As the mouse scampered away, Clint says quietly, but with amusement, "My apologies, Sir Mouse, for interrupting your nightly hunt."

As the sky began to lighten, Clint noticed the chill was becoming a bit more biting than expected, so he stopped by his gear on on of his walk-'rounds to grab his cloak to lessen the slight discomfort. In his younger days, he would have just grinned and bore the discomfort to "prove" himself, but now he felt no need to impress anyone.

As Zara goes about setting up breafast and waking the others, Clint watches with amusement, then goes to wake Osonaar by laying across the bear's back, growling at him, and pulling at his fur playfully for a few minutes. The bear, at first, ignored Clint. Then he grunt-snuffled and got to all fours with Clint still on his back. Clint "dismounted" and patted the bear affectionately before moving toward the food.

He noticed that Moraglin didn't seem inclined to join them immediately, but he figured the others knew her well enough to know what she was about. He would just follow their lead and wait patiently, for now. There was still information to be passed, here and en-route, by any and all of them, and he eagerly looked forward to the exchanges.

As he approaches the others at the table, he adopts his family's eastern accent easily, "Fair an' soft marnin' tae ye all, Zara, Dae, and Oko! 'Tis to gladden the heart o' this one tae see ye all in health and peace."

Osonaar makes straight for Zara to nuzzle her in the back, then sits and waits patiently, nose high, sniffing the air.

Zara turns lable in hand and hold it up as if if had the power to keep back a hungry bear.

"There'll be enough for you, but you will have to wait your turn." she waves the ladle at him. So off you go and if you find a honey tree you can come tell me."

She points out to the forest, "If not, don't bug the cook. You would not want to be blamed for burnt porridge."

She goes back to cooking as if there were not a 600 lb bear behing her.

Dae wakes up just before sun rise to greet the new day. Her prayers are made to the rising sun as it Light pierced the veil of darkness and blazed with increasing brightness as it ascended into the sky.

"Light I greet you gift to us all. The sun that shines as you as you promised. You are the Creator of all All life comes from thee. I honor your eternal gift to us. Light to cast on the darkness. Light to guide us. You that was and is and ever shall be." Dae concludes her prayers. and returns to where Zara has begun breakfast.

Good MOrning, Oko. Good morning, Clint," Dae offers as a greeting. "If I may call you that?" she adds "I hope you slept well." she said and suddenly look at the shadowing darkness off to the side of their camp. One mobile brow lifts.

"I guess Moraglin returned, but what is that for"

Clint chuckled at Dae's requested name for him. "Actually, that's the name I am most used to, although I have been called much, much worse buy some not-so-friendlies."

He glanced to where Dae was looking. "Oh. The darktent? An old friend of mine called it that. Darkness and silence for privacy. I guess she wants to be left alone. When she returnedn just before dawn, she was in a pretty foul mood. I was a good boy and left well enough alone. No teasing."

"Oso, leave her be. For heaven's sake, one would think you'd starve to death if we didn't feed you people-food! Give the cook room to work, please." Osonaar, only paused a second or two before moving over to stand next to Clint's Ponk, sniffing the horse's feet briefly.

Oko was awake and pondering the events from last night in his mind when Zara pulls off his light blanket. Getting up he will stretch a bit getting the kinks that always show up when he sleeps sitting up in his chain mail. Folding up the thin blanket and packing it away. He will first look over towards the dark sphere. Then towards the spot where Zara is fixing breakfast, movements near the spot where Clint was sitting the night before caught his eye again. But unlike last night there was not a hat on the ground. The movement turned out to be a mouse poking his head out of a hole in the ground. A chuckling rumble is heard from his direction as he moves over to check on the horses. He is back after a bit. Walking up towards the table, he picks up a bowl of porridge and sets it on the table.

“Good Morrning” He will then tell the Dae and Zara “Morrraglin rreturned verry earrly this morning, she said she will explain all when she gets up. She was shaking with fatigue and smelt sweaty and dusty, when she arrrived back herre. Something must have happened when she rreturned to the village last night to rreturn that mean temperred horrse to the pirrate.”

At the sound of a step behind him Oko will reach into his pouch and pull out an apple. Turning to the big gray stallion that was now nuzzling his shoulder he will give over the apple. Take hold of the halter and lead him back to where the gray mare was and give up another apple. After petting Shadow and Cloud a bit he returns for some food himself. After eating Oko will reach back into his bag, pull out a couple of apples and proceeded to cut them up into quarters and placed them into the pouch on his waist.

“Do we wait for herr to wake on herr own or do we tie a rrope onto that rrug and pull herr along?”

Zara chuckles. "That was my idea exactly." and as was her way she quickly changed subjects. "Grab you bowls and I'll ladle in the porridge. We can get breafast done and saddle up. If Moraglin is not up by then we can just drag her along on a rope."

She grabs a bowl for herself, fills it and sets it off to the side. "There is cream on the table and stuff to throw into your porridge as you want."

True to her words there were containers of dried fuits, sliced nuts, brown sugar. and honey on the table.

"Who are you?" Alex yells at a tall robed figure.
The figure doesn't respond but Alex see's his lips moving when suddenly Alex's eyes grow as wide as a full moon on a cloudless night and he jumps to the left just in time to miss a firey wall of fire.
Alex quickly puts out the small flame that had been causeed by nearly missing the fire wall.
"Guess your not the friendly type." Alex mutters to himself as he pulls up his sleeves and pulls out his mace.
The mage was casting another spell but Alex was ready for him this time. Alex poured out the contents of a small bag in a circle around him and prayed to his god that the little circle would protect him from whatever magic the mage was using. At last a large cloud of smoke surrounded Alex, telling him that his protective circle worked.
This pissed off the mage and he casted more and more spells only to see them puff up into a cloud of smoke.
Finally looking defeated the mage turns the way he came but before he leaves Alex hears a telepathic voice tell him "You haven't seen the last of me Alex Trueblood, The High Priest, we shall meet again in the barrens and then nothing will stop your death."
Alex didn't doubt the mage for one second but he had more impressing things to worry about by what he had found of a camp his party was no more then half a day ahead of him and if he hurried he could catch up to them by lunch time. Alex hopped on his horse and rode as fast as he dared. He was about to give up his search and let his horse rest for a little while when he saw a little half elf bouncing happily with the rest of the party. He gave a loud whistle but was sure that he was still to far for anyone to hear. But of course he had forgotten that elves hearing was beyond his own.

Dae looks over to the globe of darkness after finishing her dinner.

"If Moraglin came in so late and looked tired I daresay she was and I for one will let her sleep. However I do not want to waste most of the day here. So I will give her another hour of rest and then I will wake her."

Dae then goes over TO get breakfast. Zara was a fairly decent cook which was good because Dae was not. She wouldn't go hungry, she had good hunting and foraging skills and could take care of herself but She didn't have many skills in cooking, just the basics. She could roast a fowl or hunk of meat on a stick or spit. boiled up a soups or stew of vegetables and meat, a little salt and pepper that was about the extent of it.

THe porrage Zara made was thick and tasty. made with multiple grains, dried fruit and nuts with a generous dollop of honey for sweetness. Zara had also fired up some ham steaks for the meat eaters and a few hot hard boiled eggs.

After eating Dae went over her equipment and her horse's tack. cleaning and checking it all out. A broken piece of equipment during a battle was not something she ever wanted to happen,

She sharpened her blades and checked the fletching of her arrows.

Afer an hour she gets up and goes inside the still darkened area in the middle of camp. She tried calling out to MOraglin to wake her but soon realized the area was not sonly darkened but silenced. Holding out her hand she cast Daylight and the darkness fled before her. SHe moved over the the rug floating about 2 feet in the air and shook it gently.

Moraglin sat up quickly looking around trying to identify what was going on. She met Dae's eyes. "What time is it," she asks.

"Well into late morning." replies Dae. "I am hoping to get moving soon. Have you had enough sleep?"

Moraglin woke quickly when she was shaken awake/ Dae was standing there surrounded in light but beyond her was still darkness of her area of darkness. At least that was still in effect. So too was her silence spell when she saw Dae speak but heard nothing. She dispelled the silence. And heard Dae speak

"I have had enough to recuperate my magic points." she replied back to Dae. "I will be out in a second after I get changed."

Dae turned and moved out of the area of darkness.

About five minutes later the globe of darkness fell and Moraglin was standing there dress in another set of dark robes with runic symboles on them. These were not black as was normal for her but a medium grey, more suited to traveling.

She walk over to where the camp fire was and the food laid out. taking up a bowl she ladle out a bowl of porridge and moves over to sit at the table that Zara had pulled out of nowhere. She ate quietly without conversation until she pick up the bowl twiggled her finger over it and it was clean.

"Now, as to yesterday's excursion to return Septimus his horse. All did not go as planned. Septimus had already left but I didn't know that until much later. When I arrived the village ws under attack by Orcs, Ogre mages and Trolls that had been brought in magically." Ir took some time and a lot of magic before things got taken care of." Moraglin lays out the edited edition of what actually went on but she did n't seem to think it was important to talk about since the others were not there."

Anyway I was able to find out," Moraglin happily tortured several ogre mages to get all the information that she had, "That they had been sent by whoever is rebuilding in the Barrens. So, we best go warily"

Later, I found Septimus and exchanged the horse he rode for his own stallion. That nasty beast tried to bite me. He wanted t keep the mare but fair is fair. I took her for my own. He was not happy." Moraglin just shrugged. Now I will taek out the horse and we can get started.

Moraglin takes out the mare looking at the tack on her she whispers a few words and the saddle now was a nice red leather as was the barding on the horse. "That will do for now."

After a few hours in the saddle Moraglin was not sure this was a way she liked to travel.

While everyone was taaing up Zara made the kitchen disappear into ther bag. That done she went to tack her mount.

A bit rushed she did a simple clean spell to get rid of the dirt and dust the mule had picked up from laying down and she did the same for the pad before she placed the pad on the mule's broad back and reached for the saddle. Grasping the saddle she made to swing it up on her mount, but as she did the mule grabbed the pad and pulled it off. Putting down the saddle, she repeated the process, and so did the mule. Once more she tried to get him saddled and this time the the mule pulled off the pad and grabbed a brush from Oko's contained and shook in in front of Zara's face.

"Your clean." Zara fumed, but the mule did not stop flipping the brush in her face.

She tried again to put on the pad but the mule side stepped her efforts.

"Ok, ok, I will brush you."

She takes the brush from him and tosses it back into Oko's grooming bag. The mule goes to snatch it again.

"No, I have one of my own." she reaching into her bag ofholding and come out with a brush. He would not let Zara put away the brush until she had brushed every inch of his body and did extra on his chest, his whithers and right at the base of his tail. The face the mule made were of utter pleasure, His eyes closed, he stretched out his snext and his lips flapped in time to his flopping eats.

Finally he stood still and she got the pad on with the saddle and finished tacking out the mule.

"Ok, I am ready."

After seeing that no one in the party had heard his whistle.(Not surpising him at all.) Alex kicked his horse a little harder and as he got closer to the party he noticed that the party had set up another camp but by the looks of things they were leaving soon. Alex rode right by Zae nearly stomping over her causing the horse to rear up and throw Alex off. He recovered quickly to find the little half elf laughing.
"Ya I guess that was funny." Alex replies "Guess I should have been paying more attention to where I was going. By the way wheres that sister of yours I think she needs to know something that may help her on the quest for light."
As Zae pointed to a tent Alex thanked her and started to head into the tent. But immediately sinced a dark arua and could tell it was coming from a dark mage. And since he had already dealt with enough mages for the day he decided that he had better sit this one out. Instead he went around the camp trying to see anyone else that may have joined the party, when he ecame across Clint. "Hello my names Alex I don't believe you were with us when we were still in the inn. But I was told to give you this." Alex says as he hands Clint a ring.

Clint was a bit taken aback. He had heard the whistle, and was sure theothers had also, but they didn't seem to react at all. Then an unknown person rode into the camp during breakfast, Clint watched with caution, then amusement, as the man interacted with familiarity with Zara and asked where her sister was. Okay, a friend then. No wonder Osonaar didn't react.

The man then introduced himself to Clint as Alex and said that he had been told to give Clint a ring. "Well met, Alex!. I am most often known as Clint. Of the East Wood, originally. I'm sorry you weren't here at my own arriveal, but I was out and about, having left retirement, and looking for an unknown. When I encountered your companions, the unknown became a known and I have been invited to join them. I have accepted."

Clint takes the ring from Alex and looks at it closely. "I thank you Alex, for the gift. I will accept it, rather than offend by refusal. I am curious, did the person who told you do bring this to me also tell you it's function? If not, it is no pressing matter. I can find out in good time. And we will have time, I imagine."

As Alex moves to deliver his message to Dae, Clint goes to his own mount, Ponk, and uses a burlap bag to rub the horse down before checking his gear and tack. Then he saddles the animal to prepare for movement. Finally, a goal, a purpose. After so long, it was a good feeling ...

Dae exited the tent when she heard conversation and a voice she had not expected to hear again. She was went out to greet Alex and get to the bottom of the puzzle. Moraglin had mentioned something about him being needed elsewhere.

"Alex, It is good to see you but I did not expect you to rejoin us. You had disappeared and when Moraglin joined us she mentioned something about you have other matters to take care of." offers Dae by way of greeting

"However, I am glad to have you wise counsel with us yet again. Moraglin had said you had other responsibilities that needed looking into. Welcome back."

She is busy dropping the tent and then commands it into her bag. stakes poles and all.

Dae is puzzled though and a bit wary until she cleared things up.. She had sense no evil from Moraglin. But now she had questions.

"Moraglin, You said Alex had to return back to his temple and that you were sent in his place."

Moraglin seated on her horse already looks down at Dae. who questions unfortunately would reveal the lie she had told to join up with them. Well it is best to face the music hear and now

"Ah, you have caught my white lie. When The Good Father did not join you the day you set out from that last town I decided to take his place. I had been following you for a while trying to make up my mind whether to join you or not. I had been asked but I was busy at the time. Later when I had time I decided to follow after you and see if you had need of me. The good cleric's non appearance gave me the opportunity to join you on your adventure."

"I said he couldn't join you and he didn't. That was not quite a lie,just not all the truth either. You still need a mage with you. So may I continue with you?"

When Alex whistled Oko looked up from where he was, but before he could wave, Shadow Runner suddenly pinned back his ears and straightened out his neck ready to go after Clint’s bear Oso.

Oko had to grab the halter that was still on Shadow and commanded him to stand still. Shadow obeyed but Oko could tell that he was not too happy with the bear. Seeing Shadow lift up his head and look off in a direction away from the bear, Oko will resume tacking him up. By the time he was done Alex was already eating breakfast, and chatting with the others.

Tying Shadow to a tree with the extra command of “Stay” Oko will finish up loading the pack horse.

Walking up to Alex, Oko will simply say “It is nice to have you back” and at about that time he hears Moraglin’s statement

"Ah, you have caught my white lie. When The Good Father did not join you the day you set out from that last town I decided to take his place. I had been following you for a while trying to make up my mind whether to join you or not. I had been asked but I was busy at the time. Later when I had time I decided to follow after you and see if you had need of me. The good cleric's non appearance gave me the opportunity to join you on your adventure."

"I said he couldn't join you and he didn't. That was not quite a lie, just not all the truth either. You still need a mage with you. So may I continue with you?"
Oko will ask Moraglin in a flat calm quite voice with a hint of steel in it “Just why did you decide to join up instead of following and why did you follow in the firrst place? And why not tell the trruth to begin with?” As he is asking her the questions his head will tilt to one side and he is watching her with an unblinking cat stare his body is very still otherwise. Alex can tell that Oko is a bit tense, like a coiled spring.

Shadow hearing the tone of his rider’s voice will snort and turn around (having already untied the rope holding him) ready to spring into battle if needed. With one or the other of His heavy hooves pawing at the ground.