Wishes Come True|Naurorod

[Kender Bard]

One of the women in the clan walked around with ease as people rushed around in the usual daily clan life activities. She was shrouded, which wasn't unsual for those nursing sunburns. Detaching herself from the clan's heart, she strolled out towards the boundaries of the territory and looked around.

She smiled and waited to catch sight of Faith.

[Northen Light36]

Faith trots up to the woman not long later, purring a warm greeting and rubbing against the woman's ankles in a friendly manner that would have stunned Acqua if the young Water/Storm had been there to see it.

"Greetings lady Etaf," the cat purrs brightly. "I thought I felt your presence amongst the humans." Blue eyes bright with curiousity, the ginger cat adds, "Might I enquire as to what brings you here?"

[Kender Bard]

Etaf smiled, kneeling down to pet Faith kindly. "Sweet feline, I am here bringing small miracles to the world. Your companion dearly needs your wise counsel in these times, and I am here to grant you the ability to give it to her. Will you accept this gift of mental speech?"

[Northen Light36]

Faith clearly wasn't expecting to hear THAT. She stops purring in her shock and sits down to stare up at Etaf for a long moment before purring harder then ever. "Lady Etaf, I am thrilled and honoured by your gift. I accept it with the deepest gratitude, for I agree my poor kitten needs some guidence."

[Kender Bard]

Smiling widely, Etaf brushes her fingers against the back of Faith's head. "You are a lucky little cat indeed, for this sign will always be active, and you need not touch it or chant to use it. I hope you don't mind the change in your fur though." Indeed, there was a pattern of coloration in the fur to represent the Mind sign. "Go forth, little one, and tend to your kitten. My blessings are with you."

[Northen Light36]

~I don't mind and thank you again, Lady Etaf,~ Faith replies telepatically, trying out her new ability. Purring with pleasure, Faith hurries off to the guest quarters where she knows Acqua is sleeping. It's time for her and her kitten to have a very long, very overdue talk.

[Kender Bard]

Etaf smiled, pulled her coverings tighter around herself, and shimmered away like the heated air of the desert - as insubstantial as a mirage.

[Northen Light36]

Faith trots boldly into the guest hut and sits beside Acqua's head, batting at the girl's cheek with a paw until Acqua wakes with a groaned, "What is it Faith?"

~We need to talk, little kitten of mine,~ Faith replies. Acqua sits up with a start, staring at Faith with wide eyes for a moment before shaking her head and laughing.

"Must have been still half dreaming," she comments to the cat, rubbing her eyes. "Hungry girl?"

~No, thank you, kitten,~ Faith replies. ~And you're not dreaming little one. Lady Etaf has chosen to bestow us with a gift and allow me to speak in a way you can understand more clearly.~ Purring softly, Faith curls up in Acqua's lap and just lets her companion take the time to get her mind around the morning's events.

"Etaf?" Acqua whispers, her eyes wide. "You met Etaf?" Faith purrs more and stands on her hindlegs to lick Acqua's chin.

~You'll see Lady Etaf when the time is right, kitten,~ she tells Acqua in a gently reproachful tone. ~And there are more important things to discuss at this moment. Such as the foolishness that is you fleeing your pride as you have done.~

"I had to Faith," Acqua protests. "How could I stay when Amaro can't even trust me enough to let me make my own choices?"

~I did not say your pride's tom was in the right, kitten,~ Faith scolds. ~Between you and me, tom's rarely are when it comes to matters of the heart... But in that reguard, neither are kittens and only a fool leaves the safety of the den when hurt.~ More gently now, Faith adds, ~This is not your pride nor your den of like-hearts. The fire humans only tolerate you out of sympathy for your injury. They will not tolerate you once you are well enough to hunt once more and I know you, kitten. Your heart is already aching to return to your pride...~

"I do miss them... But it hurts Faith, and I'm scared going back will hurt even more," Acqua admits, a held back sob threatening to choke her.

~Shush now, kitten,~ Faith murmurs, purring comfortingly. ~You are my kitten and I will allow no harm to come to you. Rest and heal now my kit, then we will return home and put things right. This is a danger that must be faced, rather then fled from and so face it we will.~ Somehow comforted by Faith's matter-of-fact attitude and certainity that all would be well, Acqua fills a cup with healing water and thinks as she drinks.

"Another day of rest, then I should be healed enough to walk," she tells Faith, who purrs in satisfaction. The problem isn't solved, but at least her kitten has stopped running long enough to think clearly again. A shrill whistle a moment later makes Acqua wince and Faith hiss and twitch her tail in annoyance.

~Rest kitten. I shall find the cause of that noise and introduce it to my claws,~ Faith growls, troting out of the hut.