<strong>Eshalu - establishing a bivouac site in the wilds of Dra Sirdu</strong><br/><br/>It wasn't ideal. But it was something. Eshalu contemplated the strange arbor before her. The smell of rotting and fermenting fruit assaulted her. It was not at all unpleasant and verged on the nostalgic. It reminded her of the earthenware jars where druids stored layer upon layer of overripe berries and fat, globular foxglove grapes with pockmarked skins so that they would ferment with the natural yeasts in the air over the winter and yield a thick, immensely sour and incomparably sweet wine to drink on moonless nights.<br/><br/>Eshalu took a long drink from her waterskin - her first concession to comfort since they had set out early that morning. "We may pass the night here, should you all be in agreement," she called, and then addressed Aeryn and Reliyian, "you have knowledge of strange lands - are these fruits good to eat, or do they carry poison? If poisonous, we may cook them, though it would not do us much good, for we do not have enough time to press and dry them afterwards."<br/><br/>It worried Eshalu that humans did not seem to prize opiate, stimulant or alkaloids plants as the People did, leaving them vulnerable, as Aeryn was, in the event of injury in battle. "It is a pity that I cannot recognise any of these fruits or herbs or mosses - I know of the juice of a certain cane which would enable us to walk through the night without rest and the spores of a mold that would let us step sideways into the realm of spirits."<br/><br/>Eshalu circled the proposed campsite with purpose, inspecting it for any weaknesses in the event of an attack. Doubtless, it was exposed, but they would have to make the most of it. "If we stay here, one of us should keep watch. We of the People remain aware in sleep in a way humans cannot, but we still need rest."<br/><br/>At least the half-eaten fruit was a good sign. Clearly herbivores had been here without fear of predators to forage.