# A Tail of Two Peoples - Reunited

Author: Kythl Moonpaw
Tags: A Tail of Two Peoples, Anthro, Assassin, Backstory, Clean, Folf, Fox, No-Yiff, Otter, Reptile, Tribal, Twins, Wolf

#9 of A Tail of Two Peoples

Final chapter before my summer hiatus. Here, we get a bit of backstory on Kar'na. Anywho, enjoy this one!

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"Come on Svara, it's been two days!&nbsp; We have to go back!&nbsp; Kar'na could be in trouble!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You heard my orders, Kiri," Svara said, giving the wolf a sidelong glance.&nbsp; "I am to get you to Arlea.&nbsp; Kar'na told me to wait here for a week.&nbsp; If he doesn't show, I'll take you through Undefryn Pass, back to the guild."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "But what if he's in trouble?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "He's definitely in trouble," Svara snorted.&nbsp; "It comes with being a master assassin."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Seeing Kiri's distraught face, Svara's gaze softened and he tousled the younger wolf's head.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Cheer up.&nbsp; He'll be fine.&nbsp; Kar'na's been through worse.&nbsp; Much, much worse.&nbsp; Did he ever tell you kids the tale of Winterwrath?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "No," Ari answered.&nbsp; "Kar'na never really told us anything of himself."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Literally just his name and the fact that he's an assassin," Kytra offered.&nbsp; "Something that _you_ neglected to tell us, by the way."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I was embarrassed," Svara said, looking down.&nbsp; "How would you have liked to tell a bunch of strangers that you were an assassin who was in that mine for failing a mission?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Wasn't it supposed to be a really tough mission?" Aryn asked helpfully, looking at Svara.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "It was," the fox answered.&nbsp; "One that I was in no way ready for.&nbsp; A mission that Kar'na himself had pulled when he was my age, but nobody else.&nbsp; I was determined to prove that I was as good as he was."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "And how old were you?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "_Are_ you," Svara corrected.&nbsp; "That was just...a month ago?&nbsp; I can't remember.&nbsp; Either way, I'm only eighteen.&nbsp; A novice."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "And Kar'na did a mission like that one at the same age?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yeah," Svara nodded.&nbsp; "When he was eighteen, he made a high-level infiltration and assassinated the slaver who had ordered the kidnapping of his mom.&nbsp; That mission had been ranked master.&nbsp; Immediately I wanted to be like him.&nbsp; But Kar'na had a drive and skills that he had discovered a while back, in Winterwrath."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The others stared at him expectantly, including the newer group of slaves.&nbsp; The slaves from the underworks and J'inuan, whom Kar'na had also insisted they get out.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "When Kar'na was a child of...six, I believe, slavers attacked the city of Winterwrath.&nbsp; Only, these were no ordinary slavers.&nbsp; This was a small army of slavers, come to make a fortune on the people of the city.&nbsp; Some they wanted to take for slaves, some they wanted to kill, some they wanted to maim.&nbsp; Overall, it was a disaster.&nbsp; Kar'na had been at home with his mother.&nbsp; When the slavers came, she told him to hide.&nbsp; She pushed into a closet, left him a knife and told him to use it if the slavers came for him."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He paused and the others tried to picture how this would've been to a six-year-old wolf pup.&nbsp; The shouting, the screaming, the panic.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Kar'na heard his mother scream as the slavers came for her.&nbsp; They took her away and, as far as I know, Kar'na never saw her again.&nbsp; But that's irrelevant.&nbsp; The slavers ransacked the house, tearing it to pieces.&nbsp; Kar'na's father wasn't present for this.&nbsp; He was already an assassin in the guild and was there on duty when the attack occurred.&nbsp; When one of the slavers flung open the closet door, Kar'na, in a fit of panic, lunged out, stabbing the knife right through the slaver's eye socket.&nbsp; A child of six.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "After the death of that one slaver, the other three in the house ganged up on him.&nbsp; He killed them all.&nbsp; After the assault, when Kar'na's father arrived with a group of eight master assassins, they cleaned up the remaining slavers and found no survivors of the city.&nbsp; Except one."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Kar'na," Kiri breathed.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Kar'na.&nbsp; The wolf's dad, fearing the worst, went into his house, hoping at least for the bodies to bury.&nbsp; Instead, he finds his son, hiding in the corner, a knife in his hand and the bodies of seventeen slavers near him.&nbsp; He went to go pick him up, but Kar'na nearly killed him.&nbsp; He'd almost gone feral.&nbsp; When they finally got him to calm down, he told them what had happened."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Svara paused and looked at everyone around the circle.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Imagine what that child had gone through.&nbsp; He'd been present for his mother being kidnapped.&nbsp; His home being destroyed, his city burned.&nbsp; He had killed, not one but seventeen people.&nbsp; All when he was six years old.&nbsp; His father took his son to the guild and stayed with him for a week, before setting out to find those who had done this to his son.&nbsp; And to find his wife.&nbsp; He searched for weeks.&nbsp; Nothing.&nbsp; It was as if they'd vanished into thin air.&nbsp; He returned to the guild.&nbsp; From pretty much that moment on, Kar'na dedicated himself to his training, determined to avenge his mom.&nbsp; He finally took his first assignment at age eighteen, performing a high class infiltration into Parai and assassinating the slaver who'd ordered the entire thing."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "The only reason anyone let Kar'na go on a mission like this was that a mind-studier said that he might never have recovered if he didn't bring at least some level of closure.&nbsp; The Kar'na you know now was not the Kar'na everyone knew five years ago.&nbsp; That Kar'na was not living.&nbsp; He rose at sunrise and trained until almost midnight.&nbsp; He ate at meal times and only spoke when spoken to, usually answering in monosyllables.&nbsp; His father said that Kar'na never slept restfully if he wasn't pushing his body hard all day, thrashing and screaming in the night.&nbsp; When Kar'na killed the slime that had ordered the whole raid, he returned to the guild and everyone saw something unusual for Kar'na.&nbsp; A smile on his face.&nbsp; He used the Rednari dialect and muttered, "_Iep si apari da._"_I have won_.&nbsp; With that, the wolf collapsed.&nbsp; He slept for a whole day and on his waking, he was someone totally new.&nbsp; He smiled.&nbsp; He joked.&nbsp; He had fun.&nbsp; He was a person again."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Svara sighed and leaned back..

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "An interesting side note, the guild didn't kill all the slavers immediately after Winterwrath.&nbsp; Some they took back to the guild and questioned.&nbsp; A couple said that the house with Kar'na within had been mostly skipped because of something known as 'The Demon of Winterwrath."&nbsp; A vengeful spirit inhabiting the body of a young wolf was killing all who entered.&nbsp; They believed the house to be cursed."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "This is all true?" J'inuan asked.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Every word of it," a new voice confirmed.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Everybody jumped and looked up.&nbsp; Sitting in one of the holes in a wall that helped comprise the ruin known as the Lonely Tower, was a grey-furred, fox-like figure.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Tes'ali?" Kiri asked, hoping he had the wolf-fox's name right.&nbsp; Also hoping that this was indeed the wolf-fox they'd met in Parai, just outside the city of Saskin.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hey, not bad," the older one said, dropping down beside them.&nbsp; "I'm impressed you actually remember me."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kiri smiled, happy that he indeed was right about the name.&nbsp; Also, after being on the run from so many people, he was happy to see a friendly face.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Now I don't know any of your names," Tes'ali said, his eyes narrowing.&nbsp; "But I know there were definitely less of you the last time I met you.&nbsp; And...Svara?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hey Tes'ali," Svara said.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Surprised to find you still alive," Tes'ali commented.&nbsp; "Popular rumour at the guild says you're dead."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated," Svara said dryly.&nbsp; "Now, what are you doing here?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Literally?&nbsp; I was looking for this group.&nbsp; With the route they probably would've been taking, I expected they'd have to cross the Lonely Tower.&nbsp; One of the only ways through the mountains after all.&nbsp; Now, where's my brother?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Honestly?&nbsp; I don't know," Svara answered.&nbsp; "We all got captured in Juxtpa.&nbsp; Kar'na broke us out and told us to head for the Lonely Tower.&nbsp; We're supposed to wait here for a week and if he's a no-show, head on to the guild."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Through Wolf Clan territories?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "No, through Undefryn pass."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well," Tes'ali said, a frown creasing his face.&nbsp; "That makes a tricky situation.&nbsp; How're your supplies?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Not good," Svara admitted.&nbsp; "We have some, but our supplies are almost non-existent.&nbsp; We've been scrounging the local environment, but not much has occurred."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I have an idea," Tes'ali said, looking at Svara.&nbsp; "How about I leave you with a pack of supplies and take these slaves to the guild headquarters.&nbsp; You can stay here and wait for Kar'na.&nbsp; Then, you and Kar'na head back when he shows?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "No," Kiri said.&nbsp; "We're staying.&nbsp; We're going to wait for Kar'na."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Kiri," Svara said.&nbsp; "Tes'ali's got a good plan.&nbsp; I think we should follow his advice."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yeah," J'inuan agreed.&nbsp; "Kar'na will show and he and Svara will just meet us at the guild hall."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "That's not going to happen," Kytra butted in.&nbsp; "We _need_to wait for Kar'na.&nbsp; He's got to come back!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "And he will," Tes'ali said.&nbsp; "Trust me, I know my brother.&nbsp; He'll show."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "If it's all the same to you, Master Tes'ali," Ari said politely. "I think we'd rather wait here with Svara for Kar'na.&nbsp; The others are probably a different matter.&nbsp; Am I right?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I really want to see our homeland," the otter slave from the underworks nodded.&nbsp; "Kar'na could be a while in showing."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Are you guys sure about this?" Svara asked.&nbsp; "I doubt I'll be able to find enough food, even with Tes'ali's supplies.&nbsp; Kar'na won't mind if you've already gone ahead..."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "We're sure," Wraith said.&nbsp; "We're sticking with you."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well then," Tes'ali said, his mouth twitching into a small semblance of a smile.&nbsp; "I guess _that's_ decided then.&nbsp; Well, I best make haste.&nbsp; Come.&nbsp; Those who are coming with me to the guild, come along."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The five slaves broke away from the group and went along with Tes'ali.&nbsp; Now there were only eight of them.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The group watched until Tes'ali and his group had disappeared from sight down the road.&nbsp; &nbsp;The night was still and the air cool.&nbsp; Crickets chirped.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well," Svara said quietly as the others turned to look at him.&nbsp; "I guess it's just us now."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was on the third day from this event that something new occurred.&nbsp; The group was sitting around the fire at the base of the lonely tower, idly chatting, telling stories and performing feats.&nbsp; The slaves loved watching Svara scurry to the top of the Lonely Tower by climbing, before leaping off into the deep river.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When Kiri expressed interest in climbing, Svara had laughed and told him it had taken the young fox assassin a long time to learn that skill.&nbsp; Then Kiri climbed to the top of the tower, much to everyone's delight.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "How did you do that?" Svara asked, laughing.&nbsp; "The last wolf I ever saw climb that good was Kar'na himself."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Now I have a problem," Kiri confessed.&nbsp; "I can't get down."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "No worries," Svara said, still with a big smile.&nbsp; "Behind you in the tower is a staircase.&nbsp; You can just walk to..."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He stopped and tilted his nose to the air.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "We're not alone," he said quietly, so quietly that Kiri had to strain his ears to hear him.&nbsp; "Everybody!&nbsp; Hide!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The group did as they had practised, with Wraith and Ari pulling a dampened blanket over the fire, extinguishing it without so much as a puff of smoke.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then, the two females took the blanket with them as they fled to go hide in one of the bushes.&nbsp; Tyra dove and hid behind a rock and Kytra dove in the river.&nbsp; Myra and Aryn climbed a tree and hid in the branches, their green scales camouflaging them perfectly.&nbsp; Svara whisked his way to the top of the tower, easily beating the wolf's time.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They ducked down below the edge of the parapet and waited, peeking out from between bricks in the wall.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Stumbling into the clearing, a figure in Falskin guard armor staggered forth.&nbsp; He bent over the remains of the fire and muttered, "Curses.&nbsp; They _were_ here.&nbsp; They must have moved on."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The figure, looking all for the world like he'd had to fight _all_ the world, walked over to the base of the tower and sat down heavily with a grunt.&nbsp; He took off his helmet, revealing a familiar face below the visor, albeit dirtier and bloodier than any had seen him before.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Kar'na!" Kiri cried, already running down the steps of the Lonely Tower.&nbsp; "You're back!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Kiri?" Kar'na asked in surprise as the wolf ran over.&nbsp; "You're here?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Obviously," Kiri laughed as everyone else about the clearing started coming from their hiding places.&nbsp; Svara leapt from the top of the tower, plummeting into the river, where a startled-looking Kytra leapt out of a second later.&nbsp; Myra and Aryn climbed down from their branches, with Myra having no problems but Aryn just tumbling down.&nbsp; Ari, Wraith and Tyra emerged from their hiding places to rush over to the white wolf.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You're all here!" Kar'na cried out in delight, giving a slight cough.&nbsp; "I had half expected you all to move on."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Not without you," Kiri said.&nbsp; "We'd never leave without you."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Good to hear," Kar'na laughed.&nbsp; He looked around and his smile turned to a frown.&nbsp; "Where's everyone else?&nbsp; J'inuan, Tas'ofey and the others?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "They were picked up by Tes'ali," Svara explained.&nbsp; "He was headed down here to wait for you and these guys.&nbsp; But he took them back to the guild.&nbsp; He was willing to take them all, but these ones _insisted_they stay with me and wait for you."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Ah," Kar'na said.&nbsp; "That's good."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He coughed again and Svara placed a hand on Kar'na's armoured shoulder.&nbsp; The fox looked into Kar'na's golden eyes and said, "You don't look to good."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I had my difficulties," Kar'na admitted.&nbsp; "My escape wasn't as easy as I'd hoped."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You can tell us all about it," Svara said, already beginning to undue the straps to Kar'na's armour.&nbsp; "In the meantime, Kiri, help me get this armour off."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "So after this, I had no choice but to leap off.&nbsp; The other guards were coming and there was no way I could've fought them off.&nbsp; So I leaped from the wall into the river.&nbsp; It nearly drowned me, but I managed to get out.&nbsp; From there I set off for the Lonely Tower.&nbsp; Guard patrols were everywhere and I actually got caught by one too.&nbsp; But, I escaped."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All was silent for a bit as the others digested the information of the story they'd just heard.&nbsp; It was quite a tale.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "So, you were almost killed for refusing to turn us over?" Aryn asked Kar'na, glancing over at his sister.&nbsp; "Why would you do that?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You made your choice," Kar'na said, wincing as Svara and Kiri continued to clean up Kar'na's myriad wounds.&nbsp; His sword wound was, again, split open and he had a few all across his body too, including a sizeable slice by his ear.&nbsp; "Drysenn and Sanvar needed to understand that.&nbsp; Whether a right choice or a wrong choice, a choice is a choice."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "And do you think we made the right one?" Myra asked quietly.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "That's not for me to say.&nbsp; The choice you made, good or bad, is your own for you to determine.&nbsp; In due time, I suppose you'll find if it's the right choice."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Myra didn't seem to like that, but Aryn nodded, apparently thinking it over.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "How'd you get this wound?" Kiri asked, hoping to change the subject, as he pointed to a small, bleeding mark, just above his ankle.&nbsp; "Unlucky dagger slice?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Believe it or not," Kar'na laughed.&nbsp; "I got that one from a crab.&nbsp; A crab!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Everyone burst out into laughter, though Kar'na's quickly turned into a coughing fit.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I had just leapt off the wall and was pulling myself onto the shore, when the stupid thing decided to attack.&nbsp; It sliced my skin with one of its pincers.&nbsp; I had to give it credit."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A few mild chuckles followed this statement and Kar'na smiled.&nbsp; Svara and Kiri kept up their work in silence, cleaning the wounds and checking for more.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Did Tes'ali leave you guys with anything?" Kar'na asked, briefly biting his lip as Kiri and Svara washed an extra-sensitive wound.&nbsp; "A pack of supplies or medicine?&nbsp; Anything?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "A pack of supplies," Svara answered curtly, not really focused in the conversation.&nbsp; "There was some food, some herbs for tea and a bit of medicine.&nbsp; Ari, would you grab the medical herbs?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I got it," Kytra said, walking over to the bag.&nbsp; "Which ones are the medical herbs?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "In the vials," Svara said, glancing over.&nbsp; "Every vial except the ones marked with the word 'tea'"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kytra rummaged through the bag a minute before finding the vials needed.&nbsp; He carried them over to Svara.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Thanks," the fox said, taking the vial with a smile before turning back to Kar'na.&nbsp; "Now, hold still.&nbsp; This _will_ hurt..."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kiri woke up with a yawn and looked around.&nbsp; Everybody else was still asleep, with the exceptions of Kytra and Aryn, who were talking by the Lonely Tower.&nbsp; Kytra had been assigned for morning watch, which Aryn offered to help keep him company through.&nbsp; The two had become quite good friends.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kar'na and Svara were not far away from the grey-furred wolf, both of them sleeping curled into a ball, thick tails over their noses.&nbsp; Not far from them, Ari, Wraith and Myra were all curled up sleeping.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Morning Kiri," Kytra greeted quietly, nodding in the wolf's direction.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Good morning," Kiri answered with another yawn, as he looked at the dim sky of really early morning.&nbsp; He wasn't used to day travel yet, despite having lived most his life in it.&nbsp; A week with Kar'na had certainly changed many things.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Tea?" Aryn asked, equally quietly, gesturing to the pot boiling the water just above a small fire.&nbsp; It wasn't a large pot, just a little bigger than Kiri's hand, but it fulfilled its purpose of boiling water just fine.&nbsp; The rule was that if you drained the pot for your tea, you had to refill it with water again.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kiri poured the water into one of three wooden cups Tes'ali had left behind when he took everyone to the guild hall and added the leaves.&nbsp; His personal favourite tea type was known as Fentari, which was silver-coloured and had a somewhat spicy taste, though in the best of ways.&nbsp; Not spicy like the one fruit Kytra had tricked him into trying years ago.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The wolf walked down to the river and dunked the pot in, filling it again.&nbsp; Then, after he had returned the pot to its mounting and collected his tea-cup, he went down to the river's edge with it to sit and think.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Barely a month.&nbsp; Thirty days, if he was correct, since they had met Svara.&nbsp; From there, it had only been four more before they decided to escape the tyranny of the slave drivers.&nbsp; They'd met Myra the next day, escaped with her and her brother, almost been captured and met Kar'na and Tes'ali.&nbsp; Then they'd gone together to another city, escaped and been captured again, escaping from that one too.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kiri chuckled.&nbsp; It seems like escape was in their nature.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He sipped his tea, briefly savouring the spicy taste, before he heard footsteps behind him.&nbsp; Twisting around, he noticed Wraith coming down the slope to the edge of the riverbank, where he was sitting.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hey," she greeted quietly.&nbsp; "Mind if I join you?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Not at all," Kiri said, shuffling over a bit.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The puma sat down on the edge of the water and dipped her feet into the fast-flowing water.&nbsp; Though the water was quite cold, she didn't seem to care.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What are you thinking about?" she asked after a bit.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I don't know," Kiri answered.&nbsp; "Mostly about how our lives have changed in just a month."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Half the time it doesn't seem real," Wraith agreed thoughtfully.&nbsp; "Feels like we're just...living a dream and then...we'll wake up to find ourselves back at the mine."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Where the cycle would repeat," Kiri chuckled.&nbsp; "I, for one, would do an escape like this in a heartbeat.&nbsp; Anything would be better than that...existence at the mines."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He took another sip of his tea and Wraith nodded.&nbsp; Nothing more needed to be said.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "So..." Wraith hedged a few minutes later.&nbsp; "What're you going to do when we reach the guild?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I have no idea," Kiri confessed.&nbsp; "I was originally just hoping to get free and rejoin our people.&nbsp; But apparently, society is different in Arlea.&nbsp; We don't have a unified people.&nbsp; Just various, bickering tribes of exclusively one species."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I was talking with Kar'na and he said that the few cities that exist in unity usually get toppled by slavers or taken over by the tribes."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kiri nodded.&nbsp; Though he hadn't asked Kar'na himself, he had no reason to doubt Wraith.&nbsp; Why would she lie?

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "There is one place where the species all get along just fine," Svara said, coming down to join them.&nbsp; "The Assassin's Guild doesn't play favourites."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Aren't they all assassins though?" Kiri quizzed.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Point taken," Svara conceded.&nbsp; "I suppose not everyone would want to be an assassin.&nbsp; Still, that's where you find the most people living in harmony."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He paused, seeming like he was thinking for a second and Kiri and Wraith waited for him to continue.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Oh, right.&nbsp; I came down here to tell you two that Kar'na's up and we're breaking camp.&nbsp; He feels rested enough to continue on."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Got it," Kiri and Wraith said in unison, before looking at each other and laughing.&nbsp; They followed Svara back up to the camp, where they were greeted with the sight of everyone getting up and about.&nbsp; Beyond the trees, a warm glow was occurring, signalling the rising of the sun.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "There you two are," Kar'na said, smiling at them.&nbsp; "I was wondering where you were."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Just down at the riverbank," Kiri said.&nbsp; "We were talking about stuff."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The grey wolf looked down at the cup of tea in his hand and gulped the rest of it down.&nbsp; It had cooled considerably.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Alright," Kar'na said, glancing around quickly.&nbsp; "I assume Svara told you we were packing up today?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The two nodded and Kar'na continued.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "We're changing our route slightly from the original route I had planned.&nbsp; Originally, I wanted you guys to head up through Undefryn pass if I didn't show.&nbsp; We're heading through territories owned by the Wolf Clan."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Why, Kar'na?" Svara asked.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Because the tribe's alpha and I know each other.&nbsp; I hope they'll just let us through without incident.&nbsp; It's a more direct route to the guild headquarters."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I know," Svara said.&nbsp; "I was just wondering why the change in decision?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I want to make it back to the guild by tomorrow.&nbsp; In time for the graduation of the new apprentices.&nbsp; It's almost a necessity for the masters to be there."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "That makes sense," Svara nodded.&nbsp; "Then let's be off."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They walked for a long time, with Kar'na calling few breaks, despite the fact that he obviously needed them most.&nbsp; Eventually the forest they had been in turned into a rock-studded forest, with large boulders and a myriad of smaller rocks peppering the forest.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "We're in the foothills," Kar'na announced softly.&nbsp; "This is good.&nbsp; Means we're at the edge of the Wolf Clan's southernmost border."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The group nodded and they continued on.&nbsp; It wasn't much longer beyond this point when Kiri started to feel a little uneasy.&nbsp; The young grey wolf kept his eyes roving through the underbrush, sure he'd spot something there.&nbsp; But he never did.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; From the way the others were glancing around, it was obvious they felt something too.&nbsp; Despite the fact that they were now in Ch'kiliil-held lands, Kiri felt exposed without his hood up.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I don't like it," Kytra muttered, coming up on Kiri's right.&nbsp; "It feels like they're watching us."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "They probably are," Aryn concurred, joining the two of them on Kiri's left.&nbsp; "They'd be fools not to."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The reptilian Sanvar'a siblings kept their hoods up, in contrast to the others.&nbsp; Kar'na had warned everyone that the wolves wouldn't be too welcoming to the reptilians, what with them being natural enemies, so it would probably be best to hide themselves.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A snap in the woods caught everyone's ears and heads jerked in that direction, eyes roving.&nbsp; But they saw nothing.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kiri turned back to look down the road and nearly leapt out of his fur when he saw a wolf, with the exact same coloured fur as he himself had, standing in the middle of the trail.&nbsp; He was wearing a loincloth and nothing else.&nbsp; In his hands, he held a single spear.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The warrior's face was painted with symbols and markings, obviously designed for religious or intimidation purposes.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hrinty!" he cried, planting the blunt end of his spear firmly in the dirt.&nbsp; "Tyhek ek trita tyil ip tyha Vinp Fn'y!&nbsp; Nawiya!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "P'eayt!" Kar'na cried back.&nbsp; "Ec Kar'na ip tyha'kik keyk alawent!&nbsp; Eani'wakty ta'cek keiy tyi kectnil tikik tryhiI'wawh vetyh cil p'eaytk ha'a."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What are they saying?" Kiri whispered to Svara.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Not entirely sure," Svara whispered back.&nbsp; "Wolfspeak has never been high on my list of languages.&nbsp; I think basically the one told us to turn around.&nbsp; We're trespassing and Kar'na asked to pass through."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Ti'ik tyhiI?" the tribal asked, his snarl turning to a frown.&nbsp; "Vhi tyhaka p'eaytk?&nbsp; Tyhac?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He gestured to the rest of the group with his spear.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "He's asking if we're his friends," Svara said.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Ilak," Kar'na nodded.&nbsp; "Tyhaka cil p'eaytk."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The wolf stared at each of them for a bit, eyes scouring over each one.&nbsp; When he looked at Aryn and Myra, appearances still kept beneath their cloaks, his frown returned and he turned to Kar'na.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Vhi tyhika?" he asked, gesturing to Myra and Aryn with his spear.&nbsp; "Vhil tyha tek'wekak?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Svara?" Kiri prompted as Kar'na gave a reply to the tribal wolf.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "He asked who Myra and Aryn were," the fox replied.&nbsp; "Kar'na's assuring him first that they are not his enemies."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Myra," Kar'na said, glancing over his shoulder to the reptilian siblings.&nbsp; "Aryn.&nbsp; Take off your hoods."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Falskin siblings reluctantly did so and the wolf's eyes widened and he stared at them for a second, before turning back to Kar'na.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Iliwa ca tyh'ty tyhaka yity ayaceak!" the wolf spat.&nbsp; "Yt ilaty tyhail na tyha pafa ip I'wa ayaceak?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "He's asking why if we're not their enemies, why we have two with us."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Tyhaila akfety tyha kroca ty'yil va!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Kar'na just explained that they're escaping with us," Svara said quietly.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The wolf stopped and tilted his head, seemingly thinking.&nbsp; He looked at Myra, then Aryn, then back to Myra again, before sighing.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "E fyity tyw wiap waak," he sighed.&nbsp; "N'waty yait yha fy e naty iliw v'yta tyh waw Iaw tya'etyi il.&nbsp; Fica!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He turned away from them, gesturing down the path with his spear.&nbsp; Then he started off, Kar'na following behind him and gesturing for the rest to follow them.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What's going on, Svara?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "They want us to go with them," Svara answered, staring heavily at the back of the wolf.&nbsp; "I think back to their tribe."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Exactly what I was hoping wouldn't happen," Kar'na said.&nbsp; "I was just hoping to cut through."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kiri looked around him and noticed a bunch of painted wolves emerging from the forest, weapons kept in ready poses as they encircled the group and herded them after the leader.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well," Kiri said, looking at Kar'na.&nbsp; "At least they don't plan to kill us, right?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The look on Kar'na's face was far from encouraging.

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/4nABRzG1
Part of the series A Tail of Two Peoples
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