A sinking feeling crept through her stomach as the sun worked its way through her tent flap. She had not slept that night, how could she? It was finally the day for her pilgrimage and **Meppa** did not feel like she had the strength to do it.

She lay there allowing time to pass, listening to the sounds of her kin barking and making their way. She could stay here forever, hiding from the world. The warm breeze flowed into the tent, touching her face gently with the first warmth of the day. The breeze was heavy with the humidity of summer, her journey would not be fraught with the fogs of spring or fall. This did not raise her spirits, but instead made her stomach sink further at the thought of the dangers awaiting on the road.

Her mind wandered to vivid visions of being torn to pieces by wolves. She shook her head to try and rid her mind of these thoughts and instead imagined being crushed by a large bear. She clenched her eyes tightly and felt herself falling, and beneath her was a gathering of sharp rocks greeting her like the teeth of some horrific beast.

She screamed and jumped out of her cot.

“I need control, I need control…” she began to chirp under her breath as she feverishly looked around.

She went over to her travel pack and began to meticulously check everything she had packed. She knew it was all there, but the ritual gave her comfort, it was a tactic she used to ground herself in times of uncertainty or fear. Slowly she calmed down, things would be OK, she would not be alone; **Dekkara** would be with her.

After wrapping herself in her travel garb, she carefully wrapped her tail and grabbed the only thing her parents left behind for her, a chipped and fractured scale. Despite its age, It still shone brightly with a fiery red; proof of the longevity and divinity of **Kaelrath**.

Leaving her tent she saw that most of the camp had already been broken down in preparation for the beginning of the journey. Sitting next to a small fire was **Meppa’s** sister, **Dekkara**, who quickly noticed her sister and motioned for her to join her.

“A late start today!” **Dekkara** gleefully exclaimed,

“Was not ready,” **Meppa** grumbled,

Her sister was always the optimist, she had been waiting for this pilgrimage nearly her whole life. **Meppa** however had been dreading it. Her sister pulled a rusty pan with some sizzling eggs on it and offered it to **Meppa**.

**Meppa** excitedly started scarfing them down, she loved the crunchy shells the most. Her sister proceeded to go and pack up their tent and **Meppa’s** eyes slowly drifted southward. Just barely visible over the horizon was a gleaming red jewel, **Kaelrath the Ember of the South**, perched upon her mountain gazing upon the valley of **Fallenstar**. That was her destination, that was her pilgrimage.