Elena had never been the sort of person to just sit around and brood, so after Achille and Devi had left she had put her annoyance aside and fallen into the familiar Rhythm of life at the Camp.

Donna Augostina, Devi's grandmother, had been teaching both girls her knowledge of medicinal plants since they had been old enough to be sent out to collect them, and now Augostina had been delighted to resume teaching Elena.

And so the summer months had passed peacefully enough for Elena. Her time was spent helping Donna Augostina to prepare her remedies, and administering them to those in need. But the winds were beginning to change, Elena could smell the autumn in the air. She had received no messages or instructions from her father, but she knew where he wanted her to be for the winter. Besides she was beginning to feel restless so it was time to move on back to civilization. Donna Augostina would understand, as she understood most things, and so, Elena made her careful preparations, and when she was ready she set her plan in motion.

How poor Ezrah would react, Elena could only guess, as she watched him play his flute for her that evening. He had drunk the mug of spiced beer, with that little something extra in it, she had given him earlier. She hoped he would eventually forgive her and understand. She was pretty sure that if the shoe had been on the other foot Ezrah would do the same, and meanwhile he'd have some lovely dreams, she thought with a giggle, as she made her way carefully towards the horses.

Elena gloried in the sense of total liberation she felt as she rode through forest in the darkness of the night. It was rare for her to be so free and alone. Her Father had always indulged the adventurous side of her nature. He seemed to understand her need to travel, and had sent her on missions to most of the European courts. He, had however always known where she was, and she had always had one of the household retainers or Devi with her. This reminded her more of those times she had escaped from Versailles to Paris, without telling Devi, but had gone alone dressed as a peasant girl, and mingled with the early morning traffic of early morning market traders.

As the sun began to rise over the mountain landscape, Elena felt that she had made enough progress, and put enough distance between herself and the camp, to be able to safely stop and rest the horse, have a bite to eat from the provisions she had brought with her, and make her transformation.

( with thanks to the Misty Mountain Sim, part of CALAS GALADHON PARK )