Mazelinka walks down the pier, a weathered hand shielding her eyes from the sun. Two red headed Devoraks await her on the beach. Julian speaks first, "Linka! Welcome home!" Spreading his arms out dramatically.

"We missed you so much, did you enjoy yourself?" Portia gives her a huge hug.

Mazelinka chuckles, "I had a great time. How have things been here?"

Julian and Portia look at each other. A moment of communication between the siblings.

Julian looks towards Mazelinka. "Things have been very... ahhh... well, what I mean is... umm... it's been interesting."

Portia rolls her eyes at Julian. "If we leave it up to you, Mazelinka will never get the full story or at least not in one day."

"That's not so. I will have you know that as a doctor I have had to break bad news to many people."

Mazelinka held up her hand, a clear sign for them to quit squabbling. "Bah. Someone fill me in on the situation. Portia, you start.... Julian takes too long."

Portias gaze drops, "Well...Do you remember those stories you used to tell us?"

"Which ones? You need to be more specific."

Julian steps forward, his expression suddenly serious. "We need your help."

"Is the goat bitch back?" She reaches into her bag and grabs a wooden spoon.

Both Portia and Julian step back. They know the power of the spoon.

Julian takes the lead. "No. This is something completely different."

~○~

I come back in from caring for the chickens. Muriel gives me a small smile and continues carving out the wood he's working with. A small figurine was forming in his hands.

"What are you making?"

He shrugs and holds it up. It's him, but can I tell him that? "I'm not sure...It just feels right."

"It looks kind of like Inanna." I put on a fake smile, not wanting to upset him.

He nods, "You're right...it does."

"Do you mind if I open the window? It's warm in here."

"No...I don't mind."

I walk over to the window and open it. A raven immediately flies through into our hut. "Hey!" The raven starts circling us, cawing and screeching.

Muriel gets up and tries getting a better look. "Malak?" The raven stops circling us and lands on the back of a chair. Malak caws at him. "I..."

"Is everything okay?" He starts flying in and out of the hut through the window.

"I-.." Muriel looks at me, lost. "I can only understand Inanna..." Inanna peaks around the corner and huffs. "That's not nice Nana..." Malak caws again only this time in indignation.

"I think he wants us to follow him..." I shrug and get my coat. Muriel nods and does the same. Just as we reach the door someone knocks. I open it, "Hello-" Julian and Asra were outside.

"Great! You're on your way. I knew sending Malak was a good idea!" Julian turns around and starts leading the way into town. What...In the world?

Asra looks over at him, mentally exhausted already. "I told him it'd be better to come see you, but he insisted on sending Malak ahead of us." He tries to smile at us. "I'm glad to see that you're both well...Mazelinka is back."

"Oh, so that's why Malak was here..." I nod and head out. I notice Muriel isn't following. "Are you okay?"

"I don't...Am I ...," he takes a deep breath, "Is it safe for me to go to the village..."

"Muri...She's our only hope finding out what this is."

Muriel nods and gives me a determined look. "Okay. I'll go."

We have to run to catch up with Julian and Asra, already deep in a small argument. Something about cures and running away. Can they stop fighting for once?

It's not long before the palace is in view. I look over and notice that Muriels shoulders are tense. I grab his hand and squeeze it. Muriel gives me a grateful smile. The guards let us in and we head towards Julian's office where he said Mazalinka was. Nadia and her are having an in depth conversation.

"Ah, Muriel...It is good to see you here and well." Nadia stands to greet him.

"I, uh...you too..." Muriel sits one one of the chairs scattered around the office and I take the seat next to his. The rest of our party file in and take seats. Nadia takes her seat again.

"Lets get to business." Mazelinka sits straighter in her chair addressing the both of us. "What has been happening exactly?"

"Well...That's why we needed to see you...We don't know?" Muriel crosses his arms.

Mazelinka sighs, "Let me rephrase...what are the symptoms? Can I see the scar Asra told me about?"

Muriel limply holds his arm out for her where the moon is. While she examines it we quickly give her a run down of the events since the bite. After we finish she pulls a coin out of her pocket. Leaning towards Muriel, she presses it to his skin. Nothing happens for a solid minute then what looks like smoke starts coming from it. Muriel yelps and pulls his arm back. Where the coin was is now a perfectly circular burn mark.

"What was that?!" Muriel asks, looking at the burn on his arm.

"I was right. This coin is pure silver. Silver is harmful, sometimes even deadly, to werewolves." She leans back in her chair and crosses her arms.

"Werewolves?" I ask.

"Unfortunate people who were given the curse...Every full moon they transform into a wolf-man hybred. Their animal instincts take over completely and their human side is usually forgotten." She sighs sadly. "My old firstmate was one. Nahara would help her isolate below deck during the full moons, just for safety sake and maybe some pride. I had always thought they were just old folklore until then."

Nadia tilts her head, "Why didn't she ever tell us about it?" She shakes her head. "I mean...she's my sister, she must have told one of us."

Mazelinka shakes her head. "My firstmate made her swear she wouldn't." She chuckled. "It didn't take much to get her to agree."

"Is there anyway to cure it?" Muriel quietly asks.

"Not that I know of...I do know of an herb some would take. It didn't stop the transformations, but it's said that it would give them control over the wolf." She rubs her face thinking. "Asra, you may have it in your shop...Do you carry wolfbain?"

Asra leans back and stares at the ceiling, making mental note of what he has. "Yes...I believe we do." He leans back forward, his curls bouncing before settling down. "How would he take it?"

"Most common way was making a tea out of it. You have to drink it every night you turn." She locks eyes with Muriel. "Is that understood?"

"Yes ma'am...it's understood..."

Asra gets up, "If you all don't mind I'm going to excuse myself and go get the wolfbain for them."

Nadia looks over at us, rubbing her temple. "You both have probably had an exhausting couple of months. Would you like to use my baths? I have some of that facemask from the hot springs we went to if you'd like some."