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I was quietly eating some dried meat and bread that one of the lore servants brought up when I heard a yell from downstairs. Both of the dire wolves that we rode stood up immediately and looked towards the entrance to some form of cave in the middle of the floor. I recognized that voice, it was Tanthis. I stood and started towards the opening but Gtin'Nor stopped me before I could enter the cave.

"Out of my way, Tans hurt and I need to get to him!" I growled to the dragonbreed.

"Don't worry. They wouldn't have brought us all the way here and provided shelter if they wanted to hurt you. Remain calm, we're not allowed down there anyway." Gtin'Nor replied, nodding back towards where I was resting.

A few minutes later, a dragonbreed server brought Tanthis up from the cavern and laid him there before me. He appeared fine except for black burns on his upper arm and shoulder. It took me a few minutes to recognize it as a dragonbreed clan mark. I didn't understand the details, but I did note that it marked him as from Noth'Gnok. He was running a fever and his arm was in rough shape.

"What did they do to him?" I asked of our dragonbreed companion.

"If I read this right, he's now a lore servant of Noth'Gnok. With him, we have protection of the lore-keeper himself. It also means that he's a member of the city, with free passage. I've never seen a mark like it on an outsider like this." Gtin'Nor replied, looking over the red and black wound.

I nodded slightly, touching my hand to my pouch of elemental tokens to draw some of their power. I washed water energies along the arm, hoping to cool the burn some and relieve the pain. Tans face seemed to relax a little and a few minutes later he began to stir.

"Hey there sunshine, welcome back to the land of the living." I teased when his eyes finally opened.

"Ugh, hey there yourself. You dragonbreeds really need to learn how to warn a guy. That kinda stings you know." Tanthis said up to me and then to our companion.

"We are scaled, the scrolls of marking are not made for those of..softer skin." Gtin'Nor replied, flicking his tongue out once slightly.

"Rest up, We'll leave tonight under the cover of dark for the foxbreed village." He commented once more quietly to me, leaving Tan to my care as we relaxed once more back against Lorth.

I lightly stroked over his hair while Tan relaxed back, resisting the urge to check his arm. He ate and drank in quiet the rest of the afternoon. Lorth and Calmon were starting to get restless while we sat around. Come nightfall Gtin'Nor started to guide his horse towards main entrance.

"Tanthis, You leave first. Should there be anyone waiting for us, we'll want them to see the mark on your arm." Gtin commented as he opened the main door for us.

Tan walked out first with Calmon in tow, there were a few armed dragonbreeds outside ready to jump him that I could see. They took one good look at his bare arm and shoulder, staring hard at him before backing down and bowing slightly. The rest of us followed close behind without any trouble at all.

Gtin'Nor mounted his horse and began a slow trot north out of town, the way we came. Tan and myself followed close behind on Calmon and Lorth respectively. We left town at a slow pace, any one that approached to stop us took one good look at Tans arm and just bowed respectfully and let us pass. Once we were out of the edges of the city Gtin'Nor slowed to speak with us.

"We head east from here. Jeseia, I'm going to guide you half way there. The rest, is up to you. " He said to me quietly with a nod towards the east.

"I know the land well enough, that'll be fine." I gruffed quietly back to him, looking back to Tanthis before turning back to Gtin'Nor. "We can make it from here on our own faster on our mounts without having to wait for your horse."

"Very well, ride fast and well Jeseia al'Kendara Arabala and lore servant Tanthis of man. Ride fast and well." Gtin'Nor bowed to us before turning back to the north and riding towards Nok'Tor again.

"We can make it by morning if we ride hard, that'll leave the day for Lorth and Calmon to hunt and rest up while we're in the village." I told Tan, turning Lorth to the east and starting slowly to start.

"Why the hurry foxy?" He teased up to me, Calmon catching up easily.

"I'm as easy going as it gets hon, and the crap here lately has got me spooked. I don't know what went on down here in that cave, but I don't like it. I want to get to my village, get this over with, so we can find a quiet corner of the world to live in and leave this all behind." I finally relaxed a little, having spoken my mind.

"Sure thing hon, we'll get this all figured out with the foxes and then settle down somewhere nice." He smiled at me, he was keeping something from me. Wasn't sure what it was.

I whispered to Lorth and we sped up to a hard run, The only sounds I could hear were the wind as it whipped by and the hard breathing of our twin riding wolves. The night deepened and still we rode. I kept glancing back to keep an eye on Tan, his mind seemed to be elsewhere most of the time.

The trip was quick as our trips get, and as dawn was filling the skies, I could see and smell the ocean ahead of us. That smell brought me back.

I lived most of my life here, up until I began learning to channel. Those who are gifted in sensing the water element, regardless of other talents, are immediately taken aside and kept separate from the rest of the villagers. We're isolated and trained by elders in the arts of divination and foresight. Only when we're considered elders and our judgments sound are we allowed to commune with our own people again. Two years of living in a tent with old foxes watching my every move, daily lessons in fortune telling. I couldn't handle it.

I left one night, channeling a rain storm from the oceans waters to distract everyone while I snuck away. I wandered the country side for a few years, living on my own with my instincts to guide me. I encountered wolf clans, men, dragons, and even felines in my travels.

I met a man, a channeler like myself, an exile as I understood it. I must admit I fell in love with him, not so much of who he was, but the exoticness of him I think. We traveled together, trained together, as close as a paired couple could be. We befriended Granh and his clan, and with his help and channeling knowledge, we almost completed our training together. Johnathon, a strong name I'm told, didn't survive the most dangerous trial. He fell in the test of fire, and we couldn't save him.

I wandered aimlessly south until I hit Torrnal. There, I found some odd work as a servant, cleaning rooms and what not. It was degrading work, but it kept my mind off of John. A young boy went to the church as I was mucking out the stables nearby. He was blue in color and weak, stumbling as he walked. I knew that look well, it's a sickness from eating rotten fruit from a bush that occasionally is found along roads.

The boy wasn't allowed in, he must have scared those inside with how he looked. I couldn't help it, he reminded me of John. I channeled water and spirit into the boy, drawing out the toxins in the process. He was fine but I caught the attention of the church leader who saw the whole thing at the end.

Anyway, the rest is more or less in the stories Tanthis wrote, so I'll leave that out.

We got to the edge of my village as morning was starting. And, not to my surprise anyway, we were greeted to two foxbreed elders at the edge of town. I slipped from atop Lorth while Tan jumped off of Calmon and came to stand at my side. I motioned nodded to Lorth and smiled, "You two have worked too hard the past couple days, go find some rest and good hunting. We'll call for you when we need you."

Our twin riding wolves barked their agreement and bolted off. It's nice having companions like that whom you don't have to worry about.

"Welcome back Jeseia, and welcome Tanthis. Come, we have been expecting you for some time now." The female said to us, smiling warmly and motioning to some soft pillows laid out on a rug in front of a warm fire.

"I am elder Kendara, chieftain and head seer of our small village. We're glad you've made it this far. I'm sure you have many questions, but first, let us eat and enjoy the morning in peace." He spoke to Tanthis, smiling at me knowingly.

"Kendara? Chieftain? Jes, isn't that part of your name?" Tanthis spoke up, damn him.

"Yes, I'm her mother, Floranna. Her name is Jeseia al'Kendara, princess and next seer of Thilas al'Dura. This is her father, elder Kendara." My mother replied to him, returning the same smile to me that my father had.

"Wait, princess and seer? Thanks for sharing that one with me foxy." Sarcasm dripped from Tan at that comment, going to have to deal with that later.

"Come now, eat and rest. We'll be able to speak afterwards." My father settled onto a larger mat before the fire, motioning us to sit nearby. Food was brought to us by a few younger foxes, giggling and eyeballing Tanthis curiously.

"I know you don't want to hear what I have to say, daughter, but please, at least visit your people and let them see you. It'll warm their hearts to see you once more. Tanthis can remain here and listen to your mothers insights. If that is alright?" He asked me, smiling sadly?

"Sure, just don't bore him to death or try anything silly please. I'd hate to organize a jail break."

"Be at peace my daughter, We'll only say what we've seen and offer some guidance. The choice, as are all choices, are yours alone." My mother cooed to me, smiling.

I grumbled and left them to their conversation. Wandering aimless from hut to hut, smiling and nodding to everyone one as I strolled. As rough as it was when I was little, it was nice to be among so many of my own kind.

It only took me a couple of hours, but when I returned Tanthis smiled up at me with a dull fake smile, fingering a small wooden token in his hand before tucking it into his pack. He motioned for me to sit with him and leaned on me lightly.

"Your parents are a unique set foxy. So serious and yet so detached as well. I see where you get it." He teased me, apparently all was forgiven.

"Enjoy your evening Jes, Tanthis. Well be around if you require anything." With that my mother and father left the fire to tend to matters of the village, leaving Tan and myself alone.

"So, what was all that about hon?" I nudged, curious.

"Oh, some things I figured out on my own. Some things I didn't. Some made me smile, others, not so much. Are things always like that with seers?" He replied softly, relaxing against me.

"I'm afraid so, as much as it sounds like your fate is set in stone, it's not. It could drive a person mad trying to keep track of it all. Just take it as advise rather than a promise." I slipped an arm around him and hugged close for a moment.

"Let stay here tonight, tomorrow I need to get us back to Torrnal." He finally mentioned up to me, smiling a little as he rubbed at my tummy a idly, teasing the fur through my shirt.

I couldn't say no to that, and quietly led him to a small hut that had been cleared for us. One nice thing about living in a village of seers is that they're often already prepared for you. We settled into the hut for the evening, I feel asleep to the sound of Tanthis breathing as he lay next to me, fingering that wooden token.

Tanthis woke me the next morning, his eyes were heavy and he didn't appear to have slept much if at all. "Morning sweety, we better get something to eat and get ready to go soon."

My mother was there waiting for us outside with some sweet breads and fruit to eat. She also had a pouch of some smoked fish to take with us. "Tanthis, we had prepared a token to take with you, to remind others of your brief visit here. But, I realize more now than before that you have more of us with you than I could give." She smiled softly to me and bowed her head a moment.

"Farewell my daughter, travel well." She spoke simply before turning to leave.

I just stood there and glanced between my mother and Tanthis, apparently more was said than I thought. For he just nodded slightly and turned towards where we'd entered the village. My father was there, speaking to Lorth and Calmon, and apparently understanding them in turn.

"You have two of the finest companions here you could hope to meet. I am glad to have had the chance to meet them. Wolves like this are a rare breed, I've only heard stories about them. Travel well Tanthis and daughter. And farewell." He bowed his head sadly and backed away from the twins as we approached just a bit closer.

Lorth dipped and let me climb on his back while Calmon followed suit and stayed there. Tanthis began his channeling the immense powers that I couldn't think of controlling and pierced the veil of our world. After a few minutes of work, I could see the rolling hills near Torrnal.

"This will take us just south of Torrnal, I came this way on my first trip from home. I figured we'd be able to pick up our route there." He smiled to me, motioning me to step through the portal while he followed me on Calmon quickly.

"That's great hon, saves us a rather long trip. But, where are we going?" I asked of him.

"Home."