"That's not fair at all," Rhazii voice gained volume. "You told me you were turned by accident, father. It wasn't your fault! How could he-"

Meesei's arrival distracted Rhazii enough to stop. Fendros only hummed acknowledgement before he gave her attention.

Fendros looked at their ready baggage. "Just about. Finished squeezing in the last things just a minute ago." He stood up. "We had better get going. Talking about all of this will only get us so far without knowing more."

[hr]
Janius bit his lower lip tensely. He took another slow breath to speak. "First of all, I cannot imagine them attacking you. Not unless...I don't know, you walked into the middle of them in beast form. That is not worth worrying about. Secondly..." He let out his breath and shook his head helplessly. "I am unsure whether there is a way in which you can leave your parents happy with you. Not without making some great big lie that may not help matters at all and could very likely make things worse. The choice here, as I see it, is to have them resent you or have them sad about you. I know you do not want to make them upset but...they don't have to be angry with you." Janius hesitated, not knowing if he was making any sense at all. "It's your choice to make, Kaleeth."