A cabin in the woods - what could go wrong?

[very_sharpe]

Now and then, Thomas liked to walk in the woods. He used to go walking on the moors, when the weather was decent. He tried to avoid them when it wasn't - unpleasant memories of trudging along after his father. One such memory of being left behind, of nearly dying.

But today was a good day, and the woods were filled with bird song. Thomas wondered if he could make a bird that was sort of like a music box. He'd have to ask Daine if the sounds seemed right; he wondered if Belle could help him with the smaller pieces.

He paused when he saw... a cabin? He frowned, trying to remember if it had ever been there before. He was positive it hadn't been, he came out here often enough. He felt drawn to move a bit closer, but he was slow, cautious.

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[wildmage_daine]

Someone should put up a sign, Daine thinks. Maybe it wouldn't help much -- she doesn't expect even a detailed 'keep out' message to deter everyone -- but at least it would be something. The only other option is posting some sort of guard, and that, too, seems unlikely to work out. Everyone has other places to be, other jobs to occupy them. Not to mention that they're all so used to Darrow's madness that trying to stop it seems like a lost cause.

She still swings by the candy cottage fair often, though -- if for no other reason than to see if it's still there. She half-expects it to vanish as mysteriously as it arrived. And if her visits coincide with someone else's, so much the better. She might at least save someone the inconvenience of whatever magic the place might slap on them.

Daine is in tiger shape, today, and she lets out a quiet huff of disappointment when she peers out of the underbrush to find the cottage still there, and still looking far more pristine than it has any right to. The People have been avoiding it, so it hasn't suffered the nibbles of every rodent in the area, but she still would've expected the elements to have spoiled it some. It's fair creepy, if you ask her.

Her ear swivels toward the sound of slow footsteps in the leaves, and her tail twitches in surprise when she sees that it's Thomas. He's walking towards the place -- carefully, but still -- and the thought of him wandering right in is alarming enough that she doesn't even stop to think: she just bounds out of the undergrowth and plows into him, knocking him to the ground before he can reach the door.

She realizes almost as she's doing it how terrifying she must be, and leaps clear, crouching between him and the cottage just in case he's inclined to make a run for shelter. "Sorry, Thomas!" she says, having hastily (and belatedly) reshaped her mouth. "It's me, it's Daine -- I just couldn't have you going in, and I... I didn't think. I'm sorry."

[very_sharpe]

Suddenly, Thomas was looking at the canopy.

And he had a-- a tiger on him. He was too stunned to move, eve after it leaped off him, and he thought perhaps that might be the best course of action despite his terror.

And just as suddnely he could heard Daine's voice coming from the beast. He dared to look, startled by the image of a tiger with an oddly human mouth.

"Daine?"

[wildmage_daine]

Odd's bobs, she's probably scared him half to death. The sight of a tiger with a human mouth isn't likely to reassure him overmuch, either. She sits, reshaping her head entirely. That'll look fair strange, too, but changing all the way back isn't an option. At least this way, he can see it's her.

"Sorry," she says again, cheeks flushing. "The cottage has been magicking folk who go in. I didn't want it getting ahold of you, but... I s'pose I could've just shouted or something." Granted, she still would've been in an alarming shape, but she could've switched to dog. Now that she's already done things the foolish way, it's easy to think of smarter ways she could've gone about it.

She lets out a quiet, self-recriminating sigh, then reaches out with a paw to gently tap his leg, her claws carefully sheathed. "Are you all right? I haven't hurt you?"

[very_sharpe]

Seeing a tiger with Daine's head wasn't much better than seeing a tiger with a human mouth. Thomas tried to pull himself together. She was like a strange sort of manticore, or chimera. "Pardon my staring," he said as he managed to sit up. He looked at the cottage, since that seemed a far safer place to look a tthe moment.

"What sort of magic? he asked, wondering. "Oh, I'm alright. Startled out of my wits, but I'm alright."

[wildmage_daine]

"You needn't apologize," Daine says with a sheepish smile, curling her tail around her forepaws. It makes her look a little like an overgrown housecat, but that's sort of the point. Whatever she can do to alarm him less is no trouble. "I can pick a different shape, if that'd be easier. I just can't change back entirely human, is all." Unless she ducked behind the cottage for privacy or something, at which point, it would hardly matter what shape she was in. She'd still have to holler her half of the conversation.

She doesn't glance back at the cottage, but the tip of her tail does twitch pensively in response to his question. "I'm not sure. There's no mage behind it, as far as I've been able to tell -- or if there is, they haven't been visiting. It's like the cottage itself is bespelled. But it turned one of my friends into merfolk, so it's not above changing someone's shape."

[very_sharpe]

"No I-- I think I'll be alright. Why can't you change back?" The notion of being stuck distracted him from the fact that the cottage was, apparently, thoroughly bespelled.

"A mer-- well. That's rather... inconvenient, I imagine. With my luck, I'd end up something horrid," he said with a weak sort of smile. He sat up more, turning his back on the cottage for now. It really was jarring to see Daine's head on a body so large and... feline.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine's brow furrows. The answer seems obvious. But then she realizes they've been speaking of having a shape forced on folk, and it occurs to her that he might think she's stuck, at least to a point.

"Oh, it's... I didn't mean that I couldn't," she explains. "It's only that, well." Her cheeks prickle, and she begins to wish she hadn't reshaped her head. Cat faces don't really do 'embarrassment.' "My clothes don't come with me, when I take animal shape." Excepting the Badger's token, of course, but that hardly counts as far as everyone's modesty is concerned.

Barreling onward, she says, "I'm not sure it'd change your shape at all. I've asked some of the People to keep half an eye on the place, and they say some folk come out not looking any different. But that doesn't mean they weren't magicked somehow. Seems best not to chance it."

[very_sharpe]

"Oh, that's terribly inconvenient... I suppose any great power must have a draw-back somewhere." He gave her a kind, if a bit flustered look. He wasn't sure how he felt about that - it must make it difficult for her more often than not, he imagined. "Ah, well. I brought a coat with me in case it rained, if you want to change back," he offered.

At least he was sort of getting used to seeing the tiger body.

"No, you're quite right. I'd rather not chance... anything this city has to throw at us. If I can avoid it. The last time it took me by surprise was very... Well. Edith helped me with that one. I'm grateful for your intervention, too."

[wildmage_daine]

Daine can't really shrug in this shape, but she lifts a paw and lets out a noncommittal hum. "It's fair typical back home -- for mages who can take a shape at all. I s'pose it's a fair trade for being able to take more than one." And to do it with relative ease, compared to using the Gift.

It's harder to imagine doing it the way Cassie or Rachel does, with clothes that can come with.

She considers the offer. Holding two shapes isn't too troubling, and she could keep it up for a while longer. But he's clearly unsettled by the sight of her. He's so proper that she's not sure the sight of her wearing nothing but his coat would be much better, but then again, he is awfully tall. Any coat built to fit him would probably come down to her knees.

"I can hold two shapes for a while without tiring," she explains, "but I can change back if it troubles you." If it is more about his comfort than hers, might as well put the question to him. "I expect your coat would cover most of me. I'd probably be swimming in it," she adds with wry smile.

[very_sharpe]

"It's-- well, I won't say it isn't disconcerting, it is. But I've managed to survive seeing far worse things. I wasn't sure how comfortable it was for you," he admitted. He could get over it, and he would. He imagined hiding under his coat would be no more dignified for Daine than trying to be a tiger and a girl a the same time. Probably less so, if he thought about it.

He looked at the cottage though and frowned. "Suppose I shouldn't linger if that thing is pouring out magic." He finally rose to his feet and he looked over at Daine. "Rather remarkable that I ran into you out here, though. I've been meaning to call you, or to visit you at the animal hospital."

[wildmage_daine]

Daine looks slightly perplexed by 'disconcerting,' but she can guess what it means (or guess near enough). And really, he's handled it better than plenty of others would.

"I wouldn't say it's pouring it out," Daine says quickly. "It only seems to trouble folk if they go inside. Elsewise, it probably would've done something to me by now. And it hasn't; Kitten would know for sure if I was magicked." She tries for a reassuring smile. 'No one's magicked me' probably sounds a bit odd coming from someone who's mostly tiger, but it's true.

Brightening a little, she adds, "You should come by the farmhouse sometime. It's fair peaceful. And I think we've got every kind of tea the city has." Between Amalthea, Biffy, and Lyall, their collection has enough to suit anyone, she thinks.

[very_sharpe]

Thomas smiled at the invitation. "I should like that very much." He's fond of Biffy, he wouldn't mind visiting the odd little house in the woods. He'd heard the population had grown.

"Might you come to tea before that? It's only that Cobweb has been sneezing rather a lot." Thomas had a colony of four rats now, all young males: Cobweb, Mustardseed, Peaseblossom, and Moth. "His chest sounds congested."

It was a trick one of the vet technicians had taught him to listen for labored breathing or congested noises. He felt a bit silly holding a rat up to his ear like a telephone, but it worked.

[wildmage_daine]

"Has he?" she asks, brow furrowing. She's familiar with all of Thomas's rats. They're a sweet bunch. She doesn't like the thought of any of them being sick, and she especially doesn't like the thought of them having to wait for care. "It's just... if he's doing poorly, I'd as soon see him right away." He's probably not in dire shape -- he'd have already called out to her if he was -- but that doesn't mean he should have to just sit with an illness until it goes away on its own or gets worse.

Daine gathers herself as if to get to her feet, then realizes that will put her human head at an odd angle and stays herself. "I can fly to the farmhouse and change back, then meet you there, if that's all right," she offers.

[very_sharpe]

"I have no objection to that," he said. "I'll meet you at my apartment in a little while." Thomas still had to get out of the forest and back home, but he supposed it wouldn't take terribly long.

He left Daine, knowing she'd be alright and could take care of herself without following her to and fro. Instead, he hurried back so that he would be there before she arrived, taking time to start a kettle of tea in case she wanted something while she worked, or when she was through. And just to be hospitable.

[wildmage_daine]

It's no great distance to travel, at least. The flight back to the farmhouse only takes a few minutes, and while the walk to Candlewood is longer, the building's right on the edge of the countryside. It only takes her a few minutes to change back, and then another few to deal with Kitten (who, upon hearing Daine was going to visit Thomas, demanded to come along). Daine only waffles for a moment before deciding that bringing her would be less time consuming than dissuading her. Besides, Thomas likes Kitten. If nothing else, the dragonet will at least keep him entertained while Daine goes about the more boring business of sorting out Cobweb.

To that end, Daine grabs a couple of granola bars that she can eat while she walks. She hadn't thought she'd be doing a healing so soon after holding two shapes at once. She's not very tired, and certainly not drained, but the last thing she needs is to get all woozy or somesuch. It'd be embarrassing, especially over something so small.

"I didn't think you'd mind Kitten coming along," she says when she finally reaches his door, giving her backpack a sheepish hitch. The dragonet shoves her head out from beneath the flap and blinks up at him before letting out a self-satisfied trill. "She insisted, once I told her where I was off to."

[very_sharpe]

Thomas broke into a bright smile when he saw the young dragon. He was perhaps a bit tickled to hear she had insisted on coming. "I am always pleased to see Miss Kitten, and she is always welcome to visit."

He delighted in the small dragon, and he rather liked talking to her, even if the conversation seemed one-sided at first. She was quite a clever creature when she got going, and he liked showing her new things.

"I have tea on, if you'd like. And some snacks. I don't know how doing this sort of thing effects you," he confessed. But he thought she might like to sit and rest after.

Thomas showed Daine to the large cage where his little colony lived. It was just about four feet tall with lots of places to climb and hide. As soon as Daine was near, three furry bodies clamored to the highest level. One came a bit slower, sneezing all the way.

"There he is," he said a bit sadly. "He's been sneezing and wheezing a few days now." The young rat had red discharge caked around his nose and eyes.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine steps inside, setting down her bag so Kitten can clamber out. She can smell the tea, and grins in pleasant surprise when he mentions snacks. "That's fair perfect," she says. "Healing doesn't take too much out of me, normally, but I don't normally spend much time holding two shapes at once, either. I'll be fine," she hastens to add, not wanting him to think she's straining herself on his account. "But it'll be good to have something after."

It's a nice set-up that Thomas has rigged for his rats, and Daine sends them all a silent greeting, poking her fingers through the bars so they can sniff at her, and brace their little paws against her fingertips. She winces sympathetically when the last one makes his belated appearance. "Poor Cobweb," she says, unlatching the door at the top of the cage so she can carefully lift him out. "We'll get you all sorted out," she promises the little creature, speaking aloud for Thomas's benefit.

She settles herself on a chair, the rat cradled in her hands, then glances up at Thomas. "It'll be boring to watch," she says, figuring he ought to have fair warning. "And it'd be best if I wasn't interrupted. Kitten will be good company, though." The dragonet had been standing on her haunches to examine the interior of the rats' cage, but she looks over and nods in agreement when Daine speaks of her.

[very_sharpe]

"Well, Kitten can join me in the kitchen, then, and we'll get a little lunch together for all of us to have when you're finished."

Thomas ushered the young dragon into the kitchen and lifted her onto the counter so she could direct lunch-making as she wanted to.

In the other room, the Cobweb curled up in Daine's hand. I feel very tired, he told her. He wheezed quietly as he breathed and there was, indeed, a quiet grinding sound in his chest - congestion in his lungs. Like other animals, rats tended to hide their pain and discomfort; Cobweb had been hiding a respiratory infection until he was sick enough for it to show. Thomas has been very nice. He holds all of us, but he has been holding me extra.

[wildmage_daine]

She frowns a little as Cobweb settles in. He's worse off than she would have guessed. She supposes it's no great surprise that he tried to keep his illness hid, and getting exasperated about it wouldn't be fair. Just because he could've called her sooner doesn't mean he would've thought to do it. And, bad as it might be, it's still not so dire he can't come back from it. He's still young (at least in rat terms), and Thomas caught his symptoms not long after they would've started to show.

You can always call me if you're feeling poorly, Daine says, more of a gentle reminder than a chastisement. Or if any of your friends are. A rat probably wouldn't be any more keen to tattle on one of their fellows than they would be to call her in the first place, but at least the idea's out there, now. He can do what he wants with it. I should be able to sort you out. Just be patient.

Daine shuts her eyes and takes a breath, tuning out the sounds of Thomas and Kitten puttering around in the kitchen. It only takes a moment for her to sink all of her focus into Cobweb. It's a tricky business, mostly because he's so small. She has to be very careful to not use too much magic, calling up only the most delicate tendrils to burn the congestion out of his lungs and clear his airways. It would be an easy enough job if it was a dog or a cat, but with Cobweb, she takes the extra time to make sure she does things properly, and causes him as little discomfort as she can.

Once she's satisfied that all is well and opened her eyes, she sees that Cobweb is sitting up on his haunches and fastidiously grooming himself, as if to rid himself of the last telltale signs of his illness. Better? she asks him, probably without need.

[very_sharpe]

Yes, thank you. Nothing hurts anymore and I'm hungry. Will you check the others? We're together so much, I don't want them to be sick, too.

Cobweb stopped grooming himself long enough to fuss with Daine's fingers, grooming along her cuticles with gentle nibbles and a quick little tongue in a sort of rattish thank you.

When it was time to return to the cage he was content to do so - he was still rather tired and wanted to sleep, and he wanted to get food on the way. The other three came to the door when he returned, sniffing and touching and, for a moment, they were a pile of fur and naked tails.

"Everything alright?" Thomas asked as he peered out of the kitchen, uncertain if he should interrupt or not. "Would you like some tea?"