Arm in arm with Ada, Fritz was led through Falken towards the center of the village. Eventually, they stood before one of the very few two story houses within Falken. The foundation was made of large white stones. Soot-stained, foggy windows, barely shed light into the first floor. Ada, ushered Fritz through the door quickly. He tried to push back against Ada's strength but was soon moved through the open doorway.

A large well furnished living room greeted Fritz. He could see a set of stairs leading up to the second story in the back corner. Beside the stairs was a kitchen. A small iron stove, perfect for boiling tea, sat shoved to the side. The center of the room was dominated by a large rectangular wooden table. There were enough seats for twelve. A high-backed chair sat at the head. A woman with gray short hair and matching wolf ears sat hunched forward writing a letter. Ink and quill moved rapidly as she tried to quickly finish. In her lips, a long pipe puffed tobacco into the air. Large, old, scars enveloped the side of her face and neck. Her tired blue eyes fixated on the work before her, as a dour frown pulled on her scars.

"Good Morning, Neva." Ada said softly, as if she didn't want to disturb the other wolfkin.

She looked up. Her tired bloodshot eyes looked to Ada and then to Fritz. The gray haired wolfkin's expression immediately softened upon seeing him. An awkward friendly smile distorted her battle worn face. Her intense blue eyes were untouched by her smile.

"Ada! And the man of the hour. Come take a seat. I'll just be a minute." Neva said, as she quickly put her quill away, and started collecting her paper. Ada pushed Fritz to the seat on Neva's right, before sitting down next to him.

"Just need a moment to put this away, would you like some tea?" Neva asked politely.

"Please." Ada replied. Neva looked over to Fritz. He smiled wanly at the offer, and the wolfkin was off. Walking upstairs with her parchment and quill she left Ada and Fritz alone for a moment. Fritz looked around the room, noting the decoration. Animal pelts decorated the walls, alongside various swords, spears, and shields. The decor certainly matched the rustic image of a country town. Behind, the foggy glass windows, humanoid shapes with animal ears pressed in close trying to see inside. Closing his eyes, he could hear the muffled sound of an argument outside.

Neva returned. Seeing the figures trying to look inside she walked over to the windows and drew the curtains. She moved her hands in a strange fashion, as she whispered something under her breath. Noise from the outside vanished. Fritz looked over towards the door. Nothing looked out of the ordinary.

"I have muffled the sound within my home. No one outside will be able to listen in on our conversation. No matter how delicate or curious their ears are." Neva said.

Returning from the kitchen for a teapot and a small bundle of firewood, she prepared the iron stove. Neva re-adjusted her pipe as she squatted. Extending a finger out Fritz felt a small twinge of magic emanate from her index finger.

A tendril of flame shot out of her finger wrapping around the log igniting the wood. "Just need a minute for it to boil." Finally finished, the mayor slumped down into her high backed chair. Her tall lithe frame took up much of the chair. Resting on an elbow, her fingers played with her wooden pipe. "Your report the other day was worrying Ada. We've already sent word to Hueryss. The Jaeger's will be alerted. They'll take care of the necromancer."

Ada nodded sagely at her words.

"Now, that's not why I wanted to talk to both of you." Neva began. She fixated on Fritz, as she took a long puff of tobacco. "Fritz's, it's nice to meet you. My name is Neva. I find myself the mayor of this small village. You'll have to excuse us if you're expecting some of the comforts of the city. This far into the boonies, one has to make due." Underneath the table, Fritz could feel Ada's hand gripping his knee tightly. Looking over, Ada made nervous signals with her eyes signaling Fritz.

"Nonsense, I think I will manage. It's a pleasure to meet you, Neva." Fritz responded. A fake smile enveloped his lips. Neva checked her pipe for a moment. She looked over towards the kettle before fixating back on Fritz.

"Quite the polite one you picked up. I'd almost forgotten what manners were." Neva said to Ada. Fritz felt her relax her grip.

"I certainly do know how to pick them. Nothing to worry about. Nothing strange or otherworldly about him at all. Haha." Ada laughed nervously. "Nope, nothing strange about him."

"Ada's right. There's absolutely nothing strange about me. I'm perfectly normal." Fritz said sarcastically. Ada's crushing grip made Fritz wince slightly.

"Right. Of course. I do hope you don't mind if I ask some questions. I like to know everyone in this village. Especially ones that get picked up so deep in the woods." Ada's tired eyes ran over Fritz's face. He felt the culmination of years of work and responsibility weigh upon him as she inspected him.

"That's quite alright." He said.

"Do you have any family Fritz?" Neva asked.

"No. I was orphaned at a young age." Fritz said casually.

"Where did you grow up?"

"Does it matter?" He asked.

"It does to me." Neva replied casually.

"Fine. Middle of nowhere. Far out into the country. I ended up moving to the city for an education."

"An education. Quite impressive. Most likely you're from Rennes then. That's quite the distance to travel." Neva said as she drummed her finger on the table. She stopped to take a deep inhale of the tobacco before exhaling through her nose. A cloud of deep acrid tobacco deflected against the dark wood of the table spilling out everywhere.

"Any friends, lovers, guild masters, creditors, or someone that might be looking for you?" Neva asked. Ada perked up at the question. Fritz could feel her looking intensely at him for his approaching answer.

"No. I am afraid not. I'm all alone. Sad isn't it?" Fritz replied.

"Very. Strange too. No one who might care that you've ended up hundreds of miles away from human civilization in the boonies surrounded by half feral beastkin?" Neva questioned.

"No, I've always been rather independent." Fritz replied. Ada gripped his knee. Fritz moved his hand underneath, trying to pry her away from him.

"The forest to the north is a savage land. No one but the elves lives there permanently. Rarely, we will see some homesteaders or hunters dead and rotting between the trees. Attacked by who knows what. Even rarer, does some random passerby exit the forest. You see my curiosity don't you?"

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"Of course. Makes sense." Fritz replied blandly.

"Especially since you're a human. Very rare in these parts. Let alone stumbling through a forest that would kill most."

"Your point?" Fritz asked, failing to mask his own annoyance.

"Only the foolish and the extremely desperate enter into those woods. What were you doing in there?" Neva asked. Her eyes narrowed like a predator.

"I don't remember." Fritz said with a shrug. "All I remember is waking up in a disturbed cemetery. Graves were exhumed. I was chased around a bit by some hornets and a bear. Then, I started moving south. Luck, or happenstance, or whatever helped me meet Ada. Afterwards, I was able to stumble into Falken."

"Hmmmm. Amnesia. How cliche." Neva said. She snorted to herself in amusement before continuing. "You look alive. Ada, is he warm? Or is he cold like the dead?"

"Very warm." She replied.

"You don't remember why you woke up in the graveyard?" Neva asked. "What's the last memory you have before the cemetery?"

"Getting fired." Venom dripped from his words as he spoke. Anger and annoyance, creeped into his demeanor.

"From what?"

"My weapons researcher job at EvaMaxx."

"You were fired, and you just happened to wander into the forest? A journey of days? Something's off." Neva paused before continuing. "Do you have any affiliation with the undead lands? Do you know anything about this necromancer?" Neva asked seriously. She seemed to lean in closer towards Fritz, as if to pressure him.

"What?" Fritz asked in confusion. The whistling of the teapot interrupted their conversation. Fritz looked over to Ada. She was reluctant to return his gaze. Fritz sat up straighter in his chair.

"Ada. Be a dear, get the tea." Neva said. Standing up, the blonde wolfkin moved to set the table. Moving around the table, Ada poured tea for everyone before returning the teapot to the cool side of the stove.

"Now, Mr. Fritz. Let's start over. Have you been in contact with any undead?"

"No. What would we even talk about? I can't imagine zombies being good at conversation." Fritz furrowed his brow, as he struggled to see where this conversation was going.

"Necromancers. Vampires. Liches. Higher ghouls. Abominations. Wights. They can all speak. Have you been in contact with any?"

"No."

"It's hard to believe. Especially when we've confirmed necromantic activity. Wouldn't you agree?" Neva prodded. Fritz let out a sigh. He took a tentative sip of the tea. Memories of similar corporate grillings swirled around in his mind.

"Ada, was there anything about your meeting that you found strange?" Neva asked. Ada seemed to fidget in place. Trying to pause before responding, she took a sip of her tea.

"Well, I mean there's a lot of strange things really." Ada began. "He acts so differently. He's really weak, but it's like he doesn't realize it. Not to mention, meeting him surrounded by wolves. Him charging in, and scaring away a couple. It's all strange. Then, he helped me return to town. He supported me as we marched for days. Regus almost forced him into a fight last night. It's like he doesn't understand how dangerous the world is! He needs help. Someone to watch over him."

"I would have been fine. I can handle myself." Fritz tried to interject. The other two beastkin ignored him. Underneath the table, Ada jabbed him with a finger.

"Exactly, Ada. He's very strange. Is there anything else strange about him? Anything identifiable on him? Anything that would give him a reason to be stumbling through the woods alone?" Neva asked. Ada took a long look at Fritz. Her steely gray eyes seemed to waver as she looked at him.

"No, Neva. Frann searched his pockets after he passed out." Ada answered. Fritz shot her an offended look. Ada looked away as she took a sip of her tea. Neva took another long inhale of tobacco as she considered the two at her table.

"Do you think he's trustworthy?" Neva asked suddenly.

"I do. He's just different. Very strange. He needs someone to watch over him." Ada answered.

"Ada, I trust you, so here's what's going to happen. Ada, you'll look after Fritz. You'll keep an eye on him, make sure he stays out of trouble. Don't let him out of your sight, till this undead business blows over. Is that understood?" Ada nodded sadly at the command. Fritz took a sip of the tea, as he mulled over his next words.

"That's all well and good, but I need to leave this village." Fritz said. "I cannot stay. I should have already left this morning."

"What's the rush? Any undead friends looking for you? Any lawman coming to drag you back home?" Neva asked.

"No. I need to get to Fehrenn. I can't stay. It's of the utmost importance." Ada grabbed his knee again. Her sharp nails dug into his flesh. Fritz winced slightly.

"You're staying until the Jaegers arrive. Once they deal with this necromancer, then you may leave." Ada said.

"I can't stay. Danger or not. I need to leave." Fritz said with exasperation.

"Why? You've already admitted no one is looking for you. You've got nothing in your pockets, so you can't be some merchant. Tell me why?" Neva asked.

"I-.I'm on a qu-" Ada jabbed her fingers into his side. Jumping in his seat slightly, Fritz frowned. "I shouldn't say."

"Shouldn't say?" Neva hummed to herself. She took a generous sip of the strong black tea. "Or won't say?"

"Neva, please trust me, it has nothing to do with what you may think. I need to leave. I can't stay. Ada is also right, I need some help. She should leave with me. Her help would be extremely useful." Fritz said.

"No. Never happening. You're too suspicious. If you ask me, you're involved in this business somehow." Neva replied. Fritz cursed under his breath. Massaging his temples, Fritz tried to keep a hold of his emotions.

"Neva! You can't seriously think he's involved." Ada spoke up.

"I do. Something's not right. My instincts are screaming at me. He's too weak to be involved directly, but I know something is off about him. Something is fishy and I intend to get to the bottom of it." Neva took a deep inhale of her pipe, before letting out a cloud of stinking tobacco. "Ada, keep a real close eye on him. Don't let him out of your sight, and stay put." Ada placed a hand on his arm before replying.

"Of course." She answered.

"How long until the Jaegers arrive?" He asked.

"A month usually." Neva answered. "Until then you're staying put."

Fritz stood up suddenly, the high back chair fell to the floor. His hands gripped the table as he leaned forward.

"A month? An entire month? I can't wait an entire month. I've got to leave now!" Neva seemed entirely unperturbed by his outburst.

"The roads are not safe with a necromancer on the loose, Mr. Fritz. Falken is. Staying is in your best interest." Neva said seriously. Her blue eyes were deadly seriously

"I'll be fine. Who's afraid of some stupid zombies? I have a quest to do! I need to leave now!" Trying to move away from the table, he felt Ada's hand grip his arm holding him in place. The air in the room went deathly cold. Struggling to free his arm, Fritz ignored the two other wolfkin.

"A quest?" Neva asked quietly.

"No. No. You misheard him, Neva! He said he has a 'west'. Right Fritz? Right?"

"I said a damn quest! Ada let's just leave! I've had enough of this. We'll get supplies along the way."

"A quest?!" Neva shot to her feet. Taking out her pipe, she started jabbing it towards Fritz and Ada. "Neither of you are going anywhere! What kind of idiocy is this? A quest? Nothing more than a fool's journey, chasing unicorns or some such stupidity!"

"It's not stupid!" Ada shot back. Letting go of Fritz's arm, Ada leaned over the table towards Neva. "It's a noble journey!"

"I know better than you girl! You're wasting your time and your sanity! Drop all of this adventure nonsense this instant! I've told you time and time again, adventuring is not like the stories!"

"You're just old and bitter! All you want is for me to fester and rot in the boonies just like you!"

"I want you to be safe! I don't want you to be stabbed, robbed, and left for dead!"

"I'll be fine!" Ada shot back.

"No you won't!" Neva and Ada started growling at one another. The two locked eyes, completely ignoring Fritz.

"Ladies! Ladies! Ladi-" Fritz said, raising up his hands.

"Shut up!" Both barked out at once.

"Fritz, and I are going on this quest!" Ada said while grabbing his arm again.

"You'll do no such thing, young lady! Do you hear me?! Running away with a man you just met? A human too? What's gotten into you?"

Fritz let out a long dramatic sigh, as he listened to the two argue. Ada held onto his arm, as she yelled over him. Neva kept jabbing her pipe towards Ada. Her scarred face scrunched in anger, as her face turned redder and redder. Eventually, a chair was thrown into the iron stove top, which prompted a protracted wrestling match. The two wolfkin kicked the large meeting table, sliding it towards the door. The large wooden table blocked the only exit. The two squared off in the center of the room. Growling and cursing, they slammed one another into the hard wooden floor of Neva's home.

A sinking realization hit Fritz, maybe all beastkin were like this?