FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 4: Trade routes of the south.

The distant sound of the front door scraping across the floor on its failing hinges wakes Renno and drags equally through his mind as if to drag him unwillingly back to reality. Slow and groggy he begins to rise from his sleeping mat. Peeling his head from the hard wooden floor. Until of course being thrust back to it by the foot of a Thono stepping across his back in its way to the ladder descending to the main room below.

"Momma Kyra! You're back!" Minetz rushes to greet Kyra.

Renno scratches his head as the faint echo of their voices from below reach him. Minetz's playful and Kyra flat and nearly contemptuous by contrast.

Her words come through faintly. "Oh no, not this time. I just had a bath you stay back or I swear." A loud distant bang as some wooden tool or part falls to the floor in the ensuing scuffle. Renno meets them at the top of the staircase finds himself without words to greet them still shaking off the morning haze.

Kyra carefully balances two covered bowls and a sack over her arm. She walks right past Renno without acknowledging him. He follows her wearily.

"I brought breakfast along with some extra vegetables to tide you over for a few days while I'm away."

Minetz tugs at the satchel on her arm.

"Stop it, you'll make me drop the stew. Here, Renno, take one."

Renno wraps his paws around the top bowl. It's still hot but not too hot to handle. "For me?"

"Yes yes, eat up. You seemed to enjoy it the other day. I guess you do eat meat after all." a hint of joy and satisfaction creeps into her voice.

Minetz waits impatiently for his turn tapping his foot rapidly on the floor at a pace even Renno has a hard time keeping up with.

Kyra sets her bowl down on the table so she can finally take the satchel off her arm. "Here take it, just settle down."

Minetz snatches the satchel from her paws and dumps it onto the table. "Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!" he eagerly overlooks his bounty.

Renno picks up the wooden spoon he ate with the night before. Thank god some real food. Shuttering at his recollection of what Minetz referred to as "Cooking".

Kyra joins him at the table. Leaving Minetz without a stool to sit on.

Renno stirs the bowl and carefully takes a bite. The flavor is familiar but different than the taste he had experienced at Brown Hearth. His morning revelry soon finds its self interrupted by a familiar antagonist.

A loud scraping breaks the slience as Minetz pushes a stool from another bench across the floor.

Renno unable to hide his frustration sits visibly annoyed as he waits impatiently for silence to return then carefully takes a bite before asking. "So Kyra you said..."

And is abruptly interrupted by Minetz. "You got a bath! I want a bath. I'm so jealous."

"You can't bathe with us." she says almost condescendingly like a teacher talking to an unruly student.

"I know, but I still waaaant one."

Renno waits for a chance to ask again. "So Kyra what exactly..."

Minetz bursts out with excitement. "Where did you get all this food from? This is the best. A merchant came in yesterday with hardly anything. I was worried." Minetz words are muffled having taken too large a bite out of one of the vegetables on the table.

Renno sighs. "So Kyra..."

"I made some new cart pieces wanna see?" Minetz leans forward towards Kyra excitedly as she ignores him in favor of her stew.

Renno now angry slams his paw to the table. The robust counter barely resonates a sound softening the intended impact of the gesture. "Alright already shut up and let the adults talk." His gaze fixed on the startled little Thono.

Minetz says quietly "I'm sorry." His ears droop downward across his face as he stares into the floor.

Kyra looks up slowly at Renno annoyed by his treatment of Minetz. The first true moment of silence since awakening creeps into the workshop and it is an awkward one.

Renno starts again. "Sorry, look I need to get back home. Do you know anything at all that might point me in the right direction?"

Kyra stares into her bowl and stirs it slowly before responding. "Unless you can pay for a boat your not going anywhere until spring time. Its too cold and dangerous. The roads will be snowed in. The boats won't run the coast much longer either. The bay is soon to freeze."

Renno looks at her and thinks for a moment. He grasps at the bridge of his nose before coming up with his next question. "I can't imagine that's the case how do you live here without supplies?"

"We save up what we need in the fall. How else?" Kyra looks at him with concern, as if such things should be self evident. Her expression extends all the way to the tip of her ears. One lays flat while the other is perked up in confusion.

"Fine, I don't accept that but if what you say is true. Is there at least any work I can do around here to earn my keep and prepare to depart?"

"No." she states flatly.

"No?"

"No." She takes a long sip of her stew and just before Renno can break in with a followup question. "Where would you even go." Her tone that of a statement.

"I need to figure that out. So okay, no, I can't leave. I get that but what can I do until then? Any suggestions?"

Kyra sigh's. She does not have answers for him. "Look, I'm sorry I really am. But I really can't have you causing a problem around here. Just keep your head low and don't call any attention to yourself. I brought you here and any trouble you get in will reflect poorly on me."

She takes another bite of her stew and continues. "We don't get a lot of outsiders here. You have to understand. This is Anoran territory. We sleep in hostiles together. We eat at halls together. We bathe together. We don't have a place for you. Even if I were to let you sleep by my side I can't convince everyone in town to just, let you in. The next morning if I even smell like you I'll have to explain my self to everyone with a keen sense as to why. Sure, if you have the coin you can go get some food. Or rent a room at Brown Hearth, but your not one of us."

Frustrated Renno asks. "So what then? I just stay here and do nothing? For how long? How do I survive like that?"

Kyra raises her voice a little "I don't know, go to The Table and speak with Rozen. But other than that? Unless you have the coin to stay at brown hearth, and you don't. The best thing you can do is stay here. Help Minetz around the shop and hope that one of the books in the library has some information on where you kind is from. As for actually getting back to your people I don't know. But it won't be until spring time if you want to live to see summer." She finished her bowl and rises to her feet.

"Just wait a minute, where is the library?" Renno leaps to his feet and approaches her as she turns to leave.

"You won't be allowed in there eiher." Kyra pauses and looks at the floor. I'_m going to have to take care of this my self._Realizing now for the first time helping Renno was not going to be as simple as bringing him to town.

"So that's it, I'm just," he pauses to find the words. "stuck here?" Renno approaches her from behind and raises his paw towards her shoulder from behind.

Before Renno can place his hand on her Minetz hits him in the ribs. Renno pulls his hand back quickly and Kyra turns to face him.

Kyra looks Renno directly in the eyes. "I will only be gone a couple of days. Just get some rest, tend to that cut on your head and just keep things around here quiet. I will help you figure out what I can when I get back. Okay? I didn't really plan this far ahead, I figured someone would just, recognize you and point you on your way."

Renno sighs, defeated. "Fine, what choice do I have?"

Minetz breaks in unexpectedly hopping to his feet. He hugs Renno rightly from his side. He had been keenly listening with excitement the entire time. "You'll stay with me? This is the best. We will become the best of friends, someone to talk to all day! This is great, thank you so much I can't wait."

Renno caught off guard. "Hey, stop let go. Minetz, come on now. Just..." He struggles to get free.

Kyra stifles a laugh and says "Okay, well hes your problem now."

Finally Renno breaks free from Minetz grip unsure if she meant Minetz was his problem, or if he was Minetz.

"Oh and I almost forgot. Here, take this and hide it for me." Kyra puts her coins on the table, a total sum of nine chieftains and five paws.

"Oh wow, so much? Where did you get it?" His paws clasp the edge of the table as he stares into the coins.

"It's not important." Kyra descends the stairs to the lockers below. "I'm going to be late if I don't hurry."

Renno and Minetz follow her to the top of the stairs.

"Okay Momma Kyra." Minetz says quietly dismayed at her leaving. He shuffles his feet on the floor knowing there is little he can do to stop her.

Renno too does not wish to see her go but he finds few words to express himself with as she walks down the stairs away from him. He stands at the top at a loss simply watching her gather her things.

Kyra hangs her cloak on the door and pulls a simple shirt out of her locker over her head.. Next she pulls from the locker a pair of open toes boots lacing them tightly around her calf. Finally a worn pair of open fingered gloves and pulls those over her paws.

Desperate to fill the air with something other than silence and desperately searching for just one of so many good questions Renno instead asks. "Why don't you wear a shirt like that all the time?" He was unsure what compelled him to ask. Even further startled by the expression shot back at him by Kyra. Her expression almost as if insulted.

"You sound like a Thono. It's for traveling." She pushes open the door to the sound of the bells tolling for watchers light. "No time to explain, I have to go." and with that she slips through the door dragging it across the floor it jams still half open. "And by Miran FIX THIS DOOR."

The hard slam of the door sends Renno's ears flat to his head. He runs his paws through his hair finding the cut Kyra had mentioned. He had forgotten it was there. Suddenly familiar tug at his shirt.

"Come on, so many things to show you. This will be great oh oh I could teach you to read? You like reading don't you? Who doesn't. Or I can show you all the different tools. I know we can,"

"Stop." Renno grabs Minetz by the wrist and prys his paws from his shirt. "I have more important things to do. This is ridiculous someone around here has to know what I am and where I'm from. Once it's light out I'm going into town."

"Oh no, you better not. Kyra will be so mad. It's not safe, you should stay here. We could have so much fun."

Minetzes enthusiasm grates on Renno. "I can't stay here until spring. Someone probably misses me. They might even think I've died or abandoned them."

Minetz stares solemnly at the floor. "Okay, you leave too. I'll be fine."

Renno fights back an encroaching guilt now felt for disappointing the kid. "Sorry. It's just how things are."

. . .

Kyra runs through the empty streets her paws pounding the cobble stone. The bells of Watchers Light ring in the air. Past Kota's shop and between the buildings. Weaving through the narrow alley way between stacks of cut firewood she bursts out into the city street between shops in the cultural district. The roof of brown hearth barely visible above the colorful banners. She looks down the street to her right at the south eastern gate she brought Renno through the other night.

Her paw grasping the edge of the median she vaults the decorated shrubbery planted atop the divider her gaze fixed on the gate wondering if it would be faster to go around the outside. Upon landing on the far side of the planter she nearly runs over a woman she hadn't taken account of before her leap.

"By Miran, watch where you are going you street rag!" The woman shouts as she checks her pockets and bag to make sure she has not been the victim of a pinch purse.

"Sorry mam, I'm late very sorry." Kyra shouts back at her jogging backwards towards the alley. She weaves down the dark narrow path past the back entrance to Brown Hearth, the snow now clear. She looks up at the window Renno and her used to gain entry to the attic as she passes. I hope he will be okay while I am gone.

Racing into the street at the compass plaza startling a child just out of sight of the alley brushing past him and his norther at brake neck speed they cling to eachother.

The absence of the bells weighs on Kyra, watchers light has been called. She is late.

Her arrival at the eastern gate of the city goes unnoticed. A small crowd of Anoran men gather around a pair of carts.

"Come on hurry, get the cart loaded we haven't got all day." A team of Airet are lifting and loading large crates of goods being handed to them by smaller teams of other Anorans.

An Ieza male stands on a crate and shouts to the crowd "If you are taking a pole gather here for assignment." Kyra rushes to the loading area and stands in line with the others to man the cart.

"Okay you eight here take the first cart with me." He surveys the remaining volunteers Kyra among them. "One, two, three..." He points out his choices from whats left directing them where to stand. "Come on, you two over there. I don't know you whats your stake in this?" he questions a pair of young men who appear to be brothers just a little older than Kyra.

"For pay sir."

"Fine, let me see your bands." He says with a stern yet impatient inflection.

The young brothers comply and raise their arms to show their fang tooth bracelets. "Good good, two paws each way, if you're good I'll pay double next run. Take the right side."

Kyra is left alone in the space before the man on the crate barking orders she moves front and center before him unsure if he's noticed her or not.

"Come on I need three more."

"I," Kyra begins to speak up.

Before she can start the man on the crate cuts her off shouting a second time. "Come on people this is the last boat for Dunmoras on the registrar. Winter is upon us, another won't be guaranteed till spring."

"I will go." Kyra says to the man from below.

"No room, we had to load a second cart and it too is full. I can't take you."

"No sir, not to travel, to push." Kyra says in a formal and polite tone.

He waves his hand in a shooing gesture. "What? You? This is a man's job run home."

"I can do it." Kyra asserts her position confidently.

The caravan leader holds his finger up to silence her as frustrated shouting arises from the crowd. A crate being handed through to the second cart has been dropped and burst open spilling pine nuts all over the ground. An argument breaks out between the merchants passing the goods to the Airet loaders over who is responsible. One man in particular, the owner of said pine nuts getting particularly animated. The crowd gathers around for what seems like the start of a fight. The Airet loaders lean on the cart and watch over the drama joking with one another for their entertainment.

"Don t just stand there. Get back to loading." The caravan leader shouts at them before letting out a call to alert the guards. They come running from the gate to resolve the dispute.

Kyra's gaze is fixed on the mans face awaiting his decision.

The man looks down on her but says nothing.

"Last call for push-men." surveying the loading area no one heeds his call. "Naron, go to the warehouse and grab two of the boys to push."

One of the Airet jump off the second cart. "Yes sir."

"And you." he addresses Kyra. "Your bracelet."

Kyra grasps her bare wrist.

"Well then by whos honor are you here?" he says in a quiet tone.

"I am an orphan sir. Of 15."

"Are you mad, get out of here before I call the guard you little thief." He waves his hand dismissively.

"I am no thief. I'm an orphan and I want to push the cart. I could just walk along side you know. I'm going to the docks either way. With or without helping you."

He crosses his arms and scowls at her insolence. "Oh yeah? I won't pay you."

"I don't want to be paid."

"Then what do you want?"

"I want to bring something back on the return trip."

Now intrigued he leans closer to her. "And what's that."

"I have a list here from Kota, and Lichen for Brown Hearth." Kyra pulls the list from her waistband and but it gets caught in the wind and blows from her paw. She scrambles to pick it up from the ground and hands it to the Caravaner.

"Very well, you can push. Without pay in exchange for your spot and the return trip of your goods. Be warned I won't go easy on you," he gestures towards the second cart. "Take the center right."

Kyra nods respectfully.

The large wooden carts with four wheels are uncovered. They are long enough for three to push on either side via a large poles threaded beneath cargo bed on either side. Two more push from behind and a single Anoran takes the lead by holding a large rod to steer the front axle.

Neither cart here today is meant to hold passengers and therefor is uncovered by design. However to protect the wears from snow a large linen cloth has been draped over the top and tied down to the rail. In the wildlands there are no beasts of burden. Denizens need to find other means to make due.

The Airet worker Naron returns with two more Airet from town. The large experienced Airet men wrap their paws for protection.

Kyra finds her self staring at her own paws, claws sticking out from the open tips of her gloves hoping that this will be enough for the long day ahead.

"For those of you who have not met me. I am Rivaus your caravan lead. There is still a lot of snow on the trail from the storm earlier in the week so this will be a particularly difficult run. A caravan of Tanoi Diplomat's has gone ahead of us yesterday and the last word received implies that they have made it through. Therefor since there has been little snow between now and then and calm winds we should make it by Watcher Rest but likely no sooner. They are holding the ship for us in case there is any trouble so this won't be a wasted trip if we get stuck for a while. Pray to Miran this is not the case." Rivaus pauses for a moment to look up at the pale gray overcast sky showing the first signs of daylight. "All right, positions everyone."

"And just what do you think your doing." A sturdy push from behind on the shoulder startles Kyra. She turns to find the older of the two brothers behind her.

"I'm pushing the cart what does it look like?" She rubs her paws together before placing them in preparation on the center push-rod of the cart.

"You, pushing the cart? What a waste of a pretty servant girl. Isn't that right?" the elder brother elbows the younger.

Encouraged to participate the younger joins in on her. "Yeah, you must be sworn to a woman. I could think of a much better use for a body like that than pushing a cart." They laugh.

Kyra grasps her wrist and scowls at them. "I am not a servant, I'm an orphan."

"You don't look like an orphan." says the older one as he pulls at her cloak. "Your hood is down children have to keep bundled up from the cold."

"Get off me." Kyra pulls away from him snapping the cloth from his paws.

The younger one now party to hazing chimes in. "Yeah you're right, shes probably a whore who got tiered of whoring. Shame, I would pay."

"I'm 15, I can dress myself."

"Yeah? You when's your birthday?" the older brother mocks her. "I could have you as my wife, work wouldn't be any easier than cart pushing but at least you could do it from the comfort of a warm bed." He extends his paw mockingly to take her hand as if proposing to her.

The younger brother turns jokingly on his sibling. "You would marry a whore brother?"

Kyra having heard enough swipes at his outstretched paw claws extended. He pulls his hand away but not quick enough to spare the pad of his paw from reviving a modest scratch. Consequences be damned. She thought to her self as using ones claws is a serious offense.

He snaps angerly at her."You filthy street rag." he clasps his paw for a moment before lunging at her.

Kyra skillfully ducks out of the way of his strike. The two circle each other eyes locked. His brother stands frozen a moment still startled by the sudden exchange. The other caravaners start to gather around them.

The guards still distracted with the merchant dispute remain unaware of the exchange.

"Thats enough!" Rivaus pushes his way through the workers.

"She scratched me!" he holds his paw out as evidence of the assault.

Rivaus grabs him by the wrist and examines it briefly. "All that over this?" He twists the boy's arm and throws him to the ground. "By Miran learn some respect."

The young man quickly gathers himself and springs back to his feat.

Kyra speaks up though her gaze is fixed on Rivaus's feet in shame rather than at his face. "Thank you sir."

"Not for you ya little vagrant, respect for me." He turns to the boys. "I'm the one paying you worthless cubs and you will do as I say and not cause me any more trouble." He turns back to Kyra. "Same goes for you."

. . .

"Hey, Minetz."

Minetz hammers away at the workbench transfixed on his work.

"Minetz hey." Renno raises his voice a little to get his attention.

Minetz pauses for a moment and without looking up resumes hammering.

"Minetz!"

His ears spring into action first, followed by the rest of his body. Minetz runs across the room to Renno and cheerfully asks. "Ready to help? I have so many great things I can show you."

"No, it's not that. Do you know where the table is?"

Minetz stares at him confused a moment.

"You know, The Table?" Renno getting a little impaitent.

"Uuhhhmmm." His voice squeeks. "Which one?"

"You know The Table. The one Kyra spoke of."

"Oh, you mean The Table." Minetz clenches his little paws into fists in excitement as if he has just solved a riddle.

Renno covers his face with his paw. "Yes, The Table. Where is it?"

"Why?"

"What does it matter why? I want to know where it is."

"Why?"

"Because I want to go there."

"Why?"

"Stop asking why!"

"Wh-"

"Don't even."

Minetz cracks wide childish grin across his fuzzy little face.

"Do you know where it is or not?"

He shuffles around for a moment. "It's north of the plaza. Across the street from the tall building." He pauses a moment before adding. "You're not going there are you?"

"Of course I'm going there, I need to get home. They might know something, and even if they don't someone who comes in might. Maybe I can get a job there. Someone might come in who knows where I came from."

Minetz walks away from Renno and hops up onto a stool at his workbench. "They won't let you."

"What makes you say that?"

Minetz ignores him.

"Minetz?"

Minetz chisels away at some piece of wood for a few seconds before acknowledging him. "I'm not a kid you know."

"Could have fooled me." Renno rolls his eyes at the Thono.

"You should listen to me, they aren't going to help."

"I'll have to see for myself then." Renno waives off Mintez dismissively and descends the stairs to the ground floor. He looks up at the banister above expecting Minetz to come running to see him off. He never comes. "Okay well, I'll be back in a little bit."

The sound of Minetz chisel fills the silence.

Renno sighs. "Okay well, see you later." He pulls on the front door to no avail. "Damn this thing really is stuck." He grabs the handle with two hands and pulls with all his might and it slides a few inches along the floor. He looks at the door barely cracked open and scratches his head. Looking up at the banister he puts a paw to his mouth to call Minetz for help but can't quite bring himself to do it. He nervously looks behind him at the back door to the alley. He shoulders the front door firmly shut. The door tho the alley on the other hand glides open smoothly. A strange sense of guilt creeps over him like hes being forced to sneak out.

"I'll fix it later." Minetz shouts from above as if expecting to be told about it.

Renno shudders like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "It's fine, see you later."

Outside Renno walks around the exposed southern side of the building out towards the street full of Anorans. He peers out of the alley with hesitation. An unsettling feeling of apprehension fills him. Renno closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. The air is frigged but not quite as cold as yesterday. And just like yesterday they ignore him. Most Anorans don't even make eye contact. They avoid him in the streets. Renno catches one looking at him for a moment and tries to ask. "Excuse me, but do you by chance know what I am." His words trailing off mid sentence as they deliberately look away.

By the time he reaches the plaza the cold has him shivering. His Anoran clothing is insufficient by the standards of his own species. Even by Anoran standards it is meant for casual wear and does not provide the most warmth of the styles available.

Groups of Anorans lean on the smoke stacks rising from the street. Renno contemplates joining them but a stray glance from one of the younger men causes him to reconsider. He folds his arms in an attempt hold some heat in. Renno looks upward the pale gray sky unlikely to yield any reprieve.

He increases his pace to the north street. He scans the skyline. One particular building stands out. A tall three story building larger than the rest. "That must be the tall one Minetz was talking about." Renno moves briskly down the street until he reaches the building directly across from it. Only now standing before it does the door he so eagerly rushed to open seem like an impenetrable fortress. He takes another deep breath seeking the courage to forgo Minetz warning.

"Here goes nothing." He pushes open the front door.

The main hall of The Table is packed to the brim with Anoran's. They talk and laugh with one another paying Renno no mind. Some sit in groups and discuss their plans for the day. Others along the counter on the wall sit quietly. Their cloaks pulled over there head wearily preparing for a new day. Nearest the door sit a group of older Anorans relaxed, their food bowls empty chatting and taking in the sights. It is they who first notice Renno.

One of them stands his gazed fixed. The other old Anorans turn and follow his stare. The sentiment spreads like a spell across the room. Voices hush, the sound of bowls and cups cease and in seconds the entire hall falls silent. A few moments pass and a new tone of conversation picks up, low and tense.

Before matters get any worse Rozen comes barreling through from the bar at the end of the room. "Okay, lets go, nothing to see here get back to it I'm sure everyone has somewhere they need to be. Eat up." He grabs Renno by the arm and drags him out into the street and around the side of the building.

"Wait, stop, I didn't mean to," He struggles but against the sheer dominant size of Rozen his efforts are in vain. "Let go of me."

Rozen pushes him into the alley. "Are you insane?"

"I," Renno stammers "but, Kyra said,"

Rozen stops him speaking. "You can't just barge into the front door of a hall like that. Go around back next time you idiot."

"Sorry I didn't know." He shakes himself off.

Rozen sighs. "Didn't Kyra just bring you some food?"

"I'm not here for that."

"Then why are you here?" he snaps.

"I'm here to find out if you know anything about me."

Confused Rozen turns his his paws up. "And why would I know anything about you?"

"I mean, not me specifically but you see a lot of people right? Do you know what I am? Where I might be from?"

Rozen looks him over carefully. "No, I can't say I have. Now you need to get out of here before someone calls the guard."

Renno confused and shocked. "What have I done?"

"You can't enter a state building like this without permission as an outsider. And with a tail like that? Someone might have thought you were a Notol or maybe a Kenoite. Notol are forbidden here without permission from the guard."

Renno grabs his tail and examines it. "A Notol? Is that what I am?"

"No, you don't really look too much like one except for that tail of yours. Just heat back to Sventols and lay low with Minetz for a while I have to get back in there and see to my customers."

"Wait, before you go. Is there anything I can do around here to help? I thought maybe,"

Rozens deep voice muted by the snow in the alley echos through Renno's mind "HAHAHA, no, your joking. Get out of here kid."

The walk back home feels colder than the walk out. Every second spent outside here drains Renno. The Anoran's of course don't seem to mind but he shivers with even the most modest gust of wind. His fur feels like a thousand tiny knives. He grasps the tips of his ears and rubs them for warmth.

The door to the back of the workshop creeks as he pushes it slowly open. The familiar patter of feet running for the balcony can be heard.

"You're back!" Well, did you learn anything?" Minetz clasps the railing in excitement as Renno slowly pushes the door shut.

"I don't want to talk about it."

Minetz smiles devilishly. "I was right wasn't I."

"Would you just shut up and leave me alone." He snaps at the poor little kid.

Minetz lets go of the railing and takes a step back putting his weight on his rear foot. "Okay, I'm Sorry."

Renno rounds the top of the stair case and takes a knee to lower himself to Minetz level. "Look, I didn't mean to shout. It's just." He sighs a deep long sigh. "Something doesn't feel right about this place. I just want to go home, you wouldn't understand."

Minetz contorts his face before responding sarcastically. "No, I wouldn't understand. To be stuck somewhere with no one like yourself."

Renno collapses onto a stool and lays his head flat against the surface of one of the workbenches. "Sorry."

Minetz says nothing and stands at his side.

"What?"

Minetz paws clasped tightly together. "So can I teach you to read yet? It will be so much fun."

"Not this again."

. . .

The road east emerges from the forest into a vast sweeping rift valley between to mountain ranges. The river north of town meets the road her and cuts its way elegantly down the center of of the valley. The surface glistens as huge sheets of ice like shattered glass stretch as far as the eye can see.

The smooth gradual basin of the valley between the massive gray snow covered peaks of cloud breaking mountains has a surreal and imposing aura. It is here we find the caravan pushing its way slowly along the banks of the river.

The older brother position on the cart in front of Kyra pulls his bare paws from the cart and rubs them gingerly.

"Awe I'm sorry does it hurt?" Kyra mocks him from behind.

"Shut up."

"Back to pushing Korzon!" The cart lead snaps back at him from the steer rod before the cart.

Kyra nearly trips trudging through deep snow still covering the path. The Tanoi had not bothered to clear their way and simply pushed through leaving behind a difficult pack of unevenly trodden snow buried beneath snowdrift. Her ears perk up as the cart comes to a halt. Shouting can be heard ahead. The lead cart is stuck.

"Hurry up, lets dig out and get going." The Airet men grab long poles off the cart to break up the snow and the smaller Rohean and Ieza climb beneath the cart and begin scooping out the snow with their paws. Kyra eager to prove her self is among the first to join them.

She digs frantically pushing the snow aside until she feels somthing run up her leg lifting her skirt. She turns back to see Korzon's younger brother grinning behind lifting the skirt as he as if "By accident" with his elbow as he climbs under the cart to join them. She returns the gesture with a kick to the face.

He rolls back on his rear end and laughs it off. "Come now how will you land a husband with an attitude like that?"

"I told you I'm not looking to land a husband." She huffs digging into the pack of snow.

"Come now, a pretty girl like you? Sure, you could make good money whoring but you would be better of with me." he grins arrogantly.

"Do you want to end up like your brother?" She upturns her paw and extends her claws.

With a quick snap of his writs he side arms a snowball into her face.

"Oh that's it!" Kyra climbs out from the cart and before he can get to his feat she pounces on him and shoves a hand full of snow into his face. He struggles only half heatedly to get away before Korzon comes to his rescue pushing her off of him. His brother lay in the snow laughing. Korzon not nearly so amused.

"Come on Mikal, shes street trash."

"Hey, whats going on over here." Rivaus comes barreling around the head of the cart.

"Nothing sir." Korzon pulls his brother to his feet.

"Nothing is what I'm going to pay you if you don't clear this cart."

"Yes sir." The brothers answer in unison. "She started it." Korzon adds pointing behind them. He turns only to find Kyra nowhere to be seen. "Where did she go?"

Kyra leans around form behind the cart on the ground. "Me? I'm digging sir. Did you need something?"

Rivaus looks at her, then looks at the brothers with one ear raised in suspicion.

Korzon and Mikal spring into action crawling into the snow to dig.

"Very well then." Rivaus observes a moment before returning to the front of the cart. He calls to the men. "Alright, that's enough, lets give it a push and see if we can shake loose."

Everyone gathers around the forward cart.

"On my mark, one, two, three, PUSH!"

The cart rolls forward and over what remains of the packed snow beneath it.

Rivaus joins the crew around back and examines the path."Excellent, clear whats left and lets get moving."

Kyra brushes the snow from her clothing and fur shaking what she can out of her gloves. She is too preoccupied to see the out stretched leg of Korzon and trips as she passes.

He laughs.

"Can't you just grow up and leave me alone?"

"I thought you were a child, so I'll treat you like one."

The Airet at the back of the cart stand by and do nothing to intervene.

Naron the cart lead echos information from Rivaus. "We are approaching the pass we go through then stop to dry at the lower camp not before."

Some of the men groan in disappointment.

At the end of the valley the river narrows and begins to cut into the rock its surface drops away from the path. The gentle yet ever increasing slope at the end of the valley whips the once clam body of water into a raging rapid. Even now in the dead of winter the waters surface does not fully freeze. The sound of crumbling ice breaking against the rock gives the crew an unsettling feeling. The pass filled with a low icy mist rises that clings to the banks. The path starts to wind dangerously downhill to meet the rapids.

Kyra finds her self filled with awe before the might of nature. She reflects on a passage from Miran.

Hold always in your heart the natural order. There is no greater example than nature to demonstrate the natural order of the world. The vast flat lands of grass and trees torn by mountains. The might of mountains cut by rivers. Rivers lost in the vast open sea. The sea yields to vast continents of land. To every mighty thing in nature there is a foe. A great circle of creation and death. You too are part of the cycle. Remember this and reflect on it each time you find your self among nature. For there is no greater example of the holy order of all living things.

Kyra smiles the thought warms her like the sun on a calm summer day. Local workers walk the road clearing snow, ice, and debris. Kyra smiles brightly at them as she passes.

"Lets go, move!" The first cart snags on a large rock just off center of the road. A coordinated push gets over the rock. Panic breaks out briefly as the wooden brakes of the cart groan to keep it from wheeling out of control down the switchback. The workers manage to steady and slow the cart.

Slowly the caravan creeps its way to the end of the descent where the path meets the water. The road cuts between a permanent camp and the river. The rapids churn with the sound of a thousand rainstorms. The river pours from the narrow pass into a large swirling pool. Enormous chunks of ice bob up and down in the turbulent water. They crack and crumble as the smash into one another and grind against the far wall of the pool. On either side of the ravine a sheer cliff face rises up to a towering mountain above.

Kyra looks down the road to the camp cradled on three sides by the earth. The only escape lay before them. A vast empty sky where the water pours over from the ravine to a valley below. She has reached the edge of a massive shelf formed eons ago by forces beyond her comprehension.

In the center of the camp sits a large square lodge. The foundation built of massive stone scarred from floods and avalanche over the years. A wooden staircase wraps the stone base to an entryway on the second floor. Outside Anorans mostly Airet sit on the ground around a Preceptor lending guidance to weary travelers on the teachings of Miran.

Step by step they push the carts to edge of the cliff. As they near the edge the sound of the water shifts from the bright churning static of the rapids into an ominous soft unassuming rush as the pool pours into a thick fog far below.

"Alright, a short break while I make arrangements." Rivaus dismisses the crews.

Kyra quickly slips away before the brothers can give her any more grief and joins the congregation gathered before the Preceptor.

In a raised tone fighting the sound of the river the Preceptor dryly delivers his sermon. "Detailed in the modern subsection of writings known as the codex of the natural state of being Miran points out the relationship of our kind and those like us, and to that of the Tanoi and their kin. In plain words it is our right to take of them in preservation our kind. To this I can not in good faith give my endorsement to the agreement between the Arbitor and the Tanoi but I must remind you. Law is to be obeyed. Let us not be so limited by," he stops mid sentence. "Dear I think your companions intend to garter your attention." He looks down his nose at Kyra.

Kyra glances back over her shoulder.

The brothers stand by the cart Mikal waving and shouting his voice drowned out by the rapids. Korzon wraps his injured paw with a cloth for protection.

Content to ignore them Kyra starts to turn away before catching a glimpse of Rivaus waiting impatiently. She sighs. That was quick. "Coming." She shouts back to them waving her arms.

"Alright, lets put down the first cart. Take your positions." Rivaus orders his crew.

In short order they move the cart onto a wooden platform extending from the face of the cliff. The railings of the platform are covered in ice. Airet workers from the camp use large wood mallets to break the ice off. The chunks fall into the mist below. At the end of the platform is a pulley driven lift.

Kyra cautiously walks the platform looking down at the falls. The height of which would make even the brave uneasy. From here the foot of the falls is obscured by mist. Kyra scans the horizon. A long sweeping valley widens out to the east. The road like a narrow line that of a stray hair can barely be distinguished from the river. Trees form green blotches along banks. She closes her eyes just long enough for the unsettling feeling to pass.

Below a wooden staircase strung along a massive scaffold clings desperately to the cliff face beside the falls. Enormous plumes of ice coat everything outside the reach of the workers hammer. The task of keeping the lift clear and operational is a constant battle between the custodians of the pass and nature.

Rivaus instructs the crew. "Okay, hold, that's good. Rhal, take the girl and boys to the treadmill and lets get this lowered to the first landing."

The mechanical portion of the lift consists of a large double treadmill with the rope spindled upon its axle in the center. The four chosen, Kyra, Rahal, and the brothers Korzon and Mikal walk the snowy path to the treadmill. Set back from the falls it is relatively free of ice.

The entirety of the lift is split into two segments along the face. A single crane would not spindle enough rope to make the trip in one go. The process of lowering a cart involves moving the lift platform down by walking the drum of the mill turning the spindle slowly. Once the cart reaches the next platform it is pushed onto the next section of the lift and the process repeats.

Mikal jogs backwards facing Kyra, Korzon, and Rhal. "Thank Miran Rivaus chose us for the top. I really didn't want to deal with the ice."

The expression on Rhal's face makes it clear he would rather be anywhere else. One of Rivaus's Airet workers he sees the situation differently. "It's because he doesn't trust you. Your the smallest, and the least experienced. You act like children."

Mikal slows and his expression melts away. "Yes sir."

Rhal inspects the treadmill. "Okay, you boys take the right the girl and I will take the left."

There is some reprieve here from the elements as a shelter has been built over it. Kyra rubs her paws together to sooth a mild tingling sensation.

"Yes sir." they answer in unison.

Kyra climbs cautiously between the wood of the treadmill into the center.

Once the boys are in Rhal removes the stop and joins Kyra. Rhal signals to the boys. "Okay, Go."

The treadmill creeks as it starts to turn. The tension on the rope causes it to twist and groan as it rolls off the spindle.

"Steady, steady. Now is not the time for speed." Rhal walks the wheel in front of Kyra. "Are you doing alright back there?" Rhal asks Kyra.

"Yes, I'm fine." she says softly.

"This really isn't a job for a woman you know."

Kyra sighs. Not him too. A moment of silence passes. She closes her eyes to focus on the white noise of the rapids calming her nerves. "You're not going to start in on me too are you."

"No, I don't mean to cause you trouble." He tips his head towards the brothers chattering away on the other wheel. "What I mean to say is, those two, they're idiots, but they aren't wrong."

"What do you mean by that?" Kyra struggles to hide her frustration.

"You would be better off finding someone to marry. You have your whole life ahead of you. Don't throw it away pushing a cart."

"You think I should marry one of them? To become some kind of house maid to an arrogant jerk like that?" She snaps at him.

He laughs. "No, you take it the wrong way. I mean to say we need good women having the children we need to survive. You could have a nice life." He holds his arms behind his back for a moment highlighting his bare writs.

Kyra notices the lack of a bracelet for the first time. "I see. I'm sorry."

"It's fine. I came from a family of hunters. They weren't as ready to give it up as the Arbiter."

Kyra asserts her position firmly. "I see. Still, I won't trade my dignity for my honor and marry my way out. I'll prove my worth and earn my honor back."

"By doing the work of thieves? You won't earn respect pushing a cart."

"Are you a thief?"

"No."

"Then it's not the work of thieves is it?" her tone defiant and playful.

Rhal responds in a warm gentle tone smiling. "No, I suppose not. Regardless, this is no place for you."

The wheel creeks along as they walk the tread eventually the rope goes slack.

Rhal cracks his fingers. "I think we hit bottom."

Kyra hops out of the wheel and stretches.

Rhal grabs the stop and wedges it into place. "You two," speaking to the brothers. "go to the edge and signal us when they are ready to pull the lift up."

Korzon and Mikal nod and head towards the cliff face. Only the younger brother Mikal calls back to him "Yes Sir."

The boys lean over the cliff looking for the team below.

Below Rivaus and his team are distant specs readying the cart to be pushed off the platform onto the second lift.

Mikal calls to them but there is no use in trying to shout over the waterfall.

Korzon claws into the wooden support of the lift platform lean over the edge waving to them.

Kyra sits by the treadmill watching the brothers from a distance.

Rhal clears his throat and asks. "So your not going to tell me what happened?"

Kyra looks up at him confused.

"With your family. I told you about mine."

She takes a moment to process the question. "Oh. Nothing happened with them. I'm an orphan."

"Just that?"

"Just that. They weren't criminals if that's what you mean." She says calmly in a matter of fact tone.

His face grows more concerned. "'Nothing' is not how someone becomes an orphan. But if you don't want to tell me that's fine. Either way, you shouldn't be out here."

Mildly frustrated she addresses the assertion directly. "I don't really like being told what I should and shouldn't do."

Rhal laughs. "Don't take everything so personally. I just mean a girl like you really has a chance to do better."

Kyra leans back against the support of the treadmill with a smirk on her face. "So now you don't think I should get married?"

"I didn't say that. I just mean you have more options available to you." Rhal tries his best to come across kindly towards Kyra. He scratches his head wondering if she can understand he only means to help.

"So you mean more options of who to marry then." Kyra says with a playful defiance.

"You're words not mine." Rhal smiles.

Kyra does not respond she simply stares off into the distance. But then her ears go flat and she slowly rises to her feet. Her attention no longer on Rhal instead her eyes are fixed beyond on the lift. Kyra stares in horror as Mikal lay on the ground leaning over the edge. Korzon nowhere to be found. Her eyes go wide and Rhal finally takes notice.

Rhal spins around and upon seeing Mikal starts for the cliff. Just as he breaks into a run Mikal pulls his brother up over the ledge back to safety.

A fight breaks out, the two of them shouting, pushing one another, exchanging words. Korzon points furiously towards the treadmill and clenches his bandaged paw into a fist shaking it in his brothers face. Their voices are drowned out by the sound of the raging river and ice.

Rhal walks over to the boys and breaks up the confrontation. The two of them face him and plead their cases. Mikal somewhat collected but Korzon still furious. He holds up his injured paw and points at the treadmill. Korzon and Rhal exchange words. Rhal a much larger older Airet without warning grabs Korzon by the shirt and pushes him with ease back to the ledge.

Kyra stands with her mouth ajar and clasps her tail in her paws her ears still plastered to the top of her head.

Rhal lets Korzon hang with his feet barely on the edge and his body leaning over the cliff face. Korzon flails frantically as Mikal pleads with Rhal. Eventually Rhal relents and throws Korzon into the snow behind him. He leaves the brothers behind and returns to Kyra.

Mikal helps his brother to his feet and they walk in shame back to the treadmill together with their heads held low their tails nearly dragging in the snow behind them.

Rhal waves them to hurry up and approaches Kyra. "Back to work. Time to pull the lift up."

Kyra nods silently unable to summon the courage to ask Rhal what happened.

The four of them get back in the treadmill and walk briskly to raise the empty platform.

The next couple of hours pass with little to no conversation. At first the silence bothers Kyra. Even as they stop to move the second cart onto the lift the brothers say nothing to her, Rhal, or each other. By the time they begin lowering the second cart Kyra becomes comfortable with the situation. An odd catharsis overcomes her. The simplicity of her work walking the treadmill, the breezy cold air, the loud yet soft white noise of the rapids all work in unison to soothe her.

The rope goes slack.

The time has come to descend the cliff face. The Airet continue to hammer away at the ice as they pass. Their claws indispensable tools for clinging to the scaffold. The moisture of the falls begins to penetrate their fur. Kyra crosses her arms trying to hold the warmth in. This lasts only for brief moments before her claws are needed once again on yet another flight of stairs. They carefully make their way down to the exchange between lifts.

The narrow end of the ravine above looks like a crack in the face of a rock when compared to the towering mountain on either side.

By the time they reach the landing where the lift for the second half of the descent the first team has already lowered their cart and departed for the bottom. The second cart awaits them still resting on the first lift platform. The exchange between lifts rests on a massive stone outcrop beside the falls. Here there is plenty of space for several carts. A rope strung between some poles marks the area where the first lift has landed. There is a small indentation in the rock provides shelter for the second treadmill assembly.

Kyra walks to the edge while Rhal inspects the lift rope and treadmill. She peers over into the abyss below.

The first team can barely be made out in the mist. They have already begun to push their cart away from the mountain. The road though far below is still far from the base of the falls. It cuts along the face of the cliff gradually down to meet the river beyond the mist.

Kyra's observation is interrupted by loud cracking echos from above. To hear such a sound over the immensity of the falls alarms her. Her fur stands on end and her ears go flat as she cranes her head upward. A massive chunk of ice the size of a building tumbles through the air from the top. It hurtles past the platform and vanishes into the mist below. She scrambles for the edge peering into the valley below. The cloud of water vapor ripples from the shock wave left behind by the ice. Without a sound an enormous plume of water bursts forth from the mist. The first team catches some of the spray.

"If they weren't wet before they're wet now."

Kyra is startled to find Mikal at the ledge next to her. "Yeah, I guess so." She looks to the top of the falls. What remains of the large sheet of ice dangles over the edge not yet far enough to fall.

"They better hurry or they are going to get it again," Mikal sizes it up the ice on the edge of the pool above using his fingers "Hard to tell but that looks like an even bigger piece." Without his brother to egg him on Mikals politeness is a welcome change.

Kyra looks at him devoid of a response. She thinks back to the events that transpired earlier. "We should get to the treadmill."

Mikal nods.

Outside the treadmill Korzon is re-wrapping his paw. The strip of cloth is soaked through with his blood. Pushing the cart without protecting his paws has taken a toll on him. He glares at her and Mikal but says nothing.

They push the cart onto the platform and step into the treadmill. After a time Kyra finds the courage to ask Rhal. "So what happened?" a moment passes before adding. "At the top with the brothers."

"The older one fell off the ledge like a fumbling child."

"How?"

Rhal chuckles a bit to himself. "He blames you. Says that without the bandage he would have never lost his grip. Hes lucky."

Kyra stares into the tread. "Oh."

"Ah don't feel bad he deserved it."

Shocked she quickly replies. "To fall off?"

"No no. The cut you gave him."

"Oh." She wraps her tail around the front of her to hold it subconsciously but she needs her arms to balance in the wheel. Slowly it falls away back behind her. "You saw that."

He laughs. "Everyone saw it. Anyway, I took care of it. I don't think he'll bother you again."

"Thanks, I guess." Not meaning to sound ungrateful her words trail off self consciously.

The rope goes slack.

"That does it, let's get moving." Rhal jumps out of the wheel back to the ground and extends a paw to help Kyra.

The second half of the scaffold extends down the cliff further to the side from the waterfall. Kyra stares into the mist below. It looks like a cloud. She thinks to herself letting her mind wonder. Just what are clouds made of?

Her hind-paw slips on one of the steps. She claws into the wooden bean nearest her preventing a fall.

Rhal looks back over his shoulder to check if she is okay.

Moving forward Kyra traverses the wooden scaffold more carefully holding onto the railings and support beams with her claws. As she approaches the mist it becomes less and less like a solid wall. Instead it takes the form of an ever increasing feeling of cold wet encroaching discomfort.

Deep in heart of the mist the rapidly accumulating ice makes the climb even more treacherous. Kyra'sclaws no longer penetrate through to the wood. The moisture sinks into her clothing and fur freezing anywhere far enough from the body. Both her coat and clothing are stiff and miserable.

As the mist intensifies so does the sound. The once loud white noise of the rapids at the top seems in comparison like a whisper to the thunderous roar of the falls at the bottom. The ledge alongside the river, carved from the solid rock of the mountain seems to shake with the intensity of the sound.

At the bottom the other five members of their cart team have managed to move it off the lift and are waiting. They huddle around a small fire being whipped by the ferocity of the turbulent wind struggling to stay lit.

"Lets go lets go!" Naron calls to them.

They rush to the poles and begin to push.

"Its not far, just out of the mist and we get a break. Lets move!" Even a few feet away he sounds distant lost in the roar of the falls.

Kyra marches onward the weight of her wet clothing and fur pull down on her. She keeps her head up, fixed on the lodge ahead. Only a little further.

The wheels of the cart begin to move. The wood cracks and shudders from the ice.

From here Kyra can see the back of Korzon, his paws spread on the bar in front of him. The blood soaked bandage in particular catches her eye. She can't help herself but feel concerned. Her own paws sore from the hard work.

"Hurry up just line it up over here then we can take a break!" Rivaus waits impatiently outside the lodge showing them where to park the cart.

The lodge at the basecamp is a match for the one at the top. A tall square three story building with a stone base and wrapped wooden staircase. Its tall pointed roof relatively free of snow and ice.

An old spotted Ieza keep waves them in from the door. "Come in, come in." But as Kyra passes he puts his paw out into her chest. "Just hold on a minute." he looks down at her his eyes fixate on her bare wrist.

Kyra looks back at him. Her expression of relief melts from her face into one bordering on fear. Fear for what will become of her if she can not dry herself.

His eyes follow his paw as it brushes up the fur of her arm over her sleeve and onto her shoulder. He smiles "Good to see one of my kin around here. You're not letting these Airet be a bad influence on you, are ya?"

"No sir."

"Good, move along then."

Kyra moves quickly inside before he can change his mind. They file past a staircase into a large dry sauna. Everyone disrobes and hangs their clothing to dry above the coals on lines strung across the room.

Kyra hesitates to join them. The context of the situation is fine but its not the context she worries about. Nor is it the fact she is the only female in the group. It is the expected commentary of Mikal and Korzon that cause her to hesitate. She watches them from the corner of her eye.

"Come on Korzon, let me see it." Mikal grabs for his older brothers paw only to be pushed away.

"It's fine leave it be." Korzon holds his paw away from Mikal. "What are you looking at." He snaps at Kyra.

She looks away from him and grasps at her tail nervously.

Korzon not dissuaded insists upon her. "Hurry up and get undressed, I don't want to wait around all day for you." After which he returns to arguing with his brother.

Kyra hangs her clothes with the others, relieved to find Korzon wants nothing to do with her. Mikal too is more concerned with his brother than Kyra.

A few hours roll by. As the travelers they dry the inn keep brings them each a bowl of stew. Kyra pats her self down as if she were reaching for her pockets and realizes she left all her money with Minetz. "I-" she starts but is cut off.

"Don't worry, it's been taken care of by Rivaus." the old keep smiles at her.

Kyra smiles back and eagerly takes the bowl from him.

Late in the afternoon and at long last dry they dress for the last leg of their trip. The sun setting behind the mountains behind them to the west. The top of the falls glows orange and the mist a dark purple. The shadow of the gorge behind them stretches through the valley as the black night sky approaching from the east.

The rest of the trip is easy. Slightly down hill along the river to the delta at the coast. Night falls and the air chills a faint glow at the roads end slowly approaches. They have arrived.

The village of Cuno Bay has few buildings over a single story tall. Its streets are wide and paved leaving plenty of room for carts. Comprised of a dozen or so buildings the town stretches along the shoreline. Its streets lit by hundreds of lanterns, on posts, on the face of buildings, hung from trees, and carried by residents. Mills line up along the river their water wheels lifted from the surface for the winter. Long past watchers rest the streets are still busy with men carrying all manner of goods to their destinations and loading carts. This is a town that never sleeps.

A large ship sits in the harbor. Carefully constructed of curved and twisted wood intricately woven together and sealed with tar. The aesthetic extends from the slight rearward curve of the mast to the railings of the deck. Everything that can be is made from distorted trees and branches. It gives the vessel a natural and swept look as if everything is bent back by the wind. To top it off, even in the dim light any true Anoran can see every part of the ship is either carved or elaborately painted with the symbols of the Tanoi people and their religion. A royal ship of the high seer.

Through a gap in the clouds out over the sea Kyra watches the pale blue stripped moon crest the horizon. The light stretches across the ocean rippling into the bay. Kyra closes her eyes and raises her nose into the cold steady breeze rolling in off the coast. She takes a long deep breath. The scent of fire and freshly cooked meat fill the air.

A long hall and bunkhouse sit by the river stretching parallel to the ocean. A large flagstone area full of parked carts sit ready to be loaded or unloaded by Tanoi workers.

Rivaus and Naron choose a spot overlooking the river bank along the road. They steer the carts into position.

Naron drops the steer rod at the lead of the cart and stretches. "Good job, rest up for the night. We head back at watchers light."

Wearily the workers disembark the carts, removing the push rods as not to snag passerby's and securing them. They groan and stretch once the last bit of work is done and head for the Inn. All except for Kyra.

Kyra carefully pulls her hood over her head and sneaks off across the yard towards the docks. She sticks to the shadows and waits for guards and workers to pass by. She hides her face from them. Down along the coast from building to building she moves until she reaches the dock. She takes a seat on the pier on the tallest support. She waits a while and watches the moon. Its soft pale glow illuminates the sea. She studies the moons surface as it slowly changes over time. She closes her eyes. Recalling the words of Miran.

The nature of the world is change. The nature of those within the world is to change with it. Remember this as you learn to walk. Remember it when you move beyond the protection of your parents. Remember it when you find love. Remember it when you have children of your own. They too will see change in the world and find their own path. Remember it when you let them go. All things must go. Some by our hands. This is the way of nature. Some must die so that others may live _. Your day too will come and as you_ lose grip on the final grains of your time in this world_ , look to the sky. Look to the clouds and remember. Change is the nature of the world._

The moon slowly rises above the surface of the ocean. That should be long enough. Kyra hops down off the support and walks carefully to the far edge of town. A pair of Tanoi guards stand at the edge of a wooded area. She carefully avoids them and sneaks into the forest from another direction further up the road. Her eyes adjust to the dark. Before long the black veil is lifted and she finds her target. A tall horned figure. Enozen.

"You're late." He says crossing his arm in an overly stiff and sarcastic tone.

She laughs and pushes him. "It took so long this time. They didn't have room and I had to push.

"You? Push? No wonder it took them so long." he smiles at her.

It's Kyras turn to cross her arms in disapproval. "This is what I need." She hands him Kota's list.

He looks it over and scratches his head. It's not in her hand writing. "This is paid order for a shop keep. I see that it gets to the people responsible but you really don't need me for this."

"Well..." Kyra looks at the ground and shuffles her paw in the pine needles.

"You know I'm glad to help. What do you want? Just name it."

"Can I have some lichen? For Elons?"

"For Elons or for you?" he tilts his head to the side and flicks his ear suspiciously at her.

"For me I owe him."

Enozen sigh's "Okay, fine. It will be done. Are you sure there is nothing you actually need for yourself?"

"No nothing." she says quietly as if ashamed.

"Okay find but you know what the price is."

Kyra looks up at him "Oh no, I just had a bath."

"After a day like this you need another one anyway." he smiles devilishly.

"You aren't afraid they the guards and your family will find out?"

"Hah, in a place like this? Well all smell like Anorans right now. Besides we don't have the gift of your kind when it comes to scent. You all smell alike to us."

Kyra crosses her arms and rolls her eyes. "Fine, just get it over with."

Enozen steps forward and hugs her tightly. Slowly she uncrosses her arms and hugs him back.

"Alright that's enough" Kyra step's away from him.

"I don't imagine I will see you again until spring."

"I imagine not." Kyra looks over her shoulder as if expecting to see someone sneaking up on them but finds only darkness.

"Well then don't go freezing your self to death in the meantime. Stay warm and safe."

"Okay, well you better get going."

He waves and walk away towards the road. Kyra leans against a tree and waits for the coast to clear. He has to know I don't like him that way I've told him enough times. She looks to the sky the moon largely obstructed by the trees. She takes a deep breath. Don't be stupid, you know he only does it to annoy you._The cold from standing still starts to set in. _That's long enough.

Having returned to the inn Kyra finds her stelf stopped at the front door by the guards. Two armored Rohean men. Strong adults no doubt from years living by the shore.

"Hold it, you're not allowed in." He holds his spear across her chest barring her entry.

"I'm with Rivaus." She politely informs them.

"Yeah right, and I'm with the Tanoi envoy." He grabs her wrist tightly with his paw. "Now get out of here I won't ask again." He pushes her away violently.

A jovial Ieza bursts through the door unexpectedly behind them leaving the entry way open, laughing and drunk.

Kyra stumbles but catches her balance before falling and marches defiantly back up to them. Through the door she can see Mikal, Korzon, and Rhal sitting at the bar. "Those guys there, ask them. They will tell you." She points past the guards barring her entrance by crossing their spears.

The first guard nods to the second who takes off for the bar. Kyra waits patiently with her arms crossed.

Inside the second guard approaches Korzon and they exchange words. Korzon leans back on his stool and looks at Kyra through the open door. He shrugs and returns to his drink. Soon the second guard returns.

"Hes never seen you before in his life. Now get out of here before I get mad."

"B-but." She stammers.

They draw their spears on her.

Kyra throws up her paws and her ears lay flat. "Fine, I'll go." With a huff she storms off into the night but only a few paces away her pace slows and her confidence gone.

She talks to herself. "Stupid Kyra, why did you leave your money behind." She kicks a small clump of packed slushy snow left in the road no doubt by a cart. To her satisfaction it bursts into small wet pieces that fly off in all directions. She walks along the road brushing her paw along the side of the parked carts.

Kyra looks to the sky. The moon now covered by encroaching overcast moving in from the sea towards the mainland. She sighs. "More snow." She reaches their cart. She puts her paw on the forward push rod strapped alongside the cart. She can make out the faint smell of Korzon's blood. He must have torn it open when he fell there's no way I did all this. She shurgs fowl mood makes it difficult to pity such a miserable excuse for an Anoran. No wonder he finds himself pushing carts when he still has his marks of honor.

She bends over and looks beneath the cart. The ground below is clear and about as dry as its going to get given the situation. Kyra searches the cart for a spare linen cloth tarp like the one used to cover the goods from the snow and uses it to make a bed on the ground. She crawls beneath and curls up as tight as she can to keep the cold out and closes her eyes in hope for at least some kind of sleep.