“Lyra my dear niece I have already sent word to your mother and father, so they will be ready when you arrive at the Barking Dog. With Zarath as your Raxvashk you will be free to travel with him south and see more of the world as you have always wished.” Vos took Lyra into a deep hug smiling to herself as she wished her niece a save journey and a farewell to them until they met again one day. As Lyra and Zarath walked from the temple and down the forested path back to the temple gates, Lyra couldn’t help but wonder how did Zarath know what to say and why did he so willingly agreed to be her Raxvashk.

          “Hey um Zarath about what just happened back there?” Lyra’s tail wagged nervously and her ears atop her head twitching for his response.

          “Well, it just kind of works out for both of us I guess, you get to travel and well being Raxvashk just means I get access to the temple without dealing with all the stuff me and Tharon did the last couple of days.” Zarath scratched his ear as he answered, trying to be nonchalant about the whole thing.

          “Oh, so that was really the only reason.” Lyra’s tail dropped a little as they walked. Her spirit was a little crushed.

          “Well plus despite that fact you can be a bit annoying it wont hurt to have more help on the road, but just because I am sworn to protect you, please tell me you at least know how to fight.” Zarath stopped and turned to look at Lyra as he asked the question.

          “Yes, I know how to fight, did you forget who my parents are, mom taught me the basics of using my claws and fangs, and dad showed me how to use daggers and a bow. So, I actual don’t need you to protect me.” Lyra raised her voice as she answered, her muzzled face scrunching into a pout as she eyed Zarath.

          “Ok well, just in the event anything happens just stay close, alright I don’t need to explain to your parents at some point that something happened to you.” Zarath continued down the path to the temple gates.

          “Ok.” Lyra’s response was quick and filled with obvious cheer at Zarath’s remark.

          By the time Lyra and Zarath had reached the giant hollowed out tree that made up the Barking Dog inn. The sun had already begun to set, and being in a settlement where most of the buildings where the very trees of the forest the canopy above filtered out most of the light casting a low glow through out the wooded city, a few wolfkin walked along the natural dirt paths that made up the roads lighting standing torches to illuminate the paths for people. From the carved-out windows of the Barking Dog murmuring could be heard with quite laughter, the light of the central hearth slightly visible through the windows.

          “That’s weird my parents usual lock up when the torch bearers start lighting the pathways.” Lyra approached the heavy wooden doors that lead into the inn. As she opened them as she and Zarath entered they were met with a sudden cheer.

          “Surprise!!” Lyras older brother Toren standing in front of her parents his reddish-gray fur an obvious blend of his wolfkin mother Kaela and his Fennce father Raan’Tor, off to the side was Tharon holding a large tankard of some dark amber like liquid, Hura sitting on the floor howling as all the other people cheered as Zarath and Lyra stepped further into the Barking Dog, the walls that were decorated with the carved wooden tapestries now had streamers hanging from them some small paper lanterns hung from the ceiling.

          “Va’tar(father), Va’mir(mother) what is going on, what is all of this.” It was rare for Lyra to use the Sariik language of her father’s people when she spoke, but she couldn’t help herself as she was so caught off guard by all the familiar faces in the tavern.

          “Well, your mother and I thought it would be nice to have a going away party, since you will be leaving us.” Raan’Tor sniffled his muzzled face scrunching up as he tried to hole in his tears the whiskers on his fox-like snout twitching with each sniffle.

          “Oh, stop it you old softie you’re going to embarrass the poor girl.” Kaela stepped forward from behind her son Toren and hugged her daughter Lyra in a tight embrace. She looked up at Zarath giving him a discerning eye.

          “You listen well boy you take good care of my girl, or I will have to come out of retirement as the temples Grak Krellar, do you understand me.” Kaela bared her fangs and let out a low growl to show Zarath she meant what she said.

          “Understood ma’am me and Tharon will make sure nothing happens.” Zarath snapped to attention the fur on his body and tail standing on end.

          “Oh, no you don’t Zarath that one is all you I didn’t swear no oath as a Raxvashk to any temple or god.” Tharon let out a deep laugh before taking a drink of the dark amber liquid in his tankard. His belly bounced slightly as he laughed at his friend. Without warning Toren, Lyra’s older brother was dragging Zarath by the wrist over the bar and handing him a tankard of the strange liquid as well, one sniff and Zarath knew it was ale. He had smelled his father and a few of the older tribesmen drinking it from time to time but this was the first he or Tharon had ever had the chance to drink any.

          “Drink up you little Liin'kaar (bird thief.) its not every day my father brings out his specialty ale.” Toren clanked his own tankard against Zarath’s forcing the boy to drink it all in one go before letting out a laugh.

          “What the heck is this stuff its so strong.” Zarath coughed as he downed the dark amber liquid getting his first taste of ale, but it wasn’t just any normal ale that you would find in a tavern.

          “Ha, you like it, it’s my father’s Shadowfang Ale, it’s the strongest drink in all of the heartlands, not even the dwarfs can make something like this.” Toren laughed at Zarath’r reaction before slumping his shoulders.

          “Look at her, as happy as can be, you know Liin'kaar, I didn’t like you from the minute you walked into my family’s tavern, Lyra doesn’t know how bad the world is even though she is three years younger than me she still acts like a child in so many ways.” Toren gestured to Lyra who was laughing and speaking to all the guests that had shown up.

          “So, despite what my Va’mir said to you, and what ever oath you swore to my aunt up at the temple, I want your word that my little sister won’t get hurt out there.” Toren slammed his tankard down on the countertop and turned just his head to look at Zarath.

          “I will look after your sister Toren.” Zarath coughed slightly as the ale finial hit him.

          “Good now don’t get to drunk I hear it’s a long trip south.” Toren gave Zarath a hard smack on the back almost throwing Zarath out of the stool he sat on. The party dragged on until about midnight when all the guest decided to leave, Tharon after getting his first taste of ale let along something as strong as Shadowfang ale managed to down four more tankards almost as many as Raan’Tor so many people were shocked to see the small fox-like man down almost half a barrel before feeling its effects, apparently the ale was made from berries and a few other choice ingredients found in the forest as well as mixed with dwarven brewing techniques that Raan’Tor learned when he was younger and traveled the world but what the ingredients where only he knew. Toren was the one that eventually kicked everyone out while Kaela helped her husband to bed.

          Zarath laid down ready to get his first peaceful night sleep since this whole ordeal began, as he slowly closed his eyes he felt a chill run up his spine and when he awake he was in a dark place similar to the nightmares he had been having only this time the shadowy form that had been speaking to him could not approach, and instead of a tar like substance he was sinking in he was surrounded by the waist high grass of the Zernar Ralak. The shadowy form banged its ghostly hand against an invisible barrier.

          “This will not be the last you see me, I told you, you will be my greatest creation so sleep, sleep now in peace while you can I will only get stronger in time and when I do, I shall claim you just like before.” The shadowy form disappeared leaving behind the echoing words, you will be mine, you will be mine.

          When Zarath awoke he felt more rested than he had in days, he couldn’t seem to remember his dream from the night before, almost as if something was willing him to forget. He stood and dressed and headed down the stairs too the tavern part of the Barking Dog inn, Tharon his friend was nursing a hangover alongside Raan’Tor who was slouched over the counter of the bar, Kaela was washing dishes in the open kitchen behind the bar while Toren was busy cleaning up from the party last night mumbling to himself about why he had to be the one to clean up. Zarath looked around to find Lyra now where to be seen.

          “She will be down in a minute dear, me and Raan gave her some things for the journey, so she is still packing, have some breakfast while you wait, I already gave Hura a piece of left over steak from last night.” Kaela placed a plate of eggs on the counter. Hura’s ears perked up at the mention of her name, she stopped chewing on the piece of meat between her paws to let out a quick bark.

          A few moments later Lyra came down the stairs and greeted everyone, as Zarath turned to face her from his plate of eggs he quickly noted she was no longer wearing the usual soft cloth spun clothing she had worn the last few days. Lyra now wore a tightly fitted leather and fur coat with a hood, the sleeves reached down to her hands with a leather strap going over her palms and between her middle and ring finger on each hand, the chest portion was a thick leather chest guard that extended down until her waist leaving a small gap between the bottom of the coat and the start of her new leather pants leaving a small section of her middle open her reddish gray mottled patterned fur visible. Her pants similar to her new coat hugged her legs with the exception of her knees and shines which had leather guards over them, and her feet once barefoot now covered by light boots perfect for long distance travel and wet weather. On her back she had a small, short bow and quiver of arrows and closer to the small of her back attached to the backside of her belt where two curved knives closely resemble claws with a ring shape at the end of each leather-bound pommel where one could easily fit a finger and twirl the blade if skill enough.

          “So, what do you think?” Lyra eyed Zarath, her tail wagging behind her and her ears twitching as she awaited his response.

          “It looks good it will definitely help keep you safe, and warm since your fur isn’t that thick.” Zarath scratched the back of his head as he tried not to make direct eye contact with Lyra, the ears atop his head flattened as he replied.

          Lyra’s muzzled face scrunched up into a pout her checks puffed out as this wasn’t the response she was hoping for but decided not to say anything and simple sit down next to him.

After a quick breakfast and another round of goodbyes from her family, Lyra was ready to go her parents handed her a small bag of supplies she slung over her shoulder, Toren clapped Zarath on the back as he tied a few bags to Hura for her to carry giving her chin a gentle scratch as he did, Tharon took a few papers form Kaela recipes for dishes to cook even Raan’Tor gave Tharon a large canteen with what he referred to as a special pick me up though every one saw him fill it with Shadowfang ale.

          With their gear and bags packed, and the sun barely above the distant hills Zarath, Tharon, Lyra and Hura set out from the great and mythical wolfkin settlement of Vaerthruin, after much walking and the occasional stop to make sure they were still heading south the eventually exited the forest and found themselves in the low highlands just north of the boarder that marked the southern and western edged of the Heartlands still they had a long way to go and on foot it would still take them at least a two weeks to reach the town of Frontier weather and all permitting, and yet the three of them and their Brakkon companion still had no idea what awaited them on their journey or let alone at their destination.

          “So, who exactly is this person you two are looking for any way.” Lyra asked as they walked down the dirt road south.

          “We don’t really know much about him other then he is a Warden, and his name is Emrick other than that we don’t know if he is human, elf or even dwarfish hell we don’t even know what he looks like.” Tharon answered her in a sarcastic tone as they walked.

          “To be honest it doesn’t matter what he is or what he looks like we will find him and get this cure my grandfather said the Wardens had so its not like it matters.” Zarath answered a little annoyed as he adjusted his wyvern bone long bow on his back. Hura barking in agreement with him as she walked alongside her master.

          “Fair enough but wouldn’t it help if we at least knew his last name.” Lyra pointed out the obvious to which neither boy had a response and so they kept on walking south into who knows what as they did.