[Valesse]

Tried to get further ahead last night, didn't he? She thought to herself, moving carefully through the tall grass, I'll just make special care not to step on him today. But given a number of steps Valesseka nearly came to that situation, exactly. Drawing back her leg the girl slowly circled around Éomeléo's camp, and made for the west. It was another hour before she found herself able to speak again, even though it would only be to herself. Why had he confided those things to me? Was he lying? Valesseka blinked. What reason did Éomeléo have to lie... unless he wanted me to go easy on him. "That cad!" the Arnorian growled, but her expression melted. But what if he was just being open...?

She shook her head. It was much easier to be upset with her competition than friendly. "Bet he read his invitation." She grumbled jealously. "Bet he didn't have to make his own provisions." With another pause, she sobbed. She missed her family and dinky little farm in Arnor where she had vanished from... And here were people who could easily remove themselves from their day-to-day lives without feeling guilty. "Bet he didn't have to lie to get here!"

Thus starting another long period of silence for Valesseka, which was only broken by the growing sounds of the rushing river which appeared beside her. Dazed from her miserable mood, and the calming music which the elves calmed to be reminiscent of Ulmo, her thoughts were slow to take in her surroundings. Instead of watching her path, the girl watched the glittering water dancing across the bank, and instead of finding tranquility, Valesseka found a hornets nest.

Within a moment's notice dozens of hornets came swarming toward her, angry and ready to avenge their fallen home. Realizing her situation Valesseka dropped her pack in panic and ran for the water, stings and bites burning her arms and face the entire way. As if this was not enough, in her flight to the water the girl slipped on the muddy bank and fell face first into the grime crushing only a few hornets under her. Giving many painful yelps, she scrambled into the shallow water and ducked her head, holding in a deep breath. Her face was ruined, for now, and it took a great deal of self control not to let out a sob under water.

Every once and a while she would raise her head up for air, and listen for the hornets. When she was sure they were gone the girl crawled out of the river and carefully returned to her possession. Dressing into her change of clothing, she washed the dirty garb in a numb trance. Today had been horrible, but she still had some time. After washing her clothing, she smiled sadly down at the plant she had nearly being sitting on. Athelas. Luck at last. Without further thought, she took some of the herb, and then carefully went searching for others, and found a plentiful supply. It was still light out, but Valesseka had a feeling that it was soon to change. Deciding not to push her luck, she made camp, and gently administered a kingsfoil salve on her wounds.