The quiet night graciously accepted the group into its embrace as they left the city. Rolling fields of crops greeted them as farmland stretched far into the hills beyond the horizon.

“How far outside of the city is the caravan?” asked Leela.

“Not too far, we should be there by morning,” responded Idril. “Has it been long since you left yours?”

“Yes, almost a year now. To be honest, I’ve been getting a little homesick. I’ve missed it so much. It will be good to be around Elves again,” smiled Leela.

“And you Arilee, has it been long for you?” asked Idril.

“I actually didn’t grow up in a caravan. After the Flood, my mentor raised me far to the west.”

“Your mentor?” asked Idril. “Was he an elf?”

“Yes. My parent’s friend. They died during the Great Flood.”

Idril’s eyes softened, “As did mine, I was raised by Telerenel. A poet of the old world.

“You will be able to help Chip and Slicks navigate around. I’m sure it’s unlike anything they are used to.”

Chip, upon hearing his name spoke up. “I’m excited! I’ve alway wanted to visit one of the caravans. How about you Slicks?”

“I’m interessssted,” agreed Slicks. “I’ve not seen one. Lizardsss were not allowed out of the minesss.”

“Oh,” Chip said, frowning, “I forgot. Sorry Slicks.”

Slicks flicked his tongue out, but didn’t say anything.

“What more can you tell us about the Dark Elves?” asked Arilee, breaking the momentary tension.

“Only what I have gathered from the old tales. I was not old enough during the Flood to remember much about the Old World, and once the wasting sickness started taking our elders, I’ve done my best to record what I can about what they remember.”

“The Wasting Sickness?” asked Arilee.

“Elves have begun to age. Our elders now grow old and pass to the next world. The Life Energy that fuels us all is fading. The highest Levels of our race shrink as the seasons pass. I fear soon, the Lost will become the Forgotten.”

“My mentor died of similar causes,” said Arilee. “Is there anything that can be done?”

“I’m not sure.”

“What do the elders’ think?” asked Leela worried.

“The Elders’ think it is a curse that Goddess put upon us for failing during the Dark War. They see we’ve earned this,” said Idril.

“And what do you think?” asked Arilee.

“I don’t know what I think, but I’ve been traveling; searching for a solution, and now with this news of the Dark Elves returning, I think the two are related. I’m not sure what to do next, but this news must be spread. We can not depend on the Overlord. I will consult with the Elder of this caravan and see what he thinks.”

“That sounds as good of a plan as any,” said Arilee. Her legs were beginning to tire after such a long night. “How much farther do you think?”

“It should be just over this next hill, not too far now. We can camp for the night nearby and go in the morning. No point in wearing out our welcome by scaring them in the night.”

By the time the group picked a spot to camp for the night, it was only a few hours left till first light.

“This spot will do for now,” said Idril, picking a small clearing of trees before the last hill. “Provides good cover. We won’t be here long, but you should try to get a short rest.”

Arilee didn’t need to be told twice as she walked to the hillside and found a comfy spot to lie down. The puffy grass formed a nice bed for her as she gazed up at the last stars of the night.

Leela came and lied down next to her. “I hope the Scout Marshall is okay.”

Arilee turned on her side to look at her. “I’m sure he is. His sister will take care of him.”

“I trust Helga, I just don’t know how much she can do by herself. Everything we hear about the Dark Elves sounds so scary. I don’t know how Idril can seem so calm when he talks about them.”

Arilee shrugged. “Maybe for him they are still just stories. We’ve met one. It makes it more real for us.”

“He’s just so impressive. Did you see the way he handled Jacques and those bandits?” said Leela.

“It was definitely something else.” Arilee giggled. “I wonder if we can learn to do that? Could you imagine? He was moving faster than my eyes could follow.”

Leela laughed too. “What did Chip call you back on the island? Arilee the Eagle? I can see it now. You, flying over the battlefield, arrows coming from every direction.”

The two of them laughed together enjoying the idea.

“Care to share what you’re laughing about?” said Chip as he sat on the hillside with them.

“Just reminiscing about the time you tried to convince a bunch of soldiers were the ‘Special Forces of the Overlord’,” Arilee laughed.

“Hey, they all liked my story!” said Chip, pretending to be offended, but then he laughed too.

After a moment, Leela picked her head up. “Where’s Slicks and Idril?”

Chip, eyes closing, pointed in a direction. “Slicks is sleeping down there somewhere. Idril wandered off. Something about keeping watch.”

The soft hissing snores of Slicks revealed him to be just a few feet away.

“I don’t know how he falls asleep so fast,” said Leela, yawning.

Arilee felt her eyes closing. “I feel myself falling too,” but was greeted with the soft snores of Leela as well.

Arilee drifted to sleep, the stars her blanket.