"She has proven her worth, and we now welcome her as a full resident of Kithae!" The chief announced her to the crowd as Kiela stood beside him. It had been two days since Kiela had eaten the meat of her own kind, a fact that filled her with revulsion. She had forced herself to throw it up, but the damage was done. The tattoo on her side had completely faded, taking her wolf side with it. Her sensitive nose no longer picked up scent on the air, and her hearing was so bad that a pup would've been able to sneak up on her. She felt empty, as though a part of her was gone, which she supposed it was. Her endurance flagged, and she walked around like a spector.

He took her hand and painted a large, swirling shape on its back. Kiela stared at the glistening design on her skin, thinking about the terrible cost that her acceptance had come at. Jarnvosk walked up to her, standing uncomfortably close so that she was forced to look up at him. "You are lucky that you made it," He said, low enough that only she could hear. "Some wouldn't want you to."

Kiela summoned her courage. "Are you one of those?" She asked.

He growled under his breath. "Be careful, wolf. Wouldn't want your dirty little secret to get out. I can be a very dangerous enemy." Kiela gaped at him, rendered totally speechless in shock. "Oh, I know." He said vehemently. "You must have been really out of it to not scent my presence." He watched me? He watched by wolf being torn from my body and he did nothing? It was at that moment when she realized that Jarnvôsk had likely done this to her on purpose. For that fact, she hated him to the bottom of her soul.

Without giving her time to recover, Jarnvôsk raised her hand in the air with what appeared to be a proud smile. Kiela realised that she was the only one who knew it was fake. "Let us celebrate!" He announced, and the crowd broke up into small groups. Kiela stepped off of the raised platform, descending into the crowd.

Kymir appeared. "Hey!" She called. "Do you want to come and get some food with me?" Kiela nodded and headed over to the long split log that held the water skins and carved wood plates.

"There she is!" Kiela heard a woman call. A robust, black haired woman raced over to her."Kiela? That is your name, right?" Kilea nodded but the woman rushed on. "Oh darling you must be starved!" She knelt over the table and began to heap piles of meat and mixed greens onto one of the plates. "How was the task? You must be exceptionally strong to have been able to pass it!" The woman shoved that plate into Kiela's hands. "Eat, eat!"

The woman's sour stench swirled around her, making it difficult for Kiela to stomach a bite.

"Miranah, dear, let the rest of us have a word with her." Another woman called. Miranah turned around and giggled at the newcomer. "Oh, Shiibah, always wanting to get the attention." The other woman flushed red.

Kiela stood awkwardly, waiting for the horrible exchange to finish. Kym took that particular moment to shout a good bye and yanked Kiela further into the crowd.

Kym turned to face her, finally noticing the pale look of Kiela's face. "Are you alright?" She asked.

Kiela nodded. "I just need to get away from everyone." She hated how everyone was so pushy, treating her as though she was someone special. She would trade all of her newfound glory to go back to a time before any of this had happened, if she could. She missed the quiet of her home, the coolness of the forest glades. Her heart still lived there.

"It's alright," Kym stated. "I can try and stop them from coming after you if you want to go to your tent." Her big, doe's eyes stared up at Kiela.

"Thanks Kym." Kiela said gratefully. Kym led her through the crowd to just outside the same structure that Kiela had first found herself in, all those days ago. "You share this one with me." She explained.

Kiela thanked her and stood watching as Kym vanished into the crowd. She turned her back and lifted the tent flap. Suddenly, she froze. A large shadow was outlined on the wood beam before her.

"You're a long way from home, shifter." Said a deep voice behind her.