Anise didn't move for the first few moments that she opened her eyes. She stared into the darkness of the forest contemplating the dream that she just had. She was confident that this dream had been sent to her through the Spirit Egg. She now had a greater understanding of what the Dragon had experienced. What she had experienced.

[i]Your daughter was the Lady of Light?[/i] Anise thought out loud to the Dragon. This was the only reasonable explanation she could think of. That the Spirits of the forest were the Dragon's children. [i]I will work with you to seek out justice. Have you any way to reach out to your ch-[/i]

Anise stopped mid-thought as hunger pangs ripped through her body. How long had it been since she had last eaten? She had done so much that she couldn't remember. She curled up tighter as the pains struck again.

[quote]"Reus took the Witch back home," he told her solemnly. "Don't worry, you're safe."[/quote]

Only now had she realized that she was being dragged through the forest on a sledge by Peck. Safe in the relative terms at least. She sat up and looked around noticing that the lake was out of sight. She freed the Spirit Egg from the place it was tied up and clutched it in one hand close to her heart.

"Peck," She said brightly. "Thank you. Do you know where I could get some food? I'm not sure I can go much further without it." 

She had read stories about people going more than a week without food, but that could only be fantasy, right? Regardless of that thought, she did not want to be a burden to Peck and wanted to know how to survive on her own. So far, she had managed simply by luck or the goodwill of others. Sooner or later, she would have to use her own two hands to make do for herself. She truly felt grateful for the sacrifices made by everyone she had met for her and their survival, including the Dragon herself, but she would eventually be in a place where she'd have to rely on only her own abilities.