Vellia smiled as the man, who had introduced himself as Tal, told her a little about himself. She enjoyed that, at the very least, she had a reassurance that he wouldn't ask her to dance of all things. He seemed a rather lighthearted man, and Vellia was thankful that this was the first of the Shepherds she had become acquainted with. [b]"It was . . . um . . . I'm pleased . . . uh . . . glad to meet you, too, Tal,"[/b] Vellia stammered. She took in the whole scene. They were certainly a unique bunch.

Her brow furrowed when the girl she had seen earlier began to hurry off as if to hunt for food. When Vellia had seen her last, she was hardly alive. She shouldn't be doing anything strenuous. She shouldn't even be walking right now, but there was nothing that Vellia could do to stop that. Instead she merely returned to her own work at sharpening her weapon as her new friend laid back and began singing again. Vellia tried to keep her task in tempo with the music so it would sound less obnoxious, and began quietly humming along once more. She hoped none would hear her.

As she continued, she felt the heat of the fire. Vellia thought of simply laying back and sleeping. It was comfortably warm, maybe even too warm, but she would not complain. The heat lulled her into relaxation. She eventually decided to cease the sharpening of her axe, set it and her sword aside within reach, and laid on her right side, curling up and merely listening as the sorcerer continued his singing, not very far away. He had a talent Vellia felt jealous of, and she was introduced to a form of relaxation, of peace, and of joy she found foreign. Her days in Regna Ferox had not once shown her what real relaxation, and her smile became soft as she merely allowed the peace to bring the most comfortable sleep she had ever felt encompass her.