A couple of days later, Ann, Kat and Rosalyn were getting done with their morning routine of training, studying, and general working out.

Remmi was running Ann ragged, but she was seeing excellent results. No levels had been gained, but Remmi was beginning to use defensive skills whenever they sparred. Ann was now making full use of her skills while fighting and getting extremely comfortable with her limits, her body, and using the environment to her advantage. More than once, Remmi had taken her out into the forests, or a river, or some other unique terrain to teach her a lesson. The lesson always ended with bruises and a healing potion, but it let her practice losing a creature’s attention, then attacking from blind spots. She had a feeling Remmi was letting her guard down in the way a mother cat does to train her kittens, but it was working.

Rosalyn’s studies with Zidane had been going well. The elderly researcher had taken a keen interest in the Druid and her notes. Together, they’d become consumed by records of Warped, their changes over the millennia, and their effect on the world around them. Their research did not provide any meaningful insight into the standard, animalistic warped, except a moderately increased evolutionary process. What they did find was an interesting uptick in Warped in Seeds assimilating and incorporating humanoid features into their beings. Seed Warped in general were a hotbed for mutations and aberrations. The Croaking Oak, for example, had not always bled when cut. Records show it being far more of a normal haunted tree until about three hundred years ago.

Kat, meanwhile, was busy with royal responsibilities. While Junia was helping Kremdol with the legislative and administrative functions of the kingdom, Kat was called upon by her mother for military discussions. This ranged from moving troops to balance between the four major regions of the kingdom, to planning hypothetical situations in case of incursion. As always, the nearing threat of the Swarm was on everyone’s mind, and plans were in full motion. Within reason, mages who could move earth were being deployed to any available Seeds, creating rough terrain at their borders to hopefully slow down creatures exiting the borders. The outer city of Korvas was reinforcing its fortifications, building up the walls and ramping up patrols, while the inner city was running full examinations of the mountain’s outer walls for any possible flaws. Reports from Indelholm and Thalten told of similar preparations underway, though unique to each major city’s layout and historical defences.

Ann was stepping out of the bath when a knock came at the door.

“I’ll get it!” Kat called, rolling off the couch where she’d been playing with a dagger.

Ann threw on a shirt and a pair of her newly obtained pants, specifically ordered with large pockets, and stepped out of the bedroom.

“Message for you, My Lady,” a courier bowed in his little red cap and blazer. “From a Miss Sybil. She said she wishes to speak with you, and to meet at the Rock Bottom Tavern. I have been instructed to inform you that she has been investigated by the Inquisition as this is the third time you have met. No issues have been found.”

“Aye, aye,” Kat sighed. “Thanks fer the message. Dismissed.”

The messenger bowed low and ran off.

“Does the Inquisition do that for everyone you run into?” Rosalyn asked, flicking away a wood shaving from her current Waheela carving. “Did they do that for me?”

“Sure did,” Kat said. “It’s normal security shite. Apparently, Ann pisses ‘em off, cause there’s nothin’ on ‘er. Last I heard, though I don’t get all the info, there was a scouting mission planned tae see if they could find yer tribe. Since we’re playin’ that part o’ ye close tae the heart, we’ll just let ‘em go on a wild wolf chase.”

“As long as it doesn’t come back to bite me,” Ann shrugged, ruffling out her long grey hair and drying her ears. The towel always tickled when she dug it into them, irritating the sensitive fur. “Sybil’s back?”

“Seems like it. Good timin’ too. Could use some lunch after today. Set a new personal best on the weights. Feelin’ great!”

“Our musclehead,” Rosalyn giggled. “Let me get into something more presentable for going out.”

Ann watched the Druid, dressed only in an oversized shirt, walk into the bedroom. She wanted to smack that ebony ass, but it was too far away. Something she’d have to make up for later.

“Where’s Rock Bottom?”

“Lower ring o’ the inner city. Near the Brawler’s Guild, actually. Wonder how ye’d do there after all the trainin’ wit’ Remmi?”

“Want me to go for another bout?”

“Nae, just idle wonderin’,” Kat said, waving her off. The princess moved around the room with her easy grace, getting her stuff together, making sure her earrings were on.

Ann grabbed her collar, snapping the symbolic strip of leather into place, and making sure all her fur and hair was settled right. She wondered if earrings could be a thing for her, but the thin skin at the tips of her new Lupine ears didn’t seem like the best place for a piercing. It could probably work, but possibly damaging her new anatomy made her nervous.

In short order, they were in a carriage making its way to the tavern. Ann had the window open and was enjoying the breeze in her hair and ears, while taking in the sights of people moving by. She noted there were more Grrn today than normal, the stone golems trundling along in their myriad forms. One even rolled by, its body a complete sphere propelled by an invisible force. Some were strings of boulders, others more humanoid, and even more rare, sculpted. Ann desperately wanted to have a conversation with one, but hadn’t found the time considering her other duties.

Alas, they reached the tavern and piled out onto the cobbles of Korvas. It was a lower end establishment, but Sybil was not a wealthy woman, so it made sense. Pushing through the swinging door, it was easy to spot the Yak woman even without her enthusiastic waving. She looked good, so Ann relaxed a little, waving back as they ignored the aghast servers.

“Oh thank goodness, you got the message. I wasn’t sure it’d get there in time. I sent it yesterday, just in case, because security has to be tight for a princess, right? Though you’re out and about all the time, so I guess maybe not?” Sybil practically bounced as she spoke, her chair complaining audibly.

“Ye made the right call,” Kat laughed. “Bettin’ someone in here’s Inquisition, just in case. Guard at least.”

“The boogeymen of the Kingdom in this room?” Sybil looked around nervously. “Should I be worried?”

“Nae. Just a fact o’ me life,” Kat shrugged. “So, ye look like ye’re in one piece. I take it the Seed went well?”

“More than! It went great! I don’t know why I was so worried, our team was probably over-prepared for our mission.”

“Good!” Ann said, taking a seat and pushing her tail out through the back of the chair, where it wagged happily. “So, what kind of Seed was it?”

“That part sucked, I’ll admit,” Sybil chuckled ruefully. “It was a desert.”

“Sounds like a kinda boring environment,” Ann said.

“It was anything but. The heat was oppressive, and my hide is not built for that, but the terrain was fascinating. Massive arches of red stone that I’ve only heard of way down south from mercenaries who’ve been down that way. Even with that, I don’t think this was anything to judge reality by. They were all twisted in on themselves, intersecting in knots of rock. The shade was full of life, and even the sunny areas. There were these swarms of lizards with razor sharp scales and two heads!”

“Oh, I’ve heard of some reptiles using their tails as a distraction, with patterns that look like heads!” Rosalyn said.

“But these were actual heads!” Sybil said, feeding off Rosalyn’s excitement. “They made getting behind them impossible, because you’d just get bit by the other side. The only way you knew it was the back head and not the front was the back only had one eye in the middle of its face. The thing was weirdly big for the skull, and when they opened their mouths, you could see the back of it inside. If you ask me, it seemed like a weakness, but their teeth and speed made up for it. If only I could get this stuff drawn, but I’m no good with a quill or charcoal.”

“That’s what I do on our expeditions,” Rosalyn said. “So many sketches, so little time.”

“Good for you! I think our mage was doing that. She had a little book out all the time. It might have been for her magic, though. Not quite sure, and she wasn’t forthcoming with her skill details. That’s all fair, though. Himi had this really cool set of spells that lets her move stuff with her mind. It doesn’t have direct damage, but if she got rocks or these knives she carried around, she could do serious damage.”

“Damn, telekinesis sounds awesome,” Ann whistled. “If I were a mage, that’s what I’d want.”

“Lightning’s way cooler,” Rosalyn huffed playfully.

“Yes, yes, you’re our fearsome sparky sheep,” Kat said, tousling the Druid’s hair. “So, what about the rest? Yer tank do his job well?”

“Yup. Jim has a pretty standard taunt ability, and something that lets him reinforce his armour. It’s not like our skills, Kat, something more passive that lets the equipment take more of the beating. His battleaxe is scary, too. Double-headed monster of a thing that could cut through the lizard scales pretty well.”

“Heavy hitter wit’ a side o’ tankin’, sounds like,” Kat mused. “Wit’ ye bein’ more durable than fighters like Ann, that can work. I’d have more concerns if ye were all fragile like she is.”

“I can hold my own,” Ann retorted, feeling slightly attacked. “Just don’t let things hit me.”

“True,” Kat shrugged.

Ann grumbled, still feeling a little slighted, but refocused on Sybil. “The healer do ok? I remember you saying he was a bit crass and foul-mouthed?”

“He did his job, but he was complaining about the sand the whole time. Not sure why, though. With his smaller body, he had a much easier time walking on the dunes than the heavier of us. Not like he’s a Bultrong. Anyway, he kept us alive, and we got a lot of killing done.

“Besides the lizards were some spiders covered in these spines that we saw on plants. Prickly and deadly, but only six legs, for some reason, with wide, frilly feet. Jim said that was to spread out their weight so they don’t sink in the sand. Oh, and their heads were bird skulls instead of normal things. No flesh, just bone, and it wasn’t really bone? More like part of their shells that formed that shape, and we couldn’t see the eyes. Did I mention they were five feet tall each? Kinda important.”

“That’s awful,” Rosalyn shuddered. “Chittering Crawlers are bad enough with their spike limbs and all, but that big? Were they venomous?"

“We didn’t give them the chance to test that,” Sybil said. “The spines were all white, though it looked like there might have been a central core to them. If we go back, I’ll grab you a sample. We just took the skulls as proof of our kills.”

“Ooh, please do, and some of the lizard scales, too,” Rosalyn said. “I get plenty of stuff to look at, but more is always welcome.”

“Gotcha. So, is it normal to feel all queasy after going through the barrier? Not sure what was up, but I just got really nauseous after the transition both ways.”

“Not that I’ve run intae,” Kat said. “How bad was it?”

“Just my stomach tying in knots. Figured it was me being all nervous with how weird it looked going into the barrier.”

“Shite, did ye keep yer eyes open in there?”

“Yeah? Why?”

“Best tae not do that, cause o’ the reasons ye’re describin’.”

“Yeah, that’s the first thing I learned about the places,” Ann chuckled. “We always hold hands when we cross the border, and keep our eyes shut. I get a bit sick just looking at the patterns in the barrier.”

“Me too,” Sybil shook her head, bumping a wide-reaching horn against the back of the booth. “Oops. So yeah, there were the lizards and the spiders, there were a bunch of little rodents all over the place, but nothing notable. We did find a pit of sand that’d try to swallow you up, but Himi was pretty sure it was an environmental thing, not a creature. Oh! Then we got a peek at the Guardian. We ran and hit pretty fast when it showed up, but it was so strange.”

“You did?” Ann asked. “Very lucky it didn’t notice you. Must have gotten in pretty far.”

“Nah, it’s a roaming style Guardian. It was… massive, but not? From what we could see the main body was a long, oblong, sectioned worm. The weird part was that it didn’t slither or inch along like a worm normally does. This thing had threads or fleshy connections that were puppeteering these huge metal constructs. It walked above the dunes, spearing the metal into the sand and lumbering along. I saw long bars and beams of what should be wood, but were metal instead. I have no clue how so much metal got made into those things, but they were impressive. The worm itself acted almost like a spine, running down the length of its ‘back’ and wow that looked freaky. I never saw its face, but it had fashioned a metal mask with gaping eye sockets and really rusty spikes for teeth. Its screams also sounded like grinding metal. Not a fan.”

Ann grimaced. She’d been on the wrong end of sonic attacks, and that sounded like it’d be one. It also sounded like the creature was using old, rusted construction material as a body. Pretty inventive of a Warped. Maybe the Seed had gotten ahold of the Pipeline? Could just be any construction site, though. When the realms of the Gods were concerned, logic was applied loosely.

“So, how’d ye make out overall?”

“Really good! I’ve got enough money for the next couple months, and that’s huge! I can go back to work and use that money to figure out better gear, then we can try again. Jim works at a bakery, believe it or not, and Himi does accounting. We’re all really excited to give this another go.”

“I’m glad you had a good first go of it,” Ann said, giving Sybil a high five across the table. “Shoulda seen mine. I almost died, what, twice that time?”

“Aye.”

“Once by these molesting vine creatures, and another by a giant bleeding tree. It was rough. Pretty sure Bren barely kept me alive to keep you going, Kat.”

“It was hairy,” Kat nodded. “Woulda been a completely different story if Rosalyn was wit’ us back then. Not tae mention Lucia.”

“So glad I’m not on the brink of death every fight I get into,” Ann chuckled ruefully. “Now it’s only half of them!”

“We’d prefer none of them,” Rosalyn grumbled.

“Yeah, still too new to the fighting thing. A couple months is a hell of a crash course. Remmi’s putting in the work to fix that, though.”

“Gods, I’m itchin’ tae get intae another Seed. One less dire than the last thing. Blasted Mum still has us on lockdown, though. Feckin’ consequences o’ our own actions.”

“Hey, we made friends that night,” Ann said, gesturing at Sybil. “I’m not complaining about a little consequence. So, what’re you looking at for gear?”

“Cestus, primarily, to give my punch a little extra punch. I can worry about enchanting later when I’m making more, but for now, that’s way better than my bare hands. Hitting those scales hurt if I did it wrong. I’m definitely getting something on my legs. Sure, my hooves do fine with stomping and kicking, but it runs the risk of something shredding my legs. From there, I dunno, just start getting better stuff. I’ll see how it goes.”

“You fighters have it so easy,” Rosalyn grumbled. “You get better weapons and get to do more damage. I’ve gotta learn spells to do that, and get enchantments. My staff is my staff, and it’s not gonna get stronger without things like the gem the King gave me.”

“Well, the tradeoff is you being able to sit in the back during fights,” Ann pointed out.

“Though that only goes so far when I need to do something like get my arm inside the Warped. Horace showed that could be necessary.”

“Sorry, Horace?” Sybil asked.

“A nickname we came up with for a Guardian,” Ann deflected. “Rosalyn stuck her hand inside the loose skin on its leg, then grew thorns all over its insides.”

“It was so brutal,” Rosalyn giggled. “Still gotta get up close sometimes.”

“Ye took a good smack fer it,” Kat pointed out. “Maybe less o’ that, yeah?”

Rosalyn knocked her horns with her knuckles. “I’m hardheaded. Remember?”

“Your crew is something else,” Sybil laughed. “Lets order. It’s still my lunch break, and I’m starving.”