As the day concluded, Kaer received a tent for rest. A young, beautiful female werewolf led Kaer.

"I took care of the cleaning and arrangement of the interior; please let me know if everything is okay and if you need anything else. Scaphya is my name," the woman said with a wide smile.

In his tent, he saw a large bed covered with fur, a table with food and drink, and a bathtub filled with water.

"Thank you, Scaphya. My name is Kaer."

"Call me if you want to walk outside, inside the settlement, or in the forest."

"Would you mind this?"

"On the contrary, it would give me great pleasure," replied Scaphya, smiling again.

"Then let's go; I'll rest afterward.

As Kaer exited the tent, he paused to chat with a group of children who had surrounded him, begging for a story from his adventures.

Kaer sat down on the ground, surrounded by children.

“After each of you tells me your name and what you like most, I’ll tell you a story. I’ll start. My name is Kaer, and I love truth and justice. And somewhere between those things, I also enjoy taking the time to share a story about one of my adventures with children.”

The children stood up one by one, introducing themselves and sharing what they liked.

"It was a day when I went hunting. I entered the forest near my village," Kaer began.

"I saw a bear, and I think it was hunting too. I had hunted such bears before, so I prepared to take action. Suddenly, there was a loud thunderclap, so strong that I thought a fierce storm was coming. I imagined the sky splitting in two when I saw a huge boulder flying toward me. I barely managed to roll to the side; otherwise, I would have been crushed right then and there.”

The children’s eyes widened with curiosity, and a few of them scooted closer to Kaer.

"Then, I saw a giant with four arms and a single eye in the middle of his forehead. He was uprooting trees and hurling them at me like battle spears."

"What happened next?" asked a little girl, who was so overwhelmed with emotion that she began to cry.

"I knew I had to act quickly," Kaer continued. "I drew my bow and aimed at his eye, hoping to stop him. But just as I was about to release the arrow, I felt a powerful force lifting me off the ground. I found myself inside a tent."

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“Did you still have your bow and knives with you?” asked a freckle-faced boy.

"Yes, my weapons were still with me. In the tent, there was an elderly woman. She offered me something to eat, and after I had eaten, she took my hand and led me outside.

'You’ve already met my son,' she said."

"The giant was the witch’s son?" one of the children asked.

"Yes," Kaer replied. "That’s exactly what I asked her. 'The giant who attacked me is your son?' She nodded and explained, 'You must forgive him for what he did. He’s just a child and makes many mistakes, especially when he’s scared of strangers.'"

Kaer smiled at the children and continued, "That’s how I met Grellog the giant. We became the best of friends. From then on, we hunted together, with me riding on his left shoulder. He turned out to be a most reliable friend. Another time, I’ll tell you how I saved my giant friend’s life and how Grellog saved mine."

Kaer took Scaphya's hand as they entered the forest.

"Do you like kids?" Scaphya asked him.

"Yes, I like them very much. Do you have children?"

"Not yet. Until now, I've only dated men from our tribe, and love has not blossomed for me yet."

"I've never encountered a female werewolf; your presence is delightful."

"Thank you," replied Scaphya, blushing.

While traversing the thick forest, Kaer and Scaphya exchanged tales from their lives. Kaer learned about the traditions and daily life of the werewolf tribe while Scaphya listened intently to his story of adventure and magic.

"Will I be able to see you again before I leave?

"I hope so, Kaer. I enjoy your company as well," Scaphya said with a smile.

She was lithe and muscular, her muscles rippling as she moved gracefully, and her eyes were a piercing green that shone with intelligence.

The Scaphya's scent was a mix of earth and wildflowers with a hint of musk. It was refreshing and natural but also heady and alluring, drawing Kaer closer to her.

Kaer pulled Scaphya closer and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss with a passion that surprised them both.

"I'm sorry," she apologized, stepping back.

"There is no reason to apologize; I am the one who kissed you," said Kaer.

"We have been away for too long. The tribe must be wondering where we are," she said, walking towards the camp. Kaer followed her. The two returned to the camp in silence, both lost in their thoughts.

"Are you allowed to stay the night in my tent?" Kaer asked.

"I'm allowed because I don't have a husband. But I prefer to come secretly. You are not thinking about a lasting relationship and just want an affair. You're probably curious to see how wild such an escapade is with a werewolf."

"Would that be the wrong thing to do?"

"If we both desire the same thing, there is no wrongdoing."

"If you don't want to, then no."

"Let's do that; I will come."

"Then, I'll see you later, Scaphya."

“Yes, goodbye, Kaer.”

Scaphya enters Kaer's tent. She sat on the bed.

"I'm heating water and I'll wash you first. It is a tradition of ours".

Falling into a deep sleep, Kaer dreamed of Oyosinna and had a vision. A necromancer had sought sanctuary in a cave concealed within the depths of the forest bordering a village. This necromancer was the exclusive possessor of the Black Circle Bracelet, an item containing Sunset Stardust, a legendary black essence. The master blacksmith Huzdurwan was skilled in the rare art of extracting this black essence.

For the terrible events that will follow, Kaer will need the help of the dragon tanner. To reach the world where Uverta The Tanner lives, Kaer will need Black Essence Potion.