Wake Tara

Certainly going off into the darkness sounds like an awful idea. You walk over to Tara and nudge her gently "Hey Tara. There's some sounds going on nearby?"

"Hmm?" she squints her eyes open and listens for a moment. Some faint giggles sound out in the distance and she becomes immediately alert. Reaching for her weapon, she stands up and sulks towards the sounds. "Come on."

You grab Harmony and follow close behind. It doesn't take long for Tara and her woodswoman skills to locate and find the sound. She ducks down under a piece of underbrush and motions for you to come over. Crawling up beside her, you peer into another small clearing and your eyes widen in surprise at the source of the sound.

Ahead of you is a girl about your age, maybe a little older. Her back is toward you and she is crouched down and looking at something that you can't quite see, but what catches your attention the most is that she is as naked as the day she was born. Her skin stands out in contrast to the cool darkness and there's no sign of any clothes on her nor any nearby. Her legs are filthy and visibly darken below the knees from all of the dirt and grime of the forest. She stands and looks around, a confused look crosses her eyes. Her breasts are larger than Tara's and her nipples are stiff against the cold air. She is also very thin, almost unhealthily so. Even from this distance, you can count her ribs.

Tara whispers back at you. "Go back to camp and start a fire. I'll be back soon." She notes a faint hint of worry in your eyes. "Don't worry, She's harmless."

You nod and quietly sneak back to the campsite. It doesn't take long for you to start a fire and then all there is to wait. Fortunately, you don't have to wait for very long as the sounds of rustling in the underbrush reaches your ears. Grabbing Harmony, you eye the darkness when suddenly the girl from the clearing jumps out at you. She shouts "New Friend!" and ends up in your lap and as naked as ever. Her warm body pressing into yours and lowers your guard.

Tara's sharp voice brings you back to attention. "Donmal! Be careful. She has Sap Sickness."

Surprised at her sudden call, you roll the girl off you and quickly back away. She doesn't seem to mind though and just lays on the ground giggling in the firelight. Her whole body is covered in muck and grime and her long hair has pieces of twigs and brambles stuck in it. Small cuts cover her feet. Some of them look recent, but others look like they've been there for awhile. The most surprising thing is that the cloudiness in her eyes. They have a green haze that completely covers the eyes. In fact, even the whites of her eyes are a sickly green color.

Tara pulls a small vial filled with a muddy brown liquid out of her bag and walks over to her. "Now honey, I showed you the new friend. Now you have to drink this like you promised."

The girl nods and obediently swallows it down. "That was..." You watch in amazement as the green haze slowly recedes and her eyes get heavy. "That was....really....." It appears as if she's struggling to stay awake. Her head tilts forward a little before snapping back upright. "That was really good."

However, it would seem as if she failed as her eyes close and she leans forward. She would have fallen to the ground had Tara not been there to gently lower her down. She turns to look at you. "Help me get some clothes on her. There's extras in my bag."

You pull an extra tunic and trousers out of Tara's bag and assist her in putting them on the **** girl. Trying your best to ignore the girl's nudity. "So that's Sap Sickness? I have heard of it, but cases are rare near The Capital and I've never seen it."

"It's common in this area. The illness makes her body keep going until she collapses from exhaustion. Then after she wakes, it starts all over again. She has probably been awake for three or four days. Maybe more. Once the affliction was removed, all of that sleeplessness caught up to her." Her expression turns more serious. "Donmal. She may not remember anything."

You look down at the girl sleeping peacefully at your feet. "What do you mean?"

"Sap Sickness is a magic-based illness that affects the mind. The longer that you are afflicted with it, the more likely it is that there will be some memory loss. Based on her condition she looks like she has been out here for a month. The fact that she survived this long is a miracle, but I fear for her memory. She might not remember anything. Her name, where she came from, even how to speak." She looks at you seriously. "If she has memory loss on that scale. She'll have to come with us until we can find someplace safe for her."

The girl keeps sleeping soundly. You doubt that any noise would wake her right now. "Well, It doesn't sound like we have much choice in the matter. Is it possible the Queen of the Forest will help her?"

Tara sighs and leans back against a tree sleepily. "I really don't know....She might be able to help? But even if she can't restore her memories, she isn't going to allow her to stay. That's just the way she is."

"She really prefers her solitude hmm?" Tara nods her head and you're beginning to feel the weight of your sleep as well. "Well, we will see how she is in the morning. Hopefully she remembers and we're worrying for nothing."

Tara agrees and seems content relaxing against the tree with the girl sleeping on her lap and you curl up on the other side of the clearing. There isn't much room with three, but there is enough for your tiring body.

It feels as if you just went to sleep when you're suddenly woken by a piercing scream. Your eyes dart open and morning light shines down through the canopy and you quickly get up and assess the situation. The girl you saved from Sap Sickness last night is standing back away from the camp site a little. Her arms are around her waist and she looks around confusedly. She shouts "What's going on! Where am I!"

Tara, who was also woken from the disturbance answers first and speaks in a soothing voice. "It is all right. We're friends. You were afflicted with Sap Sickness and wandered into The Great Forest."

"Sap Sickness? The Forest?" Her breathing steadies a little. "Why?"

"Do you remember what you were last doing?" Tara asks.

Panic returns to the girl's voice. "I don't....I don't remember anything!"

You breathe the question that's likely on both you and Tara's mind. "Do you remember your name? Family? Where you're from?"

Her panic turns to despair. "I don't know! I don't know my name...anything..." The Girl's leg's look like they're about to give way and you quickly rush up to embrace her before she collapses. She wraps her arms around you and squeezes you against her tightly, burying her face into your shoulder as she cries. It isn't long before your tunic is wet with her tears. "Nothing....There's nothing..."

"There...There." You pat her back gently and look at Tara for help, but she simply looks on. An expression of sadness for the girl's situation in her eyes. It is several minutes before her crying calms to the point where you can speak with her. Slowly pulling out of the embrace you look at her with as friendly of a face as you can put on. "Heya. I'm Donmal and this..." you motion at Tara who is preparing breakfast. "This is my friend, Tarasynora. You can call her Tara. We're going to take care of you until your memories return."

She squirms and pulls the tunic that Tara put on her back to cover her shoulder. It's just a little too big for her as she is a bit shorter than Tara is. "T-Thanks...B-but I don't remember my name..."

You look at Tara for help and she responds. "Adeleithel or Adel for short. It means: Forest Child."

"Adel...." she mutters to herself as if memorizing it. "It's....It's something until I can remember..."

"Well, Adel. Why don't you join us for breakfast. We're going on a trip to visit someone called The Queen of the Forest. Tara claims that she's a powerful sorceress. She may be able to help you..."

A faint glimmer of hope appears in her eyes. "I think I would like that."

You, Tara, and Adel sit and eat breakfast in mostly silence. You talk with Adel politely, but try not to allow her to dwell on her missing memories. Nor do you bring up your own heritage. She seems to have knowledge of locations, or at least had a faint recognition of Sap Sickness and The Great Forest. If she was a citizen of Itheria and knew that you were supposed to be King. It could cause her undue stress.

After breakfast, camp is broken and you continue onward to the home of The Queen of the Forest with your new companion in tow and Tara as your guide.