I watched Elena and Isolde laughing, their voices bright against the dark forest. It was strange. Our home was smoke and ash, Meli’s family was in chains, and yet they were laughing at a joke made by a god. I couldn’t find any amusement in it.

But I was glad they could. It was good that they found comfort in the Fool, even now. The gold stag was impossibly wild and strange, which made me think of the Fool’s face known as the Wild. But the joke was clever, a trick, which was the work of the Jester. Maybe the gods are always all their faces at once, and we just picked one to help us understand.

I thought about Elena, Isolde, and Garrick. This wasn't the first time they had lost a home. They lost the palace, the center of the kingdom, the grand place I couldn't even remember since I wasn't yet one year old when we fled. Now they had lost the orchard too. I knew they were just trying to be brave.

Meli was silent, and I felt her fear. When I moved to start the fire, she finally spoke.

[b]"Don't start a fire, Cad. It could lead them to us..."[/b]

She was right. I agreed immediately. I dropped the wood I was holding.

I moved closer to Meli and put my human arm around her shoulders. I hugged her gently from the side and leaned in to kiss the top of her head, being careful to avoid her horns.

[b]"We won't make a fire. We'll get your family back, Meli. I promise."[/b]

I then turned back to Garrick, nodding as he finished speaking. So Adam never told them. He just believed I would "recognize it." That meant whatever it was, it was connected to me, to the Solarian line, or maybe to the egg.

[b]"I understand, Garrick. It sounds like Adam left us a riddle, not a map."[/b]

I looked out into the deep darkness of the forest. We couldn't all sleep.

[b]"We need to rest, but we can't risk sleeping unguarded. We will do two rounds of watch."[/b]

I picked up my sword and shielded arm.

[b]"I will take the first watch. I need to think, anyway. Garrick, are you able to take the second? I will wake you up when it's time."[/b]

I moved to each of my companions,Elena, Isolde, Garrick, and Meli, giving each a soft kiss on the cheek.

[b]"Goodnight, everyone. Try to rest."[/b]

[hider=OOC]If the night passes without incident (no encounters or checks needed), feel free to describe the watch change and the group waking up in the morning so we can get back on the path to Little Happens. During the watch shift, Cadmus would say something like, [b]"If you hear anything wake me up, don't be a hero."[/b][/hider]