[center][h1][color=ed1c24]Ehri Khan[/color][/h1][/center] [hr] [sup][@Athol][@Arthanus][@Sync][@Lyla][/sup] [hr] Just as Isbeil replied to what Ehri had said, her suspicions about the girl were immediately proven to be wrong. She was incredibly observant as she noticed that her companions were different from other animals due to their link with Ehri, reaching to a grimoire and a set of pen and ink and writing down some notes together with some weird markings before tucking it away. As she started explaining her objectives and issuing some of Ehri's doubts, she realized how much of a 'scholar' she was. What she had said previously to her appeared to be true, she was really only interested in studying and understanding the forgotten arts from her clan and her explanation couldn't make things even clearer. As Isbeil approached Ehri, ready to cast the spell, Ehri looked directly inside her eyes as she did so. Even though Ehri trusted Isbeil to some extent after her explanations, she was still wary of magic in general. She knew how powerful magic could be. Raising her hands, Isbeil chanted a mantra as she activated the spell, making a small light appear on her fingertips. Approaching Ehri, she touched her forehead and the middle of her chest for a few seconds. The light from her fingers left a marking on said spots, before disappearing, it appeared on the same locations on both Misha and Isa. [color=ed1c24]"I'm sorry for being so wary of you, Isbeil, but I hope you understand my reasons."[/color] Ehri said, looking directly to her eyes. Albeit her stare was of respect and acknowledgement, it also carried a certain weight to Isbeil, Ehri decided to trust her and she wouldn't tolerate betrayal. [color=ed1c24]"Just be careful when 'reading' the data that your spell sends you. Humans' instincts are dormant, not even a shadow of what they used to be and the animals' instincts are far more intense and powerful than our own. Even though you don't have the ancient blood I do, you will experience those when reading your spell. If you want some help, I can teach you how to better deal with all this."[/color] Ehri said, with a smile towards Isbeil. After the procedure was over Alm started explaining more about his own clan, but just as he said, there was a major difference between their clan. While Ehri's clan saw the animals as companions, as separate individuals, Alm's clan fused their souls with themselves. It was undeniable that their clans were very different. As he did a small demonstration of his power, it became clearer that their abilities were fundamentally different. His scent changed and even the room became a bit colder, making Isa start growling and Misha open his wings in a threatening posture before everything went back to normal. As he continued explaining a bit about his story and his clan, Ehri could sympathize a bit with him after he apologized for prying too much into her clan and explaining his own circumstances. She didn't know what he had done to be exiled from his clan, but in a way, her situation wasn't much different from his. After all, her own clan was spread out through the Grand Empire after what happened to the mountain they lived on... [color=ed1c24]"I see..."[/color] Ehri said after he finished talking. [color=ed1c24]"Being away from one's clan surely is difficult. Believe-me, I know this feeling..."[/color] She said, with distant eyes. [color=ed1c24]"But I'm afraid that one thing you got wrong about being a skinchanger. It's not only mental, but emotional and physical as well. We are different living beings if you take the soul into consideration, but if you don't, then we aren't... It is... difficult to elaborate it since it's as natural as breathing for me and for Misha and Isa as well... Especially when comparing to another type of ability I don't understand fully well myself."[/color] Ehri completed. After bidding them farewell, Alm left before Isbeil, which continued talking a bit with Ehri before she also went to do her things, leaving Ehri with Isa and Misha. [color=gray][center][hr][I][h3]Later that night...[/h3][/I][hr][/center][/color] Just as Ehri laid down on her bed, bells started ringing and alarms sounding through the entire gatehouse city. Immediately going down the stairs, already prepared, she waited for the others as she mentally sent Misha to fly through the city, with Ehri seeing exactly what Misha was seeing. The second she realized what happened, she was genuinely surprised. Orcs? In a coordinated attack with other tribes? That was... highly unlikely seeing how violent and tense the relations orcs had with other tribes of their own. [color=ed1c24][I]"It's ok Misha. Come back."[/I][/color] Ehri said mentally. After returning, Misha would stay on top of the inn, watching the surroundings. When everybody was already reunited, Alm appeared to report the situation. Everything that he said, Ehri already knew, but still, she couldn't shake off the feeling that it was more than just an orc attack... Something was going on. Without any information other than what she could see, it was still just her instincts telling that, but she learned very well to never ignore her own instincts. Immediately after Alm reported the situation, Jing would separate them in groups, sending each one of them to a different district. Her group was Nanami, Yui and Hafrbjǫrn. Their objective was fight back against whatever it was that started the fire Alm said. Jing's warnings weren't ignored by Ehri. She knew that orcs, especially when in a group, could surprise even the most seasoned hunter. They weren't an opponent anyone would want to play with. [color=ed1c24][I]"To survive and hold them as much as we can..."[/I][/color] Ehri thought to herself, repeating what Jing said. Both Misha and Isa too were already aware of that fact due to their bonding. They were to meet on Blackroot Village when they received the signal to fall back. Ehri could feel Isa and Misha's excitement and unquietness on her mind after hearing that they would finally do something other than stay trapped on the stable together with the other animals. [color=ed1c24][I]"Yes, we're going hunting. But be careful."[/I][/color] Ehri mentally said to both animals, immediately feeling how thrilled and excited they were. Her group, a mysterious woman with black hair and blue eyes, Nanami, a woman as tall as Ehri herself with obvious elfish features wielding a musket, Yui and a man whom Ehri could only describe as a half giant. Towering even over Ehri and Yui, he had a tribal feeling to him, making Ehri feel that they could be similar on how they saw the world. Going outside first, they would meet her with Misha standing on Ehri's shoulder and Isa besides her, unquiet, moving and sniffing the air, almost if she was excited with the hunt. [color=ed1c24]"I'm Ehri, this is Isa and that one, Misha."[/color] Ehri said, ready to go whenever they wanted. [color=ed1c24]"A member of the pack."[/color] Ehri said looking to them. She didn't know if they would understand what Ehri meant by that, as it was something the people from her clan used to say when hunting with someone. That five words, for someone of the Old Blood Clan had much more meaning that it probably had for any other. Immediately after Ehri said that, Isa howled, a blood chilling sound echoed through the night, thrilled for the hunt as Misha opened it's wings starting to fly.