Shadows whispered from the pure darkness of the haunting dreams. Lightning crackled and sparked in a thick midsummer rain. The shadows bulged and grew to quick contrast in the shade of the lightning, drawing taught as they outlined the crooked branches of the foliage. The scene was definitely Dathomir. The Grey faced rock, soaked evenly, showed her face in its reflection. Red hair, clumped into messy braids, her face half caked in mud. When Arleigh's eyes locked with her reflection, she awoke with a start. She gasped for air, she was covered in sweat and her blankets were twisted around her legs as if she had been running full tilt while laying down. She groaned loadly and stumbled out of bed and onto the damp stone floor. She winced as the cold in the room filled her lungs and woke her fully.
The small stone built hut seemed much smaller now that there was only her living here. With a splash of water from the urn she quickly washed herself to rid herself of the sweat from her nightmare. AS she rubbed er arms she winced at the deep scratches that had not yet healed. Hunting was a dangerous art, especially now that she had to fend for herself. She clutched at the pendant given to her by her father and then at the scars across her face given to her by her mother. Arleigh forced a smile and forced the scar tissue to contract. Only a year now had that been done. She cursed as the pain from the still frayed nerves on her face reacted to her smile.
“Kriffing Hells” Arleigh groaned.
She punched into the carved stone wall and smiled as the pain and fresh blood coursed down her hand. She quickly bound her bleeding knuckles and collected some of the smoked rat meat that she had caught the last night. She retrieved three of the carcasses and looked to the corner.
“Wally, wake up buddy...”
Wit ha ferocious growl Wally awoke and strode over to her outsretched arm. He was the newborn descendant of Arleigh's mother's mount. As the mother had abandoned him Arleigh had taken him in. Most likely stemming from her own history with her Mother, Yqilitch. Arleigh, had taken pity and quite unlike most of the nightsisiters, was now raising something that most would deem unworthy.
Arleigh's mother had deemed her so after she had caught Arleigh crying next to her father's grave. Needless to say, Arleigh would never make that mistake again. She had not shed a tear in a year. Not even when her mother was slain during the last great battle against the Knights. The opposite in fact.
Arleigh deposited the three rats into Wally's mouth and sat down upon her bed. She was just about to give Wally a tongue thrashing for sleeping too late when there was a knock on the door. It was one of the Elder sisters of the clan and she looked angry.
“Apprentice Burke, Get up and dressed in your armour. The Sisters have sensed an arrival. Be in the square in no less than 5 minutes.” With a spi of a dark heel, the woman left.
Arleigh sprang into action and slipped on her leather boots and armour, complimented by the Black Sun emblazoned belt that she had scavenged from the ruins of the Black Sun forces. It was nice, metal, and bulky. Plenty of room for her knives. She ran full tilt to the square and took her position at the left flank of the greeting party. Wally squared up next to her in his red paint. With no sounds the group began to march up the trail. Arleigh clutched her spear and attempted to look as menacing as possible.
