As Adam threw the dress, Ylva brought up her hand to catch it, barely looking at her fingers as they locked around it.  She pulled it on quickly, grateful for its warmth and modesty, though she still planned to find a different outfit the very moment that time allowed her to.  The dress had seen better days, and the silk was now frayed in some spots and dirt-coated in others.  Varg still appeared terrified, but he made no move toward her now, likely too afraid that her companion might misinterpret his movement if he did.<br/><br/>"He-He's gone.  He was hurt badly in the last fight and Vorun gave him permission to return to Antony," Varg began.  He looked back and forth between Ylva and Adam, nervously clutching to himself as if he were giving himself a hug.  Ylva held up a hand toward Adam, to let him know that she could handle this.  Varg was a few years younger than her, but they had been friends as children.  He had likely thought this was all a matter of survival.  Follow Antony or be killed by him and his thugs.<br/><br/>"We are not going to hurt you, Varg.  I...I understand why you came here, why you followed him.  I know what Antony is like."  Her voice, the very tone of it, was laced with magic all its own.  She could soothe the inner beast in most animals, given the chance, and especially in other wolves.  Varg began to relax slightly, allowing his arms to fall at his sides.<br/><br/>"Tell me, how does the pack fair?  I could not tell within my cage all that transpired since Antony--" Her words trailed off, but it was clear where the sentence was about to go.<i> Since Antony killed my parents.  <br/>
</i><br/>"He hopes to make peace with the packs nearby, he's done with others what he did with you...except he did not plan to have them killed,"  Varg responded.  Ylva did not understand at first and then her eyes widened.<br/><br/>"He is bartering away the women of the pack like cattle?!"  She said sternly.  The wolf inside her wanted to turn and run right back to her home, to attack Antony on the spot and end his reign of terror.  Still, her rational mind knew that would not end well for her.  So she remained where she stood, and looked over to Adam.  He was the one bright spot in all this loss and pain.  A raft in tumultuous oceans, keeping her heart afloat.<br/><br/>"That wolf will likely make it back to Antony before we could catch him.  And perhaps it's best Antony knows he failed.  He hates when he fails."  She said to Adam.   They could track the wolf, but it would lead them closer to Antony and she knew she was not ready to face him again, weak as she was.<br/><br/>"Varg, you should return as well.  Tell Antony I killed the two others, do not mention Adam.  For all Antony and his mongrels know, you and the other wolves simply stumbled into the wrong territory.  He must not know I have help now."<br/><br/>Varg nodded and then looked to Adam, as if he was waiting for further confirmation from the wizard.