It was a cold and dark night in the city of Narkis but the darkness and cold did not affect me as I expected it to. I had other things on my mind. Would I take Carasso by force or diplomacy? I wondered whether the Xionti forces were ready for a battle but I knew that this was what the Galactic Coalition needed, planets.

I sat on the bench in the city centre, looking around me hoping to throw the thoughts away from my mind. The buildings were silent and darkened, few lights glowing in the homes around me. No footsteps were heard nor was the music that was usually heard at these times of night. I stood up and suddenly felt the true knowledge of the cold as a breeze lashed against my face. I walked with a quickened pace towards my home, still suffering from the thoughts of battle.

As I walked the streets of Narkis, I wondered whether I would need to consult the Xionti council. I did not think this was necessary, it was in the name of the Galactic Coalition, not the New Council. Yet I decided that in the morning I would consult the New Council and see whether they would be willing to lend me their forces for what I hoped would be an epic battle.

As I stepped onto the porch of my home, I saw that there was no sound nor was their any movement upon the home. I expected this since I lived alone, I wondered whether I would ever find a partner for the large home that I owned. Why did I have so many questions on this cold, dark night? I needed rest. I pulled the key from my coat pocket and inserted it into the lock. I twisted it towards the unlock position and there was a faint click which I knew to be the lock loosening. I walked into the hallway and immediatly began removing my clothes. As they fell from my body, I picked them up and as I got to my bedroom, I put the clothes to one side and walked towards my bed. I crawled in and before I knew it, I was asleep.

Sleep was not what I needed or so it seemed. As I lay in my bed, drifting from left to right as my dreams showed death and pain throughout. I twisted and turned trying to shrug the dream away from my mind, I awoke several times only to fall back into a sleeping nightmare.

I awoke in the early hours of day in fear, wondering whether the dreams of bloodshed and misery were a prophecy or simply a portrayal of my current emotions and thoughts. I lay awake wondering whether I should simply lay in my bed and wait for time to pass or should I start my day? I decided to choose the latter.

I slipped the sheets of my body and walked towards my wardrobe. The handle was cold as I pulled open the doors and grabbed some simple clothing. I walked down the stairs listening for any sounds, yet I knew there would be none. I stopped at the front entrance and slipped my shoes. As I slowly placed my foot in my right shoe, I heard the faint sound of rustling coming from the living room. I walked slowly to the entrance to the living room and the sound of rustling became greater as I placed my ear upon the door.

I was scared for my life, was this a trap or was it simply someone seeking a place of refuge? I didn't want to know the answer yet determination and pride willed me forwards and I rushed into the room. As I entered the room I knew this was not a trap by my enemies, but simply a figure seeking refuge. The figure turned towards me and started to crawl away from me.

"Please, don't run away. I won't hurt you. I was just scared that someone was going to attack me. What is your name?" I asked the figure, hoping that they understood.
"My name is Patri and I am simply here because I have no home. I have no family nor do I have any money. I seek refuge every day yet the owners of homes I wish to stay in are simply too afraid of me to allow me to stay in their homes. Are you like one of these people?" Patri told me in a feminine voice. I wondered whether this woman was honest in her explanation. I decided that she was honest anfd began to speak again.
"No, I am not like others. I will fetch you some food and clothing, along with other items such as a blanket. You may sleep in my bed but I place extra blankets on the bed because I know that this house becomes rather cold at night. Please, follow me to your temporary room." I told her and started walking towards the stairs.
"Thank you kind sir." She said as she followed my footsteps.

As I walked into the bedroom and ushered her in, I was now feeling a sense of pride knowing that I had helped another. I took some old clothes from bedroom and I told her to wear these when she awoke from her sleep. I told her that I would be back soon and as I closed the door behind me, I heard the soft draping of clothes against skin.

I walked down the stairs and I opened the front entrance to my home. It was time for my morning jog...

As my footsteps echoed in the frightful silence of the night, I wondered about this woman. Was it true what she had said? Where did she come from? What did she want from me? The questions sifted through my mind yet they were unanswered. I turned corner after corner as I quickened my pace and searched the darkness for signs of life forms. All I heard was the distant sound of calling birds and the sound of my own breathing.

Narkis did not suit darkness, it was miserable and disturbing, sounds of the night added to the ghostly effect that night had upon this place. As I looked to my left, I saw that the sun was soon to rise yet there was still darkness about this place. Soon, I would be home and I would know whether I had made the correct decision.

As I came to the final leg of my jog, which was roughly three hundred metres, I quickened my pace again to an almost sprint. The heavy breathing that was my own took it's toll upon me and as I reached my home I felt as though I were going to collapse. I walked into the house using my key and all seemed well at the first crucial view...

As I wandered through the house, everything was as I had left it. The rooms were untouched to the naked eye and it seemed that all objects were seemingly undisturbed. Each time I looked upon a room, I wondered whether there was going to be some vital mistakes that would be left unseen to my eye and I would be left the fool. But I knew better, I had been in battles were sight was everything and I had attuned my senses to disturbances.

I decided to check upon my latest guest and the stairs quietly creaked as I climbed each step. The sound was dull and monotonous, I felt as though life were simply too boring at times and I wondered whether I should even bother checking upon the guest. As I quietly opened the door to the bedroom, I saw the young woman sleeping, seemingly dreaming peacefully.

I sat beside her bed in waiting yet as the seconds turned into minutes, I felt my eyes suddenly begin drooping through weight. I let my body fall to the bed yet I suddenly realised my guest would think my actions were truly inappropriate.

As I sat up and moved my body towards the floor, I suddenly felt a hand upon mine.
"Please don't leave, just stay here and sleep." She said and I decided that I would complete her request. I lay upon the bed and before I knew it, I was asleep...