[Cattery]

Name: Maedhras Korin

Age:

Classes: Druid/Shifter

Race: Half elf

Alignment: True Neutral

Deity: Katia

Domains: N/A

Conception:

It was the Night of Flesh and Magic, though it was celebrated far from that quiet glade in the High Forest. Maedra had patrolled the borders of her vale well, and the others of her Gather had taken over for the evening, leaving her the rest she sorely needed.

It had been a long day and sleep wasn't far off for the druid of Katia, and curled up against her panther companion in her rude shelter. Jaahron was a devoted companion, having been the one Called to her initial ritual so many years ago when she first Passed the Trials of her Gather. He was an older panther, she knew, but the line and sinew of his form was still youthful, and she had delighted in his company.

The fires burned low in the pit, and she quickly succumbed to sleep, the warmth of her companion lulling her better than any sweet wine.

And she dreamed...

He was beautiful, his light blonde hair flying in the wind, his cheekbones high and amber eyes as bright as a spring dawning. He was looking at her, and she remembered him from a long time in her past - a man who came to her village sometimes for supplies. His ears came to a subtle point, and she remembered the crush she'd had on him in her younger days.

She gasped as he came to her, and it was as natural as life itself that they were kissing, his hand touching her cheek in softest caress.

All else that occured was as natural under that starlit sky and they lay together after, his enamoured gaze looking down into her brown eyes as though trying to chisel this into his memory for a lifetime, his amber eyes sorrowful as the darkest night.

"I've waited for years for this." he whispered. "And it can only happen once. My love, tomorrow I will be trapped again, but we were granted one night of pleasure by Xeen. But know that no matter what form I am, that I love you."

She awoke slowly, reluctant to leave that loving warmth, that beautiful regard... and looked into a pair of loving amber eyes now lit by daylight, the warmth provided by Jaahron the equal to her dream. Her panther blinked, and deep in his feline eyes, she saw that sadness so painfully familiar now. A wordless placement of her hand upon his head, and her world changed irrevocably.

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Life:

Maedhras Korin was born to a loving family, though only one was related to her by blood. Her mother, Maedra, was high in the ranking of a Gather of Druids of Katia, and so was raised in the loving arms of the Nature Goddess's Gather. She never noticed the lack of a father, and never thought about it, as she never needed one.

She was a spirited child, often given to running away into the forest and talking to the animals as though born to it. She was almost always accompanied by Jaahron, her mother's devoted panther companion, and spent many wonderful hours learning the druidic ways from those about her; not only her mother, but the others too who took the time to take the little one under their wings and trained her in all the intricacies of druidic lore.

Yet it was during her Trial of Passage that she caught a glimpse of other paths available.

Jaahron had been more attentive since the delightful day of her menarche, and even her mother had been shooting her curious looks. Yet there was no need to worry about that, as she prepared for her Trial.

The Trial was a simple one - go into the forest alone and survive with minimal rations, plying your learned skills until an animal chose to be with you. When you returned with your companion, you would be accepted into the Gather as a full druid.

For some it took months. Some the Gather heard nothing from again. Yet the Gather were of the opinion that Maedhras's Trial would take only a couple of hours. Some were even joking that they'd prepare her luncheon for her, same as usual.

But she set off on that overcast dawn, her mother and Jaahron quietly watching at the forefront of the group, her mother's right hand raised in farewell, her left upon the glossy black head of her devoted companion.

The trek wasn't difficult, and one that she'd made many times before. Knowing the spirit of the Trial shouldn't really be broken however, she pushed her bounds, and followed the stream up into the hills.

A small cave made a cozy resting place, and there she made her camp. Hours passed, and though she talked to the animals as per usual, nothing came to join her despite the rituals she cast. Yet she didn't mind. It was pleasant living her own life away from the Gather, and time continued happily on for both herself and her animal friends.

It was getting towards evening when the lowering sky decided to make good its promise and let loose the drenching rain. She shrugged - the cave she'd chosen was warm and dry, if a touch musty, and prepared for bed.

Then she froze, sensing the approach of something more silent than nightfall. Slowly she turned, and saw the glowing amber eyes of a she wolf, her fangs bared.

"Is this your den? I shall leave." she said softly, preparing to do so. However the wolf shook its long mane out, and let out an eerily human laugh. The fur of it shimmered, and abruptly a woman sat there, her long glossy black hair covering her otherwise near naked form.

"So you're the one born to us." she said, a rather lupine smile crossing her reddened lips. "We've been waiting for you since he told us you were around."

"Pardon me?" Maedhras replied, stunned at the change. Though the more powerful druids in the Gather could change into animals, there was something about this woman that was unique amongst them. Those glittering eyes, that lupine smile, that elongated face...

"No, the trapped one wouldn't have told you, would he?" And she laughed a long howl of a laugh. "Well little one, when your time comes, we will teach you your heritage and what you can be. Haven't you ever wondered who your father is? What he could do?"

"No." she replied truthfully, and the woman laughed that long howl of a laugh once again.

"Then we will watch you, and when it's time, we'll train you. And hopefully you won't get stuck like others we could mention."

That laugh again, and the woman shimmered, yet instead of the wolf this time, she became a huge minotaur, and stomped out of the cave and into the rain drenched night.

She blinked, utterly shaken to the core, and wrapped her cloak about herself. It took a long time for sleep to come, but it finally did, huddled as she was against the cave wall.

The next morning, a soft crooning awoke her, and she saw her own amber eyes reflected in the small hawk that glared sharply up at her.

Her Trial was over, and Kestrin became her companion.

Before being Summoned, she dwelt within the Gather, living her life as a part of the Gather, only occasionally pondering on the words of a she wolf in a darkened cave at the beginning of her journey as an adult.

Note:

The concept of this character is to remain a druid until her RP leads (or doesn't lead) her to the Shifter abilities. She may or may not become a Shifter dependant upon the world and how she ends up relating to it.