Xavier watched as the fog seemed to lift as if it where the opening of a curtain for some sort of dramatic production.  He couldn't help but get the sensation that some malevolent force was manipulating the very elements to set the stage for whatever was about to happen.  Seeing Katya there, framed by the ancient gates left him to ponder what role she had to play in this tale.  She was strong, he had no doubt, but was she heroine or villain?  He was stirred from his pondering by her declaration they had reached the border. He moved up from the back of the party to place himself between Esperanza and whatever threat might materialize from the haze that had enveloped them.  As if he felt the greater threat was no longer the wolves behind them but their destination itself he almost instinctively put himself in a position to protect his charge.<br/><br/>As the vultures squawked and took flight he went to find what it was they had been feasting upon.  They did not kill for themselves so as distasteful as it might be he would identify what had been killed, and more importantly, what had killed it.  "In a moment."  He said without looking as he dismissed Katya's call to proceed at least for the few moments it would take to see what he could learn.  He pulled up the hood of his cloak against the stiffening rain though was careful to keep the garment from keeping him from his sword even as he gripped the spear in his other hand.  His eyes moved constantly, as if assessing every feature of the gates for threats, the mood of the place had him at a high level of alertness.