"I'm sorry, say that again?" Freya said.

River had spent a half hour explaining how Freya could accomplish something incredible and come out as nearly ready to become a full druid. Freya had gone from working on her arrows to fully enmeshed.

Crenshaw had been paying attention throughout.

"It's fairly simple my dear. She wants you to infiltrate the cats and gather intelligence. You can pose as a new druid or perhaps an aide or something. We can make-up an identity."

"Druids, with our powers we can affect great change with a little nudge," River said,"and we won't be alone. We just need to tell a few white lies."

Freya was ready for her afternoon tea, but none was making itself available.

"I haven't even seen a cat before yesterday. Doesn't that transformation require an excess of magic?" Freya asked.

"We'll need to figure out a way to eat while in cat form, which is where my ranger comes in. You're not averse to eating fish, are you?"

Freya paused.

"I have never had a need to do so. I have always sustained myself with vegetables, fruits and the various baked goods…and yes that is how I kept my ladylike figure. Don't snicker at me, Old Grandpaw."

He had taken his turn at the watch as River had decided that this potential lesson would benefit the coalition so much that it was unavoidable.

"I think that it's dangerous. I would go if …" he sighed.

"It's too dangerous. Four or five cats at once could be a problem, even for a swordmaster," Sela said,"I'll be close enough to them that all River needs to do is call me in."

"That's my son in law, used to the water!" Stone said," but if I may, what about our lovely beasts here?"

"Also too dangerous. The Cats will likely recognize bonded beasts and that would give Freya and River away," Crenshaw said.

"I feel like we're completely missing the point here. Freya hasn't even agreed to do this yet. She might just want to go back to Yellowrock," Sela said.

The Otter drew out his single sword and hefted the long dark blade, easily getting into a pose. He began to work through a form.

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"There's no safety at home when the battle lines are drawn here," Crenshaw replied.

Stone patted the mouse's back. Both looked down, their gazes absent.

Old Grandpaw also got his blade out and began to work through the same forms that the ranger was using.

"Why did we come here anyway? You wanted to do something for the war effort," River said, "if we do this? We'll be heros and I'll recommend that they bump you up to senior initiate immediately upon our arrival at the valley."

Freya paused to consider her words. She was still wavering on her decision to join the druids.

"Tell me one thing. Is there a point where as a druid, I can make my own way in the world?" She said.

River looked at her, fluttered her wings for a second, and then nodded.

"Once you are done with your initial training, often you can pick an assignment. If you're strong enough, you can make your own assignment."

Freya smiled, knowing how much the circle, and River in particular wanted her to join. Not many creatures got a full druid and ranger escort to a war zone.

It was something that she was leaning to making a final consideration on.

"Did you want to make a decision now?" River said,"because with what we have learned so far I cannot just look away."

"From the reports of War Chief Alexa?"

"There's something else."

Sela turned to say something but paused as if hearing a command.

"River," he said, " I do have the story to tell you. It may not be a matter of looking away. We probably need to intervene."

Sela, once gay and humorful, took on the tone of a serious otter.

The mouse standing guard perked up.

"Is this circle business?" River said, her tone equally serious.

Sela pursed his lips.

"Yes."

"Very well. Can it wait until later?"

"It can, druid."

Freya's mind whirled with the possibility. The ranger knew something that even the coalition didn't.

"Will what you know change the course of the battle?" Freya said, her beak dry.

"Unfortunately, yes."

River’s pained expression showed her utter certainty. Freya knew that he spoke the truth. It was written all over his bonded druids face. They couldn't speak through the bond but…

Freya recalled all of the emotions that she sent back and forth to the chickens. Trust, hunger, fear and happiness all leaked over the bond.

"We can’t bring the chickens," Freya said,"If we go. We need to find another way."

"Oh sure, just walk through Marwei and across any one of the five Bridges to the furrows and just invite yourself into Alexas confidence," Crenshaw said, "it's not a big deal or anything."

Eyes from across the clearing, even the chickens shot at him.

"Brother," Stone said, "you might be right but don't be a beast about it."

"He may be mean but he is right," River said, "you don't need to do this Freya. I need to see what this is about myself."

Freya raised a claw to say something and looked at the new temporary form she had taken.

"The most common way that druids give up their power is by thinking they don't have any. Freya, you have the power to change the course of this battle, to be the little knife that cuts and changes the direction. Be the Freya, who was able to survive a bear attack. Conquer the beast within. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to confer with my ranger alone briefly."

Freya watched as the river otter led the blue jay away to an outer wall. They hopped up and looked about for any onlookers, then began to patrol around the perimeter.

Freya waited in vain for tea to appear once more, then grumbled and got up.

"Tea anyone?" She ventured.

"I'll have a cup," Stone replied.