For a while, the days became a blur. Keith, Natani, Maren, Karen, Sythe, Trace, Richard, Flora, and Zen spent a lot of time in Edinmire, assisting with many things. Maren, Karen, and Sythe were growing tired of the estate, and felt like they could do more. The sisters saw a need, and began filling it, cooking and cleaning up for the Basitins, who were grateful for the help, but they insisted that it was unnecessary. Sythe joined them, as he wanted to stay near his friends. Flora felt particularly unhelpful, but Duke Keiren assured her that she was the most important person in the city besides himself, as she spent the days with Maeve, talking and playing with her, which eventually led to her being called 'Auntie Flora' with 'Uncle Trace'.

Keith spent much of his time with Telk and Keiren, discussing military tactics, defensive positions, and even using figurines to play out mock battles on the city map. When they did this, they would invite Trace, Natani, or Zen to be their opponent, but sometimes they would switch roles, with the usual defenders trying to attack the city to figure out new tactics. Richard wanted to join in, but his 'fight first, think later' philosophy ended up with him losing almost every single time.

When not helping sharpen their tactical skills, they would be helping the Basitins and townsfolk relocate, as the Duke's orders. Five days after it had been proposed, the first ballista tower started construction. Basitin in design, but human in stature, the tower was planned to stand twenty five feet tall, and had a diameter of fifteen feet. Made of small, shaped, interlocking stones, there was actually very little mortar used in it's construction for the outer shell, and it would be highly resistant to siege weapons due to the stonework.

It was very strange indeed when the wolves returned on the evening of March third. Seventy wolves emerged from the forest, snarling and wielding swords, spear, and bows. They did not attack, however, when the alarm was raised, and Basitin soldiers leapt off of the walls, ready to meet them in battle. Shocked and confused, the wolves just stood there, waiting. One, however came forward. An elderly wolf, who wore actual armor: chain mail. His eyes surveyed the city, it's defenders and it's walls. Just as Keiren was about to go meet him however, he turned and led his forces away from the city, fleeing into the forest without a word.

Night fell, and the city kept watch on the forest. The wolves had not vanished entirely, but they were wary to approach the city. No one dared lower their guard. By the time dawn came, the wolves had almost all fled, save one, who stood at the edge of the forest. When Keiren last saw, he seemed to be debating whether to go back with the rest of the wolves, or approach the city. So, as Duke of Edinmire, he did something both very brave, and very risky. He took no escort with him, but left the city, and approached the forest, where the wolf watched him. "Hello there. Your friends seem to have left you behind." he said in slow, careful Keidran.

The wolf answered him in turn in clear human. "I chose to stay behind, human. I have no love of this fight. I see you already have wolves in the city. Would they fight against their own kind?"

"In defense of the city, in defense of those they consider their family when all others abandoned them? Yes. Would you do the same?"

"I have not been abandoned." came a quick response. "But… there is nowhere for me to go. Lyn'Knoll has been attacked by Templars."

"No. That city was a trap. Templars ruled the city, killed anyone who went there, and covered it up so none would ever leave. My friends escaped last winter. Edinmire could be what Lyn'Knoll was not. If you truly wish to come, then lay down your sword, and enter in peace."

The wolf looked down at the blade he held, and then to the city. "How can I trust you?"

"Because I am Duke Keiren of Edinmire. I came out here alone, because I wanted you to see what I was willing to risk. You could strike me down and return to your tribe a hero. Or, you could cast aside that sword, and come with me. Make your choice, but I must return to my duties." With that Keiren turned his back to the wolf, and began walking away.

There was a soft thud beside him. A sword had fallen into the dirt and grass. "I will be protected?"

"Of course. Just follow me." Keiren led the wolf to the gates, where several Basitins saluted him. The wolf grew timid in the shadow of the wall, and as they entered the town, the gates closed behind them. "Before we go any further," Keiren said, stopping suddenly. "I need a name. Who are you?"

The wolf swallowed hard. "I… I'm Utkr [oot'ck'r] of the Forest Tribe."

"Utkr? Quite the name. Follow me to my office, we have paperwork to fill out. Can you read and write?"

…

The battlefield was still stained with blood. The path was easy to follow, just stay between the trees, where the ground had been flattened under thousands of stomping boots. Staying hidden was no issue either, there was no one left alive to see her. Or, so she thought. The ruins here were two days old. She could see the war machines in the distance, moving further southeast. She could smell the smoke from the wood still burning with hot embers. But worst of all, she could hear the groaning of the wounded. There was no one here to care for them. Kneeling down beside a fallen soldier, she rolled him over, and pressed her ear against his chest. He was alive, but only just. She could feel that his ribs were broken, and could hear his heart growing weak. He had just been left here for dead. And he wasn't the only one. Dozens of men were here, just like him: broken and crushed. Tears came to her eyes, and she left him behind. She couldn't save any of them, their wounds were too severe. But then, she heard something else. Sobbing, a cry of agony.

Leaping across and over the corpses, Madelyn bounded over to where the sound had come from inside the ruins. She gasped when she saw him. A human, hoisted by his arms, tied to a post, covered in burns and bleeding from his side. Tears streamed down his face, and his head hung. At his feet, right where he would be unable to look away, was a small furred body, with a spear through it. Horrified, she ran over, and pulled out a dagger. Reaching up, she cut the rope, and the man fell to the ground almost completely limp. His breathing was strained, and his eyes were barely open. She knelt down next to him and softly said "It's alright. You'll be okay."

He said nothing, but slowly reached out for the Keidran beside him. "I… couldn't stop them…" he gasped. "She was a child… and I couldn't stop them…" Blood pooled under him where he was already bleeding, and it quickly mixed with his tears, turning the ground muddy and red. Madelyn's heart broke as she understood. This wasn't a defender of the city. This was a Templar, one who marched into the city, but stopped when he saw their faces. This Keidran child couldn't flee, so he had tried to stop them. He defended their enemy. And so they strung him up, a traitor. And killed the child in front of him. This was a man who was broken by the horror of war. This was a man who realized the cost of victory. This was a man who refused to fight, and paid the price.

There were others like him across the ruins of the city, though none of them were alive still. Traitors who had been strung up and left behind, just like the wounded who did nothing wrong. Madelyn's blood boiled within her, and she resolved that she would change the war. Somehow, she would change the war. But not now. Right now, she had keep going. It was all she could do.