In the end, I decided to go swimming with everyone else. I stripped down with Andrian and jumped in. The lake water, gently warmed by the afternoon sun, was cool and refreshing. It helped pull me out of the dark mood I'd fallen into from thinking too much. I was very aware of my nakedness at first, but once I was in the water, I couldn't help but feel that it didn't matter. No one else cared, so why should I?

I swam around, splashing and playing with Andrian, until Estra made his way over to us. He had a look on his face that said he was very pleased with himself.

"I didn't think you'd join us," he commented, "what with humans being so rigid about such things."

I didn't answer right away, assuming he had more to say than just a single comment.

Proving me right, Estra continued, "I would like to hear more about what you and Andrian were talking about on the shore. It seemed to be a rather serious conversation. I can't help but wonder what you were discussing so intently right after we all got in the water." His raised eyebrow told me he already had a pretty good idea what we were talking about. "I was afraid we might have offended your human sensibilities, or perhaps you might be uncomfortable in such a situation." He spoke in a teasing tone, but there was an edge to his casual words. I suddenly had the feeling he was testing me.

I cleared my throat and replied, "No. Not offended... Surprised. Very different from Vrayna."

"I'm glad to see my fears were unfounded," he said with a knowing smile, "and I hope you had a healthy conversation with Andrian about it. There's more to getting healthy than talking with a shaman, you know. It's good to open up to the people around you as well."

At that moment, I couldn't help but suspect that Estra had somehow orchestrated this situation as some sort of bizarre therapy. Regardless of his best intentions, I felt my guard go up at the thought of him manipulating the situation to suit his whims. Even if it was to help me, I didn't like such methods. It was far too invasive for my tastes. My displeasure must have shown on my face, because Estra was quick to apologize.

"I'm sorry if I interfered too much," Estra offered, looking suitably abashed, "it wasn't my intention to upset you, really."

He hadn't meant to, but he had. I felt he had violated my trust just to get a reaction out of me. I wondered if he'd planned this with the other two, and more importantly, if Shidah and Luxania were privy to the things I'd told Estra last night. I didn't like the idea of everyone knowing these things. I was someone pathetic, too weak to protect myself, and hated by my own family. They might look at me differently if they knew.

"Estra, I think it would be better if you went back to the others," Andrian told him in a stiff voice. "I understand what you were trying to do, but you should have known better. For your information, yes, your little plan worked, but why did you think it was a good idea? If Falyn wants to talk to me, he'll do it without you forcing it."

I didn't want this to escalate any further, so I put my hand on Andrian's arm to distract him. Before he could continue speaking, I simply said, "It's okay. No harm done."

Andrian nodded but continued to glare at Estra until he swam away. I was conflicted. On one hand, it was good to confirm that the Beastlands held different values than Vrayna. Beastmen evolved from animals into something human, but they hadn’t let go of their animal natures. It was human nature to oppress the weak, to seek power at all costs, and to cause untold suffering. The Beastmen seemed to follow a power-based social structure, but they took care of their weak and gave autonomy to all of their people. I felt comfortable in such an environment, even if it was completely alien to me.

But on the other hand, Estra had just created a situation that made me very uncomfortable. I didn't know if he was sharing my secrets with other people, and I didn't like that he was manipulating me into talking about something I didn't feel ready to talk about. Even if the results were ultimately good, I felt like he had betrayed my trust.

"I know he means well, but he's stubborn," Andrian commented to me once Estra was out of earshot, "he's an ends-justifies-the-means kind of person, from what little I know of him. Don't let his eccentricities get to you though. No matter what, he's a shaman before anything else. His calling in life is to help and heal, and that's what he's going to do."

"I know... but..."

"If you don't feel well, you can refuse the treatment. I don't mean refuse it forever, but it won't be long until we're settled in a village and you can look for a shaman who's better suited to you," Andrian paused for a moment, "I know you're not used to being in a position where you can say no to things you don't like, but Estra will respect your wishes."

"Okay..." I sighed, "Let me think."

Refusing treatment hadn’t occurred to me as an option. Even though I entered into it freely, I had assumed that I was obligated to continue. Andrian reached out and grabbed my arm, pulling me close. The warmth of his body was a stark contrast to the cold water we were swimming in. “You could also think about maybe talking to me instead. I’m no shaman, but I can listen.”

I really wanted to accept his offer. He’d shown me nothing but unwavering love and support, always subverting my worst expectations. However, there was still that nagging voice in my head that told me I shouldn’t.

"Think about it," he said, "and if that's what you want, I'm here."

I nodded and wrapped my arms around him, placing a kiss on his cheek, before breaking free of his embrace and diving underwater.

We stayed in the water a little longer before it was time to get back on the road. My aching muscles felt much better after the cold water, but my throat was as fiery as it had been that morning. I spent the afternoon in silence, contemplating my situation. The more I thought, the more it seemed that the voice telling me to be ashamed of myself was actually my father's voice and not my own. I eventually decided that I should trust Andrian and try to talk to him. I wasn't angry with Estra because I knew he had my best interests at heart, but that didn't mean I was happy with him either. Even if he didn't tell Shidah and Luxania anything, I still didn't like the fact that he created a situation like this to 'treat' me without my knowledge. However, I still wanted to continue seeing him at night. Though his methods didn't match my preferences, he was still a capable shaman and I wanted to learn from him. I hoped he would still be willing to teach me if I told him I didn't want him to treat me.

By the time we were entering the village, the sun was getting low in the sky. Up ahead, there were two pillars on either side of the road, connected by a large stone archway. It looked out of place in the middle of the jungle, with no walls connected to it. Two sentries stood by each pillar, looking bored and complacent. When we approached, they straightened their backs and said, “Welcome.”

One was an older lion beastman with what looked like a full mane of hair and beard, just like Andrian's father. The other a young man about my age with his golden hair in a top knot and no facial hair to speak of. Both were dressed as we were, in comfortable garments and no armor to speak of, with large daggers attached to their belts. The younger one’s eyes went wide when he saw Andrian in our group.

"Andrian, you son of a bitch, where the hell have you been?" he said in a loud voice, "I heard you got promoted and then ran off to Humanland to chase some human who ran away from you."

"Gregor!" Andrian replied with a grin on his face, "Good to see you!" Andrian jumped off his horse and embraced Gregor, who seemed genuinely happy to see him. Gregor's eyes widened when he looked past Andrian and saw me sitting on my horse.

"No! You didn't!" he exclaimed, looking at Andrian in shock. He turned to me with what could have been a worried look on his face and asked me, "Are you being kidnapped right now?"

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I didn't have time to fully register what he was asking me before Andrian slapped the back of his head and said, "Of course not! What the hell are you saying?"

Rubbing the back of his head, Gregor turned to me again and continued, “But seriously. If you’re kidnapped, I’ll help you escape.” I noticed a mischievous glint in his eye and realized he was teasing Andrian. I couldn’t help but chuckle a little as Andrian pulled him into a headlock and cursed his mother.

I climbed down from my horse and offered my hand to Gregor as soon as he'd gotten away from Andrian. Gregor took my hand and looked me up and down. If I had to describe his expression, I'd almost say it was one of disbelief.

"Gregor, I'd like you to meet Falyn, who is definitely not kidnapped," Andrian said as he put his arm around me, "Falyn, this is Gregor. We went through early training together before I went to the eastern front. I’ve known him for a long time."

I looked up at Gregor. He had a slimmer build, almost skinny, but he was still a few inches taller than me and broad in the shoulders. I was beginning to realize that a large beast meant a larger human form. Estra, an owl, was quite a bit smaller than me, as was Luxania, a fox. Gregor watched me with curious eyes, which narrowed when Andrian put his arm around me.

"What time will you be done tonight?" Andrian asked. "We have lots of catching up to do. We should have a few drinks while I'm here."

"I'm done with the sun, my friend. Where are you staying?"

"Wherever there's a room," Andrian laughed, "This isn't a planned visit. I'll tell you everything over a few drinks. Meet me at the usual spot."

“You’re bringing the human, right?” Gregor inquired, “I’ll let the other guys know you’re here so you can introduce him to everyone.”

Andrian hesitated for a moment when Gregor said that and turned to me. “Are you okay with meeting some of my army friends?”

I nodded. Actually, I was very interested in meeting the people Andrian was friends with. I just hoped they would be okay with me tagging along.

"Gregor!" the older lion called out in a good natured voice, "You've held 'em up long enough. Let the generals and their guest go before they can't find an inn with space."

The older lion's interruption freed us from our conversation, and we were able to continue once Andrian had promised Gregor that they would meet at the 'usual spot' after dark. In the meantime, we would go to the village and find accommodations. I was a little nervous about meeting Andrian's army friends, but I forgot about it as soon as we entered the village.

The village itself was at least three times the size of Rovette, possibly more. In fact, I was pretty sure it was as big as the eastern city of Shelfort. The buildings weren't anything like human designs, built for function, not appearance. Other than the archway guarded by the two guards, there were no gates or walls protecting the city from outsiders. Sentries were posted around the perimeter, but their job was to watch for monsters, not travelers. Instead, as the forest gave way to civilization, it felt like we had fallen into the center of a sprawling city. Some buildings were made of the same redwood as Uncle Alek's house, some of a beige cement made from mud combined with stones and brickwork.

The village was full of people going about their daily lives. Not many noticed our passing, but those who did called out friendly greetings. Some of them recognized Andrian and offered a salute to one of their war generals, but there was nothing formal or uniform about it. No one noticed me, probably assuming I was from another tribe and had less prominent beast features. I was grateful for that, still unsure of how they would react to a human in their midst.

The people of the village were both similar and completely different from the humans in the Vraynian cities I'd been to. There were stalls for people to sell their food and wares, just like any other city, but there was a sense of 'other' that I could feel. The first thing I noticed was that there were no beggars or poor people on the streets. Everyone had proper clothes on their backs and seemed to have some sort of purpose. At the same time, there were no obvious class distinctions among the people either. Everyone wore clothes of similar quality, if they wore clothes at all. Suddenly I was grateful to Estra for his stunt at the lake, otherwise I might have been shocked by the sights before me.

While most people were dressed in simple shirts, pants, and dresses, there were also many who chose to go bare-chested, including the women. As we passed inns and taverns, there were many couples out for dinner or for a night of drinking. I couldn't help but laugh internally at my father for thinking the beastmen would kill me for the insult of being a man. He would have known better had he taken the time to learn anything about Beastland culture. Most of the couples we saw were indeed male and female, but I also saw men with other men, women with other women, and twice I saw what appeared to be one person on a date with multiple partners. Everyone minded their own business and left others to do as they pleased. There were also many who chose to roam the village in their animal forms and that was acceptable too. Was this what freedom looked like?

We arrived at an inn in the center of the village. I wouldn't have known it was an inn if someone hadn't told me, because there were no written signs anywhere. I had forgotten that the Beastlands had no written language. Looking more closely, I saw a wooden plaque with a bed carved into it, indicating that we were at an inn. I checked the neighboring buildings and saw similar plaques with pictures of what you would find inside; a bed for an inn, a glass for a tavern, a horse for the stable, and so on. We left our horses at the stable next to the inn.

The inn was a four-story redwood structure with a small courtyard in front, where people sat at tables drinking and eating their fill. We passed them by and entered the building. Inside was a small room with two openings leading to staircases on either side. On the back wall was a counter with another door behind it. Behind the counter, there was a middle-aged woman with wild, tangled, waist-length hair, wearing a simple dress that prioritized function. Before she could greet us, the door behind her opened and a very tiny person emerged from behind it, carrying a tray of full glasses over their head.

"I have the drinks for the guests in the room on the fourth floor," the tiny person, whose voice sounded like they were male, announced as they gently kicked the door shut behind them. Whoever they were, they were so small that only the tray they held above their heads was visible from behind the counter.

"Far left corner of the courtyard," the woman behind the counter told him, "they'll be ready for food by now too."

The tiny person emerged from behind the counter and I saw that they were indeed a male, and probably a full foot shorter than Estra, who was only five feet in height himself. He had rounded ears on top of his small head and I thought he might be a mouse beastman. I hadn’t realized there were small animal beastmen too. It was probably impolite to think so, but I couldn’t help but think he was cute. He quickly scurried out the door with his large tray and disappeared onto the patio.

"Welcome," said the woman behind the counter. She didn't look up at us and fumbled under the counter for something, "How many rooms will you need?"

"Two rooms and a roof nest for my owl friend here," Shidah replied with a smile she didn't see.

"How many nights?" she asked, pulling out a piece of white cloth with shapes etched into it. The shapes seemed to be the floors of the inn, divided into squares, with X's marking some of the squares. There were four diagrams in all, one for each floor of rooms, and what I quickly figured out were the roof nests Shidah had mentioned. With a piece of charcoal, she marked an X on two of the normal squares and one for the nest for Estra.

"Just for tonight," Shidah said, "We're passing through on our way to the trading city."

"Food?" she continued, uninterested in where we were going.

"Yes, food and drink for all of us."

"Tribes?"

"Bear, fox, lion and owl," Shidah replied. "No need for anything special. We just need beds and something tasty."

“Very well,” she said before finally looking up from her diagram and taking us in. When she saw me standing with them, her eyes narrowed a little but she didn't say anything. However, when her eyes moved past me to look at Andrian, they widened a little. “General Andrian, aren’t you supposed to be with the human delegation?”

“Ay,” he answered her, “We had to make a detour on our way back. Good to see you Zaelia, I meant to come see you when I was officially back. I didn't know you worked here now. I thought you'd be at the tavern for life. Dad wants you to know that he has another round of wood for you and he’ll drop it off when he comes by for supplies next moon cycle.”

Zaelia looked more carefully at our group and asked, “So who are these people you’re traveling with? I thought you all were just a normal group of travelers before I recognized you.”

“This is General Shidah of the bears, General Luxania of the foxes, Shaman Estra of the owls, and this is Falyn, who has no tribe, but will be of the lions once the new moon has passed,” Andrian told her, indicating each person as he spoke their names.

“You brought a human back with you?” she asked, looking me up and down with a confused expression on her face. “Why?”

Andrian smiled widely and put his arm over my shoulder. “Didn’t dad tell you why I was joining the delegation? I went to find someone. I found him.”

“Yes, but… I didn't think you'd kidnap some poor human and force him to come here,” she said in a disapproving tone. "I know we've been at war and all, but this one obviously has never seen a battle. You can't just kidnap a civilian because he was nice to you when you were a cub." She looked at me sympathetically.

Wait, didn't Gregor say something like that too? Why did everyone keep assuming I was kidnapped?