It's more like a rehab clinic for monsters, but eh. Details.

After a gingerly walk down through the streets and back to the Runacathy, Cilla had pulled me aside into her, drawing out from her cloak something she purchased back in The Treasure. A map.

I wonder what this is about.

"Mine has been out of date for a few months." She explained, pointing to a rolled up bit of parchment cast aside into a pile of other, paperwork. "But now, it's time for another droll lesson; a bit of payback for giving me a heart attack back in the library."

Oh no. I wish I had some coffee for this...

The ooze woman slid between the cracks of the closed door, smiling and waving. "Yeah, Boss?"

"I'm your teacher, not your boss. We're having a lesson on geography." She said. "Come have a seat by me."

"Ok Teacher." Said the slime; and she came to stand next to Cilla, her body morphed into that of a chair.

"That works." Said Cilla, doing her best to hide her anticipatory glee at finally getting back to her favorite part of her work; her heart's joyous beating betraying her steely expression.

The large map is sprawled open, revealing a massive landmass in the rough shape of a thick, bumpy C, with a variety of smaller shapes dotted in the waters. I recognize one, being the town of Riptide; an island between two ends of the C. Tomo and Saltmoore are to south, in a more humid climate. Now we are in the northern stretch of the land; with mountains just over the horizon, we lay in a dryer, cooler climate. A second, large landmass in the shape of a warped, swirling star-like object can be seen on the edge of the map; the oppisite side of the world, where I spot the land of Yokong, stretching out from the spiral.

"We, are here." Says Cilla, pointing to the City of Bounty. "And our destination is Hoctin, here."

She points to the northern tip of the C.

"Now, how do you think we shall be approaching the Holy Capital City of Hoctin?" She asked, failing to hold back a small smile as she sees Sammy raise her hand.

"By walking!" Says the simple slime.

"Well, yes, but I mean the path. What path should we take?" Asked our cloaked teacher.

I am about to speak, only to be given a stern look; I raise my hand... this is embarrassing...

"Yes, Monster?" Asks Cilla, clearly enjoying my punishment.

"Via the road leading through Bludbag, followed by the White Line; a path carved through the mountain range, passing the ruins of Krow..."

"You could have just said 'via the road.'" Says Sammy, a puzzled look coming across her face; which, was currently on the seat of her chair-form.

"Into the Dwarven Hold of Hollow, and finally taking a Steam-Cart to Hoctin. You've told me this a thousand times." I finish, hoping that I can finish the lesson before the boredom sets in.

"Yes, but what if we run into complications?!" Asks an angered Cilla; annoyed at my tone when telling her the obvious. "What if the White Line is cut off? What if the Hold of Hollow is destroyed? What if we can't trust the roads..."

She is cut off by Sammy, who says. "Why not just cut through Wyrdwood?"

Cilla stops her rant. She stops breathing, blinking, or showing any sort of emotion aside from shock as the name "Wyrdwood" is said.

"No. Class dismissed."

"Yay!" Cheers an oblivious Sammy, who hops about as a chair until reaching the door out into the Runacathy's halls.

Cilla nearly falls from her chair; spilling ink from a pot onto the map, and requiring me to catch her to not simply crash to the floor. "What's wrong?!"

The hooded girl looks at me, seeing that I've practically got her in a bridal carry; she begins to scurry to her feet. Once settled back in her chair she takes a deep breath; hiding her blushing cheeks unsuccessfully.

"That is where my... 'Family', resides." She says, trying to keep her calm.

Looking back to the map, the ink has blotted across the once home of my handler. Just as Sammy said, cutting through would take us from Bludbag, through the Wyrdwood, and into a town called "Bushwack", which has a nearly direct path to Hoctin. It would cut the trip down from weeks, to days.

"Please..." Begs Cilla. "Don't ask that we go through there..."

"I wouldn't even think of it." I say, giving a worried look to Cilla. "Do you... want some time alone?"

"No." She answers without thinking before rising from her seat, and heading toward her bed. "I'm fine... I'm fine..."

I recognize the rhythm of her heart; similar in its frantic throbbing to my own not a mere hour ago.

No. She won't have to feel like that; none of them will.

I rise from my chair silently, and approach Cilla from behind as she is about to sit in her bed. I wrap my arms firmly; yet with a gentle intent, around her small frame. Doing my best to convey, without words, my intent to comfort her.

"Y-you... dolt." She sobs, her masquerade as a domineering, emotionless machine cracking. "I said I'm fine."

I say the words I wish I had heard in that alleyway; in the library, or even before then. The words that most say in well meaning dishonesty; yet spoken as truth, as I would impose my will to make it truth.

"It's ok. Everything will be ok." I whisper; holding back any tears or worries of my own.

This time was for my dear friend, Cilla. Not for anyone else; myself least amongst that any. I hear sobbing turn to open lament, as she grasps the pillow off the bed; using it to hide her words and fears from the world.

"I can't go back... I won't go back..." She says; muffled by then pillow.

"You won't. I'll make sure of it, Prissy. Everything will be ok."

I hold her for what feels like an eternity. Two people, considered monsters; hearts opened from the weight of their pasts. One laments openly, the other hiding it away; fearful of the wounds the woe would reap upon his mind, and soul.