[Anarya SilverBranch]

Anarya dreamt only nightmares that night. Terrible ones, that shook her deeply. She dreamt of a large and forboding tower. Black against the red sky. She imagined black figures, shady and petrifying, riding toward her on dark horses with red eyes till they were nearly upon her with their swords, gleaming of cold, ruthless steel. She felt the cool smoothness of the blade upon her skin just before she awoke.

She sat up screaming, cold sweating running over her face and down her neck. It had been a dream and nothing more. In the dim moonlight and fading firelight she could see Khelek sitting up, alert and looking directly at her. His blue eyes worried for her.

"Anarya?" She heard Rudhchamion say. She looked over to where the elf sat by the small fire. He looked worried as well.

"I'm fine," She answered, "It was just a bad dream, a nightmare,"

"Oh, well try to get some more sleep before dawn," Rudhchamion said, looking into the flames, "We'll have a long day ahead of us when morning comes,"

Anarya stood and streched, "No," she said looking down at Khelek who had settled back down and then over to Rudhchamion again, "It is my turn to keep watch. You have taken the least rest of all three of us. I shall keep watch for the rest of the night,"

Rudhchamion did not protest as he lay down, and she was glad he did not. She was not awake enough yet to win any argument.

Anarya looked deep into the night sky, searching for the stars. She could not find them. She threw another stick upon the fire. The flames spit in protest that devoured their new victim with vengence.

Anarya looked at the dark elf. His dark hair contrasted dramatically with his fair skin in the fire light. She knew behind his closed eyelids, his eyes were grey as the sea and deep as the sky. She looked away toward Khelek where he slept quietly. He whimpered slightly and wiggled around a bit in his slumber.

"Probably chasing some squirrel," Anarya thought a with smile.

Anarya's smile widened. If she had to be on this quest, she could not have had better companions.

Dawn came, grey and cold the next morning. The sun rising over the canopy of trees, burning away the night mist. Khelek stirred and awoke first. The light was back in his eyes and he limped over to Anarya wagging his tail. He nuzzled in under her arm, to Anarya's surprise, and sat in her lap. She hugged the puppy close, praying the day would prove eventful and safe for all three...