The Bracken Woods zindgani ke safar mein

The woods were large and unclaimed. Masquerade swallowed and nodded in acknowledgement, gazing deeper into the trees and wondering if it was at all possible Avicus had wandered in here and gotten lost. It seemed absurd but no less unbelievable than the Wealda’s disappearance in the first place.

Eventually their eyes wandered back to the stranger. For the first time, they noticed the collar around his neck. Their fur prickled warily at the peculiar sight. What was it? Masque licked their lips a little nervously, shifting their weight.

Who are you and where did you come from? they wondered, suddenly curious about the foreign words he’d spoken earlier.