The Denn...

You're curious about what exactly the creatures are, and ask Eclipsar. "Oh, I forgot again... we are the Kartyn'dyrysose, Earth Dancers in a tongue called Sharian... I guess somewhere back in history one of our ancestors liked the sound of it, so..." he shrugs and continues "Usually our name is shortened to 'dyryso, with an additional 'se' at the end for plurals, or K'ds." He nods and continues on as your guide.      A moment later, you find yourself in a slightly larger clearing with more of the small, cat-sized creatures, even some that looked like cats, short ears and all! You smile at the younger ones who play in the center and the adults lounging around the perimeter watching them lazily.      Your guide howls once, and cuts it short with two quick yips. The adults in the meadow look up and start to gather around you, while the youth in the middle glance at the sound and go back to their games.      One of the K'ds with short ears strides up to you ahead of the others and bobs in the same fashion that Eclipsar had, smiling slightly.

"I am Gentlefire, Head Doe and Seer of Second EarthFire." She flicks her ear and the rest of the gathered adults begin to introduce themselves.      A flaming orange one with short, floppy ears and flashing blue eyes is the first to pipe up "Flamedancer, Second doe!" and she does a little bound-step that only proves her name.

The second, a gray long-eared male with ice blue eyes speaks next "Smokecaller, Second buck." He nods.

Another female, this time brown with white hilights and intense green eyes, howls quickly before she speaks "Farsinger, Third doe. Sentinel of Second EarthFire."

Two bob their heads in unison and the first, An orange and white, faintly darker streaked male with amber eyes, speaks first "Snowflame, Fourth buck." Followed closely by his mate, a brown, tabby striped female with equally brown eyes and bandages on her hind legs "Quakemender, Fourth doe and healer of Second EarthFire." She bows slightly.

The last one to speak seems to be absorbed in something else; a tiny creature with bird wings and long tufted tail hovers just above his nose making adorable murring sounds.

The creature squeaks cutely and the final male looks around at the others, then up at you, still seeming preoccupied "Oh, yeah... I'm Silvercuriosity, Third buck..." he trails off and glances back at his companion "And this is Shiner, one of the local Nerry'Clanaarsa." The little Shiner chirrups and flits about your head before returning to its playmate.      Eclipsar nods and looks around, almost concerned, then sighs and shakes his head as he sees two more K'ds on the outer edge of the clearing, standing guard.

He calls out again, a longer, lower howl this time, and the two stand silently and stride towards you. The younglings in the center make a path for them, even the oldest among them stopping its game and stepping aside to look up at them with respect bordering on awe.      Eclipsar watches them come and speaks to you quietly "Darksilence and Silverfury, the two warriors of the Denn. They've been through a lot, those two." He stops there as the two were entering hearing range.      They stop a few feet from you and bow low. You nod back politely and they both sit before you. Silverfury speaks first "We were told that you may wish to learn more about our kind. Is this true?" you nod and she continues, her partner still silent as his name "There is a book..." she noses a couple of small, leatherbound books on the treestump next to you. That's funny, you hadn't noticed those before... "Please be careful not to rip any pages," Silverfury glances back over her shoulder at Eclipsar and returns to her mate's side.

The book: Kartyn'Dyrysose: A Learning Experience

When you finish looking through the book, Eclipsar smiles "So, are you intersted in our kind enough to care for a young one? If you wish, you may visit the Nursery to see if there are any kittens ready to be fostered out... Or you can see the preveously adopted K'd. Some are from First EarthFire, and a few are from Second." He nudges the second book towards you.

Fostered Kartyn'dyrysose