<span style="font-style: italic">The length of time their eyes connected to the length of time he left her standing in the canopy was enough time for her to draw six breaths.  Baffled with mystery, she turned just in time to watch him implant his dagger into the tree and continue forward.<br/><br/>Inside her mind, she felt a soft nudge from Holet to remind her it was time to run - but not before she grabbed the gift the strange man left her.  Jumping down from the tree, she traced his steps and landed in the branch below his dagger.  <br/><br/>The smooth edges of the hilt were filled with an energy - not one that she was certain of - but she didn't hesitate to yank to from the trunk and slip it inside her boot.  With one last look in the direction the man went in, she turned and ran as far away as she could - still searching for the three draclings before they hatched in just five moons.</span>