The wayward Eeee have finished evacuating the collapsing tower by nightfall. Campfires and simple lean-tos dot the shore of the small lake, although there are also a few tents – some obviously salvaged from the remains of the Gallisian camp that had been destroyed by Smashangrab a few nights earlier. The best tent belongs to Mave, the Yodhinala herbalist, and because of the help of Phlagaea's Fnerf servant in moving Mave's necessities to shore she has extended her hospitality to the Yodhgorphat, her 'consort' and their friend Lilith.

The night brings little rest for Alptraum, despite the moderate comfort of Mave's tent. The collapse of the tower is slow, causing it to rumble and creak constantly, with the occasional crash or splash of heavy stone. The smell of wet Fnerf can also be distracting, even though Lucy is outside next to the fire. The encampment itself is still busy, as the Yodhblakat move about from group to group, discussing their next move.

"Mrgplth," Alptraum mutters blearily as his eyes crack open after quite a bit of insistence. He sits up slowly and complains quietly, "Is it morning already? I don't think I ever fell asleep, what with that horrid noise."

It isn't quite morning yet, with the sun just a soft glow beyond the horizon to the east. The sounds of the collapsing tower are still playing out, with more crashing now that it seems to be in its final stages. The splashing is constant, and once Alptraum wakes up a bit more, he can tell that some of that splashing is moving towards the shore.

"Wait, that's not right," Alptraum remarks, ears flicking at the sounds moving closer. He pushes up to his feet and goes to peer out of the tent.

Someone or something is indeed splashing through the water, reaching the shore as Alptraum glances out of the tent. An indistinct, hairy shape pulls itself out of the water, and starts crawling towards the remains of the campfire.

Alptraum emits a couple bursts at the creature, trying to sound its shape. Awake now, his hand goes to his dagger and he slips outside the tent. "I don't think that's Lucy," he thinks, "So, better find out what."

The creature's thick hair has an absorbing effect on the Eeee's pings, sending back an appropriately fuzzy response. As it gets closer to the fire and the sleeping Fnerf, however, Alptraum can see that it's a shaggy Gallah, and a mongrel one at that.

Alptraum blinks, thinking that it had been killed. "You, hold there," he whispers in standard and moves slowly closer.

The canine gives out a sigh, but stops and just lays there on the ground.

Alptraum moves closer. "You all right?" he asks in a quiet voice.

"As… uh… ," the canine stammers in Standard. The voice is recognizable to Alptraum – it must be the Gallah that spoke to him in the cell, who was holding the other one that sounded ill. "Not… not all right," it manages. "Hit by falling stones a lot."

"How badly hurt do you think you are?" Alptraum inquires and removes his hand from his dagger. He moves closer to try and get a better look.

"Nothing broken," the Gallah says, and struggles to sit up. In the dim light of the fire, it's apparent the man is severely bruised over most of his body, and one side of his face is so swollen he can't even open that eye.

"Good," Alptraum says with a nod. "So, where do you intend to go from here?" And after he says that, he looks around, trying to get an idea where here is with relation to where they were.

"Just… to the fire, if I can?" the Gallah asks. Mave's tent is at the southern edge of the general encampment, and in a spot where the woods are close by. For someone not wanting to be noticed by the Yodhblakat, it's probably the best choice.

Alptraum nods and motions towards the fire. Alptraum then shifts himself to act as a mask between the Yodhblakat and the Gallah, even so much as to fold out his wings a bit as well.

The dog stumbles forward, until he can kneel down close to the small campfire, opposite the still sleeping (and snoring) Lucy. "Merci… thank you," the Gallah says quietly, and reaches his arms out and hands out towards the warmth.

"There's a town I don't think is too far from here. It's not much, and fairly bland, but it's a place where you could survive," Alptraum says quietly. "Odd place, the buildings look after the residents."

The Gallah shudders, either from cold or from the description. "Survive," he repeats. "I want to go home, but I cannot. And if I cannot, I may as well die."

"Home is where you make it," Alptraum notes and looks into the fire. "Why cannot you return to where you wish to call home?"

"Officers all dead," the Gallah says. "To return without at least one is to be executed as a deserter. And home… home is where my wife and children are."

"Why not sneak into home and sneak your family out?" Alptraum asks. "You hardly deserted."

The Gallah is quiet for a moment, then says, "If I am caught, they will be executed too. It is a great risk, and there is nowhere I can bring them. I am – was – just a tenant farmer. Very poor. I came here to work off my debts and back taxes."

"Then you find an ally, and have them go get your family for you," Alptraum points out and looks over the top of the fire. "As to where to bring them … look around you. There are places in this land you could make a home. It's harsh here, but it's a chance."

"Harsh," the man says, and tries to laugh but only ends up coughing. "Why do you try to give me hope?" he asks once he has recovered his breath.

"Because hope is the only thing keeping me going," Alptraum says as he drags his finger claw tips along the dirt, making an indistinct pattern in the soil. "I've seen horrors I'm not sure I could adequately describe that have happened in the past; yet the world endures and continues to. I've lost a friend I thought I would never see again, someone who lifted my spirits when I needed that the most … and somehow, I've found her again." He shakes his head and looks directly at the Gallah, adding, "Heck, my friends and I went on an impossible batter against a dragon, and we won. Things may seem impossible … but if you believe you can do it, then it's amazing what can be achieved. Quitting, giving up, saying it's impossible, those are the easy ways out. The world owes you nothing; if you want something, believe in something, you fight for it. You cling to it. You don't give up."

"It is hard to go on," the dog says, warming his fur. "Which way is this friendly town you speak of?" he asks.

"Yes, it is. That's why you find something to focus on, something that inspires you. That'll get you through the darker nights. Your family, for example," Alptraum says and extends his hands, palm up. "West and north a fair ways from here. Some of the others will be going in that direction. You could try shadowing their fires for a bit, then break away once they reach a point where they seem to stop and just go west."

"The townsfolk will not hang me for being an invader?" the man asks next, just to be certain.

"In all honestly, likely not. They're all very old, and don't seem to care much about anything. they only seemed to be concerned about vampires," Alptraum says.

"Vampires?" the Gallah asks, with a bit of alarm. "Monster ones?"

"They do exist," Alptraum notes, "I've slain a few. They're not the most dangerous things out here, though."

"Is this friendly town being menaced?" the man asks. "I cannot fight a monster. I don't even have any clothes."

"The town itself defends its own. And no, it's not being menaced," Alptraum says. "The worst thing about the place is it's extremely drab."

"Drab is fine. Dull is good," the dog says tiredly. "The sun is rising… tell me, is the crazy painted woman who took Yves nearby?"

"She's dead," Alptraum says flatly and glances towards the collapsed ruin. "It was her death which destroyed the tower."

The Gallah glances back towards the island as well. "She was mad," is all says about it. He stands up, wincing from the various bruises, and tells Alptraum, "I will hide in the wood by day. If I am found, I will say nothing of having met you."

"I'm sorry I couldn't save your friend. If you can, stay at least half a mile away and near sources of noise, like a river. It'll make you harder to hear," Alptraum notes and nods. "And thank you. I would have offered for you to come with me … but where I go, I will not likely be returning."

"It is the going that matters, in the end," the Gallah says, then tips his head to Alptraum and limps off towards the trees.

"I know. That is why I go," Alptraum whispers to himself and folds his wings around himself. "Peace be with you."

Once the Gallah has vanished, Lucy opens one eye and grins at Alptraum.

"What?" Alptraum asks and glances at Lucy.

"You killed Smashangrab so I could leave island," the Fnerf says, in that odd sounding version of Babelite that non-Eeee use. "I bring man food and clothes later, before we leave."

Alptraum nods. "Just be careful about it, then," Alptraum says. He looks away, then tilts his head as if considering something. "Why do you stay?" he then asks.

"The High Priestess needs me," Lucy replies, and swishes her huge fluffy tail a few times to make sure it's dry.

Alptraum looks over his shoulder. "You care about her, then?" he asks.

"Yes," Lucy replies, getting up onto all four feet. "She needs me, I need her. How do you feel about her?"

"She was one of the bright spots during my time in Babel and was my friend. I care a great deal about her. She was worth the risk to save from the invasion back then. Still is," Alptraum replies and smiles. Yet, he looks sad and adds, "It'll be hard for her here, though. Nothing is remotely certain here, and there are some seriously dark times ahead."

"I will protect her, when you cannot," Lucy promises, shaking the last of the moisture from her fur and starting to put on some sort of corset-vest that requires a considerable amount of lacing.

"We'll be going into the Necromancer King's tomb," Alptraum says as he watches the lacing with an odd curiosity. "After that, facing down a mage who may be in possession of the Shadow of Amena."

"That is well," the Fnerf says, surprisingly. "A priestess must be very… what is the word? Pro-active. Yes, a priestess must be proactive in this land."

"Heh. I won't lie and say we have a good chance of winning, though," Alptraum notes darkly. "But, if we don't' do something, it could mean the end of the world. So … not much choice."

"Gorphat's will be done," Lucy says, almost as a litany. "This is truly Gorphat's land. To recover from its blight will show the truth of Gorphat's message."

Alptraum almost says something, then just dips his head in a slight nod. "We'll be joining others soonish. A Jupani named Arkold, a human named Ravenia, and a sphynx named Tulani. You'll probably see some strange things; our guide is a ghost possessed map; a really grumpy one."

"I have never met a human, or a Sphynx, or a Jupani," Lucy says. "Do they bite?"

"Sphynx … a Khatta with wings. Jupani, large wolf, think a feral Gallah, sorta. Human … bald," Alptraum attempts to explain. "At some point, we may have to split again. I'm not sure how the strategy will need to go, as I'm not sure what we'll find."

"I will go where Phlagaea goes," the Fnerf states. "How large is this Arkold? Is he larger than me?" she asks next. Standing, the foxtaur towers over Alptraum.

"He's bigger than me, but he has only two legs, not four. He's strong, too," Alptraum explains. "He's probably your height and a little bit wider across the shoulders. Why?"

"I get lonely too," the Fnerf admits, smiling coyly. "And while you are plenty big for Phlagaea, you are far too small for me."

Alptraum … smirks and rubs his temples. "He'd likely be more than obliging," he admits. "I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do with Mave just yet. She seems to have … ideas."

"I would not trust her if I were you," Lucy cautions, then points out across the lake. "I am going to look at the ruined camp on the opposite shore. There may be useful things that were too heavy for Barba's raiders to carry off."

Alptraum follows the pointing and nods. "Good idea. Do you want anyone to come with you? I could tag along since no one is awake yet," he says.

"I will be fine," Lucy says. "The Yodhblakat ignore me, and I can run very fast if anything dangerous approaches. But I will not stop you from coming if you wish."

"If you feel you will be fine, then I won't come. I'll just keep an eye on things here," Alptraum says after a moment of consideration. "It'll give you easy time to … drop things that may not be of use to us, but someone else, as you mentioned earlier."

The Fnerf curtseys, which is quite a sight in itself, then silently lopes off around the southern curve of the lake, until she's nothing more than a large shadow stirring up the morning mist.

Alptraum glances around, then figures that actually … now is a perfect time to find some food. He doesn't go into the air, but slinks off into the woods himself. Hopefully, he can find something for Lilith and himself quickly.

By the time Alptraum returns with suitable prey, half of the encampment has already been broken down and packed up as the Yodhblakat prepare to move on. Inside Mave's tent, everyone is likewise awake and making preparations. Phlagaea, in her ornate bandages, busily transfers items from their original small chest to a duffel-like sack, while Lilith helps Mave pack her own things into more easily carried packs. The Yodhinala herself looks very different, dressed in rugged (though well-made and clearly tailored to fit) wilderness clothing that still manages to look elegant, right down to her boots.

"Lilith, I have breakfast for you," Alptraum announces as he heads towards Mave and Lilith. He holds up said prey. "And … I guess people are already getting ready to go separate ways." He also just looks between Lilith and Mave, as they've spent a good amount of time together and Lilith helping makes him wonder just what they're both thinking.

"Oh, thank you Alptraum," Lilith says, taking the animal. "I'd almost forgotten about how hungry I was. We've been trying to get everything to fit into packs we and Lucy can carry easily."

"How much stuff is there? We need to travel as lightly as possible," Alptraum remarks and looks around the tent. "And is there anything I can help with?"

Mave turns to Alptraum and holds up two flimsy scraps of lingerie. "Which do you think I should bring?" the woman asks.

"Er, why are you asking me?" Alptraum inquires and peers at the bits. "And neither weigh much, so why not take both? I'm more concerned about large items."

"Our only really large item is this tent," Phlagaea says. "Is it practical to bring along though?"

Alptraum considers. "How heavy is it and how much can it be broken down? Having portable shelter could prove useful. I'm a bit tired of sleeping in the rain or having to negotiate loggings with some of the stranger residents of these lands," he says.

"It can be folded up small enough," Mave notes. The tent itself, while roomy compared to the others, is still only about eight by eight feet. "The ropes and poles can be used to make a harness for the Fnerf, with the tent as padding. Our supplies can be secured atop it then."

Alptraum considers this, then says, "If Lucy is willing to carry the tent, then we bring it. I do not want to burden her too much."

"Oh, she could carry all this and us and not feel burdened," Phlagaea says with a giggle.

"You certain?" Alptraum asks and looks at Phlagaea. He then just nods and says, "All right, then. Now then, what can I help pack?" He looks around the tent.

All that's left are the bedrolls, pretty much, and emptied boxes. "You could help me, Alptraum," Lilith says, holding up the animal Alptraum caught for her. "After I have breakfast, I'll need to prepare the rest of this for Lucy."

Alptraum nods his head slightly. "Sounds good, then," he says and goes to help Lilith.

Outside the tend, Lilith drops her voice into an Eeee-whisper, and says, "Sure is lucky for Mave that she happened to have clothing suitable to Sylvania, isn't it?" before biting into breakfast.

"If I were in Babel, I'd be saying too lucky," Alptraum whispers back, and glances towards Mave's tent. "It is rather curious how they all ended up in Sylvania as they have. And she's prepared to survive here well; in clothing that isn't exactly suited for the temples of Babel. My gut is telling me not all was accidental."

"See if you can find a suitable spit for the meat," Lilith says, at normal volume as she gestures to the dwindling campfire. Off to the south, the shape of a foxtaur can be made out on its way towards them.

Alptraum moves towards the woods edge and searched for a branch to strip as a spit. "Welcome back, Lucy," he says and smiles towards the returning Fnerf.

The large Fnerf waves to Alptraum. She's carrying some long poles over her shoulder.

"May we borrow one of those? We can use it to prepare some food for you," Alptraum asks the fnerf.

"Sure," Lucy says, and hands over what turns out to be a broken pike, the blade tip snapped off. "There wasn't much left worth salvaging," she notes.

Alptraum takes it and nods. "I guess the plant pretty much laid waste to the rest, then," he says and nods. He rests the pole on his shoulder and heads back towards Lilith, commenting, "Well, that went quickly."

"There really wasn't much that wasn't broken or covered in… fluids," Lucy says. Mave and Phlagaea come out of the tent then, carrying various bundles.

"Fluids … no, I don't want to know," Alptraum comments and shakes his head, wincing. As Mave and Phlagaea exit, he glances toward them.

Phlagaea waves to Alptraum and Lucy, and says, "We're clearing out the tent so we can break it down." Lilith takes the broken pike and uses it to spit the meat.

"Right, Lilith, unless you need more, I'll go help clear the tent," Alptraum says, pausing to hear Lilith's reply before going back into the tent.

"I can handle it from here on," Lilith replies, smiling as she pulls the outer skin off the animal. Mave tells Alptraum, "Everything else in there can just be left behind."

Alptraum nods to Mave, then slips into the tent and goes about the task of clearing out the contents to the ground outside. He does take some time to examine it, though, particularly Mave's things, trying to get an idea just what she brought on her 'trip'.

There are boxes and bundles of clothing strewn about, along with quite a bit of jewelry. Most of the clothing is of the flimsy, purely decorative sort worn by the Yodhinala. But nothing of a ritual nature is left behind, just trivial things. Extra combs, scarves and so forth, but no scrolls or herbal ingredients.

Alptraum can't help but pause and examine the flimsy bits and the jewelry. He holds up a few bits of clothing in front of himself, then shakes his head. "I don't see how they found any of that comfortable," he comments.

It does look as though Mave and Ravenia have the same dimensions – at least from what Alptraum remembers being sewn into the fabric of the parasail Lilith made for Arkold.

Alptraum hmms and grabs a few bits of clothing for Ravenia as he clears out more and more from the tent. He also takes the time to look for any earrings and bits of more valuable jewelry that would make for good bartering items. "I do wonder what she's plotting," Alptraum mutters to himself.

"Did you get lost in there?" Mave asks, as she pokes her head inside the tent. "We're ready to take the tent down. I don't know if any of that jewelry can be used to barter with, I'm afraid, so I just left it."

"I'm looking. I know the lands a bit better than you and certain groups might like some of this," Alptraum replies from where he's searching. "I'll be done in five minutes."

"Alright," Mave says, and ducks back out of the tent.

Alptraum hurries up and selects some of the better bits, then goes about quickly clearing out the tent. "Pushy," he murmurs.

Just as he's about to leave the tent, someone blocks the entrance, and a strong hand slips through the flaps and pushes Alptraum back.

Alptraum stumbles backwards into the tent. "Er, what's going on?" Alptraum calls out.

In answer, a Yodhblakat strides into the tent, and as a quick look around to see if there's anything left to take. It's Roogi.

"Take whatever bits you like," Alptraum says and waves around the tent. "We're leaving it." He then quirks a grin to Roogi and says, "Well, unless you intend to try and take me again."

The warrior bat just reaches down and grabs the front of Alptraum's shirt, then hauls him up and plants a very forceful kiss on his lips that verges on a bite.

Alptraum does the only thing he thinks of doing, he lets out a surprised squeak! After he recovers from the shock, he puts both his hands on Roogi's shoulders and tries to push her away and break the almost painful lip lock.

Roogi holds on until she feels she's had enough, the pushes Alptraum away, letting his own push against her shoulders do most of the work. "I'm going to the temple of warrior maidens," she tells him.

Alptraum rubs his jaw and nods. "I see. Decided to take a kiss from the son of death before departing, then," he observes, rather amused by the suddenness of it all. "Pity, you would have been an interesting travel companion."

The Yodhblakat scowls at the last comment, for whatever reason. "I still own you, until someone takes you from me by force," she growls. "Remember that, Barsunala, even though we part ways for now." She draws her dagger then, and commands, "Turn around."

"I belong to you, do I? What good am I to a shrine maiden?" Alptraum asks. He then narrows his eyes and offers one warning, "You stab me, and the fate that befell the Yodhzakaro would be paradise from what would befall you." And then, Alptraum simply turns around.

A snort comes from Roogi, and Alptraum feels a brief tug on his hair and swish of the dagger. "I have my trophy," the Yodh declares, holding out a thick eight-inch lock of Alptraum's white hair.

Alptraum laughs and turns around. And this time, he grabs her and kisses her. "Be careful on what you claim. I'm no Babelite male," he says as he lets go, and winks. "I could give you quite a … challenge."

Roogi is actually left momentarily stunned by the turnabout, then recovers her scowl, turns around, and marches out of the tent without another word.

Alptraum shakes his head and chuckles. "Curse my gypsy upbringing, I just challenged her. Now I know I will see her again," he remarks and sighs. "Ah well, it'll make life interesting."

"Are you done in there?" calls a voice, and Phlagaea pokes her head into the tent, and immediately checks to see if Alptraum has his pants on. "Are you okay? She didn't hurt you did she?"

"I'm fine. She was just asserting she still owned me, is all," Alptraum says and gathers up the remaining bits into a box to carry out. "Interesting feeling being property," he remarks, sounding more amused that anything else. "I wouldn't worry too much about it. I could take her down if I needed to."

Phlagaea steps back out of the way, and worriedly asks, "You aren't going to try though, are you? I mean, she did capture you once before… "

"She attacked me from behind," Alptraum points out as he picks up the box. "In a direct fight, I'm certain I'm a match for her strength. Besides, what's the worst that could happen with her claiming to own me, anyway?"

"Well," Phlagaea says, thinking. "She could sacrifice you to Blakat, of course. Being the son of another Sister, you'd be a pretty powerful sacrifice. I mean, I could probably cause a plague big enough to affect a whole country with that sort of sacrifice… " she babbles.

"She could try; she'd find it difficult," Alptraum says, still sounding unconcerned about it. "We'll deal with her however we need to if the time comes." Alptraum then just leans over and kisses Phlagaea, a fair bit more gently than he kissed Roogi. "Really, don't worry about it. I'll give you other things to dwell on later… "

Phlagaea might be blushing under the bandages… it's difficult to tell. "Oh, of course, Alptraum. And I would never try to sacrifice you either! I was just giving an example is all, honest!"

Alptraum taps her nose. "I would hope not," he says. "Anyway, we really should get going."

With Lucy's help, it doesn't take long to break down the tent and convert into a padded litter that can be strapped to the Fnerf's back. The last of the Yodhblakat take to the air, heading roughly west-northwest, while the ground-bound group of travelers begin heading north along the shore of the lake. "I hope I have our bearings correct," Lilith confides to Alptraum as they walk along.

"All we can do is move onward. I have faith in you," Alptraum replies to Lilith and smiles. And onward they do go. Inwardly, Alptraum muses about the strange people he attracts in his life. Yes, they're quirky, but in their own odd way, likeable. And one thing's for certain, life is never dull.