The sun had already begun to slowly sink lower in the western sky by the time Yrlissa lead Toran and Styx from the clearing and into the virgin forest, knowing full well that it would take several hours to reach her peoples’ encampment south of the Halfaxe trail. She hadn’t expected to be so late in returning, but the assault from the Red Plumes, and the need to watch their ensuing funeral pyre to assure it didn’t spread to the surrounding forest, had delayed her for nearly half the day. However, her thoughts were more consumed with the handsome half-sun elf sorcerer who had rescued her, and his pseudodragon companion. “Just how did the two of you come to travel together?” she inquired as they trod through the virgin green wood. “I’ve lived my whole life in this forest and never even seen a pseudodragon before today.” “They are rare, and are seldom seen unless they want to be,” Toran replied with a sly smile; his diminutive companion often drew a lot of attention everywhere they traveled. “In fact I wasn’t sure there would be any here to answer my call when I attempted the summoning, and it took quite a bit longer than normal for Styx to present himself. But patience prevailed, and he accepted the bond as my familiar.” “You familiar,” Yrlissa exclaimed, her surprise literally stopping her in her tracks for a moment as she regarded Toran with renewed awe, and a bit of trepidation. She knew that wizards and sorcerers often summoned animals as familiars with whom they shared a magical link, but she was unaware that a supernatural creature such as a pseudodragon could be bond in that way. “So he serves you because of a magical compulsion?” “I would hardly refer to our relationship as one of service,” Toran retorted. “And to be honest, if it were, I’m not sure who would be the servant to whom. Summoning a typical familiar is indeed a form of compulsion, but with someone like Styx it’s more of an invitation; a call to be answer only if desired... and a bond that must be accepted willing.” To Yrlissa surprise, Styx nodded in agreement as he purred from his perch on Toran’s shoulder, clearly content with the relationship, whether the result of a magical summoning or not. Her own mentor, her clan’s spiritual leader, a druid of much greater experience than her, had a similar relationship with great forest cat, and she had never questioned it as being anything other than voluntary, so why would she see theirs as any different; one was born of divine magic and the other arcane, but so long as all parties where content and benefited who was she to question it. “I didn’t mean to offend you,” she apologized meekly. “I wasn’t aware that a creature like Styx could be a sorcerer’s familiar.” Finding herself surprised again when the tiny dragon hissed and glared at her disapprovingly at her used of the term ‘creature’. “It’s okay boy,” Toran soothed as he suppressed a chuckle, an amused smile turning his lips, as he reached up and stroked Styx’s neck. “She didn’t mean anything by it... after all, aren’t even the greatest dragons often called creatures.” “Not to their faces,” Styx growled telepathically, stunning the young wood elf-maid as she heard him inside her head. “Not if the person speaking intends to live to see another day!” ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** Additional Credits: From DAZ3D.com * Michael 4 by DAZ3D * Dauntless by Moyra * High Fantasy Props by DAZ Originals & 3D Universe * Jack of Hearts by Luthbel * Millennium Dragon 2.0 by DAZ Originals * Mystic Hallow by LaurieS * Rogue Brotherhood for Jack of Hearts by Arien * Steam Cowboy by DAZ Originals, Arien & Bobbie25 * Valiant form Michael 4 by Ravenhair at DAZ3D