Her journey started simple: a scrap of parchment from the gristly tavernkeep of the quaint village of Dalerrik listing resources to keep a keen eye for. Though, she was warned of unrest within the Haran Valley, as something disturbed the wildlife therein. The petite woman shrugged, not overly concerned for she wandered the lands far and wide—much more than any of the villagers could deign to boast. As long as she exercised due caution, there was little for the lone ranger to fear.
So, with paper in tow, she made her way into the wooded Haran Valley. A cool fog clung to the woodlands, obscuring some of the environs, though it hardly halted her progress. Each step careful, avoiding fallen branches and rustling brambles. Aksinya moved silently with the ease of many years and many forays into the untamed wilderness.
Ignoring the delicate footprints of a young deer, she instead knelt beside a patch of flowers and wild weeds. Some were medicinal, others poisonous. The petals of the flowers in question, would serve well as a dye—one of the requests on the parchment. Regardless, she unsheathed her dagger and slowly, deliberately unearthed the various plants, packaging them within one of her leather satchels before moving on.
It took her a while to realize that the call of the birds was not quite normal. 'Twas emphatic and frantic. Something surely ruffled their feathers most unpleasantly—
The roar of a mighty beast, not one she could place, left her crouching low in search of something monstrous or otherwise dangerous. The birds fell silent and scattered. Once able to verify that nothing, immediately, was about to barrel into her face, Aksinya rose and heaved a sigh most exasperated.
For she needed to at least identify the threat so close to Dalerrik; her conscience compelled her.
Notching an arrow to her bow, she stalked toward where the roar first came, her steps light yet full of purpose. Yet she needn't traverse far, as she quickly came into view of a massive red dragon—such creatures still breathed?— huddled within the wide maw of a cave. How she prayed the fog kept her concealed!
It took her many moments to take note of the multitude of seemingly fresh wounds marring his, she assumed, form. In the back of her head, she pondered the little she knew of dragons. Were they all violent? Were they wise? Would her arrow even pierce the thick hide?
Likely, she ought to head back as the information alone proved serious—much more than the simple villagers first assumed, for sure.
