The crows that were flying though the air a moment ago, all landed one by one.
A particularly large one hopped forward and released another harsh caw to draw Storm's attention.
It's form blurred as the crow started to slowly turn into a man.
His skin was a tanned bronze color from extended exposure to the sun. A series of runic tatoos had been painted on his arms in an language Storm was unfamiliar with.
His chest was bare, showing off a muscular physique that would make any warrior green with envy
He was wearing a feathered headdress and had a simple cloak with the leaves of plants woven into the fabric to assist with camouflage.
The cloak was tied around his neck by a simple broach.
Around his waist was a simple leather belt with an animal pelt loincloth. He had no footwear of any kind on his feet
His dark brown hair was wild and unkept and was tied into a series of long dreadlocks that traveled down to the middle of his back.
His chin and chest was covered in a short, shaggy beard.
His ears were round at the tips, indicating that he was a human.
Several of the other crows also began to shift into men and women dressed in an similar manner.
When Storm saw them he immediately crouched down and bared his teeth as he took a more defensive stance.
The man held out both hands in a soothing gesture as he approached Storm.
"Easy, dragon! We mean you no harm!"
"Who are you!! What do you want with me!!" Yelled Storm.
"We are the 'Children of the Forest', and we come at the behest of the Grans."
Storm realized who they were and took a more relaxed stance.
"You are their 'children'? All of you?" Asked Storm.
The druid in front of him smiled.
"I realize it may be confusing to outsiders. Some of us were raised by the Grans in person as children, some of us met a druid and married into the family, and some of us were raised in the enclave by our druidic parents.
It doesn't matter how we came into the family. We all consider the Grans our beloved Mothers or Grandmothers."
"That's a pretty big family. " thought Storm to himself.
The druid gestured to the fallen hunters.
"You need not worry about disposing of them.
We will take things from here. You should return to the Grans.
I'm sure they're eager to speak with you. "
"I can't leave yet!! My task is incomplete!! I have to find and free her daughter!!" Exclaimed Storm
Storm was suprised when he saw the same black furred panther step into the clearing.
It's green eyes began to glow and it raised itself up on two legs.
A ripple passed through it's fur as it suddenly shifted into what humans would consider a voluptuous beauty still in her early to late twenties.
Her human form was every bit as graceful as her animal form. Muscular, but not overbearingly so.
Her skin was a tanned bronze color similar to the other druids, her catlike green eyes gave her a more savage aspect.
Her flowing long black hair traveled down the small of her back.
She had no headdress, instead her head held a laurel wreath made of freshly picked green leaves which she wore on top her head like a crown.
For clothing she had a leather chest piece made from the same black fur that covered her animal form that stopped just bellow her bust, leaving her belly exposed.
At her waist was an black fur skirt that was tied to a simple belt. Like the rest of the druids, no shoes covered her feet.
"I am the daughter she spoke of, and as you can see, I have no need of rescue, dragon!"
"Miranda! Don't be ungrateful! This dragon saved your life!" Scolded the lead druid.
"I had everything under control, elder brother!" She defended.
Storm rolled his eyes.
"Sure you did! I probably just jumped in to early, didn't I?" Storm replied sarcastically.
Her eyes narrowed as she scowled at him.
"Don't patronize me, dragon!
You don't know my capabilities!" She defended.
The lead druid just sighed in exhaustion.
"Enough!! This argument is pointless!!
You two should return to the Grans!
They don't like to be kept waiting!"
A sudden gust of wind seemed to confirm his statement.
"Fine! Get on my back so that we can return quickly!" Said Storm.
"Again you assume that I need your help!
And once again, you are mistaken!" Miranda replied.
She spun around and her form shrank until a small white owl stood in her place.
With a loud hoot, she took to the air and flew in the direction of the Gran's cottage.
"I beg your patience with my youngest sister, dragon.
She is young and prideful and has yet to learn humility. " replied the lead druid.
Suppressing his irritation, Storm grunted in reply and jumped into the air in pursuit of the bird.
He flew close behind her, and did his best to resist the urge to snap her out of the air in irritation.
It didn't take them long until they saw the smoke rising from the chimney, that marked the hags dwelling.
They both angled downwards towards the cottage.
Storm waited until the owl landed and folded her wings until he made his own approach.
He flapped his wings hard twice as he lowered himself down to the ground to slow his descent.
The movements conjured a strong gust of wind that sent the small bird flying into a nearby rosebush.
As his feet touched the ground, his weight conjured a small tremor that rattled the windows and door.
Miranda stepped out of the bush in her human form with an look of extreme irritation on her face.
"You did that on purpose!! Didn't you, Dragon?!!"
Storm looked away and avoided making eye contact.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." He said innocently.
Miranda stepped forward, and it looked like she was about to smack him, when the door to the cottage flung open and the Grans stepped out.
Miranda ignored Storm further, as she stepped forward and went down on a single knee and bowed before the Grans.
"Well, Well, Well!! The prodigal daughter returns to the roost!!"
"Worse for wear but hopefully wiser from her misadventures!!"
"Do you have anything to say, Child?!!"