The last shadows of night had faded away, replaced by the brilliant reds, oranges, and purples of dawn. The morning sun was low on the horizon now, breathing life into the sleeping forest. Among the trees, a glimpse of a seal-brown hide was visible, accompanied by the soft thumping of hooves on the bare earth. With a determined look in her amber eye, she marched on, head held high, as she had done for days on end. Both ears were pricked forward, listening for the slightest sound of danger.

She had descended from the mountains into the valley, not knowing where her heart would lead her, what life had in store for her next. She was both enthralled and afraid, if a beast such as herself could be the two at once. It was very confusing. Her head was confusing. Yet she was sure it was possible. It made her nervous, wondering what this strange land held. As of yet, there was no sign of any beings similar to herself. Silently she prayed that she would find somewhere to rest her weary limbs soon. The maiden had been on the move for far too long. So long, in fact, that she could not recall how many days it had been since she had embarked on this perilous journey. She certainly looked how she felt. Her long, thick mane was tangled. No longer did it frame her neck like a silky curtain. Clumps of dark hair were missing, which resulted in a patchy appearance. Twigs and leaves protruded from the whole mess in every which way. It put her in even more of a foul mood. Her body was covered in thousands of little scratches. Some of them were still bleeding. Usually she was one to keep up with appearances because she hated to look impartial, but she hadn't had time to worry about the way she looked as of late. She was too busy running. After a while, Eliaren came to wonder at what point she would be able to stop. The chase seemed never-ending.

Along she went, searching for a sign that would give her some notion of where to go next. She had waited long enough. Her past so far had been wasted in fear and she would have no more of it. That was all behind her now. It wasn't selfish of her to think she deserved a home. Where had she gone wrong? Perhaps it was the curse of a god. Nonsense! She chided herself. Eli didn't believe in such silly magic; she couldn't. She preferred to think that her fate was in her own control, not in that of a supernatural being that could bend her to his will like a marionette. It was an odd and beautiful place, this unfamiliar land. Now surrounding her were large beautiful pines, green leaves, all dotted with various patches of small white flowers. The trees were quite tall and old, several times her own size in height and large enough that one could easily hide their whole body behind its base. Beams of blinding light flooded through the thick canopy above. Eliaren's delicate figure glowed in the iridescence that struck her scraggly hide. When she emerged on the other side of the grove she was not sure what she would find, as she was not able to see far into the distance. The great trunks blocked her vision. As the woman wandered she wondered if maybe fate would smile down upon her today, breaking her unwilling fast, restoring her strength, and allowing her spirits to soar once more.

Sometimes, the greatest blessings came in the finest of disguises.

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