Obligatory onsen chapter.

     They continued their foray into the unexplored and savage wilds. Slowly the trees thinned and winter reestablished itself and the snow returned. The number of attacks decreased, but the predators had grown in size and ferocity. The heavy clothing hampered their movements. Their most bitter predator was the cold itself. Day by day the snows fell and swirled in concerning amounts. The wind whipped and beat at them, chilling Van and Oolah to their cores. It was only Oolahs adept skills at woodland survival that kept them alive. 

     Camp had taken the form of a burrow in the snow. With Oolahs small fires, these burrows were somehow warmer then the canvas shelters they'd had in less snow. Soon they began to find it difficult to rouse themselves out of the comfortable nests. However, they forced themselves, as if they were taking turns encouraging one another. 

     Of course she'd lost the trail days previous. Only her trackers instinct drove her forward; a vague idea that she had come to know the horde and the path they may have taken. after several days of this they began to see shapes in the blinding snows, upright, larger then people. At first they stopped, waiting for the attack. It never came. Upon closer inspection they discovered the figures were jagged, snow covered rocks. Occasionally the wind blew warm clouds of fog from the direction they were travelling, increasing in frequency until they were engulfed in it. Soon they were stripping off their coats and wiping sweat from their brow. Oolah even took her hat off. 

     Eventually they were walking on solid ground, and occasional breezes revealed spouts of steam. They were careful not to get too close. Soon they were passing pools of water, too. The two adventurers looked at each other. It had been at least a month since they'd had any kind of bath.

     "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" inquired Oolah.

     "Does an Erloka crap in the woods?" Van quipped.

     "We must maintain modesty," Oolah pointed out, "I spotted a set of pools a while ago, close to each other but separated by a conveniently located rock formation. I'll lead you there."

     She led him there. At the rock formation she leaned in close and whispered to him, "Stay alert. I'm leaving an Erloka with you. Watch it. For days, since the forest, I've felt eyes on us."

     The bathe was uneventful, without incident, and renewed them both. it reinvigorated their spirit and their sense of purpose. They moved on through the fog shrouded hot spring with vigor... and scratching. and as time wore on, even more scratching. The heat too, was becoming unbearable. They started wondering where they were. What were they doing here? Who was that person staggering next to them and is it someone they know? Why is it so hot? A trail of discarded clothing let to a pair of Erlokas next to an unconscious Oolah and Van, large red whelts appearing on their skin.

      Oolah was at the fireplace at her grandmothers house. An old version of Van sat rocking in a chair trying unsuccessfully to warm himself. The two pack Erlokas sat between them at a table drinking buttered ale. In a masculine posh accent one spoke to the other, "Why, after all this time do you think they haven't named us?"

     "Oh, I shudder to add voice to my opinion," answered the other in the same accent, but feminine, "However I do believe her previous animal companions did not live long enough to gain an attachment to."

     "My word!" exclaimed the other, "How barbaric! We deserve love and kindness! We carry their things, we warn them of danger! And, by jove, sometimes we even put our lives on the line fighting for them!"

    "I'm sorry," slurred Oolah drunkenly, and for some reason was unable to get up. "I'm just not that kind of... I just don't want... I mean, why name something you may have to eat in an emergency!?" she finally gasped, and with a herculean effort threw herself out of the chair. Her legs gave way and she fell.... Onto a strip of beach. The sand was hot. She jumped up and ran toward the ocean, the bottom of her feet burning. Her feet caught fire and soon it climbed, fire dancing across her whole body, but her skin did not burn. The ocean never got any closer and she begged for help. Her mama had always been there to help her when she needed her, and Oolah found herself in bed, her mother gazing down at her lovingly. She was still burning hot and the sheets were wet with sweat, and she felt... comforted at least. Then her dad walked in with a wooden bucket. "I got ya covered, sweety!" he said, and upended the bucket of freezing cold water over her. It took her breath away. She gasped, unable to catch her breath. 

     She was a mermaid swimming through a coral filled sea. The skin on her upper body was covered in ragged scales pushed painfully into her skin. She rubbed her arms and begin to cry. She noticed she had been surrounded by fish. Their faces had taken on humanoid features. They all looked familiar, but in her delirium couldn't recognize any of them. The biggest fish was actually kind of ugly, but had nice hair. It said, "You're not manly at all! I think you're very feminine and petite!"

     "Don't listen to that loser!" said the fish with her daddies face. "You're a relic holder! If you want to stay alive and free, you have to be strong! Strong and resilient! Strong, resilient and Ugly!" She swam faster, trying to outdistance him.

     As she passed a cluster of small fish, they talked among each other, "Those Brins don't have any hair, poor things!" said one. "their tough little ears are so... practical!" laughed another. "Poor ugly little things, with their thick elbows and gangly arms!" added a third.

     She swam faster. she left all but one behind. It was the ugly one. "I yearn for you." it said, and one of the painful scales came lose. 

     A fish with her mothers face appeared and said, "You've always been a beautiful, kind hearted girl." She said. Another painful scale came out.

     The ugly fish said, "I treasure every moment I spend with you!" another scale came loose, floating away behind her in the water.

    Another fish she recognized as a sister, said, "You avenged me when nobody else would. I'll always love you!" Another scale came out. The sea began darkening and she felt herself floating as those that loved her repeated affirmations, and with each a painful scale released from her. slowly the light faded as the voices continued.

     She opened her eyes slowly and found herself laying in a cool pool near the edge of the hot springs. She was weak, her limbs heavy. She heard a groan and turned her head in that direction. She gasped. Nearby in the pool was Van, and with him was an elderly Brin Mal man. He seemed to be applying some sort of ointment to the red sores covering him. As she watched one of the covered wounds sort of 'popped'. Something had burst from his skin. The old Brin Mal deftly snatched it between a finger and thumb in mid air, depositing it into a bag. Oolah closed her eyes and slept, weary and miserable.