As the forest she lay in bled, Nikiria of house protector wept for those who were lost that day. Then her sorrow turned into bitter fury. "I have failed them all. Their dead because I couldn't save them!" she cried. "Oh, E'li, I have failed them." She lay there crying, and a cloud passed revealing the stars. As she watched the stars twinkling in the heavens, she remembered. She remembered how they died defending their homeland from the dream.
Her tears flowed with hope now instead of sorrow. She picked herself up and started running. As she ran the trees reached out to grab her, and the grass tried to trip her. She didn't slow down, she couldn't. "I have to reach the river," she kept telling herself.
An ear piercing wail came from across the Thon-Thalas River. Nikiria flinched when she heard the terrifying sound that came from a horrible creature. "Dragon!" she breathed. As she reached the river she saw a small boat with paddles nearby. She spoke a quick prayer to the gods, and pushed off into the river.