It's a beautiful morning and Aria is running across the veldt, the wind in her ears and Tora at her side. Aria's mornings are almost always beautiful, because she sees beauty in everything, come rain or sunshine, and she lets their bodies not just endure but enjoy the winter (is it winter already?), lets them run fast and far without tiring. They help those who need help, stop those who need to be stopped, eat their fill, and let the days pass them by as Nature unfolds around them.

Today they are following the trail of a giant snake. Its smell is unfamiliar to her, and it's been too long since she met new life in these lands. It is fast, but it isn't going in a straight line; and Aria does not tire when she hunts. 

They come on it just as it reaches a village. The people scream and scatter, perhaps more from Tora than from the snake. It's alright, she calls out to them, we're not hostile, but she doesn't know these people and it's unwise to trust strangers; she'll talk to them later. For now she has eyes only for the snake.

The poor creature seems to have a mirror stuck in its mouth. It's clearly exhausted and hurting, thrashing feebly around. Snakes aren't made for long chases; it must have been maddened by the discomfort. Aria feels a spike of rage for the wizard responsible; if she ever meets him she'll feed him his staff.

She spends a few minutes calming the snake down, and then she tries to pry the mirror loose as gently as she can, but she carelessly touches the reflective surface and -

It's a beautiful morning and Aria is running across the veldt, the wind in her ears and Tora at her side.

Aria's mornings are almost always beautiful, because she sees beauty in everything, come rain or sunshine, and she lets their bodies not just endure but enjoy the winter (is it winter already?), lets them run fast and far without tiring. They help those who need help, stop those who need to be stopped, eat their fill, and let the days pass them by as Nature unfolds around them.

Today they are following the trail of a giant snake. Its smell is unfamiliar to her, and it is too long since she met new life in these lands. It is fast, but it does not travel in a straight line; and Aria does not tire when she hunts.

They come on it just as it reaches a village. The people scream and scatter, perhaps more from Tora than from the snake. It's alright, she calls out to them, we're not hostile, but she doesn't know these people and it's unwise for them to trust strangers; she'll talk to them later. For now she has eyes only for the snake.

The poor creature seems to have tried to swallow a giant mirror. It's clearly exhausted and hurting, with its mouth forced wide open for hours or days. Snakes aren't made for long chases; it must have been maddened by the discomfort.

Aria spends a few minutes calming the snake down, and then she tries to pry the mirror loose as gently as she can, but she carelessly touches the reflective surface and -

It's a beautiful morning and Aria is running across the veldt, the wind in her ears and Tora at her side.

Aria's mornings are almost always beautiful, because she sees beauty in everything, come rain or sunshine, and she lets their bodies not just endure but enjoy the winter (is it winter already?), lets them run fast and far without tiring. They help those who need help, stop those who need to be stopped, eat their fill, and let the days pass them by as Nature unfolds around them.

Today they are following the trail of a giant snake. Its smell is unfamiliar to her, and it is too long since she met new life in these lands. It is fast, but it does not travel in a straight line; and Aria does not tire when she hunts.

They come on it just as it reaches a village. The people scream and scatter, perhaps more from Tora than from the snake. It's alright, she calls out to them, we're not hostile, but she doesn't know these people and it's unwise for them to trust strangers; she'll talk to them later. For now she has eyes only for the snake.

The poor creature seems to have tried to swallow a giant mirror. It's clearly exhausted and hurting, with its mouth forced wide open for hours or days. Snakes aren't made for long chases; it must have been maddened by the discomfort.

Aria spends a few minutes calming the snake down, and then she tries to pry the mirror loose as gently as she can, but she carelessly touches the reflective surface and -