The blue sky was a beautiful canvas of orange and pink, splashed with shades purple and red. The sun was a brilliant orb of deep yellow, falling behind seemingly smoldering clouds on the horizon. A sunset. One not hidden by deep grey clouds and rain. For a long moment Anala watched it, absorbing the last of its warmth before it disappeared, taking the day with it. To her right were mountains. Some distance they stood, jagged formations of green and brown earth rose high and deeper into them more mountains stood even higher, capped with ice and snow. To her right was a beautiful valley, smattered with trees and soft hills, a river ran through it, descending from deep in the mountains. Anala knew that beyond those mountains was the Outland, or at least a part of it. A large camp sat in the picturesque land. A collection of wooden lodges, propped on short stilts and in the center of it, just past the river was a large compound. Warm firelight came from windows and torches placed throughout the area. Smoke rose high from the central compound and Anala could make out tall stone posts placed in a seemingly sporadic order throughout the area that she knew were etched with sacred writings. This was Home. Not her home, but this place, these lands, she had been born here. This was home to her people. Her family. The sense of peace that washed over her was familiar and receiving, like Nature itself was welcoming her back. Something brushed her arm and Anala looked over to Rowan, his lavender eyes burning joyfully.

I've waited so long to see you back here.

Anala smiled, happiness swelling in her chest. It has been so long. It feels so . . . right. I've forgotten what this felt like.

This is what that emptiness was. That feeling of wrongness, of not belonging, it had been the creature inside yearning for home. she was tempted to return to the Arceon, to make her way through the forest and fields she had played in as a child, to the crimson desert where the Neancri dwelled and feel the hot sun against her skin. But that would have to wait. Anala walked forward, the trio of men following suit. Sadness pierced her heart. This camp was large, exceedingly so, but Anala could remember a time the Vai'aro were one of the largest clans around. Their numbers had been great. This was all that was left of the clan on this plane and she suddenly craved to have all of her people home. So much had been taken from them, and in the aftermath, their entire race had nearly gone extinct. That was going to change.

It had to.

They approached the community. People milled about, their voices filling the air. Anala spotted a young couple, mates, standing close together around the side of a hut. A group of children were huddled on the ground 'oohing' and 'aahing' at something they surrounded. A woman noticed their approach first. She stopped as she observed them and her dark green eyes widened, lips parting. She murmured something to the young girl at her side and she took off into the camp, running on thin legs. The woman sank low, bowing her head. Her brilliant red hair fell over her shoulders. There were tears in her eyes, but she was smiling. A gigantic shape of a man, leaning against the entrance of one of the huts took notice. He mimicked the woman's actions, bowing low while sneaking surprised looks at her. Anala slowed as more and more people were gathering around her bowing. Hands were reaching out to her, skimming the material of her cloak, brushing her hands. Anala could feel the energies within them, pulsing like heartbeats and she lowered, reaching out and grasping their hands, smiling when surprised eyes met her own.

"Orauclu."

Oracle. They whispered it. Anala had thought they would not know who she was, but they could sense it, just as she could sense her brother was Ahrahn. Anala took the hand of the red-haired woman and pulled her up, then reached down to the next person. "Please," she told them. "Stand."

They did so and the touches became bolder, running the length of her arm, stroking the extension of her ponytail, brushing her hip. Happiness boomed in her chest. It had quite literally been a lifetime since she had even had any interaction with another Layame other that Carus, and her brother of course. The crowd parted as a man moved towards her small group. He was tall and broad. His deeply tanned flesh formed over thick muscle. Nearly the entirety of the right side of his bare torso was covered in markings, traveling over his shoulder, up his neck, down his side and disappearing under the waist of his pants. He had short dark hair and a coating of dark hair on his jaw. His narrow eyes were a piercing blue-violet and his long legs were encased in loose-fitting brown pants, a long rapier sheathed at his hip. A woman stood at his side. Her dark blonde hair fell down around her upper arms in waves, pale blue beads treading through a lock of it. They bowed, the man's jaw working as he did so.

Orauclu," he spoke. His voice was low and strong. "We are truly blessed to see you draw breath." They stood. He stepped towards her and gently gripped her arm. Anala rested her own hand on his forearm and his brow gently brushed against hers as she felt his energy and in turn, his caressed hers. He pulled away and stepped back. The woman did the same before the man gestured her forward.

"Come."

Anala walked with them, Rowan behind her shoulder. They walked through the fire lit huts that that formed the village. Tall torches marked the paths between houses, and she watched as a woman touched down on the ground, further along the makeshift road. Mahogany wings enfolded into her back as she ran a hand through her wind-blown hair. Anala envied that relaxed tone of her shoulders, the light in her eyes. Anala longed for that freedom. To feel weightless, to feel the wind carry her where it went and feel like she could drift along the changing skies forever. Anala had accustomed to her wings, and there was minimal pain now but they still felt frail. She had to be patient. But the itch was undeniable.

The man looked to the woman at his side. "Najma, bring Reilys." She nodded and flitted away. The man looked to her. "I am Misha."

"I take it you are Chief?"

He shook his head. "I am his Second. Reilys is chief." Their eyesmet and Misha hesitated. "I apologize but I fear your presence bears an omen."

Anala smiled at the man and touched his arm. "You don't have to worry. I am not here to deliver any verdict and no need to suspect something as worrying as an omen." Though she wondered why he thought of such a thing.

They neared the river and crossed over the clear water by a wooden bridge. The lumber creaked softly and Misha led her through the entryway of the large compound. They stepped through a short hall, passing several rooms and Misha guided her through an entrance at the end of the hall that led into a large circular room. There was a large fire pit in the center of the room. The smoke she had seen from outside rose from a large circular opening in the high ceiling. It was surrounded by large cushions and a man stood next to the flames, staring into them. He was an imposing figure. Tall and intimidating. His skin was a rich brown, glowing from the light of the fire. A thick black braid fell down his broad back and an intricate web of black markings weaving across his upper back and shoulders. Zain and Kadaus took position just outside the entryway and Rowan stood against the wall silently, folding his hands behind his back calmly. She took off her boots and set them just outside the door, miffed by the extra security. It was intimidating, and unnecessary. Anala moved towards the center of the room and the man turned, dark eyes watching her approach. He bowed before he reached a hand out. Anala took it. His skin was warm and rough and he pulled her into the ring of cushions, touching his brow to hers.

"Welcome Anala." He said in a deep rolling voice that echoed though the room. He lowered, reclining on the cushions. "I am Reilys, please, join me. The Goddess must truly favor you to send you back to us."

"Thank you." it was surprising that the news of her return had reached so far. Reilys was giving her a long look.

"I know why you are here."

Anala lowered onto the cushions, pulling off her cloak. She met his gaze but said nothing. Anala took the chance to pull the tie out of her hair and pulled it over her shoulder, threading her fingers though it and gently stroking her scalp. Her bangs fell into her face and she swept them away. Reilys continued as he watched her.

"The Ahrahn sent you, am I correct? I gave him my answer. You have been gone for a long time. The war saw to that. I fear his judgement is clouded. Sending our divine oracle isn't going to change my decision. I am happy to see you alive, and you are never unwelcome to the Vai'ro, but you have made the journey for nothing."

Anala looked to him. "I was sent by no one. In fact my brother was against my coming here."

"Then why have you come?"

Anala tilted her head. "The affairs between you and the Ahrahn do not concern me, nor do I have any interest in them. You, the lives here, that is why I am here. I was marked as oracle upon birth. That was taken from me and now I am doing my duty. My people matter to me. I am not here to argue with you Reilys. You are not the only ones that were affected by the war. We sacrificed everything, and Nolan wishes to have our people return home. There are others out there, Layame forced to flee in the world of Humans, hiding. That is no way for our kind to live. This is our homeland, this is where we belong. You know as well as I we fly free."

Reilys was staring into the flames. "If the war is over as he says them why does he ask us to fight?"

"No one has told you to fight. He asked you to defend and protect. Not because he expects a battle, but because he believes in precaution, he wants this process to be as smooth as possible for the return. Do you believe you will have to fight?"

Reilys narrowed his eyes. He leaned close to her. "Tell me young Oracle, do you believe our fight is over?"

"No," she told him honestly. "Because your words tell me so. Why do you believe you need to fight? Have you so little faith in our Ahrahn?"

Reilys stalled. Anala knew he was choosing his words carefully due to her royal blood and relation to Nolan. "You can be honest with me."

He licked his lips. "I do not doubt him. I could sense his power long before he arrived here."

"But something is causing concern for you."

"Our numbers are not enough for what he asks. We are just able to manage to defend what we have here. How are we going to defend these entire lands?"

Anala saw the shadow in his eyes and she leaned towards him to look him in the eye. "Why are you afraid Reilys?"

The fire crackled and the burning wood snapped softly. He sighed and shook his head. "It escapes me how perceptive you are."

"I am the Oracle."

He grinned, the action transforming his entire face. "That you are. I apologize for doubting your intentions. Despite the serenity here, we are on high alert."

"Why?"

"Demons. A legion of them have been convening in the area. They've crossed the mountains and into the outlands. We've taken care of those that wandered too close but we do not have the people required for such a task with our numbers compromised."

Demons. No wonder they had refused Nolan, this was what Anala had been sure of. They were afraid, such hesitation had to be created from something. But Anala would have never thought this would be why. Demons didn't simply convene in large groups. They skulked in the shadows. This meant something was happening and the Vai'ro were seeing it firsthand. "You will not be left defenseless. I know you must be accustomed to having to look after your clan without assistance. The war had endless effects. My brother is working to fix that, to bring our people home and return us into a time of peace. He has to know about this, despite whatever it is you have decided."

Anala rested her hands on his, resolution seeping into her. "Please do not assume you are alone in this. You are not a fool, you know such a thing cannot be ignored. I want to keep our people alive, I want to see us flourish and I want future generations to never have to feel the pain of losing loved ones to war, to taste the bitterness of such horrible death. You seem to have much respect and love from the others, you wish to do right by them. We fought for our home, I will not see us lose it again."

It was quiet. Anala stared into the flames as Reilys sat in thoughtful silence.