A few days had passed since the stormy night when Ethari had stumbled upon an elf caught in a bear trap. The rain and darkness had obscured his view, but he hadn’t needed a clear look to see their desperation. The elf had bolted the moment Ethari freed them, vanishing into the storm without so much as a word.

Now, Ethari was back in his forge, the late hour slipping past unnoticed as he carved intricate designs into the handle of a longbow. The quiet hum of his work was abruptly interrupted by the sound of scuffling outside. Startled, he nearly dropped the bow.

“Hello? Is someone there?”