You awaken with a start.

A "cuchunk! cuchunk!" Sounds out again, startling you awake, though this time you recognize it to be the sound of the wooden posts being rammed and locked into place for the horse to pull the buggy. The morning air is crisp and clean as you poke your nose out, blinking away the sunlight. You immediately sneeze at the brightness. A massive form immediately falls upon the bench from the top of the wagon causing you to stumble back and cry out in fear.

"Chessie! Chessie! Lazy kitty. Lady Vilkra has done what was yours to do again." She pokes her nose into the wagon. "Next time Chessie visits, the cat will serve the crow!" She cackles her laugh once again as she begins to retreat.

"W-wait! Corby!" She brawks angrily in response. "Err... Lady Vilkra..." You wait for her response and are pleased to see her settle into a more comfortable position before beginning to preen. "What... were you talking about mistress feeling things last night?" The crowgirl stops and stares intently into your eyes. Her own black orbs seem to draw you in, causing you to tremble with the anticipation. "And what will Chessie cat give for this information?"

"What?! I... I don't have anything!"

"Chessie cat has much!" She gestures towards the jewelry chest in the wagon.

"I can't do that! Misstress Lovara would be furious!"

"And so will mine for telling, but telling is what Lady Vilkra will do for a bauble."

You try to swallow but your mouth is dry... Could you really do this? You clench your teeth shut. Of course! Mistress did all of this to you without your consent. You don't want to be here! And what if this information helps you to escape? You try to push the thought from your mind that you could have escaped anyway last night. You're surprised at how flush you feel. It's as if you're entirely your own catboy... err... man again. All of your thoughts are your own, and all of your emotions are your own, and you're going to find a way to escape!

You throw open the drawer and begin to rifle through the jewelry. Your heart beats at the thought of stealing something so precious, but your eyes fall on the silver cord from the previous night. You draw the deceptively short looking silver chain from the desk and thrust it at Vilkra.

"Now tell me!"

She plucks the chain from your hand with her raptor clawed toes and begins to chortle. "Ohh~ a very fine gift for Vilkra. A very big punishment for Chessie! But, Vilkra will honor her word~"

She flutters into the cabin and draws uncomfortably close to you. "Familiar and witch, prisoner and guard. If the prisoner tugs the chain, the guard should not feel! Maybe Chessie cat is not bound nearly as much as she thinks! Maybe Chessie cat can pull against her chains!" She titters at her own riddle, then begins to back away.

"But... Wait! What do you mean when you said that maybe I wasn't a familiar."

"If chains bind hands, then spirits bind souls. Like prisoner and guard, both must touch the chain, but the one who is bound the least tugs the one who is bound the most. If neither is bound, then who tugs?"

"Then..." you begin to ponder as you pick up the flask once again. "Then... What if Mistress finishes off the rest of the flask?" The girl 'bwaks!' aggressively at you then smirks.

"Then maybe Chessie does the tugging!" Immediately she explodes off of the front of the wagon with a flap of her wings. You duck as a gust of air sends your dress fluttering and jewelry ringing. All that's left behind is a floating feather. You swipe at it as it drifts to the ground, then, after palming it and observing it, slip it into your hair...