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Rose: Heading to Southern Gaia

Kyrre and Sahm had stopped talking, and had resorted to a few poignant looks, and a few hand movements- which Rose could only suppose (due to their complexity) were a kind of kitsune sign language.

Finally, Kyrre sat back, and just looked across the table at Rose. Sahm still looked at Kyrre for a moment, as if pleading him to resume their conversation. But Kyrre just stared at Rose. And said nothing. Sahm, eventually, also took up the stare-at-Rose contest. Rose gulped. She hadn't really felt nervous in a long time now. Not since... not since before leaving for the fairy worlds. But there was something in that look of theirs that made her uneasy.

"Rose Blueaecid," Sahm said suddenly. It surprised Rose- not only did they know her last name- which she hardly used- but also, she had expected the other one to talk, not him. "While we are certain you are a very powerful... being, this inability to change completely kitsune will not be taken lightly by the Council. We have one option, really..." he glanced back over at Kyrre, who still avoided his gaze. "and that is for you to take a potion that will effectively allow you to turn kitsune completely because it will null all of your other... heritages. It will last one half of a moon cycle, and then you will go back to normal."

Rose's brow furrowed. She'd already dealt with being stuck in demon mode for a while- and she didn't like the sound of this. She said nothing, and waited. Kyrre had something to say- she could feel it.

"What... what am I missing here?" she asked.

Sahm spoke again. "Nothing missing. Just, like I said, you would not be able to use any powers you might have besides those you have by blood by being kitsune."

"Okay..." Rose said, drawing the word out, her gaze returning to Sahm. "Then why won't he say anything?" she asked, flicking her eyes at Kyrre to indicate him.

"Oh." Sahm said, obviously a little caught off gaurd. "Probably because I'm Speaker, and..." he got cut off.

"And because he is a lot more patient about all of this." Kyrre cut in. He turned back to look at Sahm. "If she takes the potion now, we have to wait a day for it to take effect before she can travel. Then it will take us three days- possibly four- to get back home. That takes almost a quarter cycle as it is! Then to travel to the City, gather the Shamans for verification... the potion could wear off by then, and then what've we got? A part demon part kitsune part who-knows-what that can't pass the Kitsune Royalty tests purely! Then we're ruined- and that's all if Estefan hasn't already had himself crowned before we can get her back to the City to claim Heritage!"

Rose stared, not quite in shock, but in a kind of embarrassed awe. She couldn't have guessed that the calmly patient kitsune sitting here was so full of frustration and worry.

Sahm opened his mouth and started mumbling something in return to Kyrre, who started gesturing back.

"Augh!" Rose yelled, standing up. "Will you two stop it?! I said I'd go. I don't mind taking this potion thing, though," and she leaned in close to Sahm, "if I can not go back to being one quarter kitsune, one quarter fairy, one quarter demon, and one quarter angel after about two weeks, I will sick my gaurdian on you. She's no mutt like me. She's pure dragon. And I'm sure she'd think you were mighty tasty." Rose paused, resuming her composure. "Any ways, it sounds as though we have to leave now. I'll take that potion or whatever once we get down there. You seemed to mention that you had a camp outside the city. I'll take it when we get there. Sound feasable to you two?" she asked in a rush.

Sahm looked at her in a little bit of a shock, and Kyrre did for a second, too. Then Kyrre started laughing.

"What?" Rose asked.

Kyrre laughed a bit more, and then answered, "Oh, this is gonna be good. It'll work- it'll have to. But you are going to make a few enemies before you make friends. Yes, we have a camp. But its a camp of soldiers, loyal kitsunes all. And they might not like what you are, and it might be harder for you to train and learn what you'll need to know to pass the Heritage test."

Rose nodded. "Fine. Let's go already, then." she said, and stood. Kyrre smiled, and also stood- he appreciated that she could understand the importance of moving quickly. Sahm stood after a moment, and nodded.

The three of them left the kitchen out the back door, and started running. Rose kept pace with them- though she wasn't altogether certain they weren't slowing for her, either. But they ran for hours on end, through the night. Every once in a while, Rose's legs or feet would get a little sore- she'd never run this long or this far before. So she would summon her fairy wings and give herself a short reprieve from the running. Only when the ktisunes were both ahead of her, and not looking back. Somehow, she foresaw this as being quite a physical test coming up, and she might as well start her training now.

In hindsight, Rose thought, I probably should have left a note about where I've gone to.