Several days' worth of riding later, Rick and Danielle entered more civilized lands, with farms and roads. Danielle still found it incredibly awkward being both female and a fox-person, but she was learning to adjust, in no small part thanks to Rick telling her all about the local culture and traditions.
"Is that your town?" she asked, pointing to a peninsula covered in buildings, which jutted out into a sheltered bay.
"Yes," replied Rick, smiling, "I've missed it. It's a seaport - all kinds of trade comes in, and it's one of the richest cities on the continent." They rode onward for a while as Danielle continued to take in the amazing views. They were close enough that she could see ships - old sailing ships! - in the bay. Eventually, they arrived at the outskirts of the city itself. Rick nodded at the various fox-people they passed. Rick looked back at Danielle.
"One last thing, I almost forgot. How old are you?" he asked. Danielle was a little surprised at the question, but answered anyway.
"I'm sixteen years old, why do you ask?" she responded. Rick smiled briefly, and then explained.
"Around here, someone who is sixteen years old is considered to be a full grown man or woman, meaning that you can, if you so choose, leave your parents and live on your own. I'm seventeen, myself. Given that you're completely new here, and need to adjust more, however, I'd say that it would be best if we could find you a family that could adopt you," he explained. Danielle was stunned. She hadn't considered all the consequences of finding herself in a totally different world in a totally different body, apparently. As disturbing as it was, she decided that Rick's suggestion was a good one.
"You're only seventeen? Wow... you seem way more mature than that. Anyway, I guess you're right about the adoption thing - at the very least, I need someone to live with until I can make my own way," she said quietly, "but, there is one thing that's bothering me. You asked my age and then in essence said that it didn't really matter right now. Why did you ask?" she inquired. Rick looked really, really awkward, and Danielle suspected she knew the answer.
"Well, ah... er, once you're an adult you can... legally, um, well, marry someone," he stuttered. Danielle knew she should be disturbed, but she was simultaneously amused by his sudden nervousness and honestly rather flattered; she'd pretty much accepted that, as a female, there was nothing wrong with being attracted to a male, particularly one that saved her life. So she laughed instead, and hugged him.
"Rick, you're a really sweet guy, but I don't think I'm quite ready for THAT. Not yet, anyway." It was the first time she'd given thought to such an idea. She thought ahead - what would she end up doing or being? She was trapped here, sure, but then again, it was also a totally fresh start, she was attractive and there seemed to be endless potential. Rick had already explained about magic, and how there was so much here that it substituted for technology in many cases. At any rate, Kat wouldn't be able to pull her out like she'd promised, so Danielle figured she was here for life. Would she get married? Maybe, she thought. Rick certainly seemed like a good person.
About two days after arriving in town, Rick had found some friends who were more than happy to take Danielle in as their adopted daughter. They were fairly well-off merchants who lived on the edge of the peninsual overlooking the beautiful harbor, and they'd never been able to have children. Danielle quickly made herself at home, and within a month was already calling her adoptive parents "Mom" and "Dad."