"Wait..." Althea suddenly called out after the grounds keeper before he could leave.
"Yes, Agate?" Damien asked, "Is there anything else?"
Professor Althea looked like she was about to say something. She was finding it hard to believe what the game master said, but shook her head instead.
"Nothing..." she finally said, "We'll be seeing you around."
"Around. Yes." He turned to leave. Arlam had already vanished with the wolf. "Please take all the bodies with you. I wouldn't want my brothers to get indigestion," he added, "`till then, may the moonlight guide you."
With that the groundskeeper left, leaving no trail behind. The company shivered as a cold wind blew into the clearing, reminding them that they were not welcome in that territory. Not for long anyway.
"Take them to the infirmary." Morell instructed his wicker horses.
The two horses began to move, clumsily at first, then more fluidly as it took some speed. Professor Dupont was beside Sebastian, looking worriedly as they were taken away. He followed the procession, accompanying Professor Althea along the way.
The guards took the bodies, placing the live ones in stretchers, their arms tied in special cuffs. Soon the area was abandoned. Only the wind stirred.
It began to rain, soaking the ground to heal the wounded earth, turning the broken pieces of golems back to lumps of mud and drenching one little clockwork mouse, tumbling in the craters, following the trail of a certain boy.
Out in the woods, deep in the forest, where the trees get so dense that the undergrowth has never been touched by the rays of the sun, there, beneath the roots of an ancient oak tree, lies a mound covered by a thick layer of dried leaves. Hidden among the ancient roots is a small opening. At first glance, one might think it’s just a small burrow, a lair where bears spend their winter, but looks can be deceiving, particularly when enchantment is at work.
Damien Wolfsbane entered the burrow. At his height, you would expect him to bow down, but instead, anyone who had seen would say that the cave opening stretched up to let him in.
He stepped into a spacious cavern, its entrance illuminated by countless flames floating in midair. There are several pathways in front of him. He took the third one to the left and entered an area with a hearth burning in a corner, inside was the centaur, putting away some bowls. He turned to Damien when he entered and frowned.
"What took you so long?" he asked the games master.
"They had a lot of questions," replied Damien. "How are they?" he gestured towards the 2 cats sleeping on a heap of fur near the heart.
"The grey one had a couple of broken ribs and a ruptured left lung." he reported, "I have already healed the bones and the collapsed lung, but much rest is needed."
"And the yellow one?" Damien nodded at the Dorin cat.
"He is well and fine, aside from a wound on his shoulder." the centaur frowned deeper. "I had to put him to sleep since he kept circling around me as I worked on the grey one.
Damien looked at the two cats curled upon each other, both fast asleep. He sat on a chair by the heart.
"Look at them, Heratio," he told the centaur with a sigh, "They look so harmless in that form."
"Perhaps we can keep them this way?" said Heratio, looking fondly at the cats.
"Ah, don't tempt me..." he picked up the yellow cat and placed it on his lap. Cat Dorin curled into a ball as he gently stroke its fur. Damien smiled sadly. "Do you still remember the last time gold and silver came together?"
"Yes." replied the centaur. "It was the birthday of the new continent."
"And now the two are attracted once again."
"Perhaps it is better to pull them apart right now?" Heratio tool a dagger from under his robe and brandished it. "Should I smite the golden one, or the Silver Tongue?"
"Don't be foolish!" Damien remarked, "Not in these forms!" he picked up the yellow cat on his lap and cradled it in his arms. "Perhaps we could keep them this way... but you know damn well how fate works."
"So, what do we do now?" Heratio replaced his dagger with a scowl. "Frankly, the making of the continent wasn't that bad... what concerns me is the power these two may hold."
"We'll see." Damien took both cats and slung them over his bare shoulders. "It's been a while since we had humans in the burrow. Perhaps it is time to extend our hospitality to them once again."
"You plan to let them stay?" Horatio asked, wide-eyed.
"Just long enough to know them."
"And if you don't like what you find?"
"We'll see."