"On the grasslands, there are creatures called Elephants. Sometimes the Drykas keep them as pets to move their cargo around. They are great huge things, Flick... so big they seem like mountains. The Drykas start when they are young and throw these big heavy chains around their legs when they are still small. These chains attach to huge stakes in the ground that no baby could ever pull up, regardless of how big the baby was. A baby elephant is about equivalent to a horse, maybe a bit smaller, Flick. They learn early and fast that they can't break the chain. Ever. No matter how much they try or how scared they get they can't break it. The chain controls them. Then, once they learn this, when they are older the Drykas only keep them tethered with thin hemp rope. It's rope they could easily break, but they don't see it... they don't see that they can break it, because all they see is the chain." Kavala moved sideways, still holding Flick in a partial embrace and pulled something from a nearby drawer.
It was a collar, locked closed.
"This one would fit your neck, Flick. You've worn them before. You fought and cried until you slipped one. But you know something? You didn't change, Flick, did you? Not with it on. Why? Because Reghitaar kept you chained like the Drykas do the baby elephants. He never gave you a chance to learn something new." Kelvics weren't... the brightest. Unfortunately their animal instincts took over more than their human common sense. Kavala held up the collar again, showing it to Flick - showing her its diameter.
"Flick, your fennec's neck is three times this small. The only form he can ever hold you in is your fox's. She could be bound not to change with a collar... but in her form he can't do all the things he wants to do with you. Talk to you. Play with you. Even breed you. With your fennec form you can flee easily enough. And this collar, this human collar, he'll put on you because he knows your trained not to shift in one - told you can't - even though you can. He'll count on that to keep you subdued while they do whatever it is they want to do. You are smarter than an elephant, Flick. Felicity. Act like it. If you run now, you'll run forever. And inside you'll never be free. If you try it this way first, let us do what we came to do... at least you have a chance to finally be free. To be your own person is priceless. Trust us. Trust me. Let me try." She said sincerely.
And then Kavala released her to rummage in the cupboard again. She pulled out some vials of medicine, mixed them briefly on a piece of parchment paper, then quickly and effectively wrapped the medical powder in a tiny grape leaf making a packet that looked like a pill. "And swallow this, Flick. It will calm you down so you don't do anything stupid before we try this. If you look panicked, its to his advantage. I don't want that." She added, trying to reason with the kelvic.
