For a moment, Zypher didn't move.

His small frame remained rigid, his antennae twitching as he took in the gremlin standing before him. Kogwin's thick, white fur stood in stark contrast to Zypher's bare, smooth skin—a visible testament to the years spent apart, to the two very different lives they had led. Zypher's fingers curled slightly at his sides, his gaze flicking over Kogwin's familiar features, and then downward, as if unsure of himself.

Raelyn had never seen him quite like this before.

The silence stretched, heavy and expectant, until at last, Zypher took a step forward. His voice, when it finally came, was quiet—almost unsure.

"Brother."

Kogwin's large, inquisitive eyes softened, his antennae lifting slightly. A slow smile spread across his face, and without hesitation, he stepped forward and wrapped Zypher in a firm embrace.

"Brother," he greeted warmly, his voice carrying a note of relief. "Welcome home."

Zypher stiffened at first, his body unused to such open affection. His arms remained stiff at his sides, his breath caught somewhere in his throat. Kogwin's thick fur pressed against him.

Then, cautiously, he lifted his arms and returned the embrace. His smooth fingers pressed into the thick fur of Kogwin's back. The hold was uncertain at first, hesitant—but after a beat, Raelyn saw Zypher's shoulders relax just slightly.

Danio, standing off to the side, tilted his head and let out a low whistle. "Huh. You wouldn't even know you were the same kind."

Zypher tensed, his antennae flicking backward as he pulled away from Kogwin, ears burning red. 

Thomrik, watching the interaction, gave Danio a firm nudge in the ribs. 

"What happened to your fur?" Benji asked, his tone more curious than teasing.

Zypher exhaled through his nose, shifting uncomfortably under the scrutiny. "The heat," he admitted reluctantly. His fingers gave a slight tremor as he glanced downward. "Khazrundar was too warm for my kind. My fur started shedding... and then it just never grew back." The gremlin sighed and shrugged. "Or maybe it was the fear. The stress. All those years in captivity. I think my body just... stopped holding onto it."

The words hung heavy in the air.

Kogwin studied him closely, his antennae dipping slightly. Then, with a small, reassuring nod, he placed a hand gently on Zypher's shoulder. "It will grow back in time," he said, his voice steady. "You are safe now. You're home, where you belong."

Zypher swallowed, his gaze flicking briefly to Kogwin's fur, as if doubting the words. But Kogwin's grip was firm, grounding. There was no pity in his expression, no sadness—only certainty.

Benji, who had been listening quietly, blinked. "And... you're brothers?"

Kogwin turned his gaze toward Benji and chuckled, shaking his head. "Not by blood." He patted Zypher's shoulder once before stepping back to face the rest of the group. "In Grythenwald, we are all brothers and sisters. Not in relation, but in spirit."

Raelyn tilted her head slightly, intrigued.

Kogwin continued, his voice taking on a certain reverence. "Our people thrive not through hierarchy, but through unity. We do not have kings or rulers. Every gremlin is equal, every mind valuable. We survive by sharing knowledge, by trusting one another to innovate, to adapt. We build, not for the sake of power, but for the sake of all." His sharp eyes swept over the group, resting briefly on Raelyn. "There is no one above another. No one hoards knowledge. We all contribute. That is what it means to be part of Grythenwald."

Raelyn absorbed his words, letting them settle. It was different from anything she had known. The kingdoms of Unevia had their rulers, their hierarchies, their systems of control. Even the dwarves, whose chiefs ruled together under their king, had their divisions, their unspoken structures of power. But this—this was something else entirely. A society built on trust, on collaboration.

She glanced at Zypher.

His expression was unreadable, his eyes flicking between Kogwin and the cavern beyond. For a long time, he had lived in a world where he had been nothing but a tool to be used. A worker, a captive. But here, he was—had always been—one of them. An equal.

Did he feel that now? Or did the years apart, the things he had endured, make him feel like an outsider in his own home?

His fingers quivered again, his antennae shifting, but before Raelyn could think to ask, Kogwin clapped him gently on the back.

"Come," he said, turning toward the entrance to Grythenwald. "You've had a long journey. Let's not keep you standing in the doorway."

Raelyn's gaze drifted down to where Rakz lay on the metal floor, his small body curled in on itself, his breathing slow and shallow. Though the warmth of the chamber had begun to seep into his scales, it was not enough. He needed rest.

"Rakz needs a place to recover," she said, her voice tinged with quiet urgency. "Somewhere warm."

Kogwin followed her gaze to the small dragon, his sharp eyes assessing. "A room is already being prepared for you," he said. "It should be warm enough for him to recover properly. Though I must warn you"—his antennae twitched—"our accommodations are... not exactly suited to your size."

"That doesn't matter," Raelyn said quickly. "We are grateful for anything you can offer us. As long as Rakz has somewhere safe to rest."

Kogwin nodded. "Then he can be taken there while you proceed with what you came for."

Raelyn exhaled in relief. Before she could move, Hovan stepped forward, already shifting into position to lift Rakz. "I'll carry him."

But before he could reach down, Thomrik's voice rumbled from behind. "I'll do it."

The group turned to him. Thomrik crossed his arms, glancing toward the tunnel leading deeper into Grythenwald before fixing his gaze on Kogwin. "Your people won't be pleased to see a dwarf walking in their midst," he pointed out. "Better I stay in that room and keep to myself."

Raelyn hesitated. He wasn't wrong. The gremlins had barely tolerated his presence thus far—bringing him through the heart of their city would only make things worse.

Kogwin's expression remained neutral, but he did not dispute Thomrik's statement. "If that is your choice, dwarf, then stay in the room and keep out of sight."

Thomrik grunted, stepping toward Rakz. He crouched carefully, his strong arms gathering the small dragon with surprising gentleness. The scaled creature barely stirred as Thomrik lifted him, cradling him against his chest.

Raelyn gave him a nod of gratitude before looking back to Kogwin.

The gremlin turned on his heel, his antennae twitching as he gestured forward. "Then let's not waste any more time. Follow me."

Thomrik, with Rakz in his arms, fell into step behind them, his heavy boots muffled against the metal floor as they moved into the softly lit corridor beyond.

As they followed Kogwin deeper into Grythenwald, the corridor began to shift. At first, the ceiling remained comfortably high, allowing them to walk without issue. But soon, the walls seemed to press inward, and the passage sloped downward ever so slightly. The ceiling lowered inch by inch, forcing Raelyn to duck her head. Hovan adjusted his stance, shoulders hunching as he tried to maneuver through the narrowing space. Benji muttered a quiet curse as he hunched over as well.

Only Thomrik walked without difficulty, the dwarf striding through the gremlin-sized corridor without needing to stoop.

"Bit cramped for you lot, eh?" he remarked, a smirk playing at his lips.

Danio let out a long-suffering groan. "First the tunnels, then that metal box, and now this? Feels like we've spent this whole journey squeezing through cracks." He twisted slightly, his back scraping against a metal pipe running along the wall. "At this rate, I'll be walking hunched for the rest of my life."

Raelyn glanced at the walls, noting the subtle glow of cultivated fungi clinging to the stone and metal. The bioluminescent growth pulsed faintly, casting a soft amber light that warmed the air around it. Pipes wove through the structure, some running along the walls, others embedded within the rock itself. Steam occasionally hissed from vents, releasing thin wisps of heat.

Kogwin caught Raelyn's inquisitive looks. "We channel warmth through the mountain," he explained. "Thermal wells drilled deep into the rock provide us with heat. We regulate it with steam pipes, distributing it to the places that need it most. The fungi help as well, offering both light and warmth. A creation of our own."

Raelyn brushed her fingers against the glowing fungus, feeling the gentle heat it radiated. "Efficient," she murmured, impressed by the gremlins' ingenuity.

"It has to be," Kogwin replied. "Without it, we'd freeze just as quickly as any of you would."

The corridor took a sharp turn, and then suddenly, it opened.

Raelyn sucked in a quiet breath.

Grythenwald stretched out before them in a vast, multi-tiered cavern, its structure unlike anything she had ever seen.

Three levels wound around the immense underground space, each distinct in purpose.

The area above them was lined with small homes carved into the cavern walls, their entrances framed by intricate metalwork. Warm light glowed from within, spilling through round windows and casting golden pools onto the pathways below. Tiny staircases and rope bridges connected the homes in a winding, intricate web, allowing the nimble gremlins to move freely between them.

Benji's mouth was agape, his gaze sweeping across the homes. "Never seen anything like this," he murmured. "It's... beautiful."

Raelyn had to agree. Despite the industrial nature of Grythenwald, there was something warm about it, something lived-in. The way the staircases curved, the way the bridges wove between homes—it wasn't just built for function. It was built for community.

The level they stood on pulsed with life. A sprawling market filled the center, stalls overflowing with tools, gears, and mechanical trinkets. Gremlins bustled between them, trading components and materials in an intricate dance of barter and exchange. A large assembly area stood nearby, where groups of gremlins tinkered with strange contraptions—some steam-powered, others fitted with tiny gear-like mechanisms. A massive gorge ran through the level, where sparks flew as inventors welded metal pieces together, testing and adjusting their mechanical creations.

Danio let out a low chuckle. "Now this is more my speed." He gestured toward the market, his eyes gleaming with interest. "They probably have lots of little trinkets that could prove very useful." The comment got him a suspicious glare from Kogwin.

Raelyn leaned over to look down into the cavernous space. Unlike the vibrant middle tier, the one below them was more isolated, with enclosed chambers and thick metal doors. Laboratories filled the space, their interiors lit by an eerie blue glow. Inside, she could see gremlins working meticulously, handling delicate instruments, mixing substances, and examining herbs and minerals likely harvested from the mountain. Strange fumes curled from glass tubes, and the occasional hiss of pressure valves echoed through the air.

Hovan shifted beside her, his brow furrowed. "What are they working on down there?"

Kogwin glanced back at them. "The lower levels are for research and experimentation," he explained. "Potion crafting, material testing, refining compounds—whatever our inventors need to push our knowledge forward."

Raelyn took it all in, marveling at the sheer complexity of it. This was more than just a hidden refuge—it was a city of progress, of discovery.

Then, her gaze flicked to Zypher.

He stood slightly apart from them, his posture stiff, his large eyes sweeping over the cavern as though he were trying to reconcile what he saw with what he remembered.

Raelyn stepped closer to him, keeping her voice soft. "It's changed, hasn't it?"

Zypher blinked, as if pulled from deep thought. He hesitated, then gave a small nod. "More than I ever thought it would." His voice was quiet, conflicted. "Or maybe I've changed too much to recognize it."

Raelyn didn't know what to say to that, so she simply placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. He didn't shrug it off.

The cavern pulsed with life, an underground city built on knowledge and creation.

But the moment the newcomers stepped into view, all movement slowed.

Gremlins turned. Conversations faded into whispers. Small, wide eyes fixed on them—some filled with curiosity, others with outright suspicion.

Raelyn could feel the weight of their stares. Grythenwald had been a closely kept secret for a long time. Humans like them could pose a threat to their very being.

But no one received more scrutiny than Thomrik.

As they continued forward, a new figure approached them—a gremlin with thick fur, slightly darker than Kogwin's, and keen, narrow eyes. She hesitated upon seeing the group, her gaze darting to Thomrik before settling on Kogwin.

"It's ready." she said. The pitch in her voice was higher than that of Kogwin and Zypher.

Kogwin inclined his head toward her. "This is Brisni. She will take the dwarf and your companion to your quarters."

Brisni's antennae flattened in unease, her gaze flicking uncertainly to Thomrik. She looked tense, her fur bristling slightly, and Raelyn didn't miss the way she kept a careful distance from the dwarf.

Thomrik, for his part, looked equally uncomfortable. He shifted his grip on Rakz, adjusting the dragon's weight in his arms before nodding to Brisni.

Danio suddenly spoke up. "Actually, I think I'll go with them."

Raelyn turned toward him, surprised. "You will?"

Danio flashed her a grin. "Oh, you know me. Always looking for new business opportunities." He gave a wink, but there was something else behind his eyes, something Raelyn couldn't quite put her finger on.

Thomrik raised a brow but didn't argue.

Kogwin looked between them, then nodded. "Very well. Brisni, take them to their quarters."

Brisni hesitated for half a second longer before nodding sharply. Without another word, she turned and started walking. Thomrik adjusted his hold on Rakz and followed, with Danio close behind.

Raelyn watched them go, noting the tension in Brisni's shoulders, the way she still cast occasional glances at Thomrik.

Kogwin turned to the rest of them. "Come," he said, motioning toward the heart of Grythenwald. "The gathering hall is this way."

As they moved, Raelyn took in more of the intricate designs around her—small, arched tunnels splitting off into narrow passageways, the walls lined with glimmering pipes that hissed faintly with the release of steam.

Clusters of gremlins moved through the levels, hopping between platforms similar to those in Khazrundar, or rolling miniature carts filled with gears, tools, and bubbling vials. Some barely spared them a glance, too engrossed in their work, while others paused mid-stride to stare at the outsiders, their expressions ranging from curiosity to thinly veiled distrust.

Zypher walked a few steps ahead of Raelyn, his movements slow and uncertain. His antennae twitched at the whispers that trailed after them, but he kept his eyes fixed forward, his usual sharp demeanor subdued. Even among his own kind, he looked out of place—his smooth, fur-less skin setting him apart from the thick-coated gremlins bustling through the cavern.

Benji, wide-eyed, muttered under his breath, "I'd give anything to spend a week here."

Hovan exhaled sharply beside him, his sharp gaze shifting from one watching gremlin to the next. "They don't seem as thrilled about our visit."

Raelyn couldn't blame them. Gremlins were secretive by nature, and their home had remained hidden for decades. Having strangers enter their sanctuary was bound to put them on edge. She glanced at Zypher, noting the tension in his posture. If they were wary of the humans, she could only imagine how they felt seeing a gremlin return in such a changed state.

Kogwin eventually stopped in front of a small, round door, pressing his fingers against a lever set into the wall. The mechanism clicked, gears turning within, and the door swung open with a soft hiss of steam.

"Inside," Kogwin said, stepping aside.

Raelyn ducked her head as she stepped through, followed closely by Benji and Hovan, both of whom had to bend nearly double to fit. Zypher hesitated for a fraction of a second before following them. The space inside was instantly warmer, the air thick with the scent of oil, parchment, and something faintly metallic.

The room opened into a spacious gathering hall, filled with dozens of gremlins. Some huddled around tables covered in blueprints and schematics, engaged in animated discussions. Others lounged near small hearth-like constructs, sharing food and idle conversation. The steady hum of machinery mixed with the occasional hiss of steam, creating a constant backdrop of sound.

But the moment Raelyn, Benji, and Hovan entered, the conversations faltered. Gremlin eyes turned toward them—some wide with intrigue, others narrowed with suspicion. A hush fell over the hall, the sudden silence almost unnatural.

Then, after a long pause, a gremlin near the center of the room stood. His keen eyes swept over the group, lingering a second longer on Zypher. "So, these are the strangers who found our hidden entrance."

He was older than Kogwin, judging from his fur which was tinged with silver at the edges, his sharp eyes studying them. Adorned with a leather apron and small glasses pushed up onto his forehead.

"I am Mechit," he said, approaching them with measured steps. "I was told you were looking for me."