LastCinder — Roleplayer Guild

The two women drudged through the streets of Cromerth. It was still dark, just an hour or so before dawn. The town was just waking, a few merchants beginning to set up shop and a few drunks still stumbling and trying to find their way home.

Aaerynn halted as they finally reached the gate of the cemetery, and her arm rose from Serna’s shoulders. The teenaged girl turned concerned eyes onto the wood elf, but Aaerynn only stared straight ahead, taking in the rolling hills of graves and tombs.

“Stay here.” The elf finally commanded as she began to get her bearings. As time went on, she was feeling better and better, but she could still tell her limbs were weak, and the lightheadedness had not gone away completely.

“But…” Serna protested, causing Aaerynn to look back at her. The look itself made Serna close her lips.

Aaerynn straightened up a bit, putting a hand on the gate before she gave one last look to the teenager. “Hold onto that bag and wait here. If I don’t return after dawn, go back to the inn and give it to Rudolf…and let Vordan pick what he wants from the vials in my room. I don’t care about what happens to the rest.”

Serna turned wide eyed at the sudden commands. It sounded like she was heading towards her death. The young girl tried to protest and follow but the wood elf had already disappeared beyond the gate.

Aaerynn stumbled a bit as she entered the cemetery grounds. Her sight was still blurry and her legs were struggling to keep her upright but she grit her teeth and pushed through it. A part of her wanted to call back out to the young girl for her support but the more reasonable side of her knew that she was entering uncharted grounds. She didn’t know what would happen when she saw it. It was possible that the rot would kill her then and there. But she needed to do it.

The voice of her nightmares was still stepping inside of her reality.

The form was still at the corners of her periphery. Aaerynn could still see her as much as she tried to ignore it. The form of her mother, dripping in rotted blood, smiling that fake smile she always bore. Her voice was still reaching out like a fog, intending to entrap her.

You can’t change. You’ll die. You’re dying. It’ll kill you. He’ll kill you. Just like you killed me.

“I didn’t kill you.” Aaerynn mumbled under her breath as she looked around. She didn’t even know where to start. 180 years ago this had been a giant field with rolling hills covered in wildflowers. Now it was haunted with rotting corpses and jutting stones.

Bleary eyes looked up to see the shadowy form of a tree, jutting out from the crest of the hill. It was close enough to the forest that she knew right away what it was. How many moments were spent there? How many days were spent entangled in his limbs as he read her poetry? How long did they spend together as he taught her how to read human word, and she taught him the waltz? It had felt like summers went on for centuries when she was beside him, taking in his smell, feeling his fingers caress her skin, and his lips pressed against her’s. Back then she had yearned for his voice as he read to her, the scratch of his quill as they had lain side by side, and his words flowed as if painted by the stroke of the artist’s brush. How many nights did they spend together, huddling close and reaching out for the stars? How many hours did they spend laughing together until they were nearly in tears? How many flowers did she entwine as she listened to his dreams of escape, of how he wished to leave forever and steal her away for places unimaginable? How wonderful it had felt to have someone covet her so greatly that he swore on his life he would die without her.

Her feet had been moving unconsciously, closer and closer, jagged steps that seemed to take all her strength as she hiked up that hill once more. This time however, she didn’t have skirts to trip her up, or heels that would sink into the soft dirt and make her cry out for him to help her up as she laughed, completely embarrassed.

She saw the stone of his wife first. She had lived long it seems, and had borne quite a lot of children. She had probably lived long enough to see her grandchildren come of age.

Aaerynn’s body didn’t stop until she finally reached his stone that had been struck into the earth beside their tree. Suddenly the memories stopped completely, filling up with complete silence and Aaerynn’s legs failed her as she collapsed onto the grass that surely covered up what was left of his body.

Her hands shook as she reached out to the stone. It was covered in ivy and moss, dilapidating so badly even the engraving seemed sanded away by time. Her fingertips gently touched it, frightened as if the physical action would cause the stone to decay away completely. But it was still there, his name. Her fingers traced the letters. John Abrams

The sudden confirmation finally sparked her rot, and Aaerynn lost her breath as the pain bolted through her chest. She doubled over, holding herself together, feeling as if her body would break apart, here and now. Why had she come here? What was the point? To live, only to die?

Aaerynn grit her teeth, the sadness and pain overwhelming as she looked up at the tombstone. “I hate you!”

She shook her head, looking at the ground as her hands dug into the skin of her arms. “I hate you!”

Aaerynn repeated the words again, but they had lost its meaning. She was talking to a stone. It wasn’t like he could ever hear her, and it wasn’t like she hated him either. She couldn’t. No matter how hard she tried.

The worst pain of all though, was knowing she didn’t love him anymore either.

Yet she was tied, tied to this husk, this piece of marble…for what? For a bond that was severed 180 or so years ago, or even the 150 years since he died? She hated herself. Hated what she was. Hated that it seemed she was born to nothing but suffering. She was tired…so incredibly tired of all of this, of grief, of rot, of guilt and of death.

Her shoulders slumped as she curled into herself. “I’m leaving…and I’m not coming back.”

The sky was beginning to turn red as the sun slowly crept over the horizon. Serna leaned against the wall of the cemetery and frowned both in boredom and in worry. Aaerynn had still not returned, and her last commands had been rather disconcerting.

Serna fiddled with the straps of Aaerynn’s bag. Why had she wanted to come to a cemetery? Perhaps she knew someone buried here. The girl frowned further at that thought. Then why did she make it seem like she wasn’t going to come back?

As much as Serna liked to follow directions, she couldn’t just leave the wood elf alone. She turned, only to smile as she caught sight of a whole bed of wild flowers sprouting from where the wall met the grass. These would be perfect.

Aaerynn sat in silence, feeling the rotting pain fill her core and burn through her veins. She had to ask herself, was this worth it? So much pain just to say goodbye? But it wasn’t just goodbye, she wanted to cast off these feelings entirely. She wanted to be free, so desperately. She just wanted to forget him completely. She wanted to live on from the pathetic mistakes of her youth.

Closing her eyes, Aaerynn buried herself in the pain, in the burn of grief. She could feel her heart expand against the tightening of her chest, and her lungs burn as they were constricted by closing ribs. She would die here, she was sure of it. How pathetic. Haunted by a nightmare, only for it to become reality.

“Was he close to you?”

Aaerynn’s eyes widened in shock as her head whipped to the side to see Serna. The young girl held a bouquet of wild flowers in her arms and a sad smile. The wood elf wanted to rebuke her for disobeying but she couldn’t bring herself to say anything. Especially as she watched the teenager place the flowers before John’s grave and began to delicately pull off the ivy and weeds that had attached themselves to the decaying stone.

“He died rather young.” Serna mumbled as she touched the stone. “He was barely even fifty.”

Aaerynn held herself closer and Serna looked back, seeing the wood elf’s face fill with agony.

“I’m sorry.” Serna whispered softly and pulled away from the grave stone, sitting beside the wood elf. Aaerynn only bowed her head, feeling her innards crunch with anxiety.

“How do you deal with it?” Aaerynn finally murmured as she looked at Serna and then the stone. “This is what you become. Humans are gifted the least years of life between all the races. You’re weak too…you die so easily, you’re just lucky to reach old age. Then you are forgotten…leaving only a stone that slowly crumbles apart into dust.”

Serna frowned softly as she listened and felt the wind blow by them, she tucked her hair behind her ear as she answered. “But you remember. Who he was lives in you too, doesn’t he?”

Aaerynn grimaced at the answer, it wasn’t what she wanted to hear. She looked over at the teenage girl and Serna smiled softly. “We live inside our friends and family and loved ones. And that’s enough isn’t it? Some people strive to be remembered, but that’s not the point of life. It should be enjoyed, however you see fit.”

The girl smiled again and Aaerynn frowned, for some reason she was reminded of Vordan and his promise to help her. In fact….

The elf turned to see that the sun was certainly over the horizon now. The sky was alight in a palette of reds and blues and purples. It was beautiful. She had lived this far to see it. Aaerynn had decided to change. She had taken little steps, and she wanted to come here to step into a new direction didn’t she?

Suddenly, Aaerynn unsheathed her dagger from her waist. She raised it, noticing that it hadn’t been cleaned. It was covered in a dried purple mess, a mix of her blood and the Syndarean’s. She noted the interesting color, before suddenly gathering her hair in one hand. Then in a single swipe the blade cut through the strands, causing the free hair to drift down to the grass. Serna’s eyes widened in horror at the sight, and she held onto her own long hair as if it was precious. Aaerynn ran a hand through her now shorter hair, feeling lighter. The front was still long, and she’d braid it later, but right now it felt good.

The elf slowly stood, feeling the wind on her face. The pain was still there, it was always there but now she wanted to step through it. She wanted to change it and she would. The wood elf looked down at the girl beside and held out her hand, “Let’s go.”

The duo went together into the market and finally returned to the inn with Aaerynn holding some new supplies. The wood elf returned to her room, seeing it still a mess from when she had left it.

She slowly packed her bag for the trip and paused for a moment, to look at her hand. It was trembling, the uncontrollable tremors a sign for what was going to come. She had pushed herself, and her rot, far too much in one day. Honestly, she was surprised she was even still standing.

But, for once in a century, she felt good. She was in a hell of a lot of pain, but her mind felt clearer. She had gotten to say her goodbye, and hopefully she’d be able to let go of his memory. The process would be painful, but it could be done. She had at least one person that wanted to help, and the others within the group were good people.

She’d be able to try at least.

The wood elf pulled off her vest and ruined shirt, and opened the package that she had asked Serna to get. She had asked for a few new shirts and as the elf opened the brown paper; her eyes were accosted by pastel colors. Pink, blue and purple. The wood elf stood in shock, realizing she hadn’t specified a color and the teenager had picked whatever. Aaerynn groaned in annoyance and pulled out the blue one, the least offensive as the rest and pulled it on.

Aaerynn wanted change, but not that much.

Setna and Serna walked over towards Elrithos and Vordan as they exited out from the inn. They were already in conversation, and clothed with everything they needed to continue on with the journey.

“I’m surprised you’re already up Set.” Serna giggled and smiled at her older brother.

Setna looked down at her with disbelief. “Me? That’s a lot coming from you, I’m lucky to even get you up most days. I had to be up for training.”

The boy was already beaming with pride about it, and both twins looked up as they came to a stop before the Desert Elf and the mercenary. Serna immediately smiled happily as she bowed her head to them in a greeting. “Good morning Sir Elrithos, Sir Vordan!”

Setna had paused in thought as he suddenly looked back to his sister. “That reminds me, what happened to you and Miss Aaerynn this morning? You were both gone before I was up.”

The girl stiffened in surprise as she turned to her brother once more. “Ah… W-We…”

Setna gave her a blank face and Serna bit her lip as she tried to think. Aaerynn had told her to keep this morning’s incident between the two of them. But what Aaerynn had overlooked was that Serna was a horrible liar. Her gaze shifted to the side, her body tightening up as she tried to answer her brother whose dark eyes seemed as if they could peel back the skin on her forehead. “A-Ah! We went to the market!”

Her face lit up triumphantly at the half lie. They had gone to the market after all, just not all morning. It wasn’t a total lie. Yet as the girl looked at her brother, she was met with an I don’t believe you at all gaze. She immediately tried to stare back with an It’s totally the truth, I am in no way lying stare, but her brother wasn’t buying it.

Suddenly Serna felt as if she they were children again and her brother was trying to singe the truth out of her. Sweat blossomed across her forehead as the stare down continued, and she was beginning to break down. Surely telling them about what happened wouldn’t be a big deal. It wasn’t like anything really happened. It was just sad.

Serna was about to open her mouth when a voice interrupted them.

“You shouldn’t interrogate your sister like that.”

Setna nearly jumped out of his skin in surprise. He looked back wildly to see Aaerynn standing behind him. She had been so silent he hadn’t even heard her coming. Setna opened his mouth to say something, but became distracted as he noticed that Aaerynn looked almost completely different. Besides the front part of her hair, the rest had been cut off just below her jawline. The shirt underneath her leather vest, which usually was black, was now a powdery blue and hid the scar on her stomach. Setna tried to gather his words but only ended up mumbling. “I…I…uh…Sorry…”

Aaerynn shifted her bow across her back. “I just wanted to see the sunrise. Your sister offered to help.”

Setna nodded numbly and yet his eyebrows rose in curiosity. Finally his thoughts began to stick together, and struck him across the skull as he realized who exactly was standing in front of him and what had happened the day before. “AH! Miss Aaerynn….I, I need to apologize.”

He suddenly bowed his head. “It was wrong of me to just run off and leave you alone like that. I should have stayed and helped…I should have fought then and there, I…”

Aaerynn held up her thumb and pointer finger, and suddenly flicked him in the forehead with enough force to snap his head up. “Stop. I don’t want to hear that. I don’t care about what you did or should have done. It doesn’t concern me.”

Setna just stood there in surprise as he rubbed his forehead. He blinked a few times as he stared at the wood elf. She was…different somehow, besides the hair and clothes. Her words were blunt but it didn’t have the coldness that it usually did. She seemed sad, but a lot softer.

Aaerynn spoke again as she looked him over. “You should just be glad you’re alright. Did you fight? I didn’t expect that you’d come out so unscathed.”

The boy suddenly looked back at Vordan before turning back to Aaerynn. “It was alright. Vordan really saved my ass, and took out one of them.”

Aaerynn’s light blue eyes finally moved over to the mercenary. Her gaze immediately scanned him over for any possible injury or ache and she lightly frowned. Vordan had stepped in, even after what he had experienced in the bar. Well obviously he had helped out; it was his bandages that had saved her life. Still, he had taken a beating the night before, and even with the bandages, the fact that he immediately stepped in the next morning…there was no way he wasn’t injured.

“Are you alright?” She asked Vordan softly.

-The twins had just joined in, both seemingly ready to go too. There were still a few of them missing, noticeably Caelis and Faith who they hadn’t seen the last two days… It was a wonder what had happened to them. Vordan nodded to Serna with a light smile while Elrithos bowed lightly with a small smile. The desert elf found it great to see the both of them in a good mood. It was a great change from the past events that was brought upon them.

Vordan was about to ask something of them, as the last one to have seen both Tirian and Aaerynn was the both of them and maybe Rudolf. Setna had beaten him to the question… But what came to a surprise was the young girl’s reaction. Easy to see she was hesitant on the answer and clearly nervous about the question, so both the mercenary and the desert warrior were curious about what had happened. They eventually got an answer, one that clearly did not seem to be true; everyone around could see it. No one was going to force her to say anything… but they wanted to know…

Their answers came shortly, both men turning their heads towards the feminine voice… And what a face of surprise they did. With the change in her appearance, it was a wonder what they did. Elrithos simply thought it would be a drastic change in her appearance from a life experience, but he didn’t know. Either way, she was walking properly and seemed not too bad. Still the men were quite amazed.

Then came the explanation… To those words, Vordan smile grew a little. It’s a gift to see the sun rise everyday… Maybe he had nothing to do with what he said, but nonetheless, it was something great to hear. Elrithos thought it was best if he went on to secure the equipment he bought and left them to converse a moment.

The events of the other day came up and Vordan really could have passed over all this. Yes, the other day was a shitty night, there was no need to go back on that. Yet, Serna spoke of getting his ass saved by him… Not exactly what he had seen, but Vordan guessed it kinda went like that. He looked at the young man, then back to Aaerynn. He was still trying to take in the new changes. The shirt was for the scar, but the hair? Who knew why. She asked forth a question, one in which he simply gave a slight nod.

“Of course. Just needed to sleep it off…” He said plainly, then went to ask something with a light tone. “How is it to see the sun rise?” In reality though… Vordan wasn’t completely alright. He knew that he would easily get sick the next day or so, depending on what he did. One thing was for sure, he wasn’t going to drink any potions or use his bandages.

Aaerynn's eyes softened slightly at the question. "It was beautiful...you'd have said it was a gift, right?"

Her voice had a teasing lilt, and Setna looked from Vordan to Aaerynn in confusion, feeling as if he was missing out on something. But Aaerynn only set her pack down from her shoulder, and looked up at the mercenary once more. She wasn't really convinced that Vordan just needed to sleep everything off. He seemed off in his own way, and Aaerynn was beginning to seriously wonder about the implication of his magic bandages. How much could his human body take? Constantly being forced to close wounds at such a rapid pace and in such little time. It couldn't come with no price, could it? She placed her hand on her hip as she spoke to him. "If you feel unwell at all feel free to rely on me. Not all my medicine is for drunks."

Her face was soft as she spoke, yet somber. Setna was trying to figure out what happened to cause the change as Aaerynn continued to speak. "We've relied on you quite a bit, so you should feel welcome to rely on us. Sometimes the body needs time to heal, and I promise I won't charge you."

Serna had quietly dismissed herself from the group, and walked over to Elrithos who was securing the equipment on the cart. Gently she reached up and lightly tapped his shoulder. When he looked back at her she smiled softly. "Sir Elrithos, I j-just wanted to th-thank you for helping my brother. W-We can't r-really repay y-you. B-But! If there's a d-dish you like perhaps I can cook it f-for you and the r-rest of the party one night."

She smiled sweetly, yet nervously. All of these people were helping them in their own way. The young girl just wanted to give back to them somehow. Her mother had always told her to repay kindness, and she had many people she wanted to repay, in whatever way she could.

“One of the most beautiful and underestimated gifts, yes.” What a change it was. Just a couple of days with the lot of them and it seemed that maybe someone got through to her. Her soft and light expression was a sight to behold… Rudolf had yet to see her too. That would be a priceless sight to admire. Vordan laughed lightly. She then went to her offer for medicine, one which was more than greatly appreciated. There were times he would have preferred simply resting and let it work itself out, but with his lifestyle, it typically never happened.

“A kind offer I will not refuse.” He said softly, turning to Setna that seemed to be trying to figure something out. He didn’t understand, but he would know. Not now, but when he would hear the stories, if they are ever told, will maybe quench his curiosity. Then, he turned back to the wood elf. “Nice haircut. It does you justice.” He said with a kind smile as he went to one of the carts to sit down… Although he wasn’t in bad shape, he still didn’t want to be working too much that day.

Elrithos swung his head around as he felt someone tap on his shoulder… Serna? A small smile rose to his lips. The young lady was surely in a good mood and it was a sight that pleased the desert elf. Finally, people were able to relax with everything that had happened. So, she thanked him for his help with his brother. Elrithos had to admit it, Serna was a very generous young lady and Elrithos couldn’t help but laugh a little.

“Please, I am more than happy that I can help a fellow warrior. He needs the training and he is fighting for a good cause…” He then turned back to attack the last remaining weapons before he completely turned. “You do not have to make anything special Serna… But I do wish to ask you never to let Rudolf do the cooking. I love your cooking and would hate to have it spoiled by the small man’s tastes.” At that, he laughed, a hint of playfulness in his words. Erithos, for a warrior who lived for over 300 years, was a very light hearted being.

Serna absolutely lit up and giggled happily at the compliment. “Th-thank you! I promise I won’t let him near it!” Her stuttering was lost to her happiness as she giggled again. She was going to ask the Desert Elf another question but was interrupted by a rather loud scream of joy and the Syndarean girl looked over to see Aaerynn lifted off her feet in what looked to be a bone crushing hug by Rudolf.

“My Ryn! The beauty of the woods! The light of my life! What joy it brings my heart to see you up and about once again!” The dwarf exclaimed as he swung around with the much taller wood elf still in his arms.

Setna raised his eyebrows as he witnessed the spectacle and grinned. “Oi old man, she just got back on her feet! You’re gonna send her back to her death bed.”

Aaerynn was attempting to pry him off her, her face turning an unnatural pale until he finally let go of her and she was able to breathe again. Just as she was catching her breath she was yanked down to the dwarf’s eye level as he touched her hair. “What in the gods happened!? Oh you’re beautiful hair is all gone! For shame! For shame! A wood elf with short hair!”

The wood elf gently, yet firmly, kept the dwarf at a distance away. “Calm down, you old coot. It’s just hair, it’ll grow back. A Syndarean lopped a piece off and left it uneven, I couldn’t just leave it like that.”

The dwarf pouted. “What a vile demon! To slay something so precious as a wood elf’s hair!”

Aaerynn was getting annoyed and she planted her hand in a smack onto Rudolf’s bald head. “That’s enough pervert, revel in your hair fetish on your own personal time.”

She mumbled something under her breath and Rudolf finally looked up at her, and seemed to calm himself down. He grinned though and spun Aaerynn around a final time before looking at the others. “Well I think we’re ready to head out then! Would someone mind fetching Tirian?

Serna immediately volunteered herself. “I’ll g-go tell him!”

Serna had volunteered herself so eagerly to be the one to tell Tirian that the caravan was ready to move out. But as she stood in front of her door, she found herself frozen. She looked down, her shoulders slumping as he small hands fiddled with the front of her dress. The last moment Serna saw Tirian awake, he was absolutely terrifying. He hadn’t even responded when she talked to him, when she asked what he was doing. The look in his eyes…had been completely frightening.

It was so different then the soft look he had given her when they were training, and it was completely different from when he was smiling. The teenager couldn’t help but worry about which side of Tirian she would see when she opened the door. She wanted it to be the smiling Tirian.

The girl straightened up a bit with a spark of determination. It would be ok! Tirian would be fine! The girl reached up and knocked on the door, before opening it quietly. She poked her head into the room and called out nervously, “Sir Tirian?”

-Tirian laid in his bed, feeling the agony of his innards screaming in protest of his actions. His eyes remained shut even to the protruding sunlight within his room. He replayed the events of yesterday through his mind, shivering with pain at the darkness that had entered his heart. Guilt began to set in as he remembered Serna had also been there with him. She as an innocent girl and Tirian forced that darkness upon her. That was when the nervous voice of the previously mentioned Serna broke his thoughts.

“You don’t need to call me Sir.”

Tirian looked over with a warm smile, his eyes brightening at the sight of Serna in his doorway.

Serna smiled as she slowly opened the door more and stepped into the room. But the smile faded as she looked at his face with concern. "A-Are you ok?"

Tirian nodded slowly, turning his eyes towards the ceiling with a breath of clean and fresh air.

“Perfectly fine. I take it the group is ready to move?”

Serna nodded. She turned quiet and was frozen in place as looked at him. She still felt unbelievably guilty. She had wanted to do as Aaerynn said, to just be grateful for the help. But she couldn't. Tirian had offered his help and his teaching to her, and all she did was get him involved in something dangerous.

Tears began to flood her eyes and they dripped down her face to the floor as she looked down and bowed her head in guilt. Her voice cracked as she mumbled, "I'm s-so sorry...it w-was my f-fault...y-you collapsed."

-Tirian had slid out of the bed noticing the drastic change in Serna within moments. Tirian quickly closed the gap between two bodies and lifted the females chin to meet his own eyes. He seemed genuine and happy, just being alive did that for him regardless of past actions and travesties.

“It was not your fault. Besides I’ve been through much worse. Let’s put this behind us and continue forward. I’m ready to go downstairs if you are.”
Serna nodded, and quickly wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. "S-Sorry."

-"It's fine. Let's go."

Serna nodded once more, sniffling for a final time as she walked behind Tirian and followed him down the stairs towards outside.

Rudolf lit up as he saw Tirian finally come out, and he approached him in the same way he approached Aaerynn, by suddenly hugging him much too tightly. "Tirian! My boy! How do you feel!?"

“I’ve been better, truthfully but all is well. I am ready to go when you are.”

Rudolf smiled happily and then motioned for the entire group to gather together, as if everyone was a child in school. "Now everyone, we'll be heading off after a few bits of news. I'm afraid that Caelis and Miss Faith will not be joining us. I received a letter this morning in which they stated that they will remain in Cromerth. However! We have two young ladies who will be joining! Perhaps they want to introduce themselves? Name, and perhaps any skills so the group knows you are capable!"

Lucille eyed over the entirety of the group, not exactly impressed with the members individually. However, as a group this caravan certainly would be nothing to mess with. Rudolf spoke up of two travelers she hadn’t heard of and t hen asked the newcomers to introduce themselves. Lucille stepped forward with her arms crossed and that smug smile on her lips and began to speak.

“I’m Lucille Hearthstone. I’m from a small city on the southern tip. I’m proficient in several languages and I’m a healer. There really isn’t much more that needs to be said about me.”

~Lillith watched the pink-haired girl give a small introduction. From the miniscule speech Lillith conjured an idea of the attitude this women held. From her posture and that smug grin it was obvious she would be hot-headed and possibly arrogant. More could be said with a greater investigation. However she would need to give an equally mysterious introduction.

“I’m Lillith Zhao of Nibelheim. Not many of you will know where or even what that is. I’m joining to make my way back home. I thank you for allowing me to join the group.”

Lillith melded into the background, keeping quiet and perfectly to herself.~

~“It’s rare that get to meet someone from the Electus.”

Tirian spoke up, stepping forward and extending his hand out to Lillith with a warm smile. ~

~Her eyes opened up with surprise to the manly voice, taking the hand still in shock.

“How?”~

~“I’m from Thialea. My mother was Allynn Runetheil.”

This further statement shocked the greying girl to her core. The late queen of the northern wood elves. She couldn’t believe but then she took in the details of this man. Tall slender with those eyes. There was a resemblance. ~

~“Well met. Excuse me for my disrespect.”

Lillith quickly bowed before the red-haired man.~

~“No, no it’s perfectly fine. I don’t deserve that kind of respect. Not with my past.”~

“Well then! With everyone acquainted let’s head out!” Rudolf clamored as he waddled over to the lead cart. “Ladies are welcome to hitch a ride on a cart, or feel free to walk beside!”

Aaerynn had frowned at the introductions. She was slightly relieved that the Halfling wasn’t coming along, especially after today. She looked too much… Aaerynn paused her thoughts as a violent tremor overtook her arm and she held it in place. She had done her best to swallow the pain down and ignore it, but it was creeping back with a vengeance. It would be alright though, all she had to do was live through the pain and the sickness for this moment, and hopefully she’d be stronger at the end of it.

Her frosty eyes looked over at the pink haired girl, then the silver haired one. They were interesting picks, but it wasn’t like Rudolf could ever say no to a pretty face.

Aaerynn fixed up Baineth to follow the carts and then walked over to Rudolf’s cart at the lead. His cart was the only one open and not covered by canvas. The Wood elf whistled for Kai and the young wolf eagerly followed after her as she pulled herself up and over into the cart to lie down. “I’m gonna hitch a ride with you.” She murmured quietly to the dwarf who looked back at her with concern.

“You’re abusing yourself to much.” The dwarf spoke softly before letting out a loud yip and a crack of the whip, starting the motion of the caravan.

Aaerynn remained silent as she looked up at the sky, feeling the pain slowly become worse and worse, drowning her. The tremor of her arm had begun to drift and she felt her entire body begin to tremble. Kai wrapped himself around his master and let out a soft whine. “I had to say good bye…” She murmured back to the dwarf who shook his head.

“You’re trying to rip it away by force, as if you’re cutting off a limb. That’s why it hurts too much for you to bear.”

Aaerynn turned to look at the back of the dwarf’s head before she closed her eyes, her mind focusing on the roll and bump of the wooden cart. Perhaps he was right...but she could bear it. She could live without this limb.

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