Auris is awake and reaching out mentally for Gwrtheyrn before she even realizes what she's doing.  But Gwrtheyrn is away in the jungle to hunt, and—another shriek brings her to her feet, and she's beside Marran's huddled form in an instant, gathering him to herself in a protective hug, drawing Miris' power about the both of them, shielding them from the world.

"I—I'm scared..."

"It's all right," Auris murmurs.  "No one will hurt you.  I'm here."

"No, no, no, they're going to come get me, they're going to come—"  His voice breaks off in a whimper as he clutches at her tunic.  "I don't want to go back..."

"Marran...eilie...you're safe.  It's all right."  Auris hugs him closer, and his hair is coarse under her chin.

"They're going to take me!"

"I won't let them.  Do you hear me, Marran?"  She leans back, taking his chin in her hands.  "I won't—"  A young goliath stares back at her, eyes glistening with tears.

Silence.

The tears slip down the child's face, and she's sobbing.  "You..."

"No, no, it's all right!"  Auris pulls the girl to herself again, tossing her gaze about the room.  "Where's—"  Marran is nowhere to be seen.  Marran is—changeling.  Shapeshifter.  The thought doesn't slow her heart.  "Let's...let's have some tea, shall we?"  Changeling, she repeats to herself.

The young one sniffs, and nods, and Auris carefully extracts herself, taking the child by the hand and leading her into the narrow kitchen.  Auris almost expects to see Marran huddled in the pantry when she opens it, or Valerian—or Ianis!  They've come out after nightmares before—just, some form she's seen—but there's nothing but the barrels and jars that belong there.  She takes out the chamomile, setting it on the counter.

"Can...can we have something with ginger?"

"Oh!  Oh...yes, of course..."

The kettle sits, warming on the stove, and when all else is ready, Auris leans back against the counter, her gaze drifting to the window, and the jungle beyond, bathed in shadowed starlight.  Part of her mind reaches for Gwrtheyrn again, but she knows he's much too far to be found.

The clouds part, the moon's glow illuminating the scene—a whimper, the child turning her face into Auris' side, and Auris sets a hand on her shoulder, keeping her close.

The water burbles as it reaches boiling.  Shaken from her reverie, Auris hurries to take it from the heat.  A moment's hesitation, and she pulls two mugs from the cupboard and brings it all to the table, the child following her dutifully.

Still, Auris is silent as the tea steeps, and as she pours it out and hands one mug to the girl seated across from her.

"What am I to call you?" Auris says at last, in little more than a whisper.

"...I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"I...I don't have a name yet.  They don't want to give me one."

"They?"

"...Valerian.  And Marran.  They're just mad 'cause I don't like the moon like they do.  They'll get better..."

"I see."

"Um...you could give me a name."  Her tone turns up at the end, making it almost a question, a shy hope shining forth from her expression.

"Oh.  Ah..."  Auris' mind whirls, the only names coming to mind already in use.  But...this is not an infant.  An old story rises unbidden through her thoughts, of a pure soul wandering the night, moving from star to star in search of the truth...  "Kala," she murmurs.

"I like it!"

Auris can't help but return the smile.  "Then that is your name."

"Thank you!"  A beat.  "Um...what should I...call you?"

"...Auris will do fine."

"Au...ris."  Kala's frown deepens.  "It feels weird."

"Would you prefer a different name?"

"If that's okay..."

"Sunwolf would be more proper."

"Sunwolf..."  Kala shakes her head.

"Weaver?"

Another shake.

"Raven?"

But no, that won't work either, and neither will any of the other names she's earned.

"Those are all that have been given me, I'm afraid."

"They all feel weird."

"Do you know one you would prefer?"

"No..."

Auris' expression softens.  "Perhaps something will come to you."

"I'll tell you as soon as it does!"

Auris laughs quietly.  "Perfect."

Kala smiles, and sips at her tea, immediately yelping and blowing on it.

"Careful!  Careful...  It'll still be hot for a while yet."

"Yeah..."

Kala continues nursing her mug, and Auris' attention drifts to the window, and the slowly shifting patterns of light and shadow from the few clouds.  "Do you know...why do Marran and Valerian like the moon so much?"

"Oh," says Kala, curling smaller in her seat.

"I'm sorry," says Auris.  "You don't have to..."

"They...they think it's everything," Kala says to her tea.  "It's...mother, and father, and guide, and...everything.  Hec—"  She chokes up on the name, and says no more.

"Hecate?" Auris asks softly, and Kala whimpers, and nods.  "But it isn't, to you?"

"No!  No..."

"What is it to you, then?"

Kala pulls her mug closer, head bowed to gaze at it.  "Them."

"The...family?"

Kala shivers.  "They're not—!"  She sniffs, and draws a shaky breath, blinking back tears.  "They're...Lunides," she says, the word barely breathed, the revulsion that's clear in her tone unable to overcome the raw fear it brings.

"Here, now, Kala—Kala, look at me.  It's going to be all right.  You're here now.  They can't hurt you—I won't let them hurt you.  Do you hear me?  I won't let them hurt you, Kala.  Never."

Kala sniffles, and nods a little, and Auris exhales a slow breath of relief.

"It'll be all right."