Anise listened to his question. That had been a question that lingered in her mind for a while until recently. While no one had told her, it had happened often enough that she figured out how she got here. She raised the lantern in its damaged glory and nodded at it. "This lantern is what summoned you here. I know it may be hard to wrap your head around it, but it has power... and a sort of will of its own."

She fully put her attention on the newcomer. "There are two different and opposed factions in this forest. The Kith and the Pirates. Both I think are people that were forced here by the lanterns, and each found their own way to survive this place. They also both have their own stories about a great dragon that ruled over this forest. The Pirates believe that the dragon was evil and sealed it away into these lanterns of which I know of four, but I think there's more. The Kith revere the dragon as a benevolent being and believe that breaking the seals of these lanterns will free the dragon and bring back the sun. I think both may be true to some degree and the dragon's 'evil' was not naturally brought about. I also believe that the lanterns are the only way back home and want to collect them, cleanse any evil from them, and free them. I just want to help those that are stuck here find a way back home."

Her expression then saddened. "Also, the dead's spirits don't move on. I want to help them find peace." She also wanted to see if any of them wanted to help her protect those stuck in this forest and act as guardians. If she could gather many friends to help her then that would be preferable.

Anise's expression returned to a more friendly expression. "I'm afraid that I didn't hear your name. What are you called?"