"By the time we make it back to town, the sun will be rising, and we will have to just walk straight back. Either stay with me tonight in what I promise will be a very secure, very safe dwelling or go by yourself back into town and wait for me there." Renfri draped the fabric of her tent over the frame and hammered the dense pegs into the ground, making sure that all of it was just far enough away from the spluttering fire that she had made to keep the swarms of insects away.

"No, I want to stay, I really do. But isn't this forest renown for people entering and then never being seen again? I'm sure there is rumour of all sorts inhabiting this place, ghouls... wolves and who knows what else." With the moon slowly creeping overhead she threw the satchels into the tent and joined you overlooking the fire.

"You really shouldn't panic so much. There are far greater things to be scared of in this world than wolves and ghouls, and if any of them begin rustling around our tent in the middle of the night, I will protect you." She pulled you in closely, you let her soothing voice drown out the orchestra of chirping insects and crackling bushes. "But I'm sure that won't be needed. We're deep in the forest, nobody would be out this far so if there is anything in this forest, there would be no reason for it to be this far from the border."

"Don't worry, I trust you. I wouldn't be following you into some thievery job that I know very little about if I didn't trust you."

"I told you, I need your skillset, it isn't an average job but don't worry, you will be rewarded handsomely for your efforts." She pulled you from your seat and kicked heavy soil over the fire, covering the embers and leaving nothing but a plume of smoke.

"You can keep your money; I don't need it. I am more than happy to join you on this adventure and keep you company, so long as you keep me safe from whatever nasties are lurking in the trees."

"Come on, we have a lot of travelling to do tomorrow if we're going to make it in time, and I know that just because we're going to bed doesn't mean we're going to be going to sleep."

~*~

Written by Aaron.