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The wind was howling, the day was bitterly cold, and a young gypsy cursed as she struggled to light a fire inside the way-house. Rajani had been lucky enough to stumble across the presently-empty building. It was a relic once intended to house travelers in their times of need but, given the advancement of technology and the spread of human civilization with its taverns and inns, it had been mostly forgotten. No one had yet bothered to pull it down, and it was still mostly serviceable, but it was not what it once might have been. One window was cracked and there was an uncomfortable draft. Least convenient, the lean-to protecting the wood pile was broken, so all of the logs were damp from last night's rain; whoever had been there last had not bothered to bring any inside.

None of this would have been more than an annoying inconvenience if not for one other little detail: Rajani was feeling a little under the weather. Though she suspected that an early flu might be the culprit, it might be nothing more than a particularly stubborn cold. Either way, it had left her in a less-than-pleasant mood.

Oberon, of course, had insisted that she seek medical assistance. He might not have much experience with disease or injury himself, but he knew of her past. He knew what had become of Lana because they could not afford good medicine for her. So, he was very insistent that his chosen would not allow herself to whither away because of something that she could easily prevent with a little help from a doctor or herbalist. At first, the gypsy had been less than inclined to agree, but she was tired enough and her headache was strong enough that she did not feel up to arguing with him for very long. In the end, she had given in and sent Hawthorn out on a search. She was not sure who she expected him to find, but at least it would quiet her guardian for a while.

As one of the sparks finally grew into a small but determined flame, she wondered how long it would be before the rook returned.



Farther along the Kingsroad, the regal bird soared. Though he might not be quite so intelligent as a guardian, or even a familiar, he was a very clever rook. He could understood what was needed and he remembered the human-sounds that would communicate his mistress's message to a healer. He would not fail her, even if it meant getting closer to another human, no matter how much he distrusted them.

There.

His sharp eyes spotted someone just over that hill. He took in the appearance of the man. At first glance, he could be anyone, just a traveler passing through. It was impossible to guess what might be in his satchels. Upon closer inspection, however, Hawthorn suspected that this might be the type of human he was meant to find.

Without further ado, he lit upon a nearby branch and cawed loudly to get the man's attention. When he was certain he had it, he relayed his message.

"To the doctor or healer: I require medical assistance. I am ill, but it is not urgent. My rook will guide you."

At the sudden knock, Rajani looked up from her seat next to the fire, which was finally burning at a merry crackle. She relaxed, however, when Hawthorn fluttered in over the head of the stranger and settled on the back of one of the chairs. Oberon took a stepped forward to inspect the newcomer while Rajani spoke.

"Yes," she replied. "I doubt it's anything serious, but I decided it was better to err on the side of caution." By that, of course, she meant that Oberon had pestered her into it. Not that the good doctor needed to know that.

"Don't worry," she added. "I've coin to pay."

Noticing that he had yet to fully step into the room, and ignoring the fact that it was probably because Oberon was in the way, she scowled and snapped, "And come inside! What good was stopping here if you're going to let all the warm air out?"

The guardian obligingly sidled to get out of the way, but his interest was now caught by the doe he had glimpsed outside.

She eyed the other guardian, a colorful beast. Well, that was certainly unexpected. A doctor who was also a chosen - no wonder Hawthorn had picked him.

"Rajani," she replied. No need to be completely rude, even if all she felt like doing was curling up and sleeping...if she thought she could sleep. "These are Oberon and Hawthorn." She indicated each in turn.

"Feels like a cold and all that goes with it," she said, and glared at him with bleary eyes as though the symptoms should be obvious. "Headache, sniffles, coughing, and I'm tired."

Oberon eyed the younger male, wondering if he was worth his time. Hawthorn did not seem to be paying him any attention, but then, the rook had had more than his fill of young guardians while Oberon was growing up. The buck's ears swiveled back and forth in indecision before he stepped forward and sniffed at the other deer.

Rajani's current ill temper flared at the doctor's observations. Did he think her an idiot?

"Forgive me for seeking the only shelter readily available under the present circumstances," she snapped, sarcasm dripping from every word. "I do so apologize that it is not up to your standards. Perhaps we should go outside where there is a refreshing breeze."

Oberon eyed her from the other side of the room and a clear wave of disapproval made its way into her mind. She glared at her guardian before turning back to the doctor.

"I had breakfast this morning. If I had broth with me, don't you think I would have been eating it already? Be glad there is a fire." She had planned on restocking in the next village, which she would have reached in a few hours had she not been forced to stop by her confounded illness and her stubborn guardian. All she had was a little jerky and some tea. Bloody annoying, the lot of it.

Indignant, the gypsy glared at the doctor. "Better than no shelter at all." She was beginning to think that she should have ignored Oberon's pestering and managed on her own. It would be better than listening to this finicky man. His presence would probably do her more harm than his medicine would do her good.

Oberon sniffed indignantly at that, impressing upon her the idea that a surly doctor was better than no doctor at all. Rajani remained dubious.

She scowled outright when he spoke of tipping the scales in her favor. "And you can stop talking like a simple cold is going to kill me."

"I imagine I ended up with Oberon in the same way that you ended up with Somnium," she retorted. Honestly, did the man have to speak of them as though they were inconvenient pets that one happened to be stuck with? Rajani was hardly a kind-hearted person, but even she had a special place in her heart for her prima donna, annoying though he could be at times.

"As for Hawthorn, I nursed him back to health after I found him left for dead," she shrugged. "He has been with me ever since."

She gave him a flat look in return. "Are all doctors this melodramatic?" she wondered. "Heaven forbid my doom-sayed death should add another blight to your record."

She flicked a particularly annoying lock of hair out of her face and added, "Besides, I'm not refusing treatment, I'm just pointing out the fact that you're exaggerating the situation."

As Oberon eyed the other guardian like he was a particularly strange and juvenile specimen, Rajani considered her reply. A choosing was a private thing, after all, and she was hardly going to tell this aggravating man everything.

"I felt the pull of the forest," she agreed and then glanced at Oberon. "He was a handful as a fawn...not that that's changed much."

For that, she received an indignant grunt. She ignored him and turned to Hawthorn, who was staying out of the way, but watching everything with his keen eyes. Their meeting was another thing she rarely spoke of. It was something from another time in her life and it brought back too many painful memories for her.

"His wing was broken," she said, brushing off any compliment he intended for her. "Straight-forward enough."

"So you feel the need to spread your pessimism to your ailing patients? Your bedside manner could use some improvement." Oberon was so obliging as to carry her pack over from the corner so that Rajani could dig out a battered tin cup, which she handed to the doctor.

Studying her annoying, troublesome, stubborn, finicky buck, Rajani could not really argue with his choice of words. Humans certainly did seem to be caretakers for the guardians. Still... "The legends would have it that they are here to protect us, not the other way around. Though in this case, I do question the wisdom of our ancestors. They seem to cause more trouble than they're worth sometimes."

Oberon jerked back as though wounded and sidled away from his chosen, acting the part of the injured party. Rajani rolled her eyes at his dramatics and proceeded to ignore him, which only made him sulk all the more.

As though he knew he was the topic of discussion, Hawthorn ruffled his feathers and shifted in his perch, staring intently at the unknown human. Rajani could not pretend that it had been easy. She had suffered more than a few injuries from his beak and talons while he was still wary and scared. She had almost lost him to fever and it had been a trial to keep his wing straight in its splint so it could heal properly, but it had been worth it. More than that, it had been something she'd had to do. If she could not save him, what was the point? She shook the thoughts away and returned her focus to the matter at hand.

"You don't sound very confident in your abilities," she observed. "As a doctor, I would think you'd be better equipped to care for a living creature than a wandering singer."

It was so unexpected that it took good ten seconds for comprehension to sink in. After that, of course, there was the disbelief. Did he just...? Oh, yes he did.

For a moment, she could only gape at the audacious man. Then, she glared at him over her cup of steaming broth, unsure whether she wanted to laugh or throw said broth in his face. "Flirting with your patient? You should be ashamed. I hope you don't make a habit of it."

She frowned as Oberon held himself proudly and stamped a hoof, apparently over his little sulk. He gave the clear impression of a noble warrior, though he offered no hint to the answer of Marco's question. Who were they meant to be fighting now? Rajani did not know, either. Not for certain. The best she could do is guess. "Perhaps the wolves are not here now," she considered. "But there are tales. Perhaps the wolves will return. If guardians, why not them?"

Rajani was taken aback as the doctor began his tirade. She had not intended to insult him. Well, maybe she had, but she had not expected her jibe to elicit such a strong reaction. As he went on, she felt a little smile tug at her mouth and soon it was all she could do to stifle her giggles. By the time he wrapped up his rant, however, she could take it no longer. Rajani could not help but laugh, long and heartfelt, until she started coughing and had to stop.

Gasping for breath, she stared at him through watery eyes. "At least you know you're an a**, good doctor. If you can admit that much, I suppose I can suffer through your treatment. I'm sure you'll uphold your professional honor, despite our differences."