"I won't be able to do this one on my own, then if what you're saying is true?"

"Correct. Only druids of the purple are born with this ability. Thankfully every species has druids in that house."

The two creatures stood on the north lawn of Yellowrock Mesa north. Hundreds of parents and children milled about, as three druids Freya had never met went down the line, pausing every so often to eat or drink.

They would stop, mutter an incantation, wave through a runic pattern, and then the child in front of them would brighten up.

"And only children with the spark can survive past…?"

"Only children with our spark gain sentience by their third birthday or so," River said,"this is why I asked your mother to bring Bard and Kayli. I know she is close and he has some time, but we can bless them early in a pinch."

Freya's mother and father stood in the life a few paces ahead of them. The larger held a sleeping Bard, the tiny mouse snuggled deep into his father's armpit. The other held hands and played games alternating between her mother and Freya.

"It's the first point at which we can tell if a child may have the ability, but it's not always accurate."

As the line dispersed, a clerk was taking the names of the parents and children who had gone through the blessing. Every sixteenth child or so, Spring would show up and with a nod talk to the parents.

"How do we know if one has the ability…?"

Freya tossed a ball to Kayli who caught it midair. She threw it back to Freya who deftly caught it with one paw.

"The purple are letting Spring know. When they bless a child with the spark, they're able to feel a potential briefly."

Kayli was suddenly next to a druid in purple robes. This one, a badger towered over the pup. She grinned and tossed the ball to the grizzled-looking druid. He smiled back at her.

Faolan, Freya's father held up his tint sleeping son for the druid. The badger sniffed him carefully and then began.

Up close the runic script looked like he was starting to write an entire passage in a book and here and there Freya thought that she might be able to recreate the particulars but then she saw the trickle of magic the badger poured into the runic structure and was aghast.

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"He has such fine control over his magic! I wouldn't even dream of being able to focus on a line that little."

"You're strong, little knife, but you need to learn a bit of finesse there, for certain. You'll get the chance at the Valley."

"It looks so…"

"He does this frequently. I imagine weaving the same spell over and over again would cause someone to get quite good at it. Why you have improved your bonding ability so much already!"

Freya nodded. She had been able to bond creatures for a while and she was confident that she could perform a ranger bond if she needed. She was just waiting for Muk to present himself for such a purpose.

There on the North side, she saw three rangers speaking with the mouse in question. She gave him a nod, as he spoke with the three of them at length.

Before she knew it, her father and mother had joined them.

"We're all done here, Freya. It's about the same as it was when you and your older brother got yours, except now the druid told me that he thinks Bard may have the spark," her father said.

Freya smiled.

"Poor Kayli though, she's just a regular mouse. I supposed she could always follow in her mother's footsteps," Freya's mother said.

Freya saw the look that had thrown her for a loop. Her mother wanted, nay expected, one of her daughters to become an aristocrat; or some sort of noble at the least. Freya had been her hope after Hem had joined the regiment. Now she looked like she was ready to put Kayli into finishing school. The child hadn't even turned three.

"I see a lot of dresses in your future, little one," Faolan said.

River giggled. Kayli tossed a ball to the raven, who blocked it with a wing.

"Now, I believe that we have someone special coming to speak to us?" Minhee Uki said, watching as Muk approached.

Freya's chest tightened. Why did he have to wait until they were all together? The mouse needed to learn poetic timing. On the other paw, they would probably be spending a lot of time together if he became her ranger. Perhaps he had timed this well after all.

She smiled at the thought.

He went to her father and the two embraced as Kayli ran circles around them excitedly.

"Carrots! SQUASH! Green! Leaves!" Her sister said.

The two said a few words, turned to see her, and then paused.

"Watch out, that looks like trouble," her mother said.

“Aren't all gentle mice trouble, mother?”

In his hands, he held one long necklace.

She gasped, seeing the pearl in his other hand. The simple orange bauble next to it bore the mark of the mouse, a tiny etching.

“Freya, I’ve… committed my life to the coalition, to the regiment, and to my house. Before I take the next step, I want to do it for the right reasons.”

He knelt.

Freya held back a tear.

“If I’m to go with you, I’m going with an open heart. And also, I would like to go not only as your ranger,” he placed the baubles in her hands, “but as your husband.”

The blubbering commenced.

“In such cases as these, I believe that sometimes, families are able to meld together. As such…”

He stopped when she held him.

“Of course.”

And then for the first time, he placed the necklace on her, with her family in attendance.

“The only question is, when?”

She smiled at him.

“I think you know when.”

She hadn’t even admitted to herself how much she wanted this, but it came as a relief. All of a sudden her family was around her laughing and crying with her.