That the relationship with Jakub ended was not unexpected in the end, they had both known it as they drifted apart during her second year at Gdansk University but the separation imposed by her sandwich year placement at the Ostrzyca Proboszczowicka Research Centre was the final nail in the coffin.

Her one consolation is Casimir, her Saker Falcon, who had attached himself to her some 71/2 years previously whilst she was on a school outing. At the time she did see any reason why she couldn’t keep him, the orphanage authorities, most of her room mates, and her teachers had other ideas. As was usual with Natalia, when she was goaded fights ensued. She’d by this time developed a reputation, undeserved, that she was a trouble maker, and one which a couple of year later would lead to a police reprimand. The authorities had tried to remove Casimir, he had had other ideas. After several members of the orphanage staff, several teachers, and falconers were severely wounded by him he was allowed (grudgingly) to remain – they’d also tried to shoot him, especially after any tranquilizer dart fired at him simply bounces off, it’s needle point blunted and snapped, but that failed as well; Ever tried shooting a falcon capable of 0..60 in 3 seconds with a manoeuvrability to match?

In a way having Casimir made up for the loss of all bar one of her closest friends during the Rodian War. It wasn’t the demons, or the unexpected eruption after 3 million years of Ostrzyca Proboszczowicka that cause the loss. No it was the ”Neuroshima” a group of homicidal lunatics who declared that the arrival of the demons heralded the end of days and thus looting, murdering and generally being monsters was the only appropriate response. Of the 100 deaths attributed to the group, three were close friends of Natalia.