<div dir="ltr">Kasaima and Trey headed towards the Companion Hearth Inn to meet Reed and Aldwin. The two met them halfway. Aldwin was looking at a white feather he was holding. There was an odd expression on his face. “Good morning Reed-san, Aldwin-san. Did you sleep well?” “Very well,” said Reed, who was also looking at the feather with some interest. “Though we both got an an unexpected surprise this morning.” “The Curse?” asked Trey. He was perched on Kasaima’s shoulder like usual. “The Curse,” said Reed. “I’ve got my belly covered in these,” said Aldwin. “I’m not sure what to make of them, though. They’re not chicken feathers.” “We could go to the library to find out,” said Trey. “Lots of folks go there when they’re not sure what they’re becoming.” Aldwin nodded. “I wouldn’t mind seeing it myself,” said Reed. “But would that delay you Kasaima-san?” Kasaima chuckled. “It will not take long, and I’m still working on the carpet. In fact, I was coming to see if you two wouldn’t mind camping out away from the Keep while I finish. We could buy some supplies, and I could train you away from everyone else.” “Sounds like a good plan to me,” said Reed. “We need the practice and it’d save us some coin.” “Are you changing too?” Trey asked Reed as they headed towards the library area. “Yes. I got quite the surprise when I went to go to the chamber pot this morning.” “Fur? Feathers? Scales?” Reed’s face turned dusky. He looked left and right, as if making sure he’d not be overheard and whispered: “Vagina.” *** Reed and Aldwin looked at the library in awe. Its roof glittering like gems in the sun, it’s architecture beauty in stone and glass. “Gods,” said Reed. “No wonder it’s famous!” Aldwin shook his head, as if trying to throw off some enchantment. The building did not change. “This is almost worth getting feathers.” Inside the building was equally impressive. A woman was at the desk and smiled when she saw them. “Kasaima-san and Trey, I believe?” “Indeed. Is Mael-Murie-san off today?” “No, she’s just inside. She’s trying to help this poor little fellow named Talo. He’s a kobold, I think. As far as I know he was magicked here from somewhere else. Of course, there are other assistants too. I’m Merlia, by the way. What do you need help with?” Aldwin moved forward. “I’m growing these.” He held up the feather to her. “I’m not sure what type of feather it is, except it’s not a chicken feather. I’ve seen those enough to know.” “Hmmm.. Mael is definitely the one to talk to about feathers. Are you okay, though? You seem to be very calm, which is a bit unusual.” “You should have seen me when I first found these. Poor Reed. I think I must’ve woken up the inn and half the street. I’m not sure if I’ve calmed down or am just in shock, but doing something is better than just thinking about it.” “You’ll be okay. I promise. What about you?” she looked at Reed. “Any signs of changes?” Reed’s face took on a familiar dusky hue. “Yes, in fact.” Even knowing he was facing someone who’d gone through this didn’t seem to help, somehow. “Ah, you’re like me.” Merlia’s voice changed a bit. It was filled with sympathy. “Is it that obvious?” Reed felt discomforted. He didn’t like being easily read. “I’ve gone through it. While all aspects of the Curse are off-putting, the pedomorph one tends to make most people elated while the zoomorph one tends to be admitted, however reluctantly. Gendermorph, though, especially man to woman, tends to cause a lot of embarrassment. I can walk you through what to expect in the days to come.” “We can see ourselves in to find Mael-Murie-san and Talo-san. Perhaps my senses can help with him,” said Kasaima. Aldwin took the hint and marched into the main area. He barely got through before the sheer number of books and scrolls overwhelmed him. “So many!” He stood gazing up and around like someone seeing the stars for the first time. “A trove beyond price. Wealth beyond gold,” said Kasaima. It didn’t take long to find Mael-Murie. She was next to a bat and a small, red dragon-like creature. Trey was reminded of stories of dragonettes. Mael saw them coming and made the best smile her beak could. “Ah! Kasaima-san! Welcome. I see you’ve got Trey as well. Who’s your friend?” “My name's Aldwin, ma’am. My friend Reed is out with Merlia talking…um…about personal matters related to the Curse.” His face turned beet red. “I’ve got my own inquiry. I’m growing these.” He showed her the feather. “Mind if I take it to have a look?” She held it close after Aldwin handed it to her. “Hmm. This looks waterproof. A duck, perhaps? Maybe a seabird. There’s a rather extensive book on feathers here somewhere. I hate to leave poor Talo, though.” Talo had looked up. “No mind. Nyein helps.” “I might be able to as well,” said Kasaima. “My kind deals with magic frequently. If it’s permissible, I can try and sense your aura and see if I can find anything in here that matches.” Nyein repeated the request to Talo, who nodded. Mael led Aldwin off into the stack. Trey hopped off to watch. He could just make out something like a shimmering outline around Kasaima as he examined Talo. “That is a very odd aura you have. Even with all this interference it’d be impossible to mistake. Let me see.” Kasaima reached into a pouch and pulled out what looked like a clear crystal on a silver chain. He held it between his hands and bowed his head over it, as if in prayer. Slowly the pendant began to circle, becoming more and more energetic until it stopped in midair, pointing. Trey hopped back on and Nyein and Talo followed as the pendant acted like an unerring guide. Suddenly Kasaima stopped. The pendant was pointing at a section of books. “These. There’s something about them that’s similar to Talo’s aura.” Nyein pulled out one of the books and opened it. Inside there was a map that looked superficially similar to the one of their world’s but was labeled completely differently. Even some of the geological features were off. He handed it to Talo. Talo’s eyes darted over the illustration and several times he said something low in draconic. Hearing this Nyein looked over Talo’s shoulder as he now lightly placed a claw on one place then another. “Home! Home!” Talo exclaimed, placing his claw on a continent set somewhat to the south of a larger land mass. “Names same. Talo certain this my home.” “But…” Trey said. “These are works of fiction, aren’t they?” *** Jarrod was deeply uncomfortable. Though the quills had not spread far, his shirt had been pierced in the back, where they were sprouting out of his pants. Roderick had lost interest in teasing him for the time being, and Nathan didn’t seem to have much to say, though he did keep looking at himself when he thought Jarrod wasn’t looking. The zebra on duty came back. “Alright. Time for you to face justice.” He pointed to Jarrod. “Your pride isn’t going to keep those clothes on, you know.” “I’ll keep them on anyway, until I can’t. I doubt I’ll have much longer to worry about it anyway.” The guard did something outside the cell and then entered it. For one wild moment, Jarrod considered tackling him and fleeing, but then reconsidered. It would be pointless. Everything was pointless. “Come along peaceful-like. Those bands of yours will keep you from running far.” “Ha! He’s just another beast like you! Where would he go, a circus?” Rodrick jeered. “You think you're so clever, hmm? Well, Misha Brightleaf is on his way for you two. Your friend here just made the proverbial ass of himself. You two have upset Misha, and I would not want to be in *your* shoes for the world.” Nathan gulped and Roderick blanched as the zebra led Jarrod out. “I’m Officer Ulford.” He paused and looked at the desk. It had a snake of some sort at it. Jarrod was not sure of the being’s gender. “Taking the prisoner for mean justice, Dame Aspasia.” “Very well. His crimes are so trivial I wonder they didn’t deal with them last night.” “According to Sir Prent he was drunk out of his head. Drewbert and Franklin won’t press charges. I won’t repeat what Officer Jenna had to say.” She let out a hissing chuckle. “I can well imagine what Officer Jenna had to say.” She motioned and the two went outside. It was a fair day. The warmth of the June morning should have been cheering, but Jarrod was not comforted. The quills on his back were increasingly uncomfortable. When he tried to stay too far behind the zebra, he felt his cuffs pull him forward. There was no escape. He wondered if he’d be hung or if his head would be cut off. He couldn’t complain about not having a good last meal. But they passed the center of town and there was no scaffolding set up. Nothing there but people selling their wares, as if there were no criminals among them. They walked out of the town and kept walking. *Am I going to be executed like an animal? Is my body going to lay in an unmarked grave as carrion?* Jarrod felt hollow inside. All the anger he’d had yesterday had evaporated. He was going to die somewhere in the wilderness. *No, I’m already dead. I’m not even human anymore.* Despite his thoughts, he was still mostly human. The spread was slow along his body. He did lose his shoes as they tramped along the side of a river on a well-worn path; his feet became paws and lessened the discomfort of being barefoot. His misery didn’t quite stop him from noticing the beauty of the river and wood. Or the humans and animalmorphs fishing and playing along the side of the river. He was so distracted that he didn’t notice Ulford stop until he bumped into him. “What is your problem?” Jarrod looked up and blinked. The zebra didn’t sound so much angry as annoyed. “What do you mean?” </div>