Callie's Heroes

PART I - KITTY LADY

It took a few moments to register, but Tazrok’s eyes suddenly opened wide. “Druid? Cannot be Druid. Am Ogre!”

“Yes, you very much are,” Juniper said, a bright smile on her face. “Your class is Druid. A beautiful Hybrid of the Scout, Warrior and Healer classes. It is a very rare and exciting Hybrid. The fact you are also an Ogre makes you quite special. I’ve not heard of such a combination being possible.”

Tazrok looked around him. “Not make sense. Cannot be Druid. Am Ogre!” He quickly pulled his hands away from Juniper and turned to look at Lena. “Am Druid?”

Lena just shrugged. “That’s what she says.”

“But … should be Barbarian. Or Berserker. Have skills.”

“Yes, you do,” Juniper said, a chipper smile on her face. “And those skills will serve you well. But you, my great big beautiful Ogre, are a Druid. It is quite wonderful!”

“Not Berserker?”

“No.”

“Am Druid?”

“Yes. Isn’t it wonderful?” Juniper said, still trying to remain upbeat despite repeating herself several times.

“Hmm. Maybe. What is Druid?“

“You don’t know what a Druid is,” Juniper said, her chipper smile slightly shattered with disappointment.

“No,” the Ogre responded flatly, his giant shoulders shrugging.

“A Druid uses their magic in harmony with the land and Nature,” Juniper clarified.

It didn’t help. “But am Warrior. Protect weak and tiny.” Tazrok said with conviction, gesturing towards Callie and the rest. “Not need magic.”

“A Druid is a type of … let’s call it a Nature Warrior. You still protect things,” Vanis said, trying to further explain a Druid’s role.

“Yes, that’s right,” Juniper agreed excitedly. “As he said, you are a great big Warrior for Nature.”

There was a long pause before Tazrok spoke. “Am allowed to still smash?” he finally asked. “Am good at smash.”

“Yes …” Juniper replied carefully, not sure if that was really the best explanation.

“Good. Don’t need Nature to smash good.”

Across the courtyard, a large black panther sat with her head cocked to one side. The great cat was confused, as she had been told her presence was direly needed, but now it seemed there was no emergency after all. Over by the intake line, Juniper was talking with the two Scryers and several recruits. There even seemed to be a bit of laughter as a very confused Ogre made very confused faces. And why was Juniper even here? She was always poking around the camp, and the panther could not understand why the Commandant put up with her antics. It did not really matter, though. The panther’s immediate presence had been requested, and she rose off her haunches before loping towards the registration tables.

Callie saw the panther first, and she pointed before letting out a quick scream. Immediately, any levity in the air ceased as the great cat casually walked up next to the table and sat. Lena instinctively moved to shield Callie and Tazrok took several steps back, tension immediately rising in protection of his friends. There was a blink of power and a wobble of magics and the panther transformed into a cat-faced woman. She had short, gray- and white-tipped black fur covering her entire body, and was wearing a stylish, polished suit of leather armor over a light cloth tunic and pants. Her face bore the subtle scars of battles fought and a lifetime of experiences.

The Pantherkin glared at Callie in response to her screaming, and then at the recruits in general, before giving a dismissive flick of her tail and turning to Juniper. The Dryad had stiffened, standing straight now, seeming slightly intimidated. She was not quite at attention, but any levity from trying to explain Druids to Tazrok had seeped out of her. Earick and Yulayla likewise had composed themselves, giving the venerable Pantherkin their attention.

“Trainer Rowani,” Juniper said nervously.

“Mistress Juniper,” Rowani acknowledged. “I am not sure why you are here, but I was made to understand there was an emergency of some kind. It does not appear to be so. Am I now to understand that I have been misled?”

Juniper fumbled a moment for words. “Not misled, Trainer, but not an emergency either. You have a new Druid recruit and a Sprite was dispatched to inform you. The messenger must have misunderstood the sense of urgency.”

“Why would I care about a Druid recruit at the intake line, when I will see all Druids when I meet with them later?”

“This Druid recruit is quite special, and quite the surprise.”

“Uh huh.” Rowani said flatly, not really believing the Dryad.

“Yes. Would you care for an introduction?”

“Not needed,” Rowani replied, waving her paw dismissively. Rowani turned to face the group of recruits. She straightened her back, tail still swishing from side to side, and walked up to Vanis, moving slowly, but with surprising grace.

“I am Trainer Rowani,” she began. “Welcome to Druid training. I have been told I am a hard instructor, but I am fair. When your training is complete …” She finally noticed the confused look on the Elf’s face.

“No, Trainer Rowani, it isn’t him.” Juniper said meekly.

Rowani spun. “It’s not?”

“No, Trainer.”

“I see,” she said, turning back to Vanis. She put her paw on his arm. “Well, I am sure that you will amount to something, someday.” She half-turned. “Maybe.”

Looking to the rest of the group, the Pantherkin put her smile on again and walked up to Xin. “Hello. I am Trainer Rowani, fellow Beastkin. Welcome to Druid training. I have been told …” She trailed off again as Xin slowly shook her head. She snapped her gaze to Juniper, who shook her head as well.

“Is it you then?” Rowani said, smiling and looking at Lena.

“No way. Not me!” Lena said, raising her hands in a universal ‘not it’ stance.

“I see. I assume not you?” Rowani asked Callie, who was half-cowering behind Lena. Callie quickly shook her head.

Rowani turned to Juniper, a cross tone in her voice. “Who then?”

Juniper cleared her throat and pointed up,

Rowani turned to come face-to-belly with Tazrok. She looked up … and up … to find the Ogre looking down on her.

“Hello, Kitty Lady,” Tazrok said, waving his fingers on one hand.

There was a long silence before Rowani finally turned to look at Juniper. “I did not think you were capable of a good practical joke. I commend you."

Earick cleared his throat with a slight bow. “Pardon, Trainer Rowani, but it does appear this is no joke. We’ve checked three times, and Mistress Juniper confirmed. The Ogre does appear to be a Druid. Yellow, brown and white.”

“It’s like the Goblin last term,” Yulayla added. “Another strange combination.”

“But it is impossible,” Rowani sputtered. “There never has been and there never will be an Ogre Druid. It cannot happen.”

“Why?” Juniper asked.

“Because!” Rowani exclaimed. “That’s why!”

“Well, I don’t think that reason is quite sufficient, given what I have seen.”

“Sure it is!”

Juniper gave Rowani a bit of a hard stare, not appreciating being doubted. Her tone growing slightly cold, she asked, “If you wish, I am able to share my sight. Shall I show you?”

“Yes, show me. I am certain you are mistaken. It is simply not possible.”

“Tazrok? May I have your hand again please.” Juniper said, stepping from behind the table

The Ogre extended his giant hand and the Dryad placed one of her own on it, while reaching out to Rowani with the other. Rowani huffed, and finally held out her own paw. Juniper closed her eyes and concentrated.

“Deathstorm? What kind of a name is that!” Rowani growled. “See, look at all those skills. Obviously a Berserker and Barbarian. Just what you would expect from an …” Rowani trailed off. Opening her eyes, the venerable Pantherkin looked up at Tazrok’s grinning, toothy smile. “How can this be?”

Juniper released both hands. “See, Trainer Rowani? It is as we said. Also, he prefers the surname Thunderfist.”

“What? Thunderfist? I suppose that is still frightening without sounding so … evil. There's wisdom there. But how can this be, Juniper?” Rowani exclaimed. “This makes no sense! How could an Ogre be a Druid?”

“I am as shocked as you are. And as Tazrok is, as well, it seems. With your masterful tutelage, I am sure Tazrok can excel.”

“But…” Rowani sputtered. She turned and looked up at Tazrok. “Does he even know what a Druid is?”

“Nature Warrior,” Tazrok said, remembering what the others had said. “What Tree Lady say.”

“We were explaining it to him when you arrived,” Juniper clarified.

“Hrmph,” Rowani grunted, almost annoyed that the Ogre had an answer. “I suppose you could call it that if you kept it simple.” She wasn’t sure what to make of this giant, but she had seen a lot of strange things in all her years, and it might actually be an interesting challenge.

Rowani finally said. “Come to the tent later and we’ll see what happens. I can’t see how you will be a very effective Druid, but I am willing to be surprised.” She started to walk away, still shaking her head in disbelief. Her form seemed to shimmer and reform, and in her place was a large, golden hawk. With a shriek, the bird took to the sky and flew off.

“I do believe my curiosity has been abated,” Juniper said, breaking a bit of an awkward silence left in the wake of the Trainer’s departure. “Tazrok, I wish you the best. And as for you, Little One,” she continued, looking at Callie, “I do apologize for earlier. It was not my intent to charm you so.”

“No problem,” Callie said, going wide-eyed. “It was my pleasure.”

Lena looked skeptically down at Callie, “Your pleasure?” She then smacked the back of the little Gnome’s head. “Do you need another cold shower?”

“I see,” Juniper said, perplexed. She appeared about to say something more, before glancing at Vanis. The Warlock’s stare was still smoldering slightly from her antics when she had arrived, and that cut her words off. “A good day to you all,” she finally said, before turning and melding back into the tree.

“Were you just looking at her arse?” Lena said to Callie.

“Um. Maybe a little?” Callie said.

Lena sighed and smacked Callie on the back of the head again.

Earick stepped back to the table and fished in the box of wooden blocks. Having found what he was seeking, he cleared his throat. “Corporal, now that we have settled the confusion regarding your class, I would like to conclude your registration.”

Tazrok turned to Earick and gave a grunt of approval.

Clearing his throat, Earick began his well-practiced closing instructions. “You are a Hybrid. Your three colors are equal, none being primary, and they are yellow for Scout, brown for Warrior, and white for Healer. You need to carry this block with you and go to the tent with that color pattern when the assembly bell tolls later this afternoon. That will confirm to your trainer that you are indeed … somehow … a Druid. Do not lose it.” Tazrok held out his hand for the block and Earick placed it in the Ogre’s palm.

Tazrok turned back to the rest of the group, cradling the block in his hand like it was delicate. “Got Druid colors,” he said.

“Those are very good colors,” Xin congratulated. “Druids and Shaman are similar in some ways, but also very different. I believe Druids can change into animal forms which a Shaman cannot until Bronze or Silver tier. It will be interesting to see what animals you will turn into.”

“Like Kitty Lady?”

“Yes,” Vanis said. “As I understand Druids from the lore, it is one of their most-unique skills, and every Druid has their own animal forms they can assume, based, I believe, on one's personality and character. Much like Xin, I am eager to see what you will become.”

“Maybe big bear?”

“You never know, but that would be most impressive.”

Tazrok grunted, looking down at his colored block of wood. He traced the yellow circle, with a brown circle to the left and below it, and the same sized white circle to the right, all three creating a triangle. Druid colors. “Then I will be big bear,” he stated with certainty. “Big bear Druid. This, I have decided.”

Earick cleared his throat, breaking into the conversation. “I do believe there is one more needing to be evaluated?”