I walk out of my room and go down the stairs into the taven/inn for my morning meal.It is rather quiet this morning. I go to the same table i sat at last night.I order a tea and some small break fast stuffs and wrap them in to a cloth as i walk back to the edge of the market and into the garden. I find the ranger their half dozing, half watching the morning hustle.I clear my throat and to get his attention.He slowly works his way down from the tree and stretches then plops on the ground.I ask how the night went and he mumbles something about the quiet emptiness of the town at night. i shrug my shoulders and unwrap the morning break fast and pour the tea.We sit on the grass and watch the people walk around as we eat in silence.My senses become suddenly alert as i hear an awful cry making its way throughout the croud. i stand and start making my way towards the loudest part of the croud that has gatthered tightly around a small woman.Or is she a child? She is small and her voice is weak.She has the demeanor of a girl of 10 years or so.She notices me and starts to move towards me but then she sees Bear and hesitates before coming closer to us. i take her hand and lead her away from all the commotion i walk her into the park as Bear urges the people to get back to their lives. The girl sits down and immediately starts to cry. i am at a loss so i tell her my name is Naduah, what is yours? she peeks at me through her hands and answers in a clear strong voice, my name is Shahara.Shahara, what ails you my little one? She gives me a look of pure anger and she stands up and says im not little im 12!i hide a smile as i watch her look so brave and determined.so what is wrong then? we were sleeping in the ally last night, she starts to cry again and i wake to find my brother GONE! she screams at me.I hug her close to comfort her and brush her hair with my fingers.And where he had lay i found this... and she digs into her robe and hands me a peice of leather marked with a Black Hand.i let out a gasp as i take it from her and hide it with as much haste as though it would make her brother come back.i try to comfort her as i know it is unlikely her brother will return alive.i offer her some break fast but she refuses. of course! she cannot eat, she just lost her brother.i ask her where her parents are hoping to find them and solace the girl. immediatelty upon saying it i ate my words...she had no parents or why would they be sleeping in the ally way?Bear stands "gaurd" a few feet away as we talk. i take the girls hand and motion for her to accompany me back to the inn. i do not know why but i had taken a fancy to this child.Then again i knew why she reminded me of myself as a child. Strong, brave, alone. Before we went to the inn though i stopped in a shop and bought some child garments made of soft light colored leather.Back at the inn i had hot water brought up for the tub. i took my soap bar and scrubbed it against my hand before swirling it to make bubbles. i had in some way adopted this poor child.After she was washed, dressed and her hair was combed we went down stairs for some lunch. The girl ate her stew and bread llike she hadnt eaten for days.Then i realized she probably had not. i ordered fresh milk and also two slices of pie for us at the end of the meal. Then she blushed and thanked me for the meal saying she hadnt eaten in two days but of some old bread someone had tossed out. then she ran upstairs to my room and tried to hand me a small worn copper piece.i respectfully declined and we went outside to go to the temple.the child needed healing. She had had a tremendous amount of flea bites and scratches and even a few very large dirty, roughly bandaged cuts on her back.(more later...comments welcome)

I sit perched in a tree where i can look down on the city. I watch the people going this way and that making their usual rounds before closing up before the curfew begins. What was Kitty thinking when she put that curfew into play? Now shes missing and we stand gaurd for any sign of the Black Hand.The whole town was in chaos...how did this attack just jump up and surprise us. We were so careful. Plus three members of the council were killed in their sleep...Bear, the Ranger, come to take my place so i can go rest. I slowly make my way to the evil monkey.I wave to the war forge as i walk into the tavern.I wander over to a small empty table at a corner and throw up my hand to order a drink.I rest my head in my hands after i give my order.Sighs. What is our hero status worth now that we have failed to protect the city and their leader? I slowly drink my drink and eat my bread before heading to my room to meditate and to reflect.