***
He awoke, alone, in the deep back before morning not remembering for a moment where he was. Stark terror touched him as he imagined what might have been - had the blood gotten him, had he had a dark moment? 'No', a voice whispered in his ear, 'All is safe. Perhaps not entirely well, but safe'. The voice was tinted with amusement. Ishbahan… it had been a long time since his spirit familiar had come to him - perhaps he felt at home in this place.
Kalain got to his feet a little unsteadily, stretched his thin, scrawny legs and shook himself clear of the few leaves which had begin to drop from the trees already.
After a moment, he remembered and groaned. "Oh spirits help me…" he whined softly.
