"Most of you know we shift forms at the Autumn Festival," Shaman Onami began. "Some of you have even tried it and nearly succeeded."

A black-haired cub elbowed a red-headed cub in the ribs and giggled. Shanku sat at the end of the line of five cubs. This was a stupid idea... She crossed her arms over her chest and pulled her wings up defensively. Rajé sat beside her, listening intently to the old shaman, oblivious to her glowering new friend.

"This is how you should feel right before you shift," Shaman Onami extended his staff towards the cubs. As it emitted a soft, golden glow, so did the cubs. The cubs exclaimed various expressions from excitement to confusion to pleasure.

Shanku, however, expressed a bit of a surprise and dislike. It was a strange, tingling sensation down deep in her stomach. Perhaps what frightened her most was that she liked it. Was she not already in enough trouble without wanting to indulge in magic as well?

"To use it, you must focus," Shaman Onami continued. "Concentrate on that feeling and try to channel it."

The golden glow extended to Shaman Onami. Every feather was outlined and began to fade, as did his tail. His claws shrank and became fingernails. His ears also diminished and lost their fur, leaving human ears in their place.

"With a little faith, you'll reach your goal," he smiled warmly. Then he warned, "But, remember, you'd best learn it on your own. Having somebody do it for you can be painful. I once had a cub who was struggling with the transformation had his older sister try to channel her energy into him without changing herself as well. I nearly lost him before I could set him right again."

The cubs began to try to shift on their own. The red-headed cub laid back his ears and his feathers and tail were fluffed in frustration. Bara developed a red double-ringed aura as he growled in concentration, but he did not shift.

The black-haired cub raised his hands before him. A small, orange ball of light formed between his palms but disappeared with a small pop. Eru stared at his hands in confusion, but was unable to shift as well, or create an aura again.

A young female with a tan aura clasped her hands together and concentrated. Kya's features faded in and out of sight, but she was not able to accomplish more than that.

Rajé was enveloped in a golden aura. Her eyes were shut and she looked positively delighted. Although it seemed she was more interested in basking in her new-found power rather than using it.

Shanku did not even try. She lay on the ground with her wings huddled around her and her hands on top of her head. Wine. Wine, now... What have I gotten myself in to?

Shaman Onami continued to work with the cubs until the sun began to set. He was able to get the four Heyen cubs up to Kya's level.

"That was a good try for today. Most of you were able to get a feel for what you should do and some where very close. We'll try again tomorrow. Goodnight, cubs. Return to your families," Shaman Onami nodded his head to the cubs and left to retire to his tipi.

Shanku's wings and ears drooped as she breathed a tired sigh. What a day.

"I think I can get it tomorrow. Goodnight, Shanku!" Rajé chirped.

Shanku gave an uneasy smile as her new friend skipped away.

"So, you're Shanku?" The black-haired cub from class stood over her.

"Who're you?" Shanku asked bluntly.

"I'm Eru, Anoki and Zihna's little brother," Eru said cheerfully. "You're staying with Dai and Zihna, right?"

"Yep," Shanku raised an eyebrow and placed her hands on her hips. "They haven't mentioned you.

"Give 'em time, I drive them nuts," Eru laughed. "You going with them to Wynfall?"

Shanku crossed her arms over her chest again. "I guess."

"Great! We both need to master shifting, so let's team up!" Eru said enthusiastically.

"Why's this so important?"

"Humans don't like us that much. Sometimes they hunt us..." Eru trailed off.

Story of my life, Shanku thought glumly. No point in fighting it, I guess. She shrugged. "Eh, why not?"

"Our disguises will be perfect before you know it!" Eru said encouragingly. He took her by the hand and began to lead her deeper into the nomadic clan's village.

⁂

"Looks like the cubs found each other," Dai remarked to Anoki as Eru and Shanku ran by them.

"Brilliant observation skills," Anoki said sarcastically. "It'll do him good to have another orphan to play with."

"I think she's just a runaway cub," Dai said slowly.

"Either way," Anoki shrugged. "Neither have their parents here to keep an eye on them."

"Why don't you and the boys come with us to Wynfall this year?" Dai offered.

"So Eru and Kadin can die like their mothers?" Anoki growled, very tense and his wings flared high around him. "I don't really like Zihna going there either, even if she can pass off as one of them."

"Nevermind," Dai said quickly. While Anoki begrudgingly accepted Dai as Zihna's mate, it would be much longer still, if ever, that he would accept other men.

⁂

"Let's see... Concentrate... Focus..." Eru mumbled, squeezing his eyes shut in concentration.

"Are you sure this'll work?" Shanku asked skeptically as she sat cross-legged from him, their hands clasped together.

"Yeah. Zihna did it with Anoki. Now shut up and do your part," Eru rattled off quickly.

"Here goes nothing," Shanku rolled her eyes.

They sat across from each other, holding each other's hands up before them. A soft glow began at their fingers and slowly spread across their bodies. Eru's orange glow quickly encompassed him and covered him down to his smallest feather. Shanku's deep blue aura took a bit longer, but in time also completely covered her.

The sun had long set and their auras glinted off the grass in shades of orange and blue. Eru strengthened his focus as their energies combined and worked together, and Shanku began to try as well. Slowly, their wings, tails, and ears began to change. Their tails and wings melted into their bodies, and their ears and claws slowly reshaped into human features.

Eru let go of Shanku's hands and sat up straight. Shanku propped herself back on one hand and looked intently at the other.

"This feels really weird..." Shanku muttered, noting a sharp decrease in her senses.

"I kinda like it on you," Eru grinned.

"Scratch that, you're really weird!" Shanku shuddered. She stood slowly, trying to learn her new balance.

Eru got up with ease and considerably less stumbling. He offered his arm to her. Embarrassed, Shanku looped her arm with his to steady her stride and they began their way back home.

⁂

"I wonder where the cubs are?" Dai wondered aloud.

"Supper grows cold," Zihna said flatly as she fed another spoonful to her young son. The little cast iron pot was suspended above a campfire and was in no danger of losing heat, but it made her feel better to say it was. Anoki's son Kadin quickly downed what was left in his bowl.

"They're too young for real mischief," Anoki laughed. "I'm not worried."

"Anoki, Anoki!" Eru called out to his brother as he and Shanku came to their campfire. "Look! We can go with Zihna this year!"

Anoki was quite started to find a boyish Eru come up to him, with Shanku just as girlish right behind him.

"Craaaaaaap..." Anoki dropped his head into his hands and rubbed his temples.

"Woohoo!" Kadin whooped. "Goin' ta town!"

"You two managed it on your first day?" Zihna asked suspiciously.

"Teamwork accomplishes much!" Eru nodded proudly with his arms akimbo. Shanku just grinned mischievously from behind him.

"Cheaters," Anoki grumbled.

"You're one to speak, brother," Zihna smiled coyly, making Anoki uncomfortable.

"Well, Kadin can't shift yet, so we'll be going to the forest," Anoki said quickly.

Kadin hrmphed and crossed his arms over his chest grumpily.

"Too bad," Eru said, clearly disappointed. He sat down near the fire beside his nephew.

"Soup?" Shanku asked cheerfully and plopped down beside Eru. Not much could dampen her appetite!

"Have supper and go to bed, cubs," Zihna said. "Anoki and I need to talk."

Anoki curled his tail around his hips worriedly as his sister gave him a stern look. Eru picked up on his tension and was reluctant to move. Dai was silent and spooned out some stew for the cubs. Shanku, oblivious, gladly tucked into a bowl of stew.

After Dai had taken the cubs away and put them to bed, Zihna beckoned for Anoki to walk with her. They walked in silence for a ways and stopped on a grassy knoll overlooking the settlement and the urych sleepily grazing nearby.

"Why?" was all Anoki asked.

"To learn their scent," Zihna said coldly. "I have not forgotten that day any more than you have. I want him to learn their scent and learn their patterns, so he can avoid them more easily in the future during the migration."

"Is Dai's scent not enough? Smelled one, smelled them all."

Zihna shook her head. "Not quite. The metal of their armour, the oil of their equipment, it's much different than a herder. A herder smells earthy, almost as us. Soldiers... are different."

"You mean you intend to bring him close to them?" Anoki asked warily.

"No. Just close enough for him to see them. To recognize them and learn their movements. Just in case..."

Anoki sighed heavily and stared out over the gently rolling hills. At length, he spoke again. "Very well."

Zihna nodded. They sat together a few moments longer and watched the grazing beasts before returning to the village.