Pelthe 30, 5678

It is cold outside the tent, but that is normal this close to the Antarctic Circle. Dawn and I are well enough to walk around the camp today. The first thing she wanted to do was see Grrerrgkzh, whom we decided was waiting around to make sure we were safe. Grrerrgkzh drew a picture showing its intent was to travel north and find others of its kind. I told Dawn to let it know that people are not food, but I’m not sure how successful she was. Before Grrerrgkzh left, Dawn gave it a big hug. I just shook its claw. I hope it finds a way to cross the sea between Etnyben and Mekender. I heard Grrerrgkzh finally left early tonight.

The Red Exemplars don’t seem too keen about having three outsiders in their camp. They watch us suspiciously, and talk with lowered voices when we pass. Niahla’Sen has powers they cannot fight, Dawn is a Huvudet, and I am just a random man who never gained their trust. Pelmarco, however, has the trust of the Red Exemplars. Still, he hasn’t yet told the Red Exemplars why he sought them throughout this past year, and now I don’t think he will until we’ve all recovered from traveling to Nazada and back.

Niahla’Sen apparently got her hands on my journal and read it while caring for me. This is the second time she’s done that, at least that I am aware of, with the first time being when I was incapacitated at one of the Perduvan Islands. She thanked me for not mentioning even more of the times she’s suggested improvements for my writing, but said if I want help, she has more experience writing than I’ll ever have. Apparently, the Sisterhood of Jadela’Mar gave her a previous assignment at one of the offices of the Council of Adaptive Writing and Publishing, perhaps the only organization with a truly global influence. I’m not trying to say she’s a snobby tart, but sometimes she acts like it. I told her if she doesn’t like my journal, then she should write her own. She quickly apologized.