The wagon rolled steadily through the amber-tinted woods, the crisp scent of fallen leaves and damp earth clinging to the air. Mora, the great brown bear, plodded on without complaint, the harness creaking softly with each step. Nocturina sat nestled in the corner of the wagon bed, tucked against some empty crates. The rhythmic motion and the lull of forest sounds beaconed her to sleep, she felt more tired than usual today. Her chin dipped once, then twice—until finally her head lolled to the side, resting against the wooden slats. Her breathing deepened, lashes brushing her cheeks in sleep. Caelith glanced over from where he sat across from her, arms folded loosely. His gaze drifted idly at first until her hood slipped from her head, revealing the delicate shape if her ears. Sharply pointed like his and Lysari's but also curved slightly in on themselves, distinct and unfamiliar. He leaned in slightly eyes narrowing as he studied her in the filtered daylight. Strange. Elegant but off. He's never seen ears quite like that before, not among half-breeds that passed through the city.
Curiosity got the better of him. Slowly, he rose hesitantly reaching out as if touching might answer a question his mind couldn't. Just before his fingers brushed her Nocturna's silver eyes flutter open. Caelith straightens abruptly, withdrawing his hand as if caught stealing from the divine. "You're... not an elf," he said, tone carefully neutral. "And not half-elven either. I've seen both. What are you?" Nocturna blinked the sleep from her eyes, body still slow from rest. Her hand moved instinctively to tug her hood back into place. She didn't answer immediately. Outside, the wind rustled the trees. The wagon kept rolling. The silence between them stretched like a thread-not tense, but waiting. Lysari looked up from the intricate puzzle box in her hands, her fingers freezing mid-turn. Her sharp amber eyes flickering between Caelith and Nuri. Meeting the elf's gaze, calm but guarded Nocturuna says coolly, "I'm not of your concern." Caelith crosses his arm the corner of his mouth curving into an amused smile. "Oh, but you are. We've agreed to take you with us-out of the kindness of our hearts, mind you. The very least you could do is answer a few questions." Tilting his head as if studying a riddle, he fully intended to solve. "Your ears are strange; your presence is strange and even that little trick with the light the other night-odd. You're something and I'm rather good at spotting when someone doesn't belong."
Lysari leaned in a little the puzzle box resting in her lap now. "You don't speak like a city-born, and you don't carry yourself like a wanderer." Nocturna hand slipped into her pocket grabbing the hilt of a dagger she found in her satchel days after leaving the first village she'd come across. "You can think whatever you want," she said her voice firm. "But I owe you nothing." Caeliths smile hardened into something colder. "You know, I could toss you off this wagon. Let you walk the rest of the journey on your own. It's four days on foot or two in here, with us. Seems like an easy choice to me." Nocturna didn't flinch. She met his gaze with steady defiance. "Then stop the wagon," she says. "I'll walk." The two stared at each other daring the other to back down. Tension rose like
dawn until the wagon jolted to a sudden stop, throwing them forward. Mora, the massive brown bear, let out a deep huff pawing at the ground with unease. Lysari shot to her feet, puzzle box forgotten. "Something's out there," she said scanning the trees through the canvas flap. Her hand went to the hilt of her sword. Caeith's expression shifted from smug to alert. "What is Mora-"
Before he could finish, something crashed into the side of the wagon with terrifying force, slamming the entire structure onto its side. Wood splintered. Supplies spilled, the world tilted. Inside the world spun, crates tumbled bedrolls flew, and bodies slammed against wood. Nocturna was thrown sideways her shoulder hitting the wall as it became the floor. A sharp corner of crates clipped her left leg. Lysari yelped arms flailing as she rolled over the puzzle box she'd been holding flying into the grass somewhere. Caelith crashed into a bench and hit the floor with a grunt, wind knocked from him. The wagon groaned beneath its own weight as it settled on its side. Dust and broken splitters filled the air. Outside Mora let out a low guttural roar something between warning and rage. Nocturna pushed herself up with a wince, senses flaring. Something was out there-and it had found them. The two elves quickly recover stepping out of the wagon as they unsheathe their weapons.
Spektors head snaps away from the elk it was eating hearing the growl of the bear and crash finishing it's meal in two bites.
The hound beast circles the wagon snarling, it sensed something here. Something it needed, it dashes towards the back of the wagon jumping in and seeing the woman from before.
It had waited till the dragon had left to hunt, the beast snarls as it stalks forward taking up most of the space. "Its one of them Beasts." Lysari states grabbing Caeliths arm and pulling him away. "Let's run for it why it's distracted." Cealith furrows his brows at her, "We can't just leave her. It's our job to help." Lysari continues to pull him away. "We'll only die with her. The two of us could never kill it!" Reluctantly Caelith follows as the two climb onto Moras back. In the wagon Nocturma gets to her feet, her shoulder is sore but not broken and the cut on her leg is sallow so no serious injuries. Looking over the green canine realizing it the same one from outside Grimholt. Slowly she raises a hand out as her other one searches for the dagger in her pocket.
The beast pounces forward aiming for Nocturna but fell short biting into her cuff as something grabs it's tail.
The hounds teeth break through the cuff but before it touches skin it's yanked out and thrown. The golden band around Nocturna's right arm falls the ground now in two pieces. A surge of power channels through her something she hasn't felt in decades. A silvery-white energy erupts from Nocturna's outstretched hand, swirling with flicks like shattered stars as it collides into the beast.
The hound crashes into a tree as Spektor whips his tail back, he'd used it to grab the beast. Lowering his head he growls stepping fully between the wagon and the beast.
The hound scurries to its feet and takes off knowing the dragon would win any fight.
Spektor huffs and turns his head peering into the wagon to check on the woman he was protecting. He relaxes slightly seeing no harm to her only noting one of the golden things on her wrist had been broken. Nocturna steps out of the wagon looking at the dragon. "You've come back to save me once again, thank you." She bows her head to him before looking in the direction she last saw the elves and bear. Finding no one longer there.
Spektor huffs, as if he had left, he'd been waiting for months for her. He'd explored around the temple even entering the wards out of curiosity once everyone slept.
Nocturna sighs turning and going back into to the wagon to gather supplies shed need for the night and next few days on the road. Once done she starts walking away from the wagon incase other animals or people happen to come upon it. When the sun begins to set, she makes camp for the night, starting a small fire and pitching her tent.
Spektor lays close to her curved around her so she could be protected from all sides but the front. His wing stretched out where her bedroll was to keep in the warmth.
He hears footsteps and lifts his head watching a man approach, the scent was of the hound which made his body tense but he smelt no ill or sensed any ill intention so he allowed the man to approach.
"I mean no harm dragon." He says hands up in surrender as he makes it into the edge of the fire light. Nocturna looks between the dragon and man wondering how he knew him. As she ties a peace if clothes around the cut along her knee, she pulls her water skin from her bag offering it to him. He looked like he needed it. "Thirsty?"
The blonde haired man pads forward crouching, "No, thank you though." He replies his eyes shifting between the dragon and the woman as he judges them.
"I wanted to apologize for earlier. My mind is not my own when I am the hound. I was cursed long ago by the same people who brought your clans downfall. My race are the Deval, we were cursed to become our beast shape yet you helped lift it….somewhat."
Spektor lays his head back down continuing to watch and was ready to interfere if necessary. His only concern was the woman's safety and of the unborn child she carried.
"The Deval.." Nocturna repeats softly and her eyes widen. "I remember hearing our clans didn't always see eye to eye but we were never enemies." She turns her so she's fully facing him. "The Voidwalkers cursed your clan after killing most of mine? Why?"
"They go by Luminous now. Honestly I don't remember. I've been trapped as a hound for I don't even know how long. Just thank the juvenile dragon was around or I'd probably would have killed you or my breathern would have a hundred times by now." He runs a hand through his hair as he glances at the dragon, "His kind have kept most of us away in their lands.. well whets left of us."
"I know what they call themselves,' Nocturna shoots back a little more hostile than intended. She takes a breath relaxing herself. "I apologize..these lasts few months have been overwhelming to say the least." She studies the man for a moment if he had memory of her race then that means the Voidwalkers couldn't erase his memories like the others. "I am Nocturna around others call me Nuri."
He hesitates trying to recall his name, "I do not remember what they called me…I will leave as I do not know how long I will remain in this form. Just beware something about you is calling the Deval, keep him close." He says nodding towards the dragon as he stands, "young or old, every primal instinct of survival will tell our beasts to run."
Nocturna nods watching him closely. "I do not choose where he goes but if he continues to follow me I'll do so."
Spektor huffs at that as the man tilts his head like a dog, "He's been around all this time. Pretty sure since you escaped whoever or whatever put those on you. Only reason I got close is he went to hunt." He comments then disappears into the woods.
Nocturna glances over at the dragon mystified by him wishing she could ask why she'd choose to assist her. Turning back Nocturna puts the left-over fruit into her pack before craving into her tent as a light snow begins to fall.
Spektor keeps watch throughout the night his wings keeping Nuri's tent dry.