Alptraum and Autumn-Storm sneak out of Chevalier DuValle's mansion, the latter sneaking a few "filchables" with her, and indicating that she feared that the chevalier would see Alptraum off and expect for her to stay behind. They escape without incident, and Alptraum recovers some crossbow bolts from the site of the combat with the blood beast, and then they continue.

Their journey spans a large part of the winter, and Alptraum is occasionally visited by bizarre dreams, full of symbolism and mysticism he can't make any sense of. Waking up from another such bizarre dream on New Year's Day, Alptraum heads into the woods to hunt for breakfast, and finds an abandoned church. He takes Autumn-Storm there, seeking shelter, and finds that there are many statues inside, including representations of the "angels", Inala and Sunala.

While he's examining the statue of Sunala, a female Eeee steps out of the shadows – Nekara, a Yodhsunala, sharing Alptraum's coloration of black fur and bleach-white hair (though her eyes are crystal blue instead of silver). She tells Alptraum that she is his sister, and that she is here to take him to Babel.