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[huntedby]

[Vanessa's face appears. It is clear from any that are familiar with her from times before, that she looks slightly older, a bit more tense. The careful mask is in place as usual, of course, but is pinched in certain places, cracked a bit. She's been through a great deal at home, before arriving back here.

But she is stronger for it. That is all that matters.

She will never be cowed by anyone ever again.

Still, she smiles softly looking all affable. It does't reach her eyes completely. Just along the edge of the picture, Neith can be seen, her large spider. Oh yes...her spiders are still here.]

Well well. Seems the more things change, they stay the same. We go back in time, and yet there is still the hart hunt. Constants, variables. Different facets of the same things. Truly, I suppose we can't be surprised, given the outcome of it all now, can we?

But if any of you were wondering, Arachne's Eye is still here. I'm not far from the La Llorona Ring, a day's ride or so. The town and the trade is still available, so if you are looking for a place to reside, we would be more than welcome to have you. My guards and soldiers came with me, so I can offer you safety, as well. For as usual, we have no idea what might happen.

While this is the past...the future is still unwritten. We have all the chance to shape it, now, do we not?

And those new of you to the Drabworld, that I have not yet spoken with, I am Vanessa Ives.

As someone who has been here a long time, a bit of advice: heed what you say on these devices. You may trust your fellow shardbearers, but allegiance does not always go both ways. And that goes in all things.

[A beat, then, she tilts her head, and a brighter smile hits her lips.]

On another note, Balem is no longer here. So it seems I am now a widow. A terrible shame, but, well.

We suffer on as we must.

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[survivra]

I need to learn how to make maps. Big maps—I know how to do towns and short distances between roads, but that's not big enough. And I want to know about trading ships. How far do they sail? Do their captains take passengers?

[ She rattles off her list of questions with no explanation, because don't these sound like any reasonable questions no matter why she's asking them? Katsa opens her mouth to say something else, stops, frowns, and then starts again with less of a demand in her voice. This is far more awkward for her, something she's unused to asking or even desiring, and so it's the more difficult request. ]

And... I don't wish to continue training on my own. I don't mean in magic. I've plenty of help. And I don't mean that I need teachers. I need someone who can challenge my Grace. Who can push me so that I don't stop becoming faster and stronger, as far as I can.