The world turns to darkness, outside the reach of his light. There are trees, but perhaps they are the memories of trees, like the remembered outline of your dresser once all the lights are off. There are handmaidens, but perhaps they are not handmaidens now. No flutter of silk. No strong hand on his shoulder.

He is alone.

And despite a dragon, despite the darkness, despite a hundred and one quite reasonable worries at his door, all Hazel Valentine Fletcher can think is

[i]Huh.

Never seen that happen before.[/i]

And it’s true! He hasn’t! When else has he had the opportunity to witness a legendary hero give a companion just what they needed, right before they needed it? Before anyone knew trouble was coming?

Because. Well. He had always found a way to muddle through whatever life threw at him, hadn’t he? Things had always turned out alright if he just kept on trucking, hadn’t they? Was he really going to give up now? Was Hazel Valentine Fletcher a quitter? No! Not in the least. Not in the past, and certainly not today. They [i]were[/i] going to get through this journey. He [i]would[/i] see them through, somehow.

Heron. Hero of Ages. She was really something, wasn’t she?

Right. That’s enough sulking, snapping, and/or stressing. Sayanastia ([i]the[/i] Sayanastia!!!) is under some sort of curse. She’s not acting herself. Or rather, she’s acting like she used to, long ago. That sort of thing happens when you’re Outside. So, if you think about it, that sort of thing should stop happening once you’re outside of Outside? Hopefully? It’s the best he can do on short notice, anyhow.

One foot in front of the other, Hazel. Time to put those notebooks to good use. 

Plus side, she doesn’t seem to have noticed him yet. He’s got a moment to get a plan together...

[hr]
[b]Sayanastia![/b]

The shiny little [i]morsel[/i] thinks that tree is enough to hide him from your sight.

Do you find it amusing? Adorable? Refreshing, maybe, to have a brave, clueless little thing cowering from your impossible might?

Well, whatever the case, you’ve got some entertainment while you vent your wrath at these cursed pilgrims. Just as it should be.

[Hazel is rolling to [b]Figure Out A Person:[/b] 6 + 2 + 0 = [b]8[/b] Asking:
-What do you love most?
-How could I get you to chase me?

Sayanastia gets a question of Hazel in return.]