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As the morning sun rose, casting it's fiery hue across the eastern sky above the town of Encarra, Vael watched from above, nestled in the branches of one of the forest's towering trees. He'd watched the rise of the sun from up here many times before, enjoying the chill morning breeze as it rippled through his arctic fur. Though somehow, this seemed different to him now.

In his childhood, Vael had watched the sunrise like this nearly every day. Back then it'd brought him a sense of joy to see the world come alive, but now all he could see in the twilight sky were memories of Meronna burning on the horizon. Will I watch another place I call home burn? he wondered.

He didn't notice that Mina had climbed up below him; had taken her place on a branch beside him. He didn't notice her until she gave a smile and mused, "You know, you and Alex make a beautiful couple." Vael turned his gaze to her after a moment, then offered a smile of his own and looked back out at the horizon. "Though you know," Mina continued after a long pause, "You really should have gone away from the camp last night."

The felines words almost toppled Vael off his branch as he tried to spin to face her, his face flushed. he tried to say something, even opened his maw to speak but not a sound came out. Mina just gave him a glance and laughed, giving another mischievous smile. "don't worry, I didn't mind the show. by the way, bravo on keeping the noise down."

Vael's jaw hung open a moment more, then he shook his head, as if shaking off the daze as he snapped, "You shouldn't have been watching!" "Well," Mina responded with a smile. "Thats why I said you should have gone away from the camp. If you do that sort of thing where other people are trying to sleep you're bound to wake someone up." Vael tried to respond, but found no words and so he just shook his head and shifted on the branch, starting down the tree. "We should head out," he said, not bothering to look up at the feline woman who simply smiled and shrugged.

The road to Encarra was short and the four friends fund their way to it's borders in minutes. Even at this early hour the town was alive and as Vael and the others made their way through the vineyards they couldn't help but notice the number of eyes following them. Every man and women in sight had turned and every one of them watched on with admiration in their eyes. It wasn't until one man bowed his head t Alexander that the four understood their reaction; he was still their king.

A hush fell over the town as the four passed through, eyes following them all the way to the threshold of the towns only tavern. Vael had hardly pushed the door open before a burly fox stepped through and grabbed him, lifting him off his feet in a tight hug. "My boy!" Derius cried, nearly crushing the breath Vael's lungs. "I'm so glad your safe! We heard about the attack on Meronna." "Dad?" Vael gasped after a moment, trying his best to slip free. "Can't breathe.."

Chuckling, Derius let Vael go, let him drop to the ground and offered him an all too familiar, apologetic smile.

"Sorry lad," he said through a slight chuckle. "I'm just glad to see you're alright." Derius paused a moment, looking around the town square for a moment before waving the friends inside. "Come in, come in. We'll have a drink and talk a bit. There's something I need to tell you."

*****

A strange figure sat atop the fountain in the center of Encarra, watching as Vael and the others went into the tavern with a whisper of a smile gracing his lips. So slender was he, his lithe body resting so easily on his odd perch, how odd might he seem to the villagers with his pale fur, the color of desert clay or the ebon streaks through it. How odd might he seem, barely clothed and reveling in the feel of the wind across his body. How odd might he seem to them all, if only they could see him. With a lick of his lips he studied the tavern, his crystal blue eyes glowing slightly as he peered at that door, contemplating. He was about to rise but something stopped him, a soft sound as another cleared their throat.

Standing on the lip of the fountain was the figures mirror image, his exact reflection right down to the birthmark on his chest in the shape of a paw print. "Luca," his reflection said, "you know our orders. We're not to interfere, not yet." The fact that this doppleganger, the figure's perfect reflection called him by name brought him no pause, only brought a thin smile across Luca's lips. "My dear talon," he said in reply, tilting his head to the side as he went on. "do you think I've forgotten our place? I simply want to watch from somewhere, closer."

Talon stared at Luca for a moment with those crystalline eyes, then simply shook his head and gave a quiet sigh. "You know we can not." he said, looking to the tavern door. "The white one is an Alchemist, he'll be able to sense us--" "If he has such a grip on his powers," Mused Luca, cutting Talon's thoughts short, "but do you believe he does? Look at him, he's only a pup and no other Alchemists travel with him. Do you truly think he could see into the Gloom?" Talon gave Luca a glare in silent protest, then reminded him, "He's the son of Roa, the Dream Walker." with a knowing tone. "There is no telling what he knows or how far he's come in his study. I'd not risk it."

Luca gave a moment of pause, thinking over Talon's words before peering around at the people of Encarra, a thin smile passing over his lips with the knowledge they were unaware. "Perhaps your right," Luca said at length, shrugging lightly with those words. "We'll observe from a distance for now." He looked once more to the tavern door, then down Talon and took note of his tapping footpaw. "My my, impatient are we?"

Talon just turned his back on Luca. "They will be in there a while, I simply figured you'd want to have a little fun," he gave a moments pause to glance over his shoulder at Luca before adding, "But I guess--" Again his words were cut short as Luca dropped from the fountain to land behind him, grabbing him gently with both arms as he grinned. "Impatient and willing," he mused as his paws trailed beneath Talon's loincloth, his pads gently caressing his fuzzy orbs. "Is there any wonder why I love you, brother?"

*****

With fond memories and tales shared, the day drew on into night and none of the friends thought to leave the tavern. For the first time they rested well, in the embrace of warm beds and with full stomachs. All of them slept well, save for Vael. As he lay in his bed beside Alex, staring into the wooden rafters as he had so many nights as a pup, he couldn't help but think of their predicament. Were we really so blind? He thought. Did we truly believe we could stand against the Empire?

The thought haunted him. Could all the pain him and his friends suffered have been avoided somehow or were he and his friends fated to endure such pain from the beginning?With a shake of his head, Vael rose from his bed, looking to Alex with a faint smile before walking silently from the room. The tavern was still busy, they always served patrons well into the early hours and none present questioned when he wandered through to the door.

Outside the cool night air waited, refreshing the weary fox as it slipped through his fur. With a sigh and a glance to the stars, Vael began walking eastward, following a trail he'd walked so many times before as a pup. Soon the cobblestone paths of Encarra would give way to soft earth beneath his naked footpaws and the flat of the town would curve into an incline to the cliffs which marked the young foxes destination.

Somewhere between the town and the cliffs, Vael's mind began to wander back to a simpler time, to dwell on the tales his mother had told him as a pup to amuse him.

Listen now sweet child of mine, I'll tell you what was left to find Within the churning of the waves, frightened of what they had made A child precious, just like you, who's innocence brought something new Into a land of dust and clay, who dream the night and paint the day An Old One waits beneath the sea, for the one who walks in dreams To bow their head and show their faith and venture down beneath the waves

So lost in the tale was he that Vael didn't notice the footsteps - so soft and carefully - of someone or something creeping along behind him. How could he know that something had followed him from Encarra? Soon, Vael's journey ended atop the cliffs he so longed for and as he stared out over the rolling sea, staring into the horizon where starry sky met endless ocean, the tale came back to his mind.

For eons these cliffs had held some ancient stones which seemed to rise up out of the earth itself in intricate patterns. Some towered a good twenty feet tall and yet others rose not even an inch. For all times Vael had come to this place, not once had the stones meant anything to him, but they seemed different now. A soft melody seemed to play from them as the sharp winds danced between the intricate stone structures. So lost in the view of the sea was he that he hardly noticed the stones tonight but Mina, who had followed him from the tavern in silence, now stared in awe and in terror at the stone pillars.

Blue flames danced around each stone, dancing with the winds all around Vael who stood so unaware. Mina took solace only in the fact that for some reason, there was no heat to be felt from the fire. Despite this fact she almost cried out to Vael as the flames suddenly lept from the stones towards him, her awe stifled her however as the flames surrounded her friend, danced over his form so gracefully. She could not deny the beauty of what she saw but still she could not help but fear for her friends life.

They stood for what felt like hours - what in truth was only but a moment - in silence, Vael in his study of the distant images of starry sky and rolling sea and Mina so awe-struck she could hardly breathe, let alone break the silence. It wasn't until Vael stepped forward that the silence was broken by Mina who screamed his name. As the winds rushed around him, Vael turned, staring up into Mina's eyes as they grew ever more distant. It was only now that he understood the horror he saw reflected in those beautiful orbs as she reached out for him; as the sea opened up and welcomed him into their blackest depths.