""I see, Mayumi said something about a connection to nature back when she still trusted humans and was a normal around the town. Ever since Archen  chased her away, the town itself hasn's felt as "alive". The town itself has been feeling less so each day since she left.  While we would be glad to have her around again, she is more needed here in the forest," Miru said, "I wouldn't want to harm Mayumi either. When she ran, I got a glimpse into her mind. She fears and distrusts us humans because of Archen. Even with him gone, I doubt she will ever trust another human."

"Fear is something that connects everyone and everything. It's something we share. Mom has taught me that fear is something that we should all feel, that it is a sign of healthy mind, but too much is a sign of instability," Nathan said, "Whatever it is she's afraid of, she has her reasons." "Thank you for at leat listening," he said before starting to back away form Moonlight.

"With some persuasion, she might return.  Everyone can change unexpectedly, so we won't know for sure.  "Maybe I can ask Willow or Moonlight to talk to her if you'd like.  Maybe you or the other beastkeepers could visit her as well." Konoki offered.

"You are very welcome, dear child." Moonlight said with a bow of her head.  "Now, you wish to continue with out conversation, Shadowbinder?" she asked.

"That would be nice, but I wouldn't want to force her to face something she doesn't want to. She has every reason not to trust humans ever again. After everything she lost, I wouldn't blame her for refusing to  talk with us," Miru said, pulling her hood back on, "We lost her trust when Archen attacked, her trust will not be so easily won back."

"Yes, where were we? Oh, yes, after Kyne is awakened. The Shade is still waiting for her return to finish the battle they started so long ago," Shadowbinder said, re-emerging from the shadow, "The champions will need to be at their best condition for Kyne to even stand a chance. Whatever happens though, the Shade must not win or he will regaim his free passage through time."

"But Archen is now dead and her daughter's soul now is at rest.  There is a possibility that she might be willing to chat." Konoki said with a nod.  "But I see why she wouldn't."

"I will have as many of my strongest spirts aid her in the fight as well as recovering.  If Goldenscale finds out, she will most likely ask to help in the fight as well.  What powers do these Shade have?" Moonlight asked.

"As I said, I'm not going to force her to speak with us. Doing so would only raise even more tention between her and us," Miru said, "Now that she has three new hatchlings, I would think she would be more wary of humans given her past."

"Goldenscale is your champion, and as such, is the champion of the moon. As for the Shade's abilities, we only know of a handfull of them. What we do know is that he is a corrupter flarion dragon, a complete and physical opposite of Mayumi. Where Mayumi draws on nature's energy to better serve nature, the Shade pulls on the same energy to fuel destruction," Shadowbinder said, creating two coppies of Mayumi, one white and one black, "The Shade may be corrupt, but he is also honorable. If challenged to a fair fight, he will hold to it, but that is where Kyne would run into trouble. She will need the help of all thirteen champions to have enough power to beat him."

"I understand." Konoki said.  He wasn't going to keep pushing on about that,since he understood what Miru was saying.  

"And I will do all I can to make sure nothing interferes and that Kyne will have all thirteen champions.  These Shade sound like terrible beings.   Kyne will hopefully prevail though." Moonlight said with a nod.

"It will likely be either this evening or tomorrow when we try to contact Mayumi. The gatheres and hunters are ready to return to town to prepare today's haul. There are so many things wich have been postponed due to a lack of materials only found here in the forest," Miru said, giving a slight bow, "I wish the best of winds to you."

"The Shade is only one being. Those who he catches have their minds twisted till they have no free will. Those poor souls are only as powerful as their original self. The Shade himself corrupts the space arouns him, making himself appear much larger and more menacing that he actually is," Shadowbinder said, letting the coppies of Mayumi evaporate, "If anyone needs a name and face to attach a mental taget to, they need only to ask Mayumi who her great grandfather is."

"And I wish the same to you, Miru." Konoki said with a bow before going over to Goldenscale.  "Alright, dear child, it is time for you to depart and go back with the Keepers." he said, putting his wing on her back.

"I might have to do that in the future.  This information is valuable.  It could possibly help in the Shade's downfall." she said with a nod.  She was sure the information would be of some value figuring out a weakness in the Shade.

""I would suggest not letting Goldenscale know Mayumi's relation to the Shade however. There's no telling how she would react to such information," Shadowbinder said, turning to watch Goldenscale, "Goldenscale doesn't need anything more to distract her."

Stepping away from konoki, Miru turned and walked over to Willow, taking her hood off once more. "Excuse me, Ms. Willow. May I have a request," she asked.

"Then I will leave it to you, one of the other elements, or Kyne hersself to tell her.  I will not tell her unless I am told to do so by the said creatures." Moonlight said.  "And the poor child already deals with so many dark spirits as it is, it would worry her more." 

"Of course.  What would your request be?" Willow asked with a smile.  She had been watching Goldenscale playing, and before, she had been playing with her a bit.

"The Shade wil likely try to use it against her, but if she doesn't know, she may bruch it off as false. Mayumi may tell her upon returning, who knows," Shadowbinder said, shrugging, "As you said though, she has enough to worry about as it is."

"I would like a chance to speak with Mayumi. I don't want to hide anything from her though. If you can, can you tell her that the other beastkeepers and myself wish to talk with her. It would be best if you told her we're humans," Miru said, "We would understand if she doesn't want to come anywhere near us. If she refuses, that will be understood, especially since she now has hatchlings."

"If anything, it would be better to let her worry after Kyne wakes.  Then she wouldn't have as muchc time to worry.  But it is your choices on what she is told." Moonlight said, blinking her eyes only once.  She had not moved from the spot once as their conversation was held.  She had no need to move and she was fine where she sat.

"Would you like me to send the message now?" she asked.  She was given no date or time to ask, so she decided to find out.

"Better to let her decide if it is truth from an enemy than for her to be told by a trusted ally before a battle. The Shade himself is twisted and mutated by the eneregy of dreams. What has been seen of his true form, can only described as decay," Shadowbinder said, "Goldenscale will likely want to put an end to him before he can do more harm to nature in general, or to put his soul to rest likeit should have been long ago, before he came to tis world."

"That would be preferable, but not neccesary," Miru said with a nod, "We would like to speak with her as soon a possible, but we're not in a hurry to speak with her either."

"The second she feels his soul, his fate will be decided.  And by what I am hearing, it seems like she will try to kill him amd send his soul where it belongs." she said with a snort.  "She's good at that so far."

"Then I will send word of this." she said with a smile before walking away.  She began walking towards Mayumi's home.

Goldenscale.had gone to find her.Thordama friend by using his aura to lead her to him.  Though his was similar to those around him, she was able to distingush his.

"That she is, there's no doubt. She will find that to be useful in her travels," Shadowbinder said, nodding, "Hopefully, she wont run into the Shade before Kyne is awakened. The on part of his soul that would allow him to be sent is sealed away with Kyne."

"I see you have your own means of tracking indeviduals," the throdama said once Goldensacle had found him. "It looks like the humans are just about done gathering their supplies. We'll proably be heading back soon," he said, flicking his wings a leaf got stuck between the left pair, "I must say though, the forest seems much more peacful that it has been."