Aran woke to silence. He sat up, shaking off the dregs of slumber. The fire had gone out overnight, and a layer of frost covered everything. Naya and Bu’umo were nowhere in sight, only a slight depression in the grass a reminder of the huge beast. He rubbed his eyes, looking around. The forest around him was utterly still in the light of early dawn. He stood and stretched, the soft scrape of his shoes on the ground sounding very loud in the stillness. He took a short walk around the cleared area of the camp, looking for any sight of the others, but finding none.

With a shrug, he sat down with his back against the log from last night. He still had no idea where he was, so he figured he might as well wait for them to return. His mind returned to the strange connection he’d formed with Naya the previous day. Glancing down at his hand, he closed his eyes, urging mana to run along his connections. He focused on his hand, searching. There: it had faded, but the imprint of a pattern remained on the connections in that area remained. It looked like a funnel, and as he looked closer, running his mana back through it, he could see the design more clearly. As he poured more mana into the connection he could feel… something. Something almost familiar-

“What are you doing?”

He jumped, making a high “yip!” sound as he leapt to his feet, finding Naya standing behind him, arms crossed as her tail flicked back and forth behind her. A part of his brain recognized that as a sign of irritation from the new memories.

“Jesus, you scared the hell out of me.” He muttered, lowering his fists.

“What were you doing just now? Were you trying to spy?” Her amber eyes were narrowed, staring daggers.

Aran threw up his hands. “Woah, no. I was just looking at the point our, uh, mana touched yesterday. I was looking at the pattern.”

She stood there another moment, staring intently at him, before sighing. “That is the bridge. A bond used for sharing information or experience between minds. It will fade with time, but until it does, we remain connected. I only used it so that we could converse, it is normally reserved for those with a… closer relationship. If you continue to use it, it will become permanent. It is considered very rude to use it without the consent of the other party.” She said this while directing a very poignant look at him.

“Oh, uh, sorry, I-I didn’t mean to. Sorry.”

She waved a furred hand through the air lazily. “It is fine. It will fade in a few days. However, since I am here, I have a few questions of my own.”

She sat at the other side of the coals, crossing her legs under her as her tail wrapped around her waist. She looked at him, expectantly, until he took the hint and sat as well.

She cut straight to the point. “You do not look like other humans. Why?”

If he’d had something to drink, he’d have choked. As it was, he coughed, surprised. “Oh, yeah.” He glanced down at his hands, his grey skin strange looking to him even now. “I… do you know what a bomb is?” He suddenly asked, unsure how to explain otherwise. To his relief, she nodded, but did not interrupt.

“Okay, so we have these bombs that can split an atom, and it releases this poisonous radiation. When all of this…” He gestured broadly. “...happened, monsters attacked my home town. Well, somebody, the government I think, dropped one of these bombs on it. I survived, but when I was leaving the city, the radiation -the poison, I mean- changed me. I passed out, and I woke up a month later. And now, I look like this. I don’t really understand the science, or magic or whatever, so I’m still figuring out everything that changed.”

Naya had remained silent while Aran explained, and now she just looked at him curiously. “Why was this bomb dropped when you were still in this city?”

He laughed harshly. “You’ve got me. I know at least one other person was there with me, and she’s… well she wasn’t so lucky. Though I’m not sure I’d call myself lucky.”

Naya nodded. “I’ve heard of traumatic events changing people before, but this does seem a bit different. And I am unfamiliar with this ‘radiation’ but it must be quite powerful to have done this.”

“That’s an understatement. Before the Judges, radiation like this was pretty much always fatal. Not to mention the bomb, I’ve never even heard of someone surviving one. I’m not really sure I qualify as human anymore though.”

Naya cocked her head, curious. “Why?”

“Well, I don’t eat or drink anymore. And the cold doesn’t bother me, anymore. And, I have these weird powers now. But, I don’t really know if that’s weird now. Everyone has powers, I guess? Ha, the whole world is weird.” He shook his head, smiling grimly.

“Hmmm. Well, does it matter if you are? You said it yourself, you no longer need sustenance. That sounds like a good thing. And having abilities makes you something more, not less.”

He stared at her, surprised. “Uh, yeah I guess. Thank you.”

She turned, eyes closed as she scratched a cheek. “Do not mention it. It is simple logic.”

She stood abruptly. “Bu’umo has finished his morning hunt, and I have answers to my questions. We will escort you to the edge of our territory, come.” She turned on her heel, and began walking to the edge of the woods.

Aran blinked, before hopping to his feet and striding behind her. “Wait! I have no idea where we are! You’re just going to get me to the edge of your territory? Where do I go from there?”

She pulled up short, turning to him as he caught up. “You do not know where you are? Did you not walk into this forest?” She eyed him, eyebrow raised.

“Uh, well, sort of. Technically yes. But I woke up in a hole in the ground, and I don’t know how to get back to town.”

Naya frowned. This human’s story was getting more complicated all the time. “What town is this? I do not know the names, but I have seen some human settlements nearby.”

“Wait, settlements? There's more than one?”

“Yes, though it has been some time since I scouted them. Most creatures avoid this area since we staked our claim, but I do not know if the settlements remain. Describe the town you search for.”

“Oh, it’s called Burville. It’s got a wall, with stone towers all the way around.”

“Hmmm. There wasn’t a full wall built when last I saw it, but I believe that is due east from here. About a day’s walk from the edge of our territory.”

“Really? Oh hell yeah!” Aran grinned. Naya narrowed her eyes at him. His incisors were nothing to brag about, why was he flashing them at her? After a moment’s deliberation, she brushed it off, it was likely unintentional, especially with such unimpressive teeth.

“Yes. I will escort you to the edge of my territory, then you will continue on your way.” Saying this, she turned away from her initial path, forging a new one in the new direction.

Aran stepped quickly, making sure to stay close so he didn’t get lost. “Thanks Naya, I appreciate it. Especially seeing as how we just met and all.”

“It is nothing. I merely wish for you to leave my forest, and I do not wish to form a hostile relationship with nearby humans.”

“Still, thank you. You’re the second person I’ve met who wasn’t human, and you’re way better than him. I was sure you were going to try and kill me at first.”

“Please, I am not some barbaric…” She stopped. “I am the second?” She turned, stepping very close to him, staring into his eyes. “Who did you meet?”

Aran put his hands up, surprised by her sudden intensity. “This… I mean it sounds weird to say it out loud, but he was this elf.” His face darkened at the memory. “I’m going to find him, and wring every ounce of power in that asshole.”

Naya peered up at him, brows drawn. “Elf? I recognize your word, but I don’t recognize it as a race.”

He sighed. “Tall, dark skin, white hair, pointy ears?” He motioned, pulling little triangles near his ears. Naya’s reaction surprised him though. Her ears laid flat atop her head, and she bared her teeth.

She grabbed the front of his jacket, pulling him even closer. “A Muunin? One is here?!”

“Yeah. He killed my friends.” He stared right back, anger burning away the awkwardness of being so close. She released her hold on him, taking a step back.

“I- I apologize. The Muunin are notoriously cruel. We have only stories of them, they rarely join in the conquest of new worlds, but when they do, they are vicious and underhanded.”

“Sounds about right. He killed my friends, just to send a message.” Aran didn’t feel like going into the details, memories too fresh.

Naya nodded, face drawn. “I am sorry. We should go, though. If there is a Muunin about, I will need to prepare, in case we cross paths. And you should warn your people. Especially if you managed to escape an encounter with one. They hold long grudges.”

“Right. Lead the way.” Aran followed quietly, mood soured with memories of the dark cave and the sight of his companions' faces withering as they died.