The rest of the evening was a blur. For some of it, Freya was holding a moles paw. For some of it, she was holding a small screaming naked baby mole. For all of it, she just kept her head down and did as she was told.

It wasn’t until hours past the appointed time that Freya found herself led to a small room down the hall from the new mother. Someone, perhaps her grandpaw had led her to the room and she was asleep within seconds of her head touching the pillow.

She dreamed of being large, of caring little of what mice thought. In the back of her mind she imagined life as a bear. A simple time with no society events.

There was no pressure to marry, and more importantly, she could eat what she wanted.

In this dream she could do whatever she wanted. She did bear things.

She scratched her back against a tree and searched for berries.

For a time, she was content to just be who she was.

Freya woke up feeling like she’d hibernated for months.

"That, Lass, was the sleep of the dead," Stone said from across the room.

Freya bolted upright in her luxurious bedding.

"Mr. Stone?"

"We took turns watching you after you didn't wake up in time, I'll get your grandfather."

"Wait."

The otter stood up but didn't move.

"Last night, that was incredible- what River did- and it got me thinking."

Stone sat down in his high backed imperial looking chair. He brushed his hair back.

"Go on."

"Is it that bad to be in the circle? She saved our lives, and last night with the mole…"

"Are you asking me if you should accept the druid circles offer?"

Freya's paws let the blanket go. She was still in her nightclothes. The amount of blankets she had piled up was -fair to say- twice or thrice her normal amount.

"No, I mean I… what would you do?"

Stone scratched his chin for a long moment and stared at precisely nothing.

"That's an incredibly personal decision. However in my culture, you don't get a choice. Every year otters about your age compete for different spots, and few of them choose to be rangers. The druids? Those with the ability? They have already been sworn in. In the Riverfolk, there is no option. You do what you do for the good of the clan."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Freya took a long second to just breathe and cycle through one of the meditations that River had once led her through.

"The food is good by the way," Stone said, "unfortunately they don't let you take it upstairs to the rooms."

He moved his cloak to reveal a wedge of cheese and bread.

"Fortunately for you, your druid inspired me to acquire some of it for your benefit."

"Oh my raven… I forgot to ask! How is she?"

Stone stood again, with an air of finality.

"She made me proud last night. And you? You made your whole family proud as well. Come down and I'll have a proper tea steeped correctly in the common room for you."

"Many thanks."

Stone left without fanfare.

Freya snuck a bite of the bread and cheese before changing into her traveling clothes.

Downstairs she saw a young terrified mother and a very sleepy newborn mole.

"Miss Layla, do you need me to hold the child? And have you named her yet?"

"Oh thank you Freya, please it's no bother. I think I have a handle on it now."

Freya doubted that the mother had a handle on it, but decided to try a different tact.

"I have a very young brother, perhaps I could show you how I change his diapers?"

The flustered mother nodded reluctantly, and Freya showed her both a diaper and a swaddle using the available mountain of towels. It seemed that they'd moved and been cleaned overnight. She would have to thank whoever was in charge.

River, Crenshaw and her Granpaw watched her walk through all of this from another corner. When she joined the party, Stone removed the tea bag he had been steeping for her, leaving her with fresh hot tea.

She sniffed the aroma deeply, returning with an eternal nuttiness and a glimmer of bitter root. It grounded her as much as all the wooden furniture did.

It drank smooth and she relished it.

"Now that that is done, what is going on?" Freya asked the group.

A few nervous glances around the table in the corner of the common room were followed by silence.

Freya took another long slow sip of her tea, trying to puzzle out what complication had consumed them.

"There's a supply train coming today, or should be. The vanguard was sighted an hour ago. It's heading in the right direction," Crenshaw said,"if you have no problems, we want to travel the remainder of the way with them. Safety in numbers and all."

"What’s the problem?" Freya said.

"Her," Grandpaw indicated the Raven.

"She's not supposed to use her powers against other creatures. It's part of the rules. And if she's seen coming with us, then it could be an incident. We could pretend that she’s a healer but," Stone said.

"But?" Freya's ears widened

"But this conflict is between the cats and the coalition. It's not something that the druids circle can take part in," Crenshaw said, "They’re not to take a side in these affairs. It's the possibility that there could be some impropriety, that's enough to cause a big problem. If we had to fight against druids? That would be too difficult, too dangerous and it would only weaken all of us."

"She can wild shape into another form, can't she?"

"We have already thought of that one," River said," and I do love spending time as an otter, but Stone here is retired so nothing he does reflects back at the company. My otter form is a young otter. Everyone knows what young otters do."

"They do mercenary work for the Riverfolk Company…" Freya said, " right?"

Stone and River nodded.

"She could become a bluejay," her grandpaw said.

"That…could work…" River said, her face scrunched up tight.

"We could have both of you wildshaped into the same kind of aviary denizen," Stone said.

"It's possible and this tea is pretty great so thanks."

"We need at least one person to be able to create good tea in this whole party."