The road to Lumen felt like the longest road I’ve ever traveled… or that anyone’s ever traveled, likely.

And it wasn’t just because Reatti and I were on foot, and not on the horse. Nor was it because it’s been very long either.

Walking next to Reatti, as she walked next to the horse and guided it with its reigns, I wondered if the two of us would walk the whole way in silence.

The trip from the Clothed Woman’s sanctuary to the Bell Church hadn’t been silent… but that had been because of Fly and Wool. Reatti and I had even talked to one another then, but only because the conversation demanded it.

Yet since leaving the Bell Church… well…

Glancing up at the dark clouds in the sky, I wondered if I should just be thankful that it wasn’t raining. It had rained earlier, and my clothes were still damp thanks to it. Hopefully I didn’t get sick… I did feel a little cold. I wore traveling clothes, heavy duty stuff made of wool and leather… but they weren’t as nice as the stuff Vim had prepared me long ago, or the stuff Lellip had made. Plus some of my bandages were now itchy. They had dried out already, thankfully, yet now felt different than they had before. A little less comfortable, which was saying something since they hadn’t been comfortable at all beforehand.

The horse’s hooves made persistent sounds as it trotted behind us. It didn’t breathe very heavily, even though it was weighed down by half a dozen bags and boxes. Its load was the reason we were on foot, since there was no room for us to sit upon it.

We had left the Bell Church in the morning… and the world was starting to grow darker, and not just because of the dark clouds. The sun would be setting soon. In a few hours, likely.

I wasn’t sure how far we were from Lumen, or if we were even heading to Lumen at all. Reatti hadn’t said a word since we left the village… and… well…

Our departure had not been a normal one.

We had been forced out. Or rather, I had been.

I was now banished from two locations within the Society.

Though this one didn’t hurt as much, yet, it was definitely bothering me.

Just how real were that old woman’s claims? I believed it to a point, since I knew how cruel and strong my ancestors were… but…

But…

No. The truth was obvious. After all, such devastation had been the exact reason that witch had found me and my family. It was why she had hunted us.

And how had she known anyway? I had never seen that woman before in my life. Yet she had recognized me instantly… either by sight or smell.

I sighed, and did my best to not start sobbing and breaking down. Not so much because we were out in the middle of some random forest, but also because I didn’t want Reatti to hate me even more than she obviously already did.

Though likely nothing I did could make her hate me any more than she did.

I had gotten her brother killed. What could be worse than that?

Rounding a small bend in the trees, I noted a scent in the air. One not usually found in a forest.

Something beyond the smell of the trees, bushes and animals. A little stronger than the rain soaked forestry, or the horse walking behind me.

The smell of something burning. The smell of people. Humans. Dirty ones.

Glancing at Reatti, I wondered if I should say something. If she had also noticed she didn’t show it.

Humans weren’t that strange to encounter in forests like these. Especially since we were walking on an obvious path that they always trod upon. Yet… we were less than a day away from the Bell Church. Would they want humans this close to it? Maybe there were other villages nearby as well.

Before I could grumble my way to a decision, the world answered it for me. As we finished coming around the bend, a trail of smoke came into view. Smoke from a small campfire on the side of the path up ahead, next to a cart and horse.

The cart was a familiar sight. It was the same type of the countless I had seen in Lumen, particularly in the Animalia Guild’s depot. It didn’t have our emblem upon it, but instead a darker red colored one, but it was definitely the same kind of cart found all over Lumen.

And it was oddly tilted and positioned next to the path, as if…

The answer became clear as we approached. Dark mud was all around the cart.

I see. It was stuck in the mud, thanks to this morning’s rain.

The sides of the path, and sometimes even the path itself, was muddy… but it looked far worse where the cart was stuck, likely thanks to the many footfalls as they tried to unstuck it. Not just from humans, but the horse too.

There were three people sitting at the small campfire, and they all shifted as they noticed us.

I glanced at Reatti, and wondered if I should ask her for permission first. She was staring at them… but…

Her eyebrows were narrowed. Her face stuck in what seemed a permanent frown. She was glaring at them, as if they were something ugly and detestable.

Reatti’s always hated humans, but it was obvious her temperament had hardened and gotten crueler after her brother died.

I coughed lightly, and Reatti glanced at me. I gave her a gentle smile as I nodded and stepped away from her and towards the cart.

If she wouldn’t stop and help, then I’d just run and catch up to her afterward. Lumen couldn’t be that far from here… I bet I could find it even if Reatti and I got separated. Odds were it was only a couple days away at most, based off how long it took to get here on the horse drawn cart. Worst case scenario I only needed to find the sea, and then follow it south.

As I approached the camp, I noted the way the cart looked. Especially the huge wheels.

Luckily the cart wasn’t too badly stuck, nor was it too far off the path. It looked like they had likely moved aside to either rest for a moment, either seeking shelter from the very rains that trapped them, or to get out of the way for a larger wagon.

Walking up to the cart, I ignored the horse that neighed at me… or likely instead at our horse, and gently nodded to the older man. “Greetings sir.”

The older man studied me in a way that I would have likely found insulting under other conditions, since he was staring at my chest, but I knew it was not because he was being lecherous but rather because he was studying the emblem sewn onto the jacket I wore. Or maybe my arm in the sling.

“The Animalia Guild, eh?” the old man whispered, and then coughed as he stood up from the stump he sat upon. He nodded lowly. “Ma’ names Bretton. I belong to the Fastener’s Guild… as do my children,” the man gestured to the two who were now standing. They had both stood up and away from their small campfire upon my approach.

They didn’t look like the old man at all, but I didn’t doubt his claim. They looked as young as I probably did to the old man, though the girl oddly had a sword and the boy didn’t. Bretton didn’t have a weapon on him either.

“Your cart looks stuck,” I stated.

He nodded. “Stuck like a coin in the tax man’s hand,” he said.

I smiled at his response. He was a merchant indeed. I turned a little to gesture at the horse nearing me.

“We can use our horse. Between the two, and a little effort, I’m sure we can dislodge your cart,” I said with a gesture to the wheel nearest us. It looked to be the one actually stuck, it was dug nearly half of my tail’s length into the thick mud.

“Ah…! Are ya’ sure miss? I won’t be able to pay ya not’n. No coin on me,” Bretton quickly spoke as he looked from me to Reatti, who was now finally walking up next to me. She had left the horse a few feet away.

At least she hadn’t kept walking and left me behind. Without both horses this would be difficult.

I frowned at him, and wondered if maybe someone else had already passed by and didn’t help because of that very reason. His response was quick, nearly immediate. And the look in his eyes told me he was expecting a certain kind of response from me because of it.

“That’s fine. Have your kids help me unload our stuff off the horse,” Reatti said as she stepped away.

The old man stood up straighter, and for the tiniest moment I saw relief upon his weathered face. He blinked harshly, and turned away as to shout at his kids. “Get on it! Help em’!” he shouted.

I smiled gently and stepped back as to let the two kids hurry past. I walked away from the man as he tried to hide his emotions, which he honestly wasn’t doing a very good job about. He was sniffing, and trying to rub his eyes on his shoulder without being obvious about it.

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Stepping over to their cart, I rounded it as to look at the other wheel. Sure enough this one was only about half a hand’s deep dug into the muddy dirt. Most of the cart was covered in mud… likely from the many attempts of trying to drag it out. The horse and humans had likely kicked up and dug at the mud, flinging it everywhere in the process. It was covering most of the sides of the cart, and the horses legs were nearly layered in the stuff.

Had it lain down in the mud, or had they been trying that long? Maybe they’ve been stuck here more than a single day…

Their campfire was a little… well made. They had put logs all around it, and gotten little stumps as to use not just for chairs but also tables. One of the stumps had a little game upon it. Some kind of wooden board with about half a dozen pieces lay upon it. It took a lot of effort to not go over to it, as to learn what it was.

“Alright let’s hook them both up,” Reatti gave orders, and the children and old man all happily obeyed her. Feeling a little out of place, I stayed back a little as they harnessed their own horse and then wrapped some rope upon our horse’s saddle.

Rounding the cart, to get to the back, I was joined by the children as Reatti and the old man ushered the horses.

Since my right arm was still stuck in the sling, I chose to lean against the cart with my left shoulder.

The moment the horses started pulling, I and the children started pushing on the back of the cart. I put as much strength into it as I could, as to avoid letting this take too long. I knew Reatti wouldn’t be happy if we spent too much time on this.

For a long moment the cart only made squishing sounds as it was pushed deeper through the mud... but then the cart jolted forward. A single wheel got unstuck, and the cart started to turn at an add angle… and then the other got free and rolled forward as well.

The children hollered in relief, and they both stopped pushing. I however kept pushing, and stepped into the thick mud because of it. Thanks to the mud, I wasn’t able to follow the cart any longer. But it wasn’t needed. The cart easily rolled up and out of the mud and to the dirt path thanks to the two horses.

As the old man hollered a hooray and hugged the horses, I accepted the young girl’s outstretched arm. She helped pull me safely out of the thick mud, and I smiled in thanks at her. She actually blushed at me and looked away. Maybe she was younger than she looked.

Stepping away from the mud and their camp, I did my best to wipe my now mud covered boots on the thick grass as I headed for the path and cart.

“Thank ya! Thank ya so much, by the songs thank you!” Bretton was happily shaking Reatti’s hands, rather violently, and I couldn’t help but snicker at her face. She looked dumbstruck, unable to do anything but accept his fervent thanks.

Before she could say anything more he stepped away and hurried over to me. He took my left hand with both of his own and shook them just as he had done Reatti’s. “Thank ya!” he sobbed, and I saw actual snot forming on his beard.

“It was nothing,” I said gently, but the man didn’t even seem to hear me. Instead he turned and shouted at his kids, to have them reload our horse.

“I won’t forget this, I swear it! I’ll make sure the Fastner’s Guild knows all about this! By my name, I swear it!” Bretton shouted to the world as I nodded to him, and watched Reatti and the two kids repack our stuff onto the horse. I noted the way Reatti ordered the kids around, and pointed out the way she wanted things tied down and fastened.

The kids didn’t seem bothered by her harsh tone, but I knew that was only because they were still stuck in the ether of the event. Otherwise they would have definitely noticed the… glare Reatti had as she yelled at them.

“To think the rumors of ye’ Guild be true! I shouldn’ta doubted em!” Bretton shouted.

“Rumors…?” I asked, but he ignored me as he hurried away and to his own horse. He petted the thing, and said loving words of praise to it. It actually shifted and neighed at him, as if happy to not have been forgotten.

“Renn,” Reatti drew my attention, and I was surprised to find they were done already. The stuff was now retied to the horse, as if it had never been undone.

“Ah… Goodbye! Try to avoid mud from now on, okay?” I said to the man and children.

“Bye!” the two children waved happily as Reatti stepped past me, pulling the horse behind her.

“Farewell Animalia Guild! May your vaults never empty!” Bretton shouted as I turned and left with Reatti.

I couldn’t help but awkwardly smile at the man as we walked away. He continued to shout praises and prayers for our good fortune and journeys, even until we were out of earshot. Or at least, human earshot.

Once the man’s voice finally stopped echoing in the world around us… I glanced over at Reatti. We had returned to walking side by side, with the horse right behind us… and she now looked just as she had upon finding that cart stuck in mud.

Her face was placid. Empty. Devoid of any emotion.

As if nothing had just happened. As if the cart, and that old man with his kids, had all been but a fever dream.

I gulped, since it was obvious why she was acting like this.

After all… Reatti was anything but quiet. She was usually so loud, and boisterous. Happy beyond measure. Running around, like a child and…

“Do you think your parents actually did it?”

I nearly stumbled at the question, and not just because it hit me deep in my soul.

Glancing at Reatti, who was staring straight ahead… I did my best to keep my heartbeat under control. She was talking to me!

It was a little odd she’d completely ignore what had just happened, and instead focus on what happened this morning… but…

“Honestly… it’s possible. Rather than my parents, if it really was someone in my family it had to have been my grandparents. They were more beastly, and not just in shape,” I said, choosing my words carefully.

Reatti shifted, and frowned. “How beastly do you mean?” she asked.

“Well they had fur all over, and were large. My grandmother was twice as big as me, and she had a snout too,” I said as I reached up and touched my nose.

“Huh…” Reatti finally looked at me, and I nodded to her as to affirm I was telling the truth.

“Also I had an uncle, who was technically my great uncle…? Or great-great uncle? He was the older uncle of my grandmother. He wasn’t human at all. Though I only ever saw him a few times,” I said.

“Not human at all?” she asked.

I nodded as I relived the memory of my youth. Before I had known anything about my family, or understood anything of the world. “He lived in a cave not far from where we did. He wasn’t able to talk at all, and as far as I’m aware had very little reasoning. He wouldn’t attack us on sight though, and sometimes even brought us stuff he caught and killed. Like deer and bears,” I said.

Reatti was silent for a long moment, and I worried that she’d stop talking again. Yet before I could say anything as to reignite the conversation she gestured at herself. “My family line was several generations too… but the oldest still looked human enough. The most non-human only had sharper teeth and nails,” she said.

“Oh…?” I wasn’t sure what to say to that. It was interesting, but also… well…

Reatti then slowed a little, noticeably enough that even the horse complained. It huffed loudly, breathing out of its nostrils heavily as if to protest. “I know full well the feeling of being born from monsters, Renn. So don’t let their banishment bother you too much. You’re not your parents, or theirs,” Reatti then said.

A little shocked at her, and her very sincere attempt at comforting me… I nodded gently. “Yet all the same it is something I must face. If my ancestors really had killed and burnt down her home… then who knows how many others they had hurt? How many in the Society have suffered because of me?” I said to her.

Reatti scoffed. “You didn’t burn the villages, or kill and eat those people. If we condemned children for the sins of their parents all of us would be dead, Renn. So there’s no need to even fret over it. In fact if you give it time I bet your banishment will be lifted. And even if it doesn’t, don’t let it bother you. Trust me, there are many who have gotten banished… some of them just as undeserving of it as you,” Reatti said.

Walking past a large grouping of berry bushes, I ignored the little squirrels cluttering around them. They were eating the small berries in a furor. It was actually interesting that none of them were hiding from us as we passed. Either they were that hungry, or were used to people walking by as they ate.

“Honestly it was more shocking than anything else… I hadn’t expected it at all,” I said.

“Oh I’m sure. But that’s how those people are. There’s a reason so many people hate going there. My brother hated going there too,” Reatti said.

I noted the way she said the last part a little softer. She spoke of her brother with a very… soft tone. As if she had gotten lost in thought upon remembering him.

Opening my mouth as to say something, about Brom, I hesitated… and looked away from her.

How could I say anything? What could I possibly say that wouldn’t just be felt like a thorn or insult?

Yet I needed to say something didn’t I? I needed to apologize at least, right? Or at least tell her of his final moments… the things he had said and done…

Would it be courageous or foolhardy to say something?

“Why’d you help those humans?” Reatti asked before I could decide to be courageous or a fool.

“Back there…?” I shifted a little, and shrugged my shoulders. “Honestly I don’t know. I saw they were stuck, and their cart didn’t look that heavy. It wasn’t even fully loaded. I figured our horse plus theirs, and a little pushing, could free it,” I explained.

“Yes, but why?” she asked further.

I blinked at her and shook my head. “I don’t know Reatti. I guess because I’d hope someone would help me if I was in their position,” I said.

Reatti’s face scrunched up and she scoffed at me as she looked away. She pointedly shook her head, as if doing her best to not say something cruel.

“I know. It’s stupid,” I accepted.

“It is. But at least you know it.”

I nodded.

“Yet that’s who you are. At least you’re willing to do what you believe in. Many preach such things, yet never step up when the time comes. Even if it did get my brother killed,” Reatti said.

My stomach sunk and twisted, and I nearly choked. “Reatti… I…” I tried to speak, but wasn’t able to. It was a miracle I was able to keep walking alongside her.

“Yes. I know. You didn’t kill him. I know, Renn. I also know you feel horrible and all that… But right now I can only hate you for it. Maybe someday I can… forgive… but right now I can’t,” Reatti said.

She spoke evenly, like talking about the weather. The tone she used actually made her words cut deeper somehow.

Doing my best to not cry, I nodded. “I understand,” I whispered.

“Mhm,” Reatti nodded and made a noise, as if glad we had finally spoken about it.

“I’m sorry, Reatti,” I said, before I let the moment pass.

“I don’t doubt that. But… please. Just let it be. Let me be. Until I can sort what happened. I’ll not… ignore you completely. But let’s try not to get too close. I don’t want to tarnish my brother’s sacrifice by letting my hate grow too much for you, or something worse. For my brother’s sake, please let us just endure,” Reatti said.

Nodding, I gulped a dry mouth.

What a way to see it. What a conclusion to come to.

She was stronger than me. At least where it counted.

The horse huffed loudly, as if it could somehow understand our conversation. Reatti shifted as to reach over and pat the thing on the snout.

Reatti sighed after a moment, and then pointed ahead of us. “Around this clump of trees are the open fields. Lumen will come into sight soon,” she said.

I nodded, and hoped she didn’t get too offended over the tears leaking out of my eyes.

It wasn’t good that I was crying, and so emotional, and she fine. It was likely rude.

Yet I didn’t know what else to do.

Wait until she forgave me? I shall do so. I shall endure forever if I must.

Especially since I doubted she ever would.

After all… I didn’t think I could forgive myself either.