Daria looked up at the stark land surrounding her. Hills rolled out in every direction. Behind her was the ancient land of Ryad Gar, her homeland. She was now leaving that place forever, never to go back because what she had done, but still the memories burned in her mind. There, off in the distance was her destination.
       The Klanese Mountains stretches across the horizon, their immensely tall peaks barely rising from the ground. It was still several days ride to those mountains, she thought. Daria couldn't bring herself to disturb the absolute silence surrounding her. No birds sang in the sparse trees, and not a single leaf whispered on the underside of the hills. Daria shivered and drew her fine cloak about her shoulders to keep the slight breeze off.
       The sun was going down, and the sky was darkening rapidly. Daria's horse creened his neck around to look at her and winnied. Daria crashed back into reality.
       "Oh do be quiet, Rhameron," Daria said looking the horse in his large brown eyes. "I know you are tired. This looks like a nice place to stay the night. Do you agree?"
       The horse replied with another snort. "Well I guess that settles it. I like that spot over by the trees. Let's go Rhameron." Daria took the horse's reins and pulled off to the left side, clucking. It only took the large, proud stallion a few minutes to carry his timid rider the short distance to the grove of trees. Daria dismounted and surveyed what was to be her home for the evening. With a disparing sigh, she began unsaddling Rhameron, first taking off the bridle and the girthstrap of the saddle.
       She finished quickly, and after hand-feeding Rhameron some of the rapidly deminishing supply of oats and corn, she went on search of some small pieces of wood to use for a fire. Already the cool damp weather was chilling her. Daria picked up the few pieces of wood lying around the grove and stacked them next to the saddle and bridle she had set down.
       She looked over to where Rhameron was patiently chewing a few brown strands of grass, and smiled. She reached into the inside pocket of her soft green cloak and removed a small piece of flint and a bundle of dried grass, wadded up and tied together with a short string. Daria piled the kindling together, and proceded to start the fire. It took several tries before she could get a spark to land on the dry grass. Finally a spark did land on the grass, and tiny wisps of smoke began rising up and curling through the wood. Soon teeny flames begal licking up, touching the twigs and igniting them. Daria spread her hands over the small fire, absorbing whatever heat she could from it. When the larger chuncks of wood were fed to the flame, Daria leaned back a little bit and began changing into something warmer. She took her riding clothes and packed them into her saddlebags and drew out a heavy stark dress made of wool, hoping it would keep her warm in the night. Rhameron stepped back into the light of the fire and watched Daria change.
       "What are you looking at?" she asked with a grin. "Do you like my dress?" Daria spread her arms and turned around, showing off. "Well?" she said with a giggle as the horse shook his head. "Well I do. It is nice and warm, and besides, I can always change back again tomorrow, so there!" Daria put her arms back down to her side, and spread a blanket on the ground, covering the thistle and pine needles. She threw a few more larger chucks of wood onto the fire and pulled another heavier blanket over her. The fire was at her head keeping her warm as she looked up to the stars far overhead.
       Millions of stars shone down upon the world, each one gleaming, and fascinating Daria. She could pick out a few of the ovbious constellations, but not many. Daria began humming to herself as she fell asleep, the crickets and wind rustling through the bushes and leaves adding perfect accopanyment to the nameless tune. It didnt take lone for her to fall asleep, but when she did, she had troubled dreams