“Those who were accepting far outnumbered the intolerant, but the few were vocal enough to more than make up for it, heaping verbal attacks on we who were different. And sometimes they resorted to attacks far more dangerous than the verbal variety.”

The nights were lengthening as summer turned to fall. Aidan enjoyed the longer hours of darkness, and the increasing chill in the air didn’t bother him. He was just glad that he wasn’t hibernating any more.

“Let’s take a trip,” said Flame Song early one evening.

“A trip?” asked Aidan, who was sitting on the floor with Littlespark on his lap. He’d been reading her a story. She loved books, though they were hard to come by in Mysteria, especially here in the far north.

“Yes, a trip. Just to Snowcap, but I feel like going somewhere, doing a little shopping, seeing some new faces.”

“Sounds good to me,” said Aidan. “What do you think, fuzz-ball, do you want to take a trip?” he asked Littlespark with a grin.

“Yes! Take a trip!”

“I think the vote is unanimous in the affirmative,” said Aidan.

“What are we waiting for then? Let’s go,” said Flame

“What, right now?”

“Sure. It’s not like we’re doing anything else, after all.”

They got ready for the trip quickly. It was a full day’s, or night’s, journey to reach Snowcap village, the only settlement besides the dwarven village on the entire northern continent. It was on the far side of the Barrier Mountains from their own little home.

When they set out Flame Song was in firecat form with Littlespark riding on her back. The little girl was laughing delightedly as the wind rushed through her white hair. She dug her fingers into Flame’s thick fur and said, “Faster, faster!” Flame laughed in response and increased her speed. She ran in a distance-eating lope that she could keep up for miles before tiring. Overhead Aidan flew on wide-stretched wings, swooping and dipping through the air.

They made good time, reaching the pass through the Barrier Mountains just after midnight and coming down into the coastal lowlands where Snowcap village sat before sunrise. They entered the little town as the sun peeped above the horizon. Aidan immediately started yawning. Littlespark echoed him, and Flame was feeling rather tired herself. Aidan landed next to Flame, and she shifted into human form, scooping up the sleepy Littlespark. There was no point alarming people, though many of the folk of Snowcap were familiar with the unusual couple. They made their way through the streets. Around them the village was beginning to wake up, shopkeepers opening their stores, people going about their business, and deliverymen making their rounds.

They arrived at an inn, one they’d stayed at before. A few early risers were leaving just as they arrived. Aidan held the door for Flame and they went in.

The young man at the front desk was a new face. “Can I help you?” he asked.

“We’d like to get a room for the day,” said Aidan.

The young man looked puzzled. “For the day? I don’t think…”

“The owner knows us,” said Aidan. “We’ve stayed here before. And we need a room for the day.”

“I… just a moment.” He vanished through a door behind the counter. Aidan and Flame waited patiently. They’d gone through this before. Few people were accustomed to the kind of reversed schedule they kept, but as their money was as good as anybody else’s they usually didn’t have any trouble getting a room during daylight hours.

The young man returned with a smile. “It’ll be ten coppers.” Aidan handed over the coins and the young man led the way to their room. There was only one bed, but that was the usual thing in Mysteria. If you wanted a second bed, you rented a second room. Aidan and Flame lay down with their already sleeping daughter between them, and soon all three of them were fast asleep.