---------- Melody’s Tale - Blood and Questions ---------

The naga rushed forward, hissing as it’s claws and fangs reached for her. Melody was frozen in place… But Verse was not. Quick as a flash, he sprung forward with his hands glowing. He snarled as his slender body contacted that of the scaled, bulky reptile. The impact was just enough to drive the naga off-course, hitting Melody in the shoulder instead of her face, or her torso. She felt pain flash through her being, radiating outward from her shoulder. Her cry of surprise and pain joined that of everyone else’s, all of it underlined by the roar of frustration from the naga.

She had to act. Melody growled as she battered the pain back into a corner of her mind, sequestered it away in some dark part of her that she could visit later, when the situation allowed it better. Her hands glowed as well as she started weaving a spell, one her mother had taught her… Verse wrestled with the being, and appeared to be losing. Even as she watched, the naga threw him off, a minor cut on his arm dripping blood as he tumbled across the hardwood floors. She completed her spell just in time, watching as the lightning arced straight from her hands into the naga’s body. Where it vanished completely. The reptile gave a throaty chuckle that sounded like hissing steam escaping a radiator. Coiling it’s body powerfully, the naga lunged once more. Melody barely managed to roll away and to the side as the beast crashed into the far wall. Pain lanced through her torso, making her grunt as she scrambled to get to her feet. Thrashing amidst the dust and wreckage of what used to be a wall, the naga reared it’s ugly, scaled head.

“Git BACK!” Applejack lunged in just then. Melody watched as the hearty woman twisted her body around, her leg spinning so fast it was almost a blur. With a sickening impact, akin to her boot thudding into a tree, Applejack landed a powerful kick that spun the beast’s entire body around in a full circle, sending it crashing back into the wreckage of the wall. She was relenteless. Just as the snake-like creature reared up once more, Applejack delivered a straight kick to it’s sternum, pushing it out into the living room.

Twilight was at her side, hands glowing in an instant. Melody felt her magic tingle through her body, even as the sounds of a heated fight came from the living room. “Lily’s okay.” Twilight said hastily, her hands working over the three symmetrical cuts in Melody’s shoulder. “It’s a naga, they’re resistant to magic. Resistant, but not impervious. I need you and Verse to distract it while I get ready.” As if in response, Verse shuffled up next to them, favoring his left leg.

“Alright, we can do that. How long, do you think?” He asked, just as Applejack tumbled back through the door. She was bruised, one eye swollen shut.

“Thirty seconds. Go!” Melody and Verse swept through the door just as Applejack got back to her feet. Both children’s hands glowed. They had worked together before. They could do this. Verse, able to summon larger spells with more force, focused on slow-casting heavy blasts of magic while Melody rapid-fired her quick, lithe spells. The naga would hiss at her as it was peppered with three lashes, then rear it’s head towards Verse as a vicious thump in the air pushed it forward slightly. Just as it would lunge towards verse, Melody pushed a couch in it’s path and lashed at it with four quick spells again. Each did little more than nudge it aside, but in the fit of furious rage, it quickly turned it’s attention back at her. She danced backwards, missing a claw swipe, and turned her face aside as Verse began to bathe the thing in a prolonged gout of burning fire. Each flame that licked at it’s shining scales, though, died almost instantly. Only the smallest flames missed, catching on the hardwood floor, but fizzling out as the thick, long body moved over them.

“MOVE!” Twilight’s call came from the kitchen. Melody twisted out of the beast’s way as it’s tail whipped around and dove behind a chair. Verse scrambled up the first few steps of the stairwell just as Twilight charged in. Melody couldn’t see what was happening, but she could feel it. The air around her compressed, making her hair jump off her shoulders. The sound hurt her ears. It was like being caught at the epicenter of a thunderclap. Then everything was quiet. No more hissing, no more scuffling of feet and crashing of furniture… The only sound reaching her ears was heavy, panting breath, and the sound of something wet falling to the floor.

“Lily… Get in here.” Twilight’s voice broke the awkward moment. Hesitantly, Melody peeked her head out around the couch. What she saw made her freeze in place. The naga, or what used to be the naga, had been replaced with a thin creature, it’s skin completely matte-black, with teal hair, diaphanous wings, and holes all over her arms and legs… Those, and an extra hole, this one oozing viscious, black blood onto the floor. Located high on her right shoulder, Melody could tell it went straight through… Lily slipped into the living room, cradling her bloody left arm. Behind her, Applejack, one hand pressed over her swollen and bruised eye.

“Your name.” Lily said coldly, hardly sparing the injured changeling a second glance. Verse and Melody both emerged from their hiding places, eyes wide at the nightmarish sight before them. Pinkie Pie pushed her way into the front door just then, arms full of paper bags.

“Hey guys, I just got back from the market, and you wouldn’t BELIEVE the loops I had to jump through- oh hey, Verse! You made it! Why are you bleeding…” She poked her head around the mountain of brown bags to see the sight laid out before her. Furniture was smashed and broken, wooden pieces laying around the living room, droplets of blood spattered here and there… The wall in between the living and dining rooms was smashed to bits, parts of the wooden frame dangling from the ceiling or jutting up from the floor. Melody heard the breaking of glass as Pinkie Pie dropped her bags at the door, standing awestruck at everything.

“My name…” The changeling panted, talking over the sound of the crinkling bags and tinkling glass, “Is Imoheen.” Lily looked between the changeling and Pinkie Pie, and in her expression, Melody could see she was praying for silence from the energetic, pink-haired woman.

“I’ve never heard of you. How old are you?” She asked.

“Eight.” The changeling answered promptly.

“Eight… You were born right around the time-“

“That Chrysalis lost hundreds of changelings to the south.” Melody was unsure if the changeling was male or female… Then she remembered Lily telling her they were genderless, for the most part. So she was unsure whether to call it a he or a she… But whatever it was, it seemed almost eager to answer their questions. She realized, then, that Twilight was holding a brilliant, shining blade… Or she appeared to be, anyways. Rather than holding a handle, her fist was curled tight, and from the edge of her knuckles extended a faintly humming, dense glow of purple magic. Melody swallowed. She was forming a pure arcane essence into a corporeal, physical existence… It was brilliant… Twilight was powerful. The blade, though, sunk straight into the changeling’s shoulder, and Twilight held her like that. Lily, meanwhile, had gone ashen. In fact, so had Twilight…

“That was the day-“

“I forced myself to turn into a prime… I remember that day… I pulled every changeling south of Fillydelphia to me. Chrysalis had to have noticed it.” Lily was trembling visibly now.

“She did,” The changeling said. It was wheezing now, it’s breath coming only with great labor. Melody watched as it inhaled slowly, letting it’s breath out ragged. “And she made me that same day… I was born from the dead bodies of hundreds of my brethren, my fellow drones. You know how it goes, Liliana…” Despite it’s wound, the changeling was speaking well… So well, Lily almost doubted it was injured at all… A fresh wave of black blood oozed out around the purple blade, though, and spattered to the floor. She grimaced, but the changeling wasn’t fazed. It continued to speak.

“I was named Imoheen and given one single task… Unlike my fellow brothers and sisters, I didn’t study books, or chess, or history, or any of it… I studied one thing and one thing only…” It’s neon-green eyes flashed dangerously as it looked up, straight at Lily. “I studied how to kill.”

“… W-why…” Lily asked after a few long, silent moments.

“Chrysalis told me stories of Ajax… The most ruthless, remorseless killer ever known to changelings… I listened to them, rapt with attention… I let the heartless tales of blood and violence steel me, strengthen me… I promised myself I wouldn’t be as weak as he was… That I wouldn’t fall for another like he did. That was his weakness, you know… His affection for you.” The changeling took a moment to spit on the floor, the saliva laced with black blood. “It’s what killed him. If he had been cold, truly heartless, he would have lived. He might still be alive. Hell, Canterlot might be ours right now. Instead, Chrysalis gave me one task, and one task only…” Lily watched it’s evil, white, fanged grin spread it’s thin lips apart. Lily and Twilight stared intently as Imoheen fought to say the next few words. They were a direct quote from Chrysalis. The only true order this particular changeling had been given…

”Kill Liliana.”

“Do it, Twilight.” Lily said softly. With a smooth, quick motion, Twilight pulled the blade up… Melody looked away as the sickening squelch of flesh parting flesh sounded. She heard the thump of the body hitting the floor, the sickening splatter of black blood… The stench. Like burning insects…

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“Y’all cain’t stay here.” Applejack said softly. She was nursing a hearty brandy and holding a raw steak over her swollen eye. Pinkie Pie and Twilight were finishing up cleaning the mess in the living room. Melody could see them on their knees, scrubbing out the last bit of black blood. The shattered remains of the furniture had been pushed out into the wide front yard and lit on fire, along with the remains of Imoheen. “Iffen that cold bitch made one lieutenant jes to come kill Lily, she’ll make more… She don’ care…” Applejack muttered. “She don’ care how many people die, s’ long as she gets her revenge…”

“Why would he impersonate Braeburn, though?” Lily said quietly. “And more importantly, where is he? Imoheen may be heartless, but if it was impersonating Braeburn, chances are he’s still alive somewhere… To feed off of. How long has it been since you’ve been in Braeburn’s room?” Lily asked. Applejack paused for a moment, thinking hard.

“Shoot… It’s been… Years. FUCK!” Suddenly, Applejack pushed her chair back, sending the thing clattering across the floor as she dashed for the stairs. Melody and Verse were on her tail, following her two-at-a-time up the stairs. Pinkie Pie and Twilight looked up quizzically from their work. Applejack moved quicker than Verse, who was limping thanks to his leg. Melody couldn’t keep up with her as the strong woman rounded a corner and dashed down the upstairs hall.

“BRAEBURN!” She roared, pounding on one door in particular. Melody watched as she smoothly backed up, spreading her feet to gain balance.

“Applejack! Wait!” Melody swept into the space between her and the door, keeping Applejack from damaging her home any further with another devastating kick. “Let me,” Hands already glowing, Melody set to work on the lock. Applejack grunted, but yielded, letting Melody work at the intricate mechanism. She hadn’t practiced this, but she knew the theory… In a few moments, the clicking of the lock sounded and the door swung inwards. She spun aside as Applejack rushed in, leaving a wake of air in her passing.

“BRAEBURN!” She hollered again, spinning around. Melody slipped in behind her, scanning the room carefully. There were two other doors in the sparsely-furnished room, one to the bathroom and another leading to a closet. Applejack roughly pushed the closet door open, and judging from the sound of her cursing, didn’t find anything. Melody hesitantly checked the bathroom…

“AJ.” She said softly, pointing. She was roughly pushed out of the way as Applejack swept into the bathroom. There, sitting against the back wall of the bathtub, was a bound and gagged Braeburn. He looked so thin and emaciated… His beard grew long, looking as scraggly as his hair… Lily could count his ribs from here.

“Ah’m fine.” He said weakly as Applejack stripped the gag out of his mouth. He sat up with her help. “Thet fucker kept me fed jes’ enough…”

“Git him a drink, Melody.” Applejack said, the tone of her voice worried and low. “Hurry.” Melody didn’t mind the order, or her brash tone. If it was Verse who was in danger, she’d probably be more hysterical than the hearty farmwoman. She quickly dashed out of the room, smiling bravely at Verse.

“Help her with Braeburn.” She said, slipping past him. Verse nodded and made for the bathroom as Melody thundered down the steps. “We found him. He’s seen better days, but he sounds okay.” She said to an inquisitive Twilight and Pinkie Pie. She slipped into the kitchen and filled a large glass with water. After a moment’s hesitation, she took the half-bottle of brandy Applejack had left out as well. This time, Twilight and Pinkie Pie followed her up the steps and down the hall to Braeburn’s room. Applejack and Verse were laying his thin form out on the bed, and had just covered him to the waist with a blanket. He had been nude.

“How long’s it been?” He asked, coughing a little. Melody helped him sit forward so they could pile pillows underneath him, propping him up and guiding the glass against his lips.

“Ah cain’t say, Brae… But it’s been a few years.”

“Shit, that long?” He said, coughing a little. Melody let him drink, but not too fast. “Ah cain’t say… The days n’ nights jes… Kinda blended together…” He groaned and laid his head back, closing his eyes. “He turned the shower on when I had t’ shit or piss… Fed me once a day… Ah’ve been in that bathroom, tied up, for… For… Fuck, I dunno…” He started shaking, tears falling from his eyes. “Ah ain’t seen mah bed for years…”

“Leave me with him.” Twilight said softly.

“Ah ain’t leavin’ him now, Twi. You know I can’t.”

“Then at least back away. I have more experience healing the mind than I do the body. Let me help him, Applejack…” There was a long moment. Applejack gnawed on her lip, lost deep in thought…

“Cin I hold his hand?”

“That would help. The rest of you, leave us please…” Melody was about to protest when Lily slid an arm over her shoulder.

“Come on.” She said softly, drawing Lily away… “Let’s leave them be.” Reluctantly, they all left, Pinkie Pie giving Applejack a sympathetic pat on the back as the door closed behind them. Melody could feel the hum of magic come to life as Twilight started working.

“Downstairs.” Lily said. It was half an order, half a pleading request. Verse and Melody had no protests as they followed their mother and Pinkie Pie into the trashed dining room. They all took their seats at the large, warm wooden table, littered with the cold remains of the hard-worked dinner… Dinner made by a vicious, heartless changeling. Melody caught a glimpse of the fire still burning in the front yard… The four of them sighed and looked at one another, all of their expressions haggard and worn.

“If Chrysalis knows I’m down south, she sent others. I can almost promise it.” Lily said softly. “She probably knows Imoheen is dead by now, which means she knows we’re here… We can’t stay long.” The truth of her words weighed heavy on Melody’s mind. She knew they couldn’t stay. This was an intense experience, one that would change their life for good… She turned eighteen in a week. “We have to go back home. The forest will keep us safe from them. They need help from the locals, like Jokkan and Miko, to make it through… We’ll be safe there. I’m so sorry, you two, but we can’t stay here…”

“Don’t apologize.” Verse said, though his tone betrayed his sadness at the situation. “We understand. For one reason or another, you need to keep Melody and I safe. I get it. We’ll get our chance to see the world when this war is over.” Melody agreed with what he was saying. It was the truth, after all… They had no other choice, and home was the safest place for them. That didn’t mean that she couldn’t be sad over the predicament, though… The tears started to come, overwhelming her in that moment. The long day of travel, the pain, the injury, the sickening death… The realization of what Imoheen had done, kept Braeburn prisoner in his own home for an untold number of years… Imoheen, a changeling… Just like her. Just like Verse…

Just like Lily.

“You two need sleep.” Pinkie Pie said softly. “Come on, let’s get you in bed…” She and Lily gently guided the weeping Melody and the stoic Verse back upstairs, turning right down the hallway instead of left. Verse and Lily turned into one room, while Pinkie Pie took Melody into the one after it. The room was warm, lit by a candle, and held a moderately-sized bed, bigger than her one at home. She didn’t need to ask, instead, Pinkie Pie stripped her pants off, keeping her shirt on as she curled up in bed. Melody tucked her back against Pinkie Pie, feeling herself be gently pulled against her soft, warm body… The tears came then, harder than ever, flowing fast and free. Pinkie just held her close the entire night, humming a soft, soothing tune to calm her nerves.

Melody’s sleep was blissfully void of dreams…

She woke earlier than she should. Pinkie Pie was breathing heavy, but thankfully not snoring… She still held Melody close, her warm embrace making Melody nearly forget all that had happened. Nearly. Gentle as possible, and with the aid of a magically-manipulated pillow, Melody slipped out of the warm embrace and into the chill spring air. Pinkie Pie shifted, pulling the pillow tight against her breast, but not waking. Melody breathed a sigh of relief and dressed, making her way downstairs.

Applejack sat in one of the undamaged reclining chairs, snoring with her chin on her chest. Melody smiled and summoned her magic… Very carefully, she lifted the slumbering woman onto the loveseat in the corner, covering her with a blanket. Applejack remained blissfully asleep, curling up under the blanket as she continued to dream… Her eye was still swollen and bruised. It’d be like that for weeks, Melody had a feeling… The hole to the dining room had been controlled… Maybe Twilight’s doing. Instead of jagged edges and exposed framework, it was buffed out and around to the plaster, a simple square opening with a long rectangle on the floor being the only evidence anything had even happened. Melody couldn’t stop the thought as she pictured that being a good spot for a breakfast bar.

She helped herself to the pantry, pouring whole-grain cereal and hearty milk into a bowl. She took a seat and crunched at it contentedly, debating whether or not she should make coffee… The kitchen was far enough removed from the living room, where Applejack slept, and she would need it if she was going to make it through the day. After rinsing out her bowl and setting it aside to be scrubbed later, she set about making coffee, just the way her mother had taught her… Ground cinnamon in with the coffee beans, and a layer of vanilla in the bottom of the pot. She watched with a smile as the thin stream of brown liquid poured into the glassware, filling the kitchen with the scent of brewing coffee. She inhaled, closing her eyes as the scent reminded her of home… Of early mornings before tending the garden… Cold nights with cake and coffee and music…

“Hey,” The voice made her turn. Melody spotted Twilight in the doorway, smiling at her despite her mother’s haggard expression. “Decaf?” She asked.

“C’mon mom,” Melody said teasingly, offering a brave smile. “You know I don’t drink that shit.” Twilight looked at her tiredly for a few moments, her heavy eyes blinking slowly. Eventually, though, her lips cracked into a wide grin.

“That’s my girl.” Twilight ruffled her hair and pulled her close for a hug. Melody had to ask the question bothering her…

“How is he?” Twilight glanced behind her as they broke the hug, her expression wilting slightly… She looked older now than she ever had… Melody realized she was getting on in years… She was probably close to fifty-five now. While magi, and the occasional human, were known to live long lives, Melody wondered if the stress of her busy life hadn’t been wearing on Twilight…

“I cast memory majora… You know that spell, don’t you?” Twilight asked. Melody recalled a hazy study session when she was a young teenager.

“Refresh my memory…”

“I implanted new memories for the period of the past few years. Braeburn believes he’s been working hard and was struck with a sickness the past month, hence his state. Rather than being held prisoner. I know it’s a lie, but it’s better than him living through that…” She sighed. “I’ll teach it to you again someday… I pray you never have to use it for something like this, though…” The coffee finished brewing, and Melody idly poured two cups of deliciously brown, steaming liquid…

“What I don’t understand, though…” Melody said softly. “Is how Applejack couldn’t notice how much Braeburn had changed…”

“I can answer that.” Lily slipped into the kitchen, wearing a loose-fitting blouse and jeans. Her left arm was in a sling, bandaged tight. “You see, Melody…” She said softly, leaning against the counter. “Lieutenants are free of the Hive Mind… Chrysalis holds no sway over them. They, that is to say we, are independent. We can do what we see fit. If a lieutenant didn’t feel so fiercely loyal to Chrysalis, they could easily leave the horde. Much like I did. Like Nyralith did… In that way, they begin to build their own knowledge base, their own set of varied and differentiated opinions… Chrysalis essentially has another mind to give her opinions, values, and different viewpoints. On major issues, their advice can make or break the horde… Imoheen,” She nodded out of the window to the smoldering, black pile. “Was bred only to murder and kill… Not unlike Ajax was…” She shivered at the mention of his name, but continued on.

“For someone so motivated to do harm, they would do anything to achieve their goal… Imoheen was smart. Very smart. He moved in close to Applejack, a close friend of mine and Lily’s… He probably studied Braeburn’s movements, his mannerisms and work habits closely. When he took over, he would have been able to impersonate Braeburn almost perfectly. He knew that, with time, the opportunity would present itself. But time does take it’s toll. If he had waited until I was asleep, he could have done it. We were this close to dying, Melody… We need to be more careful.” Melody shivered at her mother’s words, thinking hard and long over them…

“So… Imoheen was patient. But he saw his target and just went for it…” Her eyes flickered to Lily’s arm. “He almost did it, too…” She turned set her cup down on the counter, looking at her two mothers with teary eyes. “I want to go home… I don’t want to see anyone get hurt again…” Her tears spilled over her eyelids, coursing down her cheeks. “I’m so scared… I don’t want you to get hurt again…” She slowly walked forward, both of her mothers wrapping her in a gentle hug.

“Shh, shh…” Twilight stroked her hair, trying to soothe her. Melody leaned into them, crying heavily. “We’ll go home, Melody… We’ll leave today.” She pressed her face into Melody’s shoulder. “We’ll go home…”

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“What do you MEAN we can’t go home?!” Twilight said incredulously. Jokkan tightened his grip on the spear he held, a vicious thing with a razor-sharp blade on one edge, and a serrated set of barbs on the other. Miko stood behind him, both of them within the first line of trees on their southern forest. His accent was thick as he spoke, his words broken and difficult to follow.

“Not you. You welcome to home. But you have evil follow. North, just two day walk, evil black creatures. Come before. Eight cycle of moon and sun ago.” Lily cursed and turned her gaze north.

“Shit. We’re being followed.” She muttered softly.

“Yes. We no let you into forest, they no come. Place they come last time… Evil place. Bad magic there. We let you go home, they follow… We no protect against all them.” Twilight listened intently to his words, debating.

“We can’t just leave our home, Jokkan… We have things there. Important things. Things that we can’t just leave behind.”

“We protect.” Jokkan cut her off. He thumped his chest. Miko followed suit behind him. “You go East, to land of Dragon. They follow you, we keep home safe. Our home.” He pointed to Twilight. “Your home.” Twilight wrung her hands worriedly.

“Jokkan, we have magical things in our home… Things I cannot leave behind-“ She was cut off yet again as Jokkan reached behind him. Smooth and easy, he pulled a wrapped bundle out.

“Jokkan know.” He said quietly. “Jokkan take. Jokkan feel these things in your home. Not easy, but Jokkan take. He know you need. These things important to Ikiri and her family.” Ikiri was their native word for Twilight… They all had names. Krom for Verse, Draconis for Lily, and Mikkan for Melody. Jokkan and his people did not know them by any other name.

“Jokkan, I… I… How did you…”

“Oil and water.” Jokkan said softly. “Our magic… Be like oil and water. They do not mix, they do not work. You.” He pointed at Twilight. “Work like stone. Hard, rough. Not move. Jokkan.” He thumped his chest. “Like water. Flow and move. Move around. Move through. Stone stay, water move… Cannot explain better.” His hard expression softened. Lily looked at him again, taking in the man who had been there through her childhood… Jokkan was somewhat of a mentor to her. When Lily and Twilight had been busy, Jokkan and Miko would take Verse and Melody out. Teach them the ways of the land. It was thanks to them that Lily knew the difference between Poison Oak and regular Oak. That she knew what water was safe to drink, and what would poison her.

Jokkan was tall and muscular, but moved like a shadow. His feet were silent across the leafy forest floor, never leaving a trace of his passing. He had a long, black ponytail that was braided tight and held in place with a leather throng. In the summer, he would wear a loincloth that barely covered his manhood, and during the stormy months, he could be seen wearing trousers and a tight-fitting buckskin vest. His skin was bronzed with a healthy tan.

Miko was much the opposite, though… She was lithe and skinny, and was four times the shadowy, silent hunter that Jokkan was. Melody took Jokkan as a sort of wise man… Well-versed in the ways of their native magic. Miko, however, was a deadly purveyor of the hunting arts. With a silent arrow, Lily had seen her shoot a bird from a hundred paces. Lily had watched as Miko had vanished into the brush, her form melting away from where it once stood into the foliage… Only to reappear on the other side of her seconds later. Miko was a shadow. Nothing more than a whisper that was there one moment… And gone the next.

She was also very beautiful. Her face had sharp, drawn features, and a whip-tight body with a toned core. Her long, slender legs were gracefully curved, with a hint of muscle. Narrow hips and a small bust, though, assured Lily she was not the child-bearing sort… What’s more, she was missing her right breast. The area was always wrapped or concealed one way or another. Lily had seen everything from white bandages to a thick leather plate held in place by two leather straps. When she asked Miko why she was missing her breast one day, Miko had silently turned and shot three arrows, each one consecutively hitting the joint of a branch where it met it’s tree. With each one, she split the previous arrow.

Jokkan had told her it was so she could be a better archer. That she could fire smoother, and guide her arrows with her magic. Lily asked him if it had been worth the sacrifice of losing her womanhood. To that, Jokkan had grinned, and told her “you know it take more than breast to make woman.”

Twilight took the bundle, gently pulling the string loose and folding back the cloth that held it together. Underneath were both the books, stacked neatly atop one another. Melody swallowed hard as Twilight breathed a sigh of relief. She tucked both books back into her pack before turning to Jokkan.

“I can’t say anything to thank you enough.” She said quietly. “Ikiri mah fam-fam dosh een Jokkan.” Twilight spoke to him in their native tongue, which made Jokkan smile, if only marginally.

“Jokkan haas mein Ikiri fam-fam. Jokkan nordune ishiin makko nal del boro. Miko a’ Jokkan haas yoru. Miko a Jokkan mel a’ fam-fam. Jokkan is sorry, Ikiri. We keep home safe while you are away. We will keep evil from this place.” He held his fist to his heart, his face set in stone. Twilight hesitated for a moment before rushing forward and throwing her arms around the man. Jokkan appeared to be stunned, but his features softened as he laid a hand on Twilight’s head. “Jokkan ishiin al Ikiri.” He said softly.

“Thank you, Jokkan… Miko.” Twilight said gently. Lily took her place next, wrapping the big man in a gentle hug. Verse approached, and Jokkan grasped his shoulder in an iron grip. Verse laid his own hand on the big man’s shoulder, both of them holding stoic expressions. When Melody advanced for a hug, though, Jokkan held her at arm’s-length, frowning more than usual.

“Mikkan,” He said softly. “Miko has gift.” Melody blinked as he slipped away. Miko approached then, having stayed back the entire exchange previous. Jokkan stepped aside as the woman stepped forward, her face set in stone. Melody knew she did not speak any of their language, only her own. Silently, the exotic huntress extended her hand. Melody opened her own, and into it fell a very intricate, beautiful necklace. Her eyes went wide as the dying sunlight caught the glimmering golden links, and from them hung a sturdy-looking charm. It almost looked like…

“Mikkan al manno tush eem an al a’ xaro rut. Miko a’ Jokkan borat eem an al a’ butti.” Melody’s eyes were enraptured with the intricate charm… She couldn’t quite comprehend what she was seeing, but it looked as if…

“Is this a whistle?” She asked, looking up… At nothing. Jokkan and Miko were gone. She stood, shocked, as a slight breeze rustled the leaves in the forest. They were alone. Her and her family were completely, entirely alone… And yet… She couldn’t shake the feeling that there were eyes on them. Watching them.

“Come on.” Twilight said softly. “We need to move… If what Jokkan says is true, the changelings are only two days behind us… We need to move East.” Melody felt herself gently being pulled along, a gentle hand on her arm. Her eyes were riveted on the spot she had last seen Miko, but were torn away along with her attention. She threaded the golden links behind her neck, catching the clasp and feeling the reassuring weight of the charm rest against her sternum…

They turned East, towards the high, imposing mountains…

Towards Dragon territory.