They left the cave.
The path to the outside was strewn with ash and bones from the now fallen undead creatures. As it should have been from the beginning.
It had been endless and black before, but now it was only stone and shadow. No great darkness and gloom captured them.
There was only the echo of their footsteps and the whistle of air that came from the outside.
When they finally stepped out, it was morning, and the gray sky opened above them.
The world felt too wide and free.
The beastfolk stopped first, breathing the air as though it were their first breath in days.
Sonder stepped out behind them and looked back into the cave.
The mouth of the cave was like an old wound in the mountainside. It was nothing but dirt and stone, but it served as a tomb for more than just a few animals now.
At least it was quiet and harmless.
The bloodhound woman turned toward her. Her face was tired, and her dark fur was streaked red with blood.
But her voice, when she spoke, was steady. "It's done."
And she looked up into the sky with nothing but content in her face.
The others sat down to rest against a tree, checking their wounds, cleaning themselves, or applying bandages.
They all seemed to need something to do with their hands, as if standing still was no option.
After a time of rest, the bloodhound broke the quiet again.
"What will you do now, mage?"
Sonder swayed her head slowly from side to side, looking in each direction. Her next destination was uncertain.
"I'll keep searching," she said at last. "There are more shards. I don't know where, but I have to find them."
The fox's ears twitched. "You hunt them alone?"
She smiled a sad smile. "Yes."
The wolf-man grunted. "A hard road."
"It's the one I will travel," she said simply.
The bloodhound woman tilted her head slightly, thoughtful. Then she glanced toward the west, nostrils flaring. "When we tracked my brother," she said, "we smelled… something else. Not strong, not close, but familiar. The same rot, thinner. It was carried on the wind from the northwest somewhere."
"Another shard?" Sonder asked.
"Maybe." The bloodhound's long ears flattened. "The scent was faint. But it's the only trace we ever found beyond him. If you're going to search out for them, then let this be the least of my help."
Sonder looked that way; a line of trees stretched toward a horizon that was slowly bathed in sunlight.
"I'll go there next, then," she said. "If the trail still exists, I'll find it."
"Even after seeing your strength with my own eyes, I cannot take comfort in the thought of you seeking out more of those dark shards. The knowledge that more than one exists chills me to the bone. But if you will not turn from that path, then I can only hope you find what you seek and that you will still be whole after the ordeal."
Sonder nodded. "I'll try to keep safe."
For a long moment, none of them spoke. The breeze moved between them, carrying the smell of pine and damp stone, washing away the reek of the cave.
The beastfolk began to gather their things. Their wounds would take time to heal, and their hearts longer still.
When they were ready to leave, the bloodhound woman stepped closer to Sonder and placed a hand on her arm.
"If you ever pass through our lands again," she said, "you'll find no claws raised against you. Tell me your name and know forever that you'll have a friend among my people."
"My name is Blackbird Sonder," she said and bowed her head slightly. "And I thank all of you, truly. I hope the next time we cross paths, it's for something kinder."
The bloodhound gave a quiet, sad smile. "So do I."