Having worked as a ranger for over a decade, Finn had no trouble getting up early. In fact, he was quite used to it and preferred being up before the rest of the world, to watch the Sun rise from the balcony of his watchtower. This morning was no exception. Another day had passed and still no news of Morgia had been found; she was out there, gone, without a trace left behind. After she had gone missing, the whole Valley seemed to be perturbed by her sudden disappearance, and everyone -- from little school children to the elderly -- was doing their best to find her, or help in the search as best as they could, as was the custom in the Valley; but even the most persistent of men falter eventually. Now, only the most stubborn ones were still searching.
Finn himself had scouted the woods multiple times, both alone and with his great wolfhound Tooth, but still no evidence of Morgia's presence could be found. He would try again, of course. Finn had never been the man who stays idle when his folk are in trouble. He would cross every stream, flip every stone and climb every tree, but he would find Morgia, dead or alive.
He pulled on his boots, put on mail his shirt and his scouting leather armour, took his cloak from the chair, fastened his dagger, ax and quiver and was on his way, riding to the square, hoping to hear at least some rumours about the poor missing soul. It takes some time to reach the town from his home at the edge of the woods; so he rode slowly, chewing some long-forgotten herb and ruminating on the possible reasons for Morgia's disappearance. Tooth followed, that grey sullen-eyed beast.
"What's the matter, boy?" asked Finn, looking at the sad animal.
Tooth replied with a sad bark.
"Oh, c'mon now," Finn said; "Don't do that!" The breeze was getting stronger now, and the path went slightly uphill. "We'll get you something nice to eat when we reach the town."
Tooth squealed and then barked again, but this time more joyfully.
"Silly thing," Finn told him. "You were better when you were a pup, you know that? Less grumpy. You're like an old man now. I might as well get myself a grandpa to keep me company!"
"Woof! Woof!" Tooth's melancholy vanished in this banter.
"Alright! Alright!" Finn shouted. "Calm down. You're so sensitive sometimes..."
They reached the top of the hill and in front of them lay the town, shrouded in the morning mists that carried the morning calls of the roosters.
"Just in time," Finn said to himself, and their descend began.