Aeruthuil

[The writing is curlier and looser than normal, unhurried, but of course still messy.]

Jan. 31

The Precipice of Significant Change

Whenever Zurri's mind turned to his company of dwarves, both fear and guilt would root him to the spot. He dared not face them again, and spent numerous weeks in Bree-land tarrying, delaying the date that he would confront them. The dwarf presumed that his remaining companions still awaited him in the Chetwood, as Balthnar did say they would, but he could not be certain. For Zurri sensed their loyalty to him had waned when last they were together. 

A brittle wind moaned softly over the rooftops of the river-bound city. It rattled the boughs of the trees, who clung still to what leaves they could. Along a quiet, dead-end street near the city's south-gate, it pried at the wooden door to a humble shack, but it could not find a way inside. The door thunked and thudded in low, erratic rhythms, but the woman sitting alone on her bed did not notice the sound.