It is now one week after shadowfast, And mother has given birth to her anticipated cub. My promise to Toby keeps me here yet another day, but I begin to find an odd liking for this land and a few of its people. Grem has been invaluable in helping me work through my fear of meeting with mother again after so many years, One really could not ask for a better drinking partner and friend.

After thinking about it I decided to write a letter to mother requesting a meeting. This is the hardest letter I have ever written. I wish Toby were here, he is so much better with words than I am.

****

To the Lady Kinadria Falconne,

I wish to offer my congratulations on the birth of your newest offspring, A child born on the last night of shadowfast is said to be blessed always with a knowledge of how precious life is.

it is on the subject of children I approach you now, More specifically the subject of two children lost years ago. I wish to inform you that Cailet and Tobias Kaut are alive, and wish to meet with you and get to know you.

This is a very hard thing for us to do. All through the time we were growing up Father told us you were dead, and we belived him. Then Toby saw you in a vision quest, Alive and well, and seemingly very happy. The last thing we want is to intrude on that happiness, But Tobias feels a great need to get to know his mother. As he cannot at this time travel, I have come in his stead.

I will of course wait your conveinece and pleasure in the time and place of a meeting, But be warned we will meet, I promised Toby and I always keep my word.

Cailet Kaut

?I?m scared.?
?I know, Pigeon,? Amthy said soothingly.
?What if she doesn?t like us??
?Oh, I dunn think tha?s a problem, mah lovely bird.?
?What if we don?t like her?? Ariella interjected from the circle of her sister Audrien?s arms.
?I?m no? sayin? you haveta like her, Ariella, but I would like you to give her a chance.?
?Of course, Aunty Amthy,? Audrien answered for her sister. ?We will try.?

Amthy spent one last moment preening and primping her two busy birds, Ariella and Audrien. Audrien was dressed in a crinoline frock in pale yellow with white lace ruffles and ribbons at the neck, sleeve, and hem. Her black-and-charcoal hued hair was drawn back away from her face with a large yellow bow just behind the crown. White tights and white ballerina-styled slippers completed her attire. Ariella, on the other hand, being a tiger cub, had far less to worry about. Slender red ribbons adorned her tail, and a small red bow was affixed behind one ear.

?As lovely as a picture,? Amthy cooed to the girls with pride. Affectionately, she brushed a kiss over Audrien?s temple, and another was touched to the tip of one of Ariella?s ears. The catling gave her ear a flick and gave the closest thing to a huff as her tiger-y self would allow. ?None o? tha?,? she tsked to Ariella, and tapped a finger to her dark nose. ?I want you two on your best behavior.?

?Yes, Aunty Amthy,? they both chorused in unison.

Amthy nodded her head once, the pale green fringe of her short flippy hair swaying with the movement. ?Then it?s settled.? Clucking her tongue, she began to herd the girls forward to make their presence known to Cailet.

Audrien looked down at Ariella, and then the both of them looked to Amthy. She gave them an encouraging lift of her brows as if to say, ?go ahead. It?s okay.? Amthy stepped back away from the trio, and went instead toward the bar to give the three some privacy. The Catlings watched her leave, their combined gaze returning reluctantly to Cailet.

?I?m Audrien, and this is Ariella,? Audrien explained to Cailet. ?You?re our mother?s sister?? She asked shyly.
?You don?t look very old,? Ariella interjected.
?Ariella!? Audrien gasped as she tightened her arms around her sister.
?Well, she doesn?t,? Ariella whined as she squirmed with in the cinched circle of Audrien?s arms.

Their bickering quieted with Cailet drew them in close to her and herded them toward the fire. Audrien was looking more at Cailet than the fire, where as Ariella was doing just the opposite. ?How can the fire call our Uncle Toby?? Ariella asked. Her tongue stumbled over the word ?uncle? and again over ?Toby.? If the catling could blush, chances were she would have been.

Ariella yawled in surprise, and gave a few hiss-like sputtered as she scrambled around in Audrien?s arms. Toby?s appearance in the flames had given the Catling a fright. It wasn?t anything that she?d ever seen before. He didn?t even have to speak for the image to shock her, but when he did, and he obviously wasn?t trying to harm her; Ariella quieted.

?Be careful!? Audrien squealed. She gave a look of lament to her dress which now was nice and snagged from Ariella?s claws. Her voice implied many things?mainly that she was going to tattle on the tiger cub if she didn?t behave. She cleared her throat daintily, and did her best to sound adult. Her voice had a cultured edge to it that spoke of the superior education they had been gifted thus far. ?Why do you look so much older than Toby?? She queried. She?d forgotten to tack on the ?uncle? since it was still new to her.

Ariella squirmed until she was freed from Audrien?s grip. Shaking her fur out, she sat on her haunches before the fire and stared at the projection of Toby. ?Where?s your body??

The girls digested this information, each at their own pace. Audrien watched her Aunt as she tidied up her dress. She was thankful for it. It was a pretty dress and she didn?t want to explain to Aunt Amthy why it was ruined. Though, it wouldn?t be the first dress that Ariella?s claws had made less than perfect. ?He?s still sick?? She asked. Her gaze went to the fire and the face there and then back to Cailet. ?Can he make other people sick, too??

Ariella?s tail thrashed about behind her. Cautiously, she put one paw forward and then another as she crept closer to the flames. She stopped when the heat became barely tolerable. The last thing she wanted was to catch on fire! ?You can do magic?? She hunched down and lowered her muzzle to her paws. ?Does that mean Cailet can do it, too? Could our Mama??