[Child of the 7th Age]

Arestevana's post for Kirima:

It was dark, and the clouded sky did little to improve matters, making it impossible to see far into the forest. Kirima stood at the edge of the campsite, once again watching for intruders. She cast a longing glance toward the fire behind her, looking enviously at the few bandits seated around it. The weather had grown colder, whispering of winter. The rains that had tormented them were gone, leaving the land no less dry than before. With the cold that now came it seemed that only snow might fall.

The land will see little water until the first warmth of spring floods the parched earth with snowmelt, Kirima thought. If we survive the winter, maybe spring will be kinder. She stared into the woods, thankful for the last few rays of sunlight. Her watch would soon be over, but if she let so much as a rabbit slip into the camp, she knew she could expect a reprimand. The entire camp was tense, with the hint of winter’s approach.

Kirima scanned the woods again, watching for movement. Walking a little ways into the trees she thought she heard a sound above the quiet murmur of the campsite. She cocked an ear and listened. The sound was quiet, but very distinct; something was moving toward the bandit’s camp. Though they were well-hidden by the shadow of the forest, Kirima could see figures approaching. For one alarming moment, she thought the townsfolk had found them. Then she realized that it was the other refugees from the Weather Hills that were now drawing near their camp. She turned and shouted at those sitting by the fire to tell Lotar that the others had come, and then she ran out to meet them.

Soon enough the camp was full of newcomers, and noiser than it had been for a good while. Small children dashed about, playing and laughing. Other folk set up tents and rough shelters, or cut wood to build fires. Lotar and Guthwine were discussing their plans to capture the town with several men who had just arrived, and Kirima joined several other women to prepare a meal for the campsite.

Everyone seemed a good deal more cheerful than before. Those who had traveled with the scouting party found the friends they had left, and listened eagerly to every story from the weather hills. People laughed and talked, and for a while the threat of winter was forgotten.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 1:23 PM January 09, 2004: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]