It’s very good.  Intense though.  I can’t wait to see what happens next!

New part! Enjoy!

Chapter 1 

Alwearin's life had been ruined by a stupid dream. Normally, she held a measure of respect for dreams, as the spirits often spoke in them, but this one wasn't even her own. Tannell, the leader of the Sagens, had dreamed of the location of the item, of being, causing the calamity that was weakening the spirits. Tannell had immediatly assembled a group of five, to venture into the Daraxel Desert and seek the source of the disaster and solve the problem, whatever it took. Oh joy. You can always go back. Fox, her spirit, reminded her. Fox had a strong self-preservation instinct. "You know, Alwearin, you don't have to mope around like a tailless tortoise." Kattheryea commented, polishing her sword. Kattheryea thought that nothing was as gloomy as an unpolished sword. She took a positive view to life, augmented by the natural cheerfulness of her spirit, Kitten. Kat was actually rather excited to be embarking on a heroic and dangerous quest. "Tortoises mope when they lose thier tails!? Fascinating!" This was Saylor, who let off swinging her sparrow-engraved sword to turn aside, green dress swirling, to take a note in her nature notebook. I love nature, she thought, Same here, Sparrow told her. Sparrow enjoyed butting in on Saylor's interior dialogue. "It's a figure of speech, dummy," Alwearin rolled her eyes, Some people, she reflected, just don't get it. Now you realise this? snickered Fox. "All right, no name-calling," intervened Liori, "We've got to move now, we're supposed to reach lake Boundary by nightfall." They had been traveling for hours before this break had been called, but Liori felt responsible to keep the group moving. Also, her spirit, Horse, didn't like to stay in one place for too long. How much longer to the lake? she asked him. About another hour of travel. he responded. Horse was good with distance, and Lio used this trait often. A chorus of grumbles arose from Kat and the other two. They had just sat down and they didn't want to move again. "Liori is right." Zafir spoke, which was something of a rarity, "Luna says we have just over ninety minutes 'till night." Luna, Zafir's spirit, gave him a perfect sense of time. Zafir was eager to move because Luna was nearly as travel-hungry as Horse and also because Saylor was practicing her swordplay a little to close for comfort. Groaning, Alwearin shouldered her pack, followed by Saylor and Kattheryea. Kat frowned. She tried to look on the bright side as much as possible, but with fifty pounds on her back, It was pretty hard sometimes.

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Havanna thought it was a great plan. Everyone else, including her spirit, Noiren, did not. The reason they needed a plan was food. They were supposed to have picled up food in Dulry, a town some 20 miles from the Harnell territory, but they had been informed that a plague was running rampant in the town, so they had carried on. But now, they were nearly out of food, and the solution, a Sagen trading caravan loaded with edibles,was just a short distance from the group. Thus, Havanna had made her brilliant plan, and was watching it being torn apart. "So how exactly would the copious amounts of slugs you intend to drop from the treetops as a distaction avoid spoiling the food?" Soryst asked, tracing the bear design in her club with a finger. Sometimes Havanna had good ideas, but other times... Not so much, Bear chuckled. "Also," Runa said, startling the others, Runa's spirit, Tiger, gifted her with uncanny stealth, "We don't have several woven nets, let alone a trained badger." Havanna huffed. "Fine then. What do you geniuses intend to do?" Don't be so uppity, Noiren counseled, It was a good plan, just... unorthodox. "I say we hit them from all sides," River proposed. River was their best strategist, and they all listened carefully, "Trinder can channel Boar, get in a charge from the front, Runa, you're stealthy, you can go for the back. Sor and Havanna can strike from the sides, and Eagle and I can get them from above." The others nodded thoughtfully. It was a good plan, pretty nearly airtight. Seeing they all agreed, River turned to Havanna, saying, "Can you check for us?" Noiren Raven's main skill was giving premonitions of the future to those who she bonded with. Havanna concentrated. Nothing, nothing, There! she got a flood of good feeling, as if she were safe in a warm bed. "All good." she told the group. As they began making their preparations, checking weapons and channeling spirits, all thought about the smae thing: This needs to work.

this is so good! it pulled me in...

also I think I will name Runa's spirit Katir. If you don't mind incorporating that :) 

This is exciting! I'm really looking forward to the next chapter.

Sorry for the late reply, I haven't been able to be on CB for a couple of days.  I love this section!   You portrayed Havanna so well.  I am looking forward to reading the next part.