The outpost was exactly the sort of settlement it sounded like. A rough hewn palisade marched around it, gated at each of the cardinal directions. There weren’t really roads that lead to Brazen Hold, more like wide game trails that had seen much use. No sign of cart tracks or paving, no markers or signposts. The gates were guarded and closed even during the peak of the day. It was only thanks to Hastor’s presence that they were allowed in the gates. Even inside the gates, there was a certain level of rusticity, the buildings more like log cabins, though the architecture was somewhat lacking. The outpost didn’t have roads in any meaningful way, buildings faced wherever their maker saw fit and some of them butted directly up against one another. In some places there were wide grassy lawns between houses or shops, in others narrow alleyways that would be troublesome for even Jet to get through.

Not a single one of the inhabitants of Brazen Hold had a strictly humanoid shape. Most of them seemed to be animals of one form or another, though none of them were precisely like the animals that Cora was familiar with. There were a number of creatures similar to Hastor, looking like off-color lions, but some had tails or claws like scorpions, sometimes both. There were numerous other cat-like creatures with strange mutations. The more of the strange beings, called the awakened according to Hastor, that Cora saw, the more she understood that these creatures were mutations. No two of the awakened were exactly the same, but there were some similarities between types.

As much as she could, Cora tried not to stare, instead focusing on keeping Tillie from sniffing anything inappropriate. Over the past few days, she had come to understand a little bit about Hastor. He seemed slightly suspicious of the humans despite his helpfulness. Once they were waved through gates, Hastor led the way through the tangled passages to a small shop near the center of town. “I will assist you in gathering supplies. Then I will direct you towards Ward. Perhaps some of the younger awakened will be willing to act as a guide. I will remind you again that the midlands are quite dangerous.”

Jet adjusted one of the straps on his pack as he walked next to Hastor. “I don’t doubt it, Hastor.”

The awakened’s head turned and his pale grey eyes studied Jet for a long moment in silence. “It was a matter of my presence that kept dangerous creatures at bay.”

Jet nodded, “I understand.”

Cora’s attention was drawn away from the conversation as they entered the shop. It seemed to be half general store and half apothecary. She wanted to look at everything all at once. There were glowing bottles of what could only be potions, rings and necklaces and bracelets that were likely magical, as well as normal supplies like food, waterskins, and lanterns. The shop was tended by the oddest awakened Cora had seen yet. Though admittedly she hadn’t seen that many.

Overall it looked like a deer, if deer were covered in dun colored scales. The cloven hooves were sharp enough that Cora could see the edge from the other side of the counter. It had a large rack of antlers and large dun colored eyes. From the shoulder sprouted a short pair of scaled arms with sharp talons. When it spoke, its mouth was filled with large fangs. “Greetings, human, and welcome to my shop. Are you seeking something in particular?”

Cora smiled at the fascinating awakened and shook her head. “Not a particular thing. Hastor has brought us here to get supplies for a journey to Ward. He said maybe we could find a map here.”

“Did you not come from Ward then?” The shopkeeper asked, tilting his head to one side.

“No.”

As alien as his face was, Cora could read the confusion on it. “I have never heard of any human coming to the Hold from anywhere other than Ward.”

This comment drew Hastor’s attention and he stepped to the counter next to Cora. “I believe they are not from Charan at all.”

“At all?” Shock replaced the confusion.

“That’s right.” Cora answered.

Hastor interrupted more questions, “I will need rations for four for three weeks, four light spears and a dozen mild healing potions. Do you have a map? One that will at least show them from here to Ward?”

“I have all that, but how will they pay?”

“I am paying.” Hastor answered over whatever protests the group from Texas would have put up.

Again the shopkeeper looked puzzled. “Why, Hastor?”

The gigantic cat’s grey eyes looked from one human to the other, touching on all four before he looked back at the shopkeeper. “I feel they are important.” He admitted. “I feel a pull from them. The least I can do is give them supplies and set them on the path that feels most correct.”

This made the shopkeeper nod his head knowingly. “I will see to it then.”

“You may rest in my home this evening, I expect you will want to be on your way tomorrow.” Hastor said, returning to his conversation with Jet and letting the shopkeeper begin to gather the supplies he had requested. “You will find your kind in Ward and I am certain you wish to learn what you can of this place from your own kind.”

“We’ve learned a lot from you already.” Jet said as he touched a couple of the potions. “Are you certain you won’t come with us? I’d feel safer with you around.”

Hastor didn’t really laugh, so much as he almost purred. “The strong don’t grow in safety and you must be strong.”

Kat was sniffing at a strange, grey fruit. “What will we need to be strong for?”

“Why wouldn’t we need to be strong?” Sophie asked. “This world is insane.”

“I wouldn’t say insane.” Hastor said, “But I would say that it is dangerous. At least here in the midlands. I cannot speak for what lays beyond Ward or across the swamps.”

“Why not?” Sophie asked, her tone only vaguely interested.

Again, Hastor made that amused purring noise. “Because I have not been there, of course.”

“Why not?” It was Sophie again who dared to ask.

“You will learn in time that the awakened are not greatly appreciated by your kind.” Hastor said, walking back toward Sophie. “After the tear, they hunted us nearly to extinction, calling us abominations. They eventually fled the midlands and built Ward to keep us from following. So we settled here and built the Hold.”

“There’s much more to that story.” The shopkeeper put in as he set some paper wrapped parcels on the counter.

“There’s always more to the story.” Hastor answered.