Shiara gasped, coughed, and woke up in frigid water. She scrambled to her feet, then realized her clothes were missing and dropped back into the water. She spotted the wet-furred creature crouched on the shore. It was short, perhaps reaching her navel, and bore a resemblance to an oversized meerkat, complete with snout and rounded ears, but possessing a fox-like tail. "Who are you? Where's Ada?! And my clothes!"

"Relax, Second, I ain't gonna hurt ya. Woulda been less trouble to let you die." The creature's voice seemed feminine, and as she stood it seemed clear she was female in spite of her fur hiding any obvious genitals. "And the modesty means nothing. I'd say you got nothin' I ain't got, but I ain't got useless globs of fat hanging off of me."

"Excuse me?" Shiara dipped just a little lower into the water.

"No." Water cascaded around her feet as she stroked her fur. "I rescue you, get my coat soaked cleaning you and your idiot Isylan, still don't know how she's not dead. Not that I expect gratitude from a Second, but do you know how many diseases goblins and lisks carry?"

Shiara's heart jumped. "Ada? She's alive?" Her next question was going to be what an Isylan was, but she spotted the hulking brute step out from the trees.

While on a superficial level it resembled the short girl, this one was huge; almost twice as tall as her, perhaps even taller than Arakash's demonic form. His head leaned forward, bearing resemblance to nothing so much as a great, fanged stag, complete with antlers and long white fur. In spite of its height, its arms were long enough that it could run on all fours just by leaning over a small amount. Its body was adorned with scars, many of which looked intentional, and some glowed with magic-infused green light. With every silent step, muscles slid beneath its hide with the same fluidic grace of a great cat.

"How's the last of the dead weight?" The smaller of the pair seemed unconcerned with her ally seeing her naked. She glanced over at Shiara, who had dipped down into the water until it reached her mouth. "Oh, get over yourself, Second. He ain't any more interested in you than I am."

"He is a capable warrior, found buried beneath a mountain of corpses. He has earned respect." The beast spoke with a gentle patience that seemed wrong for such a terrifying, feral, creature. "Wynd has seen to his care, yet there was little care needed, as his body mended itself. How fair your charges?"

"They'll live." The short one considered Wynd's news. "Guess not all Seconds are useless."

"He is no Second, Yykekaitel." In spite of the complexity of the name, Wynd showed no difficulty pronouncing it. "Wynd must consult The Memories to know of him." He then took the time to regard Shiara, still hiding wide-eyed in the water. "Wynd wants you to know Wynd intends only peace. Wynd does resent your fear, for Wynd knows it is not intended as an insult. We shall leave you to dress yourself, as is your custom, then you may join your pack, in this direction."

The giant turned away, and with the same graceful silence, walked back into the trees.

Yykekaitel hurried behind, before turning to look at Shiara one last time. "Hmph, you'd better thank me for the soap, too." With those words she chased after her companion.

Shiara climbed from the water and grabbed her clothes dangling from a tree. She inspected the outfit and decided its enchantments were still active, having cleaned and mended the fabric themselves, which it would have done with or without Eek-whatever's soap. She took the time to make certain her sarite was still in position, then dressed and headed right behind them.

The camp she stepped into was much more... civilized... than she expected. She noted four metallic poles poles supporting a single large tarpaulin that seemed camouflaged to hide the camp from above, as well as protect from rain and sun. Each post held a warding crystal. Near the center of camp sat a sheet of metal, sizzling with fresh strips of meat.

Arakash watched from the corner of the camp furthest from the others, but close to Ada. She was busy moving the food on the grill until Shiara arrived. "Shiara! Are you well?"

Shiara's heart jumped at the attention and concern. "I am unharmed, just a little tired, and distracted. I hadn't expected the camp to be so sophisticated."

"Oh, you think Silmid and Ferin can't use basic hot-plates?" Yykekaitel stepped up to her, still half her height. "That we're so stupid that the mystery of fire and metal would elude us?"

"What? No! I didn't say anything at all like that!"

"Yykekaitel, Wynd would prefer that you not antagonize our guests." The massive creature spoke from his vantage outside the camp. "It appears a simple misunderstanding, which could easily be explained if opportunity is given."

Shiara suppressed a shiver of; every instinct in her body screamed in terror at the monster's mere presence, no matter how gentle his words. The creepiest part was the silence. Something that large should make noise, but Wynd made no sound he did not intend heard. "My apologies." Damn right she was going to apologize. "Most of this appears to be Siral technology; I've only ever seen this sort of molded metal made in their forges. And the artificial fabric, too. I've never seen them used like this, however."

"That is correct. Wynd is on a pilgrimage, to seek knowledge of the world. The Memories are ancient, and must be granted new knowledge, lest the Ferin will falter and die in the face of a world changing without them. These new works of Sira are but a few of Wynd's collection. Wynd would ask the name of such a well-educated scholar as yourself." Wynd followed his words by tilting his head down and doing the partial kneel that was a traditional sign of respect in Sira. "And perhaps that you share some of your own wisdom."

In what was perhaps the most surreal moment of her life, she responded in kind. "I am Shiara, of no consequence." She took a half step back, then did the partial kneel to mirror Wynd's own. It had been years since the last time she played this role, but it had been ingrained into her over the years. "I was raised in Sira, but I'm afraid I have little to offer one as well-learned as you."

Wynd's left ear twitched, but otherwise he showed no sign of catching the girl's lies. It wasn't his business if she wanted to speak so poorly of her family; the power to reject the past was both a weakness and strength of the First and Second. "Then you are well traveled for one so young. When you grow, you will learn that all sources offer wisdom."

Meanwhile, on the sidelines, Ada watched with amazement as Shiara, the energetic commoner, became a lady of the court before her very eyes. She took some consolation that it was also a role she knew well. She stood, and hoped that her stance and tone better emulated Siral nobility than Tyran. "My apologies for interrupting, but I would seek some of your wisdom. I was led to believe that goblins did not respond to warding sarite, how is it that your camp remains safe?"

Arakash, watching in the background, wanted to slap both girls for giving away so many secrets to one so alert, but instead he kept his focus on the Ferin scholar before him. Of all beings they had to fear in the world, Ferin were among the most dangerous. Still, now that they were, there was some opportunity. He simply needed to discern how to use the circumstances to his advantage.

Wynd nodded his head. "There is never a poor opportunity to discuss knowledge, but Wynd would not wish to claim it was Wynd's own skills. Yykekaitel is the expert on goblins, if she would prefer speak for herself?" He made a slow gesture, hoping he didn't upset his guests overmuch. Or that the suggestion didn't upset his partner.

"Eh, ain't like there's much secret to it," Yykekaitel muttered. "Goblins see by hearing. I think they even think by hearing, sometimes they act more like bees than free beings. Close as we are to the waterfall, they're blind." She waved her hand toward the mountain. "And 'fore you ask, their eyes are terrible, like a Second trying to fight by scent."

Ada tilted her head, trying to listen to the water. "I don't hear a waterfall."

"No surprise," Yykekaitel lips turned in what might be a smirk, or a snarl, on her elongated snout. "Seconds ain't well known for their hearing, either. You're like the goblins that way. Without a true nature, you're limited in your abilities. Firsts and Thirds possess great senses in all ways."

Shiara was getting rather sick of the insults. To the point where she was pretty sure 'Second' was a pejorative in their tongue. "What is with all this Second nonsense?"

Yykekaitel went to answer, but Wynd spoke first. It may have been rude of him, but he knew his young friend's anger issues and that things would only get worse if she kept going. "At the end of the fourth age, the Great Reptiles were meant to be destroyed, and replaced by the mammals of the Fifth Age. Yykekaitel's people, the First-Born of the mammals, were declared heirs to the world. Yet, the Reptiles fought against the world's decree, and calling them usurpers, they sought to slay the First. So, the Second-Born, your people, were born to be the warriors the Silmid were never meant to be."

"You were great warriors, all right," Yykekaitel added. "So great that it took you a cycle to go to war and enslave those you were meant to protect. Not happy with that, you went to war against the earth, the plants, the animals, the gods, and even yourselves. The one thing you didn't do was finish the war with the reptiles before you fell to your own failed design. So the Third were made to fix your mess. Only you went to war with them, too. Now the world's wounded and it's all your fault."

Shiara stepped forward, her eyes glowing. "Hey! Even if we pretend your fairy-tale is true, that happened, like, a thousand lifetimes before any of us were born!"

"Doesn't matter, you haven't changed." Yykekaitel showed no signs of being intimidated by the flames. "As it is the eagle's nature to soar through the sky seeking prey, it's in yours to go to war. Your purpose for existing is conquest and destruction."

"Yykekaitel, there is no cause to antagonize our guests." Wynd moved forward, ignoring that the Seconds stepped back in fear of his motions. "None are perfect, not even the gods. For if they were True, the Reptiles never would have broken from their destined roles. The gods failed the world, and the Seconds live with the consequences as we all do."

Yykekaitel glared at Wynd for a moment, before backing down. "Fine."

Now, things were falling into place for Arakash. "You want something from us, don't you?"

For a moment, the Silmid's ears drooped, then she smiled and walked toward him. "Well, you do rather owe us for saving you, but in truth I'm more interested in you than the Seconds."

Arakash almost laughed. "And what makes you so certain I'm not a Second?"

"Aside your obvious strength? I can smell it." Yykekaitel touched Arakash's abdomen. "Or, rather, I can't smell it. You don't stink like they do, of salt and dying skin. It's... more like fresh earth, once you get past the remains of all the goblins you slaughtered. Surely, our company would be more pleasant than that of a couple Second girls?"

"My apologies, Eekaktel."

Aside from a twitch of her eye, she kept her smile. "Please, call me Tel."

"As you wish, Lady Tel," Arakash smiled back. This childish attempt at seduction wouldn't have worked even if he was interested, because he could see through it for the manipulation it was. "But I'm afraid you'll have to persuade my Mistress, for I have been mystically bound to serve."

Tel's expression went from a weak attempt at seductive, to confusion, to unadulterated hate as her head snapped to look at the Seconds. She despised them all the more now that she had confirmation that they were no better than those in the stories. "He's a slave!?" She screeched the words.

"No! It's not like that!" Ada reacted on reflex, unsure of how to defend herself. "It's complicated."

"Then explain it!"

"Please, do not get confrontational on my behalf." While he didn't think it would be useful, he found the Silmid's reactions far too amusing to resist. "I am required to protect her as well. If you seek to harm her, I will be forced to defend her, even at the cost of my own life."

Tel's hand, which had been reaching for the pouch hanging at her side, hesitated for a moment. Arakash's new revelations only made her more incensed, but also kept her from acting on her rage.

Knowing she'd lost control of the situation, Princess Adageyudi used her nuclear option of a defense. "Arakash! Real form! Now!"

"Wait! Don't-" His eyes widened in surprise as he sought to resist the command, but in moments his flesh went from a deep tan to purple and black, and four wings sprouted from his back. He hadn't expected her to force him to transform. He watched tell stumble back and fall on her rear. "Nice going, Princess. You just made things so much worse."

"Ain't that the truth." Tel hopped to her feet. "Before, I was gonna try to bribe ya into helping, but now ya can all suck the dirtiest part of a goblin. You ain't got a choice, now."

Shiara glanced at the duo. Both were watching Arakash. With an act of will, her hair and eyes erupted into flame. A little further would cause her to transform into what she was fast coming to think of as her 'war form'. "Yeah, well, I think I can take one of you if I had to, so who's gonna stop us from walking away?"

Tel's laugh sounded like a chittering squirrel. "Oh, we won't stop you from leaving. But you're lost in a forest full of creatures whose religion demands they slaughter every thinking mammal, and we're the only ones who can lead you to safety."

Shiara's fire flickered, then vanished. "Oh."