At the entrance of a secluded grotto, deep in the jungle, surrounded by signs of life, Rowan faded in and out of consciousness, unable to dream.

Samaal already lost a lot of blood. Screaming in horror and agony, he summoned hard shadows to put pressure on the gushing stumps that moments ago ended in feet. Then he went into shock and passed out.

Fortunately for the immortals, Hinata was skilled enough to provide basic care, applying tourniquets and bandages to Samaal's legs, and sliding a large, flat stone underneath, elevating the legs above his heart. Then Hinata carefully lifted Samaal's head and poured infused water into his mouth.

Rowan's was a more challenging case. Since their body was a manifestation of magic and willpower, total loss of consciousness meant Rowan's body quickly disintegrated into a living, sleeping firefox.

That meant Hinata had to clear the surrounding area of brush and put out fires every few minutes. It took hours of careful work, but Hinata cleared the area around Rowan such that a jungle fire never started.

But Rowan's foxfire diminished with every passing minute. Maintaining their true form depleted mana rapidly, and without help soon, Rowan would surely die.

So Hinata stacked dry wood near and around Rowan's foxfire, and a circle of stones around the wood, creating one enormous bonfire pit. The radiant heat and energy seemed to stave off further shrinkage. Rowan was stable.

After hours of painstaking work, Hinata collapsed against a stone. Then they remembered the water canteen was empty. With a heavy sigh, Hinata stood back up and walked away to replenish their supplies.

Samaal woke from bright nightmares of golden blades to see Rowan for the first time as their true self, a marvelous creature made of no ordinary fire, but bright and colorful flames. And in their chest, a flaming ingot of curious liquid minerals, like mercury.

The adamkin must have erected the pyre surrounding Rowan. The burning logs obscured his view, so he tried to sit up and move nearer.

Then with a throbbing ache, he felt and remembered and saw what happened to him. He blankly stared at the bloody wraps around his stump legs for a long time, unable to process anything. It wasn't disbelief because the stumps were plain as day by Rowan's firelight, but unfamiliar emotions like grief and fear invaded Samaal's mind for the first time in his long, isolated life. He trembled, then shook his head to try and clear his mind.

Where were the cainkin? Before the attack on Church, he had ordered them all to wait and guard this location. Dumb and unreliable were Cain's children. They probably went chasing after birds. Nevermind. He closed his eyes and ordered them back to camp.

And where was the adamkin? They must have bandaged his legs, as well. Then they just abandoned us!? he wondered furiously. Anger motivated him to conjure shadows beneath him, lifting his body to be nearer Rowan.

Gazing into Rowan's incredible flames, a sense of wondrous peace came over him, something primal and entirely new to him. He forgot himself and his plans and his problems, and he simply witnessed Rowan's awesome beauty: their many tails, their large fox-like form, the crisp and colorful flames: reds and blues and greens and whites, and every shade in between. Rowan was, without contest, the most magnificent creature Samaal had ever seen.

A fierce desire to protect Rowan took root in him, another powerful emotion he had never felt before, having lived all his long life with Mommy and Cain and their irritating children.

Samaal had never truly cared about anyone before except Mommy. She was his world. But after battling side-by-side with Rowan, and now watching them struggle to survive, everything else faded away. Rowan had to survive. He needed them.

Staring into the flames, Samaal became lost in thought, and time floated by.

Before long, Hinata returned with provisions. The flying devils had also returned, watching eerily from atop nearby tree branches.

"Where have you been?" demanded Samaal, distressed and angry.

Hinata responded gently, sensing his fear and comforting him, "I needed to refill my canteen. You were unconscious for a long time. How are you feeling?"

His tone and demeanor softened noticeably, and to Hinata, he looked less like an immortal demigod and more like a scared boy on the verge of tears.

"I hurried back as fast as I could. And look, I brought firewood."

With a disdainful wave of his hand, Samaal summoned a shadow blade to cleave a nearby tree into pieces.

Over the sound of crashing branches and flying devils, he said, "Firewood won't be enough. Look and see, Rowan is shrinking. They're burning mana now. If they don't get an infusion soon, their fire will go out, and they'll cease to exist."

Hinata saw that he was right. Rowan was less than half the size they were when Hinata left for supplies; once larger than a bear, now the size of a large dog.

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"Is there anything we can do?" Hinata pleaded.

Samaal pensively answered, "I don't know. Maybe. What Rowan needs is to bathe in the mana-rich lava of Inari, but Adam obliterated the island and everyone on it, so Rowan has had to rely on mana infusions from willing humans. There's a possibility I may be able to connect to Rowan's molten heart and give them some of my mana."

"Can I also give them mine?"

He looked at Hinata with examining surprise. "You saved us both. Now you offer them your life supply. Why?"

Hinata was struck by the question. Why, indeed? They considered it before answering.

"I wasn't doing anything special with my life before Rafael found me. I fished. I had friends and family. I wasn't unhappy, but I knew the world was broken. I figured Eden was too big for me to fix, so I gave up. I focused on myself. I became independent and self-sufficient, because I knew the world couldn't - wouldn't help me or my family. I had to take care of myself alone. So I could take care of my parents, my little siblings, and my people. And I thought I was satisfied with that, but I wasn't, not really. Because I felt powerless.

"Adam takes whatever he wants. My people, my family, my home, and my culture; he took it all and destroyed what he didn't like. I thought there was nothing I could do, but now I know the truth: my culture endures. Adam can be killed. Maybe you can free us all by killing him.

"But to do that, you're going to need Rowan. And besides, I owe them my life."

Samaal was clearly affected by Hinata's response, but his expressions were a mystery beyond Hinata's ken to decipher.

Quietly, he said, "Maybe... If you're sure, then lie down. I'll summon shadows to bridge our minds with Rowan's."

Hinata did as instructed. Samaal positioned himself with his head between Rowan and Hinata. Then two ghostly threads grew from Samaal's forehead like slithering horns, extending to Hinata's forehead and Rowan's molten core.

It was Hinata's first time being awake in the dreamscape.

Samaal was a master dreamer, having learned from the very best, so their surroundings were crisp and detailed: a blue-flame candle-lit room with granite walls and furniture with intricately carved abstract designs.

He curiously regarded Hinata, remarking, "I've never dreamed with a human before. Mommy would be furious, but somehow that just makes it better."

Hinata laughed hysterically. The absurdity of their environment, coupled with Samaal's deadpan delivery, broke them.

Samaal smiled, never having made a human laugh before, either, and finding it a surprisingly pleasant experience.

He looked around, examining his dream room, and found a single flaming door.

"Huh," said Samaal. "That might present an obstacle."

Hinata turned to follow his gaze. "I take it Rowan's mind is on the other side of that door?"

"Mhm."

"What happens if we open the door?"

"I don't know. I've never seen a flaming door in the dreamscape. Let's find out." Samaal cast a shadow to open the door, but the flames burned his shadows to ash. "Tsk."

Hinata, feeling empowered and bold after proving themself useful, and wanting to stay in Samaal's good graces, marched forward, grabbed the door handle without hesitation, turned the knob quickly, and threw open the door.

Flames exploded into the granite room, engulfing Hinata and Samaal and everything else, but instead of burning agony, the flames felt like a cool breeze against their skin.

When the fiery winds relaxed to a gentle flow, Hinata turned, sheepishly smiling at Samaal, who looked annoyed and impressed.

Then they both stepped forward into Rowan's mind.

Everything shifts. Three minds.

Imagine home. Imagine Inari, with rivers of flowing lava. Imagine unique birds and reptiles and trees and flowers. Imagine walls and ceilings of cooled lava rock. Imagine a roof window with cascading light. Imagine home with pictures on the wall of friends and family, long since gone.

Rowan collected their wandering thoughts and focused on the dream. Focus. There are visitors. Rowan looked up and saw home, in all its bittersweetness, as Samaal and Hinata stepped through the door.

Rowan was elated to see them both, rising and rushing to embrace them dearly. Then they remembered the last thing they saw.

"Your legs! What happened?"

Samaal winced and said, "Don't worry about that now. You need mana, or you'll die. We've come to donate."

The simple frankness with which he said it struck Rowan. Did he understand what such an act entailed? What it would cost?

As if answering the unasked question, Samaal stepped forward and kissed them tenderly.

A bed appeared behind them, and Samaal laid Rowan down upon it, beckoning Hinata with a glance and an open hand.

Trembling, Hinata took his hand and knelt on the bed, nervous and eager, softly kissing Rowan's neck and shoulder.

The trio meditated, again and again, growing closer, giving more of themselves to one another until their very souls became entwined.

They stayed in the dream for some time, and Rowan sensed a shift in Samaal's behavior. He was sweeter, almost innocent. Was he falling in love for the first time? Rowan felt the intensity of his passion, and without him ever saying it, Rowan knew Samaal had given himself to them completely, heart, mind, and soul.

Hinata, too, was a wonderful companion, generous of spirit, eager to satisfy, and happy to be involved.

Everything shifts. A fourth mind made contact.

Rowan and Samaal knew who it was before the door swung open.

Lilith, nightmare and mother, lover and tyrant, prisoner and puppeteer, ageless beauty with eternal fury, standing at the threshold of Rowan's dream, looking pissed.

"This is how you've been waging our great conquest!?" Lilith accused.

"Mommy, wait, Rowan was injured. This was the only way to save them," Samaal pleaded.

Lilith backhanded him. "I have waited! And as I was waiting, while you were screwing around, an angel killed Rafael and trapped his soul!"

Hinata crumbled. Rowan withered.

Samaal fell to his knees. "I'm sorry! I didn't know angels were involved. How can I fix this?"

Lilith glowered. "It's done. The Holy Ghost is lost to us now. But there still is a path to Adam. Get your asses to Moondial and prepare Morgan for her wedding. Adam will be on Crescent in a matter of days!"