Riding at a leisurely pace Rin enjoyed the beauty of Âz Ragni. Even though the river was a half-mile long most parts were not rough. Most of the time the river was as calm as a trickling stream. But like every river it had nasty parts. The Âz Ragni was famed for its rapids. At one point the river started to twist and turn. There it narrowed and sharp rocks jutted out like spears. The water there was never calm and had the same anger of a stormy sea. That was the part she loved the most. Spurring her horse onward she soon left the small town of Hedarth behind. The river curled away from the Beor Mountains but this did not worry her. Once she reached the rapids it would start going back to its source in the mountains. Suddenly noticing a pang of hunger she stopped. Looking up she shaded her eyes against the glare of the sun. The sun was making its westward decent. She slowed down to a walk and turned her horse toward the river. Stopping she swiftly dismounted and started setting up camp about five meters from the river's bank. Gathering two branches fallen from a nearby sapling she cut a V shaped notch in one end of each. Clearing a large patch of land of plants and grass, she stuck the end without the notch in the ground not very far apart. Once she was done with that Rin rolled up her pants up to her knees, grabbed her knife and went into the river so that the water was about up to her shins. Taking her knife she cut one of the near by reeds into a sharp spear and wadded in a little deeper. Fish swam closer and closer to her with ebbing shyness. She waited with out making a move. Once the fish were swimming around her ankles she struck with deadly speed and accuracy. When she brought the spear out of the water three fish were skewered on it. Smiling with pride she placed the reed on the notched stakes so the fish hung there. Going back to the sapling she cut off more branches.
By the time she got back to her campsite it was almost dark. Stetting the pile of wood on the ground she picked up some of the weeds she had cleared away earlier. Setting them under the fish Rin picked up some of the wood and set it in a pyramid over the weeds. After rummaging in her saddlebags for a while she pulled out flint and tinder. Going over to the wood she lit it with a practiced ease.
Once the fish was done and eaten she walked over to the river. Throwing the fish bones far out into the river she called out, "Thank you Spirits for gracing me with this meal. May your rivers never run dry!" Walking back to the heat of the fire she pulled her bedroll over and lay down. After a few minuets she was swept of into dreams.
i Fire roared around a small child. She crouched there crying. In one hand she clutched a rag doll covered in soot and grime. The other hand was trying to wipe the tears from her eyes. Soot and ashes were streaked along her face. Her clothes were singed and ragged. The air reeked of smoke and burning flesh. A woman suddenly appeared from the ring of fire. Picking the girl up she ran back out. As the woman set the girl down a girl that looked to be in her teens ran over and thanked the woman. Grabbing the child's arm she tried to escape but an Urgal cuffed he down. He grunted to his companions. One of them brought over some coarse rope and bound the hands of the humans. Other Urgals came with spears and swords prodding the small group over to other people in the same situation. i
Rin sat up gasping. She frowned. The dream seemed familiar some how. The sun was barely peeking over the mountains and she needed to set out so there was no more time to ponder the dream. But it was there hovering just at the back of her conscience.