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Northpoint

Written By: Spudz

It was the very ragged edge of the world, the northern-most region that any form of civilization dared take up root in. Araki found it hard to believe that a village even existed out here in this great wilderness.

Before the husky on the snow-covered path, a simple weather-worn sign announced her arrival into the humble town of Northpoint. It was a small settlement, registering as no more than a tiny dot at the northernmost tip of the Kaowyn realm. The cold here was harsh, and the winters brutal. It was actually amazing that anyone could call such a wild and untamed part of the world their home. And yet here this village sat, nestled snugly between the jagged peaks of towering white mountains, defying nature's wrath with each passing day. How did I end up in an isolated place like this?

With a tired sigh, Araki pressed her legs gently against her horse's flanks, coaxing the paint stallion back into a slow gait. A long day spent traveling had finally come to a close. She was looking forward to putting up in the local lodge for the night, and enjoying a nice hot meal. Gods only knew how many more stale loaves of bread she could stomach before she lost her appetite completely.

The light wind tried to work its way past the thick insulating wool of her cloak as she made her way down into the town. She didn't really need the protective clothing; her thick fur was plenty enough. It was more for concealment really, to keep wandering eyes guessing should they size her up for robbery or worse. A cloaked traveler had a better chance of giving a bandit pause than a lone conspicuous woman, not to say that she wasn't capable of defending herself in that sort of situation should it arise. If someone had tried to pull something on her, and tried some bandits had in the past, she could and would set them straight right quick.

The husky's trip had been quite uneventful though. Even her entrance into Northpoint was completely humdrum. There was no sign of anyone about, and all of the thatched cottages were dark. The sun had only just dipped below the mountain peaks, and already the locals had turned in for the night it seemed. It was a stark contrast to the bustling ambiance of Kaowyn's capital city, Adro, which seemed several worlds away. Apparently there was no such thing as a night life here.

But no, now Araki could see as her horse ambled his way down the one snowy path that a single building showed some signs of activity. An amber glow of light emanated through the worn windows of the rather large structure, which sat squarely at the center of the town. The road came to a dead end right at its front doorstep, her journey's end.

Above her, the sign hanging across the entrance depicted a wagon spoke and wheel with 'Trail's End Tavern' written in bold lettering. From within, hearty laughter and the buzz of raucous conversation filtered out into the cold evening air. So this was where everyone was.

Anticipating the satisfaction of a hot meal and warm bed, Araki quickly led her horse around to the side of the tavern, where the building's stable sat. From the shed's small size, it was obvious that the owner didn't expect many travelers. There probably wasn't much in the way of merchant traffic that flowed through Northpoint. Being that this humble little town was situated right at the edge of the known world, not many had a reason or will to pass through such an isolated place.

Inside the stable only one of the four existing stalls actually held a horse. The door to a second stood open, and a lantern's candle light flickered from within, casting a shadow against the stable hand while he busied himself cleaning with a broom. To Araki's surprise, the young cub was not a canine, but rather a cheetah. She would never have expected to find one this far north. His kind hailed from the Sineos continent, a region that was as hot and unwelcoming a place as Northpoint was cold. How he had ended up here of all places must've been a story unto itself.

The husky's horse suddenly uttered a snort, causing the young cheetah to turn with a start. Araki could see the alarm play across his features as he almost dropped the broom. The sight of a hooded rider on horseback was probably not common around the village. She had to give him credit though, for he recovered his composure quickly.

"Ah, welcome to Northpoint," the young cat greeted, doing his best to put on a welcoming pleasantness, although his apprehension still clearly showed. He moved cautiously toward her, not sure what her intent was.

The husky allowed him to glimpse her amiable smile under the hood of her cloak. "Thanks, it's been quite a journey."

"What brings you to our village, ma'am?"

Araki accepted the cheetah's wary assistance and removed herself from her mount, grimacing as her body protested the sudden motion. Spending a day in the saddle was never an enjoyable thing, especially when you tried to walk afterward. "I'm here on business."

Her fatigued candor seemed to put him more at ease. "Don't get many merchants here." He stole a glance toward the supplies strapped to the back of her saddle. "You from the guild?"

Araki took the opportunity to pull back her hood to expose her snowy white fur. "Fraid not." She noticed now that the cat's spotted fur, what wasn't wrapped up in thick insulating wool, lacked the distinct poofy mane that cubs tended to have. With his boyish appearance, she guessed he had seen twelve or so winters. It was always hard to tell given that cheetahs were typically small and slender in build. "Just looking for a warm place to stay the night."

"Oh! Well you've come to the right place. Always a bed available at the Trail's End. We got hot meals and drink too, everything you need to rest after a long day of travel."

The husky inwardly grinned at the boy's practiced showmanship. He didn't have to sell her on staying the night. There wasn't anywhere else she could go really. "I'd be happy to take you up on that, young lad."

His long feline tail flicked about excitedly. "Excellent, you won't be disappointed."

Araki nodded her head and moved to her horse's haunches. However, before she could start untying all of her supplies, the cheetah politely interrupted with a hand on her arm.

"I'll take care of that ma'am. Go inside and get warm."

She nodded again in gracious thanks, and instead settled for removing the one item that she dared not part with; her sword. The long curved scabbard was covered by a linen wrap, which partially disguised the weapon's appearance from the casual eye. Even so, the sharp stable hand was quick to recognize the blade for what it was as she removed it from the saddle pack.

Araki noted his suddenly nervous look. The sword quickly disappeared into her cloak, where she tucked it into its rightful place at her hip, out of sight, and hopefully not needed for some time. When her hand reappeared, she held a small pouch.

The coins within made a satisfying jingle, distracting the cheetah from his anxiety. Araki quickly fished out two silver pieces, before replacing the purse back into her cloak.

The cub was spellbound by the sight of the two gleaming pieces, so much so that she had to reach out and gently pull his arm up so she could place the money in his opened palm. "For services rendered." She then reached up to give her horse's flank a pat of the hand. "Take care of Talogo here. He's had just as long a day on the road as me."

The cheetah was left speechless, his eyes as wide as saucers. All he could do was look at the pieces in his hand with feline muzzle agape. "I... uh..."

When he looked back up to Araki, she gave him a wink. "I know a good stable hand when I see one."

With that she turned and made her way out of the stable, leaving the cub still eyeing his payment in astonishment. He had every right to be surprised. The silver pieces he held in his palm were probably equal to what he saw for a month's worth of work, if not more. Araki wasn't rich by any stretch of the imagination. She just had little use for coin. What currency the husky did retain wasn't rightfully hers. So why not share her fortune with others? At the very least, it always put a smile on her muzzle. Sometimes, it was the little things that kept her going really.

The relative calm of the town was a stark contrast to the rowdy atmosphere of the tavern. When Araki emerged through the front door, the muffled din of boisterous conversations became a dull roar of energy, a familiar vibe that was more in step with the typical nightlife of Adro.

The open room was dimly lit, with a roaring fire occupying a hearth in one corner, and various candles adorning the many tables that littered the space. Not a single empty chair could be seen from the husky's viewpoint. To her amazement, the place was absolutely packed full of patrons.

The northern parts of Kaowyn were mostly dominated by malamute and akita, hardy races that had a knack for living in the extreme cold. As Araki scanned the tavern space, she found that the tables were mostly occupied by the former. They were miners by the looks of it, rough around the edges with chiseled bodies that bespoke many days hefting pickaxe and shovel. The smell of damp earth and unwashed fur on her nose, intermingled with the distinct odor of freshly brewed ale, only confirmed that observation.

Most of Northpoint's inhabitants were employed by the mining profession in one way or another, a hazardous, yet very profitable trade. As it was, the town's only export was the valuable iron that was unearthed from the surrounding mountains. The pay was quite good from what the husky knew, which explained why the tavern was so packed. In a village this remote, there was probably nothing better to blow your earnings on than a night drinking your soul away.

Araki carefully picked her way through the dense crowd of patrons, minding all the moving bodies around her. A few servers worked about the throngs gracefully, holding platters of mug and food above their heads as they glided to and fro. She found it incredible how they managed to serve the guests with such fluid grace, while bearing the occasional lewd grope or slap to the ass. When guests got drunk, the serving wenches were always their first targets. But it was an honest job, and probably paid better than most professions available to young women of the village.

On that note, the husky's presence was already garnering a few curious looks through eyes clouded by the steady flow of mead and ale. A few conversations sprang up as she passed by tables, putting her on guard. Some of the things she heard were quite unsettling, but it wasn't the first time she had wandered into a tavern. Her profession took her to such places quite often, for better or for worse.

After a few moments of wandering about, Araki finally found an empty stool at the far corner of the tavern's bar. The akita sitting next to her watched with a raised eyebrow as she removed the linen covered scabbard from her hip and gently leaned it up against the scuffed wood of the bar. She decided to keep her cloak on though, and wrapped the fabric tighter around her body while she slid onto the flimsy seat.

"Welcome to the Trail's End Tavern!"

The disembodied voice emanated from below the bar counter out of sight. A few seconds later, a cheetah appeared holding a sizeable mug of ale, and expertly slid the tankard across the bar toward the akita, who caught it with an open hand. "Always nice to see a new face in town."

The sight of another cat took Araki by surprise. The feline was of middling years, with just the slightest touch of grey adorning her stout muzzle. She had a spark to her eyes, which bespoke a charismatic personality typically associated with a tavern owner. So, that explained the stable hand.

Araki canted her head slightly in greeting. "G'evening. I'd like to purchase a room for the night, and some food and drink if that would be alright."

The cheetah's smile only grew. "Of course! Always nice to have a traveler stay the night. Now you just sit right there and I'll go whip something up."

"Oh... that's..." Araki's words trailed off. A flourish of the feline's graceful tail was all she saw before the owner disappeared into the kitchen. True to the form of her species, the cheetah was surprisingly quick on her paws. That agility probably came in quite handy when running a tavern, although how a feline had come to own such an establishment on the northern fringe of the world was a mystery.

Araki glanced over toward the akita, who no longer paid her any mind. With his newly acquired mug in hand, he busied himself downing his sizable drink in one gluttonous swig. Seconds later, the empty tankard plopped down onto the bar with a thwack, accompanied by his vulgar belch. With that taken care of, a nap suddenly seemed to be in order as his head subsequently collapsed onto the bar, knocking the mug over. Charming...

The cheetah returned a minute later with a large bowl in hand. Araki found herself eyeing the soupy mush within suspiciously. "What's that you got there?"

"One of my special recipes, fresh from the stewing pot," the owner replied cheerfully. She dropped the bowl onto the bar and pushed it toward Araki, where it slid to a stop right in front of the husky.

Araki took a deep whiff, and was overwhelmed by a plethora of wonderful aromas. There was beef, and potatoes... carrots, onions, spices, all mixed into a thick sloppy mush. Her stomach didn't care how unappealing the slop looked. If it tasted half as good as it smelled she was in for a real treat. At this point, she could eat anything, maybe even the bowl itself.

"I haven't thought of a good name for it. So I just call it Mush Posh Stew." The cheetah offered up a wooden spoon, and when Araki's features crinkled in delight at the first mouthful of heavenly goodness, she grinned triumphantly. "No one has ever refused it."

The tavern owner watched with an amused look as Araki made short work of her meal and devoured every last drop. It was the perfect repast after days spent on the road eating nothing but stale tasteless bread. Soon the bowl sat empty between them, leaving the husky to lick her chops with approval. "Oh, that was quite good! Gods, you don't know how much I needed that."

"I wouldn't be a good host if I didn't know how to treat my guests," the cheetah replied candidly. "Name's Shishu."

"Araki, and you have quite a fine establishment here."

"This old place?" The feline waved a hand dismissively. "It's nothing really. Just an old tavern where the locals can come and drown their sorrows. I don't get many travelers." The spoken words seemed to draw her attention back to the husky. "You're the first new face I've seen in probably a month. So, what brings you to the great northern expanse?"

Araki began to realize that her initial hopes of blending in with the local populous were futile. Everyone probably knew each other, and any outsiders were sure to quickly stand out. This wasn't going to make her job any easier. "Just here on business. Nothing special really."

Shishu's ear flicked as she propped her elbows on the bar surface. "Oh? Not much business to be had in Northpoint. I'm not expecting another merchant caravan for a week, which leaves the mines as the only other reason you would come here. Has the guild come to hound us for more payouts? Bastards never seem satisfied with the already outrageous tariffs we pay."

The way the cheetah nearly spat the last part bespoke a long ongoing quarrel with the powers that be. The Miner's Guild had considerable sway with Kaowyn's High Council, and had a way of abusing that power to suit their gains. Apparently that influence even stretched out to this very far corner of the realm.

"No, I'm not here in regard to that," Araki replied with a shake of the head, leaving her answer at that.

This only further perked Shishu's curiosity. "So then?"

She studied the feline meaningfully, weighing her options. If she didn't divulge the truth, odds were that the innkeeper would find out sooner or later. Besides, she found herself liking Shishu. What harm could come of it?

The husky was about to reply, when Shishu's attention abruptly shifted to just over Araki's shoulder. At that same moment, the wretched smell of ale and grimy fur made her nose wrinkle. When she looked over to her side, a muscular arm came to rest on the bar, followed closely by the drunken appearance of a malamute. His presence didn't bode well...

He was too close for comfort, almost in her lap. "Hey lass, you got pruddy blue eyes."

The malamute's slurred speech indicated just how drunk he was. Araki resisted the urge to push him away, and instead settled for feigned graciousness. "Oh, thank you."

Shishu wasn't so subtle. "Why don't you leave this young woman alone, Yutkao. She's had a long day."

"I just wanna tell her how pruddy she is." He turned his attention back to Araki, his eyes having trouble focusing. "I've been look'n for a way to spend my hard earned coin." He placed a hand on her shoulder, and she had to resist cringing at his iron grip. "Wada say? Wanna go back to my place and fuck?"

The request was so blunt, so vulgar, that Araki was at a loss for words. How could someone be so brash, even when they were drunk? She hadn't even been here an hour, and already trouble had found her.

The innkeeper's tone became a bit forceful. "Go home Yut; you're drunk. Don't make a mistake you'll regret."

"Why ya always gotta go and ruin my fun? I'm sure m'lady here won't mind. I can pay."

The grip on Araki's shoulder grew stronger. Finally she regained her senses. "Please let go, I'm not interested."

But he didn't. "Aw, come'on. Just a quick fuck. I need to get off, and you're pruddy face gets me hard."

"I'm sorry. I'm not interested. Now please let go."

"Yut, let her go now!" Shishu warned, her hackles rising threateningly. "I will not have you mistreat my guest."

Still the malamute's hand remained painfully clasped to Araki's shoulder. Her anger began to creep up.

She didn't deserve such degrading treatment... especially from a witless idiot too drunk to realize what he was getting himself into. The fact that he thought he could impose his will so easily upon her was infuriating.

The long day of travel had worn Araki's normally abundant patience down. It was just too much; she simply snapped. "I said let go!"

With practiced skill, her paw swept out beneath the stool to catch the bulky canine's knee from behind. In his inebriated state, he had no chance of compensating for his leg suddenly folding forward. The result was jarring.

Araki cringed as the massive canine reeled backward away from the bar, unable to keep his balance. His momentum carried him into a nearby table, breaking it in two as he crashed down onto the floor, sending mugs and mead flying in every direction.

The resulting chaos brought the entire tavern to a standstill. Where there had been rowdy conversation, only surprised silence now greeted the husky. Her malamute accoster lay in a disheveled heap atop the crumpled remains of the table, covered in mead, his expression a study of shock and confusion. But that only lasted a fleeting moment, before anger consumed him.

With surprising speed, he bolted to his paws and squared off with Araki, the fury at being humiliated burning in his eyes. "You bitch! How dare you do that to me!"

The husky's instincts now had her on alert. This isn't going to end well. She quickly removed herself from the stool to regard the threat that now presented itself, knowing full well the danger that his intoxication created.

He pulled a sizeable knife from his waistband and leveled the blade at her, validating her concern. "You should know your place, lass. I'm gonna have my way with you whether you like it or not."

Shishu suddenly made her presence known, leaping onto the bar counter with graceful agility. The cheetah clutched a billy club in hand, her tail lashing about furiously. "You will stop this foolishness now Yut! Do not make me beat the gods fearing piss out of you!"

Araki raised a hand to stop Shishu's advance. "No, I can handle this."

The innkeeper paused on the verge of leaping from the bar and regarded her with a raised eyebrow.

Araki's deadpan gaze never left her malamute assailant. He had just crossed a very dangerous line pointing a weapon at her. "I will deal with this."

Her outstretched hand shifted ever so slightly. Alongside the stool, the linen wrapped scabbard suddenly took flight, and flew directly into her opened palm with an audible thwack. As her opponent looked on in newfound disbelief, she then grasped the exposed grip to smoothly draw her blade in one fluid motion.

The scabbard remained in the husky's grip. However, everyone's attention focused on her other hand, which now wielded a katana. The ebony black metal gleamed ominously in the flickering light of the room, allowing the intricate scarlet patterns of the weapon's blood seal to stand out along the curved surface. Its unique appearance was instantly recognizable to all those who could see. Araki's katana was not just her trusted blade; it was her badge of office.

The husky flexed her grip, and the ebony steel came to life, glowing a deep cobalt blue as the weapon hissed angrily. Her malamute aggressor was stunned while everyone nearby instinctively backed away.

"You're... you're a sage!" The knife fell from his limp hand and clattered onto the floor, the intoxication all but fleeing from the malamute's expression in an instant. His muzzle hung open, eyes nearly popping out of his head. Now the brute realized just what he'd gotten himself into. The comprehension was enough to pierce through his drunken haze like a crack of lightning.

He took a step back, recoiling away from her presence. Her adversary made as if he would flee.

"No you don't," Araki hissed. Her offhand extended out toward him in a flash, still clutching the scabbard. What she did next went unseen to the naked eye.

All the patrons of the tavern saw was the malamute abruptly freeze in place, his arms and legs flipping straight out in spread eagle fashion. It was like she had suddenly turned him into her marionette, as his paws slowly levitated off the ground.

Playing the part of puppeteer, Araki reeled him in with a crook of her finger. His face was frozen in outright terror, teeth clenched tight in a vain struggle to free himself. It was no use though. She had snared him fully in a binding of invisible mana threads.

Utter silence greeted the husky's ears when she brought her quarry to a halt floating just inches away from the tip of her glowing blade. The unseen spellweave holding him by the arms and legs kept him completely immobilized. All he could do was pant breathlessly, and eye her katana with growing panic.

"You've committed an offense against an agent of the Kaowyn Realm," Araki spoke, her voice menacingly calm. "By my judicial right, I can try you right here and now, and find you guilty of felonious assault."

"Oh gods! I'm sorry. I... I didn't mean to!" The malamute became a babbling wreck, unable to form coherent words. The macho brute that had first made his presence known was nowhere to be seen now. He was a crying, frightened little pup.

The tip of her katana shifted up to level itself with the bridge of his muzzle, serving to silence his panicked blathering. "I wouldn't give two shits about locking a thug like you up. I find it disgusting that you think you can just take advantage of a stranger like that. I will not tolerate such behavior in my presence." She went silent for a pregnant pause, allowing her words to sink in.

The malamute said nothing. He just looked at her wide-eyed, muzzle hanging open.

Feeling her anger relent, Araki uttered a sigh and released her hold on the invisible mana threads holding him in place, letting the canine fall onto the floor in a pitiful heap. When he came to stand on hands and knees and looked up into her cold, calculating gaze, she jerked her head toward the distant door. "Go... before I change my mind."

His look of disbelief was short-lived, before the canine heeded her advice and bolted for the door, pausing only long enough to scoop up his knife. He didn't even look back as he ran full on into the crowd of patrons, pushing them aside reckless abandon. He wanted out of the tavern, and no one was going to get in his way.

Araki watched emotionlessly while the malamute's tail disappeared out into the cold night. When he was gone, all eyes focused back on her in the ensuing silence.

With a flick of her arm, the husky whipped the flap of her cloak back and inserted the linen wrapped scabbard back into its rightful place in her hip belt loop. At the same time she relaxed her hold on the katana grip, allowing the blade's threatening glow to wink out of existence, leaving only the ebony tinge of the steel itself.

Her subsequent graceful motion slid the blunt edge of the katana against the scabbard, until the tip dropped snugly into the opening at the one end. The rest of the weapon followed suit in a single elegant movement, sheathing it back into the protective covering where it was ready to be drawn again in an instant.

Araki gave the dumbstruck crowd a long sweep of her gaze, and they all shrank away from her presence as if struck. She scoffed crossly at their reactions, and returned to her stool without another word, turning her back on them all.

To those stunned patrons the husky was no longer just another traveler. They probably thought she was some sort of monster, a god maybe. The reputation that came with her title was always a burden, always there to alienate Araki from the world around her. How could she simply live her life day to day when everyone treated her like some sort of untouchable divine? It didn't help that trouble always seemed to follow her around wherever she went.

"A sage, huh? I never thought I'd see any of you lot around these parts." Shishu had jumped down from her perch on the counter, and was now standing back on her side of the bar. The billy club rested comfortably atop her shoulder as she regarded Araki with a crooked smirk. "And here I thought I was gonna have to go and bust some heads."

The cheetah wasn't cowed by Araki's presence. In fact she seemed to find the husky's newly divulged profession amusing if anything else. Her reaction was a surprise.

"There can be only one reason the kingdom would send a sage to our humble little town," Shishu reasoned aloud, tapping the club against her shoulder. "Although, I figured they'd send a band of mercs, or even a few soldiers."

Araki sighed in defeat. "Yes, I've been sent here to answer Northpoint's request for aid."

"It's about time they honored our appeal for help. They ought'a have sooner, given how much iron we feed the military rank and file. The war would've been lost long ago without our resources to sustain it."

Araki's ears pinned back at the innkeeper's words, causing the cheetah to pause on the verge of speaking once more. "I'm sorry we couldn't send help out sooner. The war... hasn't been going well."

"Are things that bad? We scarcely hear anything from the front out here. Just the odd rumor from merchants."

"I... I'd rather not talk about it if that's ok." There were so many bad memories... she did her best to mask the sudden twist of grief, but Shishu still took note of her haunted look.

"Oh, well, never mind I said anything. How about a nice drink to settle the nerves then?" At Araki's appreciative nod, she smiled and disappeared into the kitchen with purpose in her step. Araki didn't care what the cheetah brought back. Suddenly, she could drink anything; even the strongest ale would've sufficed.

A quick glance around the tavern revealed just how much of an effect her presence now had on the atmosphere. Hardly a third of the patrons remained from before, and those that had elected to stay carried on in hushed conversation. All of the tables around Araki were conspicuously empty.

Some minutes later, the cheetah returned with a steaming kettle in one hand, and a cup in the other. Araki immediately recognized the smell of herbal tea as Shishu placed the items before her. "I just got this off a merchant caravan that passed through a few days ago. Strong stuff, fresh from the Miroenyth Province."

The cup steamed welcomingly while Shishu poured the tea, and Araki wasted no time venturing a sip once the cheetah had offered her the drink. The pungent blend of peppermint and honey that subsequently tickled her taste buds and warmed her palate was just what she needed. "Ah, this is a drink I can enjoy."

"I figured you for a tea drinker," Shishu spoke with a cheeky feline grin. She pulled up a stool and joined the husky, procuring for herself a second cup. "As you can imagine, not many of the locals favor the stuff. Always nice to enjoy a blend with a traveler." She poured herself a drink and nursed the cup with a few sips. "Never thought I'd get the chance to drink with a sage of all people."

Araki allowed herself a slight smile. "Not many do to be honest. I'm sorry about the table. I'll pay for all the damage of course."

Shishu stole a look over the husky to the table in question, which lay in several shattered pieces of wood on the floor. "For just one table? Pah, don't worry about it. It won't cost me a piece to replace."

"It's really no trouble..."

"Yut will replace it for you," the cat replied with a twisted smirk. "If he doesn't already know that, he will tomorrow."

Araki cocked her head. "What makes you think he'll do that?"

"Because there are only a few rules in my tavern, and property replacement is one of them. If you break it, you replace it. No two ways about it."

"And if he doesn't abide?"

Shishu chuckled mirthlessly. "Well the solution is simple. I cut him off from the drink of my tavern. No mead or ale until reparations are made. It's the only way to hold sway over some of the more boorish louts of the village."

"That's all you have to do?"

"When you're the only supply of drink in the entire village, banning someone from the tavern is enough to get their attention. It's why all the furniture in here is such poor quality. Almost everything has been built by one patron or another after they broke something."

Araki took a quick survey of the room, and sure enough not a single table, chair or bench matched. She could see that some furniture was of better build quality than other pieces, showing the varying degrees of woodworking skills that Shishu's customers possessed. "I've never heard of such a system in any tavern I've ever visited."

The feline shrugged. "Hey, it cuts down on costs, and I don't have to worry about my patrons destroying my tavern. It's to the point now that I don't even have to say anything before a new chair or table shows up at my door the next afternoon."

"I can still help you clean up this mess at least," Araki offered.

"Don't worry bout it. I'll just sweep the splinters into the fireplace later. You've had enough to worry about already."

The husky nodded modestly in thanks, and turned her attention back to her tea.

They lapsed into silence as both slowly enjoyed the essence of the herbal drink. After a minute though, Shishu looked like she wanted to speak.

"Did you have a question?" Araki asked, looking up from her tea politely.

The innkeeper's tail flicked about, belying her reply and shake of the head. "Hmm? Ah... no."

Araki chuckled lightly. She was beginning to see how hard it was for a feline to lie. "If you're wondering about the Rajo Order, please, ask. I'd be happy to answer any questions."

The cheetah studiously eyed her cup. "Well, I've heard so much about the sages, and how you're almost singlehandedly holding off the Tukor armies to the south. But everything is hearsay."

"At first we were the only ones stalling the enemy's advance into our land," Araki amended, conceding to herself that she couldn't avoid talking about the war. The locals had no idea what was transpiring across the rest of the realm. She couldn't blame Shishu for being curious. "But now the various militias are becoming organized enough to defend the lines. It's... not a winning battle though. Things have only quieted down recently due to the onset of winter."

"I see." The cat pursed her lips, and decided that was as far as the subject needed to go. "So I guess my real question is what does it mean to be a sage? Coming from the southern continent, we only had tribal shaman, those who could perform medicinal miracles using otherworldly magics, and bend the will of the world to their choosing. Obviously, no one in Northpoint can do such things."

Araki paused with the cup halfway to her muzzle. She had never been asked such a question before. "I really don't know how to answer that to be honest."

"Oh? Well... do you have affinities at least? I've come to understand all spellweavers are adept at certain fields at least."

"Yes, all weavers possess an inherent affinity for a particular craft. The Rajo Order is comprised of weavers from diverse backgrounds, with differing skills and talents. It's what makes us strong." She reached over and touched a finger to the cheetah's cup, causing the waning wisps of steam to gather new life. "We all train from an early age to master basic weaving arts. From there, each apprentice goes on to train in their respective disciplines, depending on their affinity, before becoming a sage."

Shishu was mystified by the sight of her reheated tea. "Your order is set up in an academic fashion?"

"Of sorts. We function more as an arm of the militia really, as well as domestic law enforcement when the local constables can't handle something."

"And that's why you're here?"

"Well, no... this assignment for me is... well." Araki trailed off, not sure how best to answer. "It's a mission I was given to pull me off the front lines."

Shishu immediately understood. "Oh, I see."

"But that brings up a good point," the husky added, changing the subject as she set her now empty cup onto the bar. The innkeeper was quick to pour another serving from the kettle. "I don't know much about these wild animal attacks that were mentioned in the request for aid. The message we received wasn't very clear."

Shishu's expression suddenly grew dark. "Yes, wild animals. They've been stalking the village for some time now."

"Do you know what type of animal?" There weren't many dangerous beasts that roamed the landscape as far as Araki knew. Maybe a solitary bear, or a cougar at the worst.

The cheetah's voice dropped down into a near whisper as she leaned toward Araki. "That's just it. No one has ever seen these strange creatures. We know they are out there though. Some have even claimed to hear them roam about the village late at night."

Araki frowned. "How do you know these beasts even exist? What the others could've heard was nothing more than local dogs mucking about."

"It's the call; the long ghostly wail that pierces the stillness of the night. I've never heard anything like it in my life. The noise they make is just haunting."

She wasn't sure if the cheetah was embellishing. "Any attacks on livestock? Villagers? Any physical evidence that I can see?"

"No, they've never attacked our livestock, or anything like that," Shishu replied carefully. "But, they have left marks on the landscape out beyond the farms."

This perked the husky's interest. "What sort of marks?"

Shishu looked over toward the window and the deepening blackness of the night. "It's... I can't really explain what it is to be honest. It'd be best if you looked for yourself. I wouldn't go out there now though. It's not safe."

"I don't think I could even if I wanted to," Araki replied wearily, suddenly feeling the day catch up with her. "Riding really takes it out of me."

"Good, then let me get a room squared away for you and you can rest those tired bones. Tomorrow you can go demon hunting."

They finished off the remainder of the tea in due course, and several minutes later, Araki found herself being led toward her room by the cheetah stable hand she had met earlier.

He went by Rehato, and proved to be quite a talkative feline once he had warmed up to her. Through his rapid account as they walked, she began to gain a better understanding of the village's struggle to cope with the strange animals that seemed to always lurk in the shadows of the nearby forest.

The inexplicable occurrences began happening roughly three months ago, and had grown in frequency over time until the mysterious cries were heard almost every night. As it was, no one dared move about the streets after dark, which explained why the patrons of the tavern had elected to take their drink before the sun had even set. Anyone that remained either had a room to stay the night, like Araki, or simply elected to pass out in the tavern hall. Whatever was out there, it was obvious that it was affecting the lives of these humble folk.

Rehato soon left the husky to her room, which turned out to be quite a luxurious abode. To her pleasant surprise, she found that she had full plumbing, with a latrine and bathing tub that rivaled the quality of the best inns in Adro. For an establishment out on the very fringe of the civilized world, this was a remarkably cozy place to hole up for the night.

The bed that dominated the space looked oh so inviting to Araki. As much as she wanted to just throw herself on the sheets and pass out, she held back though. Before she could turn in, there were a few things that had to be taken care of, the first of which was her lingering curiosity from the earlier conversation with Shishu. Now, in the solitude of her room, she could try to verify the cat's story.

Taking a moment to plant herself squarely in the center of the space, the husky brought her hands together before her and steepled her fingers to form a basic focus seal. Her breath slowed to a gradual and deliberate tempo as she then closed her eyes, and allowed her awareness to reach out.

Araki's surroundings slowly came back into focus, yet with a wholly new feel and appearance. It wasn't the perception of sight through the visually limited eyes from which she saw, but rather through the mind itself, a focused gateway that allowed her to sense the very fabric of the natural world. Intricate patterns of flowing mana threads streamed elegantly about all around her, chaotic, yet with an underlying order that was both graceful and intrinsic. This free flowing fabric of complex weaves and forms was the essence of all life, visible only to the trained eye of a spellweaver.

The practice took years to master, and years still to perfect and hone. It required a focused mind to see through the ebbs and flows of the weaves to the composition of the actual world in which the threads interacted with. From the center of her room, Araki could clearly make out the surrounding walls that hemmed her in, how the patterns of mana flowed fluently through their construction with only just the slightest disturbance evident to her gaze.

She reached her awareness out, and touched a few of these flowing threads, allowing her perception to expand outward. Now she could make out the adjoining hallway, and the other rooms of the inn. Where other guests slept or milled about, the smooth natural patterns merged and interacted with the wild and complex weaves that emanated from their bodies. To her gaze, the people appeared as a bright glow, a node of threads that was simply too complex for her to even make sense of.

The husky pushed her perception out further, drawing on more threads to broaden her sight. The entirety of Northpoint was soon visible. The streets were all but empty, with only stray animals and livestock roaming about. It looked like Rehato hadn't been lying.

Aside from the absence of people out and about, everything looked quite normal to her observation. There were no abnormal eddies in the mana threads, no signs of manipulation that indicated anyone had woven spells or incantations of any sort. Really, what she saw through the intricate mana streams that flowed all about was nothing more than a sleepy little village... or was there something more?

Araki's limit came just on the cusp of the farthest patch of snow covered farmland, right at the border of the adjacent forest. Here, she thought something looked amiss, but her vision was too blurry. Viewing the world through this otherworldly perception was a talent that only a few weavers excelled at. The husky's reach was mediocre at best, good enough to survey the entire village, not so for the surrounding trees, which could've concealed any number of mysteries.

The faint disturbance might have been anything, most likely harmless noise in the patterns. There was still no proof that something was even out there in the first place. It was probably best just to forget about the mission for now.

Uttering a heavy breath, Araki relaxed her hold on the threads and allowed them to slip from her mind's grasp. When she opened her eyes, the flickering glow of the room's candles greeted her return back into the normal world. "No sense worrying about it now. Tomorrow's another day."

The washtub beckoned to the husky, and after a moment's hesitation she decided a bath was the best way to unwind before bed.

Her hooded cloak was quickly discarded and tossed aside, followed thereafter by her regular clothing. Normally on missions she wore a protective ensemble of ebony leather armor, both for defense and to identify her as a sage via the four point star symbol that adorned the chest piece. Wearing something so pronounced wasn't very useful when you were trying to be discrete. On this particular trip, said armor had been stored in her horse's carry pack for that very reason.

The divestment of her clothing allowed Araki's fur to stand out in its full glory... sort of. A few days' worth of dirt and grime had muddled her normally stark white coat, giving it a dull brown tinge. She wasn't old for a sage, being only twenty six years, but already a telltale mark of combat marred her sleek feminine figure in the form of a nasty gash across her abdomen, which hadn't allowed the fur to grow back right after healing. It was a daily reminder of past endeavors that were best forgotten.

"Why is it always so hard to keep myself clean?" Araki remarked, grimacing at the state of her fur.

The husky's question went unanswered as she moved to begin filling the tub. All the makings of a modern washroom were at her disposal to deal with this issue thankfully, including a hot water faucet for the wash basin that was fed from a cistern somewhere else in the inn. The water that poured out when she turned the handle was only lukewarm, probably due to the cistern's heating fire having died down to embers by now, but it was a minor inconvenience. A quick touch of her finger, and a simple spellweave, was enough to bring the temperature back up to a suitable level.

With that settled, the weariness of miles spent traveling melted away as Araki slowly immersed herself in the soapy water. The heat of the bath was quick to permeate down through her fur to sooth aching muscles, eliciting a heady sigh from the canine. This... was what I really needed.

Thirty minutes later, the once clear water was quite muddy when she removed herself from the tub. It took a little while to get her now brilliant white fur dry, and for the husky to take care of her daily hygiene regiment. Soon though, all that was left was the welcoming promise of sleep.

Earlier in the evening Rehato had dropped off Araki's supplies, which included all her linens and armor. Now she eyed the change of clothes that sat atop the dresser, but then thought better of it. There was something... right, about sleeping in nothing but her fur. The husky couldn't quite figure out why, but she always rested better. Besides, it wasn't like anyone would be able to sneak a peek.

Walking over to the room's door, she placed a hand against the wooden surface and called up another fundamental weaving that she had learned early on in the academy. The door quickly began to glow, the intensity growing stronger with each passing second. As she poured more energy into the spell, the light quickly spread outward along the walls and ceiling, marching its way across the room's boundaries.

After a few moments, the advancing patterns merged along the far wall right next to the window. When the whole room glowed brightly, Araki twisted her hand against the door, locking the weaving into place. Any visual signs of the spell were erased when the light faded away. However, the barrier remained, encasing the room in an invisible shroud. Now if anyone so much as entered, or even interacted with the door or window, she would immediately know even if she was asleep.

That settled, the husky wasted no time flopping down onto the wonderful downy softness of the bed. After spending nights sleeping on the cold ground, it felt like she had fallen onto silken linen reserved only for the gods themselves. She couldn't help but squirm against the sheets in a moment of giddy delight. Let the wild animals have their wilderness. I'm never sleeping outside again!

And yet, as Araki lay there in the subsequent moments of silence, she felt as if sleep wasn't quite ready to overtake her. The waning light of the candles cast a pale glow across the room's features, and for a time she watched the flickering flames dance.

She thought back to the tavern earlier, and to the brawny malamute who had accosted her. Really, he wasn't all that much of an ugly brute now that she remembered. All he really needed was a bath, and a good grooming... no, no, what was she thinking? He may have been rather attractive beneath the grit and grime, however that did nothing for his vulgar personality.

But she couldn't get him off her mind. To think that he wanted to take her somewhere and fuck her mindless like some sort of toy; the idea was... exciting.

Her thoughts grew heady. Araki didn't notice her wandering hand slowly making its way down her body.

What would've happened had she gone along with his intentions?

A finger ever so gently brushed against the slick wetness between her legs. She could feel the force of his hulking body suddenly pin her against the sheets of the bed, his hands holding hers down to her either side. His possessive growl in her perked ear was intoxicating, and it was all she could do not to whine submissively beneath his dominant presence.

Her probing finger grew bolder and lightly spread the husky's outer lips, massaging along the slick flesh. Araki moaned richly, throwing her head back against the pillows, feeling the malamute grind his hips against her own, allowing her to feel his pulsing maleness through the fabric of his pants. His demeanor was brash and uncaring; he had but one goal in mind.

A second digit joined the first, kneading against her moist sex, periodically spreading her petals apart, causing sensual waves of pleasure to wash over her. Not keen to prolong things, her malamute accoster fervently did away with his clothing, allowing her to glimpse his massive swollen cock in all its crimson glory. When he rejoined her on the bed, she was pinned once more as he licked and sucked on her breasts, teasing her petite nipples that grew stiff beneath his hungry attention.

The husky massaged her supple breast with her other hand as she penetrated a finger deep into her eager sex. She writhed against the bed sheets, caught up in the moment of her fantasy.

The malamute was done teasing her. With a forceful grip, he pulled Araki up off the bed, and rudely shoved her over onto hands and knees. She complied, flagging her tail to the side, lifting her rump into the air to present herself to the looming canine above her.

Now on all fours, Araki thrust two digits eagerly into her folds, groaning as she felt the powerful arms of the malamute grasp her hips. He snarled greedily, shifting his stance until the tip of his tapered length touched her waiting sex.

Her digits hilted themselves with his first uncaring thrust. His passion never faltered as he began thrusting against her quivering haunches roughly, ignoring her pitiful moans beneath him. He cared not for her desire and pleasure, only for the carnal need to release.

Araki's fingers thrust with renewed frenzy, mimicking the powerful drive of the malamute's cock into her tormented folds. She shifted her touch to briefly tease her clit, feeling his cum swollen balls slapping against her sensitive nub with each plunge.

It was becoming too much. Her head fell against the side of the pillow, body rocking back and forth in tune to each surge of her fantasized coupling. She could almost smell his musk, hear his impassioned grunts and pants.

His knot rapidly swelled in size, pushing against her eager sex, just begging to gain entry. Araki's chest heaved with each passing thrust. The tightness in her loins grew, threatening to explode at any moment. It was everything she could do just to keep her mind on the frenzied malamute above her.

He was so close; she could sense it. Her digits were a blur of utmost passion, mirroring his crazed state of mind. With one last motion, the canine's knot slammed into her savagely. He snarled, pulling her haunches against his powerful hips as his swollen length finally slammed fully into her, locking the mating canines together on the verge of their collective release.

She curled her fingers and spread them wide, reveling in the satisfaction of his swelling knot filling her so completely. He never relented, bucking his hips in a wild frenzy... until he suddenly exploded forth, wrapping his arms tight around her waist, his knotted maleness spurting thick ropes of cum deep into her heated sex.

The husky bit back an impassioned groan as her release flooded forth. Her whole body shuddered, overcome by the recurrent surges of ecstasy. The months of pent up energy all rushed out in a blissful torrent of sensual pleasure.

Her malamute partner quickly faded away. She only perceived the wonderful peak that dominated her whole awareness, a carnal gratification that enveloped her up in its rapturous embrace. She tried to prolong it as best as she could, slowly massaging the swollen nub of her clit, whimpering softly into the down of her pillow.

After a long, heavenly moment caught up in the throes of release, Araki collapsed onto her side in a breathless heap, withdrawing her fingers from her sated folds. In the ebbs of her peak, all she could do was pant, and distantly marvel at the mess that coated her hand.

It had been so long since she had enjoyed the company of a man. Gods, it had been a while since she had even tended to her own needs. She had almost forgotten how splendid it was to obtain a sensual peak like that.

Hardly was there any time where Araki could just be herself. For a sage, duty and responsibility came first and foremost. She couldn't remember the last time she had enjoyed a day of rest without her profession interfering in one way or another. Since the war had started, her every waking moment had been consumed by the tasks that were demanded by council and kingdom.

The husky uttered a drowsy sigh. At least tonight she could relax and enjoy a sorely needed night's sleep. Tomorrow, she knew, would not be an easy day. But that was a matter left to the following morning.

Araki gave a flick of her mind, extinguishing the room's candles to allow darkness to claim the space. With the barrier weaving in place, and a comfortable bed beneath her weary body, she let her awareness drift off into the welcoming embrace of her dreams.

***************

The next morning found the husky slowly making her way through Northpoint with a new energy in her step. The sun had only just surpassed the highest mountain peaks to the east, casting its light down into the sheltered valley of the village. Not a cloud graced the clear blue sky, not even a mild breeze blew. It was a perfectly calm and peaceful winter's day.

Having blown her cover last night, there was no point in Araki trying to conceal her identity any longer. The ebony leather armor she wore stood out starkly against her white fur, leaving no illusions as to her office. The long scabbard of the katana at her hip only added to her daunting appearance. Her initial plan of conducting business in a discrete manner was all but abandoned now.

She didn't like wearing the armor. It flaunted her status in the face of those around her, and made it difficult to carry out tasks when she had to deal with people. Worse though, the protection actually made her feel more exposed. Some sages likened the ebony apparel to a giant kill me sign out on the battle lines, and honestly, they weren't far off. Even out here away from all that, the feeling that someone was always lurking in the nearby shadows just waiting to launch spell or arrow at her backside made the husky's fur bristle.

Those irks notwithstanding, Araki had still elected to don the armor earlier in the morning for reasons not quite known to her. Something had nagged at her to come prepared for the task that lay ahead, and if there was anything she had learned over the years, it was to trust that very intuition.

The locals moving about gave her a wide berth. With the coming of morning, most were heading to the distant mines etched into the sides of the mountain slopes, their destination made obvious by the various shovels and pickaxes they carried over shoulder.

A few whispered to one another at her passing, but most quietly shied away from her presence, doing their best not to attract attention. It was distantly comical how all the hulking miners made every effort to avoid the relatively small husky in their midst. She received the same nervous distance no matter where she went. The fear that came with her title was hard to shake off... and it probably didn't help that she'd thrown a drunken lout onto a table and scared the piss out of him with her blade in front of half the town. Yeah, that definitely didn't help matters at all.

Soon though, the village was left behind, and with it the people. The wooden fences on her either side were the only indication that she was now out in the surrounding farmland, which with winter in full swing, was only a large swath of open snowy fields.

It was so peaceful; everything was deathly still. Out here, the rhythmic sound of her boots crunching into the hard packed snow was all that could be heard. Had she not noticed the set of tracks leading to the nearby forest, she would've thought she was the only living thing out here.

Up at the edge of the farmland, she could see him. The figure stood with a hunched posture, and a cane propped before him to support his weight. As she drew near, she could make out that he was a snow fox, his fur just as white as her own, although distinct patches of silvery grey adorned his facial features with the onset of old age.

When Araki came to stand alongside the elder vulpine, he made no move to acknowledge her presence. His gaze remained fixated on the forest trees just beyond the frozen creek they stood next to. "When I asked for aid, I never thought they'd send us a sage." The husky felt her ears pin back slightly at his sudden words. His eyes never broke from the nearby trees. "A few hired swords were all I asked for. Instead they send me a god-touched weaver who can level mountains with a single sweep of the hand."

"I have no intention of doing such a thing," Araki replied curtly, feeling a trace of anger touch her voice at the elder's callous reception.

"Of course not." He grew silent for a few long moments, still unmoving. "The way you just stroll into town and tear up our tavern... think you own the place. You lot always think you're above the rest, arrogant and selfish."

Araki bit back the ire she felt welling up. "Now hold on a minute. I had every intention of keeping my office concealed when I arrived last night, if not for the drunken thug who tried to have his way with me. I'm sorry that my actions were so dramatic, but I will not let someone get away with such vile behavior."

The vulpine exhaled deeply. "I'm sorry. I'm just being a bitter old fox... always try to protect my folk. I sometimes forget how crude some of the villagers can be. Yut deserved everything he got last night. Gods know he needs a good beating to knock some sense into him."

He finally turned to regard her with a smile, which she returned upon realizing the sincerity of his words. "I'm sure he'll find his manners."

"Name's Asico."

Araki took his offered hand, keeping her grip light. "The village head, good to meet you. I'm Araki."

The fox seemed to find her introduction odd, and rightfully so. Whenever she could, Araki elected to exclude her title that the Rajo Order had bestowed upon her. She never liked introducing herself as Sage Araki. It felt awkward reminding everyone around her about her sagehood and the power it carried.

Asico, for his part, wasn't fazed by her presence in the slightest, and she found herself liking him more because of his candor. "Shishu vouches for you. That's all I need for me to trust your judgment. In all honesty, it's probably best the High Council sent us a sage. This issue is more than wild animals running amok."

"Shishu seemed to hint at that same idea," Araki replied with a raised eyebrow. "What makes you think that?"

The cane that had been supporting the fox's weight swung out to motion at the frozen creek they stood before. "This for a start."

Araki studied the stream curiously. At first glance the indentation in the layer of snow hinted at nothing out of the ordinary. But then she began to see that the depression cut a perfectly straight groove through the ground right along the northern border of the village's farmland. On the other side of the valley, the trench had intersected with a naturally occurring stream, which explained the frozen water. "Is this an irrigation ditch?"

"No. In fact, this was not dug by anyone in the village. It suddenly appeared one day several months ago."

"What do you mean... appeared?" Araki asked, suddenly finding her attention grabbed.

The elder's features crinkled as he mulled his words carefully. "It happened about three months ago in the middle of the night. There was a loud roar, and a blinding flash of light that cut through the darkness. But no one saw anything beyond that. The next morning this scar was cut into the landscape."

Suddenly, the mission had taken on a whole new slant. This was something Araki had not expected to come across. "Was there anything else that happened back then?" the husky asked hastily, her mind racing. "Anything that might've happened that day?"

"Well, no. Nothing much." After a moment's thought Asico seemed to remember something. "Actually, the miners were fixing to start a new dig on the northern slopes." He motioned with the cane to the mountain that towered up beyond the trees to their north. "They had conducted surveys the day before the light happened. It was almost... almost like..."

"Almost like someone was drawing a line in the sand," Araki finished for him, possibly understanding what this mysterious scar on the landscape really was.

He looked at her, his features a study of curiosity. "Do you think that?"

"Maybe. Has anything else happened after that night?"

"No. Beyond the strange haunting cries that pierce the night regularly, there have been no other strange events. The townsfolk think a demonic creature has happened upon our settlement and inhabited the forest beyond this mark. No one has dared venture past it since that night."

"Why wasn't this mentioned in the request for aid?"

The snow fox started. "But it was mentioned in the missive. We made it very clear supernatural happenings were occurring. Were you not informed of this?"

"No... I wasn't. There was nothing mentioned beyond the typical request for aid with a wild animal problem when I received my orders."

Asico's expression twisted in concern. "Now that is worrying. Why would the High Council keep such information from the agent they dispatch to deal with the problem?"

"I... I don't know." Araki found herself at a loss. This mission had been handed down to the Rajo Order directly from the High Council. The Order had been demanding such assignments for some time as a means to give the many sages fighting on the lines much needed rest. But the kingdom had dug its heels in at that request, balking at the idea of pulling the best weapons they had from the lines. So when this mission has suddenly been passed down to her...

When the husky looked at all the pieces laid out before her, it all began to make ugly sense. Her being sent here was no act of reprieve. There was a reason neither she nor the Order had not been told of the potential danger.

Araki's lip curled in her building anger. "I should've known there was more to this assignment."

"It could be a mistake perhaps?" Asico offered.

"No this was deliberate. I was tricked into coming here."

"All for the better though?" The fox looked uncomfortable where he stood. "We expected nothing more than a band of mercenaries or soldiers, what with the war and all. But that might not have been enough for whatever lurks out there in those woods. A sage though..."

The husky forced herself to calm down. The village head was right of course. As much as she loathed the Council for their deceit, it was definitely for the best that she was here now.

After a moment of collective silence, Araki brought her hands together in a focus seal. "I need to see something."

Asico watched with interest as the husky closed her eyes and reached out her awareness to grasp at the flowing threads of mana all around her. However, she went beyond the normal realm of this perception, focusing her mind out onto a much broader sub layer of weaves that existed on a deeper plane. The ebbs and flows of these deeper weaves were slower and much heavier. It was a level of acuity that was only obtainable to a spellweaver who possessed an incredibly rare affinity.

With practiced ease, Araki quickly isolated the mana threads surrounding a portion of the frozen ditch before her. This required her to tie off the strands, pulling the energy into a closed loop. It was a fairly small and routine undertaking, one that she had practiced many a time before.

The fox next to her couldn't see her weavings with his naked eye. However, he could feel a strange tingle in his skin as she manipulated the threads around him. It was a unique sensation, which grew stronger the more powerful a particular spell was. Araki, herself, found a certain comfort in it whenever she worked strands of mana.

The first step of her weaving now completed, she reached out and established a link to the surrounding aura, using herself as a bridge. From there, it was only a matter of funneling energy through the connection.

After a few moments, faint traces of steam began to waft up from the snow covering the trench. With each passing second the temperature inside the isolated space grew warmer, corresponding with the trapped energy that continued to build. The isolated patch of air before the husky now glowed brightly in her mind's perception.

The steam gathered strength, and within a few moments the snow was melting. Alongside her, Asico gasped in realization. "Well I'll be. Of all the affinities I've seen, I never thought I'd come across another weatherweaver."

Araki opened her eyes and looked over toward the fox, her hands still clasped in the focus seal to maintain the spell. "You've met a weatherweaver before?"

"Yes, back during the Last Great War. I fought alongside him for many years as a militia commander."

She immediately made the connection. Her affinity was incredibly rare, to the point that only one sage every century possessed its gift if that. There was only one other she knew of. "Master Lathos..."

"You know of Master Sage Lathos?"

Araki bit her lip, almost losing her grasp on the mana threads. "Yes... he... was a great man. A good mentor and master."

The way her words almost faltered as she spoke, Asico understood what was left unsaid. "He was a good friend to me as well. We shared many great adventures and stories together." His gaze dropped to the foot of his cane. "I will mourn for his passing."

By now, the snow and ice in the ditch had melted and evaporated away. With a sigh, Araki released her hold on the threads, allowing the superheated air to rush outward and dissipate in the surrounding cold. "Maybe... maybe sometime you can tell me some of those stories. I would like to hear them, I think. Master Lathos... he wasn't one for recounting tales."

"Of course. Stories are the best means to remember a loved one, or a close friend. I look forward to it, maybe over a nice dinner."

The husky nodded subtly and tried to shove the thought of her master out of mind. Thinking about him made those horrid memories well up once more, and it took all her effort to keep her focus on the here and now. There was a job to be done.

Asico thankfully kept his silence as she managed to recover her composure and moved to vault down into the now uncovered ditch.

With the snow and ice gone, Araki could now see the scar that had marked the landscape. The ditch was perfectly rectangular in form, with the exposed dirt melted down into glass. It was obvious that the strange light Asico had mentioned was some form of spellweaving, although the properties of its construction were unfamiliar to her.

This was done by a weaving discipline the husky had never seen before. What possible affinity had the ability to so drastically alter the landscape on such a large scale, using enough energy to glass the ground she now stood on? The ditch must've stretched on for several miles from what she could see.

"Any idea what caused this?" Asico asked from above. The fox had scooted up to the edge of the depression and was now leaning over with the support of his cane.

Araki knelt down to touch a hand to the smooth glass. "I don't recognize the pattern, but this was created by a weave; a powerful one at that."

"Is there some possible truth to the villagers' fears?"

She studied the ground a moment longer. "I can't say. There's only one way to find out I s'pose."

The katana at her hip made its weight known as she stood and moved to vault herself up onto the opposite embankment. Now she was glad that she'd brought her armor along on this particular mission. Having the protective leather suddenly didn't seem like the annoyance it had been earlier when she first donned it. There was no telling what, if anything, waited for her out in that expansive forest.

"You're still going alone?" Asico asked, his cane shifting hands as the only sign of his growing unease. "I wouldn't go out there. This isn't right."

Araki looked back over her shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm not the one to go getting myself into trouble."

The fox made to speak, but then nodded gravely, conceding to her choice.

"I'll report back anything I find out there."

He turned to begin his trek back toward the distant town. However the vulpine paused and favored her with a sidelong glance. "Be careful; there be monsters out there."

And with that, he moved off, leaving her to her own devices. His words gave the husky pause, for they implied a comprehension of her undertaking that she did not. Was there something more that he had not told her?

She shook off the troubling thought, and began making her way toward the tree line, feigned confidence in her every step. Whatever was out there, if there was anything at all, it was nothing she couldn't handle.