Breakfast was fast and simple. Volto fed us our meal and ushered us out as more Grimms showed up to sit down. I ate silently while occasionally slipping bits of food into my shadow for Freki to consume. Alice flitted around to Grimms she recognized to ask discreetly where Devon or Krulg was.

I finished my meal before she returned, a subtle but noticeably angry look on her face.

“Any luck?”

She sat down and shoved the last of her bread into her mouth. As she angrily chewed, she shook her head. “Devon is still missing. Nobody knows where Krulg is, but he was last seen in town.

“Not the best information, but it's better than nothing. Let’s hop on Freki and head there? Unless you need to talk to someone.”

“No. We want answers,” she stated.

Very well. I doubt we’ll get them.

Surprisingly, as we left, a Grimm waved and called us over. It took me a second to realize who it was, and I returned the greetings.

Kierra pulled back her hood and smiled, revealing fresh canines–far sharper than what I remembered her having.

Her eyes and hair were the same, so not much changed there, but there was something different about her. As she walked over, I realized what it was.

“You move like a cat,” I pointed out.

She stopped and cocked her head and then looked down to her feet. “I do?”

“Yeah, very quiet and limber. You’re positioning is different, too. How does it feel?”

“Honestly?” She stopped toward the side so we didn’t impede the traffic flow into the mess hall. She raised her arm and flexed her fingers. “Amazing. I’ve always taken care of my body, but everything feels… Right. Like I never realized how clumsy I was before.”

I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.

Alice extended her arm and Kierra looked confused as she reached to shake it. But as she did, Alice gently grabbed her wrist and pulled back the sleeve of her shirt, revealing a toned but not overly muscular arm.

“Highest stat is agility?” Alice asked.

“Yes. Followed by constitution.”

Alice released Kierra’s arm and smiled. “Where’s Adeline?”

“Resting. She stood watch while I slept.”

“She cares for those under her charge. Listen to her; she’ll train you well.”

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The gurgle of a hungry beast ruined the solemn moment. It rose in pitch and lasted far longer polite. Kierra kept her smile, but her eye twitched as she slowly clutched her stomach.

“She warned me about the hunger. It…”

“Feels like a wild animal is clawing at your insides?” I finished.

“That’s rather spot on. Does it always feel like this?”

“No idea. I’m still always hungry.”

Kierra winced.

Alice pointed to the mess hall. “Tell Volto. He’ll know how much to give you. Don’t be shy and eat as much as it takes. Your sense of smell should have increased; try not to bite someone’s hand.”

“No kidding about the smell. I can smell the peppers and bacon from here. Is it normal to bite someone’s hand?”

“Yes.”

Kierra and I exchanged a lighthearted look and chuckled. Alice remained deathly serious and another rumble rippled forth from the fresh pup’s stomach.

“See you guys later?” she asked as her feet dragged her toward the food.

“Maybe. We’ll definitely try. And enjoy the meal. The new tastebuds turn everything up to maximum!” I shouted before she disappeared behind a burly man who glared our way.

We continued down the tunnel and out the Warren with little fanfare. I kept vigilance in case Devon or Garret showed up. While I didn’t want to see Garret personally, his words a niggling worm that intruded my thoughts every so often, I was ready to pin him down and let Alice do the interrogation.

Though, much like our elusive mentor, he remained hidden. Alice had asked around just in case, but nobody had seen him.

It was worrying, but not overly so nor surprising considering Garret’s usual abrasiveness.

When we reached the forest, Freki emerged from underneath me and I adjusted on his back. Alice hopped on behind me, securing her grip around my waist as he took off.

As we dashed through the trees, I turned my head and leaned back. “I never asked, but what’s your thoughts on Garret? He doesn’t interact with you like the others. I figured with him and Elias…”

She grunted. “Normal.”

“What do you mean by normal? Normal by your standards, or mine?”

“Normal.”

“Alice.”

She sighed and leaned into my shoulder as Freki jumped over a section of upturned roots.

“I have no problems with him. Nor does he me. We are normal to each other,” she said carefully. When I raised my eyebrow, she tightened her grip on my waist. “He was always awkward when it came to showing affection to Elias around me. Like he was afraid. No assurances from me or my brother assuaged him of his fears. I think he was afraid of upsetting me.”

“You guys didn’t really talk back in the city.”

“No. We didn’t. If he wants to talk, I am willing. But I’ve no tears to shed for his misery.”

I wisely stayed silent as we approached the village’s edge and came to a stop. Already we had drawn looks from a nearby Grimm but he swiftly returned to my shadow and we proceeded inside.

By now, all the doors were covered in the protective runes with windows boarded and other decorations lining the buildings walls. Red banners were everywhere, clouding the skyline, bathing the town in red as more Grimms loitered around.

“It looks lively, in a creepy-cult sorta way,” I said.

“Cultist never wear red,” Alice replied.

“What cultist have you met?”

“Once, with Adeline. They were dressed as villagers to blend in.”

We moved toward the center but a familiar scent caught my attention. I motioned toward the side and we headed down a familiar path, one that lead us past a perfume vendor.

“What happened to the cultist?”

“Adeline tore them apart. She was showing me when she thought it was best to shift and abandon our human forms.” She sniffed the air and her hand drifted toward her pocket. “She’s back.”

I nodded.

The scent was faint, barely noticeable except for the faint bursts as the wind shifted.

Apples.

My hand drifted toward my axe and Alice guided us toward the side of the old house. Our steps were silent and we slid our weapons free, but once we neared the corner it wasn’t the crone’s voice that we heard.

It was a man.