The night was long, I was constantly trying to get comfortable and sleep but it rarely found me. Brief moments of it were all I was given throughout the night. Once morning came I simply remained laying down till the last possible moment watching as everyone packs up their things and unlike me there's an excitement in the air. They're quicker than usual with their take down, everyone moving and once the horses are loaded up it's time for me to finally move.

  With slow forced movements I pick myself up off my stomach and begin following after the caravan. My steps are heavy and no matter how I try I can't keep my steps quiet. Every step feels like it's slowly dragging me down, then I hear someone calling out for me, my head quickly snaps up away from my feet and the ground that seems to be trying to swallow me.

  “Akken!!!” Looking up I see Veln, and the caravan far away from barely visible through the brush.

  I didn't realize how far I had gotten from them. I try to pick up to my regular pace and I manage but it feels like I'm charging forward using all my strength with how draining it is. As I get closer I see that it's only Veln who's actually looking back at me and no one else is. Once I get close enough where they begin moving again I answer Veln.

  “I just… saw something.” With that I remain trudging forward.

  Trying to tap into everything I have to keep pace. Listening to the bear and elk on the best places for me to plant my feet to be in the best position to move. But even they're muffled quiet just like the rest of my thoughts.

  Maybe eating something will help me feel better. Reaching for some pine needles pulling them off the branch before I attempt to eat them. Chewing, grinding the needles into paste then I keep chewing and chewing trying to force them down but I can't. I try to chew more, maybe that will let me swallow the growing pine needle mush. It doesn't, no matter how hard the knot formed in my throat doesn't go away so I spit it out. The taste remains on my tongue.

  Right around midday we finally get close enough to the tribe to see their tents set up. That adds more weight to my legs, and a pool of bile begins forming in the back of my throat. The caravan slows down confusing me for a moment before Veln moves to the front and ushers me forward. Joining him slowly we don't speak but his eyes show concern that I haven't seen since my exile. I just keep walking, turning my head enough so I can't see how he's looking at me.

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  Once we get to the edge of the clearing I stop everyone holding out my hand to stop them. I'm not sure how the caravan, Veln and Ket had handled getting the tribe's attention before, but with me here it especially needs to be done right, any other way and they might attack on sight. Taking a deep breath filling my lungs fully for the first time in a few days the bear and the elk are loud like they should have been. Then I let out the loudest roar and bugle to let them all know that I am here and I want to see them.

  Soon the nearest guards arrive at our location, but once they see me one of them shifts to his true form while the other raises her spear towards me as they shout.

  “What are you doing here Hybrid! We have not seen your totem burned before you are not welcome here! Even if you're conscious enough to properly call a meeting!” Raising her spear higher.

  Those in the caravan show nerves in their hands finding their own weapons but I keep my hands up in an attempt to calm everyone at least a little. Looking back at Veln his eyes are jumping around from the guards, me, the other and maybe looking for an escape route. With a deep breath I keep my voice low and slow, ignoring the growing bile and the compression in my chest.

  “I know, these people wish to trade…” I take a deep breath freeing the words that have been stuck in my throat. “They have me as their guide, the man next to me, Veln speaks a little Salkin. They just want to trade.”

  The guards look over the caravan for the first time and I wait as my emotions begin warring. The bear screams for them to answer for their rudeness, the elk yells to leave these clueless fools, and finally the firebearer toys not to fall apart. The guards eventually nod at the caravan.

  “They can trade here you cannot and you should know that.” The man who had shifted into his true form a goat hybrid, but he keeps his eyes on me.

  “I know, that is why I haven't entered the clearing. I'll be away from here while they do trade. I saw a log a few strides back. I'll stay there.” I turn away from the guards to face Veln.

  “Trade, okay, i, go sit on a log a few walks back.” I point behind us into the trees.

  Veln nods when I tell him that they're good to trade, but he also gives me a confused look at the mention of a log. I don't wait for a question that I don't think I can give an answer for or even want an answer for. Leaving fast walking past the rest of the caravan who don't even do more than glance at me as I walk by. Eventually I come to a large dead tree that we walked past.

  Putting both my arms on it as I try to force it down, but it won't move as I keep pushing harder and harder and it still won't fall. Screaming out as tears stream down my face and my arms begin to snap as they grow larger and larger. Until they look too large on my body but I keep pushing harder and eventually it falls down. Letting out a loud crash as it impacts the forest floor. Out of breath I begin panting, slumping over onto the log.

  I roar out with everything that I have my claws digging into the log sending out splintering and chunks. Looking over my arms they're warped into their new size wider than my legs and my claws longer than any knife I've ever used. Then it hits me the pain, the burning crushing pain in my arms and the crushing weight in my chest. Trying to correct myself and the bile that I have been holding back is let free as the contents of my stomach coats the log.