"That may be true, but if the cravings are intended to slow it down by prompting me to eat more, then dulling them as I have may be doing more harm than good."  Looking pensively at his semi-disguised form, Aethon just shakes his head.  "As for the spells failing, that will only happen if the effects intensify again.  Unfortunately, it means that almost all of my magic is going solely toward maintaining them."  Turning to the door, he looks back to the others as several more of the local fishermen enter.  "One thing I should probably warn you about Valeani, my friend.  In addition to being extremely curious, she has a rather straightforward viewpoint on life and thus can be remarkably...forward about certain topics, so don't be surprised if she poses you with questions that seem odd or unrelated to the topic at hand."<br/><br/>Not long after, the door to the tavern swings open, admitting someone who stands out just as much as the rest of the group.  One of the catfolk, she can't be more than an inch or two above five feet tall as even her ears barely reach above some of the other patrons' shoulders.  Just as obvious, however, is the fact that she is clearly no stranger to combat, as she has a spear strapped across her back nearly as tall as she is.  Her eyes scan across the tavern for a moment before settling on the table the group is clustered around.<br/><br/>Stopping only at the bar to order a large tankard of an unidentifiable but obviously alcoholic drink, she sits down across from Aethon.  "Well.  I guess I shouldn't have doubted you when you said I'd know your group when I saw them and that I wouldn't believe what happened to you.  You're still going to need to explain how<span style="font-style: italic">that</span>happened, by the way.  When you said it was urgent though, I came as quickly as I could; you're lucky I was even in the area at all."  As she speaks, she is unabashedly looking over the others at the table.  It's not clear what exactly she's looking for, as her eyes aren't truly resting on any of the same places on each person in turn, but she does give a smirk when she notices Misha's still-significant stomach.  "So then.  What'd you need my help with so badly?"<br/><br/>[ OOC: Picture attached below for reference ]