It took a great deal of convincing to get Vilkas and Varnas to allow her to go out and explore. Arianna was fairly sure that arguing one-sided with a pair of seemingly intelligent animals wasn't supposed to be normal, but she decided that it was her new normal and rolled with it. Either way, she was stubborn and got her way in the end.

  Not that the exploration was going well either way. This swamp felt as endless and bleak as could be, just dead and rotting trees, scummy water, and the very rare rustling of pitiable animals. She found a few berries to nibble on as they trekked, but that was about it.

  She had tried to keep to a straight line, not wanting to get lost. Though that had been quite unsuccessful, as everything looked the same, and she was sure there was no way that she would ever find her way back to the cave. Though they appeared to be cautious, neither the wolf nor the bird seemed panicked, so she hoped that they knew the way back at least.

  On and on they went. Only a few times did the animals refuse to let her go in certain directions, steering her away and further making her lost. But she trusted their judgment. If they didn't want her going a certain way, then that likely meant that there was something dangerous there that she should avoid.

  To her estimation, it was getting near to midday now, and she knew that they would have to turn back. It seemed that this trip had been a waste after all. It had all just been swamp and silence...

  "I don't suppose you know of a safe place to stay around here?" She asked her companions as they stood taking a break. "If we don't have to turn back, then we can keep going without worry. Otherwise we will have to go back to the cave fairly soon, and maybe explore in another direction on another day..."

   Puffed Varnas to Vilkas, annoyed for the hundredth time in just that day alone.

  Vilkas sighed, rubbing against Arianna's side comfortingly. Vilkas turned to the woman and shook his head, indicating that there were no safe places for her to rest.

  Now it was Arianna who sighed. "I suppose that was too much to hope for. Not that I seem to need rest..." She added, looking down at her muck-covered legs and feet. She had no shoes, yet not even once has a stick or rock hurt her to step on. She wasn't even noticeably tired despite walking for nearly six hours with only the most minimalist of breaks. Was this also being added to what was the 'new normal'? "It probably still isn't the smartest to be out here at night."

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  Varnas let out an aggravated caw that seemed to agree with her. Was he ever going to warm up to her, she wondered.

  "Well, let's keep going for another hour and then head back. Surely there must be an end to this swamp at some point...." The last sentence was more or less mumbled to herself.

  That last hour had her staring, dumbfounded, at the sight before her. Apparently there was an end to the swamp. A very clear and defined one, as a matter of fact. Not that this new scenery looked any more inviting than the current one.

  Arianna extended a pale hand and touched the almost invisible barrier that separated the swamp and what lay beyond it. When her palm caressed the hard, invisible wall, it seemed to shimmer briefly, like an oil slick.

  Beyond this wall was what appeared to be a deserted barren land, just as unending as the swamp had appeared to be. Hard-packed, orange/brown earth, similarly colored rocky formations, and a single, dead tree that she could make out. It seemed even more desolate than the swamp. At least here there was some foliage in the form of half-dead berry bushes and algae. The lands before her seemed to be devoid of all life...

  "Is this whole world dead?" Arianna asked no one in particular. Even to herself her voice sounded monotone, just as lifeless as her new reality. She turned to Varnas and asked, "Does it look like this all around the swamp? There is a barrier, and then... nothing?"

  Looking up at her with sad blue eyes, the wolf nodded.

  Vilkas knew that there had to be life somewhere, far, far away. After all, that witch of a goddess had to have her precious humans in some place full of life and riches. But he rather doubted it was set anywhere close to their prison. Within these barrens, and even beyond them, would be nothing but what little remained of the demi-humans and monsters. As despised as the swamp cage was, it was probably safer here for Arianna than outside of it.

  Well, except for the accursed fog that was. It clearly affected their new little goddess in an adverse way, and Vilkas wasn't sure what would happen the next time it rolled in...

  "Wait, what is that?" Arianna suddenly asked, drawing Vilkas from his contemplations. Both he and the raven, who was perched on a nearby tree, turned their heads to look where the girl was pointing.

  Arianna watched, intrigued, as a large being stepped out from behind an even larger rock formation. It seemed to have seen Arianna and the animals as well, seeing as how it was staring directly at them. It walked their way at a slow and cautious pace, keeping a ten-meter distance between itself and the barrier.

  As it got nearer, Arianna got a good look at it. Or her, she supposed.

  Though she had no memory that she could bring forth as to what she was looking at, several names did pop into Arianna's muddled brain: Troll? Ogre? Giant?

  At her side, Vilkas' hackles raised, and he let out a low growl toward the being Arianna could not properly identify. Oddly enough, Arianna herself felt no fear despite this creature being nearly twice her height and three times her width. She only felt curiosity.