All Mesaraih wanted was to focus on the task ahead of them and enjoy the last bits of breeze as it cooled his face e and body. And so he walked, leading the horse onwards by holding on to the reins. He wasn't sure why he wasn't riding it; he assumed that if anyone of the three would ride the horse, it'd be him, but he felt it would be best to get his legs accustomed to walking long long distances and save the horse for emergencies.<br/><br/>After another while, he heard footsteps following them. He wasn't sure how he felt about Ester rejoining them. Happy, because she was helpful in a fight? Annoyed, because he'd have to put up with her sulking for even longer? Either way, he said nothing, deciding at the very least that if he didn't speak to her she'd have no reason to thrust her poisonous glares or comments towards him. Until he made another decision she didn't like, anyway.<br/><br/>They walked in silence for a long time, cutting through thick forestry to make their way towards the smoking chimney. It wasn't only their silence that made things quiet, however. The forest around this particular area seemed devoid of any sound altogether. There was a small rustling of leaves when the wind blew by, but apart from that, it seemed like nothing was alive. He couldn't hear any animals scurrying, there was no sign of darkspawn, and the ground seemed barren of any tracks.<br/><br/>The forest opened up to a small clearing all of a sudden, and in that clearing stood a small cabin surrounded by fruit and nut trees, a vegetable garden, and a row of berry bushes. Mesaraih raised an eyebrow. How had no one found this, and why did the place seem so untouched?<br/><br/>"Stay here," he whispered to everyone, hoping they listened to him. He strode towards a tiny dirt beaten path that led to the entrance of the house, his eyes roving over the produce around him. All his instincts screamed at him to take some of the food, or at least grab a handful of berries or pick an apple and put it in his pocket. The strongest instinct inside him, however, made him feel as though he was being watched. And if that were the case, he wouldn't want to be seen stealing.<br/><br/>He walked around the perimeter of the house, looking for a winndow, or at least a different entrance. There seemed to be nothing, so he walked back to the front and knocked on the door.<br/><br/>He felt a strange wriggle inside his head, as if someone was sticking a probe inside his brain. He placed a hand on it, feeling uncomfortable.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Tell me who you are</span>, a voice from inside his head told him.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">All of you.</span><br/><br/>Mesaraih's head felt like it was going to explode. He grimaced as he began to speak, "Mesaraih... I'm... a fugitive. From the law and the blight. I just... want information... about the best way out of here. Supplies... if you can spare them..." as he finished speaking, the probe inside his mind retreated, with something that felt oddly like an image of a nod of acknowledgement flashing in his head before it did. He leaned against the door, rubbing his hair and trying to steady himself.