Private Tales Behind enemy lines..

[Sorai]

The Anirian huffed. Surely this wasn't normal behaviour. Weren't wild birds supposed to fear humans? Not that she could blame them..

Her eyes snapped open again, a little more grogginess clearing from her mind this time as she watched the little bird. Katyr's promise lingered in her mind, and she murmured a quiet 'Hello' to the bird, as though half expecting it to talk back. Either way, it didn't need to talk for Sorai to understand that it was trying to wake her.

She shifted slowly, hoping not to startle the little thing. Everything else was so still and quiet, and gods, she had never hated such peacefulness as much in her life, and so she was glad of the incessant songbird's tweeting.

Sorai's attention drifted to Katyr's lifeless face, her heart sore. "Time to go home..." she sighed quietly. At least, she hoped she could find the way.

 

[Myr]

The bird bounded back as soon as Sorai began to move. Hopping from her form and onto Katyr, tweeting and chirping as she spoke. It's song filling the air as slowly she pulled herself up from the ground. The songbird trilled the beginnings of a tune, hopping into the air as it's wings began to flap.

When the human stood it began to take flight, drifting into the air with all the elegance of a bird ten times it's size. Slowly it flittered around Sorai's head, as though waiting expectantly for her to start upon her journey.

As she did, the songbird turned.

It swooped over her head before it's fluttering wings carried it forward. Darting towards the south and west, before swooping back and turning to face Sorai, as if checking to make sure that she would followed along the same path.

 

[Sorai]

The weight of grief was as difficult to carry as Katyr's body was. Her throat was raw from crying, her clothes soaked in blood, and she added to her own cuts and bruises every time she stumbled over a rock of root as she dragged her dead friend. Somewhere along the way, she decided to believe that the little bird was showing her the way. She had a vague idea of some general direction, and the little creature seemed to be keeping her on track, not to mention how it refused to leave her each time she fell or stopped to rest.

By the time the sun was setting, Sorai had little choice but to keep following. The forest was thick, and Sorai was quite lost.

"I'm going as fast as I can.." the girl growled irritably at the incessant tweeting. Sweat drenched her skin, and she was growing slower and slower with each passing hour. Soon there would be no light left and she'd be out here alone to face whatever night brought in forests such as these. Her arms tightened around Katyr's chest as she continued on unsteadily, her boots squelching with blood.

 

[Myr]

The bird eventually began to lead her south, moving slowly through the forest and hopping from tree to tree.

As twilight began to fall, the bird suddenly jerked to the left, floating happily alongside Sorai as it landed upon her shoulder. It tweeted loudly, tapping her shoulder once to catch her attention before it suddenly jumped off and swooped down to the left.

There it landed upon the floor besides a fallen oak.

The great tree was the size of a small house, it's inside almost entirely rotten away. Perfect for the cloudy night that was still to come. The bird stood before it, tweeting, picking up a stick and quickly bounding it to put it just outside the fallen tree.

It then did so again, and again, until a small pile of sticks began to form.

Perfect for starting a fire.

 

[Sorai]

Sorai had been determined not to stop, but she had stumbled so many times and her body was screaming in pain. Sweat and blood drenched her, and had it not been for the exhaustion that threatened to keep her down the next she fell, she'd have ignored the little bird when it drew her attention to the fallen husk.

She frowned at the little creature as she caught her breath, but she shook the ridiculous thought from her mind before hauling the elf's body into the shelter, and setting him down. Sorai propped him inside the curve of the tree, making sure he was comfortable, and at least she might still be able to pretend that he was merely resting.

The bird's tweeting drew her attention once more, and Sorai's gaze fell to the pile of twigs and kindling that it had gathered for her. Alright, so most definitely not a normal forest bird...He really was guiding her.

"Is it you?..." she asked the little creature in a hesitant whisper, as though asking the question too loudly might confirm her insanity.

 

[Myr]

The little bird seemed to look up at Sorai, it's head tilting from left and then to right.

A small chirp passed from it's beak, but that was the only answer she would receive. The little bird jumped down from it's perch, immediately hopping out into the clearing before spreading its tiny little wings and soaring off in an instant.

Minutes passed, and the bird returned.

It flittered into the small clearing, carrying a clutch of berries which it clearly struggled to keep balance with. The meager meal deposited in front of Sorai, the little bird chirping and twittering before it quickly turned and left again.

Again again it came and went, until the meager meal was finally enough to fill the stomach. Then and only then did the bird stop, nesting itself on the body Sorai had been carrying.

 

[Sorai]

As the bird unexpectedly took flight, Sorai was left bereft, and she called for it to come back. In the minutes that passed, her hope wavered, but just as despair threatened to engulf her, the bird returned, bearing a gift in its beak—a cluster of forest berries, plump and ripe.

Sorai accepted the offering, her fingers trembling as she cradled the vibrant berries in her hands. She met the bird's eyes, filled with gratitude and an unspoken understanding. With a gentle nod, she whispered her thanks, believing deep in her soul that her words reached far beyond the realm of the living, and that Katyr had stuck to his promise to keep her safe.

Silent tears rolled down her dirt-streaked cheeks as she consumed the nourishing berries, their sweet taste mingling with the bittersweet memories of Katyr. Satiated, she turned her attention back to the elf's lifeless body, lying still and serene on the forest floor.

With a flicker of determination, Sorai turned to the small pile of kindling and twigs the bird had made for her, and she gathered some rocks. Carefully striking a piece of flint against another, a spark ignited, and a flickering fire danced to life. Its warm glow cast a soft, warm light over Sorai and her fallen companion.

Sorai curled up beside Katyr, exhaustion consuming her, but she resisted its pull - unwilling to let go of the precious moments she had left with her friend, but she was soon left with little choice.

As sleep finally claimed her, Sorai took solace in the presence of the small bird perched atop Katyr's chest. Its steady breathing mirrored her own. In the embrace of the forest's tender solace, Sorai allowed her weary body and tormented heart to find respite, knowing that, for this night, she was not alone.

 

[Myr]

By the time Sorai awoke the next morning, the little bird had already gathered her breakfast.

It was much of the same as it had been last night, a meager meal, but one nonetheless. It twittered and tweeted, waiting and bouncing from rock to branch as it waited for the human to eat. Then, almost as soon as it sensed the Luana had enough rest, the bird once again began to lead the way.

With a great leap the bird jumped into the air, quickly flapping its wings and flying high while diving low. Always gliding around Sorai's head and leading her through the forest.

That was how it went for the next few days.

The little bird would excitedly tweet and chirp. It would urge Sorai onward when she grew tired, feed her when she was hungry, and when she was alone at night...keep her company.

On the Fourth Day, when Sorai woke up, the tweeting of the bird was joined by another. Two dueling songs thar chirped against and in tandem with one another. As he eyes fell open, Sorai would see her indubitable companion, and standing opposite him an avian of the same variety, though his color a striking blue.

They tweeted at one another, until the blue bird suddenly turned and jumped into the sky.

Leaving Sorai alone with her fateful companion, letting out a single peep.

 

[Sorai]

As Sorai's eyes fluttered open, she was greeted by the familiar sounds of the little bird's melodious chirping, accompanied by a new addition—a second bird whose striking blue feathers commanded her attention. The dueling songs of the two avian companions filled the air, harmonising and weaving a tapestry of natural beauty.

She watched intently as the birds engaged in their enchanting duet, their voices rising and falling in perfect synchrony. It was as if they were communicating in a language that transcended human understanding. But just as abruptly as it had begun, the duet came to an end. The blue bird, with a graceful leap, soared into the sky, and a poignant silence filled the forest, broken only by a single, solitary peep from the remaining bird.

Sorai sat up slowly, a tender smile curling sleepily on her lips as she turned her attention to her unwavering companion, the little bird that had been her solace and guide throughout her arduous journey. She extended her hand gently, palm upturned, as an unspoken gesture of connection and appreciation. She'd been broken, she felt broken, but something had shifted, and somehow she knew that today she would find the place where Katyr could rest. What awaited her there, however, was entirely unknown, but her task would be over.

Sorai felt a surge of strength and resolve course through her veins. She rose unsteadily to her feet, her body weary but her spirit unyielding, ready to continue the path that lay ahead. With a renewed sense of purpose, Sorai followed her companion as it took flight once again, leading the way through the dense undergrowth and towering trees as she dragged Katyr's body, assuring him softly that he was almost home.

 

[Myr]

It was an hour into that days journey that the second bird returned.

There was no word or warning as it suddenly fluttered in place with its companion. It whirled and flapped it's wings, chirping excitedly as though making an announcement. The second bird letting out a gleeful, almost mirthfilled song. Glancing back at Sorai, the two bird banked down towards her.

They floated and fluttered around her head excitedly before suddenly breaking off again.

Her ever faithful companion returned to the sky, shifting to the east and continuing to guide her. Further into the depths of the Falwood.

The second bird however turned in, landing not on Sorai, but Katyr. There it stopped, flapping it's wings and seeming to adjust it's feet. Gently it's tiny claws dug into the elf, and with a furiously flap of it wings began to aid Sorai in carrying the weight of her burden. Struggling against the elves bulky form and wildly surgings it's wings up and down as thought it might actually make some difference.

The comical sight lasted for a few seconds, and then suddenly a third bird swooped down out of the trees.

It came down and cut over Sorai's head. Offering no tweeted greeting until it joined the second upon the elves collar. Moments later another, and then another fowl appeared. All of them swooping down and taking their place, flapping their wings intensely until finally, Sorai would feel the weight of Katyr's body begin to ease.

Now no heavier than a barrel of feathers.

 

[Sorai]

A burst of unexpected laughter escaped Sorai's lips, a sound tinged with both astonishment and delight as she watched the futile attempt of the tiny bird trying to alleviate the weight of her fallen friend. The bird's determination, despite its minuscule size, struck a chord within her—a reminder of the strength that could be found even in the most seemingly insignificant beings.

Then, as if fate had conspired to surprise her further, a third bird swooped down from the treetops, followed by yet another and another. They descended upon Katyr's motionless form, their collective efforts causing a surge of relief to wash over Sorai. The weight of her burden gradually lessened, the birds' combined strength proving to be more than she could have ever imagined.

She watched, awe-struck, tears welling up in her eyes and a mixture of gratitude and profound emotion filling her heart. She extended her hand, her fingers trembling slightly, to gently take Katyr's hand, still not ready to let him go.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice filled with reverence. "Thank you for helping me carry the weight of his loss."

With the weight of Katyr's body eased by the wings of the birds carrying them forward, Sorai pressed on, her steps filled with purpose and her heart brimming with hope. Together with her avian allies, she forged ahead, ready to honor her vow and bring her friend back to his people, fueled by the enduring bond formed between souls on a shared path.

 

[Myr]

"You know you can't grow here." Myr told the tree in front of him, letting out a loud sigh. "This is where the Fern's grow, and your canopy shrouds the sun from them. We agreed to this."

The tree seemed to away slightly, moving as though it had been pushed by a breeze. The sound of rustling leaves filled the air, and Myr smiled. "Ah, yes. I'll have a talk with the Sequian as well, I promise."

For a moment, nothing happened, and then suddenly the tree began to shift. It's canopy moved, and the shadow which had been cast over Myr and the area around him moved. Bright sunlight flooded the small clearing, and the ferns around his ankles all seemed to pep up. A small smile touched the elf, and he turned on his heel as he began to walk towards the Sequian grove nearby.

Managing the great Garden of the Falwood was never easy, and Myr was hardly the only one to do it. Despite what others thought, the forest was not a single cooperative amalgamation. It could be, and in times of great stress it banded together, but truth was the plants fought almost as much as humans and elves.

Silly arguments that had to be resolved almost constantly.

As Myr walked over towards the grove of trees, a song suddenly played through to his ear.

His head snapped almost immediately, and a memory more than a century old flooded his mind. He saw himself, sitting by a campfire, beside him were Katyr and Ielem. They were all laughing as the former whistled a happy song, a tune Myrdin hadn't since.

His eyes fell on a small Falwood Robin, perched on the branch. The bird tweeted happily, and when he caught the elf's eyes; stopped.

 

[Sorai]

Sorai's heart stumbled as she sensed a subtle shift in her surroundings, and the weight of significance that hung in the air. An unspoken recognition fell over her, and somehow she knew that she had arrived at the place where Katyr belonged. That he was home. Though there were no visible signs of elves, there existed the same vibrant energy that permeated the surroundings, as she had felt from Katyr himself.

A sense of fear and urgency washed over her as the birds guided her toward the heart of the Sequian grove. Time seemed fleeting, and she feared that she might not have a chance to bid her final farewell to Katyr. The weight of his hand in hers spurred her forward, her grip firm and determined. "Wait. Wait!"

The fear of possible consequences—being shot down where she stood, or swiftly chased away—loomed in her mind, and she wasn't ready to leave him just yet. "Just a few more minutes." she asked quietly, pulling gently back against the birds' direction.

 

[Myr]

"Wait. Wait."​

The loud insistence called out through the Sqeuian grove, the first human voice to ever sound within it.

Myr froze.

Through the din of the forest he saw something that he was sure was an illusion. A mirage created by some cruel trickster fae who had once again slipped through the ley-lines and into the Falwood. A cruel trick, that was made even more cruel by the truth that it told.

The Elf stood and watched, hidden by the thickets of brush and forest scrubs, as Sorai pleaded with the little birds. Her first companion quickly tweeting and chirping, pecking at some of the larger avians who seemed less than cooperative. They shifted and moved, gently lowering the body they held to the ground.

Lowering Katyr to the ground.

Myr felt his mouth go dry. His fingers furling slowly into fists. He watched, a roil of emotions flickering through his heart. Joy, despair, anger, a thousand other feelings which came so fast and were gone in the same second.

Centuries of mourning undone and brought back.

He didn't understand. He couldn't. How was Katyr here? How was he with a human? Ho-how had he died? Questions came, and the answer to all of them was standing right there.

Without a second thought, with no consideration of who this human might be Myr stepped forward. He didn't care if she was a Dreadlord. He didn't care if this was some kind of a trap. He wanted to hold his friend, he wanted to see him again, even if he was dead.

 

[Sorai]

Sorai's eyes, brimming with tears, followed the graceful descent of Katyr's form to the sacred ground. Her gratitude extended to the avian companions, who had allowed her a final moment with her fallen friend. Kneeling beside Katyr, she reached to comb away his bloodied tresses, a tender gesture to reveal his face on last time.

The weight of sorrow pressed upon her chest as she whispered words, a mixture of apology, love, and the pain of parting. "I'm sorry.." she murmured, her voice soft but carrying a depth of gratitude.
As her fingers delicately brushed Katyr's cheek, Sorai's breath hitched. His once vibrant features, now peaceful in repose, etched a poignant image in her heart. Her tears rolled down her blood-spattered face and fell onto his still form.

A quiet, choked sob escaped her, a sound that resonated through the grove like an echo of grief.
"You're home. And I have to leave but I don't w--"

A sudden awareness gripped her, a realisation that she was not alone in the sacred grove. Panic flashed across her weary face, but instead of fleeing, she instinctively threw herself protectively over Katyr's chest. Her outstretched hand attempting to halt the approaching elf, a plea for a moment more, a moment to say her final goodbye.

"Not yet! Just let me say goodbye," she implored, her voice carrying a desperate plea. Sorai clung to the precious seconds, expecting that the next one might well be her last.

 

[Myr]

A range of emotion roiled through him as Sorai held up her hand and shouted for him to stop.

The grief and surprise that had nearly overwhelmed were suddenly dashed into a thousand pieces. Smashed by an indignant rage that Myr hadn't thought he was capable of feeling any more. Anger at being told to stay away from his lost friend, seething at the human who had wandered into this ancient grove.

Emotions kept only in check by the desperation in the girl's voice.

Katyr would have burned her to ash in a second.

His friend had never been one to suffer humans, not after what they had done. What had changed in three hundred years? What had happened to his friend? Why was this human so desperate to stay by his side in his death?

Fingers unfurled from the fists they had formed. His chest rising and falling as a breeze carried through the grove. "I was never afforded the opportunity."

Myr replied to her in bitterness, not able to keep the barb from his tongue even as he saw the tears well in her eyes. His gaze flickering to his friend for a moment, another powerful wave of despair crashing against the dam of anger he still felt.

"Who are you?" He demanded, taking another step forward through not reaching for the blades upon his back. "What did you do to him? What did you do to my friend?"

The Elf demanded, though it was hard to tell if he was accusing her, or all of humanity.

 

[Sorai]

Sorai's world seemed to unravel as Myr's rage collided with her desperate plea. His emotions, a tempest of grief, anger, and confusion, surged through the ancient grove. The fear that Katyr's body would be torn away from her, coupled with the terror of facing the wrath of an elf, wrapped her in a paralyzing grip.

Myr's bitter words cut through the tension, leaving Sorai trembling on her knees beside Katyr's still form. The tears in her eyes mirrored the tumult of emotions within her—a whirlwind of fear, relief, and self-recrimination. The question, sharp and accusatory, hung in the air like a dagger, and Sorai felt its impact pierce her heart.

As Myr demanded answers, Sorai's initial instinct to defend herself faltered. The weight of guilt bore down on her, a heavy burden she could no longer escape. She felt the accusation, and despite Katyr's last words still on her mind, she could not shake the blame she felt belonged to her.

The moment hung in the air, charged with the fragility of truth and the complexities of the choices that had been made. Sorai's breath caught as she tried to speak, and once again she crumbled.

"I'm sorry...." she sobbed, her voice a choked whisper. Her gaze dropped, eyes closing, as the weight of her own words settled upon her. "I promised I'd bring him home.. He was supposed to go home."

The truth spilled out with each tear, each sob, as she grappled with the realization that she had unknowingly led tragedy straight to Katyr who had only just managed to regain his freedom, and Sorai's heart bled with the weight of responsibility.

 

[Myr]

Myr watched the girl as she crumpled under the weight of her despair.

Tears flowed down her cheeks, sobs wracking her lungs as she stumbled over her words and desperately tried to choke out an explanation. Her apology rang within the grove, resounding through the trees. They swayed, seemingly with no wind, their leaves bristling as the forest itself mourned the loss of what had once been it's Protector.

Through them, the Elf heard the girls truth.

The sorrow she felt was not summoned as a trick or trap. Not something meant to lull his anger or dull his mind as despair swept through him. Whoever she was, whatever she had done, the loss of his friend hurt her nearly as deep as it had hurt him.

For a second Myr did not know what to say. His three centuries of life finding him lacking for any direction which he should take. His lips pressed to a thin line, his eyes closing as he took a deep breath and allowed himself to wash away just a little of the rage that he felt. His fingers unfurled, and slowly he took another step towards the girl.

Without a word he crouched in front of her, his eyes slowly taking in not Sorai, but the body that lay by her side. The sorrow within him welled over, and a flood of grief struck him. "What..."

His voice was softer this time as he reached out, hand folding gently over Katyr's cheek. "What happened?"

The Elf asked, looking up at Sorai.

"Please." He told her. "I need to know."

 

[Sorai]

Sorai's sobs gradually subsided as she felt Myr's presence shift beside her and she dared to glance up at him, her eyes still brimming with tears. She watched the way he gently held the fallen elf's cheek and her chest ached as they shared in a moment of grief that transcended the boundaries of race and history. The weight of Myr's question hung between them, and the girl took a shuddering breath to compose herself, and nodded.

She knew that the truth she carried within her was a heavy burden, one that would likely seal her fate. Yet, in the depths of her heart, she recognised the elf's right to know, to understand the circumstances that had led to Katyr's death.

"There was, an uprising.. He escaped his prison.." Sorai began, her voice trembling. "He took me from the city, as insurance.. I thought he intended on killing me, but he didn't. He saved my life, more than once." Her words came out haltingly, each syllable a painful reminder of the horrors she had witnessed. "And when we reached the edge of the Falwood he sent me to safety, a village." her head shook..

"There was a man, a Dreadlord, he was looking for Katyr, and he was going to kill me if I didn't lead him to him. I said I'd take him to him but I lied, I was leading him further away." she frowned, feeling every cut and bruise as she relived the memory of the monster.. "Katyr was.. He was supposed to go home." she said the word angrily as she swept her gaze across the grove. Here, he was supposed to be here, not her.

"But he showed up.. I don't know how he found me, or how he knew. He was protecting me." her head bowed and tears flowed freely down her cheeks. "He died saving me, again.." tore at Sorai's heart, leaving her raw and exposed before the elf. "He said he made his choice.. That it was the right one.. Though it doesn't much feel that way."

"I'm so sorry," she choked out, her voice filled with remorse. "I wish... I could have saved him.. I wish he'd made it home."

 

[Myr]

A thousand emotions played through him.

A great concerto played within his mind. Drawing him through a range of emotions snapping back and forth within their instant. Myr could not have said how he felt about her words, for articulating it would have brought an even greater sorrow.

Her story was doubtful at first, and yet he felt no lie to her words. Katyr had always been pragmatic, quick of thought. A hostage would check the resolve of most humans, they were an emotional sort, just as the Elves. Why he had chosen her, he could not have said, and it did not matter with the rest of her tale.

As the girl spoke, his eyes lowered.

Breath shaking.

"I see." Myr said softly, knowing that the human had told the truth, but not wanting to believe her. Sorrow struck him, flowing through his heart and rending strings that had long since been holding him together.

He had mourned his friend centuries ago, but that pain, that sting had never truly come. A part of him had always wondered, always hoped that somewhere Katyr still lived. He supposed now that he had always been right. Even if he wished he had not been.

"But." The Elf said softly. "This isn't home."

 

[Sorai]

Panic seized Sorai as she struggled to comprehend the implications of Myr's words. She had promised Katyr that she would bring him home, that she would honor his memory and fulfill her vow. But if this place, this hallowed ground where they now knelt, was not his home, then where did he truly belong?

A surge of determination fueled her actions as Sorai attempted to stand, her trembling limbs protesting against the strain. Her strength faltered and she stumbled back to her knees, the weight of her wounds and weariness crashing down upon her, Sorai's resolve remained unyielding. Ignoring the searing pain in her wounded feet, she pushed herself back up, a flow of fresh blood squelching in her boots as she reached for Katyr, attempting to lift his torso to her.

"No," she whispered, her head shaking and her voice trembling with a mix of fear and desperation. "I promised... I promised I'd bring him home. Please, you have to help me. Tell me where..."

Her plea hung in the air, a fragile thread that tethered her to the hope of fulfilling her vow. She refused to let go of the flicker of hope that burned within her, ignited by Katyr's last words to her, and hers to him. She began to drag her friend once more.

 

[Myr]

He knew nothing about this girl.

Not her name. Not her heritage. Not her family or anything else. She was a complete stranger. For all he knew, she had personally slaughtered hundreds of his kind. She could be a Dreadlord, she could have been one of the very Archon's who still rattled the Elder Councils.

There had been similar cases before, humans trying to trick their way into Elven lands. What little honor they had never seemed to extend to Myr's own people. Trickery, lies, and bribery were more than okay as long as it was a step towards victory. He knew this, he had fought them, twice. Even after Katyr disappeared, he had continued to fight.

Myr knew the quality of man.

He reminded himself of that, but reminded himself of where he was. "Stop."

The Elf said, surprising himself with the delicate nature of his tone. A hand coming up to signal for her to drop Katyr, or hopefully let him down to the ground more gently.

"Sit." Some of the harshness slipped from his tone, but it was clear that Myr was leaving Sorai little choice. At this point a stiff breeze would be enough to append any sort of progress she might make, nevermind an Elf. "Katyr was born in the city of Lorren."

Cringing at even saying the name to one of her kind. "Do you know where that is?"

 

[Sorai]

Sorai stared at him through dark, glassy eyes for only a moment before she did as he asked, and gently lowered Katyr back to the ground and knelt beside him, a hand still on his shoulder, just in case..

Her head shook.. "I don't.. Will you tell me where to go?.. Will you let me take him?" she asked, her trembling fingers curling into Katyr's bloodsoaked shirt.

"I know I am not welcome in the Falwood. I don't know or care what will happen to me. But this wish was his as much as it is mine and I fully intend on honouring it." she frowned with a hint of defiance in her determination.

 

[Myr]

Myr bristled somewhat at the words. Lorren lay deep within the Falwood’s southern reaches. No human, as far as he knew, had ever made it that far into the the ancient forest and if they had they most certainly hadn't been of Anirian birth. Giving one of her kind directions to go there seemed almost sacrilegious. As though he would be breaking the very bond of the forest.

No matter her intentions, this girl came from the tree-killers. Those who had burned miles upon miles of the great wood and done so with rabid intention.

Even if he did tell her the location of the Lorren it wasn't likely that she would make it. The Falwood was old, ancient compared to the Elves, and while humans had short memories, the trees had long ones. They would see her for what she was, where the line of her ancestors lead. There was no telling what the Forrest would do.

It was remarkable she had even made it here.

Though it was that very thought that sparked something in his mind. For a moment the elf just stared at Sorai, contemplating. A frown touching on Myr’s face as he looked down at Katyr’s body.

She must have been telling the truth, he realized.

To have made it this far, to have the aid of the birds. The trees had not yet killed her, and perhaps it had been his friends will that had carried her here. Katyr had wanted this, wanted what she said. This was no trick or trap. ”I will take you.”

Myr croaked, not quite believing his words as the grove around them seemed to bristle. No wind rushing through the trees, but their leaves shifting all the same.

”If this was his last will.” The Elf commented, perhaps not to Sorai, but the forest around them. ”Then I will see it done.”

Even if it meant betraying oaths they had taken three centuries ago.

 

[Sorai]

Tears welled in Sorai's eyes once more, yet this time they bore the shimmer of gratitude and disbelief. She had expected rejection, condemnation even, from the elf who stood before her, yet, in his offer to guide her to the distant reaches of Lorren, she glimpsed a flicker of hope.

"You... you will?" Sorai whispered, her voice trembling with a mixture of disbelief and relief. She dared to meet Myr's gaze, her eyes searching his for any hint of doubt or hesitation. Yet, in the depths of his gaze, she found a resolve that mirrored her own.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "I... I don't know how to repay you."