The night was colder than Straya had anticipated and she fought back a small shiver. The large bonfire that was sitting up ahead looked more and more inviting by the minute. Standing in the middle of the old dirt road, she scanned the area carefully. Nothing and no one could be seen near the fire, but that didn’t mean that it wasn’t still a trap. She grabbed the hilt of the sword on her back and unsheathed it, the metal singing in the quiet night. 

Cursing under her breath, she decided that if this was a trap or a test of some kind, that there was no use just standing around like a tree. Best to spring it and pay the consequences. She gripped her sword tightly, and began walking toward the fire. Her eyes swept back and forth, searching for any signs of danger and her ears were perked back, listening for anything other than the crunching of dirt beneath her muddy boots. When she reached the circle of warmth from the blazing fire, she expected something to jump out and attack. Yet nothing did. Odd. 

With her hand still gripping her sword, she pulled out her watch and looked at the time. “Hmm, only ten more minutes until the meeting.” she muttered under her breath. She turned her back to the fire and crouched down, still searching the darkness for anything out of place. Taking a deep breath, she made her decision.

“I’ll give it 15 minutes. If no one shows, then it’s back to the hunt for me.”