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Hidden beneath the helmet, the ranger's brow furrowed. He thought the black otters comment was rather uncalled for--although his scientific mind couldn't up but relent that compared to science's standards for formulas and experiments it was rather crude. He did believe her, had seen too much since becoming a ranger to discount magics and potions and objects turning into monsters that grew twenty stories tall. He gave a sigh, hoping he hadn't offended her. (The only things he ever offended on purpose were the monsters and bad guys that tried to kill him and his friends--which seemed rather called for.)

"I offer many apologies if my words offended you." He murmured softly. He wanted to say more but his instincts came to life rather suddenly. With years (and years) of experience where bullies and brutes sneaked up on him--or even when they didn't--he needed nothing else to tell him something was behind him. In his struggle to survive high school, he'd become rather hypersensitive to feeling watched or being approached. It didn't always work, sometimes there was nothing there or someone managed to sneak up on him, but in this case he was rather sure something was behind him. On the plus side, there weren't any garbage cans to be stuffed into.

Keiran barely noticed the arrival of the bob-kitten, barely because he was trying not to look dead rigid at Hazel's words. In noticing it, he found that the phrase "looks can be deceiving" played through his head. It was simply the truth--he was a wolf, the otter in blue was obviously imbued with some power, both bobcats were suspicious, and it was only prudent to believe the bob-kitten wasn't what it seemed either. But then in his paranoia, a stick would've required a second glance.

"A monster in looks is more easily to distinguish, I'm sure. The brewing you are doing begs to be questioned on the other paw," he quipped lowly. He sucked in a breath, part of him thought she knew and part of him was interested in this old ways she spoke of. He wondered if she could help him--not reverse his condition, he had long given up on that.

The wolf was useful and he had a pack brother to protect. It would be damaging, moreso than helping, if he was cured. The wolf inside was unruly now but it was caged and he couldn't blame it. Especially as the cage was weakening and he'd want out as badly as it did, if it was him. In fact, he did want out as badly when he was caged.

He gave his head a rough shake and narrowed his eyes at the pot before lifting his slightly softened, still suspicious gaze to the elder bobcat. "An apprentice." Keiran stated, tossing the word into Jack's sentence about someone to carry on after. It gave little hint what he thought of it--not in broad strokes, only the minute detail that he was listening. After all, he wasn't fool enough to stalk over to her and demand to know if she could be of use, if she could help, or anything of the sort. No, he was much too thoughtful and patient to do that.

"Mmm, no offense taken, young one. Don't fret.

"Yes, an apprentice would be good. If I could find one around these parts. I can't live forever, you know." She raised a back paw and itched one saggy cheek pensively. "Well, I suppose I could. But that sounds incredibly tedious to me."

She tilted her head slightly as Kirara approached. "It's good to see curiosity like that in a youngster. Healthy."

There seemed nothing for him to interject at the moment. The dark otter merely waited to hear what the elder bobcat would say. He was interested and yet not enough to be dubbed curious. That vile indiscretion often led to being found in precarious situations or life-or-death traps.

He watched, eyes flicking around at even intervals to glance at each acquaintance as the male bobcat had called them. He thought the term was ill-fitting, truthfully. He had no knowledge of any of them, barring their apparent (and perhaps not true) species. And likewise they had no knowledge of him. (He hoped.)

Billy was relieved that she was not offended and even more so when the small two-tailed bob-kitten (he didn't believe that was what she was but it would work) came to stand where he could almost see her. He gave a nod towards her in greeting, the helmet hiding his smile.

Turning his attention back to the conversation, his ears pressed back in a mixture of slight confusion and ill feelings. Immortality was a subject he veered away from. Even with Rita Repulsa and Zordon, he felt it was an ill-advised want, a desire that would only corrupt. Not to mention it went against all his beliefs. Even in jest, the idea was repulsing. "A life never ending would be far more trying than tedious," he said softly.

Hazel paused before answering to pin another mini to the ground, leaning down to sniff the vial it was carrying. After testing it several times, she nodded. "Good. See that you don't make that mistake again," she grumbled, the words a low and rather raspy growl in her throat. The mini squeaked obediently, apologetically, and scurried on his way when she let him up, skittering to one side to avoid being stepped on by the approaching bob-kitten. A ramp had been set up by this point, leading from the ground to the cauldron's rim, so that the little servants could carry their items to the pot on their own.

The old bob sat again and lazily scratched the back of one elbow with a hind paw. "Aye, I think I agree. Trying is perhaps a better fit. As long as you had your wits about you, you could doubtless think of more to do. But having to do that all the time..." She sighed and wrinkled her already wrinkly muzzle. "Pah."

She considered Jack's question a moment, ears twitching as she rolled it around in her mind as though they were being nudged by the thought as it passed them. "Generally, I'd want blood kin, of course, but that's not possible anymore. Well," she smiled wryly and scratched one ear, "probably not advisable. Possible, though; anything's possible.

"In any case, I'd need someone of a sharp and particular mind. Someone who thirsts for knowledge; really thirsts. S'important to be passionate about these things, when they require so much sacrifice. The rewards are plentiful and well worth it, in my own opinion, but shinier the prize the higher the price, hmm?"

As a scientist and power ranger, Billy was well aware of needing passion and sacrificing things. As an intellect, almost any knowledge was something he was interested in. And yet he felt he would be an unworthy apprentice for what this bobcat wanted to pass on.

There were already many responsibilities on his shoulders and he wasn't sure any others would allow him to pay them the proper attention. He briefly wondered if Kimberly would have an interest in this and then realized she was much happier in the garden than the metaphorical kitchen. She was also prone to boredom and skipping steps, both things that could be catastrophic. No, his fellow ranger would probably rather try finding the bobcat someone to have children with than becoming an apprentice.

"Unfortunately, I do not believe I would be a fitting apprentice or that I would have the time to afford to learning the knowledge you wish to pass on," he answered--thinking that he also had no real idea what it was she did and thus could not agree to anything. Sometimes he rather wished he could ask Zordon what to do, he always seemed to know everything. Even Alpha would be helpful.

Keiran rather wished she wouldn't be so vague. Not that he expected her to spill all her secrets and draw a map for those who had trouble following along. He did however loathe committing to anything without a certain amount of facts. Although sometimes in the end it mattered little what one did--he certainly hadn't done anything foolish to wind up a werewolf. Not that he could remember how it had happened to prove it.

"And what is it exactly that you do? Only a fool would find him or herself intrigued to the point of blind curiosity resulting in offering to become an apprentice to something they know nothing of. All things considered, can we assume those are the sort who wouldn't be of use to you?" he spoke up sounding much as though he was in a terrible position of suffering. Which he was. Only it was not the suffering others might assume, one of intelligence being watered down or boredom or even impatience.

"Or how often others get people into their fixes, whether it be accidental or purely malcious purposes." Jack commented, his monocle glowing a bit in the fire light. "Are you asking in our assistance to find you an apprentice old one?" he finally asked.

Kirara listened to the taller creatures' discussion intently, her dark ears swerving every so often every time a mini scuttled past. Even if she could voice her opinion, the small kit doubted she could be of much use as an apprentice to the elder bobcat. Spellcraft was of little use to a demon, especially of her kind. The twin-tailed anomaly would have even a lesser chance in grasping the concept of western potions than she would of concoctions brewed with familiar substances from her own homeland.

But as the guests-in-garb were willing to offer their assistance in finding an understudy for the older cat, the shapeshifter quietly decided perhaps she wasn't entirely useless to the elder's cause. Reaching up with a tiny black paw, she gently nudged Hazel's leg to get her attention before flicking a tail towards the items and then back towards herself in a wayward sort of indication that she could help collect items like the miniature otters. Granted, only if the older cat needed the help.

While Kirara had already bestowed herself the role of cleansing the forest of any corrupt youkai, truth be told the imps didn't quite run amok as they had 500 years ago.
She had time on her paws, and a remarkable sense of tracking... Not as sharp as a wolf or dog demon's, perhaps, but still strong enough. The nekomata didn't know what Hazel was looking for in an apprentice, but the red-eyed demon could aide the elder in the meantime by gathering items from the furthest reaches of the woodlands, including areas not as easily accessible to the minis.

Jack gave a overdramatic bow, tipping his hat in a gentlemanly manner, "Of course dear old one. it would be a shame to lose your knowledge if it was never passed on. I would just need to know what you are looking for to see if they are here in this reserve." he said, knowing trying to leave would have consequences.