[Salacia Deloresista]

Mirelle felt tears come to her eyes. Laughing, singing, and the smell of food overwhelmed her senses; she sat in the shadows on the edge of the road and cried. She cried out of relief, cried for fear and exhaustion and hunger, cried for a simple lack of anything better to do. She had left, she had made it out, but now, confronted with the where and why and how of life on her own, she had no idea where to start.

Off to one side was a barn, tall and open with comfortingly deep shadows. Mirelle headed towards it cautiously, and after hearing no noises, went inside. It was a far cry from the barn at home. These were not plow horses, big and bulky and built to work. These were travelers' horses, light animals that could cover long distances. Mirelle snuck a quick glance at them, but didn't stop for long. She had more important things in mind. In the back, she knew, would be a ladder. The ladder led up to the loft and the loft would be safe. She could decide what to do without worry of discovery. She climed, but no sooner had she reached the top and sat down when sleep claimed her, all thoughts of tomorrow driven away by the black behind her eyelids.