The camp felt...homey. Sam never knew that someplace outside could feel so warm and welcoming. The tents looked lively and colorful, decorated with drawings and chimes and shells that made her smile as she observed them. There was a kitchen type area under an awning and at the center the campfire filled the clearing with warmth and light. The rugs and cushions surrounding the crackling fire looked comfortable and inviting, and though Sam was a stranger to this land and they were out in the open she felt safe for the first time. It felt a bit like home.

Florian was tying the still unconscious Marshal to a tree and Coralie was busying herself with gathering food and cooking utensils. It wasn't long before the smell of her cooking filled the air and Sam's stomach began to ache with emptiness. She hadn't realized how hungry she actually was until she had inhaled the scent of the stew and cornbread. Alphonse, meanwhile, had invited her to sit down and tell them about herself. And the story of her capture by the witch.

Sam hesitated, staring into the flames as though lost in thought. Dorothea had suggested not telling them the truth until they were at the campground and away from danger. But she was beginning to feel reservations about bringing them into this. They were so kind, rescuing her and now feeding her when she was just a stranger and Sam knew that if anything happened to them because of this mess she'd never forgive herself. Dorothea's weight left her shoulder as the cat dropped down on one of the cushions and settled down onto it. Sam saw her nod and took a breath as she wondered where to begin. She had meant it when she had told Dorothea that she thought they needed help, after all.

"My story is a bit complicated," she began as she took a seat on a rug beside Dorothea's cushion. She was still looking at the dancing flames and she let out a soft laugh. "And it's going to sound crazy, I know it is. But you have to believe me. I promise that I'm telling you the complete truth." Sam bit her lip for a moment as she gathered her words and when she spoke her voice was clear, although a bit hesitant. "The truth is that the witch doesn't know a thing about me. She doesn't know I was at her lair, she doesn't even know I'm in this land. It's because I'm not really...supposed to exist here." Sam was avoiding looking up at the faces of her audience, afraid to see the disbelief. "I told you that my kingdom is far away. Well... The witch has this mirror, you see, and it can act as a sort of doorway? Sometimes you can step through it and out of an identical mirror in another world. And that's where I'm from. Another world. One that's so, so different from this one, I cannot even begin to describe how different my world is." Sam looked down at the oversize sweater and jeans she was wearing. "That's why my clothes look so strange to you."

She had her fingers knotted together out of nerves and she compelled herself to continue to story. "I found this cat in my home. It happened only hours ago, I think. And I thought this cat belonged to one of my neighbors and decided to let her stay in my apartment til morning. Then I would try to find her proper owner. And a few hours later, right before sunrise, someone started pounding on my front door. I answered it and these three men just came in. I thought they were wearing costumes." She felt silly thinking about that now. "He was one of them." She nodded towards where the Marshal was tied securely to the tree. "And I realized that they were after the cat. But she slipped away from them and I watched her leap right through the mirror. So the Marshal and his men followed. And I guess they thought I knew too much because the Marshal had them bring me with them through the mirror. Into this world." Sam was looking down at her hands now, trying not to sound too bothered by her kidnapping. But her voice had become strained. "We managed to escape and run into the woods. But then the Jockal started hunting me and...well you know the rest of it."

Sam looked up at the three face and she smiled, a bit nervous. "I'm trapped here now. In this world. The mirrors' doorway is only open when there's a full moon in my world. And by now the sun has risen and there won't be a full moon again for another month. In my world's time at least. I don't know if it'll be the same for this world." She rested her forearms on her knees. "It doesn't seem possible, but I'm telling the truth. I swear. And if you're wondering why the witch's men were after a cat...well maybe I'm not the best person to tell you that part of the story. I can tell you that I didn't just name my cat after the princess of Eldonia, though." Sam looked down at the cat who was curled up on the cushion beside her, and her eyes pleaded for help. "Dorothea?"