<br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Day 1</strong></span><br/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd394/Vithe_rothe/concept19_zps397cb26a.jpg)</div>The day had started off later then she had liked. Several horses had to be re-readied and then there was the good-bys by the King's servants and staff. Jahtera had elected today to stay in her normal human form just striding along on foot and smiled and shook her head when asked if she needed to ride. What the others did not realize was that she was keeping an eye on the animals watching their reactions especially when they spied 'Shadow' lurking or stalking along under the trees and grass. Several times she would walk to a skidish animal and sooth its fears with a soft barely heard word. She was aware that most had not spotted her 'Cat' and the times they had there were gasps and reaching for a weapon. The great lion clearly marked her as a member of the ancient 'Druid's Circle' since only they reared and trained and bonded with such beasts.<br/><br/>Jahtera was also aware of the looks she received from many with her both male and female. Her brown silk wraps wove around her toned and softly muscled frame. Her breasts were held by worked sliver metal as was the headband with the mark of her order that circled her brow. Her back pack looked almost stuffed and from it also hung a sheathed scimitar while 6 or more sheathed daggers adorned her in various places.<br/>Her long wavy brown hair, shot through with golden highlights would dance in the wind and her big brown eyes had a much older shine to them then her youth would suggest. At 25 she might well be the youngest along yet she had already seen much and been well trained.<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd394/Vithe_rothe/45_zpsecc4faeb.jpg)</div>As the others made camp and the halfling slipped off she gave a small whistle and 2 small birds winged along with the hunter to follow and watch. She handled the horses getting them settled and then a hand movement brought the big cat for the first time clearly into view for all to see. Though she was actually listening to the others she was also handling another problem. Quietly she spoke her spell and began speaking to the horses in whinnies and hisses... calming them and then introducing each to the big Cat with,<em>"I assure you Shadow WILL NOT eat you."</em>As she finished with each animal they received something to eat from the palm of her hand.<br/><br/>Walking into the area of the main camp, her one hand idly stroked the head of the big cat that stood almost as high as her shoulder.<em>" I am Jahtera and this is 'Shadow Cat' my friend and companion. I was asked by my order to journey with the King on this quest. Today I traveled as you all did but tomorrow I will take to the air with other pets I have to watch from the sky and my companion will watch from the ground. Anything I can help with your Majesty please ask!"</em>She had turned and half bowed to the King with her last words.<br/><br/>Looking at the other males, with a slight sexy tilt to her head,<em>"We in the Order have our suspicions on the nature of the gods and what may have happened but that is all...and the demons in case you all have not noticed avoid the great forest. They perfer areas that they can control and still use the magic that is limited to them as well. Those reasons and others is why I am here"</em><br/><br/>Turning to the two women making a messy carving of the deer she spoke,<em>"Do either of you cook or for that matter does anyone besides me know how to cook venison"</em>As she knelt to handle the sliced meat she glanced at the big cat,<em>"Shadow go eat!"</em><br/><br/>The big cat looked at each there as if measuring them then did an actual nod and sprung into the darkening wilds a deep growl echoing in the air. Jahtera had begun frying the pieces of meat as she spoke her purify spell and all the meat took on a much cleaner hue. She seemed to be focused on the food. Then she turned to look at the others,<em>"It is silly to blame tieflings for the problems, the blight has been growing for a thousand years the tielflings have been here for a far less amount of time. Blaming them is like blaming the fire for burning. Perhaps magic is like the seasons and we are in the fall...maybe magic will almost disappear but like a seed lie dormant until the time is right for it to bloom again. Or maybe the gods just decide to leave...no one knows but maybe we can get a clue."</em><br/><br/>Flipping a grilled piece of meat that smelled nice she continued,<em>" Life and death are a pattern. From death , life springs forth. Even in the blight life finds a way to survive. What concerns My order and myself is the undead. They are an abomination, a blight on life itself. A Tielfling is alive and can produce life. A creature, a thing that is unliving is wrong. A shadow of life that should be dead."</em>She finally turned her head to look fully at the king,<em>"Your Majesty, I gave my word to aid this quest, to you and my order yet if I had known that you would have brought along an abomination, no matter how honorable it seems or acts. I would not have come. In fact I would have tried to destroy it. But I honor my vows and will do my best to aid you, the others and even 'it'. This quest is of high importance for my order and I have along books that may aid us."</em><br/><br/>She flips up several fried pieces of venison placing them on a wooden plate she has laid out.<br/><br/><br/>