The events of the previous day echoed endlessly in Waverly's mind and replayed in her dreams even after she went to sleep that night. The amount of compliments given were more than she had ever received in her entire life. As she slept with a woolen blanket tucked around her frame, a small smile spread across her face when General Priam's words began to echo over and over in her dreams. She saw him; snow haired and as gracious as the next Elf, smiling with proud eyes when he first shook her hand which was two times smaller than his, calling her a child prodigy.

"Cild Orakkél."

Those words floated around in Waverly's head as she smiled at everyone who came up to render more compliments. Then as if on impulse, she looked up at the sky where a massive grey cloud was starting to spread over the blueness, plunging the realm into a drab atmosphere.

Waverly frowned and glanced at the crowd who seemed to be oblivious to the drastic change in the weather. She stared on as the cloud continued to spread until it stopped halfway across the horizon. Waverly tilted her head curiously, wondering why the cloud had suddenly stopped moving. She took a step forward and discovered she could not take another. Instead, a strange tightness crawled up her ankle. She tried to shake it off but the feeling remained, tightening even more.

Waverly struggled to free her feet but the strange hold moved to both legs then up her midsection. She suddenly felt a strain on her subconscious as if she was being pulled on both ends by a very firm rope. Her eyes briskly opened and the first thing Waverly felt was intense pain.

She began to levitate off her bed, groaning and struggling in a bid to find elbow room but when she looked down, she realized she was bound by taut vines. She gave a sharp gasp of realization and wildly began to scour the dark room with her eyes. The torches seemed to have gone out in the middle of the night as a result of the chilly wind that filtered in through the half open windows. For some bizarre reason, Waverly had hit the hay earlier than usual. All of her roommates had decided to remain wherever they were after the celebrations and did not bother to return to the room for the night, leaving Waverly all by herself.

Her gaze continued to flicker from one end of the room to the other, in search of the source of her sudden constraint.

He is here. She thought, her mind filling with great panic but also a great twinge of sadness.

A part of the room darkened for a moment and there leaning suddenly against the wall, was Judson. Other than his irises which were visibly Oculmus's, he looked painfully the same such that Waverly was tempted to run to him and pull him into an embrace but sadly, she could not as she still hovered halfway to the ceiling.

Judson quietly stepped forward. For the first time since Waverly had known him, he was wearing sleeves. She quickly noticed how the materials of all his clothing were thicker than even that of her overcoat.

"Impressive!" He began calmly. He spoke in Judson's voice but there was the resounding taint of Oculmus's powerful and devious tone in the background as always.

Waverly attempted to descry where the vines came from but could not see any mother plant. Moreover, the amount of painful dizziness combined with a familiar draining weight generated by Oculmus's presence was beginning to obscure her vision fast.

"I was beginning to wonder when you would finally realize you can manipulate mortal minds as your mother used to. I did not even have to wait so long."

Waverly groaned and made to release Calaire but Judson casually flicked his hand and her arms pressed against her chest. Vines lashed around them tightly, bringing her an intense difficulty with breathing.

"What do you. . .?" She strained.

"Want?"Judson completed and broke into a sly smile.

Waverly hated that she noticed how good-looking he was even in the darkness. Winter nights hardly ever saw the full moon unless it were as tiny as a fingernail and so there was no natural light to illuminate the room.

"There is no need to ask when you already know what i want." He continued then hummed. "But you were not wrong in asking because i find that i want new things every day. It is most fascinating."

"You are a coward." Waverly panted. Many parts of her body had gone cold and numb from how the circulation of blood was suddenly cut off from those parts.

"I am not here for your petty taunts, Waverly." Judson chuckled. "I have come to. . . as you put it earlier, retaliate."

"Why am i still alive then?" She strained again. Her whole body shivered and shook uncontrollably and it affected her voice. She could feel her healing powers sifting about in confusion - another effect of Oculmus's presence. Being in the dark had always had a negative effect on her.

"You know, i have asked myself the same question over and over." Judson frowned then his face calmed. "If i wanted you dead, little moonbeam, you would have never escaped the seaside ambush with that son of Brid. But i had other plans."

"Kidnapping Judson?" She spat bitterly.

"We are supposed to be past that by now, no?" Judson stilled, looking Waverly straight in the eye that even from the distance she felt his gaze pierce through her soul. "I am never letting go of the boy."

His words were venomous and Waverly felt it sting her very soul. A huge part of her feared he was telling the truth. She gritted her teeth in anger. Judson took a few steps forward so that he was about thirteen walks away from where she hovered, still bounded tightly by vines.

"As i was saying, i am here to retaliate and i would not be the Emperor of Chaos if i did not cause much dissension especially amongst my enemies."

"I-I thought. . . that you had the Nysan gods at your command. What happened to Shira? Fregar? Pech?"

Judson chuckled. "Oh, i do not need them now. If i did, they would be here in my stead."

The vines around Waverly suddenly loosened and she fell back on the bed in a slump, feeling a weakness so intense that she could not lift her head. She drew in deep, calming breaths and tried to focus.

"It felt incredible, did it not? Receiving all that praise after such a deemingly marvelous accomplishment."

Waverly could not see him but she felt Judson pacing around slowly while he spoke.

"With every passing hour, you become more and more like Alluna; reveling in praises sung to your name, basking in the powers you possess to break the rules. And that tawdry stubbornness with which you think can do as you please and be held unaccountable. So tell me, how did it feel?"

Waverly found that she had gathered enough strength to push herself up but only a tad. She found Judson standing directly in front of the bed. "What are you talking about?"

"I told you that they would not let you. That Elf, the dear one you resurrected - how did it feel being powerful enough to bring him back and yet not being allowed to do it?"

Waverly was greatly offended and angry but she felt a forceful restraint in her gut that made her keep entirely still. She remembered that Oculmus had foretold during their last meeting that she would resurrect someone but would not be permitted to do it. Then, she had had no idea it would be Dermot. Her lips thinned as she stared uncomfortably into Oculmus's eyes.

"He was not meant to live." She replied blankly.

Judson tilted his head slowly. "And you believe that?"

"What's it to you?" Waverly spat.

"I could kill you within this very second but then all of that glorious power would go to waste. I also could spare your life and that of all your beloved, if you will all pledge undying servitude to me. You see, i can spare life. I can end it and i can restart it if i wish."

Judson faced the ground and flicked his hand over it. The earth broke open with a noisy crack, spilling sprays of dirt outward then it all collected together and began to mould into something that slowly rose to its feet. When the dust cleared, Waverly was stunned to dumbness.

"Waverly." The new creation called softly.

Waverly felt her eyes go damp. She tried to blink but found that she could not. Havilah was standing in front of her dressed in full Tyro armor, staring in bewilderment as if she could not understand why Waverly looked so shocked.

"This is not real." Waverly finally muttered.

"Eh?" Judson asked. "Why don't you feel for yourself?"

Waverly reluctantly reached out and grabbed a few wisps of Havilah's brown hair. They felt completely real. She poked against the skin of her face; it was warm with color and full of life. She reached for her arm and shoulder. Havilah only watched her in silence and a sort of amusement.

"What are you doing?" Havilah chuckled. "It is me. Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"

Waverly's right eye twitched and a tear fell from it. "You are a ghost."

"No, she is not." Judson said and closed his fist. Havilah suddenly broke to earth again. Waverly gasped and stepped back, staring at the mound of dirt at her feet.

"I can bring them all back. They will remember you. Everyone who has died. All you have to do is serve me."

Waverly's gaze lingered on the spot where Havilah had stood. Her eyes then flickered to Judson. "I will never."

The vines returned and wrapped tightly around her. Waverly cursed under her breath as pain exploded against her skin once more. Judson sighed and flapped his wings, lifting himself into the air.

"Then i guess it is time for everybody to wake up." He said simply.

What followed was a deafening explosion.

Waverly shut her eyes and recoiled as the temple shattered to rubble, exposing her and Judson to the cold midnight wind. All at once and from afar, the bugle sounded and the war horn and the large brass bell in the bell tower which was miraculously still intact despite the attacks. The bloodcurdling noise quickly drew every person out from their rooms; armed and ready to battle only for them to freeze at the sight of Judson and Waverly entangled in vines, floating high enough for all to see.

When the Plateau was crowded with every single soldier, Judson spoke up.

"I am quite surprised that no one has tried to attack me yet." He scoffed then turned to a Hammitonian soldier. "Get your King and all of his household."

He flicked his hand and the trembling soldier disappeared immediately. Whilst Judson turned to assess the crowd, every face paled with different shades of shock, fear, surprise or worry. Gazes flickered to Waverly who groaned and strained against the vines. Nobody dared to nock an arrow or raise their sword. They only stared head-on.

In a few minutes the entire royal household, including Lameth and Caccas, materialized in front of the crowd with expressions much similar to that of everyone else.

Judson spread his arms in welcome, his eyes flashing maliciously. "Welcome, King of Elves. Welcome King of Beasts and King of Fire mortals and the royal household. I am Oculmus as you all know and this will be my final show of mercy to this land and to its people."

King Javan bravely came forward but only a few steps. His face was lined with anger and his eyes visibly void of sleep. Waverly was certain he was awake even before the soldier had arrived to fetch him.

"What is tis mercy ye speak of? Ye has brought upon me and my kingdom such a dreadful war to destabilize and destroy the peace and happiness that for ages before me tis realm enjoyed."

"Exactly." Judson agreed. "For ages you have had your chance at peace but now it is time for a new beginning. It will not be long now when the whole world will come under my rule. I did you a favor by sparing you and your people this long."

"What now is it that ye seeks? Why has ye summoned all in the dead of night?" Javan asked.

Judson smiled. "Some ruler you are, Javan. As powerful and as sentient a being as you claim to be, you still fail to see the deceits that lie before you. Even with Lameth by your side."

Lameth had an expressionless face whereas Javan frowned. The latter tried to move again but Aurora clutched his arm tightly. Behind them stood Brijjet - as still as a statue - his blue eyes darting about in heavy alert. Next to him, standing farther back was King Caccas and Queen Daya.

Waverly perceived the scene with a blurry vision, resisting the urge to pass out. There was a heaviness in the atmosphere and it weighed on the crowd such that many began to lurch or kneel. A black fog covered the ground and an even blacker one obscured the sky. Only a pair of torches blaring from one of the temples permitted light enough to see anything in the thickening darkness.

"What deceits does ye speak of now? The only deceits i see are the ones ye has performed on my good people time and time again."

Judson lowered his head briefly then pointed at Waverly. "Do you know who that is?"

Javan peered at Waverly, unable to fully make her out what with the lingering darkness and the fact that she was fettered by green vines.

"I suppose not. Pray, tell who that might be?"

"That is the one thing you have feared all your life." Judson smirked. He barely moved as he spoke but his eyes closely watched every single person in the gathering.

"I know you are wary for your family, your throne, your kingdom and what will become of it after i obliterate it all but i also know that what you are most wary of is the curse that hangs over your head like a plague - the unfortunate lot that has pestered you for ages."

King Javan's eyes widened a tad. He turned to look at no one in particular.

"Tis person, whatever or whoever they may be, is a spy?" He inquired.

"No." Judson replied gently. "This is a god's blood, a kind you most despise more than anything in the world all thanks to your new son-in-law."

Brijjet growled quietly but remained unmoving. King Javan turned to him and an obvious look of hatred passed between them for a fleeting second. The King turned his attention back to Judson then to Waverly. He released his arm from his daughter's and cautiously but regally began to approach Waverly.

Judson lowered the vines enough for the King to look closely at her. Waverly's face had gone pallid from the pressure of her binds and she stared in an unfocused manner at the King.

Javan suddenly scoffed and turned to Judson again. "Remembrance has come to me at last. Tis not the youngling brought before me and mine council four seasons ago? Charged she was with numerous defaults and to a sentence of probation punished. Unless i speak wrongly and see faintly, she is the same Human."

"And did you know that the minute she stepped foot into your kingdom she has been ruling it in your stead?"

"Sinné!" Javan cried. "Ye speaks out nothing but lies." (Nonsense)

"I do, eh?" Judson teased. "I do not need to, for those who already speak lies are the same ones you put your trust in and they speak lies to you still. Everyone else in your kingdom and in this realm listens and bows to that girl. You - Javan - are the only one who has not done so yet."

"Did you call us here to ramble on and on about things that are as unimportant as your presence right now?" Brijjet asked. His eyes were perfect slits.

All attention briefly turned to him.

Judson smirked. "Maybe you should be the one to ramble, Brijjet. Go ahead and tell your King all about our adventures together. Tell them how we used to be friends and of all we have gone through together. Tell them how you joined the Company solely, secretly to search for me. . ."

He pointed at Waverly. "because of her."

A small gasp came from near Brijjet but the sudden reaction did not affect him nor did it urge him. He simply kept his gaze on Judson and occasionally flickered it to Waverly.

"What is he talking about?" Aurora asked, going over to stand next to Brijjet.

"Ah, there is a nasty secret hidden in everyone." Judson commented. "Well, go ahead Bridonis and spill yours. I do not have all night. Tell your family and all the people here how you and her. . ." He pointed at Waverly again.

Aurora interrupted with a shriek and turned to glare at Brijjet. "I knew you were lying to me."

"Aurora." Brijjet warned. His voice was firm but full of alarm.

Aurora pushed him in the chest. Her voice cracked as she spoke. "What in Gayl's name is going on between you and that Human?"

"Aurora, now is not the time. . ." Brijjet started.

"Oh but it is, Brijjet." Judson interrupted gladly. "When else will it be? You all might as well be dead by morning."

"Bridonis." Javan called. His voice carried a tone that indicated pure anger. "What trickery is tis? What has ye been conniving with. . . with whoever that Human be?"

"Speaking of conniving," Judson cut in. "Did you know, Your Highness, that an assault was led just last night?"

"I did not pronounce orders for any such assault." Javan disagreed defiantly.

"No, you did not." Judson agreed then his gaze slyly darted to Priam. "But maybe your General can tell you who did."

Javan frowned again then turned in the direction Judson looked. His face fell when he saw Priam who already wore an apologetic expression.

"Priam?" Javan inquired quietly, his tone tinted with disbelief.

Priam's eyes locked with the King's. "I offer my sincerest apologies, My Lord."

"Whatever is tis?" Javan cried. "What is going on in my kingdom?"

"Chaos." Judson inhaled pleasantly. "Perfect chaos."

He turned to Waverly and the vines suddenly released her. She fell with a thud. "This youngling ordered an assault and even your most loyal Generals were at her beck and call. She has wrapped every single one of your subjects around her tiny finger right under your nose."

Javan looked heartbroken. "I curse the day she was brought thither into tis realm and before me. She is my undoing."

"I humbly beg to differ, My Lord." Phyllis spoke up. Attention spun toward her as she walked forward, glaring hatefully at Judson.

"Waverly has been helping us all more than you know."

"And tell me who permitted you to speak, Olwirien?" Judson asked amusedly, addressing Phyllis by her middle name. Her face paled instantly.

He began to stretch a hand toward her but a flash of blue and silver zipped past him. He winced and clutched his arm where his cloth had suddenly been ripped open by a blade. His flesh smoked but it did not bleed. He pointedly glared at Brijjet who had subtly returned to his former position.

"Idiot." He growled. His steaming flesh suddenly ceased. "Heaven's Medal is useless against an Elemental."

"I don't care what you think but Waverly is a kind person." Phyllis continued, staring hatefully at Judson again then solemnly at the King. "She is not like the other godly children you hear tales about."

"A traitor is what she is." Javan said.

"Would a traitor heal your daughter's eyes, My Lord?" Phyllis asked quietly. "Waverly was the one who provided the cure to The Black Mist that caused Aurora's blindness and she never once came forward to take credit for it. Would a traitor show such kindness?"

Javan turned to look at Aurora who threw her gaze in the other direction.

"I will tell you, Javan, what else a traitor would do." Judson said. Vines wrapped around Brijjet and pulled him away from the crowd. Aurora screamed and tried to reach for him but her mother, the Queen held her back.

"A traitor who has eyes for Bridonis would do anything to make sure she gets in his good books." Judson continued. He turned to look at a fuming Aurora. "She never opened your eyes because she liked you, you are aware of this princess. She opened your eyes because much like you she is in love with Bridonis. I can testify because i was once a part of their trio."

Aurora bit down on another scream and began to cry into her mother's arms instead. The Queen was noticeably quiet all through.

"Tell me." Javan asked Judson. "What god spawn is she?"

"Maybe Lameth there would provide a good answer. He knew all along." Judson smirked.

Again, Javan turned to face Lameth. The latter seemed unfazed by the King's glare.

"You knew?" Javan asked.

"Of course." Judson replied. He squinted his eyes at Lameth. "Pity you cannot do anything useful with my sister."

Lameth looked confused for a second then his body jerked forward, drawn by Judson's outstretched arm. A fiery red aura exited his mouth, the sound of a violent snap came from his bones and he fell down dead.

Judson closed the aura in his fist then scoffed disdainfully. "Such frailty. Mortals do not deserve Fira."

He turned to face the crowd once more and was about to say something when he suddenly inclined his head and glanced up. He remained so for a few seconds then sighed softly.

"Well, whatever has a beginning must have an end and this is where my patience ends."

The Elves brandished their weapons in readiness to attack but before anyone could move an inch, they were outnumbered and surrounded by the dark army. Malverëken leaped into their midst, extracting shrieks and screams from every corner.

"Destroy every living thing but spare my brother's sacred temple." Judson ordered loudly. "I do not want a war with Gayl."

He flicked his hand and released Brijjet from the vines then took to the sky. Waverly was half unconscious but could tell that a full scale battle was taking place around her. Someone suddenly reached for her boot and began to drag her away. It was either as a result of the stabbing cold underneath or the bruises that formed on her back that she quickly regained herself.

She sat up and shrieked when she saw her shoe stuck in between Borzoi's teeth but the dog made no attempts to bite.

"Let go! Drop it." Waverly screamed.

Borzoi obeyed immediately then sat on her heel staring up at Waverly as if waiting for the next order.

"Where is Diarmaid?" She asked, standing up but her body felt woozy and weak. She was at the back of one temple where the ruckus had not yet gotten to but the sound of swords and shields clanking against the other, men yelling and things exploding reassured that there was indeed an ongoing ruckus.

Borzoi barked once and rushed off but Waverly did not follow as she was still very disoriented. She flexed her limbs and felt the cold stiffness in them slowly recede until it was all gone. She took out her crescent and ran around the temple, taking a Kobold by surprise. The battle, she knew, was not only on the Plateaus. Those on ground level would also be facing a different distress.

The Oasis. Her inner voice whispered.

Waverly looked up and whistled, hoping that despite the distance her wolf would hear her and be fit enough to come. It took quite a while and she was already engaged in combat when a spot of silver raced across the night sky. Chestnut was maximum sized and so when he landed, the ground shook for minutes.

Waverly raced toward him and got on his back. He lurched forward, clawing and smashing the enemies in his path then took a giant leap into the clouds. As they soared, Waverly saw that the fight was everywhere - nothing and no one was left to mercy.

Chestnut flew swiftly and soon, the vast ocean of the Oasis came to view. Just as they drew closer, Waverly saw the water stir in the middle. It was as though a powerful vacuum had opened up right under the ocean. Waves rolled in and out and a great turbulence began.

The nixies swam for their lives, shutting themselves inside their mollusks and caves but the sheer force of whatever was rising from the depths shattered their dwelling to pieces. A sudden noise came; loud and piercing although heavily muffled and yet causing endless ripples across the surface of the ocean. A moment of stillness reigned then a massive body part unexpectedly shot out of the water.

Chestnut half collided with the rising creature and was knocked backward. Waverly screamed as she fell off the wolf's back. Calaire quickly elongated into a whip which she desperately threw at the rising creature in hopes of getting a harness.

The whip found a spot in the creature's slimy but rough skin and entwined around it, allowing Waverly to dangle mid fall. She felt herself being lifted as the creature continued to rise. She did not know what it was but she feared it was the largest thing ever as only its supposed head was as high as the Plateaus. She groaned and whimpered, trying to find footing to prevent herself from falling into the turbulent ocean hundreds of feet below.

She wildly sought for Chestnut but could not see him anywhere. As she dangled from the creature that constantly rose higher and higher, she found that she could finally see what she was harnessed to. It was dragonish and ophidian all at once but Waverly could not spot any wings or a forked tongue. In fact she could not see where its body began. All of it looked the same from top to the visible bottom.

Suddenly the same piercing noise returned but this time it was a deeper and harsher sound, almost like an intense snore and it rattled Waverly's whip, causing it to loosen around the jagged plate of the creature's skin where it was anchored.

Waverly flailed as she fell straight down but before she could plunge into the ocean, Chestnut intercepted. She let out numerous fearful gasps as Chestnut flew farther away from the creature, allowing her to take a good look at it.

The thing was upright but Waverly could not tell if it stood or floated as half of it was still buried deep in the ocean. It had a massive eyeless head and its skin was the darkest blue. There was no way to tell which part of it was its underbelly and its back as it looked the same all around.

The turbulent ocean died down as the creature remained still but the ripples remained, reenacted by the powerful noise that came off the creature.

"The Slumber Serpent." Waverly gasped in shocking realization. How had such a massive creature been summoned?

Just then, the serpent tilted forward and began to fall like a log pushed from behind.

"No! No, it is going to flatten them all." She cried out.

Chestnut immediately lunged for the mollusks but they were too late. The Serpent fell with a loud crashing thud and the impact sent a wave of energy that propelled Chestnut and Waverly backwards for miles. Waverly crashed into a tree and fell roughly through it until she landed flat on the snow then the world went dark.

She gave a sharp gasp when her eyes finally opened again. Although she woke only a number of minutes later, Waverly thought hours had gone by. She pushed herself up but her hand sank elbow deep into the snow. Her gaze traveled up and around, assessing her new environment. The sky was a palette of faint dark blue and wisps of mesmerizing purple, sprinkled with big stars and a tiny crescent moon but the gentle darkness that indicated it was still evenfall did not prevent Waverly from seeing ground. The earth was covered in the finest, smoothest bed of snow as far as the eyes could see and tall dark figures stood about in erect raggle-taggle fashion. Waverly would have been alarmed at the sight had she not fallen through one of those dark figures which were actually just pine trees.

She could not hear any sounds or see signs of a disturbance and it perturbed her. She rose and began to drag through the snow, searching for Chestnut and a way out of the tiny pine forest she was in. After a long walk, she unexpectedly fell off a high slope and began to roll down it.

She stopped rolling and fell flat on her face on level ground. Waverly knelt up and shook the snow out of her hair and peeped around. She half expected to find Snow Elves or any other Elf on the mountain but it was oddly isolated. There was not even the slightest sign of a settlement despite Snow Elves being rumored to dwell in the mountains.

She whistled for the umpteenth time but Chestnut did not show up. It made her feel great unease and a foreboding sense of fear. The pine trees were far behind now but the snow was endless, glaring at Waverly from every angle. She had initially believed that the mountains would be much smaller but then she had only seen it from above.

She stood up and continued to trudge through shin deep snow until she halted again. Once again, pine trees came up in front of her but here, they grew denser and made the way abstruse. Waverly frowned and glared at the trees, feeling the urge to go back but when she turned around the way behind suddenly did not seem a better option either.

She took a step forward and paused when she heard a low growl. Calaire carefully slipped down her wrist, into her palm and elongated into a sword. Waverly frowned, unsure of why the weapon had done so as she had not willed it to. She remained calm when the growl came again but strangely could not sense any presence.

She turned and squinted about, in search of the intruder. Then from nowhere, a large creature leaped into the clearing only a few feet away from Waverly who shrieked in fright and fell back. The hideous creature had a defined bony humpback and a neck full of veins that framed around its sunken face. It had large, muscly arms, short legs and a thick short tail that swept behind it. The bones around its spine was flaming red and as it walked, the snow hissed under its feet.

Waverly shuffled back on her elbow, her heart pounding in her ears. She recognized the creature to be a Carkness - one of the deadlier kin of Rages. The Carkness sniffed and peered around with its filmy eyes and twice it looked past Waverly.

Waverly's fear subsided and was replaced by curiosity. The creature could not see her despite her being sprawled out in the open as she had jumped away from the trees at sight of it.

Then, another Carkness leaped from thin air into the clearing and began to sniff about like its brethren. Waverly watched as more creatures joined the others until a swarm of ugly footprints decorated the snow. She soon decided it was time to do something and had begun to rise when a hand rested very gently on her shoulder.

"Keep still."

Waverly looked up and saw an Elf gazing forward at the group of Carknesses. She recognized him immediately.

"Aveon!" She breathed.

The Snow Elf blinked softly in surprise. "Cild Orakkél, you know my name. It is an honor."

Aveon helped Waverly rise slowly so as not to draw attention. It was very unnerving to be in the midst of such giant creatures as they roamed about in search of anything to kill but Waverly calmed when Aveon assured her that they truly could not see her nor him.

"How is that? Are they blind?"

"No. We are being shielded from their sight by Inks."

"Inks? What is that?"

"It is a magic that hides and it works only on this mountain. You have strolled past our dwelling and did not realize it because of such magic."

A Carkness roared and smashed through the trees, its flaming spine set a few branches on fire but the flames died out immediately from a rising wind.

"Come, a blizzard approaches. We must hurry away." Aveon said. He was dressed in white such that he camouflaged with the environment. His white hair whipped mercilessly across his face.

"What about the Carknesses? There's a Slumber Serpent. . ." Waverly complained but the look on Aveon's face made her thin her lips in silence.

The Elf looked as though he had been beaten as he spoke. "There is terribly little we can do against them. The end is nigh and we can fight it no longer. Come!"

Waverly dejectedly followed Aveon stealthily through the crowd of angry creatures back the same way she had come. She watched as the Elf strolled lightly such that his weight made no prints of his feet on the snow. She copied him as she walked.

He led her up the same slope she had rolled down from and when at last they arrived the peak after a tedious trudging climb, Waverly looked back at the Carknesses that still searched for prey, the flame from their spines dimming in the light of the rising dawn.