How many days have I been out here alone? It seems like months. Maybe this is my punishment my foolishness. And maybe it is not a punishment at all but more of a vision quest. Where did I leave off, oh yes, the trip back home. We traveled out of Parth Aduial, over the Evendim gate and into the Fields of Fornost. It was late and the hills were filled with a dense fog. No one wanted to stop for the night so we moved on. There was a strange heaviness to my eyes and I could hardly keep them open as we kept going through the darkness. That was the last thing I remember, the heaviness took over and I woke up the next morning with a pounding head and alone. Well not totally alone.
When I first came to Evendim I nursed a hurt lynx cub back to health. I use to train the dogs back home on the farm so, I trained her. Once she got older I let her run free in the Evendim woods and she followed me has I headed back to Bree. This time she saved me, she drug me away from whatever attacked the group that night. I followed the drag marks back to try and see what happened to the others, but all I could see was broken and burnt wood from the wagons and markings in the ground like there had been a fight. We had gotten off the main road in the dark fog and I had no idea where we were. I quickly moved away from the wreckage and tried to find a place to gather my wits. There was a small wall of a ruins near by, and a few bushes growing around it. I hid there for a few days. Watching the sun rise and trying to learn my directions and think about which way home was. I was lucky to still have my pack and Eve, the lynx.
I headed, I was hoping, east the morning of my third day. I knew there was a main road and if I could get to it, then maybe I could get back to Trestlebridge and then Bree. Eve and I moved from one old broken ruin to the next. We would hide in the bushes and shrubs as we made our way around the bears and wargs and other things hiding in the fields there, fighting them when we had to. I tried to keep moving, not wanting to sleep unless my body made me. Maybe another mistake, some how I missed the road and the fields just went on and on, I thought my soul would be lost there. I lost track of my time but I keep wandering thinking I would have to find my way out of this place as long as I kept going. After what seemed an eternity I made my way into a valley and there was another old ruins, but it was a door. It was almost like a magic door to me, because on the other side I could see tall trees, green grass and flowers. A cool spring breeze blew away the smell of death and brought the scent of life.
The trees and flowers made me have hope once again, but water was what I really needed, my supply had run out. Exhaustion was trying to take over, but I knew if I stopped then, I would not being going on again. I had still been watching the sun, trying to at the very least know which way was north, and again I tried to head east. I had studied the maps of the area and there was a river to the east, surly I could not miss that... Once I found it I could follow it down and hopefully all the way to Trestlebridge.
I was right, and when I saw the water below me I slid down the embankment and into the cool blue water. Every part of me needed that water. Once I had enough to drink I tried to wash off both my clothes and my body. I was encrusted with dirt and the smell of the fog was like death. The water cleansed away that smell and it gave me a new life. I found a little cave and built a small fire, trying to keep it hidden. My clothes dried and I looked over my supplies. The sight was grim and I knew I better keep moving and hope that I found people again soon. I packed up and headed out the next day with a renewed hope.
How long ago was that now, I have lost track of time. I am still following the water down and I think I am reading the lands right, if so I will be nearing Trestlebridge some time soon, I hope. My supplies are gone but I've had help from Eve and with my knowledge of plants and berries I've been able to live off the lands. I fed her when I had extra but now that we are lost she started bringing rabbits and dropping them by my fire. I know as I get closer to Trestlebridge the orcs will get worse. Oh the letters.. Why did I not find a way to mail them from Evendim? If I had they might know I did not make it back to Bree. Would he look for me? Would things be different now? I am not that same little farm girl any more. I am almost more afraid of going back to Bree to face what I left behind than I am of living out here in the wilds trying to find my way. I see smoke coming from over the ridge....I better put this away and prepare for whatever might be my next challenge.
(The doodles around her pages)
