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experience of
flying beside Erin. She was taken with the beauty and grace of this
wild friend. She felt a stirring from the bag on her chest and saw
a little black face with a white stripe peek out. She thought now
was as good a time as any to share some of her thoughts with her
companions.
    ‘I have been thinking about my disguise and
my plans. The ‘seeker’ is looking for a lone young woman. I could
travel without being noticed if I were a lowly scruffy boy who
tended the animals for a merchant. There are several merchant
wagons on the road these days. They are trying to make as many
stops as they can before the winter makes it impossible to
travel. These are the last round of gathers and business before
they head back to their home bases. I could help a merchant speed
up his work if he did not need to tend his animals himself. Because
I can communicate with animals I’ll get along well with them. But,
to people, I would appear as a simple lad who has a way with
animals. Showing up with Tempo would give believability to that.
The merchant would want me in the background because I am so
unpresentable. In some ways I would be invisible. I couldn’t sign
on with a cloth or spice merchant because my presence would imply
that their goods are dirty or smelly. But there should be someone
that could use me. What do you think?’
    Keir played with the wind for a moment before
answering. ‘That would work well as long as you got the right
person to travel with. Sometimes lowly boys get slapped and beaten
by mean masters.’
    Tempo piped in. ‘Erin could very gently read
the bad ones and stay away from them. But some of the animals might
not want to be around me.’
    ‘That may be, my friend, but you need not be
with me always. You could be in the woods hunting but traveling
parallel to the road. Also, if I can communicate to them, they may
not mind your presence. If you, two, approve lets try it. If it
doesn’t work we can always change to another plan. I need to land
soon so I can can catch up with the merchant caravans I spotted a
while ago.’ Keir soared away and Erin worked the lines of her
paraglider to brake and bring her wing to a lower elevation. Soon
Tempo could see the ground coming closer and with a squeak popped
back inside the bag. Erin was as experienced as she had said and
bought them down smoothly. She unbuckled the bag on her chest and
let Tempo out then proceeded to get out of her harness and
carefully fold and pack her paraglider into its bag. Tempo lay down
on the grass and rolled then got up and lightly ran to Erin. He
stood back, out of the way as she repacked. As soon as she had all
of her belongings back in their respective bundles she sat down to
have a bite to eat, offering bits to her little friend. 
    The road was about a quarter mile away over a
slight rise and easy walking from where she landed. Brushing off
the crumbs of her meal she got up. Erin paused then ruffled her
hair and rubbed a bit of dirt on her face, then they started toward
the road. Tempo kept pace beside her. It felt good to the little
skunk to stretch his legs and walk after being in the bag for
awhile. Since he had met Erin his sleep pattern was off. Normally
he slept during the day and foraged at night. Traveling with Erin
meant he had to work out a change in schedule somewhat. Right now
it felt good to walk. If he got tired he was sure that Erin would
carry him in the bag or on her shoulder.
    When Erin approached the road she stopped and
set her pack down. She wanted to blend into the road traffic. It
might mean that she would “eat dust” but that would add to her
disguise. She felt the best time to find a merchant to “belong” to
was when they were setting up camp for the evening. There were
hours of afternoon travel before that time. She fiddled with her
pack and made like she was busy all the while very carefully
opening her mind to emotions and energies. She was not reaching out
so it should be impossible for the