Getting his way back to his rooms turned out to be harder than he'd thought. His first flight had been one thing; he'd been marginally paying attention to where he'd been flying. But after literally running into Drakiera, he hadn't paid even a whit of attention, and now he was very lost. Even the air as down in the dark under the mountain as he'd gotten seemed strange, like it didn't know him-- him, half Ave and a wind-mage! But then, if he'd never been down this deep, it wouldn't....

Everyone knew air moved around, of course, but sometimes air got stuck, moving around a certain place, especially if there weren't a lot of people who moved around in it. That could have been this air's problem. Having an explanation didn't make it any less uncomfortable, of course, but it was something.

The rest of the setting wasn't so bad, at least. Rowan was used to being underground, since most of the Aerd was underground, and though he preferred to be outside, he was just as comfortable in the "wilds" of the underground if that's where he happened to be at the time. He certainly didn't mind the dark; a lot of the other Aerd-brats were afraid of the dark, particularly the younger ones. But Rowan was one of the oldest of them all, and he saw very well in the dark-- very odd for an Ave who wasn't an owl-Ave! Rowan guessed it had something to do with his father, whoever he was, but for that little gift, he at least couldn't entirely curse him. By the very faint light his magic gave off, he could see well enough not to run into anything.

So, all in all, the only discomforts of being lost in the dark underground of Shivran Aerd was the unfamiliar breezes-- some of which smelled quite stale-- and the fact that he was starting, slowly but surely, to get hungry. And when you can't find your way to your own room, let alone the kitchens, being hungry is definitely a problem.

They always told kids at the Aerd-- or anywhere, for that matter-- that if they got lost, they should just hold still and wait for someone to find them. In Rowan's case, not only did he hate holding still, but he doubted anyone would try to find him; in fact, if Kin had anything to say about it, there most certainly wouldn't be an attempted search. His sister would probably say it served him right and let him wander around for a day or two before looking for him. He was gone so often from chores and mage classes that no one would even think that he was lost, except maybe a couple of the other Aerd-brats who he considered friends. Altrina, for sure, probably her brother too, and Natan-- but 'Trina and Jeri's mother would have words with them, if they went running around in the dark underground alone, and Natan wouldn't be caught dead in the dark. He was an Ave to the core, that one.

Not that it mattered. All he had to do was keep walking, and eventually he'd find something-- and if not, at least the air would get used to him and maybe help him out a little! So, that's exactly what he did: keep walking. For a long time.

"Somebody lost?"

Completely taken off guard, after at least half the day wandering-- or had it been more like half an hour?-- in complete silence, Rowan jumped and his magic went flying, turning the tunnel pitch black again. Not quite that good at seeing in the dark, he hurried to pull up a black and gray "light" of his magic that, though it didn't really make the underground any brighter, still made it possible to see. There wasn't anyone there. Winds spread and hands on the only weapon he had, his little eating knife that was in desperate need of resharpening, he looked around wildly for the source of the voice. Nothing!

"Down here," the invisible speaker chuckled, and Rowan looked down. Outlined by the darkly colored magic, but not much clearer than an outline and a pair of glittering eyes, was a monstrously big rat. Who had, apparently, just spoken to him.

Rowan jammed his knife back into its belt sheath with a huffy sigh, determined not to look like he'd just been afraid. "Whadda you want?" he demanded.

"Sorry, did I scare you?" the rat asked. "I just heard you bumbling around, and was curious. You look rather lost."

"I ain't lost," Rowan snorted. "I'm-- exploring."

"Aaaah. An explorer, then?"

"Sort of."

"And who might you be?"

"Who's askin'?"

The rat chuckled again, and, as Rowan had expected, fluidly shifted up into a man with a pointed nose and black hair: another Fleshshifter, but at least one who could actually change shape! "Tavarez, at your service," the rat-man said with a bow.

"Tavarez-- wait, I remember you!" Tavarez came around the Aerd every five or six months, usually on the back of a foreign dragon and always with wild stories and gifts for anyone who could wheedle one out of him. Apparently he really liked kids. Rowan had never actually spoken to him before-- he'd only been here a year, he hadn't had time to get to know him!-- but Altrina was quite fond of him, and Natan swore up and down that he was going to be just like him someday, a world-traveler at least, whenever the subject came up.

"Do you now?" The rat-shifter grinned. "You're a new face, to me."

"Rowan Sendarwing. I'm 'Trina's friend."

"Aah yes, the lovely little squirrel-child, yes?" Tavarez seemed to remember her well enough-- then again, how many squirrel-shifters did you see around? Not too many. "Well, Rowan, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"And you," Rowan answered with a grin and a silly little bow, that made Taverez laugh.

"Odd place, though, don't you think?" Tavarez suggested, looking around. "For a first impression, I mean. It's been a long time since I've first met someone underground in the dark like this."

"Oh, well, what were you doing down here?" Rowan asked curiously. He knew what he was doing lost in the under-Aerd, but why would Tavarez be there?

"Looking for someplace to stash a few things." Rowan could have sworn the rat-shifter's nose twitched, just like an interested rat. "I had thought no one came down here, but apparently they're well-traveled by the Aerd-brats."

"Not really," Rowan finally admitted-- sort of. "I was hiding from Kin, and got a little lost." No need to bring up Drakiera, right? It was stupid to go running from her; she was just a person like everyone else, after all. He thought.

"Ah." At least Tavarez had the decency not to gloat about the confidence. "Well, seeing as I know the way back up, would you like to accompany me? We can find little Altrina and her brother; it's been a while since I've seen them."

"What about your stuff you wanted to stash?"

"I'll find something else to do with it." Tavarez shrugged lightly, then started heading back the way Rowan had come. A little suspicious-- surely he hadn't missed the way back up, had he?-- Rowan followed, his magic trailing after him obediently. Tavarez was looking around speculatively in the very faint light. "Hmmm. I suppose I could lighten my pack a little.... A little treasure for future explorers."

"There certainly ain't no treasure down here now, let me tell you," Rowan snorted. "Would've made all this a little worthwhile."

"I could probably remedy that situation," Tavarez chuckled. "Not all of my little cache will keep long enough for someone else to stumble upon it...."

Rowan's ear's perked. He might have been almost grown up-- no, really, he was!-- but he liked gifts as much as the next kid, as long as they were good gifts. "What is it?"

"Promise you'll take very good care of it, and I'll tell you."

"Oh, come on-- all right, I promise."

Fishing into one of the many pockets on his person, Tavarez produced something small, round, and which looked very much like a rock, offering it to Rowan, who took it suspiciously. To his surprise, it felt nothing like a rock: faintly leathery, slightly warm, and with just a touch of give to it. "Careful, now, don't break it."

"I won't. What is it?"

"A flitter egg, of sorts," Tavarez answered. "It'll be hatching a somewhat unusual flitter, fairly soon."

No wonder he'd made him promise to take care of it! Rowan grinned broadly-- he'd always wanted a flitter!-- and tucked the egg carefully into his vest-pocket, nice and warm. "Thanks!"

Chuckling, Tavarez answered, "You're welcome. How about you turn right here, and head on up? I'm going to go put the rest of this someplace safe down here." That pointed little nose twitched again, and Rowan snickered.

"Right. See you later!" Packrat, he added in his thoughts.

"Indeed...."

Chapter Three

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