Gifts of the Fae

[Bainrigh Mab]

She'd kept a distant eye on Kat stumbling her way through the woods and back home and gave her a couple of days to get used to her new powers. She could tell it wasn't exactly what the girl had hoped for, but she's still figuring out how to guide this process. The Sparks are volatile and unpredictable sometimes, especially the more of their power she brings forth. And she hadn't yet fully understood her part or what she even wanted aside from introducing herself to a version of her little sister. But she sees more clearly now.

So, one night, she approaches the McManus' house once more. Wreathed in the shadows and holding a squirming bundle she sends a moth as large as two palms of her hands to flutter again Kat's window.

[Kathleen McManus]

Kat muzzily stirs. It's been a rough few days, and she had a few close calls with her parents. On some level she knows they'd be understanding, but she's not sure she knows what's going on with her new powers yet.

She wearily goes to the window to see what the commotion is, the outside light catching a glint of tapetum in her eyes.

Then, she frowns.

"...I can't keep doing this."

[Bainrigh Mab]

The moth finally settles on the window, wings splayed, and taps it's first pair of legs against the glass like it's knocking.

[Kathleen McManus]

Kat isn't sure it even matters, given who she thinks this is, but she opens the window.

"Look, I can't." She whispers.

[Bainrigh Mab]

The moth flutter and in the movement of it's wings a voice sounds.

"Not if you're afraid, no..." The voice sounds disappointed. "I can help. I brought someone who very much wants to meet you and maybe he can too."

[Kathleen McManus]

"I'm still... well, what you did out in the woods wasn't cool."

[Bainrigh Mab]

"You said you want to be 'bad ass'." the voice says and she must have picked that phrasing from her mind. "That takes courage. You can't be brave without being scared."

A pause. Then, "But I apologize. I haven't talked to others much. My court is empty and gone. I tried to give you what you wanted too swiftly and too strongly. I can help."

[Kathleen McManus]

"Did I... did I make you angry or something? It seemed like we were really..."

[Bainrigh Mab]

"Never! You need not fear my wrath. Should not." she says. Kathleen doesn't need to know that's more aspirational than a solid fact.

"But I come bearing a gift in apology regardless. I do think you will like it."

[Kathleen McManus]

"Are you... out in the yard? Or...?"

She peers about with eyes a little keener than they should be.

[Bainrigh Mab]

She steps out from the nearby treeline, her draping wings adding a kind of moving cloak to her silhouette.

"I won't take you elsewhere, promise."

[Kathleen McManus]

Kat climbs out her window, slowly making her way across the yard.

"So you're wearing that again, now?"

[Bainrigh Mab]

"The story I told you wasn't a lie. It's who I've decided to to be. Who I am. Queen Mab of the Fae, bringing forth innermost dreams." she says and sits down on the ground, legs in a lose lotus position to cradle the squirming bundle. Kat can probably feel something from within the blanket. Impressions of tooth and fur, twitching ears. "I'm still learning how, but I hope this will help." She unwraps the blanket and elicits a growling yip before depositing a ball of fur on the ground. It swiftly rights itself into a shaggy puppy that lets out a questioning whine. No, not a whine, a howl. And her glittering eyes soon pick out details. Black and grey fur, a snout that while smooshed by adolescence is still a bit too sharp and pronounced for a dog, inquisitive yellow-green eyes.

The wolf pup tils it's head and sniffs in Kat's general direction.

[Kathleen McManus]

"You can be... pretty much anything you want, I guess. Like her."

She peers at the bundle, first with interest, then with amazement.

"A puppy? No wait, that's... where did you even get him?"

[Bainrigh Mab]

"From far south. I flew until I heard a lonesome howling. Poachers took his pack from him." she says and pats the wolf's back. "Go ahead. Try to take on some of his shapes so he'll know your smell alongside that of a wolf."

[Kathleen McManus]

"Aw buddy, you really need someone, don't you?"

She closes her eyes, and when they open again they mirror the wolf's, her hair shot through with grey and fur fringing her jawline. She reaches out a hand bearing dark pads and fuzz bristling her knuckles.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of you."

[Bainrigh Mab]

Mab smiles as the wolf pup carefully sniffs Kat's fingers, then yips and starts excitedly running around her, running away a couple steps only to dash back and lick her fingers or rise on his hindlegs to bop her with his paws. And while he's maybe two or three months old, his back already reaches Kat's knee in height. Easily the largest puppy she's ever seen and his barks are quite a bit gravelly, if still a bit high-pitched.

"I thought you might like to."

[Kathleen McManus]

"Have to figure out if I need to hide him from Mum," she sighs. "Guess there's a lot of things I'm hiding from Mum now."

[Bainrigh Mab]

"I can cast a glamour so they will think him an ordinary dog. Sometimes we keep secrets to protect people or because we're waiting for the right time. For instance, there is something I would ask you to help me with but I don't wish to worry you with more than you can handle and there is time."

[Kathleen McManus]

"I do appreciate that you're... like, trying to people with me."

[Bainrigh Mab]

"I haven't been people for a while." she admits. "I think I'm happier that way."

[Kathleen McManus]

"I know it's just... I understand it's an effort, aye?"

[Bainrigh Mab]

"Not too much of one at least. Especially if it means I get to talk to you. I missed you. Or... a version of you."

[Kathleen McManus]

"I know I'm probably not exactly like her but... well, I know Sam needs me around sometimes too. It's okay."

[Bainrigh Mab]

"I don't just need you around, I would ask for your help. You know what it's like to dream of the powers to show how special you know you can be. I want to bring others this gift. Find those who would join me in rebuilding my court."