Her heart pounded in time with her feet. Her mind raced as fast as she did. Her world crumbled around her as the shadows of the forest closed in on every side. Raine fled into the night, heavy tears falling, fear driving her. She ran until she could run no more, her body spent, her magic used up, and her friends gone. Alone, she leaned against a tree, catching her breath, and sobbing. Night had fallen fully, and heavy drops of rain began to pour as lightning cracked overhead. The wind howled as it whipped through the forest, pulling her long hair with it like a kite. She slid down beside the tree, shaking, and soon became cold and wet, and wished that she could have brought anything with her. But she was alone. Lost. Putting her head down, she cursed her own cowardice. She is Raine Silverlock, unbound by Fate, daughter of the former Grand Templar, and daughter of Euchre the shapeshifter. Why didn't she stay and fight? "Hello? You look cold." A warm voice said, causing her to look up. There was a man standing nearby, a bag in his hand. "Do not blame yourself, Raine. You may change Fate, but it takes a lot of courage to do so with the big things."

"Aruhn?" Her face lit up, but she shivered, the cold sinking in. "This isn't a dream, right?"

"Yes. It really is me." He walked over slowly. He looked similar to how she had first seen him. He had tattered working clothes and a heavy coat covered him, mud caked his legs, but it even in the dark she could see his hair glowing like starlight. "I am sorry. I felt your power flow through the Weave, but something was wrong. I could tell. I came as fast as I could, but it would seem that I was too late. Here." He held out her bag, and took off the heavy coat he was wearing. "You should wrap up. Or perhaps you should use the lessons you just learned from Yapha. I rather like you with fur, it looks nicer."

Raine thought about it for a moment, but shook her head as she draped the coat over her shoulders. "No. I don't think they know who I really am. That assassin, Aezr, he was after Haelith. If he knew who I really was, I don't think he would have hesitated to kill me too."

"It is likely. You have left the path of Fate a long time ago. I cannot see many of your futures anymore." Aruhn sat down next to her, grunting as he did. "Though no matter how far you stray from the path of Fate, you always seem to come right back to it. Back to me."

"What are you talking about? I though you were the one to come to me?"

Aruhn smirked. "Remember when we first met, I told you that I am a paver of roads? Well, look." He pointed one way, and it took a second, but she could clearly see that there was a straight and flat path that passed between the trees. "Even where I do not tread anymore, my roads persist. Though even I do not know how, but I will not question it."

Raine smiled for a moment, but then frowned as the weight of the world suddenly came to rest on her. Her entire body slouched, and tears welled up in her eyes again. "Aruhn? What do I do now? I'm lost. I can't go back to Edinmire alone. I can't go get Barret and Haelith alone. What do I do?"

His smirk faded quickly. "I don't know. My vision has become… clouded as of late. The future has become blurry and unclear. I do not know what to do. But… what do you want to do?"

Raine sat there, as the rain poured around her. "I want to go home. But I need to save my friends."

He was quiet for several minutes. The rain poured down around them, the storm gradually growing stronger, the ground turning to mud beneath them. Finally, he spoke. "I will not interfere, and I will not tell you where to go. The threads of Fate move around you, and your choice now will change much. But what is the right option? I do not know."

"I can't abandon them. I will find a way to get them. Barret and Haelith have trusted me so far."

Aruhn smiled gently as she grew determined, her words igniting a fire in her own heart. "Less than a day southwest of here is Wenmoor Fortress. Eris will take Barret and Haelith there. But I will not go with you though. I must leave."

"Why? Are you afraid that if you help me, you will destroy the world again?"

Aruhn turned away, ashamed. "Yes. But also, I must go to my mother. She needs my help." He stood up, and pulled Raine to her feet. "I wish you all the luck in the world. May the wind be at your back, Raine Silverlock."

"And may the the fire of the ancestors burn brightly within your soul." she said with a smirk.

"Oh? You know the full phrase? I'm impressed. Farewell, young Silverlock. Until we meet again." With a smile, Aruhn turned and walked away from her, into the shadowy forest and out of sight. Her bag in one hand, his coat still on her shoulders, she turned southwest. Thunder rolled overhead, and lightning flashed, lighting the world for a blink, only for darkness to swallow it again. The sound of the mud and puddles soon filled her ears as she pressed forward. She was going to do something. She just didn't know what.

…

"Open the gate!" There was a loud clanking of gears and chains. The heavy, fifteen foot tall steel portcullis slowly raised up, and then fell with a loud thud. Erisdar carried Barret, his own bag, and Barret's bag, while Aezr dragged Haelith behind him, the fox was shockingly strong despite his small and lanky frame.

"I don' getcha. Why would we bring their stuff with us? Shoulda just left it behind."

"You will never understand. It is not your place to understand. All you have to do is obey."

"General Erisdar. The hunt was successful I see." A man stepped forward with several guards. Short, stocky, and not a hair on his head, but his deep voice carried over the pouring rain.

"Kalnaroth." Eris nodded his head. "He did not relent. He will in time. You will see. And we have brought Haelith as well. Fate smiled on us."

"Well, perhaps he will, perhaps not. In time, he will see your loyalty truly lies with us. Take them both to the prison." Kalnaroth said, but Erisdar hesitated. "Is there a problem?"

"No sir." Erisdar walked past, the weight of himself, Barret, and everything causing every footstep to pound heavily on the cobblestone courtyard. The gateway was the only way in and out of the fortress, save a burial shroud tossed from the walls. Black stone made up much of the fortress, the walls standing twenty five feet high and ten feet thick, surrounding the entire stronghold. Within, there was a large courtyard behind the gate, the only area outside of the main building, which loomed over everything. Prisoners were brought here from all corners of the world, many of them by bounty hunters, and even by Erisdar himself. As he carried Barret into the main building, thunder rolled overhead.

Within the three foot thick stone walls, the fort was well lit, with lanterns lining the walls in sconces, fine rugs that brought a bit of color to the building, but that mattered little, as they were mostly there to keep the building warmer. Seven floors up, archers lined the parapets, patrolling from one area to the next in an endless cycle. This fortress housed nine hundred soldiers and guards, each one training vigilantly under the glowing blue tower that rested on the south side of the Keep. Barracks and sleeping quarters made the bulk of the building, with an armory on every floor, and a stable at the bottom. Up three floors, he carried Barret. Aezr followed, but struggled to drag Haelith up the steps, calling for someone else to help him. A guard opened the prison, and led them both through, the eyes of many prisoners watching them. This was only one of a few prisons throughout the complex, one where Erisdar had specifically requested all bounties to be brought.

"Yer mad keepin' em all together." Aezr said, following behind, his eyes flicking back and forth as Ishtaer watched from within the cells. Erisdar said nothing, but turned to an empty cell, and walked in.

"This one is to not be harmed." he said, gently setting Barret down on the wooden bed. "Put her across from him, and when she wakes, come find me."

"Yes, sir." the guard said, closing the door as Erisdar walked out.

"'e ain't gonna give in." Aezr grunted as he let Haelith's head hit the floor. "An' soon, yous gonna have ta face that."

"He will relent. It will be his only option. Then, he will see the truth." He walked slowly. He knew almost everyone in this prison. From every corner of the world. And they all certainly knew him. Ishtaer cowered as he passed, humans flinched and kept away, the two Basitins sat together in the corner, and the one snow leopard Keidran sat crying in her cell. It was all she had done since she was brought in last November. He cared not for any of them. All he cared about was his brother.

…

The rain poured down on her as she watched the gate close. They were inside the fortress now. Raine surveyed the surrounding hills for anything that could give her an advantage, but she saw nothing. The world was dark except for the glow of the fortress and the Templar tower that stood over it. She wasn't a fighter, but she would have to try. But what could she do against that? She was just one woman. Sure, she might be able to get in, but it's getting out that would be the problem. It's a prison she thought. It's supposed to be hard to get out of. She sighed, and watched from the shadows. Her bag was heavy on her back, and she hadn't slept yet. She crawled back and pulled the coat around her, leaning against a tree. She would figure something out, but what? I'll think about it in the morning. She let herself fall into an uneasy sleep.