The sun is warm for early spring morning. The air had a humid thick smell making it hard to breath for Xander. The forest ground is cased in yellows and greens form the leaves above where he slept. He was used to the dry heat of the Barrens, he missed the dry heart too. But after the big adventure, if you call it that, he need to be near things that were alive and as far away form that cave as he could get. The Homewood was the best place for him to do that right now. Clearing his throat a few time, Xander just could not get used to the all the moisture in the air. His lung felt like the were full of water. "Well time to wake up." he said to himself. It was easier to breath once he started moving around and he just could not ignore the need to get a drink. Turning his ears this way and that, Xander lessoned for the sound of rusting water. He was not familiar with the Homewoods as much as the Banners so he needed to take his time to find land marks. "To the left." he says out loud hearing the water he was searching for.
As Xander moved he scanned the forest from top to bottom trying to commit everything to memory. His mind was sharp like that; once he saw something his mind would make a permit mentally map and he would very get lose again. At least not in areas he had been once before.
As he approached the river he had followed by sound, he searched the shore line for others but found no one. "It must be earlier then I thought." He voices since no one was at the water. Normally this would be strange but the birds where singing and flying around so Xander had no concern for his safety at the moment. Moving to the edge he dips his muzzle into the water to slick his thirst. "Nothing teases as sweet as Homewood river water." He thought as he sucked up the water and swallowed it down in big gulps.
Without warning a young buck Jack hop bursts through the bushes on the opposite side of the bank. This startles Xander internally but outwardly he merrily lifts his head form the water and stars at the Jack Hop. "Well what's got your tail in a wage." He say to the hop waiting across form him. Still panting a little the hop begins "Brightheart the Life Giver is summoning all that will answer the call. She is bringing a new familiar to life and needs someone to care for it after it has been brought back."
As the jack hop finished he panted some more having not taken a breath during he speech. Clearly this hop had been running for awhile. Moving to the edge of the water for a drink, Xander took this chance to ask "Where must I go to find this Brightheart?" He was not one to walk away form a noul in need no matter the reason. "Three miles back behind me." The jack hop told him after finishing his much need drink and with no further works took off at a dead run. "Well good bye to you too." Xander humbled at the racing jack hop.
Heading off in the direction the jack hop told him, the three miles went rather fast. As he came into the clearing he saw a very pretty pale noul standing over some bones. "You must be Brightheart." He said with a bow of respect. "A jack hop said you had need of a noul to care for a new familiar. I am here in answer of this call." Brightheart smiled at him which left him with out words. She really was a pretty noul. "Thank you for coming. Once this is complete you may take the creature and care for it. This creature will need your help as it has been a long long time since it has walk these lands." She explained the importance of care and Xander's knew this was going to be one of the most magically thing he had ever seen. Xander nodded his understanding still at a lose for words and was rewarded with a beautiful smile again.
Brightheart turns her attention back to the small bones before her and Xander watches is complete silence and stillness. With a deep breath in from Brightheart, the air around them comes to alive and dances in a red swirling mist form out from around her. With a strong exhale the mist swirls down to the bones before her and absorbs into the lifeless limbs. It only takes a moment for the bones to grow the creature in to living breathing animal again. Xander stand transfixed as he watches this magical event take place.
Opening her eyes again, Breathheart wobbles a little form the life given to the creature before. Her energy spent she knows she will need to head back to her den to rest now. "May this creature bring you joy and love Xander." she said as she walked away form the sleeping lump and Xander. "How did she know my name? What did she mean by that?" Xander thought as he watched he walk away form them. Having no answers to those questions, Xander turns his attention back to the lump on the ground. Not sure when the familiar would walk he decides to watch over it until it was ready to start its new life. Laying down next to it Xander watches the small chest rise and fall. Xander began to dose as he watched the peaceful rhythm. His last thought was that he hoped the familiar would like him.
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