Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem or the characters, settings, etc.

Chapter 1

The forest of Za'ha was covered in a thick white fog. It was so thick that Gerik and Saleh were having difficulty finding their way through. Gerik carried a wooden torch, while Saleh carried a torch staff, but the light didn't reveal much of their path. Eventually, Gerik stopped in a clearing.

"Whew! I don't think we're getting anywhere, Saleh," he said.

Saleh stopped behind him with a weary sigh. "You're right. I believe we've passed this clearing fourteen times."

Gerik sat down against a tree. "I guess we'd better wait here until the fog clears."

"All right." Saleh sat down against the next tree. He rested his head against the bark and closed his eyes.

"Tired?" Gerik asked nonchalantly.

Saleh looked over at him. "Yes, very much so."

"Yeah, me too. So we'll get some rest while we wait for the fog to clear."

Saleh nodded and brought the torch staff closer to his body. He positioned the orb against his right shoulder, then gripped the hilt lightly. Then he rested his head against the bark and closed his eyes once again.

Gerik lowered his head, as he too felt like he could fall asleep. Deciding that there was nothing else to do, he decided to give in. Gerik closed his eyes as well.

He woke up a few moments later. At least it felt like a few moments. At the same time, it felt as though an eternity had passed. Gerik looked around; nothing had changed. The fog was still ghostly white, and Saleh was still resting against the next tree. Gerik then realized what had awakened him - his stomach was rumbling.

"Saleh?" he called. "I'm going to hunt for a rabbit or two. I won't wander too far, I promise."

No response.

Was Saleh asleep? If so, Gerik did not want to wake him. Silently, the Desert Tiger turned and treaded out of the clearing, into the foggy woods.

--

Saleh awoke to the sound of leaves rustling behind him. He looked around to see that Gerik was no longer resting at the nearby tree. Saleh stood up, assuming that Gerik was causing the sound.

"Gerik?" he called lightly.

Not a voice was heard from the fog. Saleh raised his torch staff, attempting to follow the rustling sound.

"Gerik, is that you?"

Where could he have gotten off to? Saleh did not see or hear Gerik get up and leave. And surely Gerik would not just up and leave his friend. Perhaps Gerik was in trouble.

"Gerik!" Saleh called a little more forcefully.

Still no response. Saleh closed his eyes and used his other senses to analyze his surroundings. It was that moment when he sensed that something was very wrong. It wasn't Gerik rustling those leaves in the woods. Someone was stalking Saleh!

Then it began to rain. At least that's what Saleh thought as blue and white glitter began to fall lightly around him. Saleh raised his hand to catch the drops, but he felt nothing. He then quickly realized that this wasn't rain. Looking up towards the branches, he could see a trail of white sparkles circling down towards him. Saleh then recognized this energy pattern; it was the magic emitted by a sleep staff. However, by this point, it was too late, as the spell began to take effect. The sage fell to his knees, then slumped over to the ground in a deep sleep.