Wart's bite is as bad as ever, but I have learned some poultices to help with the pain. At least these days, most of the damage is done to me alone. I catch Mab's wounded eyes from time to time and remind myself that my Incarnate is not the only one who can hurt people. My heart aches for what I have said, the division I have caused... even if I am kind of right.

She avoids me now. Köv seems unsurprised by her mercurial temper, having borne the brunt of it himself. He seems less hostile now, knowing I am no longer a legitimate threat. Still, most communication seems to be passed through Agan, the final neutral party.

Kari leads fearlessly, instructing us when to stop, when to eat, when to rest, and, grateful as I am for the guidance, it is a bit much. So far, we have encountered no danger, and I wonder why she has even bothered to bring us. What does she want in Inte, anyway?

I fish for information from my compatriots, and they all speak of the land with an air of admiration. It is beautiful. It is rich. It is green. So green. My heart blooms at the thought of this fertile motherland.

The others finally seem to understand what it is to be the outsider. They cling together, the last remnants of home. Even Teak seeks out the others from Balai from time to time. I, on the other hand, cannot get enough of the newness. The adventure. It is not nearly as hard for me to forget what we leave behind us.

Wart has gotten large enough to hunt for himself. Birds and rodents... Insects. He is not picky, and I am grateful for the relief from being his sole provider. Whenever we break, he scrambles up trees. From time to time, he even taunts Agan's hawk, snatching feathers in his maw, and I struggle not to laugh even as I apologize.

The lone wolf pup is no longer much of a pup. There is no denying that hunting was more effective in a pack, but Grif is a worthy adversary even on his own. Gia, as Mab has come to call her fawn, has grown long-legged and elegant, entirely at home in our surroundings. She shoulders our bundles for now. Before long, Mab hopes to be able to ride her. Thin as she is, she couldn't possibly be much of a burden.

We seem to take to the woods as a second home, our Incarnates adapting more readily to this than the village. It seems to awaken our more primal instincts. I feel a burgeoning sense of comradery for our fellows. Everyone provides what they can, be it experience or more material. Without any one of us, the party would be at risk for failure. As a whole, we are unstoppable.

Kari swaps stories and advice with passing adventurers. We are getting close to a town called Sunia, and we have been assured that its inhabitants are most gracious hosts. Another day of travel, and we should be upon it. My heart feels light at the prospect.

Slowly, barriers are broken. The party makes alliances and friendships indiscriminately. Still, the Balaiins cling to one another. I have learned so much in my time on the road. I fear that they are missing out on invaluable skills. Well, some are admittedly more valuable than others...

I have been taught how to track game, how to fish, how to follow the stars for navigation. The wanderers are overflowing with knowledge, and they love nothing more than to share it.  Some even brag about their command over majick, but I doubt its reality when these incantations produce little more than a flicker when repeated. Even as I fail, they laugh along with me and encourage me to try again. I have grown so much under their ministrations.

Though I have known them just over a week, I know it will be hard to part ways when the time comes. A part of me is tempted to stay with the troupe forever.

We make camp for the last time before we reach Sunia, and the excitement is palpable. It is hard to fret with our bellies full of a feast (toward which I have happily contributed) and our sights on a legitimate town after so many days of nothing but indecipherable trees and scraping brush and sticking mud. A new town is a cause for celebration! We have made it!

That is what I thought... however, when I reach the Balaiin fire, set visibly apart from the rest, the faces seem long. We have come so far from home. What was home to me, anyway. As we reach this new destination, this milestone, the distance is impossible to ignore. Maybe this isn't as much of an accomplishment for them as a reminder. Their homesickness and uncertainty is thick in the air as I approach.

Mab has grown increasingly apart from Köv, and I wonder if my words have swayed her. I should feel guilty, but I can't manage it. Anyway, Köv appears too involved in day to day affairs to mind. Agan is as unreadable as ever.

"Can I just say... I'm surprised you left," Teak addresses him, and I find myself agreeing. I am surprised any of them left. For me, it felt inevitable, but they had a place back in Balai. Real families.

Köv frowns into the fire.

"It wasn't what it seemed," he says, answering everything and nothing. "Ever since Dager-" He shoots an apologetic glance at Mab, but she shakes her head. "Things were never the same after the Eve. Elder Pashal was sick, and Dager was running everything. He was bribing the wolves, threatening them. It was awful. He recruited them to be his ears. His enforcers. But that wasn't enough. He thought that, since he owned the shop and controlled the borders, he could silence anyone who objected."

"He wouldn't let anyone see Elder Pashal. He would just come to us every day with new commands. He said they were from on high, but none of them sounded like the Elder I knew."

"Even before the trial, there were murmurs, but afterward it was worse. He started blackmailing. Anyone with an Incarnate who could oppose him was driven from town. Then it became any Incarnate at all... except the Wolves, of course."

"He wanted to get rid of any chance that the people had to support themselves. He wanted them to be totally dependent on him. Then..."

Köv takes a deep breath and releases it.

"Elder Pashal died."

I startle. Elder Pashal is dead? How can that possible be? Did Corsa know? Did any of them?

"He kept it a secret, convinced us that now was not the time to divide the community. Offered himself as replacement. There were a few in the clan who said it should be me, but Dager wasn't having it. I was too young, too unruly. Whatever. When he could find no further excuses, he threatened me. My mother told me to leave. She took me to the border herself. The Wolves on duty that night were loyal to the Elder. They let me go. I knew I couldn't wait much longer."

There is a hush, a strong divide as each of us absorbs the truth. Mab is unphased, having clearly already been privy to the information. I resent every secret that they have shared. What Köv must in turn know of her. What hasn't been entrusted to me...

Mab's eyes are averted as she avoids her own confessions, but it is obvious now that she must relent. The weight of our combined stares is too much. We are all each other has left. The time for secrets has ended.