Olivia's room
Inside this room are several pieces of well-worn furniture, inherited from past occupants: a bed, a long, squat dresser with a slice of mirror hung above it, and a small desk and chair. The rest of the room is decorated in what can best be described as "controlled chaos." Canvases cover most of the wall space, on which have been glued odd assortments of buttons, twine, bits of colored cloth, autumn leaves, pebbles of varying sizes, etc. Some of this "art" represents recognizable figures but most are unlike anything ever seen before. Overflowing bags stuffed with cloth scraps sit near the doorway, while more cloth, bobbins of thread, yarn, and ribbons cover the surface of the desk. Located next the bed is something that might be a nightstand (judging from the trinkets resting on it), but it too is built from a mishmash of smaller elements, twisting around and around like a corkscrew and then widening and flattening at the top.

With Gunther's help, Olivia made it home without incident. He bid her good night and she retired to bed for the second time that evening. Thankfully, no more strange dreams came to haunt her and she awakens mid-morning. Unlike in the dream (if it was completely a dream), today Olivia doesn't have the morning shift, so she's free until after lunch. Light streams in between the cracks in her curtains and the sound of milling about in the Weaver complex intrudes upon her slow return to the land of the awake.

As soon as Olivia opens her eyes, she holds her hands in front of her face again, just to make sure that she hasn't transformed back into a troll in the night. Finding that she is still a Skeek, she breathes a sigh of relief before getting out of bed. Pulling her clothes on quickly, she brushes her hair and puts on her rose-hat, then heads to the kitchens for breakfast. She figures she'd better eat something before going to see Madame Natasha, just in case their talk runs long… as she figures it might.

On her way to the kitchen, Olivia spots something a bit unusual … Gunther is leaning back in a chair against a nearby wall, only about thirty feet from her cabin door. His eyes are closed and he's, well, drooling a bit. Yep, the Kadie is fast asleep.

Olivia simply watches the Kadie sleep for a minute, then tiptoes back to her room and brings out one of the blankets from her bed. She drapes this over Gunther, then hurries off to the kitchens. In another minute, she's back with a little plate filled with nuts and dried fruit slices for the Kadie's own breakfast, which she puts near him on the floor. Then she slips a note next to the plate: "Dear Everyone, Please leave this for Gunther. Thank you, Olivia." Then she returns to have her own meal.

The only reaction from Gunther is a bit of a snorting snore when the blanket is draped over him. Breakfast in the kitchen is like most days; a few apprentices here and there chattering to each other. Some wave to Olivia when she enters, but otherwise don't make any rude comments about her … unlike last night.

"You've got the afternoon shift today, right?" one of the apprentices asks Olivia as he passes by. "Just make sure to be on time, your Aunt is in a snit today. Something about someone dug through all the supplies last night and made a horrible mess. She'll probably take her irritation out on anyone who does something remotely wrong right now."

Olivia looks up from her plate at this and stops the other apprentice for a moment. "Was anything taken, do you know?" she asks worriedly.

"Nah, someone just scattered the supplies about. My bet is on that Kadie out there. I hear he's nothing but a troublemaker," the apprentice notes as she's grabbing herself some dried fruit.

Olivia feigns a look of relief. "Well, at least nothing was stolen," she says, taking another swallow of her tea, pretending that absolutely nothing is wrong. Inwardly, she thinks, Did I do that? If so, I wonder what I was looking for… and maybe I should volunteer to help clean it up later? That way I can see what the mess is like.

"You know, it could have been some of the otters, too. They're always into stuff. The only weird part were some strange scratches on the floor and they didn't match Kadie or otter claws. Anyway, see you later," the apprentice tells Olivia and slips back out of the kitchen, leaving her alone to finish her breakfast.

Olivia carefully puts down her teacup and rests her hands on the tabletop, staring at her fingernails. In her mind's eye, she can see those silvery claws again, sprouting from her fingertips. She shivers and forces herself to eat the rest of what's on her plate, then heads out of the compound.

The town is lively at this time of day; various Skeeks and Kadies zip here and there, tending to matters of business. Some Olivia immediately recognizes, like Curiel. Others are people she's seen before, but never got their names. Curiel spots Olivia as she's heading towards the campgrounds and tries to wave her over.

Olivia is about to pretend that she doesn't see the Kadie woman and walk away, but her conscience niggles at her and she doubles back. "Hello Curiel," she says pleasantly enough, as she approaches. "Is there something you needed to talk to me about?"

"Yes!" Curiel says, smiling, "I've been thinking on ways to dress up the wines we sell and I wanted to see if you would be willing to work up some cute little white bottle sleeves with flowers and other things on them. Anyone can sell a glass bottle of wine … but I want to make sure ours look special so that people will buy it and discover that it is special. I want our wine to stand out."

Olivia nods and smiles her approval of Curiel's idea. "That sounds like a great selling point, actually," she tells the woman. "Would you like for me to drop by your house later and discuss exactly what you want? I'm a bit busy today, but sometime in the next few days should be okay. What do you think?"

"Oh, that's fine! There's no rush, I just wanted to mention it to you when I saw you," Curiel chitters away. "Aiky is going on a trip soon, so maybe you could come over that night, help out with Kiona some, and we could discuss ideas."

Olivia considers this for a bit. "Well, as long as I didn't stay out too late, I guess that would be all right," she says slowly. "Okay then, just send word to the Weavers on the day Aiken leaves and I'll come over that evening."

"You're a dear, thanks!" Curiel says with a smile and scurries to deal with daily deliveries and order placement.

"You're welcome!" Olivia calls after the Kadie woman, then turns again towards the gypsy's camp, her mood slightly lifted by the compliment.

Somehow, Olivia manages to escape the town without getting stopped again. It always seems when you have to get somewhere everyone conspires against you to prevent you from getting there. Just up ahead is the gypsy camp. Olivia can make out Liliana doing some dance instruction with some of her girls … and periodically having to yell at Djivan. He's perched atop his wagon and, well, keeps flicking nuts at the dancers. He's probably trying to get them to land in strategic places.

Feeling rather like Gunther now, Olivia slips around the edges of the camp to Natasha's wagon, making sure that the two don't see her. She'd rather not have to tell anyone else exactly why she's here – for now, she only wants the Khatta to hear the full story of her nightmare.

Olivia sneaks around one of the wagons, and she's so intent on not being seen by Djivan or Liliana that she runs square into Bravil. Or rather, into his stomach. The large Jupani's eyebrows arch a bit and he comments, "Your nose is in my navel, Miss Weaver."

Olivia squeeeeks! in surprise as she runs into the large wolf. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" she apologizes, backing up a few hasty steps. "I wasn't watching where I was going."

There's a bit of a huffing laugh from the canid. "You do not wish to be seen?" he asks and looks to the rather comical (and juvenile) behavior going on near the dancers.

"Not particularly, no," the Skeek admits, the insides of her ears turning a little red. "I wanted to talk to Natasha and I don't have much time today. So I didn't want to be roped into more of Lili's dancing lessons, that's all!"

"Mmm," Bravil says and nods his head slightly. Then without even asking, the Jupani picks Olivia up and tucks her under his arm. He walks straight towards Natasha's wagon, angled so that the dancers side wouldn't be able to see Olivia.

Somewhat muffled by the wolf's fur against her face, Olivia tells Bravil quietly, "Thanks for the help!" Then she just relaxes and tries to enjoy the ride!

The trip is short, but at least she's not accosted along the way by anyone else. Bravil gently sets Olivia on the steps to Natasha's wagon once they arrive. As for her thanks, he just closes his eyes and formally bows his head to the Skeek. "You're welcome," he notes. He also doesn't quite look like he's going to leave until Olivia goes inside.

Olivia squeezes the Jupani's large hand gently with her own small one before rapping on the door to Natasha's wagon. "Hello? It's Olivia," she calls out softly.

The doorknob turns and the door swings silently open. "You're always welcome to enter," comes Natasha's voice from somewhere within.

Olivia darts quickly inside and after a last nod to Bravil, closes the door behind her. She then looks around for the Khatta.

Madame Natasha's Wagon
Dark. Very, very dark. The Khatta seems to prefer to keep the lights low in her somber wagon. The walls are draped in black fabric with arcane silvery symbols. In the center of the wagon sits a round table that's about enough to seat three people around it. In the center of the table rests a crystal ball. A few feet behind the table hangs another sheet of dark fabric, presumably for keeping her bedding and personal items away from prying eyes.

Natasha is reclining on the far side of the wagon. She's not fully dressed yet, and is, in fact, wearing some sort of simple white nightgown. In her lap is some old book and resting on the ridge of her muzzle are a worn set of spectacles. Her hand is extended towards Olivia and there's a faint blue glow around it. And now inside, Olivia can see the faint blue glow around the inner doorknob as well. The Khatta flicks her wrist and the door swings closed fairly quietly. With a sidelong glance to Olivia, she says, "You are troubled, Miss Weaver."

Olivia, now well used to the mage scanning her surface thoughts with the help of the runes carved above the door, merely nods at this. "Very. I was hoping that you might have time to talk with me about that, but if you want me to come back later… " She trails off, indicating that Natasha is still in her night things.

Natasha's ears flick and she closes her book, then sets it on the table. "Now I know something seriously wrong, not just a small problem. You did not complain that I called you Miss Weaver," the Khatta notes with a small smile. "I would be remiss in turning you away now. Please, come, sit, tell me. You know I always make time for you."

Olivia takes up one of the chairs set at the table and pulls it up closer to Natasha. After she sits, she takes off her hat and runs a hand distractedly through the hair at the back of her neck. "I never thought I'd be coming to you for something like this, but I had a very disturbing dream last night. It seemed so real… and when I woke up, I found that I had walked in my sleep, something I've never done before. If Gunther hadn't followed me, I probably would've been seriously hurt. I went all the way through town like that and into the woods!"

Natasha frowns a bit at the comment on sleepwalking. "I see. Well, you have been involved with a great many supernatural events as of late. It does tend to amplify dreams as a side effect," the Khatta says. "What did you dream?"

Olivia takes a very deep breath and begins describing her dream for the Khatta. She tries to be as detailed as she can, hoping that might help with the questions she has to ask later. She begins with the events that took place during the morning shift at the Weaver's, then moves on to running into Gunther and their encounter with 'Liliana,' then finishes with her own transformation at the hands of 'Gunther.' Once she has run out of dream to describe, she simply looks at her friend, remaining silent in case she has any questions of her own to ask before she talks about what happened when she awoke.

"Well … these trolls. What experience with them did you have before this dream? What had you learned about them?" Natasha asks very seriously.

Olivia nods and launches into an explanation of what happened in the night during her date with Djivan at Amelia's private spot. She also tells her about what she, Zahn, and Amelia found out about them from poking around in Dr. Pike's cellars, and describes what they heard on the sound cylinders.

Natasha nods at this and lifts her glasses off. "Well, I have to start by saying I am not a Life Mage, so transformative magics are outside my general realm of experience," she says, "But, I can say these things and I hope they help… First, true shape shifters are rare and to have the ability to assume any form, much less a specific alternate form, well … is even more rare. The likelihood of meeting one, less being one … well, you are more likely to have a Waashu fall on your head while out for a walk. Secondly … I know you have had a troubled relationship with your mother. I … can imagine because of that you have often felt out of place amongst the other Skeeks. It's hard to have a fractured family like yours. Now … add that with the stuff from the cylinders and the stories I'm sure you've heard about trolls and the taking of children and well … it is a perfect recipe for a very bad dream. So … I would lean towards it just being a dream and that you are not some troll replacement for a Skeek, Olivia."

Olivia relaxes just a tiny bit, but she doesn't look entirely convinced. "I understand most of what you're saying – really, I do! – but there are still a few things that concern me. First of all, the story about trolls taking children? I'd actually never heard that until I dreamt about Gunther telling me so. Amelia didn't even mention this when I told her about our visit from that baby troll during my date night. Secondly, where I woke up from the dream frightens me, too. I walked all the way from the Weavers' back to the underground amphitheater, which is very close to where Djivan and I spent the night. Gunther also said that I knocked on a part of the wall there, as if I expected to be let in by something. And last of all… " Here she tells Natasha about the mess found that morning at the Weavers' – and the clawmarks that were nearby.

"Well, consider that you fed the small troll on the night of your date," Natasha notes and taps the tips of her fingers together, "It may have been looking for you … not unlike how a stray animal tries to adopt people. I imagine the Weavers guild bears your scent and if the trolls live underground, they likely operate by sound and scent. As for sleepwalking, well, sometimes it does happen. Because of the dream and your belief in it that you were a troll … maybe you were trying to go where you saw them last." The Khatta then shrugs and leans forward a bit, adding, "I do not believe you are a troll, Olivia. I have never seen any sort of unusual spiritual signature on you."

Olivia sighs and nods, this time sinking back in her chair. "Okay," she says softly. "I'll just have to take your word for it. But I admit the idea still scares me a little. I just don't want to be in a position where I'd unwittingly hurt anyone."

"Hmm. Well, would it make you feel better if I spoke with your town witch and worked out some sort of ritual to either confirm or refute your concerns about being a troll?" Natasha asks.

Olivia looks back up at the Khatta, hope mingling with fear in her eyes. "Would you really do that for me?" she asks gratefully. "I think I'd rest a whole lot easier knowing one way or the other – or at least knowing more than I do now."

Natasha gives Olivia a rather peculiar look. "Would I do it for you? Olivia, for goodness sake, what I offered is minor compared to what I would be willing to risk for you. You're family," she says firmly. "And if you want to seek other assurances as well, you may wish to speak with Doctor Pike and her Assistant, Igor. They both specialize in monsters, after all."

Olivia rubs at her eyes with the back of one hand before smiling at Natasha. "Thank you so much. I guess it really does take a personal crisis to find out who your true friends are," she says, thinking of Gunther as well. "And I believe you're right – I should go talk to Dr. Pike. Amy mentioned going to see her after I told Amy about that baby troll, so perhaps I can get her to come with me on that basis. I don't know how she's going to react when she finds out the rest of my story, but that's a chance I'll have to take."