Noctisardor Bypass And emptiness is all you know.

Set the day after this.

When Ciri woke, her lashes fluttered. She roused to a bright beam of morning sunlight that warmed her face, but her eyes were unprepared. Gaze squeezed briefly shut, she turned her face away to recover from near-blinding and blinked toward unfamiliar surroundings.

The yearling had been too drained to pay much attention to where she settled for much-needed rest, so took some time to take in the sights. She'd made her nest for the night at the edge of a small woodland, and a tufted raven lobe twitched toward the nearby sound of running water. She could smell the stream and, reminded of her dry mouth, Ciri shifted to collect herself.

A grimace hissed through gritted teeth as her stiffened muscles protested. She slumped to the ground again, mindful of the pain in each limb as she prepared again to rise - and managed.

Her steps were careful as she picked her way through the forest, and rose her slim muzzle to look out over the flatlands stretched before her. Proud, impenetrable walls rose up on either side of her father's claim and, although void of mountain slopes from childhood, the swallow was hopeful that she would learn to appreciate the land that was to be her new home.