Katie Runyon

Tepust - The First month of the year and the First month of Spring. From Latin word for "warmth".

Amril - The Second month of the year and the Second/Last month of Spring. From Latin word for "love".

Solimber - The Third month of the year and the First month of Summer. From Latin word for "Sun".

Aquos - The Fourth month of the year and the Second month of Summer. From Latin word for "Water".

Lucise - The Fifth month of the year and the Third/Last month of Summer. From Latin word for "Light".

Messust - The Sixth month of the year and the First month of Fall. From Latin word for "harvest".

Lunach - The Seventh day of the year and the Second/Last month of Fall. From Latin word for "Moon".

Atril - The Eighth month of the year and the First month of Winter. From Latin word for "Dark".

Nivust - The Ninth month of the year and the Second month of Winter. From Latin word for "White".

Nitine - The Tenth/Last month of the year and the Third/Last month of Winter. From Latin word for "Rest".

     A quiet settled over the small tavern as they entered. Most of the chairs sat empty. Everyone was in a panic from the message given by the ruler of Sucanni Muarre. There was less than twelve hours left before Onisepla's next attack. Many of the townspeople rushed to gather the little they could carry. No one knew where he would strike next.

     While some people had no problem wrapping the white cloth around their arm, many others, like the ones sitting in the tavern, were not about to leave their homes, not matter what. For Kari and her small group, option number three was their only choice. While the rest of the group collected what little supplies they could find, it was time for Kari, Ryker, and Granger to come up with a plan.

     "Well, I don't think those people escaped by some miracle," Granger said of the survivors from the many attacks throughout Maharan.

     "What do you mean?" Kari asked.

     Granger took a gulp from his mug. "They were meant to escape, to spread the word."

     "Why? What would that accomplish?"

     "Terror is often a very useful tool in war," Ryker explained. "It can make your enemy too afraid to fight you."

     Kari shook her head. "What are we going to do?"

     "Their force is too large to fight head on," Granger said, rubbing his facial stubble. "We'll have to use our wits and fight guerilla style."

     "And we'll have to learn a lot more about these people if we want to be successful," Ryker added.