Winter 64, 513 AV
It was not without a great deal of hesitation that Zaylunao crossed from the familiar, frozen land of Taldera into the untamed wilderness of Sylira. For years the Vantha had drug her boots through snow and sleet, and neither were able to slow her progress. The blistering chill and ravenous winds could not extinguish the fire in her eyes. Her view for those long years was of wide, flat tundras that stretched far into the snowy haze and beyond. Only the occasional mountain range would cut the winds and provide caves for shelter, granted that they were unoccupied. Trees were few and far between, and served only as landmarks with their tall bark reaching up towards the heavens. The Bronze Woods, whose title no longer felt appropriate, had spruce that stretched out over rolling hills, snow-peaked mountains, and sheer cliffs. Each tree stood like a black hair on the beard of a gnarly mountainman; unkemp, untouched, and unappealing. In the north, the trees that grew were hardy and reliable. It would take more than some cold weather to persuade them to drop their leaves. But here the trees were almost eager to expose themselves like the cheapest girl at the cathouse. Naked, they swayed in the wind, dancing their perverted dance with no sense of decency. It disgusted her.
She did not have much of a choice when it came down to it. Though she had made substantial progress in her work, there was no denying that the real answers she sought were far from the ice city of Avanthal. If further progress was to be made, she would have to venture beyond her home. The idea alone made her uneasy. She had heard much about the lands bordering her own, and of the strange people that inhabited them. Even more, the tales of ghastly creatures and ferocious beasts made her wary. What cruel and malevolent beings inhabited these woods? Zaylunao was not afraid. But she was nervous.
Taking her first step into the forest felt like the first step out onto a icy lake. At any moment it felt like the would would split apart under her feet. Thankfully, the Earth continued to hold her up, and she found the flame of adventure in her heart roaring once more as she pressed farther and farther into unfamiliar territory. There was a sense of tension that coupled with excitement to help fuel her courage, even the strange sounds of the forest doing little to dissuade her. She felt alive. The adrenaline that sped through her veins pumped strength into every muscle of her body. It was like being hit with a lightning bolt. And she loved it.
Three days had passed since she entered the thick woods, and the sun was setting on the fourth. Zaylunao busied herself with setting up camp within spitting distance of the Suvan Sea. She had hugged the coast for the latter half of her travels, using it to keep herself on the path towards Syliras, a city in which she hoped to find her next clue. At night she could sit on the beach and watch the lights flicker in the distance; lanterns aboard the ships far off at sea. The sounds of the water crashing against the shore were at first very strange to her, but quickly became a sedative for her more restless nights. Even the cold winds were nothing to her but a cool breeze. Things were peaceful in this new land, and Zaylunao thought herself foolish to have once feared it.
Unfortunately, she was unable to rid herself of a memory forged only hours earlier. When she dared to travel deeper into the woods in search for any settlements, she had been ambushed by wolves. Not the beautiful, noble canines of the south. No, these mutts were dirty brown and charcoal black. The colors of night. They were not noble, either. Especially when they ravaged her rations. Her attempt to fend them off was admirable, but ultimately futile. When they finally did leave her be, they had already taken her food and had left a souvenir in the form of a gash down her right arm. It was nothing a few bandages couldn't cover up, and she was close enough to city to be able to make it before noon tomorrow. All she could do was hope it didn't get worse.
So, sitting on the dry sand with an empty stomach and a bandaged limb, Zaylunao watched as the last rays of light waved their goodbyes before dipping down into the Sea. She held back a sigh, forcing back the feelings of depression. There was no sense in getting sad. All she could do was wait for tomorrow, and hope better things would come.
