A thunderstorm blew in from the west, shattering the calm of the road to World's End. Rain did not so much fall as attack the ground in torrential sheets of angry water. Though midday, the sky was chocolate brown and swirling, punctuated by blue-white flashes of lightening dancing across the sky like a spider's web. The rumble of distant thunder served as a melody for the sharp cracks and explosive impacts of ground strikes along the increasingly muddy road.

The progress of the mighty cart had been better that expected...until now. Now the weight of massive tank pushed the hard wooden wheels into the softened earth. The pullers and pushers, drenched and exhausted, put all their reserve into the continued progress down the road, but the going was ever slower. There seemed no end to the storm in sight and Frega could see that continuing to move forward in these conditions was pointless.

A scout had returned from slightly up the road to tell him that the moderate incline that could be seen from the cart half a mile up the road was a rock faced hill. The great wolf warrior sighed in relief. He would make a final push to the hill and rest the cart on the stone surface, safe from sinking deeper into the mud. He would let his beasts rest for the final push to the sea.

When the hill was reached and the cart stood safely with its wheels blocked on the granite surface, Frega let his beasts set up lean-tos alongside the platform to seek some comfort from the driving rain and whipping winds. It was impossible to start any fires, so a meal of cold soggy bread and cheese was distributed to the various beasts, sore and moaning around the exterior of the cart.

Frega, Thoris and Chumley remained on the platform, stretching a canvas sail from the top front of the tank down to the forward base of the cart as a shelter. They shook themselves off and sat on the deck, listening to the tympanic rhythm of the rain and watching the light show in the skies. They gratefully ate their drenched rations. The Asherouboros, though fully awake now, lay on the bottom of his tank. His good eye was open wide watching the storm and his body quivered with the stimulation of the downpour vibrating the water of his glass-walled confines.

When he was done downing his bread and cheese, Frega laid back on the wooden planking with his friends at his side.
"At least we will be well washed when we start again," he said stretching his mighty form.

"And we needed it, didn't we?" Chumley commented. "We were all getting' a bit ripe. Can't 'ave the king of the Lokians smellin' like dust and sweat, can we...not civilized, is it?"

"How long will this thtorm latht, do you think?" Thoris asked.

"It should blow over by the morning. Our beasts need the rest anyway, so it is no great problem," the wolf said looking out of their lean-to.

"How long then to World'th End?" Thoris continued.

"If ah ain't mistaken, we should be seein it soon. We been travelin' at a good clip. Ah believe we're almost there," Chumley said, shaking his head, "pity ah never paid attention to landmarks last time I went there. It's a lot easier a journey in a carriage, that's for sure.

Thoris yawned.
"I think my body ith athking me to retht. Thleep theems gloriouth to me right now."

Frega echoed Thoris's yawn.
"You and I both, my friend," he curled up and was soon snoring alongside Thoris amid the crackle of lightning.

Chumley looked at his snoozing friends and smiled broadly. He turned back toward the Asherouboros.
"Ah guess it's just me and you left to watch the fort mah friend."

Each day since he had awakened from the fathomless sleep induced by the Xezee potion, the Asherouboros was like a child confronted by the splendor of life for the first time. Within the depths of tumultuous Circe Sea, where the water was foul, thick and, dark, the creature had never seen more than a few feet ahead, relying instead on its other senses to navigate the churning waters. The loss of its eye to Chumley had never been a concern for the monster, painful at the time, but long since healed to it's present unseeing and unfeeling milky-white orb.

Now, within the confines of the great tank, filled with the clear water of the inland lake, the Asherouboros' sight was overwhelmed by the spaciousness, color, and grandeur of the world it had never seen in the many hundred years of its life. Each minute marked a new discovery for the entranced creature. It's other senses too, were subjected to this fresh yet alien environment. The Circe Sea is in constant strife, thousands of underwater vents boil the sea in spots while whirlpools and speeding currents further fuel the chaos for those creatures living within its confines. It is a noisy and battered existence, sounding like an unending avalanche, tasting like a rancid tea, and smelling like death.

It took the Asherouboros two days to become comfortable with the quiet, especially the silence of night. Peaceful sleep replaced the sleep of exhaustion, its dreams ceased to be frenetic and became calming and mostly pleasant. The food tasted better, distinct and flavorful. The only thing which seemed constant to the great creature was the small black mammal which spoke to it in incomprehensible mutters and squeaks, but fed it when it was hungry and stayed by it when it would otherwise feel completely alone.

The Asherouboros did not think of what lay before it, it was living in the minute to minute discovery of a new world. Only late at night, when it dreamt its mainly peaceful dreams, did visions of a threatening presence intrude on its idyllic adventure. The roars of a distant nemesis, an ancient enemy, drilled into it psyche and the Asherouboros knew that its haunting foe was closer now than it had ever been.

By the time the sun rose, the storm had passed. Snores echoed through the camp as beasts took full comfort in their much needed sleep. Frega was awakened by a wolf-scout as breakfast was being cooked next to the cart. The scout gently shook Frega into wakefulness and addressed him with nervous caution.
"King Tarchak, I apologize for waking you, but I am returned from World's End."

Frega yawned and rubbed his eyes. He sat up and looked at his scout.
"There is no need to apologize for following orders, corporal. Tell me what news you bring."

The corporal snapped to attention and gave his report.
"We are barely a day from World's End. After this small rise, it is a slow decline down to the town and bay..."

"Excellent, easy going at last...go on...continue," Frega instructed.

"Magus Veritus has arrived and contacted the mayor. She will meet us when we enter the town. She told me to tell you that the parrot, Max, has passed your orders to the Lokians on the north shore and that he...the parrot...has gone on to Minga. Let me see....oh yes... Lord Egbert and a shipload of castaways have arrived as well and there seem to be some logistical problems concerning getting the Asherouboros out of the bay and into the sea, but she is working on it with Egbert's help and will update you upon your arrival... She has the globes that Arisha gave her and they are intact."

"Egbert is returned...Wonderful news! Anything else?"

"Only that the Scarlet Brothers have evacuated their sanctuary in World's End and manned their two ships near the harbor. She thinks they mean to keep shipping from rounding the Cape. She did say that the bright side of the news is that with the Brothers out of World's End, they will probably not be aware of your arrival."

"Or that of our friend," Frega said motioning toward the Asherouboros. He smiled at his scout, "Well, more good news than bad...you may get yourself some breakfast with my blessing."

"Thank you, sire," the young wolf said gratefully as he saluted. Frega returned the salute and the scout headed down to the mess line.

Frega looked across the platform to the tank and saw both Chumley and Thoris stirring to wakefulness. He stood and walked over to them, playfully kicking them lightly.
"Come on you lazy scoundrels, time to wake up. We break camp in one hour. If you want to eat, you'd best jump to."

Chumley looked up at the large wolf in annoyance.
"Easy there, wolfy!" he protested, "Who made you king?" Chumley smiled and stood up facing Frega, "Oh yeah, that's roight, ah did. I guess ah'll be the bigger beast and live with mah mistake...chow you say? Sounds right entrancing...," he helped Thoris up, "come Thoris, let us leave this ungrateful wretch and stuff our faces."

"I am rather peckish," Thoris smiled, "and if friend Frega can bear our lazy company, I would invite him to join uth."

Ignoring King Tarchak, Chumley answered.
"Ah suppose 'e won't put mah appetite off too much. Very well, King Frega Tarchak...would you do us the honor of dining with us?"

"As long as you two don't forget what an honor it is," Frega laughed. The three friends jumped off the platform and joined the line waiting to be served.

The final leg of the journey was the easiest. The last few miles of road were flat and well-worn, gently sloping toward the sea and World's End. The mood in the caravan was good and the energy high with the journey's end within sight.

As the cart topped the last of several small rises, the nearly perfectly round Crater Bay came into view. It was only another three miles to town and for the first time on their trek, residences and farms dotted the roadway. Creatures of all ages came to the edge of the avenue to gawp at the fierce wolves and stare slack-jawed at the legendary monster within the immense tank. Chumley couldn't help from laughing.
"We're the bloody carnival comin' ta town, that's what we are."

Thoris smiled wistfully.
"I alwayth dreamed of running away with the thircuth when I wath young. My mother would be tho proud."

Frega, however, did feel proud as he looked at his troops who were well aware of the spectators. They straightened their lines and their backs and brushed off their uniforms. Whether pushing, pulling or walking alongside of the cart, the full measure of the troops was soon in a syncopated march, walking tall, eyes front, and shoulders back. Frega swept his arm over the Lokians.
"Look! What magnificent warriors...what pride they take at being Lokian."

Chumley chuckled.
"Ah never knew you wolfies were so vain."

Frega gave Chumley a stern glare, then broke out in laughter.
"Perhaps you are right...but what of it, everyone loves a good parade." He said, seating himself beside his friends.

By the time the cart reached the outskirts of town, not only had the crowd grown, but word had reached the mayor's residence of its arrival. Not wishing to be on the Frega's bad side due to any slight in protocol, the mayor quickly assembled an honor-guard and marched them to the town center, stationing them by a ceremonial gate which served no purpose other than delineating the original settlement boundaries.

Robbi, Zian, Winky, and Groggs, along with Egbert and his now constant shadow, Bobo, arrived at the gates slightly after the honor guard's arrival and shortly before the arrival of the main body of Lokians and the Asherouboros.

When the trio of Thoris, Chumley and Frega spotted their friends at the gate, they hopped off the platform and ran over to greet them. Amid friendly hugs and firm handshakes everyone tried speaking at once, pausing and then speaking again until everyone broke down in laughter.

Robbi gave Chumley directions to the dockside where the tank would rest until the strategy for transporting the Asherouboros out to sea could be settled. That done, Mayor Clawsnag invited everyone to his residence, the troops to camp around it and the commanders to stay at his home.

When all was agreed, the mayor nervously sped to the local eateries and markets to secure foodstuffs for the small army he had invited to his home. Only when this was completed did the overburdened stoat feel confident enough to return to his residence and resume his duties as host.

It was a celebration of epic proportions. For all his stinginess and paranoia, Mayor Clawsnag spared no expense in feeding The Lokians and Thothians. He even went so far as to hire musicians and performers to entertain the small village now sprouted around his residence. Gladis remarked to Robbi about this sudden and welcome change in the stoat's demeanor. Robbi suggested and the albatross agreed that the mayor had suddenly come to the realization that the Brotherhood meant to destroy everything, his town and himself included. It was a realization many of the beasts were having.

The magnitude of the danger to Arishamal was only now becoming clear as Egbert and the castaways told their tales of Azmeritus, the Gleaners, the sacrifices, and the gathering of Brotherhood forces. After Robbi related all she knew concerning the Ürgod, Xenophus, and the likely purpose for his awakening, not a single beast listening doubted the gravity of the situation.

Discussion turned to the problems at hand, primarily the transport of the Asherouboros across the bay and then across the crater rim and into the Northern sea. Both Egbert and Robbi had spent several days with their snouts buried in books of all kinds, looking for facts and trying to gain inspiration.

Robbi's original idea, based on Gladis' account of the wine-boats of the Borogovian Isles, could not solve the problem of traversing the crater rim where water was never deeper than eight feet. Even with it's edges held above water by inflated canvas bladders, the tank containing the Asherouboros would ride more than eleven feet below the surface. It was Bobo who put forth the solution to the dilemma.

"Why don't ya jest take 'em separate? If ya empty the tank, it should float pretty shallow. Now I got no idea how you'll get the big feller to the sea, but the tank...no problem," he blurted out during the discussion.

Egbert perked up.
"That would work, Oi think. The tank ...empty...would float loike an empty fishing float. We empty it, float it out to sea, install the bladders, refill it, and pull it behoind our boat back to the water's off Xenoth. As far as the Asherouboros...well, there's a droi-dock at the waterfront that can be filled and hold our friend loike a stall till we get the tank where we need it."

"How take we the beast to the sea, Lord Egbert?" Gladis asked.

The mole looked to Robbi.
"Oi've seen Magus Veritus conjure moighty shields. Maybe she could encircle the beast and pull it across the barrier rim. If she did it under the water, the monster would be almost weightless," he put his paw over the small wizard's, "could you do it Robbi?"

The pretty rat thought for a moment before answering.
"Vattus has been training me to maintain the shield for longer and longer periods of time. I've been able to maintain it for over an hour lately. If we could get the tank out to the other side of the rim ready to receive the Asherouboros and get me from the dry-dock to the tank before the shield collapses...maybe."

"Whatever boat you were in would have to move pretty fast," Zian commented.

Frega stood.
"My wolves are outstanding rowers. Get me a long boat with a dozen or more oars and we will get you there like the wind!" he proclaimed.

"Let's try it then, perhaps Targas will remain with us and our luck will hold." Robbi declared.

"Yeah, worth a try, ain't it?" Chumley agreed.

Frega raised his tankard.
"We will do it then...tomorrow. Tonight, let us drink to our continued good fortune and to the well-being of all our friends and family, here and at home."

Everyone raised their tankards in the toast as the sun sank under the western horizon. Tonight, at least, the men and beasts enjoying the camaraderie of the moment forgot about the impending danger and reveled in the joys of purpose and friendship.