Downtown Druid Book 2 Chapter 5: Why would I want to be anything other than

Dantes looked at Lorna and the strange green creature shed called Beast as they moved to sit next to him. Her eyes were dark, almost black, and he found his own drawn to them. Like looking down a dark passage in the pit, and sensing sothing there that he couldnt quite make out.

You said you think the Mother chose you for two reasons. You explained the first one to Murk, what was the second?

You have good hearing.

Yes.

Dantes glanced at Jacopo who was still boldly drinking water as Beast sat less than a foot away from him.

The second reason I think she chose is hedging.

Hedging?

Its clear that druids are dwindling because of their conflict with cities and it sounds like a few other issues. By making a druid in a city, shes hedging her bets. Making sure that at least one mber of the brotherhood will survive by being on the side of the largest city.

She scoffed. A weaklings mindset. The Mother doesnt hedge bets she is one of the greater gods. If we die it is because we are weak and she has no use for us.

Ah, Im guessing you dont think I should be initiated then?

She shook her head. Oh no. I do. The first point you made to Murk has convinced . Bombs, magic, tactics. The Floating City of Chitlan does not encroach on my swamp in the way a city that rests on solid ground might on the nature which surrounds it, but they already take more than their fill. It will worsen with ti and I must be ready.

Dante nodded, taking note of her conviction. He wondered what shed be willing to trade with him. He wasnt sure what a swamp would have to offer him, but hed keep an open mind.

He glanced again at Beast. Can I ask what manner of creature he is? So kind of swamp dragon?

Youve never seen a gator before?

He cocked his head. Never even heard of them.

She knelt down and gave Beast a rough scratch on the scales of his neck. He opened his mouth and closed his eyes in a clear display of contentnt.

That is sad for you. They are the greatest of the Mothers creatures.

He looked at the row of razor sharp teeth on display and nodded. Yes, I feel very deprived about it.

With their conversation done he approached the twins next. He found that while Fern was on his side, Ivy wasnt and she needed so convincing. Luckily, unlike Lorna she was convinced by the idea of him being the Mothers insurance in case the brotherhood ca close to falling. They were also both tentatively interested in gunpowder. The suggestion of what havoc they could cause with their birds carrying bundles of bombs seed to clinch the deal for them.

He spoke to Fizz last, who returned to the glade with two dead deer being pulled by an ox, which shifted into sothing too small for Dantes to make out then disappearing in the grass.

Dont bother. Ive been listening in this whole ti. Well, we all have been. Hard to keep secrets in a grove full of druids.

Dantes knew that, but hed already felt that not visiting them individually could be seen as disrespectful or he may co up with so new argunt in his favor on the fly.

Well, where do you stand so far?

I was with you from the start, as was Thing.

A small field mouse popped out of Fizzs blue hair, morphing into a small bird to do a short lap around Dantes head.

How does he do that? asked Dantes as he watched Thing change.

The sa way you or I do. We can change, why cant the animals we share souls with?

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I havent seen any of the others do it.

Fizz shrugged. We all learn things at a different pace. Or sotis one of us can just do things another cant. Druid abilities are instinctual, and we tend to learn what powers were best suited for first, as do our companions. He held out a finger for Thing to land on, which it did as a bird, before becoming a lizard and scurrying up his arm.

Why would I want to be anything other than a rat? asked Jacopo simply.

Dantes shrugged. Makes it easier to eat or kill sothing bigger? Or easier to get small enough to slip sowhere you couldnt fit before? Or fly? Id bet flying is very fun.

Jacopo nibbled on the edge of Dantes collar in consideration. Hmmm. Id still prefer to be a rat.

Thing let out a kind of choking sound that Dantes sohow recognized as a laugh. A strong identity. What a waste of ti that is.

Dantes found himself rembering Syn and the other Changelings. He still needed to find the Magister that had sentenced her to the Pit. Now that he was building favor back up and no longer needed to search for Gaspard, maybe he could turn his attention in that direction. He needed to start monitoring Danglars anyway.

Well, I appreciate having you on my side.

Let give you another piece of advice.

Dantes raised an eyebrow.

Dont worry about Murk. Focus your attention on everyone else. Convince them and hell go along with it. Hes a pack animal at heart.

Dantes nodded. He didnt have much of a choice at this point anyway.

The next hour was spent gutting and cleaning the deer that Fizz had brought before putting most of it over the fire to cook, leaving a good chunk of it raw for everyones beastly companions. The Twins spent so ti foraging and returned with a number of roots, berries, and nuts that supplented the al. Overall it was a bit bland to Dantes, compared to what hed been eating at the Vixen, but still well above what hed been eating in the Pit just a little over a month before.

As they dozed after eating, there was a commotion in the brush at the edge of the glade. Dantes turned his attention in that direction to see two shapes approaching. The taller of the two, Dantes realized, was in fact a dwarf riding a large Boar. He had a wild gray beard and wore a tattered cloak over a well worn traveling outfit. His eyes were a pale green that caught the light of the setting sun and his Boars eyes matched. The boars hair was also the sa color as the Dwarfs beard which was so long that for a mont he couldnt tell where the dwarf ended and the boar began.

The second figure was a slight kobold with bright yellow coloring spotted with black. She had a black raccoon on her shoulder, and both her and the raccoon were wearing backpacks that made light clinking sounds as they moved. As she got closer, Dantes could sense a sickeningly sweet sll emanating from her that was sohow not canceled out by the cacophony of slls the rest of the druids gave off.

Coal! Mor-gan-may! Welco. I was beginning to grow concerned, said Traizen as he approached them.

Coal got off his boar and lifted Traizen by the legs in a powerful bear hug.

Mor simply gave everyone a curt nod, before zeroing in on Dantes.

You. You are the new one.

Dantes nodded. Yes. Im Dantes, nice to et you.

She looked him over, approached, and slled the air around him by flicking her tongue in his direction. Hmmmm, theres an interesting mix of environnts within your locus. Im also picking up a deep low light environnt near strange energies.

Dantes raised an eyebrow. He hadnt been in the Pit for quite so ti, and hed bathed frequently since hed gained the ability to do so regularly. Quite frequently with the help of additional hands that cost him a few silver. You have impressive senses.

Do you know of any native poisons in your locus? Or any curatives?

Dantes thought about it. Co to think of it, it seed very foolish of him to overlook the potential of poisons and dicines with his new abilities. It also didnt surprise him that a Kobold druid wouldve put the incredible focus of her species into investigating that.

I know that greenleaf helps with wounds, and I think arrowroot can ss up a stomach, but aside from that I dont know much. Dont mind a bit of weed for a headache, though so prefer dust.

Her face turned disappointed as he spoke. Greenleaf could refer to many many things, as could arrowroot.

Hmm, assuming Im initiated Ill talk to an herbalist and bring samples the next ti all of the druids are called here and give them to you.

Her expression brightened a bit.

Maybe you could teach a few things about poisons in exchange.

Her expression brightened even more. Yes, that would be excellent. The raccoon on her shoulder nodded in agreent.

Coal approached shortly after, with his hog snorting and snarling behind him. And youd be the filthy city dweller trying to join us?

If youll have .

You good in a fight?

Only when I fight dirty.

You good to your friends?

As long as they stay friendly.

Do you love plants, animals, and life of all kind.

Dantes paused. He hadnt really thought about it before. As a kid hed thrown small bits of bread into the water at the docks to see the small fish slurp at it from down below. As a young man hed fed and cared for the mascot for the Purring Princess, a long haired white cat that hed nearly beaten a man to death over stepping on. Even when he was in the pit he still took the ti to water the plants he found and shared so food with Jacopo.

I do, he responded after standing silently for a few monts. Speaking with a sincerity that was rare to him.

Coal spat in his hand and held it out. Then it would be an honor to call you brother.

Dantes spat in his own hand and gave Coals hand a firm grasp.

Coal released his grip, leaving Dantes with a hand that had gone from gray to black where he had touched, and then looked across the glade, his stomach audibly rumbling.

By the Mother, tell soone already hunted.