Further Forward

As we pack to reunite with Reinys, I cannot help but think of the words of her letter. We are going further away from home than ever before, going someplace that I never thought that we would. The Underdark is a dangerous place, but for the next months, it is to be our home. The excitement in her words as they flowed across the page was real, the ink and pen pushed further into the delicate parchment than necessary in her excitement. I wish I could share in that feeling, but as we prepare to leave, I just can't slip into that same mindset.
 
Lady Naya had said that our journey would not be easy, that there would be danger and difficulties. So far, it had been easy to ignore that advice, but now we stood on the precipice, ready to move further forward towards the darker side of things that I could have ever imagined. But it is too late to turn back and head to the safety of Yllvalion. I swore to Lady Naya that I would stand by my sister, and together we would gather knowledge that could never be learned from the books. My skills had always been meant for the benefit of my siblings, to keep them safe because I could not wield a weapon like their capable hands. If a single small thing I did could save their life, then my apprenticeship would all be worth it.
 
Reinys' intent for me during this adventure was never to fight. I was a crafter by trade, not a warrior. In her last letter to me, she had spoken of the three other crafters she had found along the way. I had never before anyone other than elven artisans, so this journey would be an experience. A human, a dwarf, and a fairy had joined us, lending us their skills and trades. That is what made me excited and erased some of the fear and doubt. The chance of a real workshop and time to ply my crafts put me on edge, ready to fall off the precipice head long into this journey, but before that, we had to reach Reinys.
 
Yldris was giddy in his excitement, coiled tight and ready to run. I had to trade my dresses for some of Khalsinn's clothes so that they could tie me to his back, ropes laced across my legs like an intricate harness, just to make sure that he didn't run off without me. He missed Reinys and he knew it was time to return to her. As the moment of departure eases closer, the excitement of the wolf becomes all of ours, Khalsinn and Miz joining in as well. Further forward into the unknown, but at least we go together.