Morning

The sun rises over the pine forests of the north. Rays of light break the horizon and make their way, fractured, through the trees. Many animals wake to find that the birds have long been active, making calls to define territory and call for mates. As morning comes, nocturnal predators become less active unless they are well and truly desperate. As the sun comes up in the Griffon's Pinnacle area, nature tentatively starts its routines. Moose lock horns over a trifle, Bears exit their dens and blink a few times before shuffling off to find their next meal, and hawks stretch their wings before setting off to hunt small mammals.

For some people, the arrival of morning means they survived the previous night, but for others, it simply means that they can see where they are going with little issue. For such a northern settlement as Griffon's Pinnacle, the morning not only signals a return of much-needed warmth, but also signals the start of a new day with new opportunities. Loggers arm themselves with crossbows and axes and head for the sawmill by the river, watching the light trickle through the pine needles and warming their faces. Hunters set out and check their traps, facing the day with hope that they will have meat to bring home to their families and fur to trade with the passing caravans. Fishermen head towards nearby lakes and rivers with their nets and rods confident that fish will come out to hunt bugs that wake up with the warmth of the sunlight that causes the water to sparkle.

Aiden pours water through the coffee grounds and into a waiting mug as it finally reaches a boil. It's a cold morning, but a good one, he's sure. The skies are clear and blue, giving no indication or memory of the storm that struck the previous night. But that is how it should be: the wisdom of the Allfather states that good and bad go hand in hand, that something good like this morning was bound to follow the previous evening's storm, sooner or later. Aiden enjoys the peace while it lasts.

Zorah eyes the hot brown liquid that has a sharp smell. Her large, yellow eyes peer into the coffee as if she expects it to turn another color yet. The fear-bolg tugs on the sleeve of the centaur sitting next to her and chatters excitedly, as a daughter might to a mother. There's so much of the world that Zorah never new existed until now and as she realizes this, her perception changes; everything's new and bright, much like the morning itself.

Zinc laughs at her new friend, a bit envious of the wonder that she sees in those big, yellow eyes; Zinc remembers when she felt that way about everything--she had been a child at the time, but perhaps this was what made Zorah so endearing, she who, when the centaur first met her, had a set view on life, but now wants to know and do everything. Even though Zinc is fairly young herself, it makes her feel old. But she enjoys the company of Zorah and wants more than anything to help her learn and grow. Zinc sits by the fire, kneeling on all four legs, and tells Zorah tales of her tribe and Zorah listens, fascinated.

Bob approaches the fire where Aiden boiled the water for his coffee from his walk around the perimeter of his camp, where he checked his amateurly-made tripwire traps for small animals. The minotaur comes back with a fresh fish, big enough that he, large as he is, has to hold it in both arms. The rest of the party presses him and asks him where he got this magnificent catfish from, and all he says in response is, "Tripwire," accentuated with a shrug. It looks like they would spend the morning preparing lunch. No one had complaints about that.

Tarabaum rolls her eyes and laughs at the great minotaur, having decided long ago that he's not so bad. Sometimes he says and does strange things, but that makes him no different than Azrael. At least the minotaur is funny. The orkin receives the mug of coffee, Aiden insisting she try it. She complains, but ultimately agrees, and takes a sip of the coffee. She contemplates the bitter taste for a moment before deciding it's missing something. No one packed any sugar, and milk wouldn't keep as long as they had been on the road. She reaches into her tunic, pulls out a flask, and pours some of her preciously-rationed alcohol into the coffee, then has a sip. That was much better--a perfect way to start her morning! She passes the coffee back to Aiden who had watched her spike the coffee, and he just laughs and has a sip, himself.

Azrael sits with them at the morning fire that warms the chilly morning a little quicker than the sunlight does, observing the rest of the party interact. He doesn't join in on the chatter, but he doesn't feel he needs to, either. Azrael is content with his lot for the moment. He's ahead of schedule with his offerings to Dreag, he fights monsters and aggressive wildlife when they show up, and no one really asks a lot of him. The silver-eyed elavis doesn't really show it, but he appreciates the rest of the party and he has had a blast working with them so far. Sometimes they give him odd looks, but, you know, who wouldn't?

Draeg and Orlaith are on the move. Having received their instructions, they head to their next location: a little town that is now called Frolis. It was called something else before their imprisonment, and it was a bustling metropolis at that time, but now, it's tiny, not even on any maps that had been procured. Draeg and Orlaith both ride in a carriage of bone and tar, pulled by mummified horses. There's an illusion cast on them to cause them to look normal to any passing travelers but woe to anyone who demands they stop.

Draeg twirls a phantasmal key in his hand, marveling at the sheer power that went into making the key, and chuckling at the sheer brilliance of it. So powerful it is, yet so fragile; it's just one secret among countless others at his benefactor's disposal. Honestly, he was concerned before, but now that they had met and the plan had been explained to him, he was just grateful. Once the plan was completed, Draeg would never have to worry about people coming to hunt him down for who he is. What he was made to be.

He stored the key. They had almost arrived. Draeg and Orlaith were finally going to rescue Fext. They were going to rescue their friend.

The morning rises. It is watched, expectantly, by those who understand that because morning breaks, new things are coming. The light that causes plants to grow and rouses nature brings new challenges. This is morning. This is where daylight begins.