[TheLadyAerowen]

Alearindu awoke quietly from her sleep in the make-shift camp that was in the forest above the settlement. She packed up her equipment that she had used for the night, and planned her day. She was to watch over the settlement, so why not get a closer look of the place?

She walked over to Mornen, her horse, who had been grazing. Mounting effortlessly, Alearindu made her way through the forest on the path that led to the settlement. As they reached the clearing, Alearindu first noticed how many tents there were. Every building-to-be was either under a tent, or just out in the open. Her first impression of the place, was that it would be quite, dull, having no real buildings and people that either appeared to be wandering, or people that were working.

Still following a dirt path, Alearindu came upon the Lake Evendim and went to the right. She then came across a distributary of the lake, which appeared to be quite deep in that particular spot. Going to the right once again, Alearindu led Mornen down the banks of the distributary until they came to a more shallow part of the waters. Mornen obediently waded through the flowing waters and only his legs and up to Alearindu's boots got wet.

Alearindu and Mornen continued on, past a few more tents, and one smithy which was in the open. Right after the smithy, came what appeared to be a trading post. Alearindu decided to stop there, so she dismounted Mornen and let him go free; knowing he wouldn't wander far. Going under the tent, Alearindu entered the trading post. Even without a building, the trading post had just about everything one could need for a journey. Alearindu first went to a near-by table, picked up an arrow from a stack that was lying on the table and examined it. She then picked up nine more, and continued walking around the make-ship trading post. Everything was set up on tables, in shelves, or on the ground, depending on what the item was.

After perusing the shop for a while, Alearindu finally made her way to the front table with her arrows, a few herbs, and even snacks for Mornen.

"Hello, I'm the shop keeper Kaben Bieth. May I ask your name?" Alearindu looked to where the voice came from and saw the smiling face of a man sitting behind the front table.

Alearindu couldn't help but smile. "I am Alearindu," she responded.

"Nice to meet you, Alearindu; would you like anything else?" Kaben inquired. Alearindu shook her head and put her items on the table. After Alearindu gave Kaben a few silver coins, she gathered up her supplies and, thanking Kaben, walked out of the shop. Alearindu was looking down at her purchases right outside the tent as someone bumped into her going into the trading post. "I'm sorry," the ranger said automatically.

"That's alright, more my fault," the settler said with a smile. A smile came to Alearindu as they started talking, this place wasn't as bad as it first seemed.