[Winter – Outskirts of Parso]

“Here you are.”

There was elder Coyote Paw, sagging his arm, as he reached out. He handed over a letter written in the native tongue of the tribe.

“Wolf is going to be responsible for your well being, because it is my wish. Talk of wishes, I yearn for a safe trip for you two.”

Elder Paw staggered over his bent knee, but arose to Wolf’s side. Wolf had positioned himself directly next to the frightened Anette, ready to carry out the mission given to him by a fellow tribesman and leader.

It was a complex and fluid hierarchy for the Spiri and their respected Elders, so Anette felt no time to ask for elaboration.

Placing Coyote Paw’s vein-riddled right hand upon Wolf's covered shoulder, he then nodded his head once in unison with his ally. One of the most common interpretations of, “Best wishes,” according to their customs. The Natives of the Western Halfland often had a different image of themselves and the world they influenced.

The Settlers often feared the Natives. So much so, they’d paint scary pictures of dark-skinned savages that would capture anyone who ventured onto their property whether by mistake or with purposeful intent. However, that didn't seem to be the instance today. The new day's shine bounced off of the glistening teeth emitted by Wolf, aiming to garner Anette's attention and succeeding.

“Did you hear elder Paw's words young miss?” he raised the question with raised eyebrows and a big grin.

Wolf's facial demeanor quickly shifted into a quick look of disappointment from the lack of a conclusive plan and its chemistry with his unwavered loyalty. This snapped Anette out of her illuminated daze and caused her to blush with embarrassment when it set in. He unraveled his clenched fist in the direction of the elder as the old man continued.

“Thank you Wolf.”

He paused for no apparent reason other than to regain his slowly regenerating breaths.

“This note, young woman, should be enough of a recommendation to get a banished Native named Clear Mind as your temporary ally.”

An audible audience outside, gasped at the mention of the exiled elder’s name.

“Surely, you don't mean...” inquired Wolf. Penny never expected to see Wolf’s concerned face on this matter. A tingling sensation of worry eroded from within.

“Realign with her people Wolf. I will prepare fighters to prepare for a battle with whatever foe stands in the way of peace to our region, as are the times for us Spiri. When you and her people are ready, wander to the Red Canyon and find former-elder Clear Mind. Remain cautious of the outlying people, their presence alone is enough of a danger to warrant drastic measures. With Clear Mind and his abilities on your side. We should be able to end this conflict once and for all. Counter the abomination that has been manifested upon us, for us all.”

Coyote displayed a quick notion of discontent and he peered directly at the pondering Wolf, through a half-shut eye while stretching. Not hiding it well, he proceeded toward the exit and without relying on many more words, he waved back and exclaimed.

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“We shall speak once more. Let us prepare for that occasion.”

[Winter – Parso]

Ollie, with a relentless expression of determination, closed the door to the room where Jennings remained unconscious. In a dull, monotone voice, he spoke to Penny and Rosemary.

“I hate to say it, but we need help. I thought our group of close friends could get the job done without involving another hopeless soul in our mess. I thought wrong to be quite honest. I know you may not want to hear this right now Penny, but Rose and I need to head back to Boythe and gather some reinforcements.”

He noticed the hesitation evident on Penny's utterances of nothing competing.

“I can get a doctor. I mean...I should be able to. That's my family lying in that bed right there, beyond this door! You better damn believe that I am going to return with whatever I can to achieve us an ending.”

Penny had no choice but to accept the rhetorical proposition made by Jennings’ outlaw brethren. Ollie felt that's what it took to save Jennings, who was she to tell him no? She didn’t feel she knew better in the slightest.

[Winter – East of Parso]

Wolf led the way through the calm desert evening back to Jennings' residence at Anette’s direction. The hushed female absorbed the mellow-toned sky, painted as if it had decorated itself for a festival. Yet, it was about to fall into slumber. The scene of the swaying motion of her guide's broad shoulders reminded her of Jennings. She gave in to her wonder, if the outlaw who accepted her plea for assistance ever awoke.

However the break time for her exhausted legs and mind were over, instead she'd finish the trip on her own two feet, or at least what remained after the inevitable blisters.

“Are we nearer?” asked Wolf from the front, never breaking his concentrated stare forward. Anette made an assuring noise from behind. It was so faint, she wasn't sure Wolf had heard the noise until he gave a thumbs-up sign and proceeded the venture.

Anette spoke up, “We're very close, finally!” the exasperated woman proclaimed.

The hot conditions of the trip were appearing to take their toll on the trailing person of the pair. “So...what is the bad thing about this banished elder? Don't treat me like I can't read basic body speak.”

The sand crunched beneath every step of the brawny man. A few of those steps figured to prelude his response.

“You're not wrong.”

He halted his next few words in synchronization with his steps, then proceeded.

“I will continue to talk if we continue to walk.”

Anette agreed.

Wolf spoke rigorously to his companion.

“Elder Clear Mind was banished because he practiced a powerful martial-art form that was deemed to be heresy. With years of unyielding practice, few have been able to comprehend the Agi plane with simple quick movements. In Agi, Agists no longer ponder about the motion that sparks the connection, only the aftermath that’s visible. These thoughts and more are named 'ReAgi' and it's a devastatingly useful weapon on any battlefield. I truly believe elder Coyote Paw wants him to assist us onward with his own desires. I just don’t understand why he chose Clear Mind, I admit.”

Anette could sense some unsettling trembling, hidden without each word spoken by Wolf. She had to ask what landed on her mind.

“Do you trust that this elder can assist us?”

Without giving the surroundings a second to interrupt the mood, Wolf replied definitively.

“Elder Paw is who I trust.”

Hours had passed since the group had conversed about their near-future. A startled Anette was pleased to see the walls of a familiar structure over the horizon. Her legs moved on their own, entering full sprint to the closest visible door. She entered the house too simply, to her surprise, as the place was apparently left unlocked. Wolf decreased the distance between them as they made their way through the spacious corridors towards the room where Anette knew the outlaw was recovering.

Her approaching creeks against the wooden floors had for sure warned any presence within, of their arrival. As she slowly rotated the doorknob counter-clockwise, the door steadily revealed a conscious Jennings with a pistol pointed directly at them, adding his seasoned smirk to his face.

He lowered the weapon and proclaimed, “Oh, it's you Anette. I see you've brought some company back.”