Chloria loved that aroma. It was Forestwind's tulip pedal tea. He made it just like their mother did. Chloria provided the tulips, Forestwind made them into tea. One of many reasons why she still stayed with him.
"Thanks," she said as he handed her a cup full. She sipped the tea as her brother sat beside her. They had awoken before dawn and before Mar and Gorian. She looked down at both, sleeping in the open tent under some warm hides.
"I'm surprised you didn't wake them yet," she commented.
"I prefer them asleep," Forestwind answered, "They're less annoying that way."
"Pfft," she scoffed at him, "You're the annoying one on this trip. They're great company."
"Especially the brown one?"
"Mar?" Chloria said smirking, "I like him."
"All the more reason for me to hate him."
Chloria allowed herself to feel the tea run down her throat. She needed that smooth feeling. She hated it when Forestwind tried to take charge of her life. She'd sooner abandon him than let that become a reality.
"Do you have to hate every boy I meet?" she asked.
"I don't hate every boy," her brother answered, "Oylemanti is a good furre."
"Oylemanti? He scares me."
"Why?"
Chloria thought back through their vamp hunting days. Oylemanti was one of the best. He was always able to go in and raid a vamp village without ever getting caught. But his reasons for doing it were not revenge or for money. He was doing it for her. That was his only driving force since they met him as children. He would do anything for her. Much like Forestwind. What kind of power did she have over men?
Power of seasons. That was what made her so special. It was also what made other furres fear her. If they did not fear her, they usually wanted to control her. Maybe even get close to her. That's why she did not mention it to Mar and Gorian. She scolded herself for that fire trick yesterday. She wanted to be seen as just another furre.
"Oylemanti is overprotective of me," she answered, "Much like you."
"Someone has to protect you," Forestwind answered, "Its not like our father would."
"Our father didn't even try to understand us."
"I know."
Chloria's tea was cooling, so she decided to finish it off. The last thing she wanted was to waste her tulips. She looked back at the sleeping furres and wondered. What if she quit vamp hunting and joined them? She decided against that. She needed the money and ridding the world of evil was a good thing to do. Besides, Mar probably would not let her quit before he got to the vamps.
"Speaking of Oylemanti, where is he?" she asked, "He was supposed to be here yesterday."
"Probably got caught up in Slen with something," her brother mused, "Which reminds me, we should make up a list for supplies before we get there. We don't want to forget anything. Do you still need arrows?"
"Mar needs them, yes."
"What about food?"
"We should make do by the time we get to the vamp village," Chloria surmised, "But what about warm clothing? We are going though the mountains."
She looked to her brother, but he was not looking at her. His eyes were targeting something beyond her. She looked in his direction to see another furre approaching them. She made out the orange fur and light violet hair. The furre was smiling.
"Hello," he said, "I'm Cyiet, a wandering troubadour without an instrument."
"Great," Forestwind muttered.
Chloria smiled at the stranger, "Hi! I'm Chloria and this is my brother, Forestwind."
"Please to meet you," the poet said, "I have two friends behind me. We're on our way to Slen."
"So are we," she told him. Chloria felt his brother cursing her for what she was about to say, "Did you want to join us and travel there?"
"As long as we're not intruding," Cyiet answered, broadening his smile.
"You are-" Forest tried to say before getting his sister's elbow in the ribs.
"Not at all," Chloria said, "The four of us would be happy for the company. Wouldn't we, brother?"
"Yes," he sulked.
She loved it when she controlled him. Whether or not it was because of her power of seasons, she had the ability to make men do as she pleased. It was a beautiful gift and one she never regretted to have. She looked down at the movement inside the tent. It appeared that Mar and Gorian were awake. She glanced back at her brother and beyond. It was just in time for dawn.
"Wake up you two," Chloria said cheerfully, "We have visitors."
She heard someone groan from the inside. They must have had a horrible sleep on the ground. Hopefully that would not dampen their attitudes. She beckoned Cyiet to sit beside her as she waited for the two to get out of the tent. Gorian was the first to leave.
"Good morning," Cyiet greeted, "I remember you. You're Moonlit Star's friend."
"Mar," Gorian moaned to his friend.
"What?" his friend moaned back.
"The poet is here."
"Does he make breakfast?"
"Breakfast is already made, you two," Chloria announced, "Get out here Mar and get some."
The furre of seasons handed Gorian a bowl of raspberry stew. The blue furre looked at it as if he could not comprehend what it was. He peered into it and squinted as if he could not see what it was.
"Its good for you, Gorian," Chloria assured him.
"Uh huh," he said. He lifted the bowl at his lips and ate some. He levelled the bowl again as he chewed. Chloria wondered what he thought about her brother's stew. The lack of expression made her think that it was dull, but she decided it might be because he was still waking up.
Mar stumbled out of the tent. His green hair was in complete disarray. He looked around and stopped. He was looking at something. Chloria followed his gaze. There were two additional furres standing there. The black one, a woman, was sniffing the air.
"Who are they?" Mar asked.
"Allow me to introduce Moraine and Gelae," Cyiet replied, "They're explorers of the Raina Mountains."
"I've heard of you," Chloria told them, "We use your maps when we travel in there."
The woman that was sniffing the air pointed to the bluish white furre to her right, "Gelae wrote most of them."
What was she sniffing?, Chloria wondered. Her tulips perhaps? The furre of seasons studied the woman carefully. Guessing from the straight posture, Chloria assumed that Moraine was a very proud furre. Perhaps she descended from a long line of explorers.
In a matter of speaking, Chloria thought, Forestwind, Oylemanti, and herself were explorers too. Although they had slain vamps for the good of travellers everywhere, they discovered land that was never explored before. Chloria thought back to her favourite waterfall, aligned with colourful flowers of all seasons. She felt completely at ease whenever she was there. Chloria hoped she would make a home there someday.
"If you two would like a seat," Chloria invited the two explorers, "As soon as we pack up, we can go."
Chloria decided to herself that when her current mission was over, she would go back to that waterfall. Perhaps she would plant new tulips there. She smiled to herself. She could easily put Forestwind and Oylemanti to work. If they were going to be overprotective of her, they may as well help her build a house.