Long Road to Ruin (Drayden, Cathan, Sondra)

[Cathan]

Cathan couldn't remember his mother. He would have lied claiming to miss her, it was hard longing for something you had never known. Pointless to worry about a past he couldn't change. Yet he understood what Kendall wanted to say, sensing the yearning in his voice more than in his words. It didn't seem important the other man half talked to himself, as if he tried to convince himself of what he had said. The kelvic didn't mind, glad someone talked to him rather than about him. The wolf had never been one to hold back and few had ever expected him to. No, they had wanted him a quick hunter, swift to kill his prey and without pity for it afterward. Restrain wasn't a desired trait for a large wolf kept for the single purpose to bring down quarrel and opponents in the ring.

"Some reservation can't hurt," Cathan agreed with a nod in Kendall's direction, in the same time wondering how it actually would be, to have the will to break with ones habits and instincts. He had learned a bit of in the last half year, but not enough to consider himself modest. The kelvic certainly wasn't and that in more than one regard. Gold eye lingering on his travel companion he was tempted to ask about his mother, but in the end didn't. Deep down he knew he wasn't sensible and he shied away from topics which could have proven it. Light conversation, that's what he was good good at if he tired to even when few ever laughed about his jokes.

"I have been to Syliras before, stopped there during late spring this year before following the street further south. Don't know anyone though." His owner had not been keen on having him run around alone, worried the kelvic would bring himself into trouble. Cathan had frowned at his estimation, but had staid close to his owner still, the way every good kelvic would. "Don't know Kova's well, but I would think we might stay a few days so we should look around that city. Wouldn't mind a drink or two either... to celebrate finishing the first stage of our travel." He looked from one man to the other. "How about it? Drinks go on me," he offered with a grin before turning towards the mountains once more.

Under the snow the street was barely visible, winding west and north towards the Mirahil Pass. It wouldn't be an easy travel, not like the time he had crossed the mountains in summer, but with the road they had little chances to get lost.

"I like the plan," he added without turning once Kendall had ended. A clear plan was always good to have and he was the last one who would complain about following orders. In a way it was comfortable, to not have to think. To let others decide. In the same turn he was afraid to follow someone so blindly the way he had done in the past. With a last glance towards his companions he shrugged the feeling off. He nodded up the path, looking over his shoulder. "How about you go ahead? I will catch up in some minutes once I changed to something more comfortable to wear."

With that the kelvic turned, heading for the back of the barn building, where only a few sheep watched him slip out of his clothes, indifferent to his brazenness. The ice was cold under his bare feet when he put his clothing into his back, shortening the strap with a knot, so he could carry it in his true form without dragging it along behind himself. Dropping the bag to the ground, Cathan changed. The pale white of the snow reflecting the shimmering lights of his transformation. Flexing his muscles he rose his muzzle, letting out a short howl. A while he listened out into the icy wild, but no one returned his call. Wolves rarely came so close to cities he knew, avoiding people when they could. For now it meant he didn't have to worry about packs whose territory he might cross.

Crouching down the kelvic slipped his bag over his shoulder. He had most things beside his clothing handed to Kendall and the few remaining possessions where easy enough to carry. Quickly he caught up with the man on the road, careful to not come to close to their horses. Instead he trailed along side the two riders, sometimes behind then, often ahead, but most of the time running beside the road on their height. Cathan couldn't deny it was a good feeling to run. Having spend most of his time in a cage he had come to enjoy the freedom of just running wherever it pleased him rather late, but if anything he liked it even more now he had the chance.

They made headway quickly. No new snow was hindering their travel and the winter was still young, mild on them. The snow blanket was still thin, barely hindering either him or the horses and with every hour the city started to shrink behind them, became the the mountains larger, more impressive. Soon they would reach the small hill rising beside the street, barely high enough to be called a mere mound, there were trees growing on the top of it forming a natural windbreak. A season ago he had rested under the trees for some days, before finally entering the city.

Gathering speed Cathan turned towards the road, about to close the distance between himself and the two riders once more, yet still avoiding to get to close to the horses.

[Kendall Saarinen]

The plans were set and now the only thing left to do was to move forward. Zeltiva was no going to be in the past. Even though he was happy to me moving on he was going to miss it. He gave a nod to Cathan and watched as the man ran away toward the barn. He looked forward and ran his hand down Dyakana's mane. He loved the horse a lot more than he would let on. She was the only part of Kendall's previous life that stuck with her. The Colorsplash in a sense was the only family he had left. "Come on Dya, lets head Northwest to Syliras." He patted the horses neck and snapped the reigns. In the distance he could hear a wolf howl and he knew that Cathan would not be too far behind. Dyakana trotted through the Wildlands with Kendall looking around on her back. He was not sure exactly where to head without Cathan leading the way so he kept his horse at a quick trot. He took this time to pray. Although he had been in the Wildlands before he was always accompanied by his father. Now it was just him, Dyakana, and Cathan. He knew somewhere in his mind he could make it to Syliras. He had been plauged by low self-esteem since his accident though. Kendall had never been to religous of a person but since the accident he had held a bit of reverence for two gods. For obvious reasons he found solace in Ivak. Without him he would have most likely killed his brother and lost complete control of his emotions. Ivak had saved him when he had nothing and no one left to protect him. The mark on his forearm proved that Ivak was there protecting him even from his Kalean prison in the mountains. When everyone else gave up on Kendall Ivak came into his life. The other God was one who he had not given a lot of reverence to until recently. It was Nysel, the God of dreams and sleep. Lately Kendall's time was better spent in his vast and intricate daydreams than thinking about real life. He did not know much about the God but he appreciated the solace he found in the God's vast and ever changing world. "Lord Ivak and Lord Nysel, please protect me and my few found friend on this travel through the wildlands. Lady Caiyha, please let us be in your good graces and keep us safe from your more dangerous beasts. Oriana, Navre, and all other Alvina who reign over the animal kingdom, please have your creatures leave us be. Finally, Zulrav please give us clear skies and gentle winds." Kendall's mismatched eyes opened again to see the vast wilderness in front of him. He could not go too far without Cathan's direction so he kept Dyakana at a slow trot. As she trotted Kendall began to recite poetry. He was just pulling verses from his mind but he needed something to keep him occupied as he rode. Home is far behind me The future lies along this path Maybe there I will be free No longer subject to my family's wrath Tomorrow is unknown Yesterday is far behind I'm leaving behind all I own For a town that will be more kind Fate do not torment this lost man Do not throw more than I can recieve I am simply doing what I can I'm just looking for a reprieve The wind blew softly against Kendall's body and his blonde hair buffeted against his face. "What do you think Dya? Too sappy?" The horse did simply continued to trot forward silently. Kendall sighed and looked around hoping to see a wolf pop his grey head up to lead him through the wild. Kendall might have had good ideas for travel but he had no clue where to get where he was traveling to.

[Cathan]

He had almost closed the distance between himself and the two riders when he heard the singing. The kelvic wasn't familiar with the song, but he recognized the voice before he was even close enough to see the movement of Kendall's lips. The young man didn't seem to recognize him in the dark, not the way Cathan could see him in return at least. Sometimes he forgot how weak a human's senses were. Ears twitching he continued forward, an almost black shadow on white snow, mesmerized.

It was not the first time he heard someone sing. In taverns and pubs he had observed people burst into songs after one to many drinks and one time he had heard a storyteller give a ballad of times long past in the streets of Zeltiva, but such occasions had been few and far in between. Also, Kendall's song was different from what the shapeshifter had heard in the past. It had something intensely personal, although Cathan couldn't say what gave him the impression. He couldn't sing and he was almost certain he had no sense of music, yet he slowed down, stopped to hear the words drifting over to him.

It wasn't until the young man had ended he moved forward again, close enough for his companions to see the wolf sink out of the higher snow onto the street. The sun had vanished behind the horizon a while ago and Syna's light had changes from orange to red, leaving the sky a violet tinted blue with myriads of stars lighting the firmament in her place. The kelvic's eyes shifted from Drayden to Kendall and remained on his features for a longer moment before he nodded towards the hill beside the street, the one crowed by a few trees. For the first time since they had left the city, Cathan led their small group away from the street, up the ridge. Speeding up once more he disappeared in a patch of bushes beside the trees, emerging from them half a minute later, dressed in his winter clothing, bag hanging from his shoulder. Without haste he pulled his clothing into place, not entirely managing though, he didn't much care about it either.

"This was the place I was thinking of. Far enough away from the street to not draw anyone's attention and the trees break the worst wind." He nodded towards the trees at his side. "There was a small creek down the other side too, but I fear it might be frozen now. If we need water we have to melt some snow." At least snow they had enough of, they only needed to find an untouched patch and heat it up over the fire. And Kendall had said he would be able to start one. With magic. The concept of reimancy or any other arcane art was eluding the kelvic and he came to meet magicians with a not small amount of unease. Still, he had came to know Kendall as an prudent individual and he was almost curious to see how he would make the fire.

Walking over to Dyakana he slowly approached the horse, of only to make sure the animal wouldn't shy away, throwing off its rider. When the horse did little more than roll its eyes the tall man reached for the horse's bridle, resting the other one on the horse nose. Almost he was surprised the animal didn't try to take off one of his fingers. He might have tried had he been in the animal's positions.

"You sing well."

Once the young man had climbed of the horse, Cathan helped him and the Drykas to unpack their equipment. He couldn't deny to look forward to the hunt to come. But then it was also important their camp was all set up.

[Sondra]

Sondra muttered against the rising cold of evening. She kicked one booted foot against another, reminding her feet to keep the blood flowing. Snow had not begun in earnest, but a sharpness possessed the air and fen. In Avanthal, she hadn’t minded the eternal cold, but in Avanthal she had a bed and more than one coat. Meagerness surrounded her. It rang in her stomach and pinched her skin. Perverse will had kept her trudging since Zeltiva. She hated moving in the dark. Mizahar had a nasty habit of opening up and swallowing wanderers. Winter stars were bright, but they illuminated little of the ground. Her warhammer never left her gloved fingers. It was a hook on uneven terrain and a comfort against the faceless sounds. Any noise made her grind her teeth and scan her surroundings. Blessedly, the travel had been lonely. Dumb monsters would savage a traveler, but human-ilk had the terrible capacity for cruelty. Memories of sins in wild settings surged if she didn’t maintain iron focus. She thought of Calovan and the way he made shreds of a party of travelers, of the mountain sized man who lay in wait near guiding markers. Orange light flared then flickered ahead, and shadows long and slender ran through the fen. Sondra twisted her hammer in her hands and clenched her jaw. Creeping through the dark, Sondra cautiously made her way to the beacon. She listened for the staccato warble of human voices. Men, perhaps two, one could never be sure, and horses stamping the ground. The conversation seemed mild mostly concerning the construction of camp. The Konti stood in the dark weighing the fear of harm against the security of fellowship. Hasty prayers were sent to the All Seeing Lady and the Fire god, bearing all Sondra’s usual eloquence. “Give me wisdom and don’t let me get petched.” Sondra raised her hammer in both hands as she moved toward the light. Her imminent approach was likely already perceived, but she spoke as a show of goodwill. “Who goes?” The Konti that appeared was a ragged and stone-faced version of the wondrous race. She was pale with crudely cut hair and slate colored eyes. Gray scales crept up the sides of her neck but some were chipped and peeling back. Her hands did not loosen their vigilant grip on her hammer.

[Kendall Saarinen]

When Cathan was in sight Kendall reigned Dyakana in so she would follow the wolf's lead. It was a bit strange following a wolf through the Wildlands. Of course, a lot of things had been strange lately. It seemed the life he had been living previously of studying and having happy times with his family was the more odd thing to do. To most people, those who were not living with a shroud of enchantment sheilding their eyes, life was just as he was living now. It was strange and unprodictable. As Cathan veered off into the brush Dyakana followed loyally at Kendall's direction. He could tell she was a bit nervous about following an animal that would normally kill her but she did as her rider wanted. Kendall kept a hand on her neck to keep her calm. He loved the horse a lot more than he showed. When they finally stopped Kendall was suprised to see Cathan attempting to touch Dyakana's nose. He felt a wave of fear that she might buck him off but at the same time he marveled at the sight. "A wolf trying to make friends with a horse. That's something you'll never see at the University." Dyakana looked at the man skeptically as he reached forward. This man was Kendall's friend though and for him she let him touch her nose although not without a sassy flick of her tail. "Looks like she accepts you. That will make this trip easier. She can get a bit sassy at times." He got down from Dyakana's back and stood next to Cathan. The man towered over him a bit Kendall but he really didn't mind. "I think this camp will do nicely. I'll start a fire and if we can get some meat I can cook it for us. Can you help me find some sticks?" Kendall walked around the place where he would be camping picking up sticks for kindling. When he and Cathan had gathered enough wood he began to set up the fire. He placed the sticks pointing up and laying against each other in what looked like the shape of a tent. After the fire was set up Kendall knelt down next to the sticks and held his hand over the fire. From his hand a ball of res began to float down to the sticks and as it neared it burst into flames. Kendall looked at the sticks as they started to crackle with the flames. "There we go. Now we have a fire." Kendall looked at the flames proudly. "I am glad that you are with me as well on this trip Lord Ivak even if it is simply through this fire." He had become quite emotionally connected to the fire lord. When there was no one else to claim as his own and no one to comfort him he found comfort in the god who saved him when he lost everything else. It was surprising to hear someone compliment Kendall's singing. His voice still cracked a bit when flowing through the verses. As a girl he could sing. He was not the best in Zeltiva, nor had he tried to be. He found himself lost within this new voice. Singing was the only skill that he had to rework now that he found himself in this new body. He had traded in his soprano voice for a deep bass even if it was unwillingly. He felt a bit of his past feminine pride well up at the complement and he looked down as he blushed. "Thank you Cathan. If I knew you were listening I would not have sang. I..." He stopped himself before he divulged on how he was still getting used to his voice. Maybe Cathan would hear about Kendall's accident someday but for now he would keep the man in the shadows. "I have not sang in a while. I'm glad I still have a good voice though." He smiled at Cathan and felt a swell of pride. He had not felt this happy in a while. He sat in silence with his canine friend until a feminine voice broke through the silence. Kendall felt a wave of heat wash over him when he heard the unfamiliar voice. He looked up to see a woman, blonde and covered in scales. She held a hammer but she did not seem as though she intended to use it unless provoked. Kendall stood up to show respect to the woman. "I am Kendall and this is my friend Cathan." Kendall motioned to Cathan as he marveled at the fact he had actually just called someone his friend. "May I ask who you are?" Kendall was still new on the male side of manners. He knew how a lady was supposed to act in formal situations. Introduce herself, stay quiet in honor of the men at times. He was not sure how forward he should be though. He hoped he did not offend the woman. If Kendall's guesses where right, she was a Konti judging by her light hair and scaled skin. "Are you in need of a place to stay? I'm sure staying with two unknown men would be a but daunting so I would not be offended if you declined. Our fire is open to you if you wish to share it's warmth though."

[Cathan]

"I would not mind, should you try again. A more cheerful song the next time around maybe?," Cathan suggested in good jest, looking up from the snares laid out on the snow before him. The kelvic preferred the thrill of the hunt over setting traps, but chasing, and more importantly finding game, required time he was not sure they were willing to invest every day. Untangling the wires of two snares, he nodded towards the growing dark beyond the camp fringes. "The last time I spend a few days in the area there was much fowl to be caught. I will lay out the snares for the night and afterward I will try to see if some quail or hare would care to attend supper with us."

He grinned until a sound in the dark caught his attention. Head tilt to the side the man shifted his weight from one leg to the other, remaining crouched to the ground however. Behind him the fire was dancing in bright red and gold and while it lit the intermediate surrounding, it also made piecing the night stretching out to either side of their small camp side hard. The kelvic's eyes narrowed to a thoughtful stare. Some larking rabbit not shying the fire light maybe? Cathan frowned, shaking his head ever so slightly. No, he was not usually that fortunate. Absently he let the thick fur jacket slip down his shoulders, making sure he could discard of it quicker should the need to change form arise.

He was still wondered about issuing a warning to Kendall when the silence was broken by a female voice. A woman had stepped towards them. Pale for an area as far south as Zeltiva and with hair to fair to be called blond, she reminded Cathan about something he had once heard, but couldn't fully recall anymore. With idle curiosity he noted the scales shimmering in the firelight and the webbed fingers holding the hammer. Not a human, so much was certain, but the man was unable to come up with a name for what he saw. Had he been gifted with a better understanding for the beauty for the human form, he might have even called her pretty, but so he was merely amused by the strange young woman wandering into their camp carrying a weapon.

Amused and wary. Instinctively he looked towards Kendall, as if to see how he would react before deciding on a course of action himself. When the young man introduced Cathan as his friend, the kelvic inclined his head in a greeting nod towards the woman. He smiled, but it was a cautious expression, ready to change at the first sight of something he did not like. Kendall seemed unconcerned by the woman's presence, but the kelvic continued to watch her, head lightly tilt to the side, qualm, yet ready to move.

[Sondra]

Sondra hid a smirk at Kellan’s concern over the “daunting” idea of keeping company with two men. It was sweet, but entirely inapplicable to her. She’d slept in places and amidst company most women wouldn’t even want to look at. However, Sondra didn’t want to spoil his genteel gesture. “Thank you for your concern, but I am happy to keep any company tonight that isn’t intent on killing me.” Now if they were just biding time before devouring her, then, yes, that would be rather daunting. Her voice had a rough cadence, but sincerity snuck into it as she said, “I’d really appreciate a spot to stay.” Caution lingered in her posture, even as she came closer to the fire. Her pulse quickened happily at the first glow of warmth and she almost forgot to be on guard. “I’m Sondra.” She took off her gloves and wiggled her fingers dangerously close to the flames, balancing her hammer on her lap. “I started in Sunberth and I’m heading to Syliras, the big and boring city.” By boring, she meant there was very little in the way of organized brawls, panhandling and seedy taverns. These were her bread and butter. Sadly, the knight’s perpetual vigilance had a profound chilling factor on such activities. One would think her visions would encourage a wiser choice in activities, as she often saw the consequence of wrong place, wrong time scenarios. She glanced at the quiet one. Those sorts made her nervous, the patient ones made the worst kinds of villains when they went sour. “Kendall and Cathan, eh?” her smile was slight and crooked, “You two make an interesting pair. Is there a story behind this fellowship worth telling?”

[Kendall Saarinen]

Cathan's words gained a rare smile from Kendall. He was thankful for the man's kind words. "Well I didn't attend the university for the majority of my life to always sing about sadness. I'm sure I can come up with something more happy. Well maybe mrore hopeful. I think I have a little more time before the happy words will come to me." He found himself still smiling after he was done talking. Could it be that he was finding a bit of a fellowship with Cathan? He focused his eyes on the fire and pushed his blonde hair back. The light strands slowly began to fall again in his mismatched eyes and he sighed. "If you are good at trapping maybe I will come with you. I need to learn a bit about hunting and the skills that go along with it if we are going to be travling around the wild." It was good to have someone to talk about. Even more so, it was better to hear a voice speaking back to him. The passing strangers that he met were nice but the knowing that someone was going to constantly be there was a good feeling. It came as a bit of a suprise that the woman spoke so calmly about sharing a camp with two men. He thought back to the time before his accident and shuttered. He would not have concidered for a moment staying with a group of all men for one second. A young girl with a group of all men was never a good idea. Still, men could be civil. Kendall knew he was although he was not sure if he counted as a full male. He was a girl at one point. Kendall's blue and green eyes looked over to Sondra and he motioned to the fire. "Well, you are welcome to stay then. It is nice to meet you Sondra." He was a bit suprised to hear that Syliras as boring. Everything he had ever heard about the big city made it sound exciting and full of activity. "Excuse me but I've heard that Syliras is a very interesting city. I've never been far from the borders of Zeltiva so all I know is word of mouth though." Kendall was surprised to hear himself talking so much. Maybe it was the fact that he finally found a female to talk to. As odd as it was, he missed having long and meaningful talks with other girls. Now he was expected to talk only of fighting and drinking. All manly things of course. He looked over to Cathan to see the weary look on his face. Could it be that he had been to welcoming now that he had finally met another woman? He felt bad that he did not consult Cathan at all when offering to let the girl come into the camp. He hoped the woman would not hurt him and his kelvic companion. He was not sure how much he should tell the woman. He did not know her too well and if Cathan was feeling a bit reserved then he did not want to release too much information. "We met on the streets of Zeltiva. We were both just in the right place at the right time I guess. We were both stuck in a situation where we did not have anyone and we found each other. I wanted to leave Zeltiva and Cathan wanted to head north so here we are." Kendall looked over to Cathan and smiled in the light of the fire. "What about you Sondra? How did you find ourself here in the Wildlands?" It was not every day a woman wandered the Wildlands alone. He knew that he never would. Even when he visited when he was younger he was always with his father.

[Cathan]

The woman's eyes were met with a reserved smirk, a greeting nod. Caution ruled the kelvic's demeanor when dealing with strangers, especially those emerging from the dark of night. Still, Kendall had invited Sondra and Cathan saw no reason in arguing a decision he might have made himself. Not with the same words and definitely not with the same earnest courtesy, but he found the result would have been much the same. It was saver to travel in numbers and brace the wild together, he knew.

The kelvic was still crouching on the ground, when Kendall looked in his direction, but the look let him get to his feet, rolled up snares in one hand. Casually he wrapped his coat tighter around himself once more, welcoming the pelts' warmth.

"She carried that hammer the entire way from Sunberth to Zeltiva, not shying the weight," the tall man pointed out, his expression showing an hint of withheld amusement. "I am certain she knows how to wield it." His attention flickered from his travel companion to the pale woman resting on her for a long second before drifting back towards the other man. Kendall's face was showing genuine concern about the woman's well being and the idea she had to spend a night with two man and the kelvic found himself follow the conversation with quiet wonder. Manners were still quite the mystery to him at time, but he knew they were supposed to work wonders talking with others. The fact Sondra proved unimpressed by them only lead Cathan to believe they might not as important as people made them out to be. He had always suspected so.

Quietly to not interrupt the conversation the kelvic slunk away from the fire. From the saddlebags Cathan retrieved a pot, small and made of cast iron. He filled it to the edge with untouched white, placing it beside the fire for the snow to melt, looking up to Kendall. "Trapping is not really my strength," he murmured once the young man had ended and before Sondra could start. He kept his voice low, but it was loud enough for the three of them to hear still. "I know the gist of it, but it will be hit and miss and trying. Tracking and hunting I am much more suited to show you if you like," he offered. "It might be already too dark for you I am not sure. It is hard for me to decide sometimes."

Night was always dark to him, but it was never truly black. It was shades of gray and shadows on a dusky canvas. Humans did not see as much, the way they missed a wolf's sense of smell or hearing. However, the idea of hunting together with someone was tempting. It had been a while he came to enjoy a good hunt. "Else... I bought some meat before we left." Even when he found the idea to buy food odd.

For now though golden eyes came to settle on Sondra, waiting for what the woman would say.

[Sondra]

Sondra quickly read Kendall’s disappointment even before he questioned her opinion of Syliras. She rubbed the back of her neck, a little sheepish over dashing any hopes. Isolation and age made her forget how wonderfully hopeful humans could be. “Don’t take it amiss. Syliras is like one massive keep, a sight to behold. I imagine it’s the closest thing to what civilization used to look like before gods, monsters and men shyked boulders and fire on everything.” Sondra paused, trying to phrase her next idea without looking like a criminal. “I like a bit of wiggle room in my cities, and it’s hard to find that in Syliras.” She was grateful for a change of subject. The Konti listened to the explanation of the pair’s chance meeting, her eyes occasionally flickering from the fire to Kendall. Honest as the story was, filling in the narrative’s blanks proved difficult. Sondra smirked when asked what brought her to the wildlands. Her natural response was sarcasm. “The scenery.” Realizing how she sounded, Sondra tried to temper her reply, but wasn’t dreadfully successful. “My last hangover in Sunberth was wretched, I could half swear…” She chuckled at herself and glanced at her boot tops, as if she could find her misplaced wits there. “… Someone big was telling me to get out and head to Syliras.” With a shrug she finished, “I’ve left town for stupider reasons.” Sondra’s plain expression tightened briefly when asked if she wanted to hunt. Cathan’s direct, golden eyes made her stiffen. She felt like some wild creature was quietly considering her. Wild things weren’t supposed to stare like men, or was it the other way around? Sitting around a fire was one thing, but wandering into the dark again? Her hands withdrew from the warmth to rest on her hammer’s handle. She flexed her fingers and scratched at the smooth wood. “I have little talent for hunting animals,” she admitted. “As you can see,” her look was wry, “My choice of weapon lacks much of the subtlety required.” The Konti wriggled out of her pack setting it beside her on the ground. “But I’m sure I can be somehow useful. Even if it’s just flushing them out.” She owed an effort if she was going to linger for long. Sondra hated not pulling her weight. She was a degenerate not a thief, and the difference was keen in her mind. The Konti stood, stretching her neck. Her hair swung aside betraying winding marks of blue tongues of flame. She adjusted her oversized coat, trying to obscure the silhouette hard living had scratched out.