The sun beat down mercilessly onto the backs of the traveling group, and Starbright's salve was much appreciated. As the group continued to travel, their lack of water became more evident. It was then that Starbright taught the forest born group how to cure the overheated. By demonstrating with a piece of fur dampened with some water, she taught them to chill their necks and to lie down with their legs resting on something about the height of a log on its side.

Starbright thought of her many travels with her mother, her beautiful mother, who always seemed to know things magical. She was not a healer, but a stargazer, much like Starbright. Her mother talked always spoke of a far off star, where humans thrived, and only dreamt of elves. She spoke of her father, tall and strong, how he had protected her from the dangers of life, and how he was kind and gentle all along.

Her mother said that she had seen him killed, and had thrown herself into the depths of the great lake, only to find herself here, in the woods…with four fingers, and Starbright in her womb. Scared and troubled of her experience, mother had hid from the world, only leaving their cave for food and water. When Starbright was born, mother had realized the similarities of her husband and herself within the child. And so assumed, that he had sent them to his home…To keep them safe, even after his death.

Thinking of her favorite tale from her childhood, Starbright almost forgot the heat and sweat that bothered her so, but was drawn back to reality as her back suddenly felt like it was on fire, and her eyes felt the many twigs once more.

Her screams were so strong, that they made no sound as she opened her mouth. Only Rain and another female (who called herself Joyleaf) seemed to notice. Rain undid her back bandages during their break, and gasped in shock. The sunburn, heat, and the intensity of the wounds had all worked together, reopening the cuts. Rain's tired body was not in the condition to heal another: Starbright would have to hold on a little longer. Her eyes were in similar condition, but Rain couldn't help his feeling of guilt, as Starbright opened her eyes…A pale blue of blindness. The cuts on her eye lids made it look as if she was crying tears of blood, and Rain had to look away as he fixed the bandages back on. High ones, hadn't this child suffered enough?

As sunset finally approached, the group knew that it wouldn't be long before some of them fell ill, and Joyleaf, who cared for all of the tribe as a mother, was full of sadness as she held to her love, Bearclaw. All of their tribe was suffering, even the new comer, even though they had done no wrong. Glancing at their son's back, both Bearclaw and Joyleaf saw the hurt and despair, and the hope that he carried. They were so proud!

Starbright knew that her wounds would not let her go on any further. Starbright knew she should lay down for some sleep in the shade, but she simply sat down by her resting beast and stroked his fur. Her eyes weren't tired, and sleeping without being sure of their safety was not something that she thought wise.

Cutter promised her that she would be rescued once they found shelter, after agreeing to her reasoning. Even he knew that going into the bright sun once again would not be wise, for her bandages were already ruined with sweat and dryness. And, knowing that she may be blinded for good, Starbright had long ago given up her head cloth to Newstar. She humbly accepted Cutter's water skin, and sat as the group wandered into the night, away from her, disappearing into the many hills of dry sand.

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~Following the group ~

Cutter told us to move out, as the sun set beyond beautiful mountains that shined purple in the red light. We continued to move for hours, and before long Nightfall noticed that the girl I had found in the human camp was missing. She shouted out to Cutter, who simply replied that she, Starbright had decided to stay behind.

Voices of protest rang out, but Cutter shook his head and tiredly told us that there was no choice.

"If she continues in this heat, her wounds will get even worse. She's barely holding on as it is! And she knows that! I couldn't persuade her to risk her life, just so that she would stay with the group!"

The others quieted with that, and Joyleaf moved forward so to comfort her son. The travel was quiet until the sun rose again. And as the wolves began to drop, too weak to continue with their riders on their backs, the group finally found what they had travelled for; the mountains!

The Wolfriders moved into the cool shade that the mountain provides, and Skywise watched as Cutter, irritated, cut one of the strange plants. He soon noticed that these strange plants supplied water, bringing well deserved cheer to the Wolfriders' tired faces.

But somehow, Skywise couldn't feel completely happy. It felt as if part of him was still somewhere out there, in the hot wasteland, tired and lonely. Tugging on his spirit, holding on, desperate not to be forgotten. Skywise tries to push the thought away but even as he gulps down the slightly sweet plant water, his mind reaches out to the girl that they had to leave behind. If he, finally in the shade, with water, could't feel totally healed, what must she be feeling? If only…no, she couldn't have come with them, but he can't help but wish she had more company than a tired wolf at her side…

Skywise's thoughts were interrupted by Cutter as he stepped over his body to climb to higher ground in search of more water. As he followed him, Skywise noticed that both his and his brother's skin was a light brown instead of its usual whiteness. Skywise mentally thanked that girl for the salve she made for them... without it, who knows what would have happened to their weak skin?

*Skywise! Up here! Quickly! *

Cutter's send was urgent, so Skywise quickly clambered up to see if everything was alright. And somehow, the hopeless situation seemed to have met its end, as his brother beckoned him to look down upon a village of nothing other than-Elves!

*You don't think they'd help us if we asked?*

Skywise asks him, but he tells him that asking didn't help with the trolls. Although Skywise thinks that these elves look friendly, he cannot disobey my chief, although he is his 'brother-in-everything-but-blood'.

They quickly plan a raid on the village, and collect food and water from the villagers: sadly, with more violence than he had hoped. Cutter returned to their temporary home in the rocks with a local elf girl in his arms, and Skywise, puzzled, asks him what he plans. As he answers that he will explain later, Skywise thinks back to that girl that is still out there…What he would do to know she was safe again, in his arms, just like Cutter has the native girl…Wait, what is he thinking?