SAELYNAFareedah wraps a shawl around my hair and stands back to admire her work. Her black eyes lit up with admiration. 'You look fabulous', she says, clapping her hands. I pull at the robe and then the shawl. I don't entirely feel comfortable in these. 'Are they really necessary? I mean, it looks a little….too much'. Too restrictive, too celebratory. Fareedah waves a hand. 'You don't know what you're talking about. That's what they wear at the festival, innit?' she says, wrapping a shawl around her own neck. I don't correct her, because that's what they wear. I just go with a shirt and trouser and sometimes, Cyran's coat. I look around the place as we step outside my hut. 'What?' she whispers. 'Where's Cyran?' I ask. 'Off with the boys, I 'spect. On nights like this, they drink always and sing those damned songs till sunrise'. I prick my ears, straining for the sound of music, but I hear none. 'I'm…I'm worried, I should go check…' F

CYRANThey are wolves. Or at least, they look like it. Four of them emerge from the shadows of the decrepit buildings around us, as tall as my shoulder and twice as wide as I am. They are of the darkest black I've seen, like they are nothing but shadow. Their eyes gleam a violent ruby, set on the three of us as they inch forward with low growls. 'I think I'm getting a little tired of this routine', I mutter. 'This isn't the time, elf! On guard!' Ronn barks and we form a circle, our backs to each other. We are completely surrounded though and outnumbered 3 to 4. I release my arrow at the one closest to me and it bounces off its skull. A low gasp escapes my lips, and I step closer to Gylen as I notice something else. 'They have horns…deer antlers', I whisper. He's about to say something, but he pushes me to the ground as one of them lunges at us and he takes the attack. Another leaps on R

 CAIVANI haven't had nightmare in two years, but last night's dreams pack a punch. I keep seeing people getting oanced by arrows; Veesa, Gylen, Saelyna. I couldn't sleep for a long time after that, for the some reason, the sight of that arrow passing through her head was more terrifying than the others. I sit up on the bed, and for a while, the darkness disorients me. I blink twice and adjust my vision, before I notice Palma beside me and I begin to recall the aftermath of the riot yesterday, and that I am at her apartment. I drop my feet to the ground with a sigh and try not to think about it. Impossible. Who were those men on the roof? If they were Palma's men, why did they try to kill me? Perhaps they took me for one of the king's courtmen and they are not wrong there, but why did they shoot only after Lionel was killed? Why was Lionel killed? I shake my head. It's one big jum

RONNVeesa says she'll live, but needs her time alone with her. I pause, unsure. 'There are larger things to fear, Ronn, than leaving Keilen with me. Unless you have something to hide, I suggest you leave me with my patient. Now', she says quickly, staring me down. I can't argue with her, so I take one last glance at her sleeping form before I leave the hut.Outside, Gylen stands a few feet off, leaning against a tree. He looks up as I come out and his face takes on a suspicious expression. 'I need a moment with her', he says, walking towards the door. 'Veesa says to leave her alone', I reply, placing a hand on his chest. He scoffs. 'I'm not touching, or even speaking to her. Just need to check something out'. 'Well, don't', I snap, my claws shooting out. He tilts his head. 'You're seriously willing to walk down this road again?' he says, baring his fangs. 'Try me'.Someone tuts nearby and I let him go as Argell steps forward, shaking his head. Sera stands beside him, head lowered and

CYRANThe "cave" is basically a hollow in the west wall of the village trench, covered mostly by the gigantic roots of a tree growing above its mouth. Gylen once said not to go near it, but I'm quite sure he wasn't serious. Candidly, I need a place away from all the "wolfishness" in the camp.It's dark and quite damp in here, and all I can smell for a while is moss and something else I can't place. It's welcoming, though, a good spot to wait out the full moon in fact. They've been weird in all ways, manifesting what must be moon reactions; Dell had grinned quite excessively at me all day, and Jenna the third elder female wolven in the pack had actually growled at me when I stopped by to say hello. Not to mention the wolves howling loudly in their hut; even though it's a long distance away from Eldad, it does sound awful. And scary.I settle on a rock at the back of the cave and dig in my coat pockets for the apples I had found earlier in the storage room (Quite a daring expedition, I