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Kemly felt something warm and soft wrapped around him, which quickly roused him. Kemly's eyes fluttered open in unison with Illeb, they both looked up to see Tuulpen hovering above them.

“I am sorry I could not let you sleep, but you both are needed. I will give you some time to wake, then meet me outside."

Tuulpen left the room. The air was wet and a bit chilly, and without commenting on it, Illeb helped fit the fur cloak over Kemly's shoulders.

“The weather is turning foul quickly," Illeb complained. “I can feel the cold much more deeply through you."

Kemly hugged the cloak tight. Illeb had gone flaccid while they slept, and now his backend ached. “Sorry dear," Kemly said. Dear, father, lover, what did they even call each other?

Illeb felt the same. “We still have much to discuss."

“I don't blame you, you know. For the life I had to live without you."

“I know, Kem," Illeb said, stroking his back. “Though it will be hard for me to not feel guilty when there will always be reminders of your hardship." Illeb said before his foot nudged Kemly's peg.

“It's not too bad. You get used to what you don't have you know? Becomes a part of how you see yourself, sometimes I'm even fond of this guy," Kemly said, nudging Illeb back with the peg. Then he remembered what Peshtaal told him, and he wondered if he turned, if…

“Something the matter, son?"

“You like calling me son, don't you?"

“I like reminding myself that what I lost has been returned to me."

“Heh," Kemly leaned against the wolf. “You might be more soft-hearted than any human I've met, father."

“Mmm, only for those I care for."

“Hey, speaking of humans, I need to tell you something."

“Hmm?"

“Peshtaal examined our connection, one of the spirit runners?"

“I know him," Illeb said. “Surprised he is still living if I'm honest."

“Yeah, well he told me this story of an Anesh and a wolf sharing a connection like ours. Eventually, the Anesh ended up turning into a wolf."

Illeb held Kemly away so he could look the boy in the eye. “He means you'll turn into a wolf?"

Kemly shook his head. “He was not sure. He said either of us might turn the other."

Illeb grunted. “Typical answer for a spirit runner."

“Do you think I would…"

“I do not know, Kem. What would you want?"

Kemly glanced down at his peg again. “I am not sure. We talked about living among the wolves, but would I forget everything about the Shore? Would I forget meeting you and everything we've been through so far?"

Illeb winced. “I see your point. And I do not wish to turn back into a human for fear of the same."

Kemly sighed and leaned against Illeb's side. “Whatever may happen, I know we will take care of the other, regardless."

“I just hope if I turn human that I've not aged like one."

“What do you mean?"

“Wolves live a long time, Kem. Like I've said before, the Anesh heal those who are among them. Including what damages time can bring. Peshtaal is supposed to be over two hundred years old."

They heard movement in the doorway. It was Tuulpen again, who said, “I'm sorry, but we cannot wait any longer. Please come with me."

Kemly squeezed Illeb's wrist as they stood at the same time, knowing that the wolf shared his feelings on this new information: if Kemly didn't turn, would he grow old and die before Illeb? Or would the Anesh keep him healthy in the same ways?

So many uncertainties, which Kemly quickly realized would linger with them for some time as they left the longhouse. By now sunset approached, and the surrounding forest had cast the village in long, dark shadows. And at the village center, they were taken to see a human on the ground, watched by two larger wolves.

Carrow, who at the site of Kemly in his cloak, said, “Trying to be a wolf, Kem?"

Kemly ignored the jibe while Tuulpen said, “Our watchers found him. He apparently tracked us using a spell the mage crafted for him with some of your blood, Illeb."

“And he ordered me to kill the two of you. Obviously I've not done a good job."

“I thought you were working for Lady Bough?" Kemly said.

Carrow shrugged. “Yes, well, when an imperial mage tells you to do something for him, you can't exactly say no. My guess is he wanted me to either tie up loose ends or get myself killed trying so Lady Bough would have more than just the Marked on their side."

“You said you had something you needed to tell Kem," Tuulpen interjected.

“I'm getting to that," Carrow snapped. Despite his hands being bound and surrounded by wolves, he seemed significantly less afraid than his first encounter with Illeb. Carrow said to Kemly, “Obviously I didn't trust the damn mage, and with the state this one—"

“Illeb," Kemly told him.

“Right, with the state Illeb left the mage and his retinue, it was pretty easy to sneak back into the workshop before I left. I took a peek through his notes thinking I might drop them off at Lady Bough's, but what I found Kem?" Carrow shuddered. “It shook me up." He asked Illeb, “Did you know what happened after you left?"

“How could I?" Illeb said.

Carrow said, “Right then, well Raysh has found some way to get the spirits of the Thrush."

“Anesh," Kemly said.

“What? We naming trees now?"

Kemly rolled his eyes. They'd be here all night at this rate. “Just keep talking."

“Fine, fine, to take those Anesh spirits, when you put one in the body of a human they turn. Like that curse supposedly did, only when one of them got into one of Raysh's men, it turned him into a tree. He means to take more of those spirits from the forest, ship them into the empire, and start turning folks inside the empire. Lot less work to ship the wood if you just turn some town outside the capital into a forest like this one."

Tuulpen growled. “How is he harvesting the Anesh?"

“Do I look like a mage?" Carrow said. “Listen, my dad's a pretty wooden guy already, I'm not too keen on him winding up even more that way. Not that I know where they plan on shipping that stuff, but you lot look like you care a lot about this forest, and it don't sit well with me to just let this happen. So what do we do?"

Tuulpen studied Carrow for a moment, then said, “Illeb, Kem."

They followed Tuulpen away from Carrow to speak in private. Tuulpen asked them both quietly, “Do you trust what he is saying?"

Kemly, who had been struggling to wrap his head around it, nodded. “Carrow's not the type to go along with something like this. Everything he's done so far tells me he came here for help."

Illeb said, “I didn't know they were Anesh, but I saw the powerful spirits the mage was keeping in his workshop."

Tuulpen nodded. “We knew there was a part of the forest dying much too quickly, we found out about it around the same time the Anesh told me to gather you, Kem. Though we had not investigated, it seems clear now why it happened."

“We have to stop him, right? Even if it means overrunning the Shore?" Kemly asked.

Tuulpen growled. “If it came to that, but we would lose so many of our own. And no doubt the settlement will be even more on alert after your attack, Illeb." Tuulpen shook his head. “This is not a decision for us to make. I will gather the village elders and speak with them. We will not free Carrow yet, but we will see to it that he is not harmed."

***

Kemly and Illeb did not see Tuulpen until the next morning when the wolf woke them. Kemly's eyes blinked open, tangled in Illeb's embrace with Tuulpen sitting cross-legged by them both. The spirit runner looked like he had not slept.

“The tribe has come to a decision," Tuulpen said.

Kemly, who had only been half-roused, struggled to sit up in Illeb's heavy arms. “What is it?" This act finally started to make Illeb stir as well.

“We are going to gather our warriors and head towards the village to kill the mage."

Illeb growled, now woken himself. “I thought such an attack was out of the question."

Tuulpen nodded. “We will lose much. But we will have more to lose without the Anesh."

Illeb shook his head. “There has to be another way. What if you can draw the mage out of the Shore?"

Tuulpen said, “We have thought of this, but we must work while we have surprise. A mage like that could have any number of ways to foil our attempts if we give him the time."

Kemly felt sick even imagining such an attack. Most raids by the wolves left dozens dead or amputated, though they never stayed long in their attacks. No one would know what the wolves were there for, so an attack like that would likely push the militia to fight for their lives thinking they were cornered rats. Not to mention the logging crews and hunters and carpenters. All kinds of humans that would lift makeshift weapons to defend their home. And if they attacked, the wolves would put them down sure as they would be carved apart slowly yet surely as they made their way to the mage.

Illeb said, “Tuulpen, I should lead them. I know where the mage will be staying, I can—"

“Illeb!" Kemly grabbed his mate's arm, thinking of the wounds he gained simply to get Kemly out.

“Kem it is the only way," Illeb said.

Kemly pushed himself out of the wolf's arms and said, “No, we can't. You two… what if I return and try to tell folks what's going on?"

Tuulpen chuckled and rested a hand on Kemly's shoulder. “I appreciate you both, but neither of you have to needlessly risk your lives for this. The spirit runners will divine the mage's location, and our warriors will set off to kill him."

Not good enough. Kemly couldn't accept the Ashen sacrificing so much.

“What happened to Carrow?" Kemly asked.

“We interrogated him throughout the night. He is safe and staying in a root cellar for the time being."

“I want to see him," Kemly said.

Tuulpen led them to the hillside they originally walked into the village from. The root cellar was dug into the hill, a simple wooden door over it and a single wolf standing guard. Tuulpen spoke to the guard a moment before the wolf opened the door and let them inside. Most of the cellar held what Kemly saw wolves harvesting when they first arrived. Carrow sat against a pile of vegetables, blinking up into the light until he finally made out Kemly's shape.

Carrow said, “Finally, they giving you the same hospitality, Kem?"

Kemly ignored the question, taking the stairs a little slowly in the dark. The steps were wider for a wolf's paws and so his strides needed to be a little longer for each step. He knew Illeb followed him down, but Tuulpen gave them some amount of privacy and stayed at the entrance. Kemly crouched beside Carrow when he reached the bottom and asked, “Did the wolves tell you what they planned on doing?"

“Sending their folk to kill Raysh, I hope."

“Carrow," Kemly said in his closest approximation to a wolf's growl.

“Trying to talk like one of them now?"

The dark helped hide Kemly's blush. Truly, he had not even thought about how silly it must have sounded until Carrow pointed it out. He leaned closer and whispered, “Listen, a whole lot of folk in the Shore and in this village are gonna die if we don't do something."

Carrow shrugged. “You don't think I don't know that? My uncle, knowing how he likes to pick fights, will probably get his head bit off by one of these monsters—er, no offense Illeb."

Illeb told them both, “We should leave this to the Ashen—"

“No!" Kemly snapped. “I'm not just gonna… settle on this being the best option. Spirits Illeb, what happens when the wolves overrun the village and the empire comes back with a real army to raze to forest? We'll all be lost then."

Carrow sighed. “Kem, when Lady Bough came and got me cause they heard you were back in town, I thought then you were one of the biggest fools out in the Thrush. Turns out you just are the biggest." Carrow nudged Kemly's peg with a foot, “Not to mention you don't exactly have the best luck."

Kemly looked between them both, his frustration getting better of him. “You're both cowards. I'll walk back to the Shore by myself."

“Now, wait a moment!" Carrow said, “Didn't say I wasn't going to go along with you."

Illeb nodded. “I won't stop you, but I won't let you out of my sight, either."

“Hey," Carrow said, “What's the story between the two of you anyways? There's a lot I don't get out here but the two of you might just—"

“It's complicated," Kemly said. It didn't feel complicated in the moment. Hearing his father would follow him no matter what… Kemly needed to resist the urge to simply pull Illeb into a grateful kiss.

He knew Illeb felt the same mix of emotions he did. How did they explain their relationship to anyone? Even if it did exhilarate them both to think of telling others of how close they had become.

“We can talk about it when we leave," Illeb added. “Let us speak with Tuulpen, we will get permission to take you with us."

“Take your time," Carrow said. “Me and the gourds ain't going anywhere."

They did not need to take any time at all. When they climbed out of the cellar they found Tuulpen and the guard speaking with Korvinsk. The young spirit runner smiled at Kemly when his head rose out of the cellar. They said something to Tuulpen before the black-grey wolf told them both, “You two wish to leave the village with Carrow?"

Kemly, steeled himself to argue more, and said, “Yes, we have to try something before you all start killing each other."

Korvinsk giggled, which caught Kemly so off guard he nearly blushed.

Tuulpen smiled. “Korvinsk just told me us you planned as much. It seems they and I are going to travel with you."

Illeb asked, “Is this the Anesh's advice?"

“What else could it be?" Tuulpen asked before he told them both, “We will leave soon as you are both ready. With the two humans, we will need to be quick to get there before the tribe is ready to send its attack."

***

“Do we have any sort of plan?" Carrow asked as they trekked up the hill and out of the village. Kemly walked beside the other man while Tuulpen and Korvinsk led the group, with Illeb following closely behind his mate.

“I think that's what we're supposed to do on the way there," Kemly said. He nodded to Korvinsk's back. “They're the one to ask." Korvinsk stunning white was blending to grey as they fell into the shadows of the Anesh. Both Tuulpen and Korvinsk had the fur down their spine braided with a dyed blue stripe that went to their tailbone, denoting their rank. Illeb worried about having two spirit runners traveling with them. They wouldn't just be useless in a fight, they would be a liability. The instant someone might be gravely hurt, friend or foe, the two would join that person stunned on the ground.

“They don't speak Balamese," Carrow said. “They can fight, though, right, like you Illeb? You smashed the soldiers Raysh threw in front of you."

Carrow had craned his neck back to speak to him. It surprised the wolf and heartened Kemly to see the man trying to be companionable. Illeb noticed Tuulpen's ear turn back a little as well, he was listening to them, then. Illeb said, watching his old mate, “Both are not warriors, and it would be best if they did not witness any violence."

Through their bond, he sensed Kemly picking up on his lead and not saying anymore.

“Strange to think beasts with claws and fangs wouldn't want to get in a scrape."

“They aren't beasts," Kemly said.

“It's fine, dear," Illeb said.

“You two are screwing aren't you?"

Both human and wolf flinched at Carrow's question.

Carrow said to Kemly, “Well damn, no wonder you weren't interested in me. I wasn't hairy enough."

Illeb smirked at the human and gave Kemly's waist a possessive squeeze. “It's not the only thing you didn't have enough of," he growled.

Carrow shrugged, “That one don't surprise me one bit. Don't worry, I'm not trying to steal your boy."

Kemly shuddered in Illeb's grip while the wolf bared his teeth and said, “Good." Now that Illeb had found him again, no one would pry his son away.

***

“Are you certain Lady Bough?"

Carrie, Lady Bough's servant, stood in the doorway. She hesitated with the message Lady Bough wanted sent through the marked in town: “Raysh Lyon fabricated the curse to keep the town in fear of the forest and wolves, and used it to hide the aftermath of his magical experiments."

“Yes," Lady Bough said. “Only tell those we trust and instruct them to spread the rumor wantonly. Tomorrow Governor Frault plans to tell the logging crews the forests are no longer safe to log."

“And the day after that your sermon."

Lady Bough nodded.

Carrie's fingers teased at the bindings that kept her armless sleeve sewn shut, which she often did when struggling to say something. “That mage will come for you, lady."

“Indeed, I am prepared for that. You and the other church servants will not come to harm, I promise."

Carrie stopped fidgeting and told Lady Bough, “Oh, if they come for you they'll have to come through us first, I can promise you that, Lady Bough. After all you done, we'd never abandon you."

Lady Bough smiled fondly at the older woman. “Thank you, Carrie. Once you have finished take the rest of the night off. I will be fine."

Carrie nodded and shut the cottage door behind her. When she was alone, Lady Bough went to a chest at the foot of her bed and rummaged through it. Beneath layers of clothes, waited a heavy wrapped bundle. She withdrew it and laid it on the floor, unrolling it to reveal an ornately hilted rapier and matching poniard. The blades, however, were as sharp as the day she received them. Before that wretched mage turned her brother, Lady Bough had been a trained duelist. One who entertained upper classes within the empire's interior with displays of swordsmanship, and who occasionally trained noble children in the art.

It was a secret she kept from everyone in the settlement, except Kemly, ironically. Who once as a boy barged into her rooms shortly after he had been orphaned. It was why Kemly knew her full name though never called her that: Lady Selbough Pedore. Her brother had taken a new name for the church when he finished seminary, so it was all too easy to change hers to that new name and go by the simple name of Bough.

Lady Bough went through what had once been a weekly ritual of moving furniture to the corners of the room so she could practice her swordplay. Weapons in hand, she ran through several steps as if practicing a dance. Lately, she had turned to this routine every night. This was her one advantage over the mage. His soldiers and the mage would not be prepared for her to draw her own weapons, and that moment would hopefully be all she needed.

Tomorrow discord would begin to fill the town. By the next morning, she might be able to deliver her sermon calling for the mage to answer for these rumors, and likely afterwards Raysh would show up with soldiers at her door. Hopefully sixteen years, sixteen long years, of working for and with this settlement would keep the people from throwing her to the mage. She hoped she did not underestimate the loyalty she cultivated, or the true bravery nestled inside this settlement.

***

They moved faster this time around. Usually a few hours before making camp, Illeb would hunt for game in the forest ahead of them. Alone, Kemly's father moved through the woods fast as a horse cantering on a road. It made Kemly keenly aware that, of all of them, even Carrow, he set their pace. Which is why he tried to push a pace that left him completely sore by the second night. Even with the enchantment imbued in his peg, pain lanced up his left leg.

He slept poorly as well. He only knew because Illeb kept waking him at night, gently cooing and comforting Kemly as his father pulled him out of some nightmare. Yet whatever he dreamed slipped from his body soon as he woke.

On the third night, they reached Illeb's den. They came upon it at dusk, and while Tuulpen and Carrow worked on getting a fire together, Kemly sat at the back of the cave, exhausted and aching. Illeb was out hunting, and Korvinsk stood in the middle of the den, studying the painting Illeb had spent years working on. They said something aloud before giving Kemly a meaningful look. Korvinsk's tail wagged ever so slightly.

“What is it?" Kemly asked.

Tuulpen came into the den with damp stack of logs under an arm. Korvinsk repeated the words to Tuulpen, and the black-grey wolf responded. They talked before Tuulpen said, “Korvinsk wishes to perform a ritual. This landscape that Illeb painted will actually give them the means to."

Carrow, who worked with a piece of flint to light some dried brush in the fire ring, said, “Sounds like nonsense to me."

Tuulpen ignored Carrow and told Kemly, “Korvinsk will want your help, Kemly."

“What can I do?"

“You will be another anchor for them, and will follow Korvinsk. You'll finally get to see why they call us spirit runners."

While Korvinsk left the den to gather what they needed for the ritual, Tuulpen explained in more detail what they would be doing: Kemly's life and spirit was intimately tied to Shore's Edge because he was born and raised there, while Illeb's landscape was charged with its own magic, from the weaker spirits of plants used to make the paints, to the wolf's own studied intent imbued in the image. Korvinsk planned to use these things to run their spirit to Shore's Edge and explore it before tomorrow. Korvinsk would be able to communicate with other spirits in the Shore, and Kemly would come with the wolf as a guide and anchor to keep Korvinsk from becoming lost. Apparently their barriers in language would dissolve when it became their spirits communing.

By the time Korvinsk was ready, Kemly wished for nothing more than to sleep. The white wolf sat cross-legged with several different plants that grew between the roots of the Anesh. Different piles of flora pushed to the cave wall that held Illeb's landscape. The fire burned bright, and lying across Korvinsk's lap was a staff made from the Anesh, carved with various plants and animals. Kemly sat next to the plant bundles, facing Korvinsk while the wolf meditated. The rest of their party waited outside the cave until, with a furious exhale, Korvinsk locked their eyes with Kemly's. He felt something strike his face, like Korvinsk gaze was a physical blow that knocked him backwards.

But he didn't slam into the cave wall, he fell back against a large stump. Korvinsk sat beside him, both in the moonlit field made by clear-cutting the Anesh north of the village. Korvinsk stretched out their legs and arms, a pleased groan erupting from their lips as they did. Then the white wolf helped Kemly back to a sitting position.

“It worked?" Kemly asked, touching his chest while he looked around.

Korvinsk nodded. “Yes, Kem. Thank goodness, too, your aches and pains were exhausting me, so this is a nice reprieve."

Kemly winced. “I forgot you felt that."

“It is okay. I know your pain carries with it a deep concern for your home," Korvinsk said, while they both stood.

“Don't know if I'd count the Shore as my home at this point," Kemly said, facing the walled settlement.

“Not this lump of dead wood and stone, Kem. The land, the Anesh, the wolves and humans, all of it, yes?"

Kemly glanced at Korvinsk. Their soft smile was captivating in the moonlight. Kemly blushed a little before he said, “I suppose you're right."

“I know, come now," Korvinsk said, taking Kemly's hand. “You must lead us."

Kemly nodded and began walking towards the settlement. “What is our plan?" Kemly asked as they moved ahead. It was strange to walk this way. His body felt weightless with no pain, not even a sense of touch except where he touched the bright warmth of Korvinsk hand. It also did not feel as though they walked towards the Shore, but instead the land walked towards them, bringing Shore's Edge closer and closer.

“We must trust the land to provide knowledge, and then act to the best of our ability in its interest."

“What about our interest?" Kemly asked. His question was less a challenge and more a curiosity at this point.

“Think Kem, if you need the water the land provides, that makes your body part of the water, too, doesn't it? You can lose your foot, but if you lose the water you will die."

Kemly realized that for Korvinsk this sort of answer was direct as they might be. “I think I understand, I never really thought of water that way."

Korvinsk nodded as they fell into the shadow of the gate. “Though we trust the land to give us an answer, it does not mean answers are heaped before us, Kem. We must still listen carefully and search for them. Tell me, where should we start?"

“Well, how do we get through the gate?"

Korvinsk chuckled. “We walk through it, dear."

At the wolf's urging, they stepped through the wood. Kemly felt he touched every fine grain of the timber, and felt surprisingly nauseous as well as they entered the Shore's Edge. Strangely, it felt like he stood in a graveyard, with each grave torn open. So much of the buildings here were made from the Anesh, and Kemly felt that in a way he never had before.

Korvinsk said, “Do not feel bad for seeing this settlement as it is, Kem. We use the Anesh, too, in our village. The difference is we speak with the Anesh. There is only grief here for what these humans don't share with us."

Kemly nodded and began walking up the main drag of the settlement. “It's just strange, hitting me in a way it didn't before, you know?"

“You have returned here changed," Korvinsk said. “I hope that we can find a way to stop the mage peacefully. I do not wish for our warriors to senselessly break themselves killing humans till their teeth reach the mage's throat."

It was well past nightfall, and aside from a rowdy tavern, most of the folks awake in Shore's Edge were the guards posted along the wall. Kemly decided first to check on Lady Bough and make sure she still lived. There was no telling what had happened in the settlement since their leaving. As they headed for the church, Kemly asked, “Can we speak with others?"

“If their spirits are open, yes," Korvinsk told him while they took in the surrounding settlement. “You push everything so close together. Is it for warmth?" Korvinsk asked.

“You mean the buildings? That's just cause we only got so much space within the walls."

“They are to keep us out, yes?"

“Pretty much. Far as I know, no one else can reach this place who's not part of the empire."

“Mmm, this fills me with grief, Kem."

Kemly thought on this. The wall, the guards, all of the fear stitching the settlement together, it made Kemly sad to think about, too.

They reached the church. Kemly circled around to the back of the building to Lady Bough's cottage. When they stepped inside they found Lady Bough alone, wielding a rapier, moving through a series of different strikes and steps. The weapon cut the air with a soft whistle, as Lady Bough worked with precision and the hard edge of something. Not anger, Kemly could sense, but a bitter resolve. Her hair was tied up and sweat shone on her brow from the light of her fireplace. She had been at this for a while.

“A warrior?" Korvinsk asked.

“She leads the Church of Spirits. We can trust her if we can talk to her."

At a questioning look from Kemly, Korvinsk said, “Reach out to her. If she feels us, she will hear."

Kemly moved with Korvinsk around to Lady Bough's back, and waited for her to step close enough for Kemly to grab her arm from behind.

Lady Bough gasped and spun so quick Kemly didn't realize the rapier had been pushed harmlessly through him until Lady Bough pulled it back. Panting, Lady Bough asked, “Kemly?"

“Can you see us?" Kemly asked.

“Feel you boy… I am not sure how to describe it."

Korvinsk said, “Good evening, friend of Kem's, my name is Korvinsk, a member of the Ashen."

“One of the wolves," Lady Bough said, eyes turning to where Korvinsk stood even if she could not see them. “I suppose this is your magic?"

Korvinsk said, “Yes, Kem guided me here to you."

Lady Bough said, “I hope you are here for more than polite conversation."

“We are coming to stop the mage," Kemly said, “I wanted to see if you had any ideas how to help."

Lady Bough laughed a little. “Is that so? The spirits are favoring me, then. Kemly, listen closely, though I do not have the full details, I do know Raysh plans to harvest the spirits within the Thrush."

Kemly ignored the impulse to correct her and said, “We heard the same from Carrow."

“I see, good to hear he is alive, I suppose. And that he was smart enough to go to you for help."

Korvinsk said, “Tomorrow morning we will reach Shore's Edge. The five of us."

“Five? Hardly enough of you to stop the mage, now. Today a whole contingent of soldiers arrived from the empire to carry out his orders."

“We're coming to you for help, Lady Bough," Kemly said.

Lady Bough took her rapier and set it on her bed before walking to the fireplace. She contemplated the flames a moment before turning on the two. “I believe I have an idea. Kemly, tomorrow I will be giving a sermon, you know what time of day they end, yes? Wait until noon to announce yourself to the guards on the wall, bring your wolves and Carrow if you have him. Tell them there is no curse. Show them if you have to."

“This again?"

Lady Bough glanced at the weapon on her bed. “I have already started sewing discontent in the Shore. This will line up perfectly. If we can convince the guard and the people to turn on Raysh, soldiers or no, we will hang his mangy corpse at the gallows. Him and the governor."

Kemly said, “What will happen to the settlement?"

Lady Bough shrugged. “We will figure that out after the dust is settled. I am not keen on becoming some governor or lord of this settlement. Besides, if we do succeed, there will be… long term consequences."

Korvinsk interrupted, “This is helpful, but we should head back. May we meet face to face by the end of this ordeal."

Lady Bough bowed slightly. “It will be an honor."

Kemly and Korvinsk walked back to the gate, the settlement hushed. They moved in silence till Korvinsk said, “You are troubled."

“Lady Bough didn't seem very convinced this would end anytime soon."

Korvinsk said, “Nothing ever really ends, Kem. It merely changes."

Kemly shook his head. “Your wisdom gets pretty exhausting after a while, you know?"

The wolf laughed at him. Kemly rolled his eyes, coming to a stop while Korvinsk got a hold of themselves. Eventually they said, “You are a joy to be around, young Kem. I am happy we have had this time to know each other."

Kemly smiled, a bit embarrassed. “Heh, thanks, I guess."

Korvinsk surprised him, then, with a warm embrace. Kemly grunted while his face was pressed into fur, accepting the hug best he could. Korvinsk was still nearly two feet taller than him. When the wolf released him, Kemly found their brow furrowed. They leaned down and sniffed Kemly's hair a moment.

“Is something wrong?" Kemly asked.

“I am not sure yet, Kem. Come, though, let's return to the others quickly. We must get what rest we can before tomorrow."

***

Kemly slept until Illeb woke him for breakfast. The others seemed to have been awake for some time, and Korvinsk relayed what Lady Bough requested of them. As they ate last night's cooked meat in a circle around a now smoldering fire, Carrow asked, “How do you plan on approaching the gate?"

“We just walk up, right?"

“And get shot?" Carrow asked.

“He has a point," Illeb growled. “The guards on the walls will not let you get close enough, not with the three of us with you."

“They won't be keen on letting you in when they see its you anyways," Carrow said. “And I bet that mage has some way of knowing if either you or me try to turn back up."

Tuulpen asked Carrow, “Then do you have an idea?"

Carrow nodded. “You three chase us to the gates."

“That won't make us any more sympathetic," Illeb said.

“Our goal is to kill the mage, not to make friends."

“The Shore will need to let us help them if they wish to survive when the empire retaliates, though," Tuulpen told Carrow.

Kemly felt his skin prickling and noticed that Korvinsk stared at him intently while the others talked. The white wolf spoke, then walked out of the den. A surprised Tuulpen followed them.

Kemly shook his head and added, “Carrow if they see wolves their just as likely to shut the gates before we get there."

“If we just time it right—"

“No, way I see it is, we can't just trick them. If you want to try and get into the Shore ahead of us, you should. Maybe you can send word to Lady Bough or something."

Illeb said, “Regardless, we should be leaving for the Shore soon."

“What about Tuulpen and Korvinsk?" Kemly asked.

“Korvinsk told Tuulpen they wished to speak to him alone. The two of them can easily catch up. It's you two I'm worried about."

“Right, I'll jog on ahead and find Lady Bough," Carrow said, getting up with a grunt. He unpinned his cloak and tossed it into Kemly's lap.

“Uh, what's this for?"

“You're shivering, looks like you'll need it more than me. I'll just take my pack with me."

Kemly exchanged a look with Illeb. Neither had even noticed. He didn't feel cold, in fact, Kemly realized all the soreness traveling had caused seemed gone, too...

“Take care you two," Carrow said before he collected his things and was off.

Illeb scooted closer to Kemly and wrapped an arm around him. “Are you okay, dear?"

He sensed Kemly's sharp alarm. Kemly leaned into the wolf and said, “Something's not right. I don't know what it is, though."

Illeb hugged him, and Kemly tried his best to relax in the familiar warmth of his father's scent. When the wolf released him, Kemly said, “We should get going."

“Before we do," Illeb said, stroking Kemly's cheek, “I promise that, so long as I'm breathing, nothing is going to harm you."

“Heh, just make sure you get through this with me, alright? There's a lot I can live without, Illeb: My town, the forest, my foot, but you? You're one of the things I need in order to live, I can't lose you."

Illeb smiled and kissed Kemly's brow. “You won't, I promise."

***

Tuulpen and Korvinsk never did follow them into the village like Illeb expected. Instead, Kemly walked to the gates with Illeb at his side. Soon as the guards spotted them, bells began to peal throughout Shore's Edge. By the time they got within one hundred paces of the wall, the gates had been lifted and the metal helmets of guards shone all across the ramparts on their side.

They paused at that point. Kemly said, “I think I know what I want to say. I am going to ask you to bite me, is that okay?"

Illeb nodded. “If they fire on us, I will carry you back to the forest."

Kemly took a deep breath and started walking. He held his arms out in a gesture of peace. Illeb calmly walked beside him, dwarfing the human, but Kemly sensed the guards on the wall watched him just as closely as the wolf. They got within fifty paces of the wall, and still no one fired on them. But at this point, they heard shouted from the gates, “Halt!"

Kemly did as told and waited. No one fired along the walls, and that same hesitant leader asked, “State your business."

Kemly touched a hand to his chest and yelled back up, “My name is Kemly, a son of Shore's Edge. I was raised at this settlement and carry the marks of it on my body!" He lifted his pegged left leg to show them what he meant. “This wolf is my father!" As Kemly gestured to Illeb, he felt tension coil in the wolf's belly as Kemly openly admitted it. “He was turned by the mage Raysh Lyon when he invented the curse. The Empire has lied to you all! You know my story, I have been bitten many times and not turned, and I will show you again."

Kemly held up his arm and Illeb stepped behind him. Kemly watched the guards while his father's familiar teeth sank into his forearm, just enough to break skin and let pinpricks of blood trail down his arm.

Illeb released him and Kemly announced, “We have no ill will to the people of the Shore. We wish only to see justice done, for all those affected by the mage's made up curse within the Shore."

Kemly could only make out the shifting movements of helmets while guards spoke to one another. Then a commotion beyond the wall. Kemly felt Illeb tense, ready to run Kemly back into the forest. The gate groaned, a great shift of noise while men shouted orders at each other and the door begin to swing up and backwards. As the gate opened, Kemly spotted polished armor, rows of kite shields with the symbol of the roc. Soldiers sent from the Empire's interior. And at their front, Raysh with a staff made from the Anesh.

“A rousing tale," the mage said before he stepped under the gates, the sound of armored soldiers marching with him as ranks of soldiers followed.

Illeb's low growl followed with, “Kem…"

The wolf wanted to flee.

“Not yet, Illeb," Kemly said.

Raysh stopped twenty paces from Kemly. His soldiers, there must have been fifty of them, began to fan out to surround the two.

“Kem!" Illeb hissed.

“No, Illeb," Kemly snapped. “Trust me." Kemly had no plan, but he believed what Korvinsk told him the night before: trust the land. Search for the opening and take it, that was all they could do. Retreating did them no good. And with this many extra soldiers, the Ashen's warriors might not even make it to Raysh now.

Raysh said, “I do not know if it is bad luck on my part, or if Lady Bough has been plotting with the wolves all this time, but your return on this day was most convenient. Once I have dealt with you, I will have her head next."

Kemly felt a knot in his throat. “You're not going to let them see whether I turn or not? They'll know you're hiding something if you just kill me outright."

“Who cares? They won't risk their lives for a boy and a wolf," Raysh said, before he lifted his staff.

Kemly felt his body lifted off the ground before a bolt of arcing light erupted from the staff. Illeb snatched him up and threw them both out of the way. The bolt struck the ground near them and exploded, kicking clumps of dirt and grass into the air. Kemly struggled in Illeb's arms as the wolf stood with Kemly cradled against his chest. Kite shields with their burning roc surrounded them on all sides, two rows thick.

“Kem, I might be able to kill the mage but I don't know if I can get us through these soldiers."

“You can get through them without me," Kemly said.

“No." Illeb snarled and watched the mage, clutching Kemly tight.

From behind Raysh, one of his soldiers was knocked forward by something. He bumped into the soldiers in front of him.

“Hey!" a short, barking shout. Kemly felt Illeb's recognition, and knew the wolf, from his height, saw over the soldiers to find Carrow standing alone at the gate. He held his bow, another arrow notched, the first one buried deep in the fallen soldier's back. Carrow said, “Why not let the boy inside the gates?"

The soldiers and Raysh turned to face Carrow. Kemly squeezed Illeb's arm and said, “Now love." Illeb barrelled forward, so fast that when Raysh turned he only had enough time to dive out of the way. The soldiers turned back to the wolf, and the instant they lowered their shields, Carrow let another shot fly, catching a soldier in the side. It was enough. The confused ranks in front of the gate weren't enough to stop Illeb, who leapt over two soldiers before shoulder checking a third and breaking through their ranks into the settlement. With a clear view, Kemly saw that Carrow did not stand completely alone. Some paces down the road, Lady Bough stood with a crowd of others. Marked and unmarked alike, the people of her congregation flanking her. They numbered as many as the soldiers they just narrowly escaped.

Lady Bough stepped forward and called out loudly, “Greetings to you, Kemly. I trust you come in peace to the shore?"

“I do," Kemly said while Illeb set him down. “I've come to show the curse is fake, once and for all." Kemly meant to say more, but a sharp lance of pain pulled through his ribs. Illeb felt it, too, baring his teeth while Kemly clutched his chest.

“Love to catch up, but get behind me you two," Carrow said. Illeb grabbed Kemly's arm and helped him along. Carrow nocked another arrow and fired it almost immediately. “Damn," he said, “Hoped that one would have hit the mage." Instead a shield deflected it.

Raysh yelled, “Guard, kill them all!"

But the soldiers on the ramparts hesitated. One man called down, “We ain't gonna turn our weapons on our own."

“Thank you Brannan," Lady Bough called up to the gate.

“Your own is the empire!" Raysh snapped. “If you don't follow my orders it will be treason."

“We're supposed to protect the folks here, not kill them my lord."

“Very well," Raysh said, with a cold edge. Kemly watched him lift his staff to the wall.

The ramparts over the gate burst into flames.

Above the panicked cries of the militia, Raysh yelled to his men, “Subdue the town and kill anyone who resists!"

If the guards of Shore's Edge were hesitant to raise swords against the empire, that attitude ended when Raysh lit more than a dozen of them ablaze. Some along the gates fired their crossbows down into imperial soldiers. A few more soldiers fell, but most lifted their kite shields and marched in tight ranks of five or six soldiers each. Their blades glimmered in the firelight as they approached. Carrow fled back to Lady Bough, and said, “I hope you got some kind of plan for them."

Lady Bough unsheathed the rapier at her side. “We fight, what else is there?"

Illeb glanced at Kemly. “Find a place to hide, love."

Kemly took a step back, and felt a twinge run through his body, down to his toes… and the base of his peg? Illeb snarled and bowled forward into the closest group. Kemly felt pain cut across his leg and arm as blades found Illeb's hide. But the wolf broke the soldier's ranks, buying time for Lady Bough to turn and say to the gathered congregation, “The empire means to kill us! Fight for your lives!"

“Some speech," Carrow said while he drew back his bow. He caught a man in the shoulder right before he took a swing at Illeb, throwing them off and giving the wolf a chance to rip open another soldier's throat. The guards on the wall had left the gate to burn, opting to abandon the ramparts and face Raysh's soldiers on the ground. Groups of soldiers flanked right and left to confront spears and crossbows with sword and shield. Raysh went with one of these groups, overrunning the guard and pushing into the town.

Lady Bough by then had rallied her people and charged around Kemly. They wielded logging axes, loose wooden clubs, hammers, pitchforks, and knives. They swarmed forward, and relieved Illeb before the wolf was overwhelmed. In the chaos, Kemly felt a blade slice across Illeb's calf. Kemly fell to his knees, gasping and clutching his leg. As he squeezed it, he was surprised how sharp his nails felt. They were much longer than the last time he looked at them, ending in fine points.

The certainty of it hit him so hard he lost track of the fight until Carrow pulled him up by the armpit. He said over the fighting, “My bow's not much use in this crowd. Come on, let's go figure out where the mage is going."

A little numb, he glanced at where Illeb stood fighting in the crowd. Blood matted his muzzle and throat, dripped from his claws. Nearly all of it human.

Kemly felt a strange stirring at the sight.

Carrow tugged him away from it, leading them into the settlement. As they put distance between themselves and the fighting, Carrow said, “Well, that went about as well as it could. Least your warriors won't have much to fight if we fail."

“Carrow…" Kemly said, following numbly.

“Yeah Kem?" Carrow asked, still towing them along.

“Carrow I think I'm turning."

“You're what?" Carrow spun and faced him, horrified. “I thought the curse wasn't fucking real. That's the whole point of this, isn't it?"

Kemly pulled up the sleeve of the cloak Carrow gave him. The bite marks had healed over, but the hairs on his arm were now long and coarse.

“What in the shitting spirit!" Carrow spat.

Kemly pulled the sleeve back up and said, “I don't think it's the curse."

“Then what the fuck is it?"

“There's no time to explain, let's find out what Raysh is up to," Kemly said.

Carrow shook his head. “Fuck, there just can't be any pretty boys in this fucking settlement, can there?"

“That's what you're worried about?"

“Shut up, let's go." They started hurrying along again, towards Raysh's workshop. “Do you know what it's like to turn? Are you gonna forget who I am, will it hurt?"

“Illeb and Tuulpen said it was painful and fast for them. They didn't start forgetting anything until months later, though."

Carrow nodded. “Like that tree in Raysh's lab. He turned in a matter of minutes."

Kemly thought back to the look Korvinsk fixed him with this morning. Had they known?

Kemly said, “I think it's been happening to me all morning. I just didn't notice till now."

“Well fuck, maybe we can get Raysh killed before anyone else notices. If you change in front of everyone, they're gonna think your little stunt at the gate caused it."

The workshop came into view, and at its gates waited ten soldiers.

Carrow stopped as they noticed the two of them. Carrow said, “Shit, maybe you should turn. Could really use a wolf right about now."

Three of the soldiers broke off, brandishing naked swords and polished kite shields. Carrow took a step back, and said, “Bet if we run they won't follow. Let's—"

The guards stopped when they noticed something in an alley between two buildings. One shouted alarm and they backpedaled while a black-grey wolf stepped from the alley.

Tuulpen carried his staff with him, walking towards the three guards while he chanted something in his language. He finished and stamped the staff on the ground. He turned to Carrow and tossed the staff to him. Carrow caught it deftly before the wolf said, “Take this somewhere safe. Then get Illeb and anyone else who can fight."

Carrow said, “Got it."

Kemly moved to leave with him, but Tuulpen said, “No Kem!"

“Korvinsk is using you as an anchor to run their spirit here. If the mage shows himself, we will need them to counter his magic."

Kemly, reluctantly, nodded and told Carrow, “Go." The hunter ran off. Kemly faced the wolf, who he noticed bared his claws. “You can't fight them."

“Korvinsk taught me a spell this morning to bind my senses to that staff. It will be harmed in my place," Tuulpen said.

Then the wolf lunged towards the soldiers. They put their shields up and absorbed the rake of his claws, which scraped against steel. One of the soldiers pushed forward, shield still up, thrusting his sword. Tuulpen managed to grab his sword hand, the tip of the blade brushing the wolf's ribs before the man screamed in Tuulpen's crushing grip. The man dropped his sword and Tuulpen kicked him away before grabbing the blade, which looked more like a knife in his hand. He swung it down on the next soldier, who lifted his shield. It didn't matter, the strength of Tuulpen's swing cleaved through the shield, the soldier's helm, and his skull before the blade snapped at its base. This brutal act of violence, seemed to have no effect on Tuulpen, who turned to dispatch the final soldier while more charged from the workshop gate.

Tuulpen lifted one of the fresh corpses overhead and hurled it at the soldiers. He faced Kemly and rushed forward. Kemly had enough time to gasp before the wolf scooped him up into his arms. He fled into an alley before running up a cart and leaping off it onto a nearby roof. The timber groaned under the wolf's weight. Kemly clung tight while Tuulpen ran across the roof, leaping from it to the next before barreling ahead and springing over the wall. Tuulpen landed hard on his feet, rolling once before finding his footing. He set Kemly down and said, “Do you know where the mage would be in here? If we kill him these soldiers might surrender."

They had leapt over the side wall. Already the soldiers were spilling inside the workshop grounds after them. “Find us a path, Kem."

Tuulpen faced the soldiers, snarling loudly as they charged them. Kemly ran to a side door along the building. He had enough time to try the handle and tell it was locked before Tuulpen yelled, “Kem!"

Kemly turned just in time to spot the swing of the blade. He fell to the right, while the sword thunked into the door. Kemly scrambled away while the soldier ripped his sword from the door and faced him. Tuulpen dealt with four men of his own. But his attacker quickly noticed someone else approaching.

“You did a poor job protecting your master, leaving the back gate unlocked."

Kemly turned his head and saw Lady Bough standing in the lawn, rapier in one hand and poniard in the other. Her cloak was torn and bloody, and a cut on her shoulder had matted one of her sleeves in blood.

“Good to see you alive, Kemly. I will handle this one." Lady Bough said, walking calmly forward. The guard charged her with his shield. Kemly rolled out of the way and watched Lady Bough face the man down. With a fluttering step, Lady Bough lunged forward to her opponent's left side, reaching past his shield and slipping the slim dagger under his jaw. She spun and kicked the man in the small of the back, his momentum carrying him forward as he tumbled to the ground. Lady Bough kept walking to the door. She tried the handle before turning on Tuulpen, who had been driven to the stone wall. “I need you to knock down this door, wolf." She trotted up to the soldiers, all who had their back to her, and ran one through with her rapier. The others faced her and soon as their backs turned Tuulpen pounced. The soldiers were dispatched in a matter of seconds.

Lady Bough said after the last man fell, “Are you alright?"

Tuulpen had been stabbed just below his collarbone, near his shoulder. He snarled and said, “I'll be fine, let's keep moving." They both approached the door and Tuulpen kicked it in, but before he could duck inside Lady Bough thrust her rapier in front of him.

“Let me lead, dear, these halls will not favor your frame."

Tuulpen, a bit chagrined by Lady Bough giving him orders, let her enter first. Then he said to Kemly, “Follow me."

Lady Bough did encounter more soldiers inside, which she dispatched with a ruthless poise. Kemly stepped over three more bodies before they reached the door that led down to Raysh's basement. Lady Bough stopped there to say, “Whatever we face within. The mage is mine to kill."

Tuulpen said, “So long as he is stopped, I don't care how."

Lady Bough swung open the door and yelled out, “Surrender Sir Lyon!" She managed three steps before she leapt off the stairs into the lab to avoid a bolt of fire. It blasted the wall, and singing heat rushed through the door across Tuulpen and Kemly. Tuulpen snarled and barrelled into the room soon as the flames dissipated. Kemly, though, hesitated at the door as another wave of warmth and sensation startled though his body. He felt suddenly aware of his weight in new way, not resting on his foot and where his ankle met peg, but at the bottom of that peg and the foot.

From behind him he heard, “Hurry Kem."

Korvinsk's voice. Gritting his teeth he entered the room. Raysh stood beside an Anesh that looked sun starved. He wielded a wand made of bone, and a soft, transparent blue sphere surrounded him. Spells fired from the surface of the sphere fast as Raysh could speak them and point his wand. Lady Bough had taken cover behind the altar, while Tuulpen tried to get close. Two soldiers waited next to the mage, holding their swords in both hands. “He is using that Anesh to power his magic. If you get me close I can sever his connection."

Kemly hesitated at the top of the stairs. How did he manage that? Raysh waved his wand towards Kemly, and he had no choice but to run down the steps as another bolt of magic erupted overhead. The new senses running through his peg, though, messed with his balance, and he tripped on the last few steps. He landed hard on the stone, dazed and groaning as he tried to sit up. As he did, he felt more than saw the mage take aim at him again. Before Raysh could release the spell, however, the door on the balcony overlooking the room was blown off its hinges.

Illeb leapt, howling, into the room. Tuulpen charged the mage soon after.

“Now Kem!" Korvinsk urged. Kemly was surprised by the growl that slipped from his mouth. He bared his teeth, aware they felt sharp. He ran for the mage. Illeb had landed in front of one of the soldiers, grabbing the man's arms midswing, he pulled the human in front of him in time to absorb a bolt of magic. The force of which, still knocked Illeb off his feet. Kemly felt the blow, shaken by it and stumbling as Tuulpen tore the sword from the other soldier's hands and staked him to the stone floor with it. Tuulpen had just enough time to face the mage before another spelled loosed from Raysh's wand. Light burst into Tuulpen's side, throwing the wolf past Kemly as he crossed the dais and reached out his hand. His hand, growing more calloused along its palms by the minute. It pushed into the blue barrier which snapped out of existence immediately.

Raysh cursed, and the bigger man punched Kemly with his free hand. The blow knocked Kemly, dazed, to the stone floor again. He rolled onto his back to see Raysh point his wand at Kemly. “I don't know how you severed my connection to the Thrush, but I have more than enough magic stored in this wand to kill the rest of you."

Raysh lifted the wand in the air when a shout made his eyes lift. Before he could respond to Lady Bough, however, an arrow punched into his back. Raysh fell forward only to be caught by Lady Bough's rapier and the lady's shoulder. She slammed Raysh to the Anesh's trunk, pinning him in place before she spat in his face. “I am Lady Selbough Pedore, and this is for the brother you stole from me." She shoved him against the tree, snapping the arrow still in his back. She ran her poniard through his eye, thrusting hard enough to break through the back of his skull and into the tree.

“Sorry I couldn't get here fast as the wolf," Carrow called down from the balcony. He had his bow in hand.

Kemly released a breath and relaxed on his back. He could tell through his connection that Illeb lived. Kemly then remembered Tuulpen. He rolled on his side, feeling a wave of grief he recognized as Korvinsk's. Lady Bough had gone to Tuulpen's side and held his hand. The wolf's side was open, ribs split, and exposed to the air. And the blood… so much of it spilled from him. But Tuulpen was breathing, and weeping as well.

Lady Bough said, “Thank you for your sacrifice, friend."

“Not friend… brother," Tuulpen said, his voice hoarse and choked.

Lady Bough tensed up. “Spirits… we would meet again like this, wouldn't we, dear Tullin?"

“My name," Tuulpen said. He sounded surprised. He squeezed Lady Bough's hand and said, “Thank you."

Tears ran down Lady Bough's face. Illeb, Kemly realized, stood beside him.

“He can live, but he will be changed."

“How?" Kemly asked.

“That tall basket along the wall there. Its reeds are enchanted to trap the spirits of the Anesh. Free them, and I will guide them to Tuulpen's body."

It was the only way. Just like the other tree in the workshop. And maybe, if Peshtaal's story was true, Tuulpen might return one day as a wolf again if his spirit bonded to another's.

Kemly shakily rose to his feet. “We can save him, but not as he is." Everyone looked at him as Kemly knelt beside Tuulpen and said, “Korvinsk told me you could become one of the Anesh."

“Will there be any part of him left?" Lady Bough said, her voice stung with pain and sobbing. “I don't want my brother to suffer the fate of that other man who turned."

Korvinsk answered for him, and Kemly echoed the words as they came, “He is a spirit runner, his soul will not be consumed. It will join and grow, and that strength will save him. It won't be painful, so long as his spirit is willing. Tuulpen, are you willing?"

Tuulpen, struggled to speak, and when he could not, merely nodded. His breathing was so weak. Kemly walked to the basket and opened it. Unlike the time before, spirits did not pour out, but silently, and orderly slinked down the basket's side as if someone led them. One went to Tuulpen's body, pushing inside the wolf's wound. Tuulpen gasped, and released his last breath. Kemly turned away, hands shaking as he choked back a sob. Behind him he heard Lady Bough and Illeb both weeping for the wolf.

Weighted with grief, he heard Korvinsk tell him, “It does not end, merely changes, Kem. As you are changing. Thank you for freeing the Anesh, and for saving my mate."

He felt Korvinsk's presence recede, as the remaining spirits fled the room in a neat group. He took a moment, waiting until he stopped hearing the changes of Tuulpen's body, before he faced the scene again. The new Anesh had already split into two separate trees, growing up towards the ceiling. It was twice as tall as the other Anesh in the room, with no recognizable features of the wolf that once lied in its place.

Illeb had knelt beside Lady Bough, a bloody arm wrapped around her. They had both stopped crying. Kemly felt Illeb's pain for this loss more deeply than any of the wounds his body carried.

“Humans who are turned lose their memory the longer they live as a wolf," Illeb said quietly. “He trusted me with everything he could remember of his past life, almost all of those memories mentioned you."

“Spirits," Lady Bough quaked. “Had I the ability I would bring Raysh back to life so I could kill him again. You knew Tullin, then?"

Illeb nodded sadly. “We were mates for years."

“Tell me about him, everything you can, please."

“Lady Bough!" Carrie's voice from the balcony. The woman stood beside Carrow, panting after running here. “We've apprehended the mayor, and got the fire at the gate under control."

Lady Bough quietly cursed and squeezed Illeb's arm. “Another time. After all this death has been sorted out."

Illeb glanced at the Anesh beside them. “I would like that."

Lady Bough stood and said to the balcony, “Alright, Carrie, I will be right up. Carrow, see to it no one tries to burn this building to the ground as some passionate act of revenge. These trees must be protected."

Carrow said, “Why am I always getting the hard jobs?" Lady Bough started up the stairs and soon it was just the Anesh and Illeb and Kemly inside the room.

“Illeb, I am so sorry," Kemly whispered.

Illeb turned his back on Tuulpen's remains to face Kemly. “It will be okay. We will speak again, me and Tuulpen, I am sure of it." He took a step toward his son. “Carrow told me you were turning. How do you feel?"

“A little warm, but not bad."

“Strange, perhaps this will not be as traumatic as what happened to those the mage forced into wolves." Illeb closed the distance between them, stinking of blood and matted up and down with it. “We shouldn't linger here, dear."

Kemly took his hand. “I'd like to go back to your den. If I'm going to change, I don't want to do it here where it could cause a panic."

Illeb lifted Kemly's hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “Of course." He faced Tuulpen and said, “We will return. Thank you, love, for all you did to protect my son, and for all that you taught us both."

***

The sun was quickly falling into the horizon by the time they reached Illeb's den. Korvinsk sat at the entrance waiting for them. The spirit runner bowed deeply to them both before thanking them both. Korvinsk announced they would return to the tribe to announce the news, and that an envoy would come to meet with Shore's Edge by the end of the week. Weary, Illeb started a fire before Kemly followed him to the nearby stream, where Illeb began to wash the blood from his fur. Kemly stayed by his side, the cloak Carrow gave him shed. Dark hairs lined his face, and his skin itched as his fur came in, but it almost felt mundane. As if his body did this naturally as it turned over food in his belly.

When they returned to the den, they warmed up by the fire. By this point the sun had begun to set. The Anesh had healed Illeb's wounds, and Kemly had grown a whole foot. His clothes had been discarded as he grew too large for them. He sat in Illeb's lap, a hybrid between wolf and human. “Someone who walked between worlds," Tuulpen had said of Kemly. Now, Tuulpen had crossed over to another world, and soon Kemly would as well.

Kemly reached up and touched his father's shoulder. “After things have settled, I am going to ask Korvinsk to make me a spirit runner."

“Mmm," the deep rumble shook pleasantly against Kemly's chest. “You wish to have a means to speak to Tuulpen."

“For us, for Lady Bough… I know I've just met him but seeing how much he meant to you and Lady Bough tells me we shouldn't just let his spirit lie in the tree."

Illeb stroked up and down the short coat growing along Kemly's front. “You know they will not let you become a spirit runner for such a selfish reason."

“They don't have to know, then," Kemly said. “It's just… after everything that has happened with the Anesh. I don't know what else I can do."

Illeb chuckled. “You know nothing of being a wolf, dear. There is more to us than just spirit runners and hunting."

“And fucking," Kemly joked.

“Hehe, I suppose I've taught you little else, haven't I?"

“You will have plenty to teach me," Kemly said, craning his neck up and kissing Illeb's chin.

“Kem," Illeb hugged him tight. “I am so grateful to have found you, my dear, sweet boy."

“Me too, father," Kemly whispered, leaning into Illeb's embrace. When his father relaxed it, Kemly said, “It is strange to think that it was the curse that separated us, but in some ways I would have never been out in the woods that day if I'd not been marked."

“There was never any curse, dear."

“I thought that, too," Kemly said, staring at the crackling flames, “Till I saw the folks of the Shore stand up to Raysh. It was them he cursed. I was cursed, too, you know, until you pulled me into your arms."

Illeb nuzzled into his shoulder, licking the spot he first bit Kemly. “And I'm going to hold onto you tight," he swore, “No matter what our future holds."

Kemly dozed off in his father's arms. His body slowly changed overnight, till two wolves, one mottled black and white and one auburn, woke in each other's arms. At the base of the black and white wolf's left leg, in a shape that matched a digitigrade right foot, grew a knotted piece of wood.

Though they were only two, as morning rose over Shore's Edge, the joyous peal of wolf howls broke over the town. On the eastern end of the settlement, where a mage's workshop had been split open by a still growing tree, the top most branches seemed to shudder in response to a father and son's union.