They were led to the firepits, where the foxes' ashes returned after their ritual dances were complete so that they could be reborn from the flames anew. Even here, the constant bustle that came with feeding their young had slowed to a lethargic crawl. The few guards left stationed there popped up from their relaxed, stretched poses across the rocks at the sudden commotion charged by the girls' arrival. Soon enough, they were all yipping at the pair eagerly, if reigned in just enough to hold their positions.

It made it easier to spot Kit among them. She was kneeling in the heart of one of the pits, heedless of the pool of eternal embers that surrounded her. It looked like she was trying to hug a rolling ball of golden fire. However, upon second glance, Hat Kid could make out the shape of bushy tails and tiny limbs all clustered together as they fought for the woman's attention. It was some of the pups, old enough now to wobble on unbalanced baby legs, if still on all-fours. Their hides had turned a richer color and were more stable since she'd last seen them. They scrambled over each other to be pet, wordlessly warbling in content.

Hat Kid called Kit's name and the woman's ears twitched. She glanced over her shoulder at them with a surprised, blank expression: Disbelieving eyes stared at the girls as if they were only hallucinations spawned from a lonely mind. At last though, she stood and turned to face them, a faint grin tugging at her lips and her hands held close to her chest. Her voice was soft and a little tired, "Little one… You're back!"

"But not here to stay," the child quickly added, her own hands held out pacifistically. Some of the fire spirits whined when they heard this. Before the topic could turn sour, she and Bow shrugged off their packs. "It's just a visit. We've got gifts for everyone!"

It took a bit of effort to wriggle the sacks of charcoal free, the backpacks stretched flat on the ground as the girls inched them out. Curiosity tied to the promising scent of 'food,' however, lured some of the fire spirits over to help. No sooner were the sacks free, they gekkered with approval and eager hands worked together to tear them open. Briquettes of charcoal scattered and were picked up like dinner rolls, the foxes giving the rest of their kind at least enough time to grab one piece each despite their greedy appetites.

Since they were a harder variety than what the creatures were typically used to, they teethed at the charcoal to break them apart. Luckily for the young, their own fangs were much stronger now, and they especially seemed to enjoy the bricks bursting to flame in their mouths. It also gave the girls and Kit a moment to talk without interruption.

Hat Kid pulled out the paint set next, offering it up with both hands. It was messy and used, with blotches of color staining the white plastic between the cups of dried pigment. It seemed like a good idea originally—something quickly on-hand that catered to the artist's interests—but now it felt like an embarrassment compared to the materials she must've been used to working with. Hat mumbled, "It's just a kiddie set…"

If Kit minded, it didn't show: If anything, her face lit up brighter than ever at the present. "Watercolors!" she exclaimed with a cheerful smile, "I can't remember the last time I've used these. Thank you!"

She smiled, feeling a little surer of herself as she asked, "You're not mad then? I mean… no hard feelings about me leaving before?"

"Why would I be mad? This just isn't where you really belong, right? You have your own home to get back to." The woman tucked the paints under her arm to ruffle her hair in an affectionate way, giving the girl a little bit of hope, but then she continued, "And I know you meant well: It's not like you were trying to confuse me."

Hat Kid inwardly cringed. For a second, she'd thought that Kit might've woken up to the gravity of her own situation as well, but that seemed far from the case. If anything, she appeared to have doubled-down on her beliefs, which was probably bad…

Kit's expression then turned to own of giddy mischief as she then glanced around before bending to whisper something to her as if it was a childish secret. "You don't have to worry about me though… I made a friend," she giggled, "I wish you could meet him! He's such an interesting person, and we have a lot in common too!"

Did the fire spirits drag somebody else to their home? Even if Hat Kid had only seen it in scattered memories, it didn't seem like enough time had passed for them to not only successfully find and capture a new person they liked enough to keep around permanently, but for that person's body to alter to the Fireland's magic as well.

She didn't get a chance to ask though, as Bow—surrounded by a mass of young pups as she played with them—brought the conversation back to their mission, "I hate cutting things short, but we need to go." She stood up, plucking off a young spirit that had climbed onto her head, "We need your help."

At once, Kit's smile fell. Ears dipping back, her gaze flickered between the two girls, baffled by the sudden change in tone.

Bow left Hat to continue from there. "The ice is starting to spread again," she began, biting her lip, "There's going to be another storm, and it maybe even worse than last time."

As she explained the situation, some of the older foxes looked up from their snacks knowingly. In contrast to their usual, lighthearted air, they were quiet and serious. However many years or cycles of rebirth had passed, it was clear that many of them still remembered.

Apparently, so did Kit. She stepped back and her eyes glazed over. Hat Kid could see her mind teleporting to another time and place; sealed away in the dark, cramped confines of one of the spirit's dens where they'd guarded her from the cold only for the fire to eat up her life after.

Hat Kid pressed on, "We thought, maybe, that the fire spirits could use their barriers to help stop it. Already though, the woman was shaking her head. "Please, Kit! I know you don't think so, but they'll listen to you. You can get them to help us! Come with us!"

That distant look continued to hold over her, making her seem only half-aware of her own words. "It doesn't matter…" she muttered, "It's too strong to just stop. They couldn't do it last time: We can't do it now." She pressed her hands to her chest, "We barely managed to keep the fires going back then."

"But you won't have to face it alone this time! Snatcher and the others are already trying to fight it off. You can all work together—!"

"I don't want anything to do with that horrible Shadow!" she cut her off, momentarily losing control of herself as small sparks kicked up near her feet. She quickly reigned herself in, taking a deep breath, "And even if I did, I'm too frightened… It's safe here, not like in that forest. We can't help you: I can't help you…"

Hat Kid grimaced, looking around her at the foxes. None of them rallied to her side though. She guessed if they intended to go against Vanessa, then they would've already done it by now. Knowing them, they would've turned the manor into one, giant bonfire if they could. It was awful to think of the queen being that powerful, enough to keep even them at bay.

Bow hugged the pup still in her arms, "If it gets too cold, what happens to the fire spirits?"

From what she'd seen, normally, they could handle it pretty well even if they didn't like it. Maybe they wouldn't risk staying out in the snow for any great length of time, but their internal flames were so strong that it wouldn't hurt them. Since Kit was fine in the water, they could probably even swim for brief periods if they weren't so averse to it.

However, that only considered the healthy adults: The ones who'd fed well over the course of their lifespans and had more than enough firepower to spare. Their young, meanwhile…

Kit seemed to reach the same conclusion as Hat Kid, an even more horrified look than before stretching across her face as she stared at the pups that encompassed them. Normally, they were safe in the Firelands, cozily nestled in their embers and unbothered by the change of seasons that cycled through the mortal world. If the storm came here like before, they wouldn't survive. It was too soon.

It wasn't long before they started making their way toward the village, this time with a whole company of spirits marching back with them. The simple choice to go toward the incoming danger herself had practically been all the convincing the foxes needed to join them, if only out of fear of losing her either to Snatcher or the ice. The eldest foxes had split their numbers in half to ensure that the Firelands would still be protected, but most of the adolescents tagged along on the trip. With their willing guidance, Hat Kid didn't even have to risk revealing her Trailblazer Badge.

Nevertheless, none of them appreciated the fog.

"Ew! Icky!"

"Nasty, nasty!"

Every time one of them stepped on a patch of wet earth, they cried out in disgust. Hat and Bow smirked at each other, each holding back a fit of giggles. The spirits kept their eyes focused on the ground, gingerly tiptoeing around any water or ice that they stumbled across. If flecks of water from rapidly forming, then melting icicles dripped down on them from the branches above, they immediately tensed and sputtered, shaking or batting their heads.

Kit walked slightly behind the girls, arms braced around herself as she kept to her own thoughts. She looked fine, but dragged her feet as if dreading every step away from the fiery realm. The young aliens bundled their coats over themselves once again as they began to see the shapes of treehouses through the haze and a slight chill settled over them once more. As they did, Hat Kid wondered if the woman could catch cold as well; however, she didn't show it.

Instead, the further they drew away from the Firelands, the more Kit's figure seemed to ignite. As their surroundings grew darker, she had a literal glow about her—just like the fire spirits themselves, radiating warmth and light. It reflected not only the raging heat that made up her core, but also the likely permanence of her current state. Although it was sad to think that she might never regain her full humanity, maybe it was for the best. After all, it was that same fire that kept her alive, if only now as a spirit herself.

The woman suddenly stopped, halting their party. Confused, Hat and Bow followed her gaze through the fog to where it landed on a sole, still figure only a few meters from where they stood. It had a humanoid shape and grey color that nearly camouflaged it in the mist. Hat Kid's heart almost stopped when she noticed it was missing its head.

"That's not one of your friends, right?" Kit asked, "One of those… gremlins? That work for that nasty Shadow?"

It moved, turning in place to face them. There was only a second delay before the possessed statue rushed toward in a burst of speed. Having faced them before, Hat quickly grabbed Bow by the arm and fled. Even with her potions, she'd never been able to fight them off! Their heavy, stone bodies protected them from the blue concoction and were too strong against both her umbrella and regular explosives. All she'd ever been able to do was run!

Facing the new threat, some of the foxes launched their own attacks at it. However, rock having an advantage over fire, the spray of flames did nothing. Kit gasped through her teeth, stepping forward to cut the statue's path toward the others and summoning one of her long whips of molded ashes to her hand. With a sharp swing, she caught it by the leg, tripping it up enough to make it collapse.

It wasn't enough. Soon, the statue started dragging itself after them. Panicked, Kit jumped up into one of the nearby trees and tugged as hard as she could to hold the determined monstrosity back. Two of the fire spirits climbed up to her in a spiral of fire to help. Even with all three hanging, feet braced against the thick branch under them, the statue continued to fight to go forward. It reached out toward them menacingly.

Then came a bright, furious eruption of energy. The statue left struggling in place and given no warning beyond a thin circle of light marked through the carpet of fallen leaves, it was a direct hit. It went flying, one of its legs breaking off at the knee as it slammed against another tree and tore through its branches before landing back on solid ground some distance away.

Hat and Bow watched on in silence behind the cover of a fallen trunk. A dark voice rumbled behind them, "Care to explain what you're still doing here in my forest, kids…?"

It was like hearing the threatening quiver of a rattlesnake's tail. Snatcher's voice hadn't fallen to that scary a timbre since Hat Kid had fought him, and when the two children looked back, the steady glare leveled their way looked heated enough to vaporize them on the spot. They offered up an awkward, cautious wave in greeting. He didn't react.

"My minions said they saw you run this way. I'm pretty sure I told you to get out," he continued, seething. He glanced at the nearby foxes, "Instead, you brought the fire hazards over to make an even bigger mess of things."

Before Hat Kid could react, Snatcher grabbed Bow by the front of her coat, knocking her hat to the ground. Hat picked it up and ripped off on of the vials, but held still as Snatcher braced her friend in front of him. Bow tugged at his fingers, trying to pry his grip away from her in a panic. For all their good intentions, he was furious with them.

"You know… I just realized that tricky, little contract of ours never mentioned anything about additional clients," he mused, drawing Bow closer to his face, "Since you both seem so intent on sticking around, I then don't see why I should pass on getting a free soul!"

There was a harsh snap and a fluid jerk of motion as something coiled around Snatcher's wrist and pulled his arm away. Kit had managed to scramble down from her tree and sneak to their side. In one, quick move she dropped her whip and ripped Bow Kid out of his hand, cradling the girl against her tightly as she leapt back with her hardened stare never leaving the phantom. Even at a safe distance, she stood tense. Bow looked back at Hat worriedly.

A long moment of silence passed. It was only broken by the faint, rustling sound of the statue trying to crawl away through the leaves. With a wave of his hand, Snatcher attacked it a second time with another eruption of energy, shattering it to pieces. The now freed ghost was almost impossible to see through the haze, its already translucent body oddly a similar grey to the fog as opposed to having the bright, colorful form of other Dwellers. It vanished easily, retreating to who knew where—likely in search of another body to possess.

Snatcher and Kit continued to stare each other down with mutual disdain. Hat Kid moved in between them, facing the former, "We got the fire spirits because you can't handle Vanessa on your own!" She waved at the burning foliage nearby. There were fewer now, but still enough to keep the ice and snow from sticking. "Their barriers could keep the ice from spreading! Why won't you listen?"

"The most they could do is delay it!" he sneered, "That's all! Either Vanessa herself will come and make the final push in or she'll have her brainless soldiers try to take them out first. And I don't even want to think of what they could set ablaze before that."

"What's your plan then?! Because it didn't look like you were doing such a good job at keeping the ice back before!"

"It would've helped if I didn't have to leave the village to chase after you brats!"

"No one asked you to!"

He looked like he could scream. Lips pulling back into an ugly snarl, Snatcher wiped his face in exasperation and tried to reign back his fury.

Although most of the fire spirits kept back, one of the younger foxes around their size crept around and grabbed him by the tail. Riding it up as he flinched in reaction, it warbled in delight, either not knowing or not caring about the potential danger it was in. Not a second later, the ghost launched the creature back over to the rest of its kind, where it crashed into two of them in a rolling heap.

At last he groaned, as if simply too tired to argue any further. If reason wasn't already against him, he was outnumbered. He could try chasing the fire spirits back to their domain, but he couldn't ensure that none of them would get past him—not to mention the two aliens were bound to just try something else. He threw a hand in the air, "Fine! Fine… We'll divide them across the forest where their barriers won't be in the way, but if any of them cause trouble, I'll incinerate them on the spot!"

It was as much clearance as they were going to get. With no time to waste, Snatcher vanished ahead to rejoin the minions and prepare for their arrival. Kit put Bow Kid back down, checking her over and then muttering an insult at Snatcher's expense under her breath. Hat was about to join them, but stopped at the feeling of someone tugging at her cape. Another fire spirit had collected the cracked vase the statue left behind. It held it out to her in offering, revealing the shimmering Time Piece lodged inside.