The night air was crisp, tingling in Blair’s lungs as she sat in her tent. Alder had insisted that setting a watch wasn’t necessary, but Blair had pointed out that he’d thought the Straits wouldn’t be a problem either.

He had relented but wouldn’t let her take both shifts. She hadn’t tried to argue. While she could stay up longer than a human, it would take a toll on her mind more than her body, which was too dangerous to allow.

Her legs were crossed, with her hands resting palm down on her knees.

She closed her eyes and breathed deep. Sucking in the cool, pine-scented air. She focused all of her attention on her hearing and smell, not blocking anything out.

The clearing was still peaceful on the surface, but the forest was far from still. Fifty yards behind her, a fox searched a rabbit burrow that was twenty feet to its right. Much further away, a bear turned in its sleep, cozy in its little cave.

The forest teemed with life, from the worms in the dirt to the squirrels sleeping above, and Blair observed it all.

The scream that tore through the night was so loud that it sounded inhuman. And it was coming from Alder’s tent.

Blair flew out of her tent before the sound started to die. The clearing, lit only by the fight moonlight, was empty, but she could smell something off in Alder’s tent.

She tore through the tent wall like wet paper, not bothering with the door. …And found no one but Alder inside. Alder’s scream finally died out, only for another to take its place. He thrashed in his sleeping bag like he was having a seizure, and he smelled wrong.

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He usually smelled like coffee and wet soil, but now he reeked of cheap perfume and /terror/. Not fear, that word wasn’t strong enough for the cloud that was rolling off him.

It made her nose itch and almost caused her eyes to water.

Alder thrashed harder, partially curling in on himself.

Blair lunged for him just before he slammed back down. Catching the back of his head with one hand and holding her weight up with the other.

Alder managed to slip his arms free of the bag, and he grabbed onto her planted arm so hard that his knuckles instantly turned white.

His eyes snapped open, and he stared up at her with open, desperate terror. “Please! Alex! Please, please, please!” He gasped, not giving himself time to breathe. “I won’t try to run again! I promise! I promise I promise, I promise! “ His words drew out into a whisper.

That look hit Blair like a punch to the gut. She wasn’t sure what was happening, but Alder obviously didn’t know where he was. She focused on keeping her voice calm and soothing. “Alder, you’re safe. It’s Blair. We’re in the Clearing.”

Slowly, the fog cleared from Alder’s eyes. As it did, his scent slowly faded back to normal.

He blinked up at her, then sagged back in her grip. “…my bad. I should have warned you this could happen. But…kinda an awkward subject to breach.”

Blair stared down at the Grave Keeper and desperately wanted to ask what was happening. “…Are you okay.”

He closed his eyes. “I will be. Thank you. …I just- I need a minute. Then I’ll be fine.”

Blair wanted to ask what the hell was going on, wanted to so badly that she opened her mouth. “…” But the words wouldn’t come. The reasons she hadn’t pressed earlier were still there. Nothing had really changed, aside from increasing her worry. That, and confirming that magic was involved. Not only had his emotions changed, but his actual scent. Perfume didn't just vanish on its own.

So, despite her curiosity, and her worry, she stayed quiet. And once again hoped she wasn’t making a terrible mistake.