Within the span of an hour's walk, they had followed Xia to her father's boat and set off for the next city. Cyrus mostly kept to himself during the trip down the river. He spent the good part of another hour drafting a letter, one he hoped to express mail back home to his father. He knew his father would be able to get ahold of old partners in the printing companies to copy and produce the letter. Word of this tragedy would be known to the entire world in mere days. Cyrus wondered exactly what would change, though, if the world knew about what happened, and for that matter, if anyone knew what just happened anyway. Monsters had organized and made an assault on a major community; something like that just doesn't happen by chance.

He had plenty of time to think about what they had just survived though he never voiced his concerns to his traveling companions, not yet anyway. There was a dour, gloomy look plastered on his face while he tried to make sense of it all, but he made an effort to try and push it to the back of his mind. Hours started to pass, and the scenery ever so gradually started to change; trees along the river's edged became gradually more sparse as they left the thickest heart of the forest and made progress towards the next beacon of civilization. Cyrus would occasionally open his letter again and again to make sure his penmanship was clear and legible, that he'd remembered to write everything he could, that nothing was forgotten.

Once they had finally moored Xia's boat and disembarked, the sun was fast vanishing over the horizon. Cyrus hoped they would not have to try navigating in the dark of night, as he didn't have any source of light, and wasn't sure if Kiara or Xia had anything of the sort either. At least they were far away enough from the cover of trees that maybe the light from the stars and moon would give some illumination. Their journey continued with little other difficulty, and at long last, as the moon hung high over their heads, Cyrus could see the flicker of a distant torchlight just in the distance. The sight of a posted guard at the gate was even more comforting; it meant that this city was safe, secure, and well-protected. Cyrus began to pick up his pace now that their goal was in sight, using the wooden stick to push into the ground and increase his stride.

The guards, however, seemed to be wary of the three of them when they tried to ask for entry into the city. Their suspicion was roused only more when they attempted to relay the story of monsters destroying a city. Still, Cyrus could see a hint of worry and concern when they told their story, even if they tried to remain skeptica; it was as if they weren't the first ones to tell the guards about what had happened. The guards finally seemed to pull themselves aside to discuss privately with one another, Cyrus wondered to himself what they were planning, he kept his eyes on the spears that each guard was clutching, fearing that the guards may force them away.

At long last, the guards reluctantly opened the way and allowed the three inside. Cyrus reached up to place his hands on the shoulders of both Kiara and Xia, "Well, I need to get to the post office as soon as possible, what are you two going to do now?"