<div align="center"><strong>Yukina</strong></div>Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, a young woman traveled the road between the town of Compromise and the village of Haven. It was the morning of the fifth day of a five day journey, and in an hour or two she could expect the forest to recede, and the orchards and vineyards of Haven to lie before her.<br/><br/><div align="center">(http://i.imgur.com/uhaciS2l.jpg)</div><br/>The Duskwood surrounded her on all sides, trees grown so tall that their branches crowded out the sky and left the road in perpetual twilight. What small glimpses of sky she could catch were clear and blue- a perfect summer's day. But beneath the shadows of the trees it was cool as a misty day in spring. The air was rich with the smells of loam and greenery and from time to time a breeze set the surrounding leaves to rustling.<br/><br/>Legend had it that the breeze was actually the trees whispering to each other; and it was entirely possible that the legend was the truth. For in this land, forests could have a mind of their own, and woe betide those who draw their attention. If Yukina was prudent she would have stopped to pray at the shrines to Desna and Erastil that occasionally lay along the road.<br/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/K3cEgtHt.jpg)</div><br/>As she rounded a bend in the well-traveled road, she saw a curious sight ahead: a shaft of sunlight falling from a gap in the branches above. It blazed down through the twilight, formed a pool upon the forest floor. And at its center was a stone altar carved with runes sacred to Desna. Its only adornment was a single, unlit candle.<br/><br/>As Yukina took in the sight, a cerulean butterfly descended through the sunlight and landed lightly atop the altar. Its wings fluttered and then became perfectly still, and Yukina could swear it was looking directly at her.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><strong>Valdis</strong></div>By the time Valdis awoke, his father had long since departed for the orchards and fields, leaving him the usual breakfast on the kitchen table: bread, goat cheese, figs, watered wine. The house was small but it was home. A common room with attached kitchen, and three bedrooms. When Valdis had first returned from his travels, he'd found the room that he and Yukina had once shared had been converted into storage, full of dusty, forgotten things. His first chore had been to clean out their old bedroom. His second had been to prepare the guest bedroom for a visitor. When asked why, his father merely said it would be needed soon; and his father was right, as he often was.<br/><br/>On the table next to his breakfast, his father had left a note reminding him that his sister was due to arrive at Haven any day now, and perhaps he might see her through the remainder of the Duskwood. Of course, such a task would require him to travel through Haven; the farm was on the outskirts of the village. His path would go directly by the inn, where the mayor was often to be found (Sophia, the mayor, was married to Nasir, the innkeeper). Perhaps she had another of the jobs he'd been accepting from her. Two birds with one stone. His father, ever practical, would be pleased.