I wake up with the rising sun settling over the small clearing. The heavy morning dew catching the orange light with a faint smile tugging on the corners of my lips. Taking a deep breath to welcome in the new day. The smell of horses and of charcoal welcomes me, reminding me of what I've set myself to do today. Getting up as I glance over the group that are mostly asleep. With one of the men sitting by the fire pit looking half asleep himself. But I spot who I'm looking for once again hidden against the trees I make my way over.

  Clearing my throat I speak as plainly as I can. “I will join your small group. Though I'm not sure how much help I'll be with the tribes.”

  She glances up at me from her sitting position in-between some of the roots of a large pine. The morning sun's light shines on her horns revealing that they have a dark orange color shining like little barely living embers.

  “Well that's good, this caravan was bound to fail otherwise. I wouldn't want this poorly planned business opportunity to ruin my record.” She stands up bringing her to just below my eye level. Patting any of the dirt off of her clothes I notice that she has a tail, my eyes immediately being drawn to the stingering at the end of it.

  “Introductions are probably a good way to start this new partnership for however long it will last. My name's Xetrics.” She says staring up at me it takes me a second to realize that she's waiting for my answer.

  “Oh, my name's Akken of the billowing thunder tribe. Though I'm currently unwelcome.” Tapping a closed fist against my heart twice before nodding at her.

  “That's what I expected with you obviously being a hybrid, and sounding so young. Though I'm not sure how well Ket is going to like hearing it, he'll have to deal with it. Either you or that fool Veln as our guide.” She glares strongly at one tent behind us looking over at it. I see that it's barely standing and riddled with poorly done patches.

  “But that's besides the point so I'll introduce you to everyone once we actually get onto the road again.” With that she sits back down closing her eyes probably to get what little time left of rest she can before the rest of her group. No caravan is what she called it.

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  With a smile still on my face just thinking about that interaction. How long has it been since I introduced myself to someone, years? It's been years since I really met someone new who I had to introduce myself to. Xertrics, that's an interesting name, interesting how she said it. Clearly it doesn't match Salkin. She clicked her teeth and scraped them against each other at the end of her name.

  “Zertics, no zertricks, still not right.” I keep practicing her name trying to get the ending sound right. It's like high pitched scraping stones. I keep feeling my teeth rub against each other for every attempt.

  “Xertricsss.” I raise my hands in a small celebration, the sound coming out more as a hiss at the end but I did it the click and scrape made the right sound. Sounding more of a whisper than how Xertircs herself was able to speak at a regular volume but it's progress. Bringing my arms down I notice subtle movements out of the corner of my eye.

  It's Xertics. She's laughing and looking at me then she waves. She must have heard me, SHE MUST HAVE HEARD ME! Immediately the firebearer wants to coil into myself and disappear in embarrassment blushing fiercely. I begin to feel warmth spread to my cheeks but the bear and elk keep it at bay. The elk wants to bugle at her not caring that my bugle is more of a squeaky squeal without the bear's roar at the beginning. Then the bear wants to growl a warning at her to not laugh at my efforts to get her name right.

  Feeling the growl and bugle begin to well up in the back of my throat. I turn away the firebear momentarily, winning enough that we can go farther from her from where we were standing between the camp and the tree where she's resting. Going past the tents both poorly put together and well put together I keep going to where they set up the horses before I flop myself down spooning the horses a little.

  With a groan I cover my face with my hands feeling my chest rumbling with embarrassment at everything. Now the elk and bear share in it with the firebearer. Why did I practice close enough for her to hear me? Slamming my right hand into the ground causing an indent in the soft wet mud. Taking a deep breath before letting it out I take a closer look at the horse's.

  They're as far as they can be with their tethers keeping them tied to the tree branches. They're afraid and tense, looking like they're ready for me to attack at any moment. I can't blame them, they know what's best anyway. Unlike Xertrics and the rest of the caravan, animals and shifters know hybrids are dangerous. Especially newly awakened ones. Maybe I shouldn't join this caravan. I think the riders of these horses might come to fear me just like they do.

  Maybe I'm just embarrassed at everything and want to turn away from the world, maybe I'm just not. I quickly slap my face lightly breaking myself out of those thoughts. Maybe I'm just scared but I decided to do this to join this caravan for as long as they would have me so I will, join them even if it's just till they encounter another tribe and they learn more about what a hybrid is but even then I would have grown.

  I pick myself up from my embarrassed slump from the floor patting off my fur to remove all the small sticks and stones that like to get tangled into it after a night's rest. Then I realize something that doesn't send me falling back into the pit of embarrassment just barely as my thoughts of growth with this caravan keeps me holding onto the edge of steadiness. I haven't had clothes since I met them.