Dawn was painting the sky in subtle, pastel hues when Valliklaw's Hand finally came into view. It was only a rock structure, but the sight of it was enough to send a shiver down the Aardwolf girl's spine.
It was huge, great arches forming beneath the black rock, giving it the appearance of a six-fingered hand, clawing at the earth as though the greater bulk were still beneath it, struggling to pull itself out. It was on one of these fingers that a figure lounged, hands behind head, staring at the sunset.
The white raven, which had been shadowing them for the past few hours, glided in to roost on the figure's outstretched arm, bouncing and cawing. The figure sat up and slid from his roost. Aeturnis saw now that he was hyena-kin, like her, but of the Spotted Hyena breed, his chin fur spiked into a small, pointed beard. Over one eye he wore a black silk eye-patch and the other was a startlingly bright green. He sauntered over to her and without any manner of introduction, put his hand beneath her chin and drew her muzzle upwards so that her eyes met him.
"Pretty wee thing," he said and his voice was that of the raven's (although without the croaky edge). "Lovely purple eyes. Rather odd fur colouring though."
Aeturnis remained speechless, too overwhelmed by the experiences of the day to defend herself. She cast her eyes downwards again the moment he moved his hand.
He patted her on the rump and she shuddered, although there had been nothing sexual in his intention, he patted her in the same way one might tap a non-sentient to move it along. "No rope to bind her either," he grinned toothily, "looks like you've tamed her well. A good job, Derry."
"She had no spirit worth breaking," Deryk replied. "Hardly a worthy gift for Miss Tawny." He shrugged. "I fail to see why I could not just kill her in her sleep."
"Oh Derry, you disappoint me. Where, may I ask, is the fun in that? I am sure Tawny will make something of her, even if it is just lunch." He shook his head, "bring her inside. You must be weary after your long walk and I have brewed up some stew. Best to get an early night - we've got a long walk ahead of us tomorrow to meet with Tawny, and the map, in Eriwyn."
"So the plan went without a hitch then?"
Aeturnis was vaguely aware that she had a mild advantage here. To all their intents and purposes she was not even there, and certainly not sentient. They were talking quite openly, so sure that she would not run. And they were right, she thought glumly. Where would she go? They were headed for Eriwyn at any rate, the Deadlands would offer her no escape bar the numbing peace of death and she did not have any idea of how to get to Tirra-Inle, now was she certain she could convince them to let her enter. The only people who knew where she was were dead or dying.
"Oh yes," the Hyena gloated, pushing her into the chill gloom beneath the fingers. "The 'heroes' bought Tawny's little red herring without even questioning it. Admittedly, it was not all that much of a herring," he chuckled in that unnerving giggle that hyena's possess. "They did, after all, terrorise the concert. Quite a few casualties from what I hear but we didn't quite manage to do in that preaching Lowe. Serious but stable," he muttered, "still, it is a good sign, Valliklaw smiles upon our endeavours." He crouched down beside a tiny fire that did nought to heat the chamber and stirred a simmering pot of something that smelt extremely tempting.
Hunger was the furthest thing from Aeturnis's mind at present, however. Deryk had said her father was dead, but if she understood correctly, the Hyena had just confirmed he was not. Serious but stable - it was something to cling to. Someone still remained alive. She remained still, huddled against the cold. It was so cold, far too cold for autumn, yet Deryk and the Hyena seemed oblivious to it.
After a time Deryk glanced her way. "Are you cold my dear?" He queried, his voice filled with concern - concern she knew now was mockery. She nodded meekly in response and was rewarded with a threadbare blanket.
A meal followed and despite the stresses of the day and the rising sickness in her belly, she found escape in sleep.