Private Tales The First Run

[Maja]

Southern Anirian Territory
Inarie

Maja did not like running.

There had been few times in her life that she had been forced to run, three that she could count. Once it had been from the Elves of the Falwood. A mission during her time at the Academy, a path that had gone entirely wrong. The other two times had been because of her own people; Anirians. The first had been after her deeds at the summit.

The second? The second was now.

When she had broken free of the Black Keep the Anirians had been inevitably told. Whether by magic or messenger, word had reached them quickly. It had only been a week since her escape, and it had only taken three days for them to find her.

A Dreadlord, or at least what passed for one had found her camp on the northern edges of the Falwood. He had swept down upon her like a hawk, launching fire and attempting to burn her to a cinder before she had wrenched his soul free. The magic he had carried now warded her, kept his compatriots at bay as she fled further and further into the forest.

The creature she had crafted with his spirit was strong, strong enough to hold off whatever number gave chase to her.

At least for now.

Maja could feel herself grow tired, could feel the weariness of her body. It had been three days now since she'd slept, two since she'd eaten even the scraps of what she'd caught in the woods. She was growing tired, exhausted. Soon even she would have to give out.

 

[Inarie]

The elf glided into a gentle jog; effortlessly, and with a relaxed swagger, Inarie caught up to the pale skinned human and offered a supportive glance while running next to the woman and keeping up with her pace just fine.

“Where are we headed?” Inarie asked the stranger. Her voice was clear and calm and although she had approached her quietly – and seemingly out of nowhere – there was nothing hostile in her approach.

“It’s been a while since you started running,” Inarie concluded and furrowed her brows. The old elf had olive skin, with interesting tattoos adorning her face and her eyes were an unsettling ruby red in colour. Everything else, such as her dark hair and average height seemed relatively normal. The human, of course, was shorter than her. But not by much.

“If you don’t mind, I think it’s best if we take a break now. If we head to my place now, we will arrive before dark.” Inarie gestured to the west, where her home lay in the distance.

 

[Maja]

Every muscle, every tendon, every fiber of her being tensed as the Elf appeared besides her.

She wanted to lash out, to attack, to kill. To do everything that the Proctors at the Academy had taught her to do all of her life. This thing...this woman that approached her was another enemy, another foe that had come to kill her.

But she was tired.

Exhaustion riddled her body, and what little souls she had left were no more than wisps of their past selves. Her chest tightened, and as the woman spoke Maja came to a sudden stop. Her heart was racing, her mind was all but on the edge of collapse. "Who..."

She began, biting her tongue.

"Who are you?" Maja demanded, her head slightly lulling as she tried to focus upon the elf.

 

[Inarie]

When Maja came to a sudden halt, so did Inarie.

“I’m Inarie,” the ruby eyed elf said and smiled a crooked smile. Her voice was soft, gentle and strangely forthcoming, all while something ancient trembled underneath the sweet façade. “I came to see what you are chasing, because it’s what your kind usually does.” The scent of sweat, exhaustion and tension filled the air, but the raven haired appeared unbothered by any of it.

Inarie wasn’t out of breath either, because she had not been running as long.

“But you’re not chasing anything – you’re running. And I offer shelter to those who run.”

The female turned around and gestured towards the endless woodlands that lay behind them. “The earth is rumbling, you should decide quickly.” Inarie knew that Maja was being followed by someone stronger than her, someone she could not defeat – why else would she run after all. The elf then headed deeper into the woods, but chose a slower pace, knowing the other woman might not be able to keep up otherwise.

Here, the forest changed. A mind-numbing mist filled the air and if Maja didn’t watch her step, she would surely get lost in the woods.