It's a bit bizarre to awaken here, under the shade of a random oak tree. Adder isn't used to sleeping outside, so in the night he'd subconsciously coiled tight to the nearest source of warmth, Eben. He awakens in the constricting grasp, blearily blinking away the morning sunlight from sleepy eyes.

"I had a dream a tree was growing roots around me, squeezing the life out of me. Guess it was just you. Did you get scared last night?"

"No," Adder lies, intending to keep the memory of jumping at the sound of an owl private, "I just got cold. Not all of us are warm-blooded."

"Sure you did. If you didn't sleep well, you can always nap in the caravan. There's still a way to go before we reach the spot Daisy and Fern are supposed to be."

Adder picks up the bedroll, climbing into the cramped caravan with it. "I'll be fine. I'll wake up more as we start moving."

"Here, have something to eat, at least."

Eben hands a satchel to Adder, pulling out a long bit of jerky to gnaw on as he rides Fairy. Adder looks inside to see what else remains. He finds more jerky, a hearty hunk of bread, and even a sizeable chunk of soft white cheese. Starting with the bread, he tears off a bit, smearing the cheese on top and finishing with a bit of meat. He chews slowly, enjoying the simple meal as he leans out the window. Hues of green pass by as Fairy trots on merrily. Adder attempts to focus on that instead of what they might find ahead.

"Eben, did you often eat like this when you were a bandit?"

Eben looks back, strip of meat hanging from his mouth and both hands on the reins. "Yesh. All teh tem."

"Don't speak with your mouth full, Eben."

Eben takes another bite, tearing a large bit off animalistically before swallowing. "I'm not as refined a monster as you, Adder. You just stay back there and look pretty, leave me to my ruffian ways."

"Only you would call me refined."

"You are though. Those coils and claws don't erase the fact that you require four pillows to sleep properly and refuse to eat oranges without that white stuff removed."

"It's called pith and it's bitter."

"Pith is too bitter for my sensitive scales, ohh."

"You ass! You can't say anything when I see how you refuse to eat your greens."

Eben tears off more jerky, turning back to look at the road. "Don' need em"

Adder laughs, tail wagging in the tight space. Eben always knew how to get Adder's mind off negative thoughts.

He lets his mind go hazy as they bump along, closing his eyes. He falls into a trance-like state, the light peeking from the canopy dancing behind his eyelids in flashes of pink and yellow. It's only when he catches a whiff of werewolf on the wind does he sit up. Daisy comes bounding down the trail in her wolf form, sunshine yellow fur glinting in the morning light. She quickly approaches the caravan, barking gleefully.

Eben dismounts Fairy, ruffling blond fur. "Daisy, Fern! It's been too long."

"It has, hasn't it? How was your journey?" Fern asks, jumping off Daisy.

"It was fine. We've been enjoying the fair weather," says Eben.

"Fern, I heard the good news. Congratulations on your engagement!" Adder says.

"I'm closing my eyes. Look, Adder."

Adder gives her a minute to prepare before opening his eyes. He gasps a little, seeing both Fern and Daisy standing before him. Neither are wearing their habits, and both of their hands glimmer a golden ring. Adder's eyes are wide as he takes Fern's hand into her own. Her engagement band is simple, but engraved into the side is an intricate etching of a wolf. Similarly, on Daisy's, there is a crescent moon.

"I'm closing my eyes now. You both look beautiful, I'm so happy for you."

"I said just the same thing," says Eben.

Daisy laughs. "No you didn't! You called me a blasphemer for breaking my covenant with Giakora!"

"Eben!" Adder scolds.

"It was a joke! I called her a blasphemer with love!"

"So," Daisy interrupts, "do you have any news for us?"

"Daisy!" Fern hisses.

Adder flushes pink. "Were you to the ones who put Eben up to asking me—"

"So he did it! I knew you could, Eben!"

"Of course I did! I've faced much more fearsome challenges than asking for someone's hand," Eben grouches.

Daisy laughs. "Horseshit, he was so scared. You should've seen him fuss—-what if he says no, what if he realizes he doesn't want to be stuck with a criminal, oh, Daisy!"

"You harlot, that was told to you in confidence!"

"Revenge for spilling to Fern that I got her a ring!"

"It was an accident!"

The four of them laugh, levity bringing up Adder's mood immensely. Unfortunately, however, all good things must come to an end...

"Okay okay, let's not burn any more daylight. The scent fades with every hour we dawdle," says Fern.

"Alright. Let's go," Adder agrees.

The party of four disembarks on their journey. Daisy shifts back into her wolf form, leading the pack with her snout to the ground. The weather remains pleasant, with gentle sunrays warming the earth. But Adder's mood starts to sour as they head away from the trail and into the unknown. As much as he knows he has to do this, as important as it is that Merlyn is reunited with her flock, he can't lie to himself anymore. She is his daughter, and he doesn't want to give her up.

At his breaking point, knowing he can't let his heart get in the way of what's right, Adder decides to do something he's never done in his entire life. He makes a desperate prayer to The Great Deceiver.

Please, he prays, please give me the strength to fool myself into accepting this fate. Make me believe this is what I want. I cannot give her what she needs. What she deserves...

It's never a good idea to ask this fickle God for help. Adder has heard the twisted tales of how he ruins lives and destroys greedy men for their evil wishes. Will he too be punished for his hubris? Or will he be rewarded?

Adder's thoughts are cut off by a howl from Daisy. Fern runs to her side, stroking her fur. "She's found a strong scent!"

The party speeds up, following her as she quickly traverses the forest with skilled paws. Suddenly, they come across a clearing in the wood. Not just any clearing, though, a village! Here lay the remains of a harpy settlement: there are fire-pits long extinguished, several baskets that lay haphazardly on the ground, and in the trees, large, round structures woven from sticks and reeds. There's just one thing missing...the harpies.

"Where are they all?" Asks Eben.

"I don't sense any life," Adder says.

"Let's keep looking. Maybe they're flying around somewhere?"

"All of them? At once?"

"I don't know, Adder."

"Let's split up in pairs. We'll cover more ground that way," Fern suggests.

"Alright."

Adder takes the initiative to begin the search first. He scents the air, following his nose. The first thing he finds is a fire pit. Around it are several artifacts: burnt logs, a small, reed-bound doll, and chunks of meat on sticks.

Adder recoils at the stench. "Ugh! It's rotten!"

Eben picks up a stick. "Looks like it's been out for a day or two. They must've left in a hurry."

"I agree. Eben, this doesn't look good."

"I know. Let's keep looking, though. Maybe we can find a hint of where they went."

Eben looks around, carefully surveying the little harpy town. Adder follows him as they travel deeper, towards the center. An uneasy feeling overcomes them both, like they're entering a place that nobody should set foot. Adder realizes it's the same feeling he got visiting the stone graveyard...

Shaking his fears off, he nears a large spherical structure near the ground. This one is highly decorated, with colorful strips of cloth woven into the walls and wind chimes that sway in the gentle air currents. A gathering place of sorts, Adder guesses. He enters, finding cooked food, mats, and—the cloyingly sweet smell of stale blood. There in the middle of the room, A slain harpy lays with its throat slashed out.

"Gods!"

Eben picks something off the ground. "A sword. The monster hunters were here. The harpies must've fled them."

Adder's stomach is turning. He comes a bit closer. A cracking sound rings out. Adder covers his mouth in horror—a smashed harpy egg is on the ground, too. In his mind, a story becomes clear. This must be the remains of a mother, unable to flee without abandoning her child.

Overwhelmed, Adder can't remain here any longer. He escapes the confining space, gasping for air.

"Adder!" Eben comes running after him. He holds onto his arm. "Adder, it's okay. It's okay."

Adder tries to articulate his horror, his dismay—but he can't. His tongue is stuck in his throat. All he can think about is the last moments of the harpy with her egg. This could've been Merlyn's fate, if they hadn't found her that day.

"Adder..."

Adder hugs Eben, burying his face in red hair.

"They're all gone, Eben, they're gone or dead."

"I know."

"What are we going to do?"

"I don't know, Adder."

Daisy and Fern join them at that moment, concern on their faces.

"What's wrong?" Fern asks.

"The monster hunters attacked them. That's why there's nobody here."

"Gods," Daisy curses.

"We need to clear out. They could still be nearby."

"We can't leave yet," Adder hisses., "We need to find where Merlyn's flock went."

"Adder, these people are dangerous! I've had enough close calls to know you don't want to mess with them."

"But—"

"We'll find her flock. There's no reason to risk orphaning her again to do it."

Dejected, Adder nods. He follows the group, away from the harpy village. However, just as they're about to leave, something stops him in his tracks. A sudden jolt of restless energy fills his body, filling him with intense fear, worry, and desperation. He turns to the north, immediately following the irresistible pull and entering the woods.

"Adder, where are you going?" Eben calls out.

Adder can't stop—it's almost compulsion, like he's possessed. His thoughts are blank, eyes unseeing through the fog in his mind. His body moves through the forest without his command, until suddenly, he breaks the spell. He gasps, looking around wildly.

"Adder, what's gotten into you!" Eben scolds, finally catching up.

"I—I don't know—"

Adder's heart skips a beat as he scents more blood in the air. Fresh blood. He whips his head around.

"Reveal yourself!" he yells out.

"Help," a quiet voice whispers.

It's quiet, too quiet for human ears. Adder hears it though, and immediately heads in the direction of the plea. It takes battling some wayward branches and roots, but he finally finds the source. A middle aged man in a holy cloak is slumped against a tree, white robes stained crimson red and surrounded by the corpses of two monster hunters. He gasps as Adder comes into view, towering over him from the underbrush.

"My God, My God!" a tired voice rasps.

"It's okay! It's okay—I'm not going to hurt you..." Adder promises.

The man stares, stock still and skin pale, clutching at his abdomen.

Adder slowly approaches. "It's okay. What happened?"

"The hunters from Crestholm. They found the village."

"You were...with the harpies?"

The man nods, swallowing. He looks up at Adder, realizing his eyes are closed. "Yes. I was."

"Okay. My name is Adder. I'm not going to hurt you. I want to help you, okay?"

The man blinks. "Adder?"

"Yes, Adder."

"Adder, Helia's child?"

"Ah—yes! You know my mother?"

The man slumps against the tree, finally relaxing. "I know you. Hello Adder, I'm sure you don't remember me after all this time..."

"Who are you?"

"Zarek. Zarek Bestarius."