"Think we're getting closer?" Winona asked, looking at the foot prints they had been following. "'Cause I feel like we're going to get lost soon. These prints are starting to fade."

"We gotta keep moving." Willow narrowed her eyes. "We haven't seen any diverging paths so we gotta be heading in the right direction."

"That's the hope." William looked around, shaking a bit.

Winona looked to the man.

"You feeling okay, Beanpole?"

William shook his head.

"The cycle is starting."

"We're doomed." Maxwell muttered. "Should've just stayed in the cave."

You're not helping, you know that?

"I'm just stating the facts, William."

"What do we do then?" Willow asked, her eyes darting around. "From what you said, it doesn't sound like good news."

"I think the best we can do is to keep pushing on." Winona narrowed her eyes. "Staying still won't do us any good. We just better hope we don't get any unpleasant surprises."

"HALT!"

All three froze up, finding themselves surrounded by figures with their hoods up, their spears pointed at them. They were saying things at them in another language, but one thing was clear to them.

"Don't move."

oooooo

Wilson was comfortable where he was. The covers were warm and the bed he was in was probably the most comfortable thing he had slept on in awhile. For a moment, it felt like he was back at his private cabin in the mountains. While his bed might not had been the best thing, it was definitely more comfortable compared to what he usually had to sleep on in the time he had spent in this world. Everything seemed right for once… even if he knew the reality that awaited him.

He opened his eyes slowly, finding he was still in the sleeping quarters Laika had lead him to. He sat up slowly, cringing a bit from the soreness. He looked at his form, still shocked about it as a whole. The multiple legs, the bug like lower body, his new hand shapes. It was bizarre to say the least.

Come to think of it the only thing I haven't seen is my face. Wouldn't mind knowing about that.

He looked around the area, seeing if there was anything reflective. Sure enough, in the center of the room he could see a well of sorts that was filled with water. He made his way over, peering into the water, eyes widening a bit at what stared back at him.

His face was relatively the same but his pupils now had the inverse look that Laika's did when she was still in her regular form. His hair was gone and in its place were spines that formed a somewhat similar shape to his usual look. He even noted his teeth were now sharp as well.

He felt his spines before poking at one of his fangs, wincing at accidentally pricking his finger.

This isn't any dream, that's for sure. Least it isn't permanent.

He looked to the entryway of the place before deciding to poke his head out. His eyes still marveled at the sight of the village. He wanted to see more of it and make as many notes as he could.

Well… I am here as a guest so it should be fine for me to wander around and do some personal observation and research.

Wilson rubbed his hands together before stepping out, trying to take in as much as he could in more detail than when he had first arrived. He noted how the carts from before were floating. He saw that under them were gems placed on all four corners, a magic emanating from them that created circle like patterns that bounced off the ground.

Interesting.

He took note of all the Thulecitians he could see. He noted how each one varied in appearance from the amount of spines to how big some of them were but all were the same colors in skin and body. The biggest differences were their headbands and certain attire.

I need to remember to ask Laika about what certain headbands mean.

He stopped in his tracks as he heard someone squealing. He looked towards the source, seeing Laika playing with smaller Thulecitians, the young woman buried under them.

"Oh no, I've been defeated!" She looked to a Thulecitian who was sitting off to the side who had black paint marks on their face. "Sanare! Save me!"

Sanare chuckled, a grin coming to their face.

"I don't know Laika. You did ignore that injury that one time."

"NO! Forgive me! Help!"

Sanare rushed over, scooping some of the smaller Thulecitians up into their arms. "RAAAAH!"

The younger ones squealed, huddling up to the older Thulecitan.

"Sanare!" They squealed.

"Mine! Mine! Mine!"

Laika giggled, sitting up.

"Little rascals."

Wilson chuckled at the sight before making his way over.

"I see you're having fun."

She looked to him.

"He awakes! And yes, I love playing with the little ones. Thulecitian or not."

The little ones all looked to Wilson curiously.

"Is that the hoomon, Laika?"

"Yes and it's human, little ones. He's the one I switched forms with. He doesn't usually look like this."

"So would he look like what you look like right now?"

"Em… Sort of?" Laika looked at herself. "He's got crazier dark fur on his head and he's more pale in skin color and he wears different clothes."

"Ohhh!"

One of the younger ones scurried up to Wilson, looking at him curiously before climbing up his back.

"He's big!"

Others scurried over, another one climbing on to his back.

"Really big! His spines are extra prickly too! So wild!"

"Yeah! Yeah!"

The rest gathered around him.

"So you're from the surface? What's it like?"

"Did you really stare a god in the face Mr. Wilson?"

"Are there any Thulecitians on the surface?"

"Are you a scientist for a king or queen?"

"Steady, children, steady." Wilson laughed. "The surface is very interesting, it's a whole new world up there with sunlight and animals of all sorts. I did stare a god in the face but he's really nothing but a sack of hot air. There are no Thulecitians on the surface that I know of." He held his arms out as one little one tumbled off of his head and into his arms. "And I am a scientist for myself."

"Ooooh… You're inde… inde… Independent!"

"What do humans like to eat?"

"Do you dress differently or do you dress like us?"

"Do you have a mate?"

Laika snorted at the last question.

"K-Kids!"

Wilson blushed, feeling his face heat up. "I-I um…!"

"Well?"

"Alright, easy now children, not everyone has a mate and not all are interested." Laika picked up one of the little ones. "And let's not embarrass the poor fellow over such matters."

"Do humans even have mates?"

"From what Wilson told me, yes."

Sanare picked up one of the little ones as well, curiosity in her eyes but content to keep quiet on the subject matter. "How frail are humans? Do you get ill easily? Or injured?"

Wilson hummed in thought, his embarrassment from the previous question now completely gone.

"We're not made of glass per say but we do need to be careful. We can't take long falls very well and if faced with a beast we can easily be cut up and lose blood or in worse scenarios we may break bones. We do get sick as well but we have very well developed immune systems to fight off disease. We just need to mind what we eat, drink and infections from injuries."

"They sure have soft skin." Laika looked at herself. "They're not as tough as we are. They have to wear things called shoes on their feet so they don't get cut up or infected. They don't walk around barefoot like we do."

Sanare's eyes were wide as she took this information in, a giddy look coming to her face.

"Oh that is so fascinating! What do you do about injury? Do you use magic or full out medications? Setting bones?"

One of the children stuck their tongue out as Sanare gushed on. "Here she goes."

Wilson chuckled.

"We usually use medicine. We have something known as healing salve we use frequently for open wounds and if we have enough materials we make honey poultice which we also use on open wounds but tend to save for more dire injuries. The only instances I can say we use magic is life giving amulets."

Everyone's eyes widened at the last part.

"As in stuff made with nightmare fuel?" one of the younger ones asked.

Laika seemed to freeze up at this.

"We have something like that doesn't require that… forsaken fuel… Do you use it in making yours?"

Wilson bit his lip a bit, nodding as the children backed away from him.

"But I have safe methods of harvesting it. I promise!"

The children looked at each other before coming close to him again.

"You don't seem to be infected with anything so we trust you, Mr. Wilson."

"Yeah, you would look way different if you were."

"Yeah, you'd have the stuff dripping from your eyes and your skin would be dark in color."

"And spines would be black tipped and dripping with the fuel."

Laika shuddered.

"Children, please."

"What? We all know that's what happens if someone abuses it."

Laika gripped at her arms.

"Don't remind me." She got up. "E-Excuse me."

Laika hurried off to a different part of the village.

Sanare shook her head.

"There she goes again."

Wilson frowned in concern as he looked to Sanare. "Is everything alright with her?"

"She'll be okay just nightmare fuel is a touchy subject for her. It somewhat is for all our people as a whole but we don't mind talking about it. It was something our ancestors once used to power the great city and to make many things. However, with it came drawbacks, from sickness to horrible mutations that turned many of our ancestors into monsters that still roam this world to this day that are said to give anyone or anything nightmares. We have since stopped using the fuel as a means of not repeating what the past suffered but… accidents still happen to those who are not careful."

Wilson thought back to the images of the obelisk in the cave from before.

Those images… It must've been what Sanare here is explaining in regards to the fuel.

"I see. That's very unfortunate. I'll… I'll keep it in mind." He frowned, feeling guilty for bringing it up.

"Hey, you didn't know so don't make that face." Sanare brought a hand to his shoulder. "Just know Laika isn't mad at you or resents the fact you use nightmare fuel. She just… has some bad experiences with it."

"I understand and I won't bother her about it. I just don't like making anyone feel bad."

Sanare smiled gently.

"I would suggest finding her then. She can't have gone far."

Giving a salute, Wilson hurried off where he had seen her go off to, spotting her sitting by herself near a structure.

"Laika?"

Laika jumped a bit, looking towards him.

"Oh, Wilson. You scared me there."

Wilson gave her a look of concern, sitting beside her… having to adjust himself a few times before he was comfortable. "Sorry about earlier."

"I-It's fine. You didn't know." She lowered her head. "I just… I just don't see much good that comes from the fuel. It brought the city to its downfall and…" She gripped at her arms again. "It just causes so much trouble for those who abuse it." Tears stung her eyes. "It makes monsters out things like us."

Wilson frowned, bringing an arm around her, bringing her close.

"Shhh… It's okay Laika. It's okay."

Laika froze for a moment before huddling closer, sniffling a bit.

"I just… I just don't want you meeting a similar fate. I… I don't want to lose you to that horrible substance. I don't want to lose anyone. I… I…"

Wilson held her close, humming softly… churring as well, stroking her hair. Laika huddled closer, making a similar sound.

"Shh… You won't lose me. I promise Laika."

"On your honor as a scientist?"

Wilson smiled softly.

"On my honor as a scientist."

Laika relaxed, keeping close to him, Wilson stroking her back.

"There. Much better."

Laika nodded, closing her eyes for a moment before they snapped open at the sound of Thulecitians making a fuss over something.

"You hear that?"

"Yeah." Wilson titled his head. "Wonder what all the commotion is about."

Both got up, hurrying to the source of the sound, eyes widening as they saw the villagers gathered around three humans that were being held hostage by guards, two of those guards being Raku and Toka. As for the three humans… there was no questioning who they were in Wilson's eyes.

Willow! Winona! William!