Kaari sighed as she sat on a cool boulder. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, remembering her day. She had finished her chores at home and then had  saddled Cirrus for a ride in the forest, packing her pencils and her leather sketchbook. She was lucky to have one because the king wanted only himself as the only artist. After she rode her horse, she met with her friends, encountering her brothers on the way. Now she was sitting at the edge of the forest against a rock. She looked out at the sweeping meadow in front of her. The breeze blew softly against her and the sun peeked just above the Diamond Peaks. The mountain range made a wide arch around half of  the nation, protecting it from outside attackers. The other side was surrounded by water. 

Inspiration always came to her when she sat in the meadow. Cirrus loved to graze in the long grass and she loved to ride him across the field. She always wondered if she would ever reach the Diamond Peaks. 

Kaari picked up her pencil, an idea forming in her head. She lightly drew the pencil over the paper, sketching out an outline. She looked up again at the certain formation of rock in the mountains. She studied it for a moment then began to draw.

She finished the outline and started on the details, not needing the mountain anymore. She began to darken the lines, adding shading with a softer pencil. Kaari began to work intently on her art, letting her mind drift across the meadow and back to the Diamond Peaks. 

Finally, she examined her work.  A dragon lay curled up against the mountain side. It's tail curled around it and it's eyes blazed with an intensity like a fire. It's wings were folded back and it's horns ran up it's back from the tip of its tail. It watched the viewer with curiousity and it's claws gleamed razor-sharp. 

She looked up at the mountain and gazed at the peak. The formation looked like a resting dragon. 

She decided to name that particular mountain the Sleeping Fiend. She smiled at her imagination and then she stood, stretching. She climbed up onto the rock and spread out a blanket she'd put in Cirrus' saddlebags. 

"Are we going home tonight?" He asked, munching on a mouthful of grass that reached up to his shoulders. "No, I'm going to watch the sunset. Tomorrow I guess we could camp out. I'll ask Kia and Quill. My parents won't notice my absence anyways."

As she gazed at the sky, she thought about her grandmother. She was also great at art. She wanted to visit her soon. "Maybe we can go visit Grandmother soon. Want to?" Kaari asked her horse. 

He tossed his mane and winnied. "I'd love to." She smiled, Cirrus loved Grandmother.

Kaari looked up at the sky. Night was falling fast and the sky was painted with soft oranges and reds. A sense of awe overcame her as she watched the sun slowly retreat to its lair underneath her world. 

As the moon marched up into the galaxy and the clouds filled with twinkling stars, a hoot sounded fro  within the forest. Karri hooted softly back and a speckled white owl soared out if the trees and landed beside her. 

"Will you do me a favor, Kia?" Kaari asked her nighttime friend. The elegant owl cocked her head to listen. "Watch over me while I sleep, please," she whispered to Kia. 

"Yes, I will be your guard for the night, if you wish," Kia replied, her great wings ruffling into a comfortable position. She hopped into a low hanging branch over the rock Kaari was laying on and fluffed us her feathers. The owl fixed her eyes on the world and watched contently.

Kaari, satisfies with her safety, rolled around until she was facing the woods. Shadows moved restlessly but she knew it was only the creatures of night stalking the foliage. 

 Cirrus nickeled a good night and settled onto a soft patch of grass and watched the long brain in the meadow wave in the slight breeze. Kaari continues to watch her surroundings until her eyelids grew heavy and she could no longer stay conscious. 

Finally, she let sleep envelope her and she was swept away into the world of dreams.