Ella dug her hands deeper in the earth searching for more of the vital roots she needed. She hated to leave the refugees for long, a new birth was imminent given the size of the woman's belly. She did not know what called her away from the group so soon after dinner but immediately after supper had finished she felt herself being called into the forest away from where the refugees had camped.<br/><br/>Being pulled in directions she did not understand was so commonplace to Ella that she did not think for a moment to disobey. While the refugees talked amongst themselves she snuck off to the tall grass to dig for the mushrooms and roots she would need in the coming weeks. Time past so quickly in the field that it seemed like mere minutes before darkness fell. Brushing a dirty hand across her forehead to wipe away the hair that had fallen in her face, she yawned slightly and for the first time since leaving the camp looked up to the night sky.<br/><br/>It was a beautiful sight to her. Despite the death and destruction that so frequently seemed to plague the earth she could never quite get over the beauty of seeing the sky overhead. It was such a change from life in the order. Smiling to herself she bent down again, putting the last of the roots into her shoulder bag.<br/><br/>It was then that she felt it. Something, or someone, was close. She couldn't hear it, or see it, but something told her she was not as alone as she had thought. Biting her lip, Ella tried to gauge the distance from the road. Perhaps if she was quiet and quick enough she could make for the road and get back to the refugee camp unseen. Given her short 5'0" statue she did have an advantage of being carefully camouflaged in the tall grass, while she kept low to the ground anyway; a feet that would be more difficult while running.<br/><br/>Grabbing her staff tightly in her right hand, she felt the electric current start to surge in her left, readying herself for battle if need be.