(http://www.allure.com/images/magazine/2009/12/masl06_dunst.jpg)<br/><br/>Finna's day had started when Kari, the old sheep hound, had nuzzled her awake - as he did at an unholy hour every morning.  He had been Maarit's dog, but since Maarit died of the shrieks last winter it had been up to Finna to rise hours before daybreak each morning to milk the sheep.  She started this day like she started most days, sitting on a low stool in a dark field in the open air, milking sheep and shivering in the cold and willing the sun to appear and bring with it warmth and light and human company.<br/><br/>The sun rose, and so did the other villagers, and Aesa came by to chat as she always did, before she headed into the north forest to pick berries.  The morning passed.  As usual, Finna was starving long before it was lunchtime at the Magic Missile.  But she wolfed her bread and cheese and pint of ale down with less relish than usual, because Aesa was weirdly absent.<br/><br/>The afternoon came and went, and dusk drew in, and at dinner Aesa was still not back.  Aesa's father and brother were away, selling produce at Helm's Keep, so Finna tried to persuade Trot Sky to organise a search party.  Trot had refused to help, though–he was still angry that last year Finna had used her sling to frighten away a big aggressive bear that he'd run away from.  So Trot ridiculed her in front of everyone in the Magic Missile, and Finna stormed off.<br/><br/>And so it was that Finna found herself heading alone into the north woods as dusk descended, a few stars already appearing in the lavender sky.  Her boots crunched in the dirt as she trudged north, following the trail and looking for her friend.