Collin fluttered open his eyes and found himself standing in a green meadow. Breven and Animus were in an equal state of confusion and amazement, but Kace only looked on smugly. 

“That’s some incredible power, my friend!” Breven laughed, slapping Kace roughly on the back. 

“Yes, but I can only travel in short bursts…” Kace explained as blood began to run out his nostril and down over his lip. “The curse of having human blood. My body can’t handle too much magic. I will need some time to recover before I can perform a spell like that again.”

“I think you have more than proved yourself.” Breven hummed warmly. “We shall search for the Oracle together.”

“Wait-!” Collin yelled a little louder than he had meant to. As the others all turned toward him, he shyly avoided their gaze. “We’re strangers. Breven I’ve known the longest, and it's only been for two days! How do we know one of us won't betray the rest and take the Oracle for themselves? You all seem so eager to trust one another when you know absolutely nothing about each other!”

Breven walked up to Collin and placed a firm hand on his shoulder. 

“Trust is not given, it’s earned,” he said. “But I know that I cannot reach the Oracle alone. And so do they. We have to join together in this common cause in order to achieve what we want.” Breven swung his sword out from its sheath and planted it loudly into the ground. He peered back at the other two. “And if I get wind of any betrayal or foul-play, I am more than willing to take action.” 

Animus gulped, quickly regaining their composure. 

"Of course,” they chuckled airly. “The only question now, is how do we get there?” 

“There’s a port a few towns from here. We shall take a vessel across the sea to the land of Hexus. From there it will be hard for the Knights to catch us, and it should be a clear shot up to the Oracle.” Breven explained, taking back his map from Kace. “But for now we’ll have to set up camp for the night. Collin, Animus, I want you two to find some kinder. Kace and I will go try to find a meal.” Breven smiled, swinging his sword over his shoulder.

. . .

Animus and Collin trekked out into the forest, gathering any dry sticks they came across. The forest was lush and humid, filled with towering pine trees that smelled sweetly of sap.

“It seems like you don’t get along well with the others,” Animus teased, plucking a twig from the ground and adding it to the bundle.

“What?” Collin blurted, caught off-guard. 

“I would be lying if my own self-interest wasn’t always at heart, but at least I can play the game.” Animus said. “But you seem very blatant about your disdain to join this little group of ours.”

“It’s not…that I don’t like any of you.” Collin said sheepishly. “I’ve just always been on my own."

“Everyone wants something from a shapeshifter.” Animus began, looking up longingly toward the darkening sky. “My parents were street performers. They traveled from town to town doing magic shows. When I was born a shapeshifter, they decided to use it as a part of the show. The crowd could ask me to turn into anything, and I had no choice but to comply. I even masqueraded as the King once.” Animus explained. “That’s why now I only transform into what I want to be.”

“I had no idea…” Collin said sympathetically.

“What I’m getting at, is that I haven’t always trusted people either.” Animus said. “In fact, I prefer to go at it alone. But like that big hunk said we don’t have much of a choice. So we can either try to get along, or we can kiss the Oracle goodbye.”

“...Thank you,” Collin said. "And I'm sorry if I've come off as distant or rude."

"Apology accepted," Animus hummed.

“Why is it that you’re after the Oracle?” Collin added curiously.

 Animus cracked a small smirk. 

“That secret I shall save for another time,” they chuckled.