“So, what happened?” Yoruuk sat down and resting her head in her hands she leaned forward, a picture of intrigue.

Toke rolled his eyes and smiled,“You really want to know? It’s not that interesting.”

Yoruuk sat up and huffed with petulant annoyance, “Would I have asked if I didn’t?”

“Fine. But in return for me telling a strenuous and tasking story such as mine, you must get me a drink of freyjasalt and a plate of niflspice to munch on.” He crossed his aging arms stubbornly and gave her a smug grin. She made a protesting puff at him and stood up. As Yoruuk padded to the small kitchen, Toke took a moment to gather his thoughts. He didn’t really understand why so many people wanted to hear his story. It wasn’t like he had saved the world. In fact, he had actually been too late. When he had arrived at Drakenfjord so long ago he found the whole town abandoned except for the Contingent. They had taken him in, and when the Transitioners from the Secret Testing lab had attacked they protected him. Though they fought and defended him with their lives, he still became fatally injured. They did not have the means to cure him of the poisonous bites of the mutilated Transitioners. They ended up taking him to the Temporary Home of The People in hopes they could heal him. He obviously survived, though that was decades ago.

Yoruuk came back in with a loaded tray. “Since I figured this would be a long time, I brought snacks for the both of us.”

Toke chuckled. “A wise decision, my dear. Now get cozy.”

Yoruuk nestled into the cushions next to him and nibbled on a small loaf of niflspice. Toke took that as a sign to start and dove into his long ago memories.

I guess I should start with some history. Remember, you weren’t alive back then so all the events that had happened recently and were impacting everyone’s lives, you never dealt with. Right before I was born, the War of Wars ended. Now we had been at war with the Jackals for a long time and the war had significantly destroyed and deprived our land. We finally drove them off with the help of the Skymen and rid the land of them. But our fields, and sources of income were devastated. Now you live in a blissful time where Frost Shepards are equal with humans and Skymen. In my time Frost Shepards lived only in the village of Draalheim, and they ate humans. So naturally, they were The Peoples predators. Every year on the winter Solstice the deadly and feared Frost Shepards came down from their cold mountain to prey on us innocent and destitute humans. Or so we thought. But more on that later. What is now Gravenmeer, was a flourishing port city before the War of Wars. When I was born, my mother or father, I’m really not sure, left me in one of the ruins in Gravenmeer. My caretaker found me and took me up Winter’s Toll all the way to the village of Draalheim. In a small hut hidden from the view of the village, my caretaker raised me. For seven years I was happy and comfortable. But then he died, and I was left all alone.