Broken Twilight filtered through the trees, dimly illuminating the forest floor in an eerie glow. Shadows from frees fell in dark waves against the earth. They were hiding places in which an unwelcome soul could dwell in wait of prey, perhaps a Star-Wolf or a Deadlight.
      No such monsters or spirits haunted the woman's path, or so she hoped. She would have been pretty if she had been prone to baths. Unfortunately, she was not, and her clothes and skin with riddled with smudges. The woman's hair was thick and wavy, and it fell down her back in golden blonde waves. Her skin was pale and her cheeks were pink. Her face was thin and her eyes were large and a deep, expressive brown. Her footsteps were muffled against the earthy path, though her voice was not. It filled the empty silence of the forest.
     "Go retrieve some berries, Saerwyn," she mimicked in a nasal voice. "The king will be ever so please, Wyn my dear, if he could have berries on his table this night."
     A high, sarcastic laugh ripped from her throat, knowing that the cook had only sent her on a needless errand in hopes for her to stay out of the way. She would not be missed. Saerwyn had obliged happily, and the day was old even though she had been sent at noon. She had wandered at a whim, finally choosing to head toward the city and see what attractions awaited her. She would return when it pleased her, perhaps the next morning.
     The path twisted to reveal a river, over which a small wooden bridge arched. Saerwyn crossed over the rickety boards with some caution, knowing all to well that the bridge was unkept since no one used it, not wanting to cross over into the forest for fear of lurking ghosts or evil spirits.
     On the other side she walked along the bank. Something caught her eye.
     A rock was buried in the mud, and somehow it seemed to pulse dimly, as if it were alive. Interested, Saerwyn crouched and dug into the surrounding mud with her fingertips, brushing it away. She picked finished clearing the dirt and picked up the stone. It was a sphere that fit into her hand perfectly, and she held it up to her face.
     The forest fell deathly silent as if holding its breath.
     It's flawlessly smooth hand was difficult to grip. It slipped from her fingertips and hit the ground with a dull thud.
     Suddenly, a bird's high pitched shriek swelled in the air and the forest fell into turmoil. Strong gusts of wind rattled the leaves as quick-footed shadows darted through the bushes. The stone rolled a few feet then settled, and as it did so, the world was once against silent. Only an echoing whisper of the noise remained, and a soft breeze brushed lightly over Saerwyn's goosebump-riddled skin. She approached the mysterious object warily.