When she finally came too, Ramon was leaning over her holding her up by the shoulders and clutching a canteen in his other hand.

He heaved a sigh of relief when he saw her eyes open. "You gave us quite a scare. Are you alright?"

Megan tried to sit up, but her limbs felt like they were made of lead. She winced as a sharp pain pulsed through her body.

"Easy there." Ramon offered her a drink. "Give yourself a minute to recover."

When her head stopped spinning, Megan slowly sat up. The Sun hurt her eyes and made her head pound. "What happened?"

"You collapsed, fell right off your horse." Ramon helped her to her feet. "Are you alright?"

Megan steadied herself against her horse. "Besides the fact that everything hurts, fine."

"Think you can ride on your own?" Ramon asked as she remounted her steed. "It's getting worse."

Megan nodded. "I'll be okay. Let's get this over with."
                                     <>
The journey was slow and the landscape deteriorated as they proceeded. The group rode through the Reverie Valley, crunching the charred vegetation and choking on the acrid ash kicked up by the horses.

Megan slumped over her horse, unable to lift her head. Her body ached from the constant jouncing as they trotted along. Her eyes burned and her lids drooped so low she could barely see. Sweat drenched her body, making her hands slick and her clothes cling to her. Her head pounded so hard she couldn't think.

On the far side of the valley, the scenery turned into a wasteland. Pools of sludge puddled across the slimy ground and a stench hung over the land like a fog. Clouds blocked out the Sun in a thick layer, obstructing much of the light.

The horses' hooves sank into the deep mud, squelching with each step. Megan tried to lift her head, but the movement sent a shock of pain down her neck. She cried out as she toppled off of her horse and slapped down in the slippery muck. She didn't have the strength to push herself up.

Ramon leapt from his stallion and crouched down next to her, dragging her up out of the mud. "Don't push yourself. You need your strength."

She chuckled. "I guess I'll need your help after all."
                                      <>
Megan leaned against Ramon as they rode on, one of the others leading her horse. Soon, they reached the heart of the bog. A cave arched out of the ground like an ominous doorway and sickly trees surrounded its black opening.

Ramon dismounted and helped lower Megan to the ground. "Well, here we are - Thranus' domain. It's not too late to turn back."

Megan struggled to lift her head as she gave him an irritated look.

He sighed. "Alright. Let's get this over with."
One arm supporting Megan, he led her into the darkness and the cold of the cave.