Savah knows that Timmain is a Firstcomer and, more recently, a wolf. The High One is a stranger to this world and to the ways of elfin society, always a little out of place no matter where she goes.
The Mother of Memory understands this. She understands the otherness of Timmain and expects her to behave differently from everyone, even her own descendants. She anticipates cryptic words and sendings that could bring even the dark healer of the Gliders to her knees, and she welcomes them.
What Savah has not anticipated is the feeling that she is being hunted.
The Mother of Memory has tried on many occasions to speak with Timmain, only to have the elder slip away and hide just out of sight. She never answers Savah's sending calls, nor does she ever approach the former Rootless One. No one can tell Savah where the High One hides, or what she does with herself in her solitude. For all intents and purposes, Timmain does not even exist in Sorrow's End.
Savah does not pretend to understand the Firstcomer, and thus continues in her duties to the Village. Yet no matter where she goes, she can always feel the weight of that ageless stare on her.
This disturbs Savah, who can just barely recall a childhood lived in fear of beasts with fangs and claws and hunger that watched from the shadows.
The Mother of Memory is certain that there is no threat behind the High One's actions, but that does not make it any less unsettling when she looks out her window one tranquil night and sees Timmain standing many strides away, staring intently at Savah's hut.
Savah's heart immediately leaps into her throat, pounding like a chased ravvit's. Breathless and dizzied by emotions she cannot name, Savah watches Timmain until she finally turns and leaves, leaving neither trace nor answer.
Every night thereafter, Timmain holds vigil over Savah's hut. Ever watchful, Savah knows the High One moves a little closer each night.
She waits. With Timmain she somehow knows it is best to wait.
The moons wax and wane thrice before Savah awakens in the night to find Timmain sitting patiently outside her door, cloaked in silver hair and the tattered remains of a mothcloth sheath. The Mother of Memory slowly sits up and smiles at the High One, one slim hand held out in greeting.
Slowly, awkwardly, Timmain returns the smile and rises-up and up and up!-to her feet. Making no sound the Firstcomer climbs onto the bed behind Savah and carefully wraps herself around the younger elf, nuzzling her narrow face into Savah's neck.
"You make me hunger. For many years I have gone without feeling such need...forgive me if I do not do it right."
Savah sighs and finds Timmain's fingers clasped over her middle. She covers them with her hands and smiles.
"Do not fret. This is enough, more than enough."
She is speaking to herself, for Timmain is already dreaming.
Written by request for Nomad Human on the Elf Quest forums. All recognizable characters belong to WaRP Graphics.