Everything had turned on her so quickly, and staring at her captor filled her with fear and the burning desire to kill. Restrained and staring at the smug grin, she felt her blood surge with maliciousness. Spreading from her gut, the surge of warmth became an itching sensation. Her nails which had never dug the earth or rent flesh suddenly yearned to rake her face. It was a primal reaction to her restraint, something that resonated and stirred the flame with her to life. Her felt such strength, but as soon as it was about to turn into some struggle the penetrating cold from the blanket suppressed her. She could barely breathe, much less speak.

   Cade warned Violetta.

   Violetta stood and came over to inspect the blanket which bound her,

   Cade looked down at V and saw no change in her expression.

  Violetta said softly as she stood.

  V could understand every word. The fire crackled and surged, an echo of their words resonated in the flames in a way she could understand. The language of Mahn that she had barely understood before was now clear. Why?

  A blessing to a light in the darkness. Condemned and manipulated child, listen well and you may survive this still. You were made to take my mark, but it was of you who saved an innocent life. For that I have bestowed my blessing and favor. Blessed of Belos. My Malku. You know not what conspires against you, your kin and the whole of this land. Now the Dark Moon rises, and your rebirth will not be of your likening. Embrace your last moments oh fated Puella Aeterna, deceive to save not just yourself, but all that you hold dear. Foe to friend and friend to foe. Faker, imposter, shadow, destroyer. Kill your slaver and drive back the invaders. The fate of this land depends on stopping their encroachment once more.

  The flames crackled and puffed, the wet wood surged and hissed its last. Belos fell silent in her head. She did not know what to make of it all. Such lofty words were all but beyond her, but the words of a divine marked her all the same. Tonight was the Dark Moon. Her childhood would end, and she would become something greater. A warrior? She wanted to scoff.

  Cade reappeared before her and pulled the rope taut as he showed it to her. He wanted to kill her. He stared at her with hate as he unfurled her from the blanket and bound her wrists together and looped them around her neck with a double loop. Knotting them tight, her wrists twisted and found themselves in the small of her back with no movement.

   Cade said to Violetta as he tested the knots and made a leash.

   Violetta let out a small laugh

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   Cade looped a piece of rope and knotted it to be a leash.

  Several minutes after being unfurled from that strange blanket, V found her strength returning and she looked to Violetta and Cade. She had heard every word. It was the power of the flame. As the feeling in her face returned, she steeled herself to deceive them. She would make it out of this alive.

  Her eyes caught a glimpse of the moon rising up in the northeast. She knew it the instant she saw it. A hollow barely perceptible disk in the middle of the day. The Dark Moon was rising, and she felt Belos’ words etch themselves into her. Her belly felt as if she had swallowed the flame itself. Her god-given direction was purpose enough. It was as if she had been reborn and found her path all at once. She bared her teeth and let out a joyous war cry.

   Cade held the leash.

  V pulled the rope and struggled to go towards the cave’s entrance. Cade pulled back on it, but she pulled with all her might as the rope cut into her skin.

   Violetta laughed,

  It did not take long to find out where the other three were. Inside the dark entrance they had been carefully examining the natural stone walls and searching the interior for something. The interior was lit by two torches that cast a dim light in the room that was larger than even the Great Mother’s den. In the center of the room was an open pit. V was cautious about getting too close, but so long as she kept near the flame she heard the conversations of the Mahn.

   Huron pointed to the pit.

   Violetta took V’s leash from Cade.

   Huron seemed at loss to explain it.

   Violetta’s voice was sharp,

  The two turned from their careful examination of the walls and looked at V. Their expressions were hard to read, but their fear of Violetta seemed to also be directed towards her. Were they afraid of her? No. She might know their language. They did not know her and so she must be dangerous. It was that simple. Right? They shook their heads and waited for a moment before resuming their work. Their plot had hit a snag even before they saw her. So much for dealing with the ‘stupid one’.

  V casually started to walk towards the depths, the leash having enough slack as Violetta allowed her to bring them both around the central pit. Cade rushed and took a torch, handing it to Violetta as they walked. Mahn could not see in the dark? The torch would always be close, and she could understand their words near a flame. What luck!

  The cavern opened before her and a marked change in elevation occurred as a small spring cut across the path and disappeared into a small fissure. Beyond this point was an intense smell that stung her nose.

   V said and stopped in the middle of the stream.

   Violetta caught the scent.

   Cade asked.

   Violetta demanded.

  Cade and Huron made it so, by forcing Wilde and Stirge. With shovels they began to scrap and dig out the thick layer of filth. The scraping and hits of the metal reverberated in the cavern awoke the bats above. High-pitched screeches came as they dropped and flew around and out of the cavern. V watched in awe and Violetta stood firm, but the others decided to draw their daggers and try to fight the bats. A whiff here, there, a strike. The screeching of the bats soon subsided as they fled the cave.

  Far back in the cave, V saw more little plateaus that led to a twisting turn that disappeared from view. This cavern was large enough to house the entire tribe in comfort. Why were they not using it? She did not believe that such a thing would have escaped notice. While they were stuck in the tunnels and the depths this was so close and needed no fires. Was it possible that this was used by the Dwellin? Violetta was searching for something here, but was this really the place?