Fenrin stalked through the trees, his mood black. He'd thought he'd be happy now he was off the suffocating boat but he wasn't. It was like he was out of the jail but still in chains. He muttered curses and remembering Jayln's exasperated look just irritated him more.

"Reciprocate. What's she going on about?"

He started to run, bounding through the trees, enjoying the feeling of stretching his legs. Exhilaration and adrenaline pumped through him and for the first time since disembarked he smiled. Finally he stopped, panting. He should probably head back.

The urge to just leave was almost overwhelming. He hadn't felt it since before Taka. He could keep running into the trees, lose everyone in the mountains. He smiled at the prospect.

“What makes you happy, Fenrin?”

Jayln's question popped into his head and his smile faltered. She'd claimed he wouldn't be happy alone. Was that true? Should he try it?

Fenrin the Wolf stood at a proverbial crossroad. At the moment he was torn between the two equally. To keep running or to go back. He glanced back, his heart thumping in his chest and then turned to the seemingly unending span of trees.

His decision was halted by a pale shape in between those dark branches. Cautiously, Fenrin moved for a closer look.

It was a human skull, balanced on a black rod with a symbol carved into the bone. He cursed, his indecision brushed aside as he ran back towards Jayln.

She turned around, startled, as he burst through the underbrush. "Jayln, come here. You two don't leave this spot."

Tryst and Echa glanced at each other and Anwen took her mother's hand. Fenrin grabbed Jayln and pulled her back the way he’d come. When they were out of earshot he hissed, "Good news is we are definitely beyond Imperial reach. Bad news is we aren't alone."

"What? Did you see someone? Is there a village?"

Fenrin shook her head at her hopeful question. "No, you idiot. Brimstones."

Jayln blinked and then laughed. "Very funny, Fenrin."

She turned away and he grabbed her and yanked her close, growling in her face, "What part of me makes you think I'm joking."

Pulling away, she looked at him seriously. "Alright, I'm sorry. It's just Brimstones are just stories you scare children with."

"Gods, to live in your world..." He shook his head. "Yeah, Brimstones are real, like the Bear, and the big bad wolf."

"I get it," she said dryly. "Now what are we up against."

"Mages, bad ones. They affect your mind and fight with living corpses. If you're unlucky enough to survive an attack, they'll offer your soul up to a demon."

"But they're human, right? They can be killed."

Fenrin finally smiled again. "Oh yes. It's been a while since I killed a brim. The Bear cleared them out of Valhym pretty early on and they didn't pop up much."

"He protected Valhym from demonic cultists? That's pretty noble."

Rolling his eyes Fenrin explained, "My father may have been cruel and vicious but he wasn't psychotic. He's not a fan of mages in the first place and always had a special hatred for Brimstones. Probably because..."

Fenrin trailed off, his eyes scanning the trees. Jayln tensed and whispered, "What is it?"

"Shh."

After an anxious minute Fenrin cursed. "Tryst should have been eavesdropping by now." He ran back to the small clearing and cursed again. It was empty.

Jayln watched as Fenrin scanned the floor and bent to pick up a small object. It was a finger bone. He threw it back down in frustration and ran his hand through his hair and eyed Jayln. "I don't suppose I could convince you to just leave with me?"

She gave him a look and he sighed, drawing his sword.

"If I die, I hope they bring me back to kill you," he said before turning his attention back to the ground to pick up the trail.

The two crept along through the thick trees and rocky uneven terrain until Fenrin signalled to stop. Jayln glanced around, muscles tensed in expectation, and she spotted a black figure moving around a boulder in their direction. Fenrin pointed up and she followed him up a large tree to get a better look at the cultists below.

"Excellent work, brother." The man who spoke stood at the edge of a large black hole. It seemed to emanate darkness unnaturally, like a god had punched a hole in the earth. "Quite a catch."

The other man he was speaking to signalled his two companions to continue to the hole. One was dragging a gagged and struggling Echa while a dull eyed Anwen stood swaying in front of him. The other had a bleeding Tryst flung over his broad shoulder.

"Two for the master and one for the pit?" the first man asked, glancing at Tryst.

The second man shook his hooded head. "No, he's still living. I wanted Brother Jyu to find out who they are first. There's another as well. A red haired girl. The man put up a fight so we left quickly, but I planted a trail a child could follow. She'll come here on her own."

"Red hair," the man mused. "perfect for the blood moon tonight."

"Indeed."

The men with the prisoners walked into the hole which, despite its darkness, seemed to actually be a fairly gentle incline into the ground. The two remaining men turned and Fenrin readied his sword.

"What a pain in the ass."

He leapt down, rolling forward, and lopping off the second man’s head. The first uttered a guttural word and the headless corpse straightened and took a step forward. Jayln drew her bow and shot the corpse in the chest.

"The caster, you idiot!" Fenrin called out and swung his sword again. Before it hit, the man hissed another phrase and a black eye glowed on Fenrin's forehead. The mage crumpled, as did his animated companion, but Fenrin screamed, dropping his sword and clawing at his face. Jayln jumped down, bow ready and moved towards him.

"Damn it. Damn it. Stay back."

Jayln stopped suddenly as Fenrin turned to her. His eyes looked like they had a black film on them.

"Fenrin?"

He flinched. Staring at something over her shoulder. He closed his eyes. "Jayln. It's a curse. These bastards are more powerful than I thought. I'll keep going, but focus on the living and ignore the dead. Get Echa, then Tryst. Once we get inside you have to ignore anything I say."

"What?"

"That's an order!" he shouted and then plunged into the dark hole in the ground.

Terrified, Jayln followed. As the inky blackness enveloped her like a curtain, she could suddenly see. It was like being in a room lit by one candle but everything was in black and white. Fenrin was parrying blows with a half decomposed corpse. Jayln scanned the room for her friends and shot the man dragging Echa in the back.

As the Brimstone she’d shot stopped moving, Anwen fell to her knees. The broad shouldered man flung Tryst off his shoulder with a dull thump, and pointed a finger at Jayln. A bolt of light, blindingly purple in the black and white world shot out and towards her. She rolled to the side, firing her arrow. It disintegrated harmlessly inches from target’s face.

Jayln fired again but missed as she was distracted by insane laughter. She glanced to the side to see Fenrin hacking the fallen corpse to pieces. He looked up into empty space.

"Are you next? Would you die for that scum?" He began swinging in the dark at nothing. "Die! You can't protect him from us!"

Jayln tore her eyes away trying to drown him out and reached for another arrow. Her fingers were just brushing the feathers when a bolt of light hit her thigh and she convulsed in pain. She looked up just in time to see a skeleton, decaying skin hanging like lichen from it's bones, raising an axe over her head.

Before it could strike, Echa launched herself at it, knocking it over. Jayln rolled to her knees, cocked her arrow and fired at a cultist standing over a stone altar. He took the shot to the arm, but didn't move, only chanted louder. The air above the altar began to haze.

"Grab him, Lyra. I'll start with the fingers."

Ignoring Fenrin, although he appeared to be addressing her, Jayln ran forward. She surprised the warded Brimstone with her speed and she grabbed his throat, crushing it with her grip. His hands glowed and grabbed her arm, fingers burning her like hot iron.

"This is what you get for running away, Lyra. You should have known better." Fenrin's words echoed through the cave, his voice dripping with scorn. Through her pain, Jayln felt her grip move and the man’s eyes bulged as a sword poked through his chest. She let him go, his burning fingers falling from her arm as Tryst stepped out from behind him, blood covering half his face.

"What. The. Hell?" Tryst asked.

Jayln cradled her arms. "Grab Echa and get out of here."

He nodded and headed for the woman, who was still grappling with the bones. Tryst smashed the skull with a rock and pulled Echa out and to the exit. The chamber rumbled and an unearthly scream cut through the dark. Jayln fell to her knees, her skull feeling like it was splitting. She had to get out. Death was coming.

"Fenrin!" She ran towards him. "We have to go!"

He turned to her wide eyed. "What about Lyra?" He asked, his voice strange and childlike. She grabbed his arm and guided him out. As her head broke through the darkness, the feeling of doom faded.

She fell and lay panting on the floor, Fenrin beside her. There was more screaming.

Echa screamed, "Anwen! Let me go! My daughter is in there!"

Fenrin screamed, "No, stop! I'm sorry!" clutching his sides in pain.

The echoing screams of hundreds of voices faded from her head.

Jayln sat up, her thoughts swimming. She made out Tryst leaping back into the dark. "Wait don't!"

It was too late, he was gone. The hole convulsed and he reappeared, Anwen in his arms. He ran, face white as a sheet, into the woods. Jayln pulled Fenrin up.

They made it through the first line of trees and then Fenrin stopped, digging his heels in to look at her with hate and shock.

"What did you do to me?" he asked holding his forearm. Then his eyes rolled up and he fell to the floor, convulsing.

There was another ear-rending screech from where they'd come, then silence, save Fenrin's chokes and their heavy breathing.

After a moment, Jayln knelt trying to help Fenrin. His eyes shot open, still filmed with darkness and he grabbed her arm, twisting her beneath him.

"Naïve," he breathed.

She kicked him off and backed up. He rolled to his knees and turned towards her and she raised her fists warily but his eyes dropped to her feet. His mouth opened in a silent ‘No’ and he fell onto his hands.

"Mother..." he whispered, tears streaming down his face. He gave a soul-wrenching cry and then stood, looking about with murder in his eyes.

Echa sobbed with relief as Anwen woke up dazedly. “Mama?”

Tryst limped over to Jayln, also staring at the madhouse that was Fenrin. He repeated, "What. The. Bloody. Hell?"

"I don't know. He said he got cursed and to not listen to him."

Whatever Fenrin was seeing changed again, he stood up and sauntered up to Tyrst. "And you, princling, should we kill you too?" he asked menace dripping from his voice.

"No?" Tryst said, backing up.

Fenrin grabbed him by the neck. "I should kill you for what you did to her!"

Tryst was starting to turn blue and Jayln desperately tried to pry Fenrin off. He dropped Tryst suddenly, answering someone to his left. "Whatever you say."

Angrily he stalked to a tree and leaned against it watching an invisible scene play out, a sick grin on his face that made Jayln shudder.

She helped the coughing Tryst up. "How long does it last?" he wheezed.

"I don't even know what it is!" Jayln's voice was strained and laced with hysteria. Echa turned to the two, still holding a sobbing Anwen in her lap.

"I've heard of curses. They can only be cast by the dying. It's potency would depend on the caster."

They turned back to Fenrin and to everyone's relief, the eye on his forehead began to fade. His demeanor changed and for a moment Jayln thought it was over, but he drew his dagger, and stalked over to something unseen. He held the dagger in the air and Jayln could picture someone sitting in a chair in the empty space.

"It's almost a shame to hurt that pretty face." The dagger trailed up. "Just ask and I'll stop," he said, his voice toying and dangerous.

"Fenrin!" Jayln stepped in front of him and for a moment he glanced up confused.

"Toys break when you take them apart," he said then his eyes rolled up and the black mark on his forehead completely disappeared. He fell to the ground with a thump.

The four watched as he lay still on the dirt. After a few minutes of no movement, Jayln carefully pried the dagger out of his hand.

"What now?" Tryst asked.

Jayln turned and sized up her shocked companions. "Well, let me see those wounds. We'll stay here until he wakes up."

Tryst was hurt pretty bad. The cut on his head had clotted up, but he was pale, clearly having lost a lot of blood. A large gash on his left side needed stitching and he couldn't stop shivering. Echa and Anwen broke some branches and Lyra made a fire. Tryst curled closely around it, and Fenrin lay still.

The sun was beginning to set when Fenrin groaned. Jayln straddled him and pinned his hands down. He blinked, his eyes barely focused. She held the dagger in his face.

"The hell..." he slurred, squinting.

"Fenrin, who am I?"

His eyes cleared and he winced. "You're a pain in my ass."

Jayln didn't budge and Fenrin growled, "Get off me, Jayln."

She rolled off. "Welcome back."

He sat up, wincing and holding his head. Realization hit him and he moaned. "Damned curses. How long?"

"I don't know, about ten minutes," Jayln said softly.

"Ten horrible minutes," Echa added coolly.

"W-what'd it d-do to you?" Tryst stuttered out

Fenrin scowled. "Nothing to concern you."

Jayln frowned and Tryst, not in the best mood, snapped. "H-h-hell it doesn't. You tried to k-k-kill me!"

"It makes you relive your worst moments. I saw it happen to a man once. Nearly chopped my head off thinking I was the brother that'd slept with his wife." Fenrin quickly changed the subject. "What's wrong with you? Got a cold."

"Very f-funny. I-I'm apparently n-not great with heroic rescues." Tryst smiled through chattering teeth.

Echa pried herself from her daughter to stroke his forehead. "I would disagree."

At her touch, his shivering lessened. Jayln stood up. "I should get our supplies."

"I'm coming with you."

Jayln nodded at Fenrin and the two picked their way back to their original clearing. The air was tense between them and finally Fenrin said, "Ok, out with it. What'd I do?"

Sighing, Jayln picked up her and Echa's packs. "Honestly, I don't even know half of what it was. You did a lot of screaming and stabbing. And a little crying."

Fenrin scowled, sitting on a log. "Give me your best guess. I can't stand not knowing what happened." Jayln watched him as his knee bounced rapidly and his fingers clenched and unclenched. She'd never seen him like this so sat down on the pine needles and thought.

"I missed a lot of the beginning. You said something about starting with fingers and called me Lyra a few times."

Fenrin grimaced. "Alright, I know what that was."

"Want to share?"

"No."

With another sigh, Jayln continued, "You asked once if Lyra was coming and that time you sounded like a kid."

He flinched before answering in a low voice. "That was the first time my father took me on one of his trips. Gods, that was a lifetime ago."

Sensing an opportunity, Jayln quickly continued, "I'm pretty sure you saw your mother's body."

He nodded, accepting that with no explanation. Jayln scratched at her forearm and winced, the skin was still raw. Fenrin raised an eyebrow and she obligingly showed her burnt forearms. "You said something when this happened too. Something about Lyra running away."

Gently he reached out and turned her arm over, eyeing the burn. "We need to get something cold on that." He let her go and leaned back. "That was when Lyra got her Bear. He had her tied down and then made the mark." He tapped on his own chest where she knew his bear tattoo was. She now realized he must have added the wolf later.

Impatiently he waved his hand. "What else?"

She skipped over the part where he'd called her naïve. "Well you choked Tryst thinking he was the prince of Valhym, I assume."

"Ah, there was a lot of that month then." Jayln waited for further explanation but he didn't give any.

"The last thing was, I think, you torturing someone? You had a knife and they were sitting, you said something about toys before the curse ended."

"Hmm. Interesting that one happened. It was more embarrassing than anything." At her confused frown, he added, "Don't give me that look. It wasn't as bad as all that. I was playing with Lyra's slave to get her riled up."

Her face got more horrified and he realized he'd made it worse. "I didn't really hurt him, not much anyway. She'd told him not to talk to me and I wanted to see if I could scare him into disobeying."

She struggled to find an expression that would make him stop talking and he awkwardly turned the attention to her. "I'm pretty sure you're leaving something out."

She stood up. "Yeah you were bent over and screaming a lot."

Successful in moving the topic along, he stood too, his movements more steady. "Aye, that'd be the beatings. That makes more sense." He grabbed his, Tryst, and Anwen's packs and led the way back.