The dawn came to Kiru. Golden light turning the white stone a bright yellow. The soft sound of the residents beginning their morning routine. Aura had been watching this routine for several days now. She could feel every emotion below her. A few of them are angry and fearful, but most of them joyful and bored. It was a strange atmosphere for her. Despite her fear, she wanted to explore more of this place. Cot told her it wasn't exactly ok to go exploring. She would have to stay and do everything the Overworlders say if she didn't want to be chained up.

She glanced up when she heard the door open. Intress walked in wearing the headband that kept Aura from reading her emotions. It was strange that she didn't sense them, but Intress seems to be one of the few Overworlders that is not afraid of her. As far as Cot told her the reason why they act like this is because the M'arrillians here tried to do a hostile takeover on Perim...again. Aura was saddened by this especially when she briefly looked into Khybon's memories of his time with the M'arrillians.

Intress placed down a tray containing fresh bread and some sort of fruit Aura had never seen before. "Here's your breakfast today. Maxxor would like to ask you some questions in terms of what you know. We understand you can't talk so we'll keep Cot around to translate. If you're withholding information, we'll know." She looked over the M'arrillian's wrists and face. She handed her an herb. She didn't trust the M'arrillian completely but so far she didn't show any intention of harm. "Make sure you take these. Maxxor will come in later so don't be alarmed."

Aura simply nodded. She took the bread and enjoyed the soft, flakey texture of the bread. It always seems to excite her when she puts these new meals in her mouth. Her tail waved in happiness and her fins turned a bright pink hue. When she finished, she started to inquire about Khybon. She had seen some kids drawing things with sticks on the ground the other day and decided to give it a try. She held Intress' hand which put the Overworld guards on alert. Then, she quickly punctured a fruit and began to draw Khybon on her tray.

Intress' eyes grew wide with surprise. This M'arrillian didn't know how to speak but somehow learned to draw. She soon noticed the image started to have strong similarities to the Underworld taskmaster. "You want to know how Khybon is doing?"

Aura nodded. She couldn't get him off her mind. She never forgot that touch. The gentle way he held her hand. Fingers slipping between hers. He did have a strong smell of fire and metal, but his emotions weren't filled with hate or ambitious hunger. Just a simple wonder of her standing in front of him in that glowing light that surrounded her. Even his embarrassment spooked her a little. She was so used to the feels of fear, anger and disgust that the other feelings she felt had to be explained awkwardly through Cot. Her fins would flare at the mere thought of seeing him again. Her heart would get a little funny when she dreams of him standing above her or hugging.

"You will have to meet him later." Intress answered. "We've all agreed to take you to each of our tribes every two weeks by each selected member." She paused. She wasn't sure if it was right to share this information since they don't know much about her, but Aura's pleading eyes convinced her to only say a few words. "He's doing fine." She inspected the M'arrillian once more and then left just before Cot flew in.

"Hey buddy, how are you?" Cot said. Her beak had a dark purple tinge on the beak. She licked her beak before preening.

Aura projected her feelings in the bird's mind. She no longer felt dizzy and thoughts haven't overwhelmed her as much. She still felt strange that wearing those bands kept her from reading the true emotions of the others. It was as if someone put her in a bubble of water and the noise distorted. She was wondering what was going on with the other creatures.

"They still don't trust you completely and I only get to fly around as long as I stay inside the castle." Cot explained. With a talon, she scratched the side of her face. "It's not all bad though. I got to talk to some of the other creatures around here and they were quite nice. There's one Overworlder here named Bodal. He talks a little too much but is very devoted to his work." She soon began to sing a song of the bustle of morning. Cot figured it would be best to pass the time before Maxxor shows up. It would also be best not to give too much information on everyone she didn't want to ruin the trust that is earned by everyone.

-Khybon's Chambers-

Kybon looked again at his hand. It was no longer bandaged but the fever still lingered. He had no idea that he was in such terrible shape. Sure he didn't sleep and nearly lost his hand, but he didn't think it would cause a fever. He heard that Chaor headed back to the Underworld two days ago to check on things. Two weeks of recovery felt like forever. Khybon groaned and looked outside. Why couldn't they just use mugic on me? He thought bitterly. Then, he remembered that there was a short supply and mugic can take a long time to make. Especially with an unknown enemy on the prowl. He looked at the window at one of the towers. He nearly did a double take when he saw a very familiar pair of butterfly wings. It was Aura and she seemed content. Her slim frame covering half of the window from the tower across from his. He couldn't make out much but she looked better than he first saw her. Dirty and afraid. The images she gave him would haunt his dreams every once in a while. One that seemed to make him the most uncomfortable was a large dark figure that had wings made entirely out of bones. Red menacing eyes that seemed to delight in provide suffering to any creature that stood in his way. He told Chaor about this and had to wait until they got Cot and Aura to explain what is going on. He couldn't help but feel sorry for that M'arrillian. Wait...I feel sorry for her? By the Cothica! What is wrong with me!? Khybon grabbed a pillow and screamed into it.

H'earring and Takinom walked in with Najarin close behind them. They all showed perplexed expressions. "Um...Khybon?" H'earring spoke. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine." Khybon huffed. "My hand no longer hurts."

"Then why in the Underworld are you screaming in a pillow like an angry child?" Takinom asked.

"Is that M'arrillian getting to you?" H'earring said. Then, he smiled as he thought of a nasty trick. "Do you like her?"

Khybon turned bright red and glared at the little scout. "Not. Funny."

-An hour later-

Aura found herself face to face with Maxxor, the leader of the Overworlders. He was wearing a headband which also gave silence to his emotions. It made Aura a little nervous because it was the one thing that kept her alive all this time. He also presented some black liquid which was called ink and paper. No doubt this was to help him understand her. "I can understand that you know how to draw, yes?'

Aura had only known a few gestures based on what she had seen from the other slaves. A nod meaning yes and a shake meaning no. She nodded politely.

"How did you learn to do it?" Maxxor asked.

Aura drew the children she had seen to the best of her ability and pointed outside. Her fins began to form a light shade of blue with tinges of green at the tips as she started to relax a little. So far nothing bad happened.

"Are they many slaves here?"

Aura shook her head. She began to draw what she had witnessed during her journey to Perim. The deaths of the slaves she was captive with. The long hours of ploughing through mud to find jewels and dragged onto the ship. She even drew the punishments that were dealt to her by her previous masters. Her body shook as she began to draw Bonewing. It felt agonizing since he was the cruelest monster in all of Melodalia.

"Who is that?" Maxxor asked. He wasn't sure what to make of the drawing. "Your superior?"

Cot stepped in. "That's Bonewing. One of Queen Tikali's most dangerous generals. He has that name for a good reason. He can create wings and weapons out of his own bones using soul magic."

Maxxor was silent for a moment. He recalled that Cot had mentioned Queen Tikali and her generals, but to have someone who personally knew these creatures could give them some form of advantage. They have to learn more about these generals, but right now he could only get this much information from the M'arrillian since her eyes were brimming with tears and her fins turning into a deep shade of blue. From what Najarin told him, Aura was a slave who was in a terrible state from the emotional pain that had been dealt with her. His run-in with A'aune was not the best, but he knew that hating a creature because of the actions of one tribe wouldn't help in protecting Perim's future. He sighed. "Alright. That's enough for today. I'll have Frafdo bring in your lunch." He got up from the chair he was in, picked up the drawings and left. He closed the door behind him and walked down the hall until he met up with Intress and Gespedan. "What do you think of...Aura so far?"

"She's quite different from the other M'arrillians." Intress answered. "Najarin checked the bird but Cot had no signs of being brainwashed. As for attacks, Aura seems to be more worried about Khybon and if we're angry with her."

"With good reason." Maxxor handed her the drawings.

Intress gasped in shock. Eyes wide with horror. She showed them to Gespadan who cringed and turned pale at the sight of them. "How could anyone endure this? This...goes far from what the M'arrillians did to us." Intress thought back to the frightened M'arrillian. Her cautious movements. The way she squeaked when the guards moved her spear. Intress had even grown accustomed to reading Aura's emotions from the coloration of her fins. "Maybe Cot was telling the truth."

"Maybe." Maxxor said, "But we best go through with letting Chaor and the others take custody of her. It would be difficult to convince them that Aura is no threat to us."He looked outside a nearby window that looked over Kiru City. "It's wrong to treat her this way, but we can't risk the innocent lives of Perim. Aura may be the key to everything." Little did Maxxor know that in time his words would ring true.