The first light of dawn seeped through the forest canopy, painting the edges of the horizon with streaks of gold and amber. The soft chirping of birds stirred Elysara from her sleep. She stretched within the confines of her bedroll, shaking off the lingering grogginess of the night. Across the tent, Aureth was already awake packing their belongings.
"Morning," Elysara mumbled, sitting up and rubbing her eyes.
"Morning, child," Aureth replied. "We've got a long way to Skarath, and we'll need to move swiftly if we want to reach the caves before the cold becomes too harsh."
Elysara nodded, the mention of Skarath bringing her fully awake. By mid-morning, they were on the road again, their grivolths carrying them steadily northward.
"We'll need to stock up before we reach Skarath," Aureth said, pulling her cloak tighter around her shoulders as a cold wind swept through the trees.