The morning was damp, dew-filled yet warm in that long-running summer humidity.

A dwelling – a chance property of a friend’s good grace – stood to greet the sun as it had so many times before. A woman, neither young nor old, but ageless in her simple grace, secured her belongings with haphazard, though she prayed stable, knots to the saddlebags of a youthful nightmare.

Beside the first, an older nightmare snorted, demanding a hand of affection for herself.

The woman obliged halfheartedly, the impending journey weighing her mind as she deemed it a blessing and a curse. Out of equality, she also itched the panther that lay, serene, at her feet.

In her time she had explored the vast reaches of the wilderness. She had confronted many great challenges with the heart of a seeker and a soul believing, but rarely did she find what she sought. The old legends, ones that spoke of other realms all together – likened to the Lost Lands or Ilshenar… now Malas….

What existed further? Over the rainbow… or beyond the void? Fabled lands such as Atarka, Pagan, and Earth… what was out there, just waiting to be discovered?

The woman smiled; the prospect of adventure for adventure’s sake canceled out many of her other doubts.

After her things were secured, she turned to the older ‘mare – her pride and joy. A moment of affectionate scratching was spared before the woman climbed upon her faithful steed, and took one last look at the place she would no longer be privileged to call home.

With that, they went forth, the younger nightmare dutifully following foster-dam and humanoid companion, and the panther just following.

To the forest she turned, where her road and the beaten path departed one another. Not long after, she halted at the call.

"Fira, wait!"

Fira stopped, pausing for the familiar voice. The girl who apprehended her ran to catch up, and stopped to catch her breath when at last she reached the unlikely troupe.

"You weren’t going to leave me behind, were you?"

The ranger smiled down at her shadow, a woman younger than herself, overall darker… and yet a resemblance was there for those who cared to look.

"Kit, I couldn’t leave you behind if I tried," not that she had; she simply assumed that the Kitsune had better things to do than to follow her cousin into the life of a wanderer.

"Good, because I would never have forgiven you, dear sister," Kit smiled. Eye to eye with the younger nightmare, she inched away from the demon horse and played innocent, "I see the Esses are doing well."

"Yes… Sekhmet is pleased to be on this journey," Fira scratched the older ‘mare between the ears, "And I think Sakhmis is happy to see thee."

The Kitsune considered that, "Well, I suppose it’s going to be a long walk…."

To the blatant insinuation, Fira rolled her eyes, "Of course not; C’mon."

It took little time or effort to have the petite thief seated behind her, and Sekhmet didn’t mind the extra weight. Fira resumed the trek with little thought, and certainly had the time to answer the questions put forth by her younger cousin.

"So where are we going?"

"I’m not sure yet."

"Then why are we leaving?"

"It’s an adventure."

Kitsune knew there was more to this than wanderlust, and set to prove her suspicion,

"It’s more than that – you’ve packed everything."

Fira sighed, feeling neither able nor willing to hide her intentions.

"It’s for the adventure, mostly."

"And?"

The ranger considered that, grimly.

"There’s a lot of dissent. And things I’d rather not get involved in. The slave trade, for an old one."

Kitsune, even with her arms around her cousin’s waist, rubbed the back of one hand at the mention. The mark of her legal ‘owner’ would probably never leave her skin… but it was her protection – the man she was bound – Fira’s friend – came to her aid when the ranger was unable. Shaking off the thought, she pursued more pleasant things.

"So where’re the dragonkin?"

"Dragon is taking care of it – she left Tal and Tempus at our meeting place and is rounding back for Warfrost."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"So where are we going?"

"To the end of the world," Fira smirked as her cousin squirmed at the notion. In her heart, she thought to the future, and to a whole new one.

Things had come to a circle. Many years prior, a young ranger had come out of the wilderness. Now, she returned to it, in part to find what she had lost….

And maybe she would return someday, with news of far away lands or proof of what lie on the other side of the great unknown of legends… or simply, humbly, but with the meaning of life buried deep in a vest pocket.