"Oh, they're du Cuppra," Vlad answered, following her gaze into the fog. "Aetherian police don't always protect offworlders and non-spirits. The du Cuppra walk the streets at night to protect everyone from slavers."

"They're vigilantes," Shinobu added, waving a paw scornfully. "Fanatical followers of teachings by the Aetherian founder Cuppra. Look up. You're sitting at the feet of Cuppra and her lover now."

"Oh," Liya mumbled, and craned her neck to look up at the statue behind her. She saw now that it was composed of two figures, standing back to back, hands entwined or over their hearts. One was a slim spirit with shoulder-length, waving hair--the other, the figure facing Liya, had a face like a bird's skull, and was covered in feathers. Its wings were tucked tightly behind its back, and its massive feathered tail was wrapped around the spirit's legs.

She swayed a bit, looking at it, and nearly lost her balance. Yoshi caught her, and Vlad followed suit, wrapping an arm around her.

"Oops," he said, gently. "We've got you, hon. Rest your eyes a bit."