Tarek wandered through the woods, trying to keep to a straight path so he wouldn't get lost. He spent most of his day traveling already and the sky darkened above, casting long shadows from the trees. In the forest, night always came so much sooner. He quickened his step, not wanting to spend the night outside somewhere strange yet again. And yet...he fingered the ocarina Holly gave him. He supposed if he did stop, he could at least spend the night not alone...

He shook his head. No, he would make it to town before dark. It took another hour, but soon the path opened up and he found himself on a proper road paved in stone. This he followed until he came to a gate made of sharpened logs. It seemed foreboding and Tarek guessed the forest once ran all the way up to the town's doorstep. How selfish. He shook off the thought though and called to the men at the gate looking very official like.

"Hail there. I'm a traveler from the other side of these woods. Does your town have room for me to stay?" Tarek called. Unlike before in the woods, the men greeted him with rowdy calls, all smiles. Were they perhaps not of the same people who hunted dear Holly? He felt a little relieved at the thought.

"Of course, stranger. Tell us, where are you from? It has been a long time since we had visitors and our land is sad with it. Come, Marcus here will take you to the inn. Mrs. Tieger will be happy for the business."

They continued to talk as Marcus led him into the town. Tarek gave one last look over his shoulder to the woods before he followed. It as for the best. Tonight he would sleep, then start researching in the morning. When noon came, he would once again return to the woods.