(Amaia)

The toil of the hard work is definitely juicy and delicious. We eat the apples, hoping they are not poisonous or cause hallucinations.

Thankfully, they are not.

"We should get going, keep moving. There can be more creatures lurking," Kacir suggests.

We grab a few extra apples just in case we won’t find anything to eat later and stuff our pockets before moving along. Carefully with measured steps we head forward. That creeping sense of being watched stays. There have to be hidden cameras although I haven’t come across any.

A rustling in the distance catches our eyes.

"We are not alone, someone is here. I can scent them," Alnitak says, taking a deep whiff of the air.

I squeeze the handle of my weapon tight at his words.

Mintaka confidently calls out, "Show yourself."

A dagger wheezes through the air followed by a snarl. Two figures jump out of the nearby bushes, as if they were ready to ambush us.

Mintaka slashes his battle axe at the flying dagger that has been targeted at us.

~Clank~

He sends it flying back. Two gigantic-looking werewolves land in front of us and two behind, blocking both sides. Then a figure walks forward, it’s the same guy who spoke to Alnitak at the dinner. He is holding a smirk, the confidence in his steps shows he has been planning this.

"See what the autumn dragged forward. Ramian’s adversaries." They are from Deira and clearly Ramian has been feeding them information.

The state of Deira is an open confederate of Istrale. That’s why Ramian so openly support their genocide of my people.

"Your death I would say," Alnitak marches forward with the gait of a fearless warrior. His battle-axe is hoisted on his broad shoulder.

"Be careful!" Kacir whispers from behind.

His werewolves snarl all around us, revealing their sharp teeth.

"Let’s find out. We are not letting you escape this place, alive. He jumps forward and transforms mid-air.

Alnitak drops his axe and leaps in answer, transforming into Zevran and colliding with the enemy.

Mintaka and Rahria transform too. They take on one-on-one with two other werewolves. Kacir and I get ready with our weapons.

The clash begins. Snarls and shouts fill the air around us.

Kacir swings his chained blades, they connect with the belly of the approaching werewolf, grazing his furry coat, splitting it open. The blood oozes out, making him screech.

I pivot. Charging my weapon with the limited powers I can use without taking off my pendant. A black and brown werewolf pads towards me, snarling, taking me as an easy target.

But, I have other plans and they are going to be surprised.

The electricity cackles on both ends of my sword as I swing it over my head and let the air get charged with my powers. It arches over me, branching out with the speed of lightning.

There is no water here to hinder my usage of my electric power.

No one has a chance to dodge, it strikes all five of the enemy werewolves, giving them a shock. They tumble to the ground, their bodies seize for a few seconds from the shock I have given them. That’s all the time my companions need to overpower their opponents.

Moving closer to the werewolf who has tried attacking me, I place the whetted blade of my sword on its exposed, vulnerable belly.

"You dare move and I won’t hesitate to split it open," I warn, my eyes blaze with fury.

"Transform!" I command in a loud voice and he obeys, turning back into his human self. His limbs shorten and his snout disappears.

His hateful eyes find me as I keep the blade of my sword pushed against his abdomen.

"What should we do with them?" Alnitak transforms back and asks, placing his foot over the face of the guy who had attacked him.

The effects of my powers will soon wear off and werewolves heal faster. We need to scare them when they are down and vulnerable.

Kacir has his silvery chains around the neck of the one who had attacked him. One wrong move and Kacir will crush him. I know his weapon is charmed too which makes it much stronger and unbreakable, even by a werewolf.

"I say we kill them so they won’t dare attack us again." I press my sword further into his abdomen, one more push and the protective layer of his uniform will be cut.

Terror seems to have gripped them.

Mintaka and Rahria let out approving snarls and Alnitak let out a chuckle.

"We won’t attack you, just let us live," he begs in Alnitak’s feet.

"Use your power, it will turn them unconscious. By the time they will gain consciousness, we will be gone," I tell Alnitak through the mindlink.

"Of course!" He muses.

His misty power resembles a white fog but is poisonous for the enemy. Somehow it can detect the difference between friend and foe.

Alnitak lets out his power, it seeps out of his hands. It slowly settles on them, making them choke and retch.

The entirety of the area is blanketed by the mist. The enemy wheezes on the ground, holding their throats. Their bodies spasms and I am reminded of Ramian. Alnitak had given him the same treatment.

Soon they pass out.

"Let’s move before they come to their senses, we need to find the next door and a source of water," Kacir instructs.

I withdraw my weapon. Leaving them unconscious we move ahead. It’s not in our morals to kill others just for the sake of it.

Rahria and Mintaka transform back.

"That show of power was so sudden and remarkable that they didn’t see it coming," Rahria remarks, placing her arm around my shoulder.

"They take Amaia as the weak link. When she is the strongest," Mintaka says, joining his brother in front.

"True that," Kacir agrees.

"I am not that special," I quietly say not wanting the glory. "We are fighting as a team and that’s what makes us strong."

Rahria hugs me sideways. "If you say so."

She and I have come so far. In the beginning, we could hardly stand each other and now we protect each other and act as the other’s strength.

How the time has flown and changed.

We had hoped to find a source of water so we could quench our thirst, but so far nothing of the sort came into view.

The sun has started to set and soon it will be dark. The constant fighting has tired us out and now we are just dragging ourselves forward.

"We should rest. We can’t go on like that. Find a place for the night," Kacir suggests, seeing the dying rays of the sun.

He is right, we can’t cross over into a new place like this, we are exhausted.

To our surprise, we stumble across a small straw hut in the distance. It’s simply built in a triangular shape.

"Are you guys seeing what I am seeing?" Alnitak asks, rubbing his eyes. His voice appears tired and yet there is a hint of excitement at seeing the small place.

"Yeah, but it can be a trap. We have to be cautious," Kacir silently warns.

The hut is surrounded by different autumn trees, providing a natural canopy. In front, there are a few stones.

We reach outside scanning the ground for any hidden traps or lurking monsters. We find none. But an old woman is standing outside. Her wrinkled face and bent back show she has been around a while. She is hunched over a walking stick but her eyes shine with hidden wisdom and treachery.

"Who approaches?" She asks in a crooked voice.

Kacir turns towards me. "Will you be comfortable with this?"

I nod at my team leader.

"I got you." Moving forward, I come to a halt in front of the old woman.

"Just someone passing by," I confidently say, keeping my gaze on her.

"What do you seek? Passerby?" She wickedly smiles at us. There is something predatory in her smile.

"A few hours of respite," I answer and her smile broadens.

"Answer my riddle and I will let you stay in my cottage. Fail and I will throw you in the Summer season. Only you can answer my riddle. No taking help from your companions."

I glance at my companions and all of them nod in approval of taking this riddle.

"We believe in you, go ahead," Mintaka says, placing his gentle hand on my shoulder.

Their trust is everything to me and I won’t disappoint them.

"Go on. Let’s hear it."

The old lady bangs her stick on the ground three times. "If you wish for it then tell me. What am I?

I have no voice, but I speak to you.

I tell of all things in the world, even the people.

I have leaves, but I am not a tree.

I have a spine, but I am not a man or woman or a child.

I have hinges, but I have no door.

I have a distinctive scent but I am not a perfume.

What am I?"

Her riddle throws me into deep thought. What could be the answer?