Arilee awoke the next morning before the rest of her group. She didn't sleep well the night before. It was a restless sleep, filled with odd, chaotic dreams. She couldn't remember their details, but she remembered the intensity and the emotion. She felt tired.

She opened her to tent to see a wet morning greeting her. The air was misty and damp, with a slight chill. She guessed it must have rained over night, but she slept through it. She looked around the campsite, half-expecting to see Idril awake and preparing the morning campfire, but he had left the day before and wasn't with them anymore. She missed his presence. But without him here, she took it upon herself to the morning chores before everyone woke up. She gathered dry wood from their protected pile, and set it up for a morning fire. She whispered her Enchant:Fire spell to get it started and then set up a pot of water to boil.

The rest of the campgrounds had a sleepy vibe to it in the quiet morning, the sun still yet to fully crest the tree tops. She sat by the fire and thought on the events of the day prior at the Dwarven Tomb. She figured that was the reason for her troubled sleep. She was beginning to not like enclosed spaces, with that and the events of the Goblin Cave. Things just never seemed to go well.

She looked over to where Rorick and Tallus had set up their tents by the group's. She thought about how odd it seemed to be having an exiled dwarf prince follow her. She didn't feel like the type of person who a prince would follow, exiled or not. He seemed well-meaning though, if rough around the edges, and she liked Tallus. He was a good spirit.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice a newcomer enter the campsite. He cleared his throat, causing her to snap out of her ruminations. She looked up in surprise to see a male elf with long brown hair and tanned skin - a wood elf - standing in front of her. His face was rounder and softer than Idril's, and deep brown eyes.

"Good morning, sorry I was lost in my thoughts. Can I help you?"

"Good morning neighbor," he said, his face breaking into a big, friendly smile. "My name is Trefildin. My friends call me Tre. Do you mind if I join you around your fire? I noticed your bow as I was walking by and was wondering if you had any hunting experience?"

"My name is Arilee. Please, have a seat," offered Arilee. "Whatever you can find that's dry works." Arilee waited for the elf to sit on a near by tree stump before continuing. "I do have some hunting experience. Why do you ask?"

"Well you see, I'm with the Caravan Hunters, and we've been lacking in members recently. We could use any help we can get get with procuring food for the caravan, I was wondering if you'd be interested in joining. "

"The Caravan hunters? Tell me more. My group and I were going to join the Caravan Guard to help out while we travel with the Caravan."

"Well if you wanted to help out, we could definitely use your help. What type of hunting experience do you have?"

"Well, when I was younger, my guardian raised me to hunt while we lived in the Valenwoods. That's how I learned my bow skills. We most hunted regular forest creatures like squirrels and rabbits, but once in awhile I would help him set traps for wild boar."

"That's excellent to hear. We could definitely use your help then. And in addition to hunting for food, we also will assist local villages and towns we pass with any troublesome animals or creatures they've been dealing with. It helps us build up good will, and sometimes earn some spare coin. After you eat breakfast, you should come by the Hunters' Wagon. It's by the Elder's Wagon and next to the Caravan Guard."

"Thank you for letting me know. I appreciate it, truly. I'll come find you then, Tre."

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The wood smiled, stood up and bowed, and gracefully walked back to his own campsite. Sometime later, Tallus joined Arilee by the morning fire. He was wrapped in a small blanket and rubbed his hands over the flame.

"Never fun to wake up to a wet morning," he said. "How are you today, Miss Arilee?"

"Good morning Tallus," Arilee smiled. "I'm okay, had a bit of rough sleep, but starting to feel better."

"I had a rough sleep as well. Yesterday was a long day for all of us. Sorry again about how it all turned out. I didn't expect it to be anything like that. But I appreciate that you helped us. You have a good heart, Arilee. Your group respects you, and you seem to care about them. You're a good leader. I think you will be a good influence on Rorick.

"It's nice of you to say that Tallus. You seem like you are a good friend. Rorick is lucky to have you. And we're lucky to have you with us as well."

Tallus smiled shyly. "I was thinking of ways I could help you all. I know you are all planning on joining the Caravan Guard, but I don't know how good I would be at that. What I am good at though, is magic and making skill and level-up scrolls. If you're open to it, I can make the Scrolls for free for you group as we travel."

"That would be a huge help," said Arilee. "Truth be told, we've fallen behind in keeping our skills up to day, and we're all pretty low level."

"It's no problem and I'm happy to help. And about your levels. Training with the Guard will be good for most of you, but Chip should get practice with his magic. Do you think he would be open to me training him a little? I'm not the most advanced magic user, but I would be better than nothing. That boy has great potential in him. I can feel it."

Arilee smiled again, "I think Chip would be grateful for the offer."

"Wonderful."

The two of them sat by the fire for awhile longer, making idle chat, as the rest of the group rose from their slumbers. Leela yawned a high-pitched yawn, shivered, and grabbed her blanket from her tent before sitting at the fire. Slicks, Chip, and Rorick slowly made their to the fire as well.

During breakfast, Arilee told the group about the Wood Elf who stopped by earlier in the morning, and about how she wanted to join the Caravan Hunters.

"I think it sounds like a good idea," said Chip. "Whatever gets you the best training and experience."

"I agree," said Leela. "I was actually thinking of trying to find a Priestess of the Light in the Caravan and see if they need any help. I don't know if I'd be of much help to the Guard."

"I think you should," said Arilee encouraging.

Chip looked around the fire. "So that just leaves me, slicks, Rorick and Tallus for the Guard then?"

Tallus started, "Well actually, I was wondering if you wanted to work on your magic with me? I know a little bit and I could help you practice your casting skills."

"Really?" said Chip. "That's awfully nice of you to offer, but I was sort of looking forward to getting some combat training from the Guard. Maybe at nights we could work on practicing magic though?"

Tallus nodded, "That works for me. Gives me more time to work on making Scrolls anyways."

Rorick laughed cheerfully and slapped Chip on the back. “Boy, I'm happy you'll be joining us. I thought you were looking a little scrawny. You and I will get strong together.”

“And Slicks too,” said Chip.

“Yes, and of course Slicks too. We're all friends now,” said Rorick.

Slicks hissed. "I’m just glad I won’t be left alone with just the Dwarf."

Chip stifled a laugh as Rorick looked down, saddened. Arilee shot both Chip and Slicks a stern glare.

Arilee moved the conversation forward. "Well, once we're all finished breakfast we can head out and find our prospective groups. I was told the Guard and the Hunters should be near each other. I'm not sure where the Priestess would be, Leela, but you should come with us anyway," said Arilee.

"Sounds good to me," said Chip.

Tallus chimed in, "If you let me know what skills you are interested in learning, I can check my supplies to see what I have here to make, otherwise I can make a shopping run to the other wagons. It'll be easier to get supplies now before the caravan leaves tomorrow."

"Thanks Tallus, I'll gather what we need from everyone and be sure to leave a list for you," said Arilee as she stood up from the fire, stretching her arms high into the air. "Hopefully today will be easier than yesterday."

"Hopefully," echoed Chip, smiling.