This girl's response towards him was strange, she seemed to look at him with curious eyes and did not seem to be startled or afraid. "Brave or uncaring" he thought to himself as she spoke of the similar place before trailing off. “Whispers? You mean Steve? Yeah he's around... others? You mean the ones that keep to the cabin over there?” he motioned his head slightly to the cabin as he spoke. But still he found it weird, it was always weird to talk to someone who wasn't in his head.

Almost didn't hear the newcomer at first. He seemed to be paying too much attention to the girl, internally he cursed at himself for not keeping better aware of his surroundings. This man was strange hell they were all strange, “Lighter?” Bear asked his brow furrowed in a questioning look, “what is a lighter?” he had a feeling that words between them would be unknown to him but he did not expect it so soon. Still, the man continued to speak about the three of them, "three, is he counting himself?" again he thought about it before letting the man finish. He spoke of others named Horus and Luci and to be wary of them in a low whisper, Bear however, spoke aloud, “Why are Horus and Luci Dangerous?”

Honestly bear does not know what would be considered polite, considerate, or subtle. He does understand for the most part person space, ownership of items, and to at least get permission before doing things with others or their things. But even then he is still what some would say a very rude person. He just doesn't know how to be tactful and doesn't really understand social cues. When others are more blunt with him he does tend to do well but these people act with deception, as if they haven't been able to trust others or are used to being lied too.

This man was confusing for him, spouting mostly nonsense and strange foreign words. “I do not know what this Wi-Fi is but I don't think I want it” he spoke to the man in a mono tone voice and maintained the questioning look before looking back the way he came. Something felt off, like he was being watched or stalked. Then he heard it the warning call from Hugin warning his friend of danger in the area and his instincts told him to hide.

Seemingly agreeing with this man who calls himself Kaeser, “I am unaware of this third friend you speak of, but it would be wise for us to go inside” the wooden spear he held in his hand was light yet strong and seemed to be more of a walking stick matching Bear in height, the polished metal tip gleamed in the sunlight that cut through the trees. Glancing back behind him again only for a moment Bear followed the other girl into the cabin calling out to his friend before entering, “Hugin, stay close and stay safe” the raven flew over head and perched itself up high in a pine tree near the cabin. His friend would stay nearby for several days leaving only to feed and drink from the river.

The cabin reminded Bear a lot like the old cabin he boarded up eight winters ago, "had it really been eight winters?" The thought stuck in his head for a short time before emerging through the doorway next to the smaller girl in strange clothes. This time he was greeted with a rather warm hello and explanation of why they were here, “Dusk?” he spoke, “that won't be for some time longer.” he listened further into what the girl at the table was saying, she seemed to be busy messing with a cross bow and mentioned something about a bow. “Hey look Steve Friends!” Bear sounded rather excited to meet so many new people, he even smiled. He wasn't one to judge others only ever really judging others to sized them up, to see if they could be a threat, “Look at their strange clothes Steve.”

He noticed after a few moments he was blocking the door so he politely shuffled to the side out of the way and sat down with his legs crossed in front of him. The large man smelled of pine nettles and a strange earthy smell with a hint of onion and mint. This unique smell had a purpose, a purpose to smell like the forest to better hide from predators and prey. “This place smells weird, kind of fruity and a little musky.” he found himself making his observations out loud uncaring if it was insulting to others. Yet he found himself staring at the women with the cross bow watching the way she manipulated the wood with careful purpose.

To be honest he stared for some time, for him it was rather mesmerizing. “Would you stop staring and say something” the rather agitated voice of Steve returned with vengeance. “O hi Steve you were being rather quiet there for a little while. What? Introduce myself? Fine I guess.” the man looked around the room at all of them after seemingly talking to himself, his head tilting ever so slightly as he looked among them with a look of curiosity and slight wonder. “Hello my names bear... at least that's what everyone calls me. I can't quite remember my real name.” again he looked about the other occupants of the small cabin that was beginning to get crowded.

One man had skin that was as pale as the full moon and seemed to be scarred in many places, another a girl with hair as bright as summer green grass had an alluring quality about her he could not point out. Another man he could see, strong and well-built with a straight scar running down his face. Definitely not caused by an animal or at least it doesn't look like it, a knife maybe. Another man seemingly average build with hair the color of Huginn's feathers and brilliant blue eyes like that of deep dangerous water.

Before he could continue with his observations, another man came through the door way. He looked up to this man from his seated position and could tell that he was slender with pale skin, about average height but still shorter than bear. His eyes were hazel and a prominent scar highlighted his lower lip. He seemed to speak to the lady making the bow before turning to Bear and speaking to him in a rather excited tone.

“Where did you come from? ... You found us? On your own? Normally I am the one finding other people. How strange. But a good pace of change, I suppose. What is your name? No, not your real one, sorry, your alias?”
the man had many questions all of which Bear was happy to answer.

“Alaska? Yeah that sounds right” he seemed to question himself for a moment before continuing, “yes well... not on my own. Steve helped me find you and my instincts gave me a direction too. He told me 8 winters ago that I was needed else where. That I needed to find the time before sunset.” he spoke in a cheerful tone yet paused for a moment and looked at his hands contemplating the journey here and how long it took him. “He told me on several occasions I was to be a... pathfinder I think or guide. Something about not knowing the way but finding the path for others to follow.” Bear looked up as he thought about what he just said, “yeah that sounds like something Steve would say.” again he paused as he looked around the room then back up to the man standing before him. “Well I told them but I can't really remember what my real name is but most people just call me bear.” he smiled at the man, it had been after all a few months since he last spoke to an actual person. “O and Hugin and I found your cabin yesterday but I spent a day crawling around the bushes avoiding what ever that thing is outside and foraging.” thinking of that the man pulled a gallon sized leather pouch from his belt and held it up to the man, “Berry?”

@Utrax@Rtron@Grijs

[Do not be alarmed I was given permission to do the small control of dusk at the end.]

They walk. Another mile. And another mile through the taiga forests.
''Do you hear that?'' Dusk speaks.
''The whispers in the wind... These are not delusions, nor are you going insane. You must've heard them before. They are the Perpetuals -- voices -- of people afflicted with the same thing we are. If you pay attention to it, you can hear them from every direction, and from all corners of the globe. Do not be alarmed by it.''
They walk further, the climate is getting colder and bleaker even in the heart of spring. Why so far north? Why in this no-man's-land of boreal Canada?

''In the meantime, do you perhaps have any questions? I believe now is a good opportunity to ask; I can tell how confused and startled you are by everything you've witnessed. I will tell you what I know, even when I don't know much.''

Did she have questions.

What do you even say to that? Where did you even start? Things like 'who the hell are you' and 'what the hell are we doing in the cold' and 'what the hell is happening to me' all jockeys in her mind, all reasonable thoughts, but with her hands shoved into her pockets and her shoulders hunched together against the cold under her coat Elizabeth could only really bring herself to ask one thing.

"Why Elvarren?" She managed, tugging her cozy knit beanie down over her ears self consciously. She hadn't ever really said it our loud before, she realized, and it sounded stupider than she thought.

Because she was really that self conscious in front of a bloody eskimo.

And the eskimo gives reply:
''Elvarren...''
That same one word, utterly meaningless from the surface, though making you unable to shake off that feeling there's something quite profound to it.
''Humans crave for explanations to their lot in life, do they not? Especially those like us, cast in an unexplainable maelstrom of bizarre fates and fables of mysticism.
Elvarren represents the answer. Or at least, the Perpetuals seem to believe so. Why do we have these powers? Why are the Greymen looking for us? Why us, and not someone else? Elvarren is all we have to go on. Our only clue. The single distant light tower shining from the murky bay.
In fact, by the way the Perpetual is making it out to be, our very lives -- and perhaps those of our species as a whole -- revolves around finding it, now.''

Was that answer in any way helpful or satisfying to Elizabeth? Probably not.
Dusk begins to pant, as in fatigue. There is a visible strain appearing on his face as he lowers his head.

''Sorry. It's not easy, you know... I'm not happy about it either, to be of so little help. And this strain... to find you all before they do. Sometimes I wonder if...''
Dusk shakes his head.
''No, no. I am in too deep now. I must see this through -- we must see this through...!''


He wasn't wrong. If Eliza had any sense that Dusk knew anything more about what the hell Elvarren was than he was saying she would have...well, she'd have done...something, at any rate. Her thoughts flicked back to men smashed into walls and left on airport floors, to the way Charlie's arm looked after--

She wrapped her arms around herself, and not because she was cold.

Meanwhile her little sherpa seemed to he having a little meltdown of his own, which actually somehow made it easier. It was easier to deal with someone else having a hard time than it was to figure out whatever this mess actually meant for her, and even if he was crazy at least they were both crazy. She almost reached out to reassure him, flexing her long fingers tentatively, but he snapped out of it before she could manage. Her hand tucked quickly into her pocket, embarassed.

''Anyway, if you'd have asked me: ''WHERE Elvarren... that's where things get interesting. The Perpetual that enlisted me to its cause seems to be wisest as to its whereabouts, from where i'm standing. He insists it's towards a pole of the planet. That is why I chose this place... that is why I am bringing you all to my dad's lodge deep into Canada.''

"Sounds..."

_{Right, sweetling. It sounds right.}

Thanks, voice in my head. Very comforting, she thought, but then felt silly for thinking it. Eliza wasn't a shrink, but she was pretty sure you weren't supposed to chat with your delusions.

"Better than anything I've got." She finished and admitted at the same time, and felt better for it. It was somehow easier to go with someone's plan, any plan, having accepted that she didn't have one of her own. Then she blinked.

"So when you say 'lodge'..."

''T'is a small place. Not quite befitting of a lady... more of a shelter for dispossessed.... I should warn you, some of the people ther--''
Dusk would have continued, when suddenly an expression of sheer dread formed on his face, and his movement halted abruptly. He sensed something.

''What? What is it?'' With a look like that on his face it had to be something serious, Eliza assumed, and tried to hazard a guess. "Not more Greymen, right?"

''No, no, it's not... There is no way they'd be able to trace us so fast in their current state.''
Dusk mumbles inwardly, enough so for his words to be unintelligible to Eliza.
''How familiar... Is it still alive? It's been a long time; that damned beast. I had half a thought that the Greymen would have gotten it by now. Well. Perhaps it is for the better.''

Listening to him mutter away didn't exactly help her opinion of the guy's sanity, but she knew enough that if something was bothering him like that it wasn't for nothing. It passed as soon as it came, it would seem, but she eyed him up until he gathered himself back together.

''Come on. It's not far now. We'll be safe there, trust me on at least that much.''


And lo, in the clearance amidst the trees appears the ramshackle lodge of Dusk's father mentioned earlier. Almost entirely made of wood, save for some use of lead and metal for the roof. The area is eerily quiet from the surface and shrouded in morning mist still. However, both Dusk and Eliza can sense that there are many people inside at present. Even if some of them are still in a state of slumber, or deliberately try be as quiet as they can, there are the whispers of Perpetuals that will inevitably lead others to them -- others likewise stricken by this ill fate.

Dusk and his new compatriot move to the door, with the Dusk opening it, he and Eliza finally leave the cold behind and move inside.

''People! It's me -- Dusk! I'm back!
Where is Aries? Hello?''

Entering the room, he can see four faces, three familiar and one completely alien to him.
Getting used to the very welcoming embrace of the lodge's warmer temperature, Dusk removes the winter hood that had hitherto covered his scalp, and for some this will be the first time getting a good look at him.
He appears like an ordinary young man, dark blond of hair, slender -- a bit gaunt even, though this is not quite visible under the thick winter's clothing which is indeed reminiscent to those worn by Inuit tribes. His complexion is pale, and his face handsome, even slightly feminine in a way that will make certain Balkan women swoon.
He turns to Fuchsia first. ''Hey. I knew you would make. I'm so sorry for having left you like that. But from now on, we'll stick together. For survival's sake, if nothing else.''

Then he looks over to the unfamiliar man with the beard. ''Where did you come from? ...You found us? On your own? Normally I am the one finding other people. How strange.. But a good pace of change, I suppose.
What is your name? No, not your real one -- your alias.''

For her part, Eliza met the rag-tag band of individuals with as much cheer as...well, no. She was awkward, her hands in the pockets of her black thigh-length coat, her head tucked under the stylishly-knit cream beanie tugged tight over hair that was very nearly platinum. Petite and slim, certainly compared to her parka-wearing guide, she managed a little wave of her fingers from the hip and a quiet "...'lo everbody..." before stepping to the side of the door and taking her place against a wall. What a motley little crew they'd found...

---

_{Collab with @Grijs.}

Dusk?! Aeris thought, his body tensing up as he heard his friend's vioce. Really, he should have expected it, but it always came as a bit of a surprise to see him again after they'd seperated. Almost as if a part of him didn't expect him to return. That part he really tried not to pay any attention to.

Dusk, and his new companion's casual appearance was at least as bizzarre as the seemingly unrelated one by a short-haired girl and a long-bearded fellow who simply... strolled in. What were the chances of two random people finding him and his flock in such a place? There are no chances. ...only last chances. Aries almost rolled his eyes at that. Sometimes you really don't sound as intimidating as you think. Dusk must have met them before and given them directions, surely. Even when the short exchange revealed that really wasn't the case, Aries refused to let the nagging feeling that something's off bother him and focused on the presnt.

Once a double-check confirmed that was indeed Dusk, the other man felt a weight lift off his shoulders. It hadn't been long, but taking care of other people really had taken its toll on him. Not least because nothing he said had exactly the same effect as their leader's words.

"Welcome." He addressed the newcommers hastily before turning to his friend, keeping his voice low in the hope that no one would overhear. "I think we should talk as soon as we can do so in private." That said, he took his jacket and left the cabin heading into the nearby wood.

Meanwhile Jay, who was just sturring awake, was busy staring at the newcomers, and the man in perticular. Now that she was (mostly) well rested and (mostly) clean, the woman could concentrate on something other than herself. There was nothing discreet about Bear's looks, it was an all-out freak show. What was he up to, cosplaying? Or, don't tell me that not only do people like us exist, but so do werewolves too? Surely not! Then again, the was a dragon flying about the room and a boy who claimed to be able to cast curses, so how unbelievable would that be, really? She'd heard a whisper about a dead bear around the cabin so quite frankly, a werewolf ally sounded better than all the other causes she could think of. Of course, that was assuming that allies were to be had in this place.

Jay didn't really trust anyone here. Half of them looked too naive for their own good, and the other half, well. They were the ones you wanted as friends. If push came to shove, very few people in the room would survive. Kaesar, Lucy, Horus.. that's who she'd bet her cards on. That was why she'd been trying to strike a conversation with most anyone who would listen. Information was a weapon, one of the most dangerous she knew, and she wanted to polish it well before half of these people took their knowledge to their graves.

The woman stretched her stiff muscles and looked outside the window estimating it was the early hours of the day, somewhere between dawn and noon. One thing you could take from barely scraping by for weeks at a dump yard. It teaches you to pay attention to trivialities like the sun and moon. Sitting up and running a hand through her tousled hair she greeted the newcomers with a simple nod and glanced around the room.

"Don't you think maybe it's time to discuss what we know about Elvarren?" She left the question hang, the weight of it filling the room like thick smoke.

‘’Lighter? What is a lighter?’’

…No reply came from the shady adolescent.

‘’Why are Horus and Luci dangerous?’’

‘’Are you fucking retarded?’’ Kaesar hissed under his breath in a surge of anger -- he could only do so much to restrain himself. ‘’Keep your voice down, or one of these days it’ll get you killed. Fucking retard.’’
It appears I will not have much to fear from these two newbies seeing that one is extremely timid and shy, and the other is probably severely mentally handicapped by the looks of it. But respect is due where respect is due; he can grow a better beard than me.

“I do not know what this Wi-Fi is but I don't think I want it”
Kaesar doesn’t bother giving a reply. It was just a light-hearted joke. But the fact he’s not heard of it suggests that this guy has been living under a rock. In fact; by the way he dresses… probably literally, too.
“I am unaware of this third friend you speak of, but it would be wise for us to go inside”
Finally some sense out of him. And Kaesar decided to point out as much, since he’s probably already gotten on his bad side by calling him a retard.
‘’Finally you say something sensible, stranger…’’ And he holds open the door to let them in. Once they’ve finally gotten inside, Kaesar turns to his usual quiet brooding by retreating towards a corner. But before he does he tosses one remark – one that is less passive aggressive for once: ‘’You two better introduce yourselves to the others. You don’t know what’s going to happen. Plus I have a gut-feeling something’s going down soon. There’s someone hostile to us in the area. AM is saying so.’’

Time passed on. Sadly there wasn’t much to do because there aren’t any sockets in this building to charge up dead batteries. So Kaesar can’t even listen to his favourite Satanic Black-Metal for crying out loud. So as to not die of boredom he just overhears the small talk happening in the room, occasionally replying to something, occasionally making a joke to show goodwill, and generally just watching out of the window for any sign of Dusk returning.
Aries has come into the room, and later Jay. Jay. The green haired chick, whom AM told was a threat that was out to kill him. Was AM serious about that? Well, the damage is already done. Kaesar briefly makes eye contact with her, and greets her. ‘’Good to see you’re in better shape…’’ He grunts with a faint short-lived smile. The greet was more a test than anything else. Because it appears that she doesn’t remember him. It’s for the better. Kaesar doesn’t plan on telling her what exactly happened to her . It’s sad; she has such a pretty face and Kaesar regrets having done damage to it. Even if it was for survival… right?
IS THAT DOUBT I SENSE? HOW UNBECOMING OF A TYRANT…

Dusk enters the room.
Damn, what timing. And Kaesar didn't even notice. He was about to stand up from his seat to approach and welcome him. But who better to be the first to welcome the mysterious leader than his good friend and equally mysterious right-hand man? Aries walked up to him and said something to him. Something secret. What? The two mysterious leaders are keeping secrets from their retinue? But of course they are.
And Dusk gave a reply he could not quite overhear, but it was paired with a nod, so whatever Aries just said to him --- Dusk agreed. And then Aries left into the woods.
Than Dusk spoke with the handicapped man with the beard for a bit, before a voice came from the back of the shack.
"Don't you think maybe it's time to discuss what we know about Elvarren?"
Kaesar looks at the girl.

‘’Elvarren…’’ Dusk speaks. ‘’It is the key to our survival and the explanation of the powers at work. Not just how we got these abilities, but also why those ‘Men’ are after us.
Our voices know more about it, but for some reason they cannot tell us.’’
That was exactly what Kaesar didn’t want to hear. More of Dusk’s typical cryptic bullshitting. He always manages to say much while conveying oh so little.
‘’But, I know that you people want more concrete information as to what is going to happen to us.. Or what I am planning to do. So I will tell you, firstly, that I know where Elvarren is, and how we can find it. But we have to work together! By myself there is no chance I’d be able to reach it. So it’s not like I gathered you people out of pure charity and concern. Though that also plays a part. I need you guys as much as you need me.’’

Kaesar would be moved by that little talk, but at the moment he cannot be arsed. He really needs that smoke, and nobody’s given him a lighter. Maybe Pup’s dragon is capable of breathing fire? If so, would it be any good at lighting cigarettes? The Bulgarian decides to ask her while she’s still alive.
‘’Hey. Can your dragon breathe fire? If so, can you tell it to light a cigarette?’’ Kaesar has an impatient and, even eerily anxious look on his face, enough so for Pup to notice. Is he really that desperate to have a smoke? Talk about addiction…
Though, as soon it’s out of the way, Kaesar hurriedly heads for the door to move outside ASAP.

‘’Where are you going?’’

Dusk notices.
‘’...Going outside for a smoke. I will be back momentarily, relax.’’

---

Meanwhile everyone inside the lodge can indeed sense based on their Perpetuals, that there are people.. or things.. outside of the shack, and they are closing in.

Pup

Pup glanced between Fuschia and Eliza, frowning. They would need some gloves. She only had one spare pair, and the rest were useless. Walking over to her pack, she began to sort through it, listening as Dusk began to explain the situation finally. She snorted as he 'revealed' that he hadn't brought them here out of the goodness of his heart. "You don't say? And here I thought you were bringing us to this miserable and freezing middle of nowhere because you wanted to protect us from the Greys. Silly me." She finally fished her extra pair of gloves free, looking over between Eliza and Fuschia. "Which one of you would like proper gloves? I've only got one extra pair I'm afraid," She lifted her gloved and wiggled her fingers to show. "so the one who doesn't take the gloves will have to deal with the shit rabbit mittens I made. They're on the table."

As one of the women took them, she glanced over at Kaesar, raising an eyebrow at him. "Yeah, Fafnir can breathe fire. Dear, light the cigarette please?" Fafnir complied, quickly breathing a quick breath of fire at Kaesar's cigarette. The man left the house like it was burning down. Pup raised an eyebrow, glancing about at the rest of the group. Then she tensed, P saying urgently in her head They're coming. There's no way out. You should prepare for a fight.

"Shit. Shitshitshitshit." She strode quickly over and picked up her crossbow, loading one of her three bolts into it. "How many of us here know how to fight? I've got a hatchet and a knife. Can anyone use those effectively? I've only got three shots, and this thing isn't complete. It might break after the first. Unless, Dusk, there happens to be a secret exit that we don't know about?"

Fuchsia had to admit she was feeling very uncomfortable and quite overwhelmed. There were far more people in the cabin than she expected to see. Rather unconsciously, she moved closer to Bear, very nearly hiding herself behind him. A lot of people were making her feel simply uncomfortable-- especially that Kaeser guy. While she didn't want to immediately count people out of her interactions well... she immediately counted him out. Sure, she was lonely and admitted that she wanted to be around other people, but that damn sure didn't mean everyone.

Dusk walked in with another person and the cabin felt even more crowded than before. It was at that point that she realized she was paratactically hiding behind Bear. she watched Kaeser walk out the door then Pup spoke up, "Which one of you would like proper gloves? I've only got one extra pair I'm afraid." Fuchsia responded in a questioning tone, "I don't need any?" Did she need some? Was there something she was missing? "I'm not cold," she added, "If that's the. Uh. Implication."

Pup spoke up then and began moving about hastily, "How many of us here know how to fight? I've got a hatchet and a knife. Can anyone use those effectively? I've only got three shots, and this thing isn't complete. It might break after the first. Unless, Dusk, there happens to be a secret exit that we don't know about?"

Taking a shuddering breath, Fuchsia asked, "F-fight what?" She looked around in confusion, "I'm not a fighter- I-I-I won't get in the way I-- Fight what? What's going on?" She felt her knees shaking and suddenly felt as if she were going to puke. Taking a few breaths didn't calm her, nor did trying to focus on something else, and her hands were feeling tingly. Not good. Tensing up, Fuchsia kept her position behind Bear and tried to fight off the coming anxiety attack.

---

^{Interaction with @ReusableSword @Rtron}