Within the ceramic-tiled corridors of the Temple in the section comprised mostly of offices of members of the Inquisition (or "Hospitality Officers", as some of the manuals call them), the winged "Aeolun", Envoy, heads down the familiar route, coming at last to the door where a dark unicorn can regularly be found, working on stacks of forms and requisitions and reports that seem neverending. The two wolves at the door are different this time. There must have been a slight change in staffing. Nonetheless, they recognize her, at least.

"State your business," one of the wolves growls.

Envoy says, "I'm here to report to the Inquisitor on a matter of security."

The two wolves look at each other, then one of them barks into the "intercom" screen to one side of the door. There is a pause, and then the query is answered by a light *ding*. The wolves cycle the door open, revealing the office beyond.

It looks like the furnishings must have been rearranged inside. The desk isn't visible through the doorway, though a new rack of odd implements has been set up there.

Envoy steps through, wondering at the odd formality.

Envoy looks around the office, noting both the new and missing features.

Just around the corner, Envoy sees a different desk that has been set up. The helmet no longer sits on it, but instead rests on a solitary pedestal located right next to the throw-switch on the wall. The chair has been replaced by a bed with straps on it that can be swivelled from horizontal to a diagonal position.

But that's not all that has changed. Before the desk is an Inquisitor dressed in robes of black and red … but it's one of the bat-like Eeee, a black one.

Envoy blinks at the unfamiliar Inquisitor. "I am here to see Inquisitor Raphael Melchizedek."

The bat inclines his head, speaking in a voice with a faint buzz to it, "You must be the Lady Envoy of Lothrhyn. I am sorry to inform you that the results of the Audit have caused quite a stir within the Temple, and have required some drastic reorganization of this branch."

Envoy blinks. "Is that bad?"

"I am the newly appointed Arch Inquisitor Majoris Vlad von Karlstein. I have read the reports concerning you – and your service to the Temple is appreciated. Please, do have a seat." The bat gestures with a wing and hand to a seat over to one side. It is the only piece of furniture so far that catches Envoy's attention (unless one counts the helmet) that remains from the last time she saw the office. The "flyer" chair is one best suited for winged occupants. There are no "normal back" chairs to be found in the office.

Envoy takes the offered seat. "Where is Inquisitor Melchizedek then?"

Inquisitor Karlstein takes a seat at his own desk, which is positioned between himself and Envoy, rather than facing the wall as Inquisitor Melchizedek's did. "He is assisting in some of the remaining duties, by making a tour of the Templar outposts."

Envoy blinks three times. "Which outposts?"

Inquisitor Karlstein smiles fangily. "All of them."

Envoy hmms… "How long will this tour take?"

The bat's wings shrug. "Such things are hard to discern. It seems that the paperwork on the Templar outposts has been very poorly managed. If the reports are to be believed, some of the outposts have not been visited in a few centuries."

Envoy nods, "I am not surprised, given the state of your computer system. I apologize for taking up your time, Inquisitor Karlstein."

The Inquisitor smiles. "I mind not at all. Please, do keep in touch."

Envoy stands up and blinks, "Why should I keep in touch?"

The Inquisitor chuckles, leaning back against the pole supports of his chair. "Oh, but that is a figure of speech, Lady Envoy. Your skills have proven to be very useful. Although there has been a slight change, your cooperation with the Temple will still be highly valued."

Envoy nods, "I see. I am sure you know where to contact me if you have need?"

At last, the Inquisitor stands, and pulls on a chain. The door cycles open. "I am glad to have made your acquaintance. Please – Feel free to stop by and visit at any time. And, of course, you will be contacted should need arise."

Envoy bows politely to the Eeee, and walks out past the wolves. Despite her everpresent grin, she begins to wonder about what else has changed…

Down the corridor, a couple of wolves march along, leading a white wolf in civilian garb between them. To Envoy … she looks strikingly familiar.

Envoy blinks at the wolf. "Queen Arwyn, is that you?"

Envoy asks again, this time in a language she knows Wyn understands.

One of the guards growls, "Out of the way, half-breed. We're taking her to Arch Inquisitor Majoris Moffat's office. You can't expect your 'daddy' to let you get away with interfering with Temple business."

Wyn looks up at Envoy. Above the active magic near the planet's surface, Wyn has become a mundane wolf once again. She stares at Envoy with surprised yellow eyes.

Wyn softly wufs, "You've mistaken me fur someone else, I think."

Envoy blinks at the mention of Moffat's name.

Envoy blinks again at Wyn. What other wolf would know that language?

Wyn softly wufs, "I'm just Wyn." She avoids eye contact and keeps her ears and tail down.

The wolf guard grumbles, but the two just keep marching along, leading Wyn betwixt them.

Envoy says to the guards, "Something's happened to her. You must take her to the infirmary first."

The same guard growls, "We have our orders." They turn around a corner, making the last leg toward a door similar to the one that once would have opened into Inquisitor Melchizedek's office.

Envoy follows along, frowning.

The door cycles open, revealing a chamber equipped in a fairly similar fashion, though better kept, and furnished with frills that make it look almost like a parlor rather than a place of interrogation.

Wyn thinks . o O { Wufs everywhere! Surely we're related. I wish I knew how to act fur them. If I make a wrong move, they'll have my tail fur it. }

A poodle inside the office gives Wyn the once over three times, and looks a little bit too pleased to have someone to question. "Please … have a seat," he grins, gesturing to the guards to take Wyn over to the angled table with the straps on it – a contraption identical to the one in Karlstein's office.

The poodle is dressed in robes of clashing bright magenta and an almost "neon" yellow green. He is certainly the type not to blend into a crowd. His face also has a perpetual dirty cast to it, as his fur is stained around the eyes.

Wyn goes where she's led. She stiffens and her fur stands out along her back at the table.

Envoy sneaks through the portal after the guards.

Wyn looks up at the Jupani as she's sat down.

The poodle catches sight of Envoy, then growls to one of the guards, "Get her out of here. I'm surprised she's even allowed in the Temple anymore."

Envoy blinks at Moffat. "Just because I know about Esther is no reason for you to be afraid of me."

"OUT!" the poodle yips. The wolves at the door drag Envoy out. Once Wyn is strapped to the platform, it is rotated up, and the other two wolves leave the chamber as well. Down the hall comes a pitterpatter of rushing footsteps.

Just as the door begins to cycle closed, a rat in acolyte robes pokes in his gleaming nose, chittering, "Your Excellency! I have a message for – YIPE!" He pulls back his nose as the door closes the rest of the way.

Wyn whines softly.

The poodle grumbles, and pulls on a chain hanging from the ceiling. The door slowly cycles open again. Just as soon as the rat can squeeze his way through, he does so, popping in, and handing a rolled piece of parchment to the poodle.

The poodle gives the rat an annoyed look as he breaks off the seal and unrolls the parchment. He looks even more annoyed, as he reads. He glances back at Wyn. "A pity… " he murmurs. He looks out to the hall, and gestures to the wolves. "You two. Come back in. I can use your witn – your assistance."

With that, the poodle gives the rat a sharp kick and a "You're dismissed," sending the rodent scurrying back out into the hall.

Wyn thinks . o O { My heart's going to leap right out of me, it's pounding so loud. No wonder Zephyr thought he was in big trouble when he was here. But he wasn't hurt 'till he resisted. I've been sick enough. I didn't think I'd recover from that, and now that I'm myself again I don't feel much like getting beaten. }

Envoy peeks back through the portal.

Wyn thinks . o O { The clown-dog is not very friendly. }

The door slowly cycles closed again, cutting off Envoy's view. But just before it shuts, she can see one of the wolves, under the poodle's direction, taking the strange helmet and lowering it and its visor over Wyn's head, large enough to even obscure her lupine snout.

Wyn calms as soon as she can't see as much of the room.

The lights in the hallway flicker for a moment … coinciding with the throwing of a knife switch within the chamber by the poodle. For Wyn … reality takes a nosedive.

The blackness gives way to new surroundings. Not just what Wyn sees … but what she FEELS. She is in a place of darkness, save for a glowing grid that stretches to the horizons. There is a glow over the horizon, as if there was a city or even a rising sun just over the edge, but this glow can be seen in all directions.

Wyn swishes her tail. "Wherever I've gone," she thinks, "It's better than where I was. But where is this?"

Little points of light flit here and there, following the lines of the grid. As some zip closer by, they resemble … Breakfast! Little glowing rodents with twitching whiskers!

One of the "mice" appears to be on a collision course with Wyn!

Wyn moves to step out of the way, and finds herself kneeling to catch the mouse instead.

*PAF* The mouse disappears in a burst of light as the wolf catches it, and the energy tingles as it seems to flow down Wyn's hands and dissipates into her body. Something feels … different, to be sure.

Wyn thinks . o O { I must be dreaming. This is a hunting dream. }

More "mice" zip by, some closely, most far away.

Wyn gives in to a game of pounce, going after the closest mice one at a time.

*PAF* *PAF* My! She's good! Soon, several mice fall prey to the huntress. But then, the "dream" becomes far less distinct.

For a moment, there are many more mice scurrying about … and then, while Wyn's pouncing … she almost bumps into another wolf! A white wolf – It's her duplicate!

Wyn pauses to look at herself.

*PAF* Another wolf pounces up, then pauses, looking at the two other wolves. Three white wolves pause to look at each other.

Wyn says, "Hello, Wyn."

The greeting is echoed … but in a different language. And yet Wyn can understand it.

Wyn swishes her tail and smiles. She moves forward to bump noses.

As the smiling, tail-swishing wolves bump noses … the vision grows dark again. Reality melts away and then back again … to reveal the interior of Inquisitor Moffat's office, as the helmet is lifted away from the white wolf's head once more.

Moffat says, "Welcome to the Temple of Rephidim, on the world of Sinai. I am Arch Inquisitor Majoris Caesar Moffat. And what might be your name?" He sounds faintly cordial, but with a touch of annoyance. But the important thing is – his speech makes sense.

Wyn blinkblinks at the light.

Wyn answers, "Wyn," automatically.

Wyn's ears perk up.

One of the wolves growls, "The Aeolun called her a name that sounded like that, in the hall." At a sharp glance from Moffat, he closes his mouth tightly.

Moffat walks around the table, then leans over and says, "Where did you come from, before you arrived on Sinai?"

Wyn turns her head towards the speaker. "I understand you. How is that? I can't speak this tongue," she wufs. "Er, I don't know. I can't remember anything but pieces of memories from then. The last thing I remember is waking up freezing to death on a glacier. Some of the solus took me in."

Wyn thinks . o O { Inquisitor. Questioner! I wonder what Zephyr told them when he was here. }

Moffat asks, "How did you arrive on Sinai?"

Wyn thinks . o O { Questioners don't answer questions, I guess. O well. It's not like I'm in a position to argue. }

Wyn says, "I don't know. I'm sorry. I didn't come from here. It was another place. I don't remember mountains that floated."

Moffat asks, "What was your occupation or station, previous to coming to Sinai?"

Wyn fidgets perplexedly. "I don't know. Perhaps I was a hunter. That's all I know how to do."

Moffat frowns. "Then, if you were free to live on Sinai, is there any way you could earn your keep – and work off the expenses incurred in your Processing?"

Moffat looks thoughtful for a moment, but then turns away and growls. When he turns back to Wyn again, he has a genteel smile on his face, patiently waiting for Wyn's answer.

Wyn softly wufs, "Free? Really?"

Wyn says, "I can hunt for food. I can track. I can find my way around the city blindfolded. I could pick the last pawful of people to enter this room out of a group."

Moffat raises an eyebrow. "Intriguing. Perhaps such abilities can be tested."

The poodle continues, asking, "Have you any active or latent magical abilities or inherent powers?"

Wyn says, "Ack."

The poodle raises his eyebrow again.

Wyn nods. "I think so. I've noticed them two times, once when I was brought here the first time, on a slave ship. The second time lasted the whole time I was near the ground. There's something in the air up here that keeps them away."

Moffat nods, saying, "That makes sense. Very well, then. It is standard procedure to have you tested for magical powers, too – and for any foods which may be poisonous to your system which should be avoided, and so on and so forth. I will let the healer Priests deal with such boring matters." The poodle waves that off with a yawn.

Wyn doesn't offer anything further.

The poodle snaps his fingers at the wolves. "Unstrap her. I think my work here is finished." He looks over Wyn again, and sighs. "I don't see that she poses a special danger. In … my opinion … she should be moved to a room, not to the Economy Guest Suites."

Wyn thinks . o O { Straight answers are boring? }

The wolves remove the bindings, and roll the table back down, and assist Wyn to a standing position. The door, meanwhile, cycles open.

Wyn stretches slowly.

Envoy waves from the other side of the portal!

The poodle looks over the parchment again, then frowns. He says, as if he were quoting a memorized speech, "And, in my estimation, this Exile should be allowed to freely move about until time of her court appearance. She may leave the Temple grounds during the day if desired."

Wyn swishes her tail slowly.

The wolves give the poodle a surprised look, but then lead Wyn on out of the chamber and into the corridor.

Envoy says, "Are you alright, Wyn?"

Wyn softly wufs, "That went well," to the Jupani.

The wolves keep leading Wyn along, and then stop when they reach the general corridors. The exit is in sight from here. One of the wolves growls, "You can go where you please. I recommend you come back before sundown, however. Tell any of the guards you are an Exile processed by Inquisitor Moffat, and they will know where to take you."

Wyn looks at Envoy. "I feel much better up here in the city. Once we got about halfway up, I began to feel worse. Then all at once everything just lifted away, and I started to feel better."

Wyn nods.

Wyn says, "Thank you."

Envoy says, "Your eyes have changed color too. Do you remember me?"

Wyn looks at the Jupani curiously, as if she were about to say something. She thinks better of it.

The guards don't wait for anything further from Wyn. They march off, leaving Envoy and Wyn standing in the grand hall, a few sightseers and faithful heading in and out of the Temple, a few pausing to gawk at the architecture and statuary.

Wyn looks at Envoy and shakes her head. She switches languages. "I don't. I don't remember much at all. You spoke to me before in this language. How do you know me?"

Wyn starts walking towads the exit. "I want out of here," she says softly.

Envoy uses the same language, "I've known you as Queen Arwyn of the Mountains. Is there anyplace special you'd like to go?"

Envoy says, "I thought you were killed in the explosion that ruined your home in the Mountains."

Wyn says, "I want something to drink. Somewhere close, where no one will try to poison me or sell me or capture me. Do you have any money? I've got nothing."

Wyn says, "I want to know if Zephyr's out. We returned together."

Wyn says, "He was from the same place as me."

Envoy smiles, "I have money. Zephyr is still alive too? Where is he?"

Wyn points back into the Temple. "Probably in there. I hope they're not breaking his legs again."

Envoy blinks. "They shouldn't do that. What do you want to drink?"

Envoy says, "Does Zephyr have his memories, or is he like you?"

Wyn says, "Water. If they don't serve water, then whatever is gentlest. I'm not entirely myself again yet, and I don't feel like a headache."

Envoy says, "I'd suggest fruit juice. The water isn't always safe."

A family of foxes – a mother vixen and her brood of cubs – passes by. A couple of the cubs giggle when they see Envoy, but when they stop to point, their mother grabs them by the ears and drags them along.

Wyn says, "He says he's fine, and I've no reason to doubt him."

Envoy leads Wyn to the edges of the Bazaar, looking for a beverage vendor…

Envoy says, "You probably shouldn't trust me then until Zephyr can corraborate my claim of having known you before."

Wyn's step is lively. Her eyes sparkle and she takes deep, slow breaths.

Wyn says, "I don't."

At the Bazaar, beverage vendors are to be found aplenty. And not just water, thank goodness. The juice booths can be located easily by finding a high concentration of bats.

Wyn swishes her tail and smiles. "I'm glad you understand. I don't mean offense."

Wyn looks over her shoulder.

Envoy points out the Eeee. "I am learning about these things still. There is probably juice over there, or else bugs. I remember you weren't too fond of bugs."

A Kavi in a gaudy striped outfit juggles six balls, each one a different color of the rainbow. (Of course, though, that fact is lost on Wyn.)

Envoy says, "You liked tea though… "

Envoy heads towards the juice carts.

Wyn nods. "Very much."

Wyn follows Envoy, glancing over her shoulder towards the Bazaar entrance they used.

Envoy smiles, "It's good that you haven't forgotten everything. That means there's a chance you will regain your memories."

Envoy makes some space for Wyn near one of the carts.

Wyn softly wufs, "I don't want to. I'm afraid I'd wake up and be someone else."

A grizzled old white wolf barks out, "Back scratchers! Made of purest ivory from the distant Savan! Perfect for those hard to reach spots, especially for fliers!"

Wyn listens, grinning.

Just across the other side of the square, a small mouse darts from shadow to hidden nook, grinning. Ben'zhamin Vo Zhano has been paid, after a cargo flight with Shadra and the Vo Zhano.

Some wolves in white and red robes and armor, bearing the Star-and-Anchor of the Temple, walk by on patrol, accompanied by a red-shelled Zelak. The Bazaar-goers part ways, giving them plenty of elbow-room.

Wyn heehees. "He's selling skritchers," she wufs to herself. She snifs at the juices and chooses one.

Wyn turns away from the patrol.

Envoy pays for Wyn's selection. "Oh look, a Zelak! I'll be right back, Wyn."

Envoy runs after the Zelak, asking questions…

Ben'zhamin darts past paws and under carts, making his way to a vendor he trusts… a vendor introduced to him by Shadra. A seamstress, as the mouse has ordered new clothes!

Wyn wufs, "The wufs here are kind of standoffish." She nods.

A raccoon lady screeches, and hops onto a crate, holding her skirts. "A VERMITE!" she yelps, looking at Benjamin with wide eyes.

A tall black bat follows Ben'zhamin's movement. One eyebrow raises. "Hmmmmm."

Wyn's ears perk up as she zeros in on the 'vermite'.

Ben'zhamin winces at being sighted. "Dashit… " The mouse runs under a vendor cart…

Wyn says, "Dinner!"

Ben'zhamin thinks . o O ( Why can't I just get into here just once without something happening… )

Wyn leaves the juice cart and runs over towards the vendor cart she saw Ben at last. She sets her drink down on the ground and kneels down herself. "Come out," she says. "You're better off with me than with one of the bats. They'll stick a straw in you an' sluuurrrp! All gone."

Envoy argues with one of the wolves now, "I was not trying to confuse your Zelak, I was just… "

The tall black bat walks up to the booth, and stands not far from the kneeling wolf.

Ben'zhamin peeks out from under the cart, past white wuff-paws… and then his view is filled with Wyn's wolfish visage. "W… Wyn?"

Wyn snifsnifs at the ground. "Come on. I'm in a very good mood," she wufs. "I'm not going to eat you today."

Ben'zhamin blinks and switches to standard. "You speak the language?"

Ben'zhamin steps out from under the cart.

Wyn shakes her head. "I just parrot it very well," she wufs.

Wyn holds out her paw.

Ben'zhamin smirks a little. "That means you've been to the temple… "

Envoy heads back towards the cart, frowning and holding a little piece of paper.

Ben'zhamin steps into Wyn's paw.

Ben'zhamin says, "Zephyr… is he… alright?"

Ben'zhamin looks about for the fox.

Envoy smiles again when she sees Ben in Wyn's paw. "Hello Ben!"

Wyn watches the bat as she gets up and walks away.

Wyn says, "I don't know. He's probably still a prisoner in the Temple. I hope he's OKie."

The mouse grins! "Envoy too! I must say, I do feel safer with friends about."

Ben'zhamin glances at Wyn briefly… and slowly relaxes. He's still alive after all.

The black bat follows after Wyn. "Pahdon me," he says in a very deep voice – especially for a bat, and especially with those over-long fangs protruding from his upper lip. "Ith that vermite for thale?"

Ben'zhamin says, "After our last meeting… I thought that there would be only one way you would be going into the temple… erp!"

Envoy blinks at the bat. "Ben isn't a vermite, he's a mouse."

Wyn lays back her ears and shows all her teeth. "Back off," she growls.

Ben'zhamin blinks. "I'm sentient, sir… ack… "

Envoy smiles, "You can buy my ticket though if you want. It's for Zelak Baiting. Even though I didn't stick any bait on the Zelak."

The bat blinks. Even his ragged head hair seems to twitch in reaction! He says, "Pardon." With that, he quickly disappears into the crowd.

Wyn watches the bat go, her hackles up.

Ben'zhamin blinks . o O { I keep forgetting how… impressive wolves are. }

Ben'zhamin says, "Thank you, Wyn."

Envoy says, "Do you remember Ben from before, Wyn? You were close friends, when you weren't fighting."

Wyn calms. "Today is not your day, Ben. I meant that."

Ben'zhamin looks at his carefully-carried cache of cash… a wheel only a little smaller than he is. "I was going to hire some work done… can I buy you another juice, Wyn?"

Wyn nods. "Yes. I remember Ben'zhamin from the Lighthouse Mission. Zephyr forbade me to eat him."

Envoy blinks and looks at Ben. He doesn't seem particularly edible to her…

Wyn says, "Please. Thank you, Ben'zhamin. I think I am dehydrated. Maybe I'm just excited."

Ben'zhamin sighs and halfgrins. "And someday I hope that I can convince Wyn not to eat me because I am a friend." He grins and exchanges the small amount of money he has for another juice and a tiny amount of change.

Ben'zhamin closes his eyes. "I didn't mean to make light of that Wyn. I understand you are a carnivore. Anyway… you are feeling better obviously… and not wanted by the temple guard?"

Wyn looks over her shoulder at the entrance to the Bazaar and scans the crowd.

Wyn says, "I keep thinking I should see someone shadowing me."

Wyn says, "I haven't seen anyone."

Ben'zhamin glances to Envoy. "How are you?"

The Temple Guard patrol has moved on. There are no signs of the Star-and-Anchor to be seen in this crowd for now.

Envoy says, "I've learned some new things, Ben, and made more friends."

Ben'zhamin nods softly. "It's a new world. I've had a chance to fly over a little of it. Very little, i would think. This planet is huge."

Envoy says, "Yes, the horizon does suggest a larger diameter than the gravity would indicate."

Ben'zhamin notices Wyn's discomfort. "Should we move indoors?… or just somewhere more defensible?"

Wyn watches the Jupani in the crowd, curious.

Wyn says, "Don't move for me. I always feel nervous around this many people. It's been a habit since I first came here. Maybe before."

Envoy nods.

Ben'zhamin grins at Envoy. "You know… I think you changed very little, when you made the crossing. And that's alright Wyn. If you want, we can wander over by that seamstress's cart? I had ordered some clothes some time ago."

Wyn says, "Envoy, what's a court appearance like? I have to go before a judge."

Wyn walks slowly towards the seamstress.

Ben'zhamin listens to Wyn, blinking quietly.

Envoy says, "I've never been to Court. Why do you have to go?"

Ben'zhamin's ears pivot towards Wyn…

Wyn says, "They didn't say."

Wyn says, "I have a few guesses."

Ben'zhamin mutters quietly "Me too… "

Envoy says, "That seems odd. But then, the Temple has changed a lot recently."

Ben'zhamin patpats Wyn's paw.

Wyn says, "Is court friendly? What happens if I don't go?"

Ben'zhamin says, "Well. If it's like courts elsewhere, a judgement will be made regarding you. About what, i can only guess."

Envoy shrugs. "I can go ask."

Ben'zhamin says, "It cannot be too bad. They let you out here on your own."

Wyn thinks . o O { They oughtn't to have let me out here. They must have made a mistake. The clown-dog didn't ask me very many questions. Could Zephyr have worked something out ahead of time? }

Wyn says, "Yes. That's hopeful, Ben'zhamin."

Wyn says, "I think I should go back. I don't want them to send people to look for me."

Ben'zhamin blinks, and then sets his jaw. "Take me with you… but hide me when you go in? If worse comes to worse… I may be able to go for help."

Ben'zhamin thinks . o O { Shadra will understand. I've been gone overnight before. }

Envoy says, "I need to go back to the Temple as well."

Wyn says, "You can hide in my sleeve, Ben'zhamin."

Ben'zhamin nods. "Very well. And I'll get another look at the inside of the temple."

Ben'zhamin thinks . o O { And maybe look for Zephyr. }

Ben'zhamin ducks into Wyn's sleeve.

Through the hubbub of the streets, the two visible figures turn and wind their way back to the temple… and whatever awaits them!