With the problem of the Lapis still nagging Amelia's mind, she decides to head towards the gypsy camp to talk with an expert on the effects of spirit magic … namely the originator of the linkage ritual that has caused the twin does to desire her boyfriend; Madame Natasha. As she approaches the wagon, though, the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She could swear something was hunting her…

Amelia looks around behind her, her tail up and poofed out. "Hmm," she mutters, and then knocks on the door to the Mage's wagon.

Somehow, Amelia has this sudden urge to duck right before she knocks. And it's a good thing that she does, because no sooner is she down than a red and black Eeee comes swinging down from the roofing trusses of the wagon, just barely missing the grab she was making for the visitor. "Oh, feh, vou no' Olivia!" Liliana complains when she sees that it's Amelia.

"How could you possibly mistake me for a Skeek!" Amy snaps from where she's crouched down on the steps of the wagon.

"Goin' by sound only," Liliana explains. "An Olivia is de person dat visits Natasha de most." She extends her arms towards Amelia and asks, "Vanna snog?" That's followed by an upside own, fangy grin.

"I just finished sparring with Bravil," Amy notes. "I'm a little too keyed-up for snogging, sorry!"

"I kin calm vou down… " Liliana offers as she reaches out and grips the side frame of the wagon. Her feet unhook from the frame and she slowly flips herself down. Now upright, she releases her hands.

"Sure, if you want to make me some nice chamomile tea," Amelia says, straightening back up and brushing her tail-fur down a bit. "Is Natasha in, do you know?"

Liliana cants her head back a bit and her ears flick. "Yah, I kin hear her chanting inside," the bat notes.

"Chanting?" Amy asks, looking disappointed. "Is it understandable chanting, or working-up-magic chanting?"

Liliana has to listen for a minute or so. "It's 'I can't get dis thing t' enchant' kinda chanting. I 'eard something like it before vhen she is experimenting with things," the Eeee notes. "I doubt she mind a visitor if she just experimentin'."

Amelia hmms, and tries knocking on the door again. "I hope she's not in a poor mood then," she comments to the Eeee.

The head of Natasha's familiar comes through the door and peers at Amelia. "It's you," it comments, "One moment." The head disappears back inside.

"Why does it say that?" Amy asks. "I mean… it's obviously me. It doesn't need to tell me that… "

"Mebbe you forgot?" Liliana offers with a grin, "Vell, gotta go cause chaos. Seeyas later!" The Eeee leans over, licks Amelia's ear, then runs off!

Amelia rubs her ear and shakes her head as she watches the bat flee. "If Gunther was older, he'd be a perfect match for her… " she mutters.

There's a click and the door opens. Amelia is greeted by Natasha's familiar again. Only this time it's the same height as she is, standing on two legs, and wearing a robe. Of course it's still transparent. With a flourish of its hand and stepping to the side, it says, "Enter, daughter of Bloodfur."

With a twitch of her tail at the Bloodfur comment, Amy enters. "Should I even wonder why you're wearing a robe now?" she asks the dragon.

"Should I ask why you wear clothing?" the spirit counters.

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 big 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.

Indeed Natasha is home; she's sitting on the far side as usual. Before her floats … some sort of spectral ball. At its center spins a small crystal with odd markings inscribed upon its surface. The Khatta's fingers dance and tap along the glowing sphere … each point of contact flaring brightly for a moment. This close, Amelia can hear the chanting now; it's a quiet sort of sing-song sound and certainly not in any language she knows.

"I don't want to cause a disturbance, that's why," Amelia says, then freezes and stares at the glowing ball and its crystal. "Errr, if I'm interrupting I can… wait… that's why the familiar is here, isn't it?" She turns towards the spectral reptile, and says, "Natasha's busy, so I have to talk to you, right?"

"I am here to deal with mundane tasks," the spirit answers, "While my Mistress works. It frees her … " There's a flash and the ball floating before Natasha vanishes. With several clicks, the Khatta's claws catch the crystal before it falls to the table. "There is no need to talk to him, Amelia," Natasha says as she sets the crystal lightly on the table. "The crystal is not pure enough to hold the enchantment and I do not know the necessary ritual to restructure it properly. That is not my sphere."

"What are you trying to enchant it to do?" Amy asks as she comes closer to the table, eying the shiny crystal warily.

"Track the residual energies left by Valicross," Natasha notes and holds the crystal up. Slowly she turns it in her hand and light dances off its facets. "Mage Qing told me a few things that were … disturbing, so I thought making a small warning charm would be a good use of my time. Particularly if you or Olivia decide to venture into any ruins. Not that you like to explore ruins, no?" The feline's brow arches questioningly.

"Not necromantic ruins," Amelia claims. "That's more Olivia's thing. I just wanted to ask you a little about something."

Natasha sits back and steeples her fingers. Her dark brow furrows as she looks at Amelia for a moment. "Something has happened with your boyfriend," she states.

"How'd you know?" Amelia asks, looking surprised.

"Would a witch answer that question?" Natasha counters with a bemused smile. " I cannot reveal all my secrets, child. Now, please, sit. Can I get you anything? Would you wish my familiar to groom you while we talk?"

"It knows how to comb a tail?" Amy asks, looking back at the spectral reptile. "It won't get fresh, will it?"

"As long as you do not have such thoughts, it will not. Spirits tend to react to those around them," Natasha notes. The strange familiar holds up its hand with very long claws on the tips…

"I guess it's alright then, so long as his claws aren't too cold," Amy agrees. "Anyway, because of the ritual to fix Clover, both her and Parsley have the hots for Zahn now, but he doesn't have the same urge. If he gives in to them though, will it make a stronger bond between them or anything? Will this all pass? Will he end up falling in love with them?"

The 'dragon' proceeds to carefully run its claws through Amelia's tail. Unfortunately, its touch is a bit cold … but not too unpleasant. After Amelia explains the situation, Natasha asks, "And you are certain he does not desire them as well now? I did warn that becoming close to those you were bound to was a possible reaction."

"He's more worried about how I'd feel about it than about what they want," Amy points out. "And sure, he probably wants to jump on them. He's still a guy! Should I let him jump on me first though? Would it make a difference?"

"Ah, the troubles of youth," Natasha chuckles and shakes her head. "His reaction tells me that he already had someone in his heart, so it protected him from, ah, lusting, as much for them. As for the order of who jumps who … I do not think it would make much difference. The bond has formed and only if they had to undergo a similar ritual again would it strengthen. The worst case is it would remain as it is now … the best case is it would fade over time. Given these are Lapi … their nature would… hmm. I would expect it to remain as it is; as their nature encourages its effects." She pauses and taps her fingers together, then asks, "Do you want me to try to sever it? It should be possible."

"What would the side effects of that be though?" Amelia asks. "I don't want Clover suddenly getting all depressed because the warm fuzzy feeling is gone."

"That is a possibility. Tell me … does Clover have many close friends? Friends she cares about?" Natasha asks.

"Just her sister, I think," Amelia answers after a bit of thought. "We used to be pretty close once too, when we were younger."

"Then the loss of her new friend may hurt her a great deal," Natasha says and closes her eyes for a moment. Slowly, they open back up and she continues, "It is nothing she would not recover from, I would think … but you may wish to wait until she is in better health and heart before attempting to sever it. It really worries you that the two Lapis have, ah, desire for Zahn, doesn't it? Do you feel … ah, less capable than them?"

"Errr, yes?" Amelia admits. "They know all sorts of tricks and stuff, and I know how to kiss and cuddle a bit. Do men care about that sort of thing?"

"Of course they do," Natasha notes, "Viktor, for example, ah … well, this is about you and not him. Tell me something … what did you do to make Zahn decide on you?"

"I… decided on him," Amelia says. "I'm not sure I had to do anything more than that. I don't know if anyone else ever really got his attention before."

"Now, if you didn't have to do anything and he adores you … why would Lapis who know many … tricks … be a threat? He wanted to be with you and you didn't have to do anything at all," Natasha points out. "You enjoy being with each other even if it does not involve physical intimacy, yes?"

"Yes, when we aren't arguing," Amelia admits. "Although… sometimes the arguing is fun too."

At that, Natasha has to grin. "Affection born by magic is never as strong as that born by nature, Amelia," she says, "I do not think they pose any true threat to the bond you already share with him. Even if they do, ah, jump him … just realize what he learns from that, well … he can show you some time. And really, you should talk to him about how you feel. Does he know that you feel less attractive than them?"

"I didn't say I felt less attractive… " Amy says, twiddling her thumbs. "Just… less experienced. I had the twins promise that they wouldn't do anything with Zahn until after I'd had the chance first. But I'm a Kadie! I know I'm more attractive to Zahn than the bunnies are. I just want to make sure that if he does do anything with them, it won't cause more problems. I already told him he could invite Parsley to sleep with us at night."

"Well, from a purely magical perspective, I do not see how it would cause more problems," Natasha notes. "You could, hmm… I'm not sure you would want to do that."

Amelia blinks and tries not to twitch her familiar-combed tail in curiosity. "I wouldn't want to do what?" she asks, leaning forward.

"You and Parsley together could always, ah … break him in before he is allowed with the twins alone," Natasha answers with an amused smile. "So you could see what Parsley had planned to do."

"I'd thought of that," Amy notes, sitting back again. "But it wouldn't work without breaking tradition. Lapi can't chase around through trees."

"No, but she could make it more of a challenge by trying to distract him while he pursues you," Natasha notes, "Or … after he catches you … you and he catch her." Apparently Natasha knows a small bit about the courtship ritual.

"I don't want to kill Zahn on our first time together!" Amelia notes. "I have to let him have some recovery time. But maybe something afterwards… hmm." She looks thoughtful, then asks, "How do you even know to suggest this stuff? Is it because of being around Liliana?"

"Your problems are nothing compared to the complications that Eeee has brought to my tribe," Natasha notes as she props her head up with her palm. "I have had to learn how each species courts because of her, to make sure I can defuse any … chaos she tries to cause."

"She can't be that promiscuous!" Amelia says, then thinks about if for a moment. "Forget I said that. Small community, moving around a lot… not a lot of new faces. And she's a vampire."

"Just so," Natasha comments, bemused. "She has a good heart … just wandering hands. The only person to ever beat her at her 'game' is your Buffy."

"And Buffy's a virgin," Amelia notes with a grin. "I wonder how she subdued Liliana? I should ask Miranda sometime… "

"Liliana wants to see Buffy again," Natasha notes, "Which is likely not a good idea."

"Well, I think she's losing Morgan," Amelia whispers, going into gossip mode. "She might be feeling lonely."

"Maybe. I have never known her to be particularly … needy or attaching to one person. Being on the road tends to keep many from growing too attached," Natasha says with a small sigh. "And unless they wish to join the tribe, we always have to leave them behind. There are times I wish we could just settle and have a real home."

"You might want to mention that to Viktor," Amelia suggests, still grinning.

"Perhaps I will," Natasha agrees, "Perhaps I will." After pausing to rub the bridge of her muzzle (and peering over Amelia's shoulder to make sure her familiar is still dutifully combing out her tail), she says, "Do you feel any better about the complications that have come from the ritual? Are you still glad it was done, or … would you now have wished to have left Clover as she was?"

"I'm glad it was done," Amelia says. "Zahn learned something from it, and Clover is a bit more likable now."

"Hopefully what he learned doesn't encourage him to journey further into danger," Natasha comments absently. "It didn't involve any of his passions, I hope?"

"Err, probably most of them that don't involve me," Amelia admits. "And brining up something from the past that used to be well understood but is now a mystery."

"Mm. Then you should stay close to him and make sure that he does not … do something kadie," Natasha says … again with that bemused smile. "And may I make an observation?"

"I've been doing that since we got together," Amy claims. "Go right ahead," she says to the request, and then looks back to see that it isn't something to do with her tail.

"You two make a charming couple," Natasha notes. "Very different and very complimentary."

"Isn't that how it's supposed to work?" Amelia asks. "Opposites attracting and all?"

"Well, not always," Natasha notes, "But sometimes. So tell me something … do you like Lapis? Have you ever had one of them try to, ah … seduce you?"

"None ever had the nerve," Amy says proudly. "The one who came to clean my cabin was nice though, and I learned to snog from him. Only Emmett has tried to really pursue me. He has no fear at all."

A chuckle from the Khatta follows. "You like being feared, then?" she asks.

"Like it?" Amy asks, as if never considering it before. "It's not like I went out of my way to be feared! It's just… you know… being a witch-in-training before learning how to kill monsters… "

"You like it," Natasha notes, brow arched a bit. "Is there anything else you wish to ask of me?"

Amelia scratches her chin in thought. "Do you think I should be more… demure?"

"I think you should be who you wish to be. Trying to fit yourself to another's mold never ends well," Natasha says as she sits back once more and folds her hands together. "Besides, I do not think your Zahnrad would appreciate a more demure Kadie. He needs … ah … guidance from a strong one."

"Oh, good!" Amelia says, relieved. "Although he does cringe a lot now, like he expects me to hit him sometimes… "

"Oh … that just means you've trained him well," Natasha says, grinning a bit toothily.

"Wow, I never knew I was doing it!" Amy says. "I mean, I haven't used any witch headology on him at all."

"Oh, they do it to themselves, child," Natasha notes, "Most males when they find the woman they wish to please will do anything for them and practically train themselves over time."

"Really?" Amy asks. "So… I guess Lili couldn't train Djivan at all then?"

"Oh, he's much better now that when he was younger," Natasha comments. "But in truth, Djivan is a good soul and cares much for others. It is just that … when he senses someone doesn't like him, he tends to give them reasons to dislike him."

"He must sense that everyone dislikes him then," Amy notes. "I've never seen him get off on the right foot with anyone yet. Although I didn't see what happened when he and Olivia met. Maybe he wasn't so crude to her."

"I didn't either. But I believe Liliana was present," Natasha says. "You have to understand, he has had a hard life. You know what his father was like now and I think it has always bothered him that his mother lost her family because of him."

"Aha!" Amy says, nearly standing in her chair! "That explains it! Djivan must seem better next to Liliana! And yeah, his father was a jerk."

Natasha jerks backward. Amelia nearly gets a claw in her butt as it seems she forgot there was a dragon combing her tail. "Calm yourself, Amelia," Natasha says as she regains her composure. "Have you ever tried having a real conversation with him … without trading insults?"

"Of course not. Olivia would think I was after him or something," Amy says.

"Are you certain you are not? Often affection starts with trading insults," Natasha says teasingly.

"No, I hear he attracts monsters and fights with Creens," Amy says.

"Perhaps you are a monster, then," Natasha purrs, amused.

"Are you just messing with me now?" Amelia asks, sitting back down.

"Yes. I do not often get chances to just … talk with people. Usually they want something or are overly polite," Natasha notes, smiling a bit. "But if you want to be a true monster, I hear that the Countess Draco can change people. Perhaps if you visited her… "

"I just need to scare monsters, not be one," Amy says, crossing her arms. "And you could always go talk with Isolde. I mean… you've got a lot in common… "

"Would she appreciate the company?" Natasha asks in all honesty. "I do not normally involve myself with those of the town out of respect for them."

"Well, I don't know if she takes Morgan on 'round the cottages anymore," Amy says. "She might like the company."

"Then perhaps I shall visit her. Would you be kind and relay a request to her to see if she is receptive to a visit?" Natasha asks.

Amelia takes a moment to parse that. "Oh, sure! And don't forget to talk to Bravil. Hinting to him that you'd like to go on a picnic sometime would help too."

That elicits a raise of her brow. "Any particular place I should hint at?" the feline asks.

"If he asks, 'maybe along the road to the north a bit'," Amy suggests.

Again the Khatta's brow goes up. "I will do so," she agrees. The smile that creeps over her muzzle is one Amelia knows all to well from her time in witch training. It is a knowing smile.

"I don't suppose there's anything you want to ask me about?" Amy offers.

"Would you some day like me to test you for magic talent in the way mages are tested?" Natasha offers. "I know you did not pass the tests of the town witch … but it does not mean you may be without any talent for crafting the ether."

Amelia hmms. "I suppose it couldn't hurt."

"I wouldn't say that," Natasha warns. "Some find the trial to be painful."

"How painful?" Amy asks.

"Afraid?" Natasha asks. "In truth, moderately so. Sometimes to see if you have talent … the best way is to force the student to defend themselves from … an attack."

"You mean from the lizard?" Amy asks, pointing over her shoulder with a thumb.

"I am a decent fighter in some ways," the dragon answers. "And adept at testing your … weaknesses." Natasha's ears flick in a way that conveys, 'There is your answer'.

"I can guess," Amy mutters. "You'd try to goad my curse out I bet."

"Curse?" Natasha inquires, brow arched. The dragon, however, just smiles toothily.

"It's what made me a witch candidate in the first place," Amy says. "A hereditary… condition."

"Explain, please," Natasha notes, interlacing her fingers once more.

"Err, remember when we were fighting in Bravil's memories?" Amy asks. "And my fur would turn red?"

"Yes," Natasha answers.

"Well, that's the curse," Amy says. "I'm a Bloodfur." She doesn't offer any more explanation than that though – after all, everyone in Sylvania knows what it means.

"I see. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to return to my experiment. It has been enjoyable talking with you, Amelia," Natasha says as she picks up the crystal from the table and peers at it again.

"Err, okay," Amelia says. "Thanks for talking and for the grooming! I'll talk to Isolde too." The Kadie gets up and pats the familiar on the head, making sure to stop her hand before it would pass through.

"And Amelia?" Natasha asks, her eyes peering around the crystal.

"Yes ma'am?" Amy asks as she reaches for the door latch.

This time it is the dragon who speaks. "There is no warning or notification when the test begins," it says as it blinks at her with emotionless eyes. To the dragon, Natasha dips her head, then adds for it, "Good day."