His hand trembled as he gripped the polearm. It wasn't what he was used to, but he felt that he at least owed it to Eris to try. Standing a short distance from the rather large camp, he swung the blade around himself, simply getting a feel for the weight, though it was hard to focus with so many watching eyes. A dozen small fires had been lit, giving off a rather large amount of heat, not that they needed to keep themselves warm though. It had been almost two weeks since they broke out of jail, and they had gone far south and east, reaching a vast and open plain. Sparse trees dotted the grassy landscape, with rolling hills and valleys in the distance in all directions. Looking west, they could see the edge of the Halrak Desert, which rested in the center of the continent. The weather was becoming warm as summer began to approach, but the fires were warm and welcoming. Barret swung the blade, feeling the strange weight pull at his arms. He had never swung at anything, never held a weapon like this, but if it was good enough for Eris, then surely it was good enough for him too. Twisting the blade in circles, he twirled his palms and shifted his grip constantly, but he had no idea what he was doing, and ended up only hurting himself, the blade catching his arm as he failed to grab back on. Picking it up from the ground, he looked at the cut; it wasn't bad, only skin deep, but it hurt like crazy. Sighing, he wove through the camp to where his bag rested, and bandaged his arm. He smiled as he saw Haelith walk over with two cups of coffee. "You know, you could ask for help."

"I know, but who do you think knows how to wield one of these?"

Haelith sat up tall and looked around, before her eyes settled on a group of seven. "Not sure. My guess would the one of the Basitins, they are a martial society after all. If anyone knows about weaponry, it would be them. It wouldn't hurt to ask around, actually know some of these people better. We are traveling with them, after all."

"I know, but I'd rather spend my time with you." Haelith was silent as she sipped from her mug, the edge of her face turning tints of red. "We won't stay with them forever. Once we reach Edinmire, many of them will leave. Where they'll go, I don't know, but they won't be with us forever." She didn't respond, and when he glanced over, he could just tell that there were many thoughts going through her mind, things she wanted to say, but just didn't know how. He stood up and held his arm out to her. "Come on, walk with me for a while." The two left the camp, moving beyond the light of the fire, and away from prying ears. "I actually have been meaning to ask you something. This… group. Is it a tribe?"

Haelith looked back to the cluster of fires and smiled. "I think so. But not like the other Ishtaer tribes. This is just… people. People with no home. They have nothing, they have no one. But they have each other, they have us, and they have their lives. It's not perfect, but it's better than what it used to be. Why do you ask?"

"Last week Anriea told me that I was acting like a tribe leader. I wondered what you thought about that."

"Oh. Well, you certainly have been. And… even if no one else would follow you, I know I would."

"I would rather have you beside me." Haelith blushed, and turned away. Barret looked at her, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat. Her violet scales glistened in the twilight, the purple edges reflecting the sky that was now painted a brilliant orange and yellow. The green silk dress she had gotten in Valinos billowed in the gentle breeze, and Barret could feel his face glowing red. "I…" His mind raced. Was he really going to do this? As much time as they spent together, they only met in February. Was he really ready to tell her everything? He took a deep, shaky breath, trying to calm his nerves, but when he looked back to her, he couldn't do it. She had locked eyes with him, and twisted her tail around his. Though his body trembled and his mind commanded his words to come out, he said nothing, paralyzed with fear. He turned away from her, ashamed that his courage had failed him again.

"Did you really mean it?" She whispered, her entire body turning as red as he did. "Did you mean everything you said? That… you would want me to smile? That you would give me the moon if I asked for the stars?"

His mind suddenly caught up to her words, and his body began to relax, though the stress still kept him locked in place. "I… didn't know you heard me. I thought…"

"I didn't sleep much in there. I didn't hear the beginning, but I heard most of it. So… did you mean it?"

"Every word. I love you." He suddenly couldn't stop himself, all the words pouring out like water. "I would go to the ends of the world for you. I want to see you smile every day. I want to spend every day with you by my side. If you were to be whisked away to a far off place, I wouldn't stop searching until I found you, until I knew you were safe. I would face death every day if I had to. I have loved you, ever since that moment in the estate, when you had just gotten cleaned up. I saw you in this same dress, and I just knew that I loved you. I knew that from that moment forward, I would never stop loving you. I wish my courage hadn't failed me, or I would have told you everything the moment we were free. I love you."

"I love you too. You know this."

"Then… will you join me? Will you pledge yourself to me, as I would to you?" His words were as shaky as his hands, which trembled as though there was an earthquake, but the ground was still and quiet. "Will you marry me?"

His words hung in the air for not even a heartbeat before Haelith pulled him close. "Of course. Of course I will marry you."

…

The sun had gone down, and Barret and Haelith hadn't returned to the camp. Raine waited for them, but there was no sign of when they would be back. She was sitting by the fire, watching for them when she noticed someone walking over. "Still haven't come back?" she said, her yellow and white scales gleaming.

"No. They usually spend a lot of time together, but this is unusual. Barret makes it a habit to be back before sundown, and Haelith is the same way."

Anriea laughed loudly. "Ahaha! He finally did it!"

Raine raised her eyebrow, confused. "Did it? Did what?"

"Oh, sweetie you should have heard him! He's fallen head over heels for her, lovestruck in a way I didn't know existed in the world still. I heard him talking in jail, he said a lot of things. I told him to just let it all out, and I hope he finally did."

"I'm more confused now. What did he say?"

"Well, we'll know in the morning. They'll be needing some space tonight I think. Best not to go looking for 'em."

"Why would they- OH." Her face turned bright red as she suddenly realized what was being implied, and Anriea laughed even harder. Embarrassed, Raine turned away, wishing she could have remained oblivious, but at least her friends weren't in danger. A thought crossed her mind as she looked at the wolf arms and legs she had. It would have been strange to ask them, but someone else? "I… I'm curious. Do Ishtaer… do you go into heat like Keidrans?" she asked with a blush.

Anriea chuckled. "No, we do not. Ishtaer have very long pregnancies, so if we were to go into heat, it would only be every few years, and would not be effective. What about… you? You are both wolf and human. Have you gone into heat before?"

This time it was Raine who chuckled. "No. Thankfully I haven't, but I'm not sure what would happen if I stayed fully wolf, or even part wolf for long enough. It's certainly been a strange experience, being able to shift willingly. I spent so long as a human, then so long as a wolf, I'm having to relearn my own instincts. I find myself trying to swivel my ears sometimes, or forgetting that I have a tail."

"How odd. In my long years, never have I met someone like you."

"Long years? You don't look much older than Barret, and I've actually met some very old Ishtaer."

"Barret has been hardened by the wilderness. I have been hardened by prison. I am eighty eight… at least, I think I am? I do not actually remember my own birthday, it's been so long since it mattered."

Raine frowned. "But that's part of your identity. It would be like forgetting your own name, or the names of your parents." Anriea turned away, ashamed. "You… don't know them, do you?"

"I… have not seen them since I came of age. I left them, and never went back. I do not know if they are alive, or even what their names are. I remember my father's face, kind, but scarred. And mother… her touch was smooth and gentle, like her voice… but I don't remember their names."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…"

"It is not your fault, young one."

"You… mentioned 'coming of age'. What does that mean for an Ishtaer? Is it like humans, when you are considered adults?"

"Well, yes and no. Ishtaer mature physically at the same rate as humans, reaching peak physical condition at eighteen, but we come of age around the age of twenty four, when we may be considered adults in the eyes of the tribe. At that age, we are no longer bound to our parents, and are free to go as we please. Many do not go for a few years, and some never do, but I left when I could to see the world. For so long, I did not care for anyone else, content to be alone. But now that I am old, I wish I could have done more with my life. I will pass from this world alone, with only fleeting memories left behind."

"No. You will not be forgotten by everyone. I will remember you as a friend. Everyone here will remember you as a leader. And the Templars will remember you as the one that gave them problems."

"That's true. I suppose you're right. I may pass alone, but I will live on in memories. Thank you, Raine. You should get some sleep. Barret and Haelith will be fine tonight. Leave them be." Anriea stood up, brushing the dirt off her tail. "Goodnight, young half-wolf."