Quiet ruled the night on the mountainside. The patrol outside the mountain kept up rotation without one incident. Nothing caused alarm. There was no rush to attack or defend.
The trio within the mountain slept heavy. The cave was slightly chilly, causing them to wrap in the bedrolls. The ground was soft enough for them all to sleep well. Even Layford fell into a deep sleep despite being on watch.
Everything was still.
It was as dawn was breaking over the horizon that Brenna woke up with her face buried in her arms. The light created a hazy glow as it trickled in the small slits in the cave ceiling. She lay still, listening to the water falling on the rocks just a few yards away. The scuttle of a small lizard could be heard through the groundcover. A bird caught nature’s notice of a new day and began rustling around on a tree limb. Her mouth twitched slightly. A part of her wanted to smile. The other part of her wanted to cry.