For once, the night wasn't dark and cloudy as La'nalaeoki picked her way through the forest, watching carefully where she stepped to avoid stumbling and injuring herself. All signs of clouds were gone, and Nala was slightly tempted to stop and gaze at the stars, admiring their brightness as she lay beneath the full moon.
But no, she had no time to pause. Her supplies were diminished; she had gone the past three days without food, drinking water to calm the cramping in her stomach. While the water had helped for a while, traveling as she had on an empty stomach was not something that was considered healthy, and it was beginning to take its toll on her. However, there was a village right on the other side of this forest. If only she could reach it before the gatekeeper left for the night, she would have a warm bed to sleep in for the night, and be able to set off freshly supplied early the next morning.
Of course, getting there on time was the problem. It was already late, and while gatekeepers were assigned to let in travelers after dark, they weren't always diligent at doing their job. Nala knew that she could survive one more night in the forest, but she honestly didn't wish to do so. She was tired, sore, and in need of a good bath. Hopefully, the village would be open...