Rebecca woke to sounds she didn't recognize, rhythmic calls that weren't quite birdsong, distant movements that suggested large creatures going about morning routines.
The guest quarters the cat-kin village provided were surprisingly comfortable, structures woven from living branches that somehow maintained warmth despite the forest's persistent chill. She shared space with Misha, the administrative coordinator already awake and documenting observations about beast-kin architectural techniques.
"They grow their buildings," Misha said without looking up from her notes. "The branches are trained over years to form specific shapes, integrated with root systems for stability, no cutting or shaping required."
"You've been studying construction while I slept?"
