"I have some stashes scattered here or there; one of them would be a good place to talk, and there's one relatively near some routes I was planning to raid later."

"Well enough."

"How do you feel about riding a war hawk, then?"

"That'll be a new one. I've always wondered what flying is like."

She laughs -

And turns into a brown hawk about the size of a horse, fluttering her new wings. Faint silver stripes trace through the brown - noticeable only from some angles. They converge into a crescent moon on her forehead.

Definitely a Lunar.

"Pretty. Where do I, ah, hang on?"

"Sit on my back and put your arms around my neck." Teasingly: "I'll try not to drop you."

"Thank you for your consideration." She mounts the hawk's back delicately.

And she takes off, winging northeast, deeper into the woods. The flight's about fifteen, twenty minutes, mostly smooth, and she's soon alighting on a large tree branch next to a bower tucked into the tree - nearly invisible from everywhere else. The hawk walks sideways over to a platform large enough for Luc to slide off onto.

She does so.

"Cute place," she says, looking around. "Cozy."

And the hawk turns into a woman! She looks western, a bit incongruously - lithe and wiry, with brown skin and dark purple hair that tumbles freely down her back and bright green eyes. Her clothes are a soft weave under finely cared for leathers and furs, cut to show off her swirling tattoos - the breastplate design apparent on the hawk is still present, but now it's joined by filigree swirls and subtle tiger stripes, all in a gleaming silver.

"It is! And convenient for stashing bandages, dried food, water..." She gestures at some pots and well secured chests. "Help yourself if you want anything."

She lounges on one little bench that looks designed equally for humans (at least, those not afraid of heights - there's a sharp drop behind her) and big cats, grinning at Luc.

"Don't think I got your name, by the way."

"Elucidation of Immanent Will. But you can call me Luc'."

"Luc', then. I'm Wyld - or Shimmering Wyldclaw when I'm trying to be fancy."

"Are you often?"

"Mostly just when giving speeches."

"I noticed. You did a good job of perking them up."

"Heh. Thanks. You did well, too, talking to people individually."

She tilts her head back a bit.

"I feel - like you're the most interesting person I've ever met, I'm curious and excited - like obviously there's more to find out about you..."

Chipper: "Which! Obviously not very natural, that!" She grins at Luc'. It's not a very safe grin. "Do you feel it too?"

"Not... quite. I feel like I know you from somewhere."

"Huh."

"Are you a solar?"

Here's hoping she doesn't have any truth detection up.

"Yes."

She doesn't seem to, nor does she seem to see through Luc's lie mundanely.

"I'm a lunar."

"That seems to suggest something."

"It does!"

"Have you heard about the bonds between solars and lunars?"

"Only in vague terms. There haven't been appreciable numbers of either in close contact for thousands of years."

"The thing I heard was that the Unconquered Sun demanded the lunars be made subordinate to the solars, so they couldn't ever rebel, and that this be enforced by a bond between them. Luna smiled, and agreed - each lunar would be bound to exactly one solar, and their passions inflamed."

"Nothing, of course, about the other two hundred and ninety nine solars they weren't bonded to, or about what those passions are..." She grins.