[i]Thursday, January 3, Fourth Era 903.
	A sunny, warm morning in the wintertime, an oddity in the Kingdoms. The Foxhounds were camped up behind a hill overlooking the town of Darkened Dawn. Only Sinopa was awake at this early hour of the day. He was atop the hill with a clear view of both the town and the camp.[/i]

	I watched over the Foxhounds as they slept without any sign of waking any time soon. Most of the new recruits were untrained, unable to realize when they were supposed to be awake.
	"I remember those days," I said to myself. "The days when I had no worries; the days when I could sleep in as much as I wanted."
	Of course, the Patriots had hired me in 4E901. I was just fourteen then, but the courageous fire inside me burned just as bright. The Patriots and Fayden placed their faith in me, and I couldn't let them down. I just can't.
	Maybe I should wake up the recruits. I panted slightly, trying to cool myself down. I shook my head. I'll let the recruits figure it out for themselves.
	Recruits wasn't technically the right word. Some of them were seasoned veterans of wars, some were trained mercenaries who are doing this for the pay. Fayden was one, of course.
	"Up early, I see?"
	I jumped slightly.
	"Fayden!" I yelled at the elf. "Don't sneak up on me like that!"
	Fayden smirked under his hood. "Why not, Sinopa? You've done it to me in the past, I just wanted to return the favor."
	I scowled. He was right, the clever bastard. When I was first recruited into the Patriots, I always scared Fayden when he least expected it.
	"So, the recruits are still asleep?" I asked the elf.
	"Yes, they are. But some are stirring. Perhaps they might wake sooner than the others."