Lochinvar has a flashback to his youth, listening to stories told around a campfire, including one told by the white Vartan, Ariecha, about a dark monster that killed half of her village, and caused grotesque mutations in some of the survivors. Lochinvar is disturbed, as Ariecha insists that this is no mere ghost story.

Back in the present, Lochinvar chases down the runaway mutated Vartan, Elavars, and carries him further north, at the young Vartan's urging that they keep running. However, Lochinvar starts to suspect that the village did not actually leave this way at all, but that they may be following a false trail left in hopes of diverting the monster. Despite Elavars' insistence that they must keep running, Lochinvar is at the edge of his endurance, and insists that they are far enough ahead that they can afford to rest for a little while.