“Ah! So you’re the new girl!” a cheerful voice hailed, from behind Rin. Turning, she looked up into the smiling face of a tall, strange woman.
“Um... yes?” at her hesitant reply, and wary look, the stranger laughed out right- a big, loud laugh, rough around the edges, much like the woman was. After a moment, she quieted, regarding her with a smile, hands on her hips, before thrusting one of those tanned hands at her, as she spoke. Rin grasped her hand slowly, before taking a step back, as the woman swept out an arm, bowing slightly,
“Lady Talla-Doe, director of the Lower Housing District Guards, and professional Traitor, at your service.” she grinned, straightening as she did, “Let me treat you to a cup of tea, and extend my welcome to you. I know just the place.”


Talla-Doe, as she found out, did indeed know a good place for tea. It also appeared that she knew everyone in the neighbourhood, as well. For without fail, she had greeted everyone they had passed, stopping once to break up a fight. Judging by the way the children had acted, she was a well respected authority in the Lower City.
The tea shop she had led her to was snug between two clothing shops; a tiny little place, with quaint little tables, and comfortable over stuffed armchairs. After they ordered, the two women took a window seat, tucked into a nook by a cheerful fire.
“Now, by ‘ Professional traitor’, I mean, I’m a spy.’ She grinned, taking a sip of tea as she watched Rin over the rim of her cup, “Tell me, lass, do you know what a ‘Vampearrea’ is?”
Rin shook her head, absently swatting a lock of glossy white hair back over her shoulder, and looked up at Talla-Doe in mute expectation, amethyst eyes bright with curiosity. The older woman paused long enough to take another sip of her tea, before placing her cup down carefully.
“The Vampearrea are not, as the name might suggest, vampires. We are, in fact, the only race of shape shifters capable of taking more than one form, excluding the Ebon shifters, and the Changers. Have you heard of them?”
Rin shook her head, and Talla-Doe continued, waving a tanned, long fingered hand carelessly. Rin noted that her nails had been carefully coaxed into growing in a curve, much like a bird’s talon, as one passed just shy of her nose.
“Never mind them, then; I’ll explain them on a later date. You see, the Vampearrea are the only race, aside from those two, who can take more than one form for any extended period of time. I can, quite literally, become anyone, or anything, I want. Even a rock, if I so choose. Of course, if someone stabbed me, I would still bleed, because while I might have the appearance of a rock, I cannot become one truly. No shifter may take the form of an object that is not alive.
“But short of that, I can be anything. A dragonfly, or a mighty dragon; woman, man, or child. Or any creature in between. It sets us apart from all other shifters. My clan, in particular, has the gift to use the magic that comes along with the chosen form. But such a gift is rare- I am one of only two born in the last four centuries.” She lifted her teacup once more, grasping it daintily by its curved handle, and cast the young half-blood in front of her a look from beneath her lashes, “Understand?”
“Yes... so you are a spy because of the advantages your race has over others, and magic’s you yourself possess?” Talla-Doe nodded, smiling warmly at her.
“Exactly. Would you care to see?”
Rin nodded, eager, and watched as before her eyes, the sharp lines of the lady’s face softened, her mane of stiff, course black hair fading, and acquiring a faint wave- her eyes, before the most vibrant of grass green, now appeared to be aqua-marine. Last, her skin- before a rich, even gold of one who spent a large amount of time in the sun- faded to the palest of creams, and a beauty mark appeared beneath her left eye. She sipped at her tea, her now polished, human nails making a faint tick against the fine porcelain as she did.
“You see? This is the form of a dear friend of mine, Katiana. She also goes by the Granite Sorceress. In this form, I have access to all her powers, but none of her knowledge. It is a great down side, to say the least- it is a very good thing that my kind lives for so very long, or I would have been doomed before I even started. As it is, I’ve had to learn at least the basics of every magic they have thought, up at the University, to throw at me. Both offensive, and defensive. For longer jobs, I’ve studied up to a year before hand, learning to seem to be a master, without ever becoming one. Or rather, Weaver, as it was in the Lady Dragonfly’s case- another of the Greater Sorceress. I do damn good impressions.” she laughed, and her features slipped back to normal, with the addition of two great, beautiful hawk wings, sweeping out like a cloak from her shoulders. Rin blinked, and despite herself, caught herself staring at the beautiful things. The lady arched a brow, then glanced over her shoulder, and waved a hand, dismissing them carelessly- they twitched slightly, as she resettled feathers, then disappeared, blown away like dust. When the half-blood reached out to catch some of the dust, it disappeared completely, fading out of existence.
“That would be the down side of the Vampearrea. We can maintain a shape for up to a week, but must, after that, revert to our birth forms. After every shift, we revert to our birth forms. Thus, the wings.” A look of mild surprise crossed her face, at Rin’s confusion, “Did you not know? The Vampearrea are a race of winged people. We live in the trees, in houses built among the branches. It deters predators- children are rare, as we are so very long lived. The elves have similar problems, due to their life span. The only race I can think of, off the top of my head, that doesn’t have that particular problem are dragons. But then again, they only appear humanoid because they wish to.” She glanced at her watch as she spoke, then tipped her teacup back, finishing her drink, and stood, “Well, we need to be going. I was instructed to take you back to Cotaa, if I came across you in the city. It seems you’ve a habit for wandering.” Talla-Doe’s lips stretched in a warm, wry smile as Rin blushed, ducking her head, “No worries, lass, he isn’t angry. Frantic, yes, but angry? Oh no. Our laddy-buck doesn’t get angry easily. He’s more likely to spoil you rotten, then get angry at you.” She lifted her tea cup by the saucer, pushing her chair back to where it had been, and moved towards the counter, placing the teacup, and a few bronze coins on the counter as she did, “Come on now, lass, we need to go. Your lessons will start soon.”




~*~*~*~
Like the preview? Little bit of "ElvenStar", the porgect I started in grade eight, then put on the backburner for three and a half years. sudden insperation has struck over the break. Stick around. I the next month or so, the rest of which ever chapter it belongs to will be posted.
as for those of you waiting on updates;
As school has had be on my toes for the last week, and will continue to do so for the next month, I would not be expecting any updates. The only thing I intend to post is <icon:SarahPants> 's gift peice, which I've been dragging my feet on.
I Have a cold. It's been giving me a major hard time, so please, please, have more pateince then you ushually do with me. I tend to glaze over at odd moments, and wallow in my misfortune.
Also. I have ot make cookies for a freind. As I'm trading cookies, for a final fantasy ten game, I think it's a ratehr awesome idea.
until later, I bid you goodbye. I'd say it in french, But I can't spell worht shit.
~SanzoBrat