Winoa huffed as she leaned on the side of the center totem, breathing heavily as she looked over yonder at the Spirit Rise.

She had already searched the other two rises for the most of the day, running around in circles asking about Kennocha's wolf. While the gatherers and trackers from the Hunter Rise had more than willing to help, they hadn't seen him. Nor were they able to track him with their beastal companions. Over on the Elder Rise, she had asked for any sign of the wolf. As she expected, she was met only by the shaking of heads and the best of wishes from the residents of the area.

It was disheartening to say the least. Winoa had hoped that at least one of the outer locals had seen a glimpse of Faeren. After all, they could see far beyond the horizon of Mulgore. Surely, they would have seen a large brown wolf if he had ran off to go hunting.

Yet that hadn't been the case. While she wouldn't know for sure until she checked the final rise, she reasoned that either the wolf was still in Thunderbluff or had disappeared when no one else had seen him. Of course, the former was more likely, but Winoa was trying to be as optimistic as Kennocha usually was. After all, she had a son to get home to.

Straightening her figure, she walked over to the bridge extending from the center rise to the final outer mesa. About half way across, she took a sip of water from her flask, enjoying the cooling effect it had on her dry tongue.

Once her hooves stomped on the solid ground once again, she let out a heavy sigh from exastution. It had been a long, tiring day for the light taureness.

"You again?"A voice questioned behind her. It was a low, mocking tone, but one that she recognized.

Winoa turned around to look at the source of that voice. True to her suspicions, there stood a tall, black-furred taureness. Her fur hung loosely from her frame, as though she hadn't eaten anything in many years. Her eyes were dark brown like Kennocha's, but were hollowed out, seeming to eye the other taureness like a threat. Her linen robe had the overwhelming stench of smoke radiating off it, almost like a smokehouse to those nearby.

"It is been a long time. How have you been, Summerdream?" The ebon-furred taureness asked, attempting to be caring yet failing miserably with her harsh undertone.

Winoa, however, knew it wasn't personal. "I have quite well. What about yourself? It has been a while since I have seen a Duskhorn around here."

The dark taureness exhaled sharply at the mention of her name, but she kept her tone rather snarky. "Not as well as you have been. Tell me, have you had any luck yet?"

Winoa shook her head.

"I figured as much. You couldn't help me all those years ago. Why would you be able to help me now?" The questioned seemed to be directed at the ebon-furred taureness herself, but Winoa decided to answer the question for her.

"Because I can finally help you now."

"Oh?" The ebon-furred taureness asked sarcastically. "How so?"

Winoa softly stomped her right hoof in place as she looked over the other taureness. "Kennocha and I are trying to get back home. Once we're there, we can help you find her again."

"Why would you want to go back now?"

The lighter taureness reached down to her belt, feeling over it until she found her attached parchment. She held it in her hand as she spoke.

"We have to deliver information about one of our own."

She handed it over to the ebon-furred taureness without looking it over, having memorized so long ago. The ebon-furred taureness looked over the well-inked parchment, furrowing her brow as her eyes traveled further down the page.

"How odd…" Duskhorn muttered as she eyed it over.

Winoa hardened her gaze at the other taureness. "What?"

"I wouldn't have expected this from you Summerdream." She looked up the other taureness's firm expression. "What did I miss?"

"Nothing much, but I need your help if you want mine."

The ebon-furred taureness glanced back at the parchment in her hands before looking back up at Winoa. "Interesting material here, but does the Bloomcaller know?"

"No."

The two stood there in silence, thinking it over. Winoa held her breath, waiting for the other to come to her own conclusion. Fortunately, it didn't take long before the ebon-furred taureness spoke up again.

"Alright then. What do you need?"

Winoa sighed with relief. She hadn't been expecting the dark furred taureness to respond so positively or without even an argument. "We need to find Faeren."

The dark taureness raised an eyebrow. "She still has the wolf?"

The light-furred taurenes nodded.

"Strange. I thought I saw a similar looking wolf running towards the zeppelin tower the other night."

Winoa widened her eyes. "You're coming with me then."

"If you say so."Duskhorn shrugged.

"Why are you so eager to come?" Winoa asked, letting the words flow from the depth of her mind.

The ebon-furred taureness sighed. "If what you're saying is true, then you know what this means to me. You finally understand it. Perhaps this will lead to the results I have been waiting ages for."

The light-furred taureness bowed her head. "Thank you Deirdre."

Deirdre winced as Winoa spoke her name. "You know the rule about calling me that, Summerdream."

"Of course. I am sorry for the slip of the tongue."

"Not yet." Duskhorn muttered.

Winoa ignored the previous comment, thinking about how off the situation was. After a moment of thinking, she came to a realization.

"Kennocha."

Duskhorn stopped in her tracks. "What about Bloomcaller?"

"She needs to come with us."

Duskhorn widened her eyes. "No, she doesn't."

"I know it's difficult for you, but she had to come. It's her wolf after all." Winoa reasoned with the ebon-furred taureness.

Knowing that she wasn't going to change Winoa's mind, she complied. "Fine, but after we get back to Stonetalon, you are going to begin your search for her again."

"But Maliko….." Winoa trailed off.

"He will be fine in his aunt's care." Her voice softened as she began to beg. "Please, Summerdream, I've waited nearly fifteen years with no result. Give me something, anything."

While Winoa had been able to hold her ground to get Duskhorn to travel with her, she knew this was the one issue she couldn't press any further. "Very well."

"Promise me you'll find her."

"I can't…."

"Promise!"

And so Winoa raised her hand to her chest. With her fingers, she traced the symbol of a raven across the front of her heavy robe. "I promise you, once we have Faeren back with us, we will travel to Stonetalon again. Once there, I will reunite the two of you. I promise you this, else my own kin suffer like you have."

Duskhorn held her gaze at the taureness, with her face as clear as mud. "Thank you."

"And your promise?"

The ebon-furred taureness repeated the motion of the raven across her own chest. "And I promise you, I will help you find your wolf. I will protect your kin as long as you help mine. That I promise, else I lose myself in my grief."

With that, the two lowered their hands and began walking to the center rise. The walked to the tent Winoa and Kennocha shared, prepared to see the other critters eating or napping. What they didn't expect, however, was a large green orc towering over the entrance, screaming at a crowd of goblins. Nor did they expect a familiar brown wolf with his legs and jaw bound together.

Winoa looked around, hoping to see her friend at the scene to clarify the scene. Yet Kennocha was nowhere to be found.

Author's Note-Finally! The ebon-furred taureness from Chapter 2 makes her appearance again! I am really happy with how this chapter ended. As always, however, any critic or comment is appreciated. It helps me write and organize my story better. Thank you for reading and have an amazing day!