Lost Creek Hollow making waves in pitch black sand.

Harlyn had expected the answer that was given, so she was not surprised to hear it when the words escaped Shikoba's lips. She shut her eyes for a moment as the weight of their situation pressed down upon her. The druid did not want to lose Ishi to the cougar. She did not want to abandon him to his fate. But what choice did they have?

"I'm sorry, Shikoba," Harlyn said softly, "I can't let you go. I won't lose you for the sake of one who may be lost already." It pained her to say the words, but her soft heart receded from the hurt and the druid stepped forward; calm, cool and steady in her regard of the hard truths of their situation. "We can pray that the gods will return him to us, but I will not sacrifice any more of mine to the beast," Harlyn said with a certain sense of finality. Shikoba would not know the real meaning of her comment, but Harlyn knew, and so did the gods. They had Luke's spirit, they had Ilya's life, and now they had Ishi's freedom. She would give them no more.