The darkness of night made it hard for Cora to appreciate the vastness of her surroundings. I can't believe I'm thinking this, but I almost wish I were a lycan right now. If she were one of them, she'd be able to see through the dark like all the others around her, and even harness her own strength that rivaled them. But as she looked back down at her brother's face, she wasn't quite ready to forgo her humanity either.

In that, she had a feeling she'd never be ready.

Cora leaned away from her brother after pulling some of the hay from his hair. He desperately needed a bath. She looked around once again, having just left the Alpha's Forum after meeting Theran. It didn't go as expected and yet was better than she hoped. All she knew was that it felt good to come to Ben right away, even if he were out of it.

The cart that Roman pulled was parked just outside of the entrance of the Alpha's Forum. Cora fixed her attention Hilda who neared them. Roman sat dutifully at the head of the wagon, feet perched up as he chewed on venison jerky.

Getting out of the wagon to greet Hilda, Cora was about to ask if the witch was allowed to stay with them, but a new lycan caught Cora's attention, one who approached after exiting the Alpha's Forum. The light of the braziers shined brightly around her bright, red robes.

One of their Seers.

As the Seer neared, Hilda turned to face the female lycan, who had medium skin with salt and pepper brown hair that was pulled back and draped over her shoulders. Her face was long with thin lips and heavily hooded eyes, looking over Cora and Hilda with calculation. There was a tattoo on the female's neck of a full moon, a crescent on either side. She also wore many bracelets that clinked with each step.

When the Seer spoke, her voice was deep and rasp, her gaze on Hilda. "So, you are the witch."

Hilda bore a similar expression of apathy as she addressed the Seer, gripping her dirty skirt. "And you are one of their Seers...I am surprised to see that you speak our tongue."

"Yes, most of our Seers do, although not all"--she glanced to Cora and bowed her head deeply--"My name is Oleva, and it is an honor to meet the Omni. While I wish your witch could stay with you, I need her to come with me."

Oleva moved her arm to direct their attention to the lake behind the island that the Alpha's Forum sat upon, and to the left, in the distance of the small island, were nearly ten canoes, all waiting to be used. Ambient light from the torches glinted off of Oleva's many bracelets, and then even reflected in her eyes as she glanced back to Hilda. "We will travel by canoe. It is a time consuming journey, so we are best to begin now."

Hilda shook her head. "I am not a swamp witch, nor an ocean witch. I do not do water."

Oleva was hardly deterred. "We have lycans of the Thaella Clans waiting to escort us, and they will guide the canoes. You need but sit in it."

Like a sinking log, it took time before the reality sunk within Cora's heart; Hilda might actually leave her. Right then and there.

"Please," Cora said, trying to hide her worry, the two of them looking at her. She looked at Hilda. "Can you please stay, at least when for when Ben wakes up? He'll need you. I need you."

Oleva addressed Cora before Hilda could respond. "Your witch needs to come with us, Cora Gabris. There are pressing matters, ones of a nature that we will not discuss in the open. We do not plan to hurt her, if that is a concern. But we do not have a lot of time to spare."

Cora looked down in defeat, knowing she couldn't fight them on this, but she felt like she had to do something. Being difficult might only make things worse for her, but she hated how powerless she felt.

Oleva took a cautious step towards Cora, the Seer eyeing her closely. Cora squared her shoulders while slightly leaning back, feeling shy with the intensity that Oleva now expressed. The Seer said, "On a second thought, you might want to come with us as well, Omni. We need to see you on the morrow as it is, per the Alpha's orders. But I have a strong sense to bring you with us now."

Cora held her blink in shock. Not only did she want to refuse, but Theran apparently gave orders in regards to her, and she was desperate for insight into him. "He gave orders for me to see you?" Cora asked.

The Seer nodded. "To get you started in the changing process. I don't see why it can't be done tonight, and the longer I look at you...the more I feel inclined to look into your shadow immediately. The moonlight is strong tonight, but is waning. Yes, this must be done tonight."

Cora glanced back and forth between Oleva and Hilda, her heart racing, while Roman watches on and continued to eat his jerky. Cora said, "I am not leaving my brother."

"Asla will watch him." The Seer nodded behind Cora, speaking in the lycan tongue as a female advanced towards them.

Cora turned around to see that near the bridge-the one that would take them back to the mainland of Reiger's Edge--and took in what she could of the female. The lighting remained dim, but Cora could grasp a wild, sophisticated look about her.

Asla was taller than most women that Cora knew and broad shouldered. Her hair seemed dark, but the closer she got the more Cora realized it was like a very dark blonde. She wore tight, leather pants that were laced up along the side of her legs, a loose, long-sleeved wool shirt revealed a tattoo on her left collar bone. Alsa eyed Cora with a shrewd, inquiring gaze.

Asla spoke with Oleva in very quickened Dånesh, and Hilda remained quiet as she observed.

When Asla seemed finished, Cora confronted Oleva. "I don't know this lycan. I cannot just leave my brother to a stranger," Cora said, half glancing to Hilda.

The Seer pulled out a pendant from underneath her robes, one that made Hilda's eyes widen. The Seer addressed Hilda. "Do you trust us now, witch?"

Hilda's demeanor turned to awe, reaching out for the pendant. Cora furrowed her brows, not sure what the significance was.

Cora took a step near Hilda, alarmed that she was so easily won over. "We don't know these people."

Hilda glanced down with a sigh, her aged eyes more alive today than they had ever been. "It is a lot to explain...I have seen this pendant in the smoke"-Hilda spoke wistfully, eyeing it once more-"They are allies, Cora. We must trust them."

"But Ben," she implored.

Oleva spoke with a more pressing tone. "The sooner we look at whatever shadows you cast Cora Gabris, the sooner we know of Grimshaw."

The cool, nocturnal seemed to fall in temperature, as if the words themselves bewitched the night. "What did you just say?"

The Seer's gaze softened. "Your brother is fine with Asla and Roman. But he won't be if Steigen is coming. We were to wait until at least the morrow to explore what lies in your shadow, but I don't think it is wise. I see something around you, something I want to understand. If your witch trusts us, then you can too. The full moon is behind us, with a waning moon only lessening in power every night. We will not have a stronger moon for another month, with the full moon only two days behind us. The sooner we look, the better."

Roman cleared his throat and when they all looked at him, he said, "It's really alright Cora. We will take Ben in there"--he nodded to the expanse of rock wall that glittered with shifting firelight from the many windows--"It's where you'll be staying. I'll wake him up a little and then give him more kväll milk. It'll be fine. Look at this way. You're the Omni. Most aren't going to want to kill your brother, at least not right away. He'll be alright."

With a deep sigh of defeat, and many eyes-including ones she had never met before-on her, Cora felt pressured to agree. What else was she do? Continue to fight them? Would they appreciate her spirit in pushing back, or would they admire her more for facing whatever these Seers wanted to show Cora? Plus, if Roman was to aid ben with the kvall milk, then it wouldn't so bad. It wasn't truly milk, but was rather clear and nicknamed as such. It seemed to not only help him sleep, but he groaned less in his sleep as well.

"You are certain?" She asked quietly to Hilda

"Yes, I am." Hilda seemed all there, sharp as ever. Cora didn't understand how the pendant changed it, but she trusted Hilda.

Cora looked at Ben, or more like the wagon that carried him. The sooner I know what lies ahead of me, the sooner I can make the best decision for Ben. It's not like me being here will keep him safe. She looked at Roman, his blonde hair in his eyes. "If he wakes up, and knows we're not there, tell him we aren't far and just had to settle in. Then help him sleep some more."

"He is not the first to suffer a grievous wound. We know what we are doing. We will take care good of him," Roman reassured.

That was probably the best she could ask for. "Thank you, Roman."

When it was all agreed upon, and with Asla joining Roman on the wagon, the Seer motioned at the entrance of the Alpha's Forum. A male and female lycan approached them when beckoned. Cora had missed them, watching them advance from the large building where she had faced Theran not but minutes ago.

Cora recognized this one -- it was the dark skinned female from earlier, the one that spoke into the male's ears the entire time.

To Cora's surprise, when they were only a few feet away, the female's dark eyes were entirely warm as she said, "It is an honor to meet you. My name is Wilhelmina Trita. You can just call me Mina."

Cora's eyes widened. "You speak the human tongue too?"

"Yes. My Clan specializes in human translations."

Cora frowned. "Oh, so you're an Ashmore?"

Mina folded her lips inward and nearly grimaced. "Oh, no. Not an Ashmore"-she grinned, revealing two large front teeth-"I belong to the Trita Clan. It's a much lesser clan, but we take pride in ourselves all the same."

Cora relaxed her face, not used to meeting new people. "Oh, that's honestly good to here. I'm Cora. By the way."

"Yes, I know. Ludovic Reiger and I will be attending you until further notice." She motioned towards the male.

Cora looked his way, the male standing a few feet behind Mina. He walked with a slight limp, but concealed whatever pain was there. In the dim lighting, Cora could note that he was rather handsome with a longer face and defined jaw, his nose sharp yet the tip rounded. His eyes were hooded and his lips plump. There was a depth in his eyes, even in the darkness, that penetrated like a warrior that has seen a hundred battles. Ludovic made her nervous, in that sense. She rarely interacted with people outside of her home, let alone handsome, strong, intimidating men. But after everything she had gone through and with how exhausted she was, she was just relieved that he looked intimidating.

That would help keep Ben safe.

She bowed her head to Ludovic, the lighting of the torches creating a dim glow to everyone present. It especially made Ludovic foreboding in the dark.

Cora said, "Mostcha." Greetings.

Glancing up at him, she caught that his eyes gave a subtle expression of curiosity. With a deep, slightly roughened voice, he replied, "Motscha."

The feeling of being able to speak to another in a language she hardly knew was a riveting situation. It was a small moment, overall, but so much was felt at the same time. There was even a sense of belonging, like this world wasn't entirely foreign to her. It even excited her, as if she could belong.

It reminded her that these were the people she had prepared her whole life to meet. And in that, she had to trust them. At least a little.

Oleva interrupted, speaking in Dånesh to Ludovic, his gaze hardening on the Seer behind Cora.

When their conversation finished, Mina eyed Cora with surprise. "Oh, we are going with the Seers?"

Cora tried her best to emit strength. "Yes, I think so. I am, anyway," Cora said. And leaving my brother.

"Oh, well we would come with you. I am to be your designated translator, and Ludovic your guard. As I said, we are to be with you at nearly all times."

"Oh," Cora said. It was hard to deny how interesting that felt, to have her own personal attendants.

It was the first time she truly understood what being important would mean here. The caravan that arrived seemed like necessary security...but getting a personal translator and guard felt esteemed.

Oleva was quick to guide them towards the island's beach, Cora's confidence waning when she placed a foot in the sand. It was so soft and akin to liquid, and yet somehow it was also rough, while also frigid. She had never felt sand like this before. She frantically looked ahead at Hilda, who turned around.

"It's alright Cora, it's just a lot of tiny rocks."

"It's uneven."

Hilda gave her a gentle look. "Just brace your knees and it's easier to walk in."

Mina spoke to Ludovic behind Cora in hushed Dånesh, and Cora wondered what she was telling him.

She didn't have much leisure to think on it, as Cora decided that she hated sand as she walked forward. It made no sense, moved in its own direction and made her feel like she was sinking with every step. She found her bearings when they reached the canoes and the sand seemed to harden. At least she knew canoes from their rivers. Although now that she was done worrying about the sand, her gaze lingered on the vastness of the dark lake ahead if them, which seemed even more consuming with only the moon to guide them, save for the sporadic torch, or faint glow from the rock wall.

Cold wind wafted in from the lake in a gentle breeze. A lycan already awaited them in a canoe, and the Seer instructed, "Cora, Mina and Ludovic will go in the other. Hilda and I will journey together."

The Seer entered a canoe along with Hilda, the lake rippling as they entered.

Cora tepidly walked over to another, stealing one more glance back at Roman and the female named Asla, who were at least fifty steps behind them in the distance. They were already walking towards the Alpha's Forum, as another bridge connected to the walls of carved out windows in the mountain face, with the island the only stopping point to connect the main lands to the cliffs.

Cora wasn't quite sure how to approach the canoe. Well, she knew how to get in, but this lake looked like a surface of glass waiting to consume them. She heard of how deep they could be, and with how languid the rippling waves were, it made her very nervous. Fortunately, Mina went in first and glanced up at Cora. "Are you alright, Cora?"

Cora straightened her back, not wanting to appear weak. "Yes, just, never been in a lake before. And it's so vast and dark..."

Mina spoke in her native tongue, looking behind Cora to no doubt Ludovic. To Cora's surprise, Ludovic grabbed Cora's elbow, his hand warm and strong. If she weren't so tired and anxious, she might have blushed. He helped Cora balance herself into the canoe, which was extremely cold.

Ludovic got in after her, the boat sinking just ever so with his weight.

And like that, the other, nameless lycan with them pushed off and got in as well, the canoe sinking just ever so into the water as it glided through the clean surface. Lanterns were attached to either canoe to give them light and also to mark them on the water.

Cora crossed her arms, breathing in deeply to smell the cool, moist air. Mina was in front of her at the very tip, but faced Cora, with Ludovic directly behind her and the other lycan behind Ludovic to paddle. Hilda and the Seer were nearly ten feet ahead of them.

For a moment, Cora craned her neck to rake her gaze along the stone, taking in the many exposed windows with flickering flames inside. Where I will live...The wall was amazing. It was spanned an enormous size, the bright light of torches from inside making the innate rock feel so alive. There were so many windows, one of them lining up in a repeating diagonal pattern like stairs. The stairwell, perhaps? Either way, it was so vast that she was not looking forward to walking it later.

It made her wonder if that was what a city looked like.

Human settlements deep in the south, such as Van Burren, were said to have walls of living space, stacked so high on one another it seemed physically impossible. Did the humans there burrow into the rock walls as well? How did they build their settlements?

She supposed she'd never find out. Not if this was to become her home.

The air seemed to grow colder as Cora's heart raced. She looked back up at the cliff face, breathing slowly as the magnitude of where she was---and who she was about to become--slowly settled on her mind.