AYLETH
Despite the bright sunlight of the morning, she and Etan sank into sleep quickly after that. Ayleth felt herself dragged down in the darkness and wanted to resist, but she knew they had fewer hours to rest that day and that she would regret fighting it. So she let herself sink, though she soon wished she hadn't.
She woke, it seemed, deep in the forest where, despite the bright summer sunlight, the trees and mountains blocked the light and warmth, leaving her chilled and peering through dim, damp darkness.
"Etan?" she called.
"He isn't here," her mother's voice said from behind her.
Ayleth whirled, first frightened, her mind screaming that if her mother was here, Etan was in danger! But then she saw her mother's smile and her heart eased.
"Mother!"
