Yuriko dug into the snowdrift with her bare hands. The stench of charred wood hung heavy and low in the air. What was left of the longhouses still smouldered. At least the blizzard had covered the tents with a heavy pile, giving her a slight chance of recovering her tent, backpack, and duffel.

“Oh!”

When she stabbed her hand into the snow, she touched something more solid. A few minutes' work revealed a collapsed tent, with the poles broken and the canvas sides torn. After another few minutes’ work and she was able to find her backpack--thankfully intact--and her duffel. Still, she couldn’t bring both with her. She took a couple of changes from the duffel, and stuffed them in her backpack, making sure that her brand new brassieres were secure.

Feeling a bit better, she left the duffel under the tent. Hopefully, once reinforcements from Fort Aegermonth come, they would bring her bag along and she could recover it once everything was over. She briefly thought of taking the other two girls’ gear with her, but there was no way she could carry all that stuff with her and remain reasonably battle-ready.

Her cloak was lost. Every other scrap of clothing had been taken. Every scrap of food was gone, too, save for the ration bars in her pack. And in Gwendith’s and Ella-Mai’s for that matter. She dug up around her tent and managed to recover whatever she recognised of their possessions. She put all the bags together, tied a red ribbon on the tip of a broken pole and stuck it near the tent.

Without the cloak, she only had her forceweave jacket and slacks to protect her from the elements. And her Anima, of course. Tightening the straps, she secured her Plasma Caster to the side of the backpack and hurried to catch the barbarians’ trail. She didn’t get more than a few paces away when she heard a low whistle.

“Huh?”

Yuriko glanced behind her, then did a double-take when she saw a kerchief fluttering. Curious, she approached.

“Miss Davar.”

“Lukas?”

Yuriko’s eyes widened when he saw the boy. He had dried blood on his sleeves but he didn’t look too beat up. He had black rings under his eyes, but seemed otherwise unharmed.

“I’m glad to see you alive.”

He began crawling out of his hiding place. Yuriko stared at the hole in the ground.

“How?”

“Unfinished latrines.” Lukas shrugged uncomfortably. “That was my task and I jumped and hid inside after the barbarians broke through.”

“The blood?”

“A quick battle with a scavenger.” He chuckled. “Wait for help?”

“I can’t. Gwendith and Ella-Mai were captured. I have to help.”

“You can’t! What can you do alone?” Lukas half reached out to grab her wrist but she stepped back with barely a thought.

“Better than to leave them to the Threads of Fate,” Yuriko said grimly.

“But you’ll just deliver yourself to them on a silver platter!”

“I’ll be careful. Besides, I’m not helpless.”

“I…”

“My mind’s made up.”

“I see.” Lukas looked downcast. “You’ll pardon me, but I’d rather not risk my life for people who don’t like me.”

“I don’t expect you to,” Yuriko sighed. “But it might be better for you to head to the Fort instead of waiting here.”

“I’ve no sense of direction in the wilderness,” he replied with a grimace. “I suppose I could follow the Veil. I’m sure I’ll hit a camp sooner or later. But…” He shuddered. “I’m not sure that’s wise. I think staying here would have better chances of survival.”

“Whatever you wish then,” Yuriko said dismissively. “I’m wasting time even as we speak. I might lose their trail if I linger, so…farewell.”

“Ah, wait, do you…er, do you have food?” Yuriko reached into her satchel and handed over a few ration bars.

“These should hold you for a couple of days. Longer if you go on short rations.”

“Thank you, Miss Davar. I won’t forget this.” Lukas gave a head bow.

“Take care.”

She spun on her heels and hurried out of the camp. She’d lost four hours at least, and she needed to hurry.

She took off at a run, having gotten more used to the snow. As she passed by the fallen palisade, she briefly thought of going back for snowshoes but even if she found an intact pair, it would only hinder her mobility should she use the arboreal highways.

She retraced her path, reached where she split from the group in ten minutes, and after heading straight north, she found a widely trodden path fifty paces west. She followed.

The Cinderfield Hills was several longstrides wide and long, stretching maybe three or four leagues north until it evened out to plains. The land steadily sloped towards the west, though sometimes it was so gradual that only when she glanced back and saw the hills did she realize how far downhill she’d gone. Every now and then, when she crested a hill, she saw the planar barrier less than a league to the east.

The skies had been clear until midday, but after noon, clouds started sweeping in from the barrier.

“Another storm? I hope it’s not a Chaos storm,” Yuriko muttered.

Still, there was nothing for it. The rolling hills hid her quarry. She climbed up a tall barren tree when she came across one and enhanced her sight once she had climbed twenty or so paces up.

“There. And, oh no.”

Gwendith and Ella-Mai’s captors were less than a longstride from her but she could also see the bigger raiding group a couple of longstrides ahead. For now they didn’t seem aware of each other, but she was sure that come evening, the two groups would meet and combine. She had less than four hours to perform a rescue. Any later than that and she might as well turn herself in.

But how could she overwhelm nearly twenty brawny men? Her skills were good, but she only had a single blade, a Lancet, and a Caster. Of the three weapons, she doubted the plasma projectors would do anything other than annoy.

So what? Give up?

No!

Her thoughts briefly touched into her Anima before she withdrew it. Not unless there wasn’t any choice.

Her eyes scanned the terrain in front. Mostly flatlands with a few frozen rivers or streams. No help there. Barren trees. Small shrubs. Some prey beasts, and a couple of hunting cats.

Wooly bison? A lion, a tiger, and…? Was that a Wyldling?

She squinted and focused. Yes, it was a Wanderer. An antid? How’d it get there? Could she use it as a distraction? It was headed vaguely west, but if it kept to its pace, it would pass in between the two groups.

Even if she got it within eyesight, she didn’t think it would put up much of a fight.

Lure that herd of bison? The two girls would probably get caught in the stampede. Too dangerous. What could she do? What?

Just go in there and kill them. You’re stronger than any of them.

“But…”

Believe in your strength. Believe in that body you’ve forged into a weapon.

Yuriko closed her eyes, taking a deep calming breath. She had matched strength with that boy, and from the markings on his chest, he was either the strongest in the group or about even. She had easily overpowered him once she stopped hesitating.

‘Damien is right,’ she thought. She didn’t train so hard for nothing.

Still, she would have to take things carefully. If they held Gwendith and Ella-Mai hostage then her hands would be tied. So she had to secure them first. Now how to go about doing that?

Chaos… stop hesitating and go!

Yuriko rolled her eyes. She wasn’t a musclehead. She’d plan things out first instead of acting on a whim. Damien’s words had stilled her worries though so for that she was quite thankful.

___________

“Meooow!”

Kiyo Alfein looked up from the cookbook in front of her and straight at the grey and white tabby who sauntered into her kitchen through a half-opened window.

“Oh, silly kitty, you’re here,” she gave a twisted grin.

“Meow.” The cat hopped on top of Kiyo’s desk and placed a paw on her book. His green eyes glared up at Kiyo. “Meow.”

“Hie hie hie,” Kiyo chuckled. “You’re missing her, aren’t you? Oh you spoiled rotten cat, abandoning me for a younger woman who coos all over you.”

“Miaow!”

“What do you mean she doesn’t spoil you? You get choice cuts of meat served to you and does she not cuddle you in bed and give you a nice soft pillow, eh?” Kiyo wiggled her eyebrows suggestively while chortling.

The cat’s eyes narrowed and he turned his head away dismissively.

“Oh, alright, alright. What do you want, Sylvie?”

“Meow.”

“Uh huh. You’ve an odd premonition and would like me to check?”

“Meow.”

“It’s not that easy, you know. I’d have to travel a couple hundred leagues just to get there. If I don’t want to take six days off, I’d have to use Cirrus Skiff and that’s tiresome.”

“Mya. Meow!”

“No, I’m not about to use a flying shuttle! It’ll take me just as long and I’d have to pilot it myself!”

“Myah!” The cat sniffed derisively.

“Oh, don’t say that. I’m as lazy as any other cat.”

“Meow!”

“Heh, you say you’re not lazy? Who’re you kidding?”

“Mya!”

“Kiyo? Who’re you talking to?” a lazy voice drifted in. A moment later, Charlene Antiga wandered into the kitchen, wearing a loose robe and rubbing sleep from her eyes.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” Kiyo grunted. “I was just about to cook breakfast when this silly kitty wandered in.”

“Oh, er, I heard meowing.”

“Of course. That’s how we converse.”

“Uh, sure.” Charlene looked over Kiyo’s shoulder at the cookbook. “Huh, waffles? That’s so simple.”

“Simple is best when done well,” Kiyo said with a sniff. “The temperature of the iron must be perfect, the whipping must be precise, and the shape must be perfect. Only that way can I get perfectly stacked, fluffy yet crispy waffles.”

“Fine, fine…” Charlene backpedalled with a laugh. “Go do your waffles, you perfectionist!” Snickering, she reached up to ruffle Kiyo’s tawny hair.

“Quit it!”

“Hie hie!”

Grumping, Kiyo leaned down to study the recipe, but as she did so, a clawless paw smacked her nose. “Sylvie!”

“Miaow, meow!”

“Oh, right,” Kiyo grunted. “Well, I’d rather not waste six days travelling.”

“Meow, meow!”

“Fine, fine! I’ll go! Ancestors, Sylvie, you don’t have to nag.”

“Huh, what’s this?” Charlene asked.

Kiyo stroked the cat’s nose with her fingertip. “Sylvie here says he’s had a premonition. I’ll head over to the north and look for Yuriko.”

“Yuriko Davar?” Charlene blinked. “Oh, her.” Her eyes narrowed. “Why are you so concerned for a student?”

Kiyo rolled her eyes.

“An obligation.” She sighed. “But Yuriko’s really talented with Animus Manipulation. I don’t think she’d have trouble becoming a good Rune Scribe and Spellweaver. As for Sorceress, well…”

“It depends on whether she passes the Ordeals, yeah?”

“Hmmph, yeah. Only until then can she become a Sorceress.”

“Any idea when that happens?”

“No, of course not,” Kiyo said. “Only the Threads of Fate know when. Until then, she just needs to increase her theoretical and practical knowledge.”

“Well, good luck with that,” Charlene chortled. “That girl seriously wants to transfer over to Agaza. Her combat skills are excellent.”

“Hmph, I’d rather she doesn’t become fixated on martial skills. Or at least not just that.”

“So, are you going to do what that cat wants you to do?” Charlene asked with a lilt in her voice.

“Yeah, I suppose I will.”

“How?”

“Cast a spell, use a shuttle, drive a landcrafter. Whichever works.”

“Well, either way, make sure you dress for the cold.”

Kiyo gave her a side-eye. “Of course I will. But even if I don't, the cold wouldn’t really bother me.”

Charlene laughed. “That’s true. You’re quite the firebrand.” The woman gave her a head to toe, then winked suggestively.

“Yeah, yeah. I know.”

“Meow!”

“Yeah, I’ll get to it, Sylvie.” She glanced back at the cookbook. “After breakfast.”

“Mya.” Sylvie shook his head, licked his paw, and left the kitchen, though he gave her a sour glance just before he left.

Kiyo chuckled to herself, “You’re just upset she didn’t bring you along.”

“Huh, what was that?”

“Nothing. Now bring out the flour and eggs please.”