Amanda sighed and looked out the door. Night was falling and a heavy fog had rolled in. It matched her mood. The conversation was going in circles. Had Fenrir left the door open for the Fleischers to move against them? Would the Fleischers risk it?

They couldn't know for sure, but Amanda agreed with Arthur for once, they couldn't afford to risk trusting the peace. Whatever they did, they had to assume the worst, that the Fleischers would attempt to waylay them.

Robbie wanted to leave under the cover of the night, put as many miles between them and the camp before morning. Arthur and Jonathan both thought they'd have sentries set and would be after them immediately.

Aaron wanted everyone to stick together. If they, the Skollsens and the Ritters all caravanned north together, they'd be too big a group to attack.

"We'd be that much bigger of a target," Arthur countered. "If flee we must, we should take the wisdom of other prey to heart. Separate. Go different directions. They won't know who to follow and lose precious time figuring it out."

"We know who they will follow," Amanda countered, glancing at Erica. Erica blushed and looked at the ground, then her eyes popped back up and her face was set, defiant. "You did what you felt you had to do," Amanda said. "I know. Still, they've declared a hunt. We know who they will follow. Fine. We've been in this situation before. Everyone else should go, different directions. We will draw them away, face them if have to."

"No, we are not leaving you in the middle of this," Aaron countered.

"Ailana's offer is interesting," Valerie said. "And their territory is close."

"Can we trust them?" Jonathan asked. "With our life?"

"I think so," Brianna said.

"Think?" Arthur said, musing. "For that matter, I have my daughter's wedding to arrange."

Everyone shot him a look that said he was crazy to bring that up now.

"What? They won't move against the Grimweir. They are yet close allies," Arthur said.

"Of course," Aaron said. "Go with them. You won't be attacked and you'll end up that much closer to home."

"By plane..." Brianna started and stopped, rolling her eyes. Arthur was of an age and socioeconomic class that flying just didn't enter his thinking, apparently.

"Umm," Sarah interrupted, pointing, "what is that?"

Amanda turned to see a furry brown head appearing underneath the back of the tent. A smile erupted across her face as she recognized Courtney's otter form, followed by Jay.

Courtney rose in front of them. Amanda ran to hug her. Jay stayed in otter form on one of the sleeping mats.

"Oh my god," Amanda exclaimed. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Jonathan handed Courtney sweats and a t-shirt.

"It's awesome to see you guys," Robbie said, agreeing with Amanda. "But what the hell? And this is about the worst time for you to make an appearance."

"We know all about that," Courtney replied. "But first, I have a personal sort of announcement." She accepted a second set of clothes from Brianna. She gestured at the otter on the mat. "I would like to present my new — old partner. The one formerly known as Jay." Jay transformed as Courtney threw a shirt over his form and declared with a flourish, "presenting Eva-Lotta Toumi!"

"Eva-Lotta?" Amanda gasped. She looked into her friends smiling face. He, no she, nodded.

Amanda hugged her, "Eva-Lotta, Eva-Lotta, Eva-Lotta," she chanted to herself. "I'll try to get it right, okay? And if I screw up just kick me."

Eva giggled. "I know, it will take adjusting, time. Heck, I screw it up sometimes."

Amanda turned back to the group. Tanner was busy explaining to the others that Eva was transgender and the otter friend they referred to as Jay. One by one the pack came over and greeted her warmly, congratulated her.

"I wish we had time to celebrate properly," Connor said as he, too, congratulated Eva on her transition.

"We will, but right now, you are in danger," Eva replied.

"Yeah, you said a mouthful," Tanner said. And then, "you know?"

Eva nodded.

"Spirits," Courtney said. "Tell her all sorts of stuff these days. We don't know the mundane details. You can fill us in on the way. But we know where you have to go."

"Where?" Amanda asked.

"The otter conclave," Eva said.

"What?" Amanda said, perplexed. "But we can't."

"You can and will," Eva said, her voice firm. "I've seen it."

"The otters?" Arthur asked.

"Won't like it," Eva replied. "But I will make them see. It's what I have to do."

"She's the pathfinder," Courtney said. "And this is the path. We just have to convince them to walk it." She seemed less certain than Eva, but resolved.

"But how will we get to the conclave? Is it far?" Connor said. "I mean we aren't even sure if we can get away from this camp without the Fleischers giving chase."

"You can't," Eva said. "But we can take you. It's..." she paused, trying to put the words together. "Not too far. It's connected to this place by water. We can take you without them knowing."

Amanda looked out the door flap again. "This fog? It's yours."

"Johan's. Yes. It will cover your escape. Now, tonight."

"And the others?" she gestured at Aaron and Arthur.

"They will go with friends. They will be safe once the target is out of the way." Eva paused and looked at Erica. "What did you do anyway?"

Tanner laughed. "Oh, it's a story, let me tell you. A long one. If we are going to do this, we'll leave that for the road, as it were."

"What do you think?" Connor was looking at Aaron and Arthur.

"Do you trust in these visions?" Aaron asked.

Connor nodded. "Yeah, I guess I do."

"It might work," Arthur said. "If their main target, and their excuse for moving, is gone, vanished without a trace. Can you really get them out safely?"

Eva and Courtney nodded. "We are staking our own lives on this as well."

Just like that it was decided. Aaron would go with the Jaeger's under the pretext of delivering a message to their elders, and then he and his pack would fly home. Arthur and his pack would go with the Grimweir to attend to Grace's arranged marriage. It took only a few minutes for runners to go and confirm both offers. They advised the Ritters, the Skollsens and all the other tribes that were on the fence to take their oaths. When they got home, on to safe territory, their elders would likely declared such oaths invalid, given under duress. The Leidulf's would send ambassadors later, when Fenrir's intention became more clear, to see where those tribes actually stood.