Part 1
AN EVENING AT MYCROFT'S

I awoke from my dream after saying farewell to all my friends inside. As my
mind slowly drifted back towards consciousness I became aware of the
surroundings once more. The sky was darkening towards sunset and it was
quite a bit later than I had thought. My mind finally re-asserted its
control over my appendages and other involuntary functions. I opened my
eyes seeing for the first time the brilliant sunset I knew was before me.

It was magnificent, the normally yellow sun was a red mammoth blaze before
me, silhouetting the whole landscape. Not wanting to get up yet from the
relaxing cross-legged position I had fallen asleep in, I slowly panned my
head around taking in the entire view. Furcadia's two moons could be seen
off to the west. One, called Luna, was a dense tropical jungle inhabited only
by unmorphed animals and beasts. Although much closer, it was not
shining as brightly as its sister Lumin, which like most moons was just a
cold lifeless rock floating in space.

I rose slowly, the sleep gradually working its way out of my muscles. As I
rose, the countless silhouettes around me revealed themselves into what they
actually were, the sleeping forms of other furry characters. All
sleeping, dreaming, as we had  done ever since Felorin had found this
place: Allegria, the island of dreams. This was the one place on Furcadia
or anywhere for that matter that possessed the magical ability to allow us
to visit each others dreams and even travel between them and control their
often chaotic plotlines.

Of the others who were sleeping, the felines (like myself) were mostly in
a somewhat meditative position. Most of the canines lay on their backs or
sides, sometimes with all four paws in the air. The equines, grouped
together off to one side, were almost all laying on their stomachs with
their hooves tucked slightly under them. Last, the rodents and mustelines
were scattered about in various positions, and all around there was a
contented air of sleepiness.

That same sleepiness was getting to me now. One of the island's effects was
to make a person sleepy if one did not move around much or think too hard.
Fearing I would fall asleep again if I didn't get up soon, I stood. Hoping
to get back to the village on the next flight I walked towards the Scarhawk
stables. Scarhawks, normally vicious predators that would just as soon eat
a furre as look at one, were also under the magic of the island. These
untiring beasts of flight would ferry sleepers to and from the island. As I
approached I saw I was in luck, one of the great grey birds was standing at
attention obviously waiting for a passenger.

I spoke softly as I approached; I had never gotten over my natural fear of
these awesome birds of prey. As I came up to it, the Scarhawk turned it's
head and stared at me with one of its deep unblinking eyes. Almost
immediately it crouched, allowing me access to its back. I had no sooner
seated myself and taken hold, than those great grey wings spread out and
with the first flap broke the silence of the island and my contact with the
ground.

Immediately when we took off the last whispers of sleep were blown from my
mind, as my mount carried me fast and smooth over the wide channel of water
that separates Allegria Island from the mainland. I was just getting used
to the thrill of speed again when the Scarhawk slowed and started its
descent. It alighted on the edge of town not too far from two others of its
kind. The beast cried out once to its companions then crouched to let me
off. As I walked away I watched as it took off again heading out to the
island for another passenger.

The last rays of sunlight disappeared over the distant horizon beyond
Allegria as I neared the soccer field. Strolling along the lane, I met two
new inhabitants of the village whispering about some sort of rule or
something, they smiled at me as I passed and not wanting to be rude I
smiled back. As I wandered further along the path various furre couples
walked along talking softly. I saw one odd mouse-cat couple walking by and
thought to myself how strange love could be sometimes. A tear came to my
eye. Yes, love can be very strange, and very cruel.

I came to a crossroads and knowing my destination, I picked the left fork.
As I approached the intended building I could hear the sounds of merriment
coming in through the open windows. As I entered the half-dark lobby, three
very drunk furres approached out of a door on my left and at the far end of
the room. A very burly cat bouncer was gently escorting the canine musical
trio out. As I approached I could just barely see the sign illuminated
above the door.

"Mycroft's Bar and Grill" the sign proudly proclaimed. Underneath was a
smaller note: "Cookie: new proprietor". Yes that's right, Cookie had just
recently taken over the business from Mycroft, and at least to my stomach's
standards was doing an excellent job. Speaking of my stomach there it goes
voicing its opinion again. Remembering that I hadn't eaten in several
hours I pulled on the latch and swung the door open.

Immediately inside, my senses were assaulted by the heavy odour of cooking
food and alcoholic beverages. Through the thin smoke from the warm
cooking fire I could see a large number of furres scattered about the room.
On the far side there was Katti and Alaria engaged in friendly
conversation.  Felorin was in his usual place just across the bar from the
fire. Mech was at the bar as well, as usual he was deeply engrossed in a
map he was drawing.  At the table along the right side of the room, Toban
of West and Gau were engaged in heated conversation. Fiona and Elemental
were at the centre of the bar talking to Cookie about some new menu item or
something. The population of the establishment was mostly feline, as usual.
In fact, except for Toban who was Canine and Gau who was a rodent the rest
of the room's occupants were all cats of one breed or another.  As I looked
up I noticed just to the right of the door the large bobcat bouncer. His
name was Robert but as might be guessed, was called Bobby by almost
everyone.

Bobby smiled. "Evening Lygeia, how's y'self?" A regular customer to
Mycroft's, I was always greeted by the muscular 6' 9" bobcat who, at my
more average 5' 6", towered over me and the rest of the customers.

"I'm fine Bobby, how's your mother?" I replied returning his smile.

"Just fine luv', 'ave a pleasant meal." I moved away from Bobby and into
the full view of the room's occupants.

"Lygeia! Good to see you!" Destiny jumped up from her table just to my left
where she had obviously just been sharing a delicious meal with her husband
Perivlon. She ran over to me and embraced me in one of her all plentiful
hugs.

"Hiya Destiny." I countered with a hug of my own. "Just stopped in for a
bite after a dream."

Destiny released me. "Well, I guess I'll let you go then, come talk with me later ok?"

"Sure Destiny ."  I said as she retreated back to her waiting husband. I
walked towards the bar smiling.  On my way past I gave Toban a wink, but
being wrapped up in the conversation as he was, it took a very exaggerated
wave to get him to look my way. Even then he went right back to his
argument with little more than a quick hello. Ah well, he'd want to talk
later I was almost sure of that. So after another attempt at getting his
attention I resigned him to his verbal battle with Gau and continued on to
the bar.  I walked up to the row of stools and selected one on the other
side of Fiona, with her in between me and Elemental. Cookie glanced over at
me and waved hello. Her sudden movement caused Fiona and Elemental to look
over at me, apparently for the first time.

"Hi Lygeia!" Fiona beamed. "What's new out on Allegria?"

"Hi Fiona, Hi Elemental!" I exchanged pleasantries with them while Cookie
looked on expectantly.

"What'll it be tonight, Lygeia?" Cookie said at last. "The usual?"

"Not tonight Cookie." Cookie raised an eyebrow. "I'm famished, so forget
the light stuff. Let's have a large order of partrige dumplings with a side of quail
eggs." Cookie looked taken aback, I knew why. Ever since I had
come to  Furcadia all those months ago every time I had come in here it was
always the same thing: Mockingbird pie with a tall glass of milk, or if I
was really hungry, it was one of the large sea trout, grilled to
perfection.

"Are you feeling alright Lygeia?" Cookie looked on with mock concern. "This
is a daring move on your part." I simply laughed and told her to start
cooking. Soon the pungent aroma of partrige permiated the entire room,
Toban, with his sensitive nose was having a hard time keeping the argument going
as the odd scent played havock with his nostrils. From somewhere off
to my left I heard a shuffle and then a loud sniffing. Then a voice called
out. "Hey Cookie, I think your grub is burning!"

Another occupant was in the room, apparently still unnoticed by my normally
keen senses. It took me a moment to locate the source of the voice, but I
finally traced it to it's owner, who was sitting in his usual spot down at
the end of the bar. It was Gar, nose buried in the depths of some old tome
he was reading. He hadn't even noticed my entrance to the room. Now he sat
up and carefully closing the worn book in his paws, replaced it and his
reading glasses to their normal place in a pouch at his side.

Cookie threw back her head in laughter. "Gar! You act as though you've
never smelled partrige cooking before."

Gar covered his nose. "Now I knowd why id wuds alwaids gooked outsibe." His
words were blurred by the paw on his face. As Cookie continued laughing he
removed it and glanced around the bar, his eyes fell on me sitting down the
bar from him.

"Oh, Hi Lygeia didn't see you come in."  Gar was more observant than almost
anyone else I knew. He was almost always the first to greet someone who had
just entered the room. That is unless he was reading. If he was reading,
the whole world could end around him and he wouldn't bat an eyelid.

"Sorry, I didn't see you enter. Can I buy you a drink?"  Gar was slightly
over-apologetic and would do almost anything to keep friendships running
smoothly. Even if no permanent damage was done anyway.

"Sure Gar. Cookie, I'll have a milk." I was one of the last people to give
up an offer for a free drink.

"What'll it be, cup or saucer?" I gave Cookie an odd look. "Go ahead and
laugh!" Cookie countered. "But you'd be surprised how many cats want their
milk in a bowl."

"Cup, please." I said, trying to hold back a snicker. Cookie complied
pouring a glass and setting it on the counter.  Gar placed a couple of
coins on the bar and turned towards me apparently done reading for now.

"Well now you have my attention, what's with the change of menu?" Gar asked.

"I just came back from a dream and in it I had been attending the most
wonderful banquet with a few of my friends." I responded. "I ate so much in
the dream it must have been driving my stomach crazy!"

"You have to be careful.  I remember one time I got myself worked into such
a sweat, one of the island's caretakers had to wake me up because I was
dehydrating so rapidly,"  Elemental spoke up.

"Yea, just because you're not hungry or thirsty in your dream that doesn't
mean your body on the outside is still ok," Fiona added.

Just about then Cookie came up with my meal, and conversation hit a lull
as I ate.  Gar turned around on his stool and looked out into the bar.
Fiona and Elemental went back to quiet conversation between themselves.
 Behind me I could still hear Toban and Gau in heated debate, but the
conversation had obviously progressed to a new subject.  I glanced over to
where Katti and Alaria had been sitting, and found that they had joined
Felorin at the end of the bar by the fire.  The three of them were
discussing some addition to the town, a fighter's arena or something.

Gar finally spoke up, and without turning to me brought up a question which
I had wanted an answer to for some time.

"So Lygeia, I've been promising to tell you my story for days.  How would
you like to hear it now?"

I chewed slowly hoping to hide my anxiousness.  Real 'stories', that is,
the story of how someone came to Furcadia were worth almost as much as
money around here.  Especially good ones.  A person's 'story' was sometimes
rather personal, and was not usually shared without much coaxing.  So far I
had heard Perivlon's story, about the death of his brother and the
establishment of a guild in his brother's name. Then there was Toban, a
warrior from the western highlands.  He had been hunting with his companion
when fate decided to separate them, Toban ended up in Furcadia but his
companion is feared to be lost. Then there was my own story told no more
than a few days ago. Mine was a story of love gone bad, of a lover whom I
thought would want only the best for me.  But instead, took me away from my
family and home. It was only by the intervention of a Siren, a normally dreaded
creature, that I had been able to escape.  But her help was a double-edged
sword and the sins of those pirates she had slain to save me were now
riding on my shoulders.  It still amazes me sometimes how I can cope...

"Hello? Lygeia?"  Gar's insistent voice brought me back to the present.

"Huh?  Oh yeah, Gar, your story sure I'd love to hear it."  At the word
'story' spoken in a higher than conversation-level voice, a dozen heads in
the room turned.   Even Toban and Gau stopped bickering and looked over.
Gar, sensing he had the floor, a position he was not used to having, took a
moment to compose himself.

"Alright."  He finally said.  "I guess that you all will probably hear it
from Lygeia anyway."  A cheer rose from those gathered, and Cookie was made
busy getting beverages for all the listeners, so that they might have
something to drink during the narration.  As was custom, Cookie placed a
large jug of water on the bar along with a glass.  Story-tellers tended to
get rather parched as their speech went on.  Several people pulled up
chairs and sat in a semicircle around Gar.  Because of the lack of seating,
Destiny was forced to sit on her husband's lap, a position she was not to
unhappy to take.

Gar began:  "Well I guess it started sometime ago right around the time of
my birth..."  Gar snickers and starts his tale.