A cool wind blows off the ocean several miles away, slowing as it passes through the thick forests around Samantha's home. The two little girls she cares for are out playing, so she's decided to spend the afternoon cleaning up. One of the few chances she has to catch up.
Samantha works through several of the piles of leaves that are starting to form, brushing them off to one side... finally, feeling tired, she leans back against the tree.
Picasso sees what Samantha is doing and things maybe she could help.
Picasso chtorrs, "You want those leaves moved elsewhere?"
Samantha nods. "Just trying to keep the paths clear for people walking through here."
Picasso moves to position herself and with a few good sweeps of her wings, clears a fair section of path.
Picasso chtorrs, "I've been wondering something."
Samantha, fortunately, is already backed against the tree. Her tail gets blown about a bit, and she spends a few seconds patting her fur back down before answering. "I'll answer if I can."
Picasso moves to clear another section of path.
Picasso chtorrs, "I'm very grateful you've given me a place to stay and I know you did the same for Acera and Nalae. Why? They've made references to others of your family saying they were dangerous. I don't even want to think what they'd say about me."
Samantha hmmms. "I believe in treating people equally, or at least giving them equal chances to prove themselves. I've seen too much over the years, met too many strange people and things, to be willing to write someone off just because they had problems."
Picasso nods "I'm glad you feel that way. I would have had a hard time here without you.
Samantha nods, and sits down. "I've had people give me a hard time about 'taking in strays'. Most of those people have never set foot outside the city, and don't know what life is really like." She shrugs. "People have shown me kindness and given me help when I had nothing to offer in return. The least I can do is carry on the tradition."
Picasso chtorrs, "I hope I can do the same. It doesn't seem that my appearance bothers those I've met here for the most part. Even Nalae seems to be a little easier around me."
Samantha smiles. "Good. I was worried about her at first. She's not been here very long herself."
Picasso chtorrs, "Why do you live out here instead of in the city?"
Samantha says, "Fewer distractions... more time to do the things that can really matter."
Picasso nods.
Picasso chtorrs, "I think I might like to see the city eventually. "
Samantha nods. "That can easily be arranged. With the arrival of the Chirr.. te.. THAr, the people in town are a little more willing to accept strange looking people as intelligent right now."
Picasso chtorrs, "They wouldn't normally? Shape has little to do with intelligence."
Samantha says, "When you've lived all your life with all the people in certain shapes being intelligent, and all the animals in a different shape not, you start to make assumptions about the correlation."
Picasso gets that distant look for a moment before saying quietly "Shape is relative. I know that better than most."
Samantha looks at you curiously. "How so?"
Picasso chtorrs, "You saw the argument I was having the night I came here. Shape was basically what it was about."
Picasso chtorrs, "Or rather my ability to change mine."
Samantha ahhs. "I didn't catch what it was about. I only saw the end of it."
Picasso chtorrs, "I can take other forms though only have tried one other. It's not easy and rather dangerous, at least according to my former teacher in magic."
Samantha nods. "I can imagine. Playing around with your own self-image is a good way to get lost."
Picasso chtorrs, "That's the danger. The more different the form from ones natural shape the more danger. The only other shape I've tried is not too far different."
Samantha just nods at this.
Picasso chtorrs, "Still, it wasn't easy. It also got me exiled as you saw. I think I frightened the council. They didn't fly much."
This last is obviously a negative epithet.
Samantha chuckles. "Those with little imagination seem to gravitate towards places of power."
Picasso nods.
Samantha says, "That's another part of why I'm out here. I'm not exiled, but I just don't feel comfortable in with the city people and their own narrow views of reality anymore."
Picasso chtorrs, "It's pleasant out here. There is enough to eat and the weather is warm."
Samantha says, "For now. It gets colder come wintertime."
Picasso nods.
Samantha adds, "Which will be fairly soon. I expect first frost in a couple of weeks."
Picasso chtorrs, "That means molting won't be far off. My least favorite thing about the season change."
Samantha chuckles as well. "And some of us have to deal with winter coats as well. I know Acera does; she turns much whiter in the winter."
Picasso chtorrs, "I just itch and can't fly for a week or so."
Samantha nods. "Which is enough trouble in itself."
Picasso chtorrs, "I have been told I get grumpy......I probably do."
Samantha says, "Most people seem to."
Picasso clears off a final section of path and suggests taking a break for some tea.
Samantha nods. "Sounds like a good idea. I've got most of the things inside cleared out, it's long past time for a rest."
Picasso follows Samantha back to the tree.
Samantha wanders in and sets the kettle on.