The sun had dropped to the horizon, bathing the land in a majestic crimson. Freya paused in her travels long enough to enjoy the beauty of the sunset. Everything around her was washed with red.

With flames.

An uneasiness swept over Freya as she stood there. The woman pulled her staff close and cast her eyes about. These were the plains--open farmland in every direction. Nobody could be sneaking up on her, especially not on the raised highway. The feeling she had wasn’t one of personal danger, either; nevertheless, casting one last look at the dipping sun, Freya felt something off. Different. That there was a change.

’If I don’t hurry, I won’t reach Euford before full dark.’ Willing herself forward, Freya resumed her journey. Whatever her premonition was, the Flow would show her in time.

* * * * * * *

The wall came into view just as twilight enveloped the road. Freya approached the city guard with a wave. When she drew near enough to make out the men’s faces, she broke into a beaming smile. “Dirk! And Halden, too! What is the foreman thinking, letting a pair of slackers work the same shift?”

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” Dirk countered, crossing toned arms over his chest. “I work more hours than any other guard in Euford--no, in the whole of Adelon!”

“Punishment hours don’t count,” Halden interjected.

“Uh-oh,” Freya muttered in sympathy. ”Don’t tell me the viceroy found out that you and his daughter-”

“SSSHHHHH!” Dirk hissed desperately. He cast a wary eye at his companion--Halden was looking away and whistling, pretending he didn’t know exactly what was going on--then wrapped an arm around Freya’s shoulders and turned her to the side of the road. “I’ve told you a thousand times, she came on to me! And nothing like that happened, so stop saying weird things!”

Freya giggled quietly. ”I know, I know. I’m sorry. But you did want to chase after her, right?”

Color tinted Dirk’s cheeks, so he turned his head away to try to hide it. “Yeah,” he answered at length. “As soon as I’m strong enough. That’s why I’m working all these extra hours! Foreman keeps catching me training-” he tried to shut himself up, but it was too late.

”...in ‘disturbances of the peace’ I assume?” She had enough heart not to call it bar brawling.

“Heh. Sometimes it’s better for public peace, y’know? Give a couple of these transient troublemakers a good smack, they behave the rest of their stay. Last week we had this crazy guy from out of town trying to tell people how magi can be virtuous! If you let looneys like that run loose, nothin’ but trouble will come.”

Freya felt her shoulders tense, so she immediately spun out of Dirk’s grip before he could notice her reaction. She met gazes with Halden. She didn’t know what face she was wearing right then, but she was terrified it might give away her disgust. Thankfully, Halden simply averted his gaze, going back to watching the dim road.

She willed herself back to calm. “If we let crazies like you run loose, we’ll have even more trouble!” Freya jabbed with a forced giggle. Dirk took mock offense, protesting her unjust portrayal of his heroics. She quickly bade the pair farewell after that, hurrying into the town as night descended.

She made her way toward the tavern, knowing Grumpy would have a bed available. Visitors stopping overnight were rare out here--that alone made a group standing in the square a curiosity. They became a full-blown novelty when Freya recognized what each of them were. A Muran child wearing what looked to be Demacite-powered gauntlets was the first to catch her eye. Nearby stood a young man in haggered dress, ready for battle; he must be the young master’s bodyguard. A Ydran woman was present, though noticeably detached from the Murans. Freya could guess their distaste for anyone of another race; it was likely they hired her for her survival skills and avoided interacting with her as much as possible. And at the center was a small-

Ice flowed down Freya’s spine even as sweat appeared on her brow. At the center was Amuné. Disheveled, dirty, and thinner than ever, but it was certainly the small girl Freya would see clinging to her mother, Ma’am Amira. Just as panic swept in, Freya’s eyes caught sight of Wyth standing faithfully next to her. He was at ease--or at least, not aggressive--so she could logically conclude that there was no immediate danger to the girl. But logic can only do so much against emotion. Freya stepped forward, catching the final edge of what the young master was saying.

“...to get a map and get going…”

“Going where, young master?” Freya called as she came out of the shadows. Her staff was gripped tightly in her right hand, and her face was set in a cold glare. “The sun is gone for today, and travel after dark is unsafe--now more than ever. Surely you aren’t thinking of bringing that girl out into peril?” She kept her voice level, but the words were hard and pointed. Her eyes rose to meet those of the wealthy child’s bodyguard--the white-haired Muran. “Why do you have that girl with you? Shouldn’t she be with her parents?”

The accusation wasn't blatant, but it was present. She hadn't taken her pack off, so Freya hoped it wouldn't come to a fight. The guard were close by, but... Amuné was closer. Her prayer was for a peaceful surrender, though she had yet to meet a villain who would.

Had Ethan known the state of this town he'd just as soon kept on walking. Luxury of choice was taken away given the dire nature of their situation. Picking up children along the way hadn't helped either. Having stepped inside the town's walls and seeing the state of things, he wasn't even sure these people could help. Buildings in disrepair, guards wearing the bear minimum of what could be considered armor, and everyone just felt on edge. Should the people here even want to help, Ethan wasn't so certain they could.

At long last someone had come to speak to them. The foreman it was not, however, not unless the head of the mill was a young 20-something woman. Ethan looked up and smiled awkwardly as she began to question the odd-looking boy. While not overtly so, the woman did come across as a touch hostile. Rising to his feet he stood between Cecil and Freya, hands raised and sporting a nervous smile.

"If you mean Amuné, we just sort of found her. Or she found us." The particulars didn't matter, the girl was here now. "You know her? That's great! I figured we'd keep her safe until we found her parents, but it sounds like you might be able to help." Maybe the girl was from Euford and had simply gotten lost? Ethan glanced back over his shoulder and smiled reassuringly; Amuné would be safe now. "Just uh... I'm gonna have to ask you prove you know her. And not in like... A bad way, if that makes sense."

Freya likely could provide proof, though it would have to wait. A man broad as he was tall approached the group tailed by a pair of guards. "Freya, I'm surprised to see you here! Seems you've brought company this time."

"Oh, uh, we're not with her." Ethan smiled awkwardly as the foreman narrowed his eyes. Should he have said they were? Maybe it would have made this easier on them. "You must be the foreman, it's a pleasure to meet you, sir! I'm Ethan Campbell, and this is, uh..." Adrian was still gone off to the tavern, and he assumed the foreman knew Amuné, which left... "Cecil, his name's Cecil." Thank goodness he'd actually remembered the boy's name. "Oh, and this is Amuné, and her cat... Uh..."

The foreman raised a brow at the moorcat, folding his arms across his broad chest. "Might bold bringin' that thing in when tigers 'ave been giving us a headache. No wonder the guards were so hesitant. Anyroad, I'm told you need help with some shipwreck? Bunch of folks stranded or something?"

Ethan nodded. "Injured too. I don't mean to impose, but they're going to be in a bad way if we don't get some supplies. We'll take anything we can get. Medicine, bandages, some food. We'll pay, of course!"

"No." No? They had offered to pay and had been turned down? "Look around you, boy. Town's on her last legs because of those damn tigers. We barely have what we need, never mind enough to hand out. It ain't a matter of money, we just don't have enough to spare. I've gotta worry about my own."

Incredulous, Ethan took a step forward, smiling uneasily. "There's got to be something you can sell us! Even if it's just cloth, we can fashion our own bandages. And... There's got to be some plants nearby we can use for medicine. I'm sure someone can mix something."

"If you want to deal with the tigers, then by all means, get your medicines. You'll have nothing from us though. Were we able to help we would, but we have to worry about ourselves. Sorry, kid." The foreman glanced at Freya and frowned. "You know anything about this wreck of theirs? Seen anything?"

By the time they reached town, Amuné was slightly more comfortable with Ethan, if only because he seemed to be trying really hard to be nice. That was good, right? But she reminded herself that smiling faces could be lying. She should leave. She would, once she had a few things so she'd be okay on her own. Flint. Steel. A bag...did she dare steal food too? She shouldn't need that much. Her parents should come find her soon -- she was sure of it.

The town didn't let them in at first. When they did, she saw that it was a tiny place, even smaller than Pinesgrove. The nice healer split off, and for a moment Amuné thought about going after him. But she didn't really want to go inside, even with Adrian. She was uneasy -- she hadn't been in a town since....

The girl shook her head, trying to dislodge the awful thoughts, and buried her face in Wyth's fur for a long moment. The other child seemed to want to go as well. Was he running away too? Maybe she should stick with him -- he'd understand better, wouldn't he? But someone approached them before she could act on the idea, a young woman with a staff, saying sharp things and asking about her parents.

Amuné took a step backwards. Images flickered across her vision, too quickly to make sense of. She was glad when the foreman arrived, and took the woman's -- Freya's -- attention away. "Wyth, his name's Wyth," she said softly at the accusation. "And he's a good boy, he protects me." She wrapped her arms around the moorcat's neck and smiled unsteadily when he nuzzled her face. Would they make Wyth leave? She wouldn't let them -- she'd rather go than be separated from him. She'd find another group of travelers, or maybe she could sneak into a town, or...anything rather than let him be turned out while she stayed. Tigers was scary, but not as scary as being alone among strangers. Even nice ones.

A hundred questions emerged from Ethan's unguarded posture and comments. The foreman's intervention only multiplied those, but at the least their brief conversation did answer two of the important ones: what the group was doing here, and what Freya would do about it.

"Nothing, sir. I've been further inland the last weeks. However," she added, turning to face Ethan squarely, "if your need is herbs for fever or pain, I can help. It may just have been the Flow's guidance that brought us here at the same time."

For the time being, at least, Freya relaxed her stance. She stepped forward, still a little wary of the Muran, and crouched a few steps away from Amuné. Using what knowledge of it she had, the woman spoke quietly in broken Ydran. "{Amuné, Ma'am Amira's daughter. You, unhurt remain? Need saving do.}"

The girl shrank away, grabbing even tighter to her feline protector. Freya was a little surprised, a small frown crossing her face before it was washed away by a flash of insight. She carefully set her staff on the ground, then presented both her empty hands in a gesture of peace. Switching back to the common tongue, but still keeping her voice low and soft, the woman offered a gentle smile. "Sorry, Amuné. My name is Freya. Your mother is Ma'am Amira, the healer of Pinesgrove, right? Maybe you were too young to remember, but I was raised by my Aunt Helen there. The woman who raised medicinal herbs, do you remember her?"

Amuné gave her a wary nod. Freya's smile brightened. "That's my aunt. I still visit her often, so I've seen you with your mother. And Wyth, too, of course," she added, giving a courteous nod to the moorcat. "Can you tell me about these people you're with?" The girl replied with a shrug and a shake of her head. "Do you know about the shipwreck?" Another shrug.

Freya let out a small sigh, but she still smiled at the small girl. Learning how she came to be alone in the forest would have to wait for another time. For now, she would have to trust in Wyth's judgment that these weren't dangerous people. "Amuné, I'm going to help these people. After that I can take you back to your mother and father, okay?" The small girl tightened her grip on Wyth, but said nothing more.

Freya picked up her staff and rose to face Ethan once again. "Tell me more about this wreck. Was your ship driven against the cliffs outside Nettle's Cove? Was the tide high enough to avoid the reefs, or were those responsible for some of the injuries? How many people are able to move, and how many aren't?" One after another Freya fired off questions without waiting for Ethan to answer. She glared up at him with impatience.

Even though Adrianna requested to be notified when the foreman was ready to meet with them, no such notice came. She learned from the barkeep that the town was having problems with tigers, but then he walked away before providing much else about the foreman and his likelihood to help the shipwrecked people. The other crew member who had followed her into the bar, fortunately took his drink and brought it to a spot where he could see outside through a window.

“Oye!” He called out, and Adrianna looked over to see the man pointing. “There’s a guy talking to Ethan. He looks… like he might be important.

Adrianna walked over, taking another large sip of her drink in case she needed to finish it quickly. The man, himself, was broadly built and he was accompanied by two guards. Of course they were moving ahead without her. “Ugh.” Adrianna groaned and finished downing her drink quickly. She left the mug on the bar along with a few coins, and stepped out to catch up with the group. She approached just as the foreman told Ethan to deal with the tigers in order to get aid.

Gesturing to the children with their group, Adrianna interrupts before the townswoman can reply to the foreman. “You want US to go out and kill a bunch of tigers that you lot couldn’t manage in order to get medicine and aid carrying more than a dozen injured to safety?” Adrianna asks, her arms crossed incredulously. Fortunately, she sounds more like a moody teenage boy than an exasperated healer.

“I’m Adrian, by the way. I was aiding the medic with the injuries from the wreck. Since you seem fit to question that it even happened, I can show you some of the blood I couldn’t get washed off before I set off for help. Or recount a list of all of the injuries I attended to.”

A woman, who had come over to talk to the girl with her pet moorcat, turned to Ethan then, asking more details about the shipwreck. She wasn’t going to interrupt until the woman asked about the injured. Ethan wouldn’t be able to answer that question competently, given what he said to the guards when they were trying to enter the town. “We have four who were near dead when we left. They might not make it, and certainly can’t walk. One has a twisted ankle, though he can walk with support, and another one with a more grievous leg injury. One woman I stitched up had gotten bits of wood from the ship embedded in her stomach. Some were uninjured, and a few had minimal injuries, like a guy we put together a makeshift sling for after his arm was dislocated.”

“I would say we are looking at 7 who can’t walk independently, and another 8 who are injured in some fashion but can walk on their own, albeit slow.” Adrainna summarized. “But your foreman said we weren’t getting anything unless we took care of some tigers that seem to be bothering you locals.” She glared at the foreman again, bewildered at his demand from help from the strangers.

There wasn’t much left for Cecil to do here other than get a map or at least a pointer on where he should head to next before there was going to be trouble in this place too. If him going on a boat caused it to completely topple then something bad was probably going to happen in this place too if he hung around for too long. He just didn’t know in all honesty if it was just a coincidence that the boat did that while he was on it, seeing as how it was the one place he had spent a prolonged time at. It really would be nice to move on, this place seemed quite miserable anyway. Just wanting to get going, he frowned when he heard someone else speaking as if they were a part of the group. It wasn’t one of the people here already, so it was a stranger.

Frowning, he looked in the direction of the mysterious voice, not exactly familiar with them. Who was this woman? She didn’t even have a map that he needed, so he wasn’t exactly impressed with her suddenly butting in. Just why would she if she wasn’t going to help? Looking to Ethan briefly, it seemed she was familiar with him so maybe that was it. Frowning, he looked away and around, not exactly wanting to talk to her. He wasn’t trying to be rude, just he wasn’t terribly confident with strangers. They could be evil for all he knew, even if said stranger was known by someone who was with him. He didn’t even know if he could trust these people, he only did just meet Ethan by running in to him. They were all going in the same direction, so that was it really.

Groaning a little, he slumped his shoulders as it all turned in to an introduction to everyone, looking between them all as they made their introductions. It seemed a little strange to focus so much on introductions, they weren’t going to be together for long, surely? Everybody would be on their way and forget each other, so it seemed a bit pointless. Hearing the man say they weren’t willing to give them anything, he frowned with annoyance and slumped his shoulders. So he probably wasn’t going to get a map, at least not easily. Just what was the problem? What the heck were tigers? They didn’t sound so tough with such a strange name, he could probably take care of them if they were a problem. What was he supposed to do now? Go take care of them and demand a map in return? Maybe something to use to restore his own map since it was just a few things missing, but those few things missing was what was important for his travels: if the names of the safe places and dangerous ones were missing from his map, it wasn’t as if he was going to be able to avoid trouble by assuming he wasn’t going to a dangerous place.

He really felt like the odd one out here. All these people knew each other and were able to have casual conversations, but they’d probably notice him if he slipped out and tried to get to business himself. He just wasn’t feeling very comfortable right now. Looking away as they conversed he gave the place a quick analysis. Even if they stayed here it didn’t look like they had anything interesting, just buildings and people. None of those were of interest to him, he just needed a little bit of help with his map or a new one. Looking to the others again he gasped when the other one had appeared again too, adding to the conversation too. Just how many of them were friends? All this was just confusing him, maybe that’d stop if they just got rid of the tigers and see what they were offered after that. “Why are you all still discussing this? Let’s just take care of the tigers…” he sighed, looking to the exit, “I’m sure if we go do that, they’ll go and get your people at the same time since we’ll be going after those things, surely? How hard is it to get rid of them?”