The caravan wandered westward, but began to turn north. For six more days, Barret, Haelith, and Raine traveled with them, learning, honing, and studying their magical abilities. Haelith picked up healing magic easily enough, and felt comfortable enough to use it on Barret. His focus was more on shields than anything, but he also had managed to learn how to create a powerful force whenever he struck an object, tossing whatever he struck backwards. It wasn't what he wanted to focus on, wishing he could instead learn about utility magic, but he was the only person of their trio with any combat knowledge, so he accepted the lessons without much complaint. Strangely, while Haelith and many other Ishtaer would often reach the limits of their magic, Barret pushed himself further and further, with no end in sight to his potential power. Raine still studied closely with Yapha, trying to shapeshift without casting any other spells. Like always, progress was slow, but she eventually was able to partially shift from human to wolf and back without issue. Though it was a long way off, she knew that this was the beginning of something new for her. For the world. After all, she was Raine Silverlock, unbound by Fate. But in the back of her mind, a worry grew. The fox that had found them, she hadn't told the others about him. She hadn't seen him since, so maybe it wasn't worth mentioning, but she couldn't risk it any longer, the worry was growing too much to bear. "Hey… I… I think we should leave tomorrow."

Haelith was leaning on Barret, holding a cup of coffee close. Barret lowered his cup, and looked at her. "How sudden. What prompted this change?"

"A few days ago, there was someone else here. A brown fox Keidran, I didn't recognize him. He was tending our fire, and mentioned that we shouldn't leave our stuff lying around, and then left, saying that he was going hunting. I didn't mention it before, I thought that would be the last of it, but I can't get him out of my head. His weird backwoods drawl, the way he just left, it was… unsettling."

"Well, then he's long gone by now." Haelith said, trying to sound optimistic. "Don't worry about it!"

Barret was not quite as convinced. "What did he look like?"

"Plain, brown fox, bit on the short end, dark brown cloak over him."

"Longbow by his side, but no discernible quiver?"

"Yeah- wait, you know him?" Barret's eyes narrowed, his face twisting into a scowl.

"He's chased me. All the way here. Aezr. He's found us."

"Aezr? The assassin from Lyn'Knoll?" Haelith frowned. "I though you lost him when you went over the mountains?"

"In theory, but I have no idea. Maybe we lost him, but then he's chasing someone else? Or he picked up the trail and has been following us since Edinmire? Regardless, we're in great danger here. We should go to the elders. Let them know that he's out there."

"Agreed. Do you think they're still awake?" Raine asked, looking through the camp.

"We can't risk it. He might already be readying to strike." Barret leaned over to his backpack, and pulled out his bow, and lead the girls between the tents. There were many who were awake still, and some asked questions, but they did not stop. As they approached the tent, Yapha was standing outside of it, talking with one of the other elders.

"Ah, young hatchlings. What draws you here so late?"

"We need to speak with you in private. It's most urgent." Stunned, Yapha stood still. She frowned as she beckoned them inside, and she sat on the ground near the fire.

"Come, sit. What distresses you?"

No one sat down, too on edge, that even the slightest sound might cause them to leap into action. "We have been tracked." Barret said. "Hunted by a fox known as Aezr. He chased me out of town a few months ago, and has been hounding me ever since. He is called The Hunter, as he takes pleasure in the kill. Everyone is in danger while we are here. We leave at dawn, though I admit I would rather stay. But to protect the tribe, we must go."

"He is a cunning warrior." Yapha said, scratching her chin. "I met him many years ago. He did not have the same reputation, but he killed one of my tribe in cold blood, for no reason other than sport. If he has returned, then we will keep watch. Go and rest within the camp tonight. Come see me at dawn though, I will not see you leave without my blessings."

"How did you escape him last time?" Raine asked.

"Escape? I did not escape. He was not hunting me. That is the only reason I am still alive. Go. Rest. We will watch for him."

Word spread quickly, but quietly through the camp. A watch was raised, and the three rested in the middle of the camp, a short distance from Yapha's tent. They fell into a dreamless sleep, and when they were woken, dawn was about to break. Though they knew this day would come one way or another, they had grown to see many of the nomads as friends. Returning to Yapha, they found Loriel and Vehc standing with her. Each held a bag of various items.

Vehc stepped forward toward Barret. "You have grown quickly. Keep working on honing your skills, and you could become powerful. A name that would stand for ages. Do not fear your power, but embrace it, let it ebb and flow, guide it like you would a ship in a river. Control it, but lean into the wild nature, and you will do great things. I wish you luck." Within the bag, there was a quiver of arrows, a knife made of sharpened whale bone, dried meat, and a small piece of wood that was carved into what Barret had learned to be a luck charm.

Loriel gave her back to Haelith. "I have never seen someone learn as quickly as you. Magic comes naturally to you, and it will serve you well. Do not hesitate, and when the time comes, you will be able to do more with your magic than you could imagine. Temper it, train it, and it will grow with you. May good fortune be with you." Several clean rags, a few salves, some finely wrapped tea leaves, and a familiar copper kettle was given to Haelith, who hugged Loriel. "If this is the last time we see each other, then know that these few days have been wonderful."

"Raine Silverlock." Yapha stepped forward with the smallest bag, but her words carried the heaviest weight. "You are unique. You are not part of one world or the other, but are of both. You arefully human, and you are fully Keidran, and you are fully both at the same time. You are powerful. And I wish I could go with you, if only to see what great things you will do." Raine took the bag hesitantly, and looked inside. There was a few days of dried food, a carved totem similar to Barret's, and… a several colorless, dull scales. "I will not see you again. My time remaining in this realm is short. I can feel it. Take that with you, and remember me. Remember your training."

"Thank you." Raine began to cry, hugging Yapha. "Thank you for everything." For a minute, they stood there, not wanting to let go. Not wanting to leave their friends. But as Raine backed up, they knew that it was time.

Yapha smiled, and leaned on her cane. "May the winds be ever at your backs, and may the fire of the ancestors burn brightly within your soul."

…

Silence reigned as they walked. Fear mixed with sorrow dominated their thoughts. From dawn til dusk they did not stop, moving ever south. They had gone so far west the last nine days, that Hatchet's Harbor was out of the way. So, they made to bypass the town, hoping to remain unseen. They knew they were being tracked, and just like last time, Barret led the trio through the woods, trying to leave as little trace as he could. Over rocky and rough patches, through the little streams that snaked through the forest, and anywhere else they could hide their tracks. He wasn't sure what they were going to do about Aezr, but they had to move. Edinmire was their destination, but they were roughly seven weeks away. When they stopped for the night, Barret helped them make hammocks, and they rested up in the trees, out of the way of prying eyes. Without a tent, it was particularly awkward when Barret and Haelith laid down together, with nothing but a blanked over them.

At dawn, Barret woke, and scouted the surrounding area. "There's no sign of him. If he's chasing us, then we've kept ahead of him. If we find a large enough river, we could try and take a raft south. It would be slow, but no one would be able to track us."

Raine untied the hammock, while Haelith looked at the maps. "I don't think we're going to come across anything like that anytime soon. If we headed almost directly east, we could take a ship from Hatchet's Harbor."

"No." Raine said as she coiled the rope. "If we did that, we'd only add more time to our trip."

"It might be safest, but she's right. We have to get back. Our friends are waiting for us." Barret pulled out some of the dried rations from his bag. "We did what we needed to. Now, we have to get back." With that, they set off, going south yet again. The ground was mostly flat, but there were small rolling hills that gave shelter from the wind that blew from the west.

"Does anyone else hear that?" Raine asked. It was midday. They hadn't left the forest yet, but the question wasn't something they could ignore. Stopping and straining their ears (though Ishtaer actually have no external ears), they listened. The gentle blowing of the wind, the creaking of the trees, the chirping of birds… and a strange thumping sound. As they stood there, listening, the noise grew louder and louder. Whatever it was was getting closer, and it was heavy. Cracking and snapping soon accompanied the noise, and as they were able to finally tell where it was coming from, Barret suddenly drew his bow.

"Get back. Run." He said, snarling. Raine and Haelith didn't move, but watched as a shadowy figure emerged from the thick woods, a serrated pike in one hand, a glowing red gem in the other. Armor covered the clay soldier, and they heard a strange humming noise as it turned to them, brandishing the pike. "Run!" He shouted as he loosed an arrow, that whizzed through the air, colliding with the soldier with a hollow thunk. Haelith turned to flee, but Raine hesitated. She had seen these before in books, read about them, but never in real life. As Barret backed up into her, she snapped back to reality, and turned to follow Haelith. Barret backpedaled, and fired a second arrow, this time it stuck out of the Sentinel's right shoulder, but it did not slow down, instead raising it's left arm. Putting himself between the girls and the Sentinel, Barret reached for his magic. His scales shifted, raising as the power flowed through his veins, but as the gemstone gleamed brightly, he realized that he might be outmatched. Holding his bow in his left hand, he held up his right arm, and cast a shield, feeling the power flow through his fingers.

But either he overestimated his power, or underestimated his enemy's.

As the gemstone's power focused, it turned into a beam of red hot energy, and the beam collided with Barret's shield, though only for a second, as it pierced through, hitting his chest just below his right shoulder. Shouting in pain, Barret fell backwards, his energy failing him. As he stumbled, he fell down, and cried out as the pain shot through his entire body, as though someone had pressed him against a branding iron. "Barret!" Raine shouted, turning around as he hit the ground. The Sentinel looked down at him, but then turned it's dimly glowing orange eyes to Raine, and raised it's hand again, the gemstone beginning to glow once more. Haelith stopped as well. They would not abandon their friend, and they stood their ground against the soldier. Raine reached for her own magic, a swirling whirlwind began to form around her. But something cut through the wind: a shout, a roar of anger.

The soldier began to turn toward the noise, but suddenly stopped, a loud crack and a terrible shrieking noise coming from it's clay head. A crack appeared on the front of the armor, and a steel blade was driven through it's chest, before being pulled out with a loud crunch. The soldier fell down, and a glaive rose from behind, coming down to cleave the head in half. As the soldier fell down, Raine and Haelith saw… an Ishtaer. His plate mail clanked and rattled, a leather bag strapped to his back, the glaive in his hands was honed to perfection, and his scales and eyes were bright orange, with hints of yellow at the edges. As he stood there, panting heavily, he leaned on his glaive, and looked over to them. "You two alright?"

"Barret!" Haelith said suddenly, rushing over to him. He lay on the ground, having passed out from the pain. Reaching for her magic, Haelith placed her hand on the burn mark, and let her power flow from her into him, accelerating the natural healing process. As she did, Barret groaned, and began to stir. "Barret! Are you alright?"

"Ugh. Been better. What happened?" He asked, sitting up. His eyes fell on the broken Sentinel, but then they fell on the other Ishtaer, and he froze.

"Barret? Can it really be you?" the man asked, his voice a solid tenor, smooth and articulate, with power behind each word. He sounded a lot like Barret, whom he was staring at, likewise frozen. Glancing back and forth, Haelith and Raine waited to see what would happen. Slowly, Barret stood up, and took a tentative few steps close, eyeing this man carefully.

"You… You… I… You…" he stammered, and the other walked closer, equally cautious.

"You're… you're alive."

"You are too." Barret's face turned into a wide grin, and he ran the last few steps, throwing his arms around the Ishtaer, who threw his arms around Barret. "Eris [Air-iss]! I can't believe you're alive!"