*Xamara*

I wake slowly, the cold gnawing at my fur. My body shivers despite the warmth of the fire crackling somewhere nearby, and my muscles are stiff and sore from the night’s ordeal. The memory of the bats still lingers, their claws, their shrieks, and the sheer terror pressing down on me sends a shudder running through me. I lift my head and strain my eyes against the dim light, sinking into the soft blanket wrapped around me.

I realize I’m not alone. Several people are in the room with me. The cabin smells of herbs and smoke from the fire burning low in the hearth. Shelves sag under jars...