boat, she lifted her nose to get a read on the scents. The smell of the ocean was the prevailing scent. The scents of the crew had been borne away on the ocean breeze. 
She loped up the beach toward the foliage. She felt exposed on the sand. Once under cover she looked around. Palm trees, banana trees, leafy ferns and brilliant colored flowers choked her surroundings. She could see the Rasbuq, tiny in the distance, anchored in the bay.
There was something unusual about the bay that she could not yet wrap her mind around. She sniffed the air and located the scent of the shore party. She followed it, keeping a fair distance so as not to be discovered. She found that they followed a well worn trail that began to climb. Looking up she realized she was at the bottom of a tall mountain. She trotted up the pathway. As she rounded the first corner she was awarded a view of the bay. From the entrance of cove from the ocean, the bay extended around the mountain on both sides.
As she continued to climb, the track wound around the mountain, affording views from all sides. It soon became clear that she was on an island surrounded by an island of cliffs. She was fascinated by the formation and wondered how it had come to be.
As she came to the next bend, she heard voices. She stepped off the track and crouched low in the foliage. Moments later two men were trotting down the trail. They resembled the villagers of the first island. 
As they passed and disappeared from view she resumed following the trail upwards. Again she heard voices. This time she heard the captain. “We’re here to see Dr. Fenning, Can you tell us where he is?” Wenny couldn’t hear what the other person said, but judging by the captains harsh reaction, she decided the information was less than satisfactory.
Suddenly she heard booted steps stumping back down the trail. Quickly she darted back under the brush, just in time to see the captain stump down the trail and past her, muttering distinctly colorful language.
Wenny decided to remain in her hiding spot for awhile, listening to what she could, before continuing to explore.
As she crouched under the lush foliage, her sharp ears picked up the voices of the islanders around the corner. They spoke in a language that she felt she understood, but not quite. The words sounded like words she knew, but they were different somehow. 
Suddenly a low hum above her head distracted her from trying to decipher the island language. She cocked her head and glanced upward. A brightly colored butterfly hovered near the petals of a flame red flower shaped like a torch. The hum came, not from it’s wings but the tiny little stringed instrument it held in it’s hands.
As she really looked at it, she realized the wings were definitely that of a butterfly, but the arms and legs were nearly human. The face had insect like features, but could have passed for a bulbous eyed human. Slender antenna arched off the crown of the head surrounded by electric blue wispy hair.
Wenny was fascinated by the creature. She wondered if they were sintafor as well. She watched as it buzzed lazily about the tropical flowers, strumming it’s small instrument. She soon became aware of other creatures like the butterfly winged musician. 
There was one with eight legs and a bulbous body that resembled a spider, but a closer look revealed human features on the head and torso. four of the legs ended with hands while the two had handy pinchers and two had sandaled feet. The creature appeared to be knitting lace, using it’s pincher arms as knitting needles.
Wenny spotted what looked to be a dragonfly, but closer inspection nearly got the hair on her nose singed with tiny little flames.
She snorted and back away. Small indignant voices revealed a pack of ant-like creatures marching toward the path.
Wenny was astounded. How had she never seen these creatures before! She decided to follow the ant like column. They seemed to be on an important mission. Perhaps they could lead her to Dr. Fenning.
She followed them up the hill toward the islanders she had been eavesdropping. She braced herself as they rounded the corner, but no one was there. The small pack continued up the track.
As Wenny made to follow them, she was suddenly blinded by a hood thrown over her head. Startled she yipped and tried to break free. Strong arms silently caught her and held her down. She attempted to shift, but something prevented her from changing.
She struggled harder as panic set in. Something hard hit her head and she lay still.  

Chapter 29

The voices were muffled, but very close. She kept her eyes closed and relied on her hearing and sense of smell. Her head hurt, but only as a dull throb. She wondered how long she had been knocked out. 
The scents around her told her she was in a shelter. The scent of saltwater was diminished while the scent of cooked food, human sweat and something else she couldn’t identify but it smelled sweet. She wanted to shift, but the ability was maddeningly out of reach. She wondered what was preventing her.
The voices stopped. She felt heavy bare footsteps approach her. The smell of bananas preceded the figure who crouched over her. 
“Hey” said a low rumbling voice as a hand prodded her side.
She risked opening an eye. A broad brown skinned native with dark brown eyes and long shiny black hair stared back at her. She lay still looking at the man.
He rocked back on his heels, but remained crouched next to her. He crossed his arms and said, “Sorry about your head, but you were struggling too much.” His apology was matter-of-fact.
She remained still. She really didn’t know what else to do she just knew she didn’t want another knock on her head.
“Go on, get up.” He said.
Slowly she gathered her feet under her and she sat on her haunches. She and the man were now eye to eye. 
“Did you come off the ship?” He asked.
Wenny thought about not answering, but then decided it was pointless, as was his question, because how else would she have gotten here? She nodded.
“The Dr. will be here soon. You can talk to him.” He stood up. She noted he wasn’t very tall, but he was stocky and very strong looking. She supposed he was the one to capture her, except she wondered how he had been so silent. She sniffed the air. The sent she didn’t recognize, came from him. Definitely the banana smell, but what was the other smell? Oddly enough, all she could think of were cookies. That just did not make sense!
She looked around the hut. In the center was a long table. From her point of view it was piled high with an odd assortment of objects. Some resembled the parts she had seen in the engine room of the Rasbuq. 
She tried to shift again, but she could not. A low panic started in her gut. It felt as if she had lost a limb.
The stocky native had been silently watching her. He snorted, “You can quit trying. You won’t be able to shift. Not here. You’re in Tef Nirildi territory.”
She cocked her head. Tef Nirildi meant nothing tp her.
“You know the butterflies, and ant that you were following.” He said.
She had no idea what he was talking about.
They lapsed back in to silence, as if his brief statements explained everything.
Perplexed, Wenny collapsed back on to the floor. She laid her head on her front paws and closed her eyes. There was no immediate danger. She could listen better if her eyes were closed. She tried to pick up sounds outside the hut.
Soon she heard footsteps. As the door opened, Wenny opened her eyes and sat up. A wizened old man, wearing only a loin cloth and sandals entered the hut. He was carrying an armload of bananas. He grinned at the stocky man, who’s expression remained stoic. 
He ignored the mans lack of expression and said brightly, “I found more of the Poru bananas!” Grinning he laid the bunch on a clear spot of the table. He turned to look at Wenny. “Oh! Look at you!” He walked over to her and examined her from all angles.
Wenny did her best to keep her eye on him. Suddenly his hand darted out to touch her, but stopped when she growled low in her throat. She assumed this was Dr. Fenning, but it didn’t mean she trusted him to touch her.
His grin momentarily drooped as he snatched his hand back. He recovered however and said, “I am so sorry! That was rude of me. Pleas forgive my intrusion!”
He sounded sincere enough, so Wenny watched him carefully, though she stopped growling.
“I saw your ship sail in to my cove. Where are the others? I was expecting to see Captain Azeria.”
Wenny looked at the stocky man.
Unperturbed he said, “I sent them back to the beach until you send for them.”
“Why would you do that?” Asked the Dr. Surprised.
His response surprised Wenny as well, she had assumed the directive had come from him.
Stocky man continued in his even voice, “They were wrong. Something has happened to them. They are stuck between human and Sintafor. I did not want the Tef Nirildi to be affected by them.”
It was the Dr’s turn to be confused. “Did they say why they were stuck?”
“Oh yes” said stocky man.
“Well?” Asked the Dr. “were you going to tell me? Or should I guess?”
His tone was playful, rather than condescending. Yet, stocky man seemed completely unaware that the dr was teasing him.
Stocky man said, “They said they were poisoned and hoped you could cure them.”
The Dr. Nodded thoughtfully, but then said, “I cannot, however I believe the Tef Nirildi can.” 
The man nodded and fell silent.
Wenny wondered again who the Tef Nirildi were. She watched the doctor as he rummaged about the hut looking for something. He came back with a chipped mug and a saucer. 
“I’m going to make some tea, would you like some?”
Wenny looked at him. She despised tea in her wolf form. Plain water was better.
He didn’t seem to expect and answer. He put a kettle on the little wood stove in the corner of the hut. In the saucer he placed a tea diffuser and set it before her. She sniffed the tea. It had an oddly attractive scent to it. She had to resist the urge to roll on the saucer. Suddenly she remembered the crew of the Rasbuq and their half shift state. Bad enough she couldn’t shift back to human at the moment but at least she was whole as a wolf. She growled menacingly and backed away from the saucer. 
Dr. Fenning was caught by surprise. He stared at her, one hand holding his tea cup, the other mid pour of the hot water. He dropped the cup when the ht water over flowed and burnt his hand. Hot water and ceramic shards exploded when they hit the ground. 
Wenny yelped as hot water and ceramic shards pelted her. She found herself backed in to the corner of the hut without any way out. She continued to growl.
The stocky man remained stoic, watching the events unfold around him as if he were just a piece of the furniture.
Dr. Fenning had yelped and was now holding his burnt hand in the bucket of water next to the stove. 
Wenny stopped growling, but remained wary. She watched as he removed his hand and rubbed some sort of ointment on it. She expected an angry out burst, but the mans genial demeanor had returned. 
He inspected the saucer, then looked at her quizzically, “What has you spooked?” He asked her.
Wenny remained suspiciously in her corner. She refused to go near the delicious smelling tea leaves.
He shrugged, picked up the diffuser and placed it in another mug. He pored more hot water over it and breathed in the fumes. 
She watched him intently. She knew him to be human. Reportedly the poison killed humans.
He took the steaming mug and sat on a stool facing her. “I wish you could speak to me.” He said wistfully. 
She wished she could speak as well. She tried to shift again, but again nothing happened. She whimpered with frustration.
“Ah,” he said. “You are trying to shift. You are in Tef Nirildi territory. You can’t shift unless they allow it. To protect themselves, they have a barrier that you have crossed. When you return to the beach you will be able to change.”
Wenny huffed, but was relieved to know it was not permanent. 
“Come, we will go see the Tef Nirildi now.” said Dr. Fenning.
Wenny stood, eager to find out what Tef Nirildi were and find out how the crew of the Rasbuq would be cured.

Chapter 30

Azeria muttered to herself as she stumped back down the pathway. She was in a foul mood. That damn pup had eluded her all morning. Then to be turned away at the gates of Dr. Fennings compound as if they were a leprous lot. The islander at the gate told them to wait on the beach. Once the doctor returned they would send word.
On top of it all, Joaquin had wandered off as well.  She had asked him to gather coconuts and set out the fishing lines. As they approached the beach, she saw that not only had Joaquin gathered quite a few sacks of coconuts, but he had put the remaining shore party to work erecting shelters and camps. There were even three different fishing spots set up on the shore and two gathering shellfish from the rocks. At least they would feast, tonight.
Joaquin was inspecting one of the shelters when she found him.
“Have you found Wenny yet?” She asked more harshly than she intended.
Joaquin nodded, but didn’t say anything.
“Well? Where is she?” Demanded Azeria.
Joaquin stopped what he was doing. He set the tool down he was using and turned to look directly at her. Though he face was expressionless, he spoke low. Frustration resonated through him. “Why?” He asked. “What in the world do you want with her now? You have picked on her, scolded her as if she were a child, and subjected her to utter boredom, all because of some self perceived slight.”
She opened her mouth to retort.
Joaquin held up his hand and said, “Don’t. Do not utter a single word.”
His tone made Azeria close her mouth angrily.
He continued softly, “I don’t pretend to understand you Azeria. I refuse to judge your motives, but as far as Wenny is concerned, she is a free person. Free to choose her own way. She offered you her services as a member of your crew. When you declined her offer, you relinquished any authority over her. The moment she left your vessel, she left your sphere of influence. Should you see her again and should she require passage, you have two choices. Either refuse her passage, which is your right, or name your terms of passage. Then it is her right to decide if your terms are acceptable or not. She paid for her passage here by getting the pilot logs. If Dr. Fenning has your cure, I would say you owe her passage back. But that is up to you to decide.”
Azeria glared at him. She knew he was right, but she hated having to admit that. Instead, she demanded, “Report the status of our shore party.”
They stared at each other for a long moment then he reported the status of the crew on shore.
She stumped off issuing orders to deckhands to set up her shelter. Then she went off looking for Zarna and Poka. She found Zarna perched on a large rock overlooking the mouth of the bay. Yet he was not looking out over the water, but staring up at the mountain in the middle of the island. His expression unreadable. Certainly he heard her coming, but he didn’t acknowledge her. At first she was annoyed, but her fondness for Zarna won and she simply stood and watched him for a long moment before interrupting whatever held his gaze.
“Have you been here all this time?” She asked.
He didn’t answer right away, but pointed up at the mountain, “Can you see it?” He said softly.
She squinted in the direction he pointed, but all she saw were trees and foliage covering the volcanic rock that made up the mountain. “See what?” She said irritably.
“Just there,” he pointed again. 
She shook her head, “All I see is a mountain covered in green. What do you see?”
“I see glinting lights through the foliage and I swear I saw a man and a wolf. You don’t suppose Wenny is up there, do you?”
Azeria huffed derisively, “Of course she is! Where else would she be? Certainly not on the ship staying out of trouble!” She groused almost under her breath, but Zarna’s exceptional hearing caught what she muttered, “Our one chance at returning to normal, and that pup will most certainly screw it up for us!”
Zarna tore his gaze from the mountain and directed it at her, “She wouldn’t do that!” He said alarmed.
“Why not?” She said bitterly.
“She doesn’t seem the sort. Maybe inexperienced, but I don’t see her as cunning or malicious.”
“How can you say that after all the trouble she has caused?” Retorted Azeria heatedly.
He sighed. “I refuse to argue with you, but I am not going to agree with you. I don’t think she has been that much trouble at all. You have your reasons for being angry with her,” he said quickly to placate her. “She has done nothing to irritate me, at least not anymore than anyone else does.”
“I’m going to find my shelter and turn in.” She said coldly. 
“Azeria,” he called after to her.
She ignored him.
He didn’t try calling again.
She was grateful to see that the deckhands had erected a shelter for her. Poka was sitting on the sand just outside, she bounced up when she saw Azeria. “I’m going to bed. See that no one disturbs me unless there is all out war.”
Poka nodded and resumed sitting just outside the shelter.

Azeria yawned and stretched. She felt refreshed and better than she had felt in a really long time. She supposed it was being back in the Archipelago. She sat up. Something was definitely different. She looked at her hands. The big meaty gorilla hands were gone. She was staring at a pair of hands she had not seen in a very long time. As she stared at them they began to shake. She realized she had begun to cry. She knew she was cured.
She reached inside herself and found that familiar, yet nearly forgotten sense that could shift. She also found a nugget of fear. That fear kept her from shifting. She was also afraid it was a dream. How many times had she woken to find that her shift dreams were just that, a dream?
She called out to Poka.
A tall slender woman with long brown hair entered the shelter. She was grinning with delight as she looked down at Azeria. “We’re back!” She exclaimed. “We’re back!” She twirled and did a little hop step.
“It’s true then, I’m not dreaming?” Asked Azeria cautiously.
Poka laughed happily, “Oh no,” she assured Azeria, “We’re all back! Listen!” She pointed outside.
Sure enough, intermingled with the sounds of the surf, were the happy shouts and laughter of her crew.
“How?” She asked, standing up and following Poka out on to the beach.
“We don’t know.” Shrugged Poka, we all just woke up to our human forms.”
“Did you try to shift?”
“Oh yes I did, several times. It’s like it never happened.” Poka smiled cheerfully. 
Azeria felt some relief, but she still didn’t trust that she could shift without getting stuck again. She would need to know more about why and how it happened.
“Where is Zarna?” she asked.
Poka laughed happily and pointed to the sky.
Azeria followed her gaze and saw high in the sky several birds diving and swooping, two of them hawks. She was happy for Zarna and hoped that he was now free from the terrible melancholy their conditioned had caused him.
She looked around, “Where is Joaquin?”
Poka pointed toward the trail, “He and Filagi went to find Wenny.” Poka danced at her as if expecting and outburst.
Azeria simply nodded. Her anger at Wenny had largely dissipated, in fact, she was beginning to wonder why Wenny had irritated her so much. She felt terrible for the way she had treated her. She hoped she could make amends.
She and Poka walked down the beach, greeting the various crew members as they reveled in their return to rightness. She soon set aside her misgivings and joined in the celebration.
As the sun began it’s dip toward the western horizon, a shout from the pathway caught everyone’s attention. A small delegation consisting of Wenny, Joaquin, Filagi, Dr. Fenning and the islanders were approaching the beach.
Azeria stood to meet them, Zarna and Poka at her side. She watched as Wenny shifted to human mid stride. Dr. Fenning who was walking next to her laughed with delight. It was, she supposed, a rare treat for humans to see a shifter in action.
Wenny looked exhausted. She smiled happily at the crew, but Azeria could tell she was weakened by whatever she had experienced.
The two groups met. Dr. Fenning spoke, “Hello Captain. It’s nice to see you in good health again. How is our Lady Rasbuq holding up?”
“Well met, Dr. The Rasbuq is seaworthy.”
“Excellent, because I and my companions require passage.”
Azeria raised her eyebrow. “Oh? I thought you never intended to leave this island.”
He grinned ruefully, “That is quite correct! However, the choice is not mine. Those who inhabit this island have decided they know enough of human and Sintafor. They are done with us and have asked us to leave or forfeit our lives.” He seemed more annoyed with having to leave than with the prospect of losing his life.
“Very well,” shrugged Azeria, “We will leave in the morning.”
“That will be too late,” said Wenny with efforts not to yawn as she spoke.
“What?” Asked Azeria in surprise.
It was Joaquin who finished the directive, “The Tef Nirildi require us to vacate the island and the ring immediately. Once we return to the open ocean the log book directing us here will be thrown overboard.” He looked at Filagi, “If we do not comply, we will forfeit our lives. All of them” he said looking directly at Azeria.
She turned to Zarna, “Lets get back to the ship!”
Zarna, Joaquin, Poka and Filagi started the task of getting the crews to the boats and back to the ship.
Azeria looked at Wenny, “Whatever you did, I and my crew are forever in your debt. I also owe you a very humble and contrite apology, for my behavior and my treatment of you.”
Wenny swayed as she looked at the captain. “It’s ok,” she slurred as she slumped to the ground in a heap.

Chapter 31

The thrum of the engines purred belowdecks. It’s comforting noise greeted her as she yawned and stretched. She sat up quickly as she realized she was aboard the Rasbuq and not on the beach of the island. She was not in the hammock she had been assigned, but in a small cabin with a bunk. There was no porthole, which meant it was an interior cabin. 
She swung her legs over the side of the bunk and stood. Her stomach rumbled loudly. She couldn’t remember the last time she ate. 
Curious as to what happened and how she wound up here, she decided to go to the galley. 
She saw no one as she made her way to the galley. She also lost her way once or twice not knowing exactly where she was on the ship. Once she got her bearings she quickly found the galley. It was deep night. The crew was the night watch only. The galley however was crowded. She recognized absolutely no one. Some were in human form and some in their animal form. No one looked like their half shift forms. She didn’t realize how accustomed she had become to their ‘wrongness’. Seeing them now as they should be, whole and healthy caught her by surprise. She stood in the doorway, overcome with a warmth and happiness she had never felt before. Tears welled up. Someone saw her and a great cheer went up. This too surprised her. Why were they cheering?
A tall slender man with long sleek black hair and a beaky nose sidled up to her, “You are amazing!” He gushed.
She stared at him until realization made it’s way to her head, “Membosa?” She grinned.
“At your service!” Declared the deckhand with a sweeping bow.
She turned to see a mountainous shaggy man with wild shaggy silver hair and beard, two willowy youths smirking naughtily and a lanky shifty eyed boy who giggled as he looked at her. She realized she knew them all by their eyes, Joaquin, Kepa and Ember, and Tabmal. Her tears fell as she saw them as they should be. She hugged them each in turn. They all laughed and smiled with her and she saw a few tears from them as well. “You all look so,” she struggled for the right word, “beautiful!” She finally blurted with awe.
They all laughed, a couple of them blushed at being called beautiful.
A voice boomed across the galley, “Is that my Wenny?”
Wenny looked over Kepa and Embers heads to see a burly hairy man stalking his way across the galley. He wore a food stained apron. His bushy hair was pulled back revealing a broad smiling face with large teeth. His golden eyes gave him away. 
“Selius!” She shouted back.
He shifted into his Tiger form and bound across the tables and benches to her. She met him in wolf form. They tussled in greeting and then shifted back to human, laughing happily. Everyone else was cheering and laughing.
Selius stood and raised his hands. “Listen up!” He boomed. The galley noise dwindled to expectant silence. Selius looked around, a satisfied smirk that he was still master of his domain. “We owe much Wenny. Without her we would still be in that deplorable half-shift state. No more will she be treated as less than a full member of our crew!” He glared menacingly at everyone in the room.
Before he could continue however, an imposing, yet handsome woman joined them. Wenny was startled to realize that Captain Azeria stood before her. She did not look like the soft gentle woman she had seen on the beach just after they had discovered their transformation. Her long brown hair was now tightly bound into a thick whip like braid. She looked like the hardened sea captain that she was. A scar on her left cheek only added to her imposing demeanor.
Azeria held up her hand. Selius nodded with deference to her. “I concur with Selius,” she said with a command in her tone. “However, before I can adhere to this decree, I must first offer my apology to Wenny.” 
Startled Wenny’s mouth opened in surprise. This she had not expected.
Azeria turned to her. She looked directly in to Wenny’s eyes and with the humblest voice she could muster she said, “I have wronged you. It was my own weaknesses that caused me to belittle and mistreat you. I do not deserve the generous gift you have facilitated for me and my crew. If you so wish it, I will remain in my human form for the rest of my days as reparation for my ill behavior. However, I must remind you of one thing and we must have accord on this, or I will have to ask you to find other arrangements.”
Wenny said nothing. She kept her face expressionless, waiting for the condition to the captains apology. 
Azeria continued, “This one thing has no bearing on my apology or my willingness to endure the rest of my life as a human. I must know that if I accept you either as crew or guest aboard my ship you will follow the rules or suffer willingly the consequences of breaking the rules as would any other member of my crew.”
Relief surged through Wenny, but she held herself firm and with great respect and sincerity she said, “Captain Azeria, from here on out I accept the conditions of boarding your ship and pledge to abide by the rules fairly placed on all members of your crew.” 
The captain started to smile, but Wenny said, “As to your apology, I accept it, but truly there is no need for it. You and your crew have endured a hideous condition that no one should have to suffer. That I could do my part in helping you return to wholeness is a reward I will carry forever with me. To that end, it would be a serious tragedy if you ignore your natural self and do not shift. I would never ask that of anyone. It horrifies me to think of being responsible for someone not being themself because of me.” With that she pulled herself up straight and asked, “Captain, permission to board?”
With a wide grin Azeria commanded, “Permission granted, welcome aboard at eight bells report to Head Engineer Kino for your assignment.”
Wenny covered her mouth in surprise, “Engineering? Oh thank you!” She grinned happily.
Selius boomed, “Here! Here! We have many hours between now and bells!” He clapped his hands. The kitchen help scurried about filling mugs with ale. Once everyone held a mug he stood on a table. 
“Hold yer mug aloft,
and praise the gods above.
Hold yer mug before you,
and thank the mum which whelped you.
Drink a long draught,
and be grateful to the sun which rose.
Set yer mug on the table,
and be glad for yer full belly.
Today we are hale and hearty,
Tomorrow we may be dead.”
With that he put his mug to his lips and drained the entire mug. Everyone followed his example, the sound of empty mugs clattering on the table and belches all around.
Selius grinned and said, “We be grateful to ye Wenny, now sit and enjoy the feast. We’ll get ye to yer post in time.” He winked at the Captain, who smirked and rolled her eyes.
With that everyone began to talk at once. Platters of food appeared on the tables as the galley hands began to serve. Wenny spoke very little. She ate like she had never eaten before and enjoyed the people around her. Never had she felt so at home before.

The End

Postlogue

“Cody! Cody!” Yelled Sophie, “Hurry up! I see the ship coming around the headland!”
Cody yawned and stretch. He scratched his head and opened his bleary eyes. “Huh?” He rolled over and looked out the wide open door that Sophie had noisily flung open. From his vantage point, atop his bed, he could see the ocean just past the cliff. Their house was the lighthouse that sat atop the crags of Ufyr. Sophie and Cody were the watchers. In the last few years, Cody had slowed down and Sophie who was much younger than him did most of the watching. 
As his eyes slowly focus, he did indeed see a large rusty looking hulk heave into view. The ship was the Rasbuq, the only one of it’s kind. Cody shivered. The last time he had see that bucket, it was carrying an unfortunate crew of Sintafor who had been stuck in half-shift state. He wondered if they were the same crew.
“Cody! Come on! We need to let the village know!”
He knew that, but he remained lolling on the bed for a bit more. It just felt so good these days. He could hear Sophie in the kitchen. She had a roaring fire in the stove and a kettle on for coffee. He stretched again and sat up. He stood, and then shifted to wolf form. Cody was a small wolf. In fact he had been the runt of his litter, as had Sophie, which is why they had the job of lighthouse keepers. They could not keep up in a hunt. 
Cody padded to the kitchen via the deck from his bedroom. 
Sophie, still in human form turned and looked at him. “Did you see it?” She asked excitedly, grinning.
Cody yawned and stretched again. He shifted back to human and said, “Yes, the Rasbuq is back.”
“Do you think they can shift again?” She asked.
Cody shrugged. How was it she forgot that a lot of talking before coffee was just not in his nature?
He foraged in the cupboard and found some dried strips of meat. He put several on a plate and set it on the table. He then stood looking out the window, and watched the Rasbuq slow as it turned toward the harbor.
“Coffee?” Asked Sophie. 
He nodded, without turning around.
“Cody! Do you want coffee?” Asked Sophie again.
Apparently she hadn’t heard him nod. “Yes” he said.
A noise of impatience issued from her. She plunked the mugs down on the table.
He sat down opposite her. The coffee smelled heavenly. “Thank you.” He said.
“You’re welcome,” she said with a bit of miff in her voice.
He ignored her miff and took a piece of the dried meat, chewing it thoughtfully while sipping the steaming hot coffee. He was in heaven.