113 Volume 5 Epilogue

Shiro stretched out his tails from Colin's shoulder, spreading both of them out to cover most of Colin's back with one, and most of his front with the other. Katrin just surrounded herself with bears and wildcats.

"Colin…?" Katrin said softly. "Are you… scared?"

"Hmm? Why?" Colin asked.

"Well… it's just us, now." Katrin shivered. "No Satrox, or Justice Knights or anything. Just you and me."

"Yip." Shiro protested.

"And our Comrades." Katrin added quickly, seeing all of hers eyeing her.

Colin looked at her for a while and saw her face getting redder and redder.

{She must be getting cold, she looks so red, she might be getting a fever. I better do something.}

Colin tapped his watch. "May?"

"Colin?" May sounded surprised. "What's up?"

"Are you still in the Eternal Winter Continent?" Colin asked, seeing Katrin suddenly look at him in a rather unfriendly manner. Whatever was she angry about now?

"Yeah. Why?"

"I just arrived. Katrin and I are freezing out here." Colin said. "I'm worried she might be getting a fever."

Katrin scowled, gave him a small shove on the side of his head and marched into town with her Comrades, all of them turning their backs to him.

"Where on the continent are you?" May asked.

"I'm not sure. I'm near one of the towns."

May paused. "A town? With wooden walls around it?"

"Yeah. That's the one." Colin said.

"Wait for me at the inn." May told him. "I'll be there in five minutes."

"How do you know which town I'm in, much less which inn?" Colin marveled.

"It's obvious." May snorted. "There's only one town on this continent, and that town only has one inn. Just wait there. Mom wants to see you again."

"Right. See you." Colin said, and went after Katrin.

He caught up to her just as they reached the town gate. The gate guard eyed them suspiciously, but didn't say anything as they went in.

"Kat! What's wrong? Are you all right?" Colin asked.

"IDIOT!" Katrin barked at him. She and her Comrades (previously his) all turned their backs on him and marched off stiffly.

"I don't get it." Colin told Shiro.

"Yip." Shiro barked a short laugh and let out a long sigh. He shook his head.

"Come on." Colin said, seeing the word 'INN' over a warm-looking building on his left. "I'm getting chilled already."

Colin didn't tell Shiro, but not all of the chill came from the cold air. He could almost feel eyes on him from all over the town square, eyes as cold as the snow around him.

Something Was Up around here and just by arriving, he'd already gotten Involved.