Ciara’s plan was working better than she thought. She hoped Teva fully bought the lie and wasn’t running off to tell Alaster. If she did, it would mean she’d have to deal with him barging in and fighting him if it came to that. Ciara grabbed her leather pants and started putting them on when she realized she still had a bandage on her leg. The pain was gone and made her completely forget about the wound. She quickly unwrapped the bandage to see her injury was finally on the mend. She decided to leave the wrap on for the time being to protect it. As she pulled her pants on the door clicked open. Ciara looked back ready to flee at a moment’s notice.

     Teva stepped back into the cottage, carrying three dried fish and a large deerskin water bag. Ciara was relieved it was just her and resumed equipping her leg armor, “Were you seen?”

     “I don’t believe so; Alaster is busy helping Kaylen cut wood.”

     “Good, with luck, I’ll have a few hours lead.” Ciara raised a leg and made a quick stomp to check that it’s shin guard was secure. She turned and sat on the bed as she fastened her armguards.

     “Do you really think Alaster’s a bad person?”

The question made Ciara pause for a moment. “He’s a human, not much is going to change that.”

     “Not all humans are bad.”

     Ciara shot a glare at Teva that reflected her unrestraint hatred. So much so that Teva immediately looked away in fear. Ciara calmed down when she realized her emotion was getting the best of her. “Trust me, humans always plot against us. You’re too young to understand yet.” Ciara rose from her seat and walked past Teva to the window near the door, making sure to keep herself from view as she peered through it. “Where are my weapons?” she asked coolly.

     “They are in my house; I’ll grab them for you.” Teva exited the cottage and walked out towards a cluster of homes in the distance quickly disappearing behind one of the houses.

     She’s too old to be unassuming about humans… she’ll learn. Ciara scanned what she could see of the village. It was populated by both Inamians and humans; a rare occurrence in these times. It wasn’t hard to spot Alaster out of the bunch. Even without the sword he would be easy to spot in a crowd. He stood slightly higher than Ciara who was already an inch taller than most grown men.

     Alaster was busy hauling large loads of wood across the village to each of the houses. Dark bags were forming under his eyes from lack of sleep. When Alaster was standing guard for those first few days, he told Teva and Kaylen he was watching over Ciara; but he didn’t tell the whole truth. In reality he was watching for ghouls that might have followed them. What he read about them, while studying creatures in the capitals archive, was disturbing to say the least.

     “Once a ghoul catches the scent of something dying or wounded it and it’s pack can travel for miles to hunt down their target-““-quick, strong, and their most dangerous trait: intelligent. It’s believed ghouls herd victims the same way wolves separate the weak from a group. They are often found around the outskirts of long drawn out battles, stalking their victims. Fortunately they are exclusively nocturnal”

     After two nights of standing guard without sleep, Teva insisted Ciara would be all right without his watch. Alaster accepted her reassurance and finally got a nights rest. He was still short on sleep but at least now he could think straight again.

     “Do you think she’ll wake up soon?” Alaster asked as he set a pile of wood down beside the hut of an old woman who quietly bowed her head in thanks. He returned the gesture and turned towards Kaylen who was setting a smaller pile of wood next to his.

     “Hard to say.” Kaylen said with a grunt. “If she was going to, it will be anytime now.” Kaylen stretched his old bones as he headed back to the main pile of wood. He was an Inamian, one with the traits of a wolf. His fur was slate gray and almost hid the white hairs of age on his face which was adorned with battle scars from a past of youth and adventure.

     Part of Alaster wished Kaylen was young enough to spar. He could tell he was a strong warrior once, just by his build. Alaster was sure his eyes were still sharp as they ever were. Never missing a beat; watching the world as a single object, not focusing on anything in particular. “I still worry,” Alaster said glancing back at Kaylen’s cottage. Ciara ducked out of sight before Alaster fully turned around.

     “Well don’t, there was very little me and Teva could have done to help. Her pulling through that fever came from her own willpower.” Kaylen grabbed an uncut piece of wood and split it right down the middle with his maul one handed; like he had a thousand times over. “By the way you never answered my question: What in the goddess’s names were you two doing out in a storm like that?”