Janius was glad to see Kaleeth so elated. Being hugged and kissed by her should have felt warm, but not only did his guilt override most of it, but his beast spirit began to feel threatened. He needed to feed before she ended up hurting Kaleeth-Rei. At least she wasn't determined to run off and tell everyone immediately.

"Kaleeth-Rei," by how strained his growling voice was, Janius was having trouble speaking. "Wait outside for a moment. We will talk more. I have to explain some things."

Working hard to restrain himself, Janius calmly ushered Kaleeth-Rei to the entrance of the cave, then bolted back in on all fours. There was the faint sound of flesh tearing and snapping for a few minutes, but no signs of pain or struggle. When the sounds stopped, there was just some scraping, then Janius emerged from the cave in Imperial form. His axe was in one hand, and the rest of his clothing and belongings were tucked under his arm. He was painted in ogre blood from his chin to his lower torso and on his hands. Regardless of Kaleeth's reaction to Janius, he had a slightly saddened look. He took a seat near the entrance to the cave and motioned for Kaleeth-Rei to sit by him. "So... you are probably wondering what just happened." Janius squeezed one of his bloodied hands in the other and looked down at the dirt. He looked up when he thought of how to start, "Have you heard of werewolves before, Kaleeth?"

---

Sabine didn't much care about becoming a great warrior like Lorag, so she wasn't discouraged by his words. What did discourage her was picking out a weapon. She had no idea which weapon to use. Scanning over what was available, she borrowed Fendros' sword. It wasn't the best size to suit her, but it was something. Plenty of people fight with swords, right?

She ventured outside holding the scabbard in her hand. This afternoon would be an active one.

---

"So, how do you want me to pose? Just sitting up straight, like a portrait?" Fendros asked Ahnasha with an unsure smile. He sat on a log outside the common hut across from Ahnasha. He switched his pose to be laying down on his side horizontally, supporting his head with one hand. "Or are you going to draw me like one of your Breton girls?" Fendros doubted that Ahnasha would immediately understand the story he referenced. Something about a tragedy on a ship, he couldn't completely remember himself. Nevertheless, he was going to allow himself some mischief if he was finally forced to sit for a painting.

Ahnasha had been getting more and more opportunities to paint lately, so it was only a matter of time before Fendros had to sit as a model. Ahnasha had attempted to paint him stealthily on a couple of occasions, but he had shifted before she finished. It was because Fendros was a bit shy about it, to be honest. The only time he had sat for a painting was back at home once when he was thirteen, and he hated how that turned out. Ahnasha wouldn't have any of it though. He would be painted, and it would be today.