Days away and far from home, Sela and River sat by a fire. Sela stood guard as River instructed both of her young charges.

On their way, they had acquired two druid initiates. A yellow lizard with purple eyes named Elizardbeth, and a grey and black badger named Mark.

As the ranger with the most experience in the raft, Sela was appreciated. River had never taken a ranger, until Sela and her friends. As a ranger required a master bond, she had the power to create lasting permanent bonds for other druids, something which wasn't in high supply. Shifter druids like River were the rarest, and they were frequently kept close to the circle.

Because she had asked for the diplomatic and spycraft training for her apprenticeship, she had the good fortune to pick up not one as the custom was, but three rangers. Sam and Chip being not of age yet, had to wait for their year-end ceremony which was to occur the day prior. That would mark them as adults and they would leave from there to receive their ranger training.

The pain she felt through the bond meant that they were probably being led by Ortho, one of the more hard-line trainers.

"So you think that they sent a harsh swordmaster down to Yellowrock?" Sela said, warming his paws on the fire.

Sela, a hunky tall otter, sat there wearing a cloak that was a tad too short. He roasted a pair of fish over the fire.

"I dunno, Sela, did you catch those fish with your bare hands?" River said.

That garnered a chuckle.

The two initiates were both meditating on either side of the fire. Elizardbeth on Rivers' side and Mark on the other.

"Now feel the red mist," River said, "Reach into it and start to burn it, imagine a slow controlled burn. As you ignite the flame internally try to stoke the flame outside."

For a brief second, the flame grew warmer.

River smiled, reaching out to read that Elizardbeth had poured some of her internal energy into the fire. Mark was still struggling to grasp it.

With a sigh, the badger opened his eyes.

"Miss River, it's like trying to grasp a fish underwater… and catch it," Mark said.

Sela chose this moment to hold up four small fishes as he put them on the fire. Long sticks extended the fish to the center.

"Sela, it's not a good idea to antagonize Mark, because badgers never forget," River said.

Elizardbeth cracked an eye open.

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"I thought it was coelacanths that never forget, no?" She smiled, and River could see her yellow scaly lips over her sharp underbite.

"No, no, coelacanths hold a grudge for life,' River said, "At least that is what I am told."

"I have to admit that I haven't spoken to many in my time, I get the distinct sense that they're not interested in small talk," Sela said.

All three of the druids giggled.

"Well, eat up because today we're going through the burrows and it's going to be cold and wet," River said.

A hush fell over the group.

An unspoken command from River caused Sela to start packing up and tending the fire.

"I've heard stories," Mark said in a whisper.

"You will both be safe. It's Selas first time too," River patted Elizardbeth on the shoulder.

The yellow lizard was taking slow shallow breaths. She stood up wringing her claws. River pursed her lips.

"I'm going to know aren't I?" She said.

"Once we are on the other side, yes if you're an Inurian druid like me, you will feel like you are home," River sighed.

Of all the potential candidates this one wanted to be a druid of House Miru, the god of death and rebirth. Most Lizardfolk druids were but since the mainstay of their worship was Miru, it would be a tough loss. Inurian druids like River always counted themselves as the rarest and were highly sought after because of their bond weaving ability.

Druids like Lizardbeth expected a whole set of abilities that River was excited to test out if it were true.

Mark on the other hand was probably a Nithean druid, but River hadn't figured it out yet either. Badgers didn't generally fall into one house or another as a category so it would be more of a roll of the dice for him.

Either way, once they passed through the burrows both would know if they had an affinity for the same house as River. Then it was a matter of narrowing down the right house.

The weave to punch through to the burrows mastered long ago, River drew the smallest bit of her remaining energy to start.

Slowly she traced a doorway into the air as the energy drew from her until the entry was open. Sela went straight in, holding his sword at the ready.

Elizardbeth shivered as a gust of cool humid air came in.

“It must be wintry in there,” she said. Her jaws chattered.

“No more than usual,” River said, “Now in you lot, so we can get to our destination.”

The cold cruel sand on the other side of the burrows crunched under their feet.

“Glad we got a spot not right in the water.,” River said, “It’s not deep but it’s everywhere in here.”

Overhead the dark sky gave nothing away. There were no stars, but the four were able to see easily. It felt like there had never been a sun, the way that the sand around them showed no flora.

River shook off a chill. The opening of the gate always burned more than she wanted, but it had been taking less and less effort to open one.

Sela sheathed his sword on his back, surveying the land. River could feel a knot of calm under his tired readiness. She reached out, mentally trying to smooth it, and he recoiled before letting her optimism wash over him.

Taking a second to figure out which was which, River pointed in a direction, and Sela started scouting ahead.

“He’ll be a little faster than the three of us, which the bond helps. Have you two thought about what you’d look for in a potential ranger?” River looked at the two initiates.

Mark and Elizardbeth both had puzzled expressions on their faces as if that would be the farthest thing away from their truth. Then they shook their heads.

“Well, in that case since we’ve got a day's journey in here,” River said, “Allow me to tell you about the care and feeding of rangers.”