Elora turned over gently in her bed, the first rays of the sun slowly starting to peak into her bedroom. The light being cast into the room started to rouse her from her sleep, until finally one eye began to open. She found her mouth turned upwards ever-so-slightly at the corners, the memories of the dream she had just been having slowly starting to slip from her grasp. Elora’s other eye opened, and as she pushed herself up the dream was all but lost to her. A melancholy feeling wrapped itself around her as she turned to let her legs hang off the bed. She stretched and groaned as her muscles worked themselves out, then made her way to the window to peer out onto the horizon. Scanning the grounds had become habitual for Elora since the more frequent raids by orcs had been reported in nearby towns and kingdoms. All was quiet, however, and there were only a few signs of life out in the small town below; mainly the sheepherders out with the herds, and the shop owners opening up and getting ready for their daily routines.<br/><br/>Elora stood back and began rubbing the sleep from her eyes and as she started to turn away from the window something caught her eye. She quickly turned her attention back to the window and to the horizon beyond. Far off, where the land and the sky met, Elora could make out small, dark specks. Her heart began to race as she continued to stare, noticing that the specks were moving towards her, not away. Spinning around quickly and grabbing a robe to throw over her night gown, Elora ran out of her room bare-footed, padding her way down the hall to where her cousin, Brodin, slept. She knocked as loudly as she dared, so not to wake up the rest of the castle. Elora bounced on the balls of her feet, shifting anxiously as she waited for Brodin to answer.<br/><br/>The door began to creak open slowly, but before he could see who it was Elora thrust her hand forward and nearly knocked him over, shutting the door quickly behind her.<br/><br/>“Wha-…What is it? Elora?”<br/><br/>He stood there staring at her incredulously and then spun away quickly. “You aren’t even properly dressed!”<br/>Elora stepped forward and spun Brodin back towards her, a clear panic in her eyes.<br/><br/>“Brodin,” her voice quavered, “I think the orcs are coming.”