Aya awoke without knowing the exact time of day. Not only was she deep in an underground sanctuary, but that sanctuary was in a forest where the spirit trees kept out most of the sunlight. She would have to escape the forest before knowing how much time had passed. She rolled over from her back and saw Old Wing sleeping with his paws stretched out with one providing a pillow for his head. He mumbled and whined in his sleep much like a human would do. Aya listened closely and heard him breathing in and out again while saying one word: "Eterna..."

Aya couldn't help but manage a small giggle at him. He acted cute and lovesick for Eterna who now commanded his respect and love even if she had essentially made him an outcast. Aya chalked it up to being a wolfhound thing since she knew she wouldn't be as forgiving to the one who scorned her. Hearing her giggle, he awoke with a start, shuffling to his feet with his wing flapping. He gave a worried expression that made Aya feel a bit guilty. "Were you laughing at me?"

"Sorry," she said quickly. "I didn't want to wake you. Wolfhounds are just funny sleepers."

"I could say the same for you uh..." He glared at her but as he glared his eyes softened and he muttered, "Just forget it. Don't you need to get your staff back?"

"Yes," Aya said. "If you could help me get it, it'd be much appreciated."

"What do you want me do?"

Aya moved her paw forward and trailed it along the floor of the catacombs. "Just back me up in the village. We need to gain some intel on where my staff."

"O-k," the purple wolfhound said, standing up straight.

"You might need to back me up too if they spot us, but let's try our best to avoid confrontation."

The two wolfhounds left Nature's Gate and proceeded up the stony steps. They were greeted by the same stillborn wilderness they had left the following night. Even with the withered trees, sunlight poked through the forest letting them know it was day even if the exact time still alluded them. Both slinked through the forest, heading from one Atma tree to the next in order to avoid any pursuers. The forest was strangely still and barren until Aya turned the corner of one Atma tree and found an empty eyed carcass of a yellow streaked thunder boar buzzing with hungry flies. She gasped before bowing her head in sorrow. "Looks like it just keeled over," said Old Wing.

"We need to regenerate this planetoid before this sacred place becomes a bog," Aya said, rising with determination.

They saw a streak of gold in the distance and soon after they emerged from the forest into the sunlight. Both squinted at first, their candragon vision unused to the brightness; but as soon as they adjusted, Aya lead Old Wing straight to their town.

Aya found it hard to creep along the grass and dirt. Her paws and sharp claws pressed across the dirt with a dry but distinct sound. She walked up against the shadows of a nearby cabin and peered around the edge. She heard soft chattering in the distance coming from the beer barn. "I hear people," Old Wing said in her ear, making her jump. Old Wing was much better at creeping silently and had moved from the grass hill right to where she was.

"Don't scare me like that," she growled, causing him to flinch.

She realized her mistake and quickly apologized. "I'm sorry, Old Wing. I'm going to listen and see if I can make out the conversation. You can too."

Aya closed her eyes and began to hear the mumbling become clear to her. The voices became very distinct, not just because of her enhanced candragon hearing but because she knew exactly who they were.

"Lovely day we're having, Flora. And it makes you bloom like a flower in the sun."

"Please, Mr. Lunsford. Call me Miss Du Bois. Daddy likes it when men are formal around me."

"Oh not a problem, Miss Du Bois"—Taylor's voice lowered as he said Du Bois –"Your dad was nice enough to introduce me to you. Your mom set us up a nice lunch of sliced fruit too. What's on your mind? You look troubled."

"Oh, just that mom shouldn't have made us such a nice lunch when we really should be conserving our fruit. We only have a few months of left of supplies and more fruit doesn't seem to be growing."

"Hey, live in the now, sunflower. I'm sure they're coming up with a solution at this very moment in the beer barn."

Flora's delicate voice became sharp. "I said call me Miss Du Bois."

"Right. Is that really all that's troubling you?"

"I uh..."—Flora's voice retreated back to soft and vulnerable—"I just can't stop worrying about Aya."

"She's in the forest, like I said. She said she wanted to do some mystical, nature stuff. That's what she told me. I think she wants to soothe that rogue flying wolf thing that attacked me last night."

"I know, I saw the wolfhound. I just thought Aya'd be back by now."

"You saw it?!" Taylor's voice leapt an octave before becoming very quiet and mumbled so Aya couldn't hear it.

"Yeah, I saw that wolfhound on top of you. I was so concerned. I would have probably have passed out from shock."

The theatrics Flora used surprised Aya greatly, and she wasn't sure if Flora was putting on an act. All she knew is she wanted to learn more about what Flora saw.

Taylor's voice rose up again to its usual deep brashness. "You really have a feminine softness to you that's a cherished rarity these days. Your friend Aya could learn a thing from you."

"I quite like the way she is. She has a way with nature that is quite mystifying. She just swings her staff and things feel more relaxed for all of us. That's why I was so curious how she could soothe nature without it."

"Without it? Doesn't she have her staff?" Taylor said, trying to play dumb.

"No, I found it floating in the sea by where the beast attacked you"—Flora's normally flighty and high voice suddenly became sly and even a bit taunting. Aya had never heard that from her before—"Don't worry I kept it safe where no one can find except me and her."

"Oh you girls and your secret places. I bet I can get you to tell me where it is." Taylor tried to remain relaxed and cool but cracks in his façade were showing.

"Nope. Not telling. Nu-uh."

"Don't be such a tease," Taylor said, "I thought farm girls were supposed to be simple minded and sweet."

"I don't think any girl is as simple as you think, Mr. Lunsford."

"I've met plenty."

Aya knew exactly where this secret place was and realized she had an edge over Taylor. She motioned to Old Wing to follow her as they ran along the edge of the village. She counted herself lucky that they had decided to have a town meeting about the state of the town. Not a single person walked the streets. No children playing, no women doting after them, no farmers bringing their spoils home in a burlap sack, the place was free for two wolfhounds to cross safely. Aya was reminded of the need to evacuate everyone from their home, kicking up dust as she ran. She knew as soon as she became a humanoid again, she'd have to convey the planetoid's wishes to everyone whether they like it or not. Old Wing trailed after her, his worn out leg limped along, slowing him down considerably.

Aya reached the outskirts where a small dilapidated hut stood. Its formerly white spirit wood had faded to a dull, water stained grey. Such was the result of using non-refined spirit-wood. Despite this, Aya had sentimental feelings towards this hut—she remembered two little girls, an Aquan and a ginger haired human playing in it for the first time. For the farmers, it was an abandoned storehouse that had long out of use by the two story beer-barn; but for two children, it was anything they imagined it was. Aya pretended it was a sea-shell castle, similar to the one belonging to the king of the Aquans. Flora pretended it was a spaceship taking them to far off destinations. Most often she consented with her friend that it was better off a castle because of Aya's traumas from space. Aya knew immediately where the staff was—it was in the place her and Flora hid special objects in their childhood-their little hut.

She pushed her snout against the door, but quickly realized in animal form she'd never open anything that way. She decided to take a few steps back, lining up with the door and readying herself to take an enormous charge at it. She began to dash on her four legs—legs she had become quite used to—with her head lowered at the ground; but seeing a pair of legs, she lifted her head and skidded to a stop. Looking up in fear, she saw Taylor armed with his red dagger ready to cut her throat. She let out a loud bark. "How did he find us?"

She blamed Old Wing for taking a long time to follow her as they ran through the village but she didn't say it out loud.

"Beats me, but if he's an enemy, I'll take him on," Old Wing said, looking to bite Taylor.

Taylor slashed at her, slicing fur just an inch off from her skin. If she hadn't rolled, it would have gone right into her body. In retaliation, Old Wing lunged at him, leaping high at his face.

Taylor ducked allowing the wolfhound to fly over his head and land with a limp on the ground. "I see you brought your mate," Taylor said, grinning through gritted teeth. "Nowhere near as handsome as me."

Taylor walked slowly towards Old Wing who was struggling to get up. Taylor was ready to kill, but Aya quickly rushed to Old Wing's aid. As she ran, she heard voices all around her and soon saw the whole village of about 30 men, women and children surrounding them. Flora stood at the center of the crowd with a newly sober Du Bois. Taylor turned around, rage filling his eyes as he screamed, "Flora, what are you doing? There are rabid wolfhounds here. I told you to run away when we saw them."

Aya knew the real reason he was angry, but she waited for Flora to speak to confirm it. "Don't let Taylor hurt the wolfhound. She's Aya, I saw her transform last night."

Mr. Du Bois turned to his daughter with an incredulous look on his face. "Flora, you told me these wolfhounds were attacking Taylor. Now you say one of them is Aya. Good lord, and I thought I had too much to drink last night."

Aya remembered that Flora had run out of the beer barn last night. She supposed her friend had followed her and Taylor down to the freshwater sea. There was plenty of large rocks to hide behind over there. She thanked the creator she had a guardian watching over her, a guardian that cared immensely about her. The townsfolk rumbled with disbelief and Du Bois spoke again to Flora. "If I were you my daughter, I would sit down. You're clearly having one of your dizzy spells. Just let us take care of these wolfhounds. They have been going mad lately."

He drew a blade himself but Flora quickly ran out in front of him with her arms outstretched. "Please daddy, you never listen to me. You never listen to me about anything. Like how I actually was trying to watch Buck or how I don't want to marry a man this early in my life. Please. Just listen to me on this one thing."

Mr. Du Bois, a man very rarely flustered stood in silence as Flora ran towards Aya who was still in the mood to tear Taylor limb from limb. She growled at Flora accidentally, causing her to flinch with a loud squeak. "Flora," Mr. Du Bois called, "Somebody stop her."

He looked to Allons and Gully who flanked him, but both (and especially the latter who had just gotten over a large wolfhound fright of his own) hid behind him. Aya began to approach Flora instead as the girl began to mutter, "It's ok. She's not going to hurt me. She's my friend. She's not a beast. She's not going to hurt me."

"Taylor, save my daughter from that beast," Du Bois ordered and Taylor began to walk towards Aya. He was almost there when Old Wing took a bite out of Taylor's leg, causing him to howl in pain, and clumsily swing at Old Wing. He missed and fell flat as Old Wing ran off, scaring some villagers in the process as they parted to let him escape.

No longer bothered by Taylor, Aya approached Flora who had turned pale as a sea lily. Her chest began to convulse as past incidents tortured her mind.

Aya looked straight up at the trembling woman and let out a gentle whine. Flora looked right at the beast, right into her bright blue eyes and saw the long brown jewelry hanging off her wolfhound ears. "Aya?" She asked with a voice so thin and frail.

Aya ran her nose against Flora's sundress and Flora slowly reached her arm out and scratched behind Aya's ears. Her candragon wings that had become outstretched in excitement suddenly retracted back to their resting position, and Aya began to relax. Flora crouched down and said, "Look everyone, this wolfhound has the same earrings as Aya. She's not a wolfhound."

Jeeg quickly crept from the crowd over to Aya and Flora and crouched beside them. "Yeah, I can confirm it. I'd know that fashion sense everywhere."

Du Bois still looked like he didn't believe Jeeg and Flora, but he had to be careful with the beast so close to his daughter. "So if this beast really is Aya? Can she turn back into an earian?"

Aya barked loudly as Du Bois, still scorned from that word he often used, but Jeeg quickly settled her. "Maybe it is Aya. She might know how to change back."

Flora's eyes lit up like a beacon, "Oh by golly, she came to our secret place for her staff. Maybe that can change her back. Jeeg can you get it?"

She motioned to the door. The old man walked inside and rummaged through the old shack. He emerged with her staff in hand. Aya stood up and began panting frantically. Her heart raced. This was the moment of truth.

She reached up and bit the staff. It began to glow brightly as it entered her maw. She closed her eyes and soon was hit with a vision of a tan skinned baby with long ears, wrapped tightly in a blanket. A younger Jeeg held the baby and gave her to two Aquans- A handsome elven man with long flowing wine colored hair, and a beautiful elven woman with large blue eyes and short scruffy bob, looking quite like Aya herself. Aya could feel her body stretch as her wolfhound body fell on the ground. Her nose retracted back to being humanoid size, her ears shifted back to the side of her head. Her body returned from the animalistic shapes of a wolfhound to the curves of a female humanoid. She opened her eyes and saw Flora looking down at her, her face was bright red and Jeeg with a smile said, "You're back."

There were some whistles and cries from the crowd at her return. Aya rose to her bottom and looked at her arm. Upon it was Eterna giving her a sad frown. "I'm sorry I went against your word, Eterna," Aya pleaded. "I'll never do that again. My need to know my long lost world got the better of me."

Eterna continued to frown. "You're a child," said the tattooed wolfhound with closed eyes. "A wild little child with a lot of spunk. If I wasn't the same exact creature at your age. I would hold a grudge."

Aya frowned too. "Please don't. I've been through hell this past day."

Eterna's sad frown gave way to a soft forgiving smile. "You look like you've learned your lesson about trusting beautiful tricksters. I'll let it slide."

"Oh thank you, thank you!" Aya exclaimed with a wide open mouthed grin.

"You might just want to put on some clothes," Eterna said laughing. "You've reduced the men of this village into hungry beasts like us."

Gully whispered to Allons as they continued to leer at her, "This would be attractive if she wasn't talking to one of her tattoos like a madwoman."

"Well, I think it's pretty dern hot anyway," said Allons, fanning himself with his straw-hat before being pulled off by his angry wife.

Mrs. Du Bois ran over to Aya and put a large cloth around her. "I'm sorry about the men. I'm just happy my daughter spotted you when she did."

"I'm thankful too," Aya said looking up at her friend who continued to be as red as a ripe tomato. "Flor you're the best. And I never knew you were so resourceful."

Flora straightened her frayed hair and fixed her large sun hat. She smiled back bashfully. "I saw Taylor and you fighting and then you just transformed. I was too scared to charge right in, but I had to do something. Even if it meant dealing with my fear of beasts."

Aya stood up and put her clothed arm around her friend. "You were wonderfully brave. Just a few days ago you were afraid of a baby wolfhound, much less a full adult like me!"

Flora jumped and Aya turned around to see Taylor grinning with his hand on their shoulders. He winced a little. His leg was bleeding from where Old Wing did him in. He continued to put up his façade but not only were Flora and Aya on to his routine, some of the villagers looked at him sternly. After all, he had pretended Aya was a rogue wolfhound who intended to kill everyone and it was revealed to be a heinous lie. "My bad, my bad. I had no idea little Miss Aquan could turn into a crazy beast. But hey, where I'm from forgiveness for an honest mistake is given freely."

Flora turned around and shoved Taylor, raising her high voice to an angry pitch that Aya rarely heard. She was clearly high on the adrenaline from the whole incident. "Save it, Mr. Good Hair. I saw the whole scene right down to where you stabbed my best friend."

Taylor put his hands behind his back and gave an angelic smile to the crowd. "Stabbing? I'd never do such a thing to Aya. I think Mr. Du Bois is right, Flora, I think you should sit down."

Aya turned around with a sad look on her face. "No, Flora is right."

She lifted her cloth and pointed at the left side of her stomach. There was only a faint scar. The healing in the spirit pocket had done wonders but it had not recovered the full wound.

"You do realize if I had stabbed you, there would be a gashing hole in your stomach," Taylor said.

The crowd rumbled. Some were in Taylor's favor, some not, until Mr. Du Bois stepped forward. "I'm the leader of this town and I really think my daughter was having her usual spell of madness. There's no way that wound could have healed overnight."

Flora's pale face shot back into tomato territory as she began to scowl and make a horrible wordless screech at her father. She crossed her arms and turned away from him to Taylor. She thought for a second before speaking again, "What made that mark on her then?"

Taylor's deep voice, smug and conceited came up with an immediate answer, "She always had that. I'm sure it's a birthmark."

It was Aya's turn to spite Taylor. She removed her whole robe to more caws from the uncivilized male townsfolk and mothers shielding their children's eyes. Wrapping it around her lower body and covering her chest, she spoke honestly to them all. "If you know anything about me, I love to have my tattoos on display. It's who I am. You see my midriff with my fishes daily, but has anyone ever seen that dark mark on me before?"

Taylor swallowed hard. He realized that the way Aya dressed gave the opportunity for many of the male townsfolk to leer at her well cut stomach. They may not have been super sleuths or master detectives; but like Taylor, Aya knew where their eyes would be drawn most.

"Yeah, Aya's darn tootin. I'd remember seeing that scar while we were out farming." Allons said again, breaking into the crowd as his wife grabbed him and dragged him off again.

"Exactly," Aya said with a confident bounce. "And, if you don't believe me, Du Bois, how about we do this?"

Aya with her muscular arm grabbed the cuff of Taylor's wrist and twisted it. He screamed and dropped his knife. Aya quickly scooped it up and positioned it right at her stomach. "Take a good look, Du Bois. It's exactly the same size."

Du Bois bent over and squinted, observing the knife's perfect trajectory with the mark. "Hmm, I think I'm going to have to retract my accusation"—He turned to Taylor with a look of utter scorn on his face—"Men, seize him."

Taylor with a look of abject horror began to limp away, but soon felt the weight of several farmers piling onto him. He was lifted to his feet by two of the burliest fruit hoisters in town and Du Bois pointed to the beer barn. "Once you get him tied down, I want to question him personally. We were having a dire meeting before this distraction."

Du Bois looked Taylor right in the eyes and howled in his rural dialect, "Boy, I'm extremely disappointed in you. You have gone from a hero to a lowly scoundrel in the course of two days."

Taylor was silent as he was carried off. Du Bois signaled to the townsfolk with his good hand. "Now that that's over. We can continue this meeting concerning the future of the village. Aya, Flora, you're welcome to join too."

With that, Du Bois walked away surrounded by every member of the village. All of them seemed equally concerned with the village's fate and Aya felt she too could lend a hand in making that decision, knowing what she knew from Nature's Gate. But first, she had to make a quick stop at her cabin. She knew the villagers wouldn't appreciate being distracted by her nudity during a meeting of monumental importance.