"I don't know how far I walked that first day, but as night descended and the temperature began to fall, I knew I had to find shelter. Almost as soon as the thought entered my head, I spotted the outline of a dry river bed nearby. I climbed down into it and got a fire started. "As the fire took hold, I leaned back against the wall of the gorge and glanced casually at my surroundings. It was then that I noticed the figure standing over me. I jumped and started to get up, but was stopped by a flash of metal and the touch of a cold blade against my throat. ""Who...who are you?" I stammered. ""My name is Ellen," a female voice answered. "Sinistra sent me to bring you back." Her eyes never wavered, but I could tell she was hesitating, waiting for something. ""Ellen...I've heard of you," I said. "You're Sinistra's bounty hunter. I've heard the rumours, but...you're real?" ""I'm real." ""You live in the dungeons beneath the Temple. You hunt the wastelands for our food, and track down the orcs Mordimus sends to spy on us. But...how come we've never seen you?" ""This is why," Ellen breathed and stooped down so that the light of the campfire caught her face. She was covered in sores and lumpy, broken skin. Bleeding cracks lined her eyes and lips. She had Gulegna, a dreadful rotting skin disease passed down from mother to child. I couldn't help but stifle a cry and push backwards against the wall of the gorge to keep away from her. ""You poor thing. Does it hurt?" ""Yes," she sighed. "I would give...anything, to be free of it." "The air grew thick with expectancy as a silent moment of understanding passed between us. "I will cure you of it, if you will let me go." "The air of expectancy disappeared and, as though a weight were lifted, she lowered her sword and kneeled in front of me, her eyes filled with hope and excitement. "I've heard rumours about you, too," she said. "Is it true? Can you really cure me?" ""Yes. I have the skill of healing." "She licked her lips, flinching as a fresh sore opened up in the scabby flesh of her tongue. "But Sinistra will know I let you go. I could leave the Temple but...it is my home." ""I know how you feel," I said, truthfully. "Listen, just tell her you found me, and that I healed you. Then just tell her...tell her I vanished. She will understand." ""Yes," she nodded slowly. I could tell from the look in her eyes that I'd just confirmed another rumour she'd heard about me. ""Let's do this."" Credits: Erin Marie from PoserPros Hair by Koz Gorge modelled by me