= Joseph Faust =

I approached Sara with a tenative air, wondering what mystical force had such power to cause her to run in wild abandon through the woodland without regard for life or limb. "Sara, what is it? What is hurting you!?"

"Darkness..." was all she said, in an eerily calm half-whisper. "Darkness..." she repeated, a growing sense of fear manifesting in the night.

"Are you alright now?" Tryfan asked meagerly, showing some care for her situation.

She shook her head no, but seemed confused, and said, "Better."

"What is this corruption inside your mind?" I asked, afraid of what her response might be. From what we knew, there was already one charmer rampant among the island, Eleiamae of the marsh.

"I don't know!" She cried angrily, though it was only to be expected. "This deep gnawing pain is wracking at my conscious, like something is trying to get inside me! To see through me..." The very thought of it had me almost petrified. Surely... what force knew we were here. The Fae, as I knew them, were benevolent, and I had no doubt to that. Eleiamae had been pushed away by Sara before, so she would be a fool to try again. Besides, she had neither rhyme nor reason for doing so.

"What could possibly do this to you?" I muttered, unsure, and knowing it was more of a rhetorical question than anything. I was surprised, then, when she gave a feeble response.

"Well I did meet a shapechanger today..." she mumbled, "a wild-haired woman with dark skin, grimy hair, and tattered linen clothes. She approached me as you, but she offered me food, berries. I cannot understand why she would would want this, and judging by her timidity, she has not the power to do so."

The apprehension was like a particularly disgusting green jello, a wobbling mess of vegetable matter and water that threatened to eclipse hope. There was something, somewhere... a force had woken, and the feeling grew only stronger that we would soon learn its meaning. Suddenly, the thought came upon me.

"Is there a river in this land?" I scarcely expected a knowledgeable response, but the statement was the same amongst the two.

"None that I have seen, but the small one in the marshes." Tryfan said, wondering the reason for my question.

"No," answered Sara shyly, obviously regretting her lack of exploration.

"Me either," I echoed, but preceded to interrogate Tryfan. "What of Eleiamae? Did she know of any?"

"The impression I got would have me assume that either she did not, or that she did not find it important."

"There could hardly be," I said with a sigh. "There are no mountains from which it could have a source."

"I sighted distant mountains further down the peninsula, near to Hela's supposed house." Tryfan voiced, curiously, likely wondering the same thing as I. Was there a river in that region? If so, was it the same malignant presence that had so kindly escorted us here?

"I have the feeling that there must be a river," I said prophetically, "and that it is probably our ticket home. I suggest we look for it. Are you feeling up to it Sara?"

"I believe so," she answered meekly.

"We ought to leave in the morning, which is actually closer than it appears, I believe. It must be at least past midnight. Anyone against sleeping in that cavern?"

"Sounds like the safest and most sensible choice, should it start to rain again," suggested Tryfan.

"Alright, agreed it is then. We will set out at dawn."

Neither of the other two answered, both contemplating, Sara visibly distraught from her previous experience. I counted their previous comments as a "yes."

What would lie beyond?

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Very short post, but there will be a longer follow-up within a day or two (depending on how long it takes someone else to post).