The Expedition

I was wakened by a terrible dream… one that I’ve had before. My mother lay on a slab of stone, her normally rich charcoal-lavender skin a deathly ashen pale. I try to cry out, but cannot make a sound.
When I meet with the scouting party, I am introduced to a guide named Belaro. He is our wilderness survival expert, but he is contracted, not family. My duty is escort. I don’t remember much after that — the next clear thing in my mind is catching a rat outside its den. Belaro and I conferred briefly, and I must have saved some memories of the journey up until then because several encounters with monsters in the wilderness came rushing back to my mind.
From there, we hiked around the mountain’s summit into an alpine vale… there was a camp — marauders, according to Belaro. I remember going back to make sure they wouldn’t be a problem, for the family’s sake of course… and then… blood. I just remember blood.
I grow weary of this constant struggle. I think the time has come to end it… and I believe my new family can help.