Early mornings aren't for everyone

The first light of dawn kissed the horizon, casting a soft glow over Hearthstone Castle. Talyssa, usually a creature of the night, found herself waking up earlier than usual. The allure of the Starlit Plains, bathed in the early morning magic, called to her. Yawning and stretching, Talyssa blinked away the remnants of sleep as she sat up in her cozy room. The plush furs and rustic decor surrounded her, her maps lay scattered pretty well on every surface including several that hung from her walls.

A groggy glance out of her window revealed the breathtaking sunrise just outside– the expansive plains illuminated by the pre-dawn light as the stars were fading from the sky above. But that wasn't all that caught her eye. In the distance, she saw the movement of Ciaran trailing out toward the heart of the plains ... with his husky little polar bear in tow. Talyssa sat there watching them for several moments as the gears began to turn in her head. When was the last time she had spent time with just Kea? It didn't immediately come to her, and that was answer enough.

Swiftly, Talyssa moved through the halls of Hearthstone Castle, her pawsteps light as she descended the stairs. The grandeur of the castle's interior gave way to the cool freshness of the morning outside. Talyssa, now fully awake, felt the thrill of spontaneity coursing through her. Bounding through the courtyard, she felt the cool grass under her paws as she headed towards the plains. The thought of catching up with Ciaran, her primary focus. "Kea!" she called out as the distance between them closed. Her voice carried the energy of the early morning. Once she got to a more conversational distance, she slowed to a stop. "Care to have some company?" Talyssa asked lightly, wanting to spend time with her brother ... but also not wanting to interrupt him if he was doing something important alone. But then she remembered her brother's companion, casting a sheepish glance between the bear and Ciaran, she cleared her throat to ammend herself. "Or, more company, I should say."

"Talyssa Carpathius"