White fur stood out against the stark green and brown of the forest, where a Halla stood in the middle of a clearing. Its head lowering to graze at tender, dew covered grass before lifting to view its surroundings. The Halla stood tall, its antlers nearly touching the lowest branches of the trees around it.
As the Halla raised its head again a branch broke startling the gentle beast. Before it began to run at full speed an elf plopped down from the tree, giving chase. Thundering hooves were followed by bare feet.
"We're going left!" the elf shouted, toward the trees. The Halla took a sharp left as it tried to escape the pursuing elf.
"Got it!" another voice rang in front of them. In a blur another elf landed on top of the speeding Halla, hanging on for dear life.
"Evuniala! Use the rope!" the elf that had given chase called out.
Evuniala's dark hands were holding onto the deer's thick coat, trying to right herself on the beast as she rode it through the forest. One hand gripped the fur while the other reached over her shoulder to grab the rope. Tying the rope to the Halla's horns the beast reared onto its hind legs tossing Evuniala right off.
"Belraj!" she screeched, falling to the floor.
"I got her!" Belraj called as he chased after the Halla. Jumping over his younger sister, his tanned arms reached out, grabbing the rope attached to the Halla's horns. "I got her!" Belraj cheered as he managed to get the Halla to calm down. Smiling, he turned to Evuniala, before going over to inspect if she was hurt. "You okay, da'len?"
Evuniala let out a groan, rolling onto her side, mud covering her back. "Yeah, I'm fine. Bruised…probably. How's the Halla? She's not hurt, is she?"
"No, she's in one piece," Belraj sighed, taking his sister's hand to pull her up, "Maybe being a hunter is not what you're meant to be, asa'ma'lin, nor working with the Halla"
Evuniala brushed her white hair from her face, waving her hand dismissively toward her brother, "I'm a better hunter than you, at least."
"Ma nuvenin."
Taking the rope from her brother she led the way back to their camp. Evuniala couldn't help but look back to her brother, his gold Sylaise vallaslin blending in with his tan skin. His white hair pulled back into a braid showing his shaved sides. The glinting gem of his staff caught the soft light filtering through the forest canopy.
"How does it feel to be the First now?" she asked quietly as the Halla nudged her shoulder as they walked.
"No different than not being First," Belraj sighed, "It's not a big deal. It was bound to be me or Shielan, but she ended up following that dumb hunter to the other clan at the Arlathvhen…"
"We saw that coming for over a year and as soon as Keeper mentioned moving her, Shielan nearly shat herself," Evuniala laughed, remembering her sister's fear at losing the "love of her life".
Belraj huffed in slight irritation, glaring at the forest floor.
"You just don't want the responsibility of this, huh?"
Belraj's head shot up, his fierce golden glare piercing his sister, "No! This is an honor and a privilege!"
"And a life sentence that you're stuck here for the rest of your life," Evuniala teased.
Belraj's strong hand pushed Evuniala, causing the smaller elf to trip over her feet before catching herself, giggling.
"Don't worry, isa'ma'lin," Evuniala assured him, "I won't say anything to Keeper Elera."
"And I won't tell her how you tried to jump onto a Halla's back without asking it," he laughed, shoving her playfully.
The Halla gave a snort, nudging Evuniala forcefully as if to admonish her for her wrong doing. Evuniala turned to the creature, gently rubbing the Halla's nose to apologize.
"I'll brush her and give her extra food to right my wrongs," she smiled as the Halla shook her head as if approving of her reward for running away.
Evuniala and Belraj continued in comfortable silence until they reached the small statue of Fen'Harel. Touching the wolf's head as they entered, the two went toward the corral to let in the escaped Halla with the other ten Halla in the enclosed space.
"Ma serannas," a dark haired elf smiled, watching as the two returned the Halla, "I thought she would be missing forever. She's due to deliver in a week."
"Of course, Ivuna," Belraj smiled, immediately straightening himself as he scanned over the other elf.
"It was no problem," Evuniala assured the worried herder.
"Here, as promised to you Evuniala," Ivuna smiled taking the girl's hand and placing an item in the palm of it, "I fixed it for you."
Evuniala smiled looking at her hand finding a necklace, an intricately carved piece of a Halla horn and on either side of the piece was the sharp tooth of a wolf.
"You did it!" Evuniala smiled, looking over the piece of jewelry, "How did you get it to stay on again?" Her eyes were drawn to the place where the Halla horn had chipped, causing it to never stay on the leather necklace.
"It took a bit but I managed to create a new hole and reinforce it so it's stronger than before," Ivuna smiled, watching the younger elf's face light up.
Evuniala wrapped her arms around the other, hugging her tightly, "Ma serannas, Ivuna!"
"You're welcome."
Belraj smiled watching the two interact before placing a hand on his sister's back, "I need to go and speak with Keeper Elera. Remember you're supposed to go out with Mamae to gather herbs with the other healers."
Evuniala draped the necklace around her neck, nodding to her brother, "Yeah, I know. I'm headed over there right now." Nodding her thanks again to Ivuna and shoving her brother she headed toward the clearing where the healers were sorting the amount of herbs they had.
Evuniala brushed a hand through her white hair before braiding it quickly as she approached her mother. Tying off the braid she squatted beside her mother, overlooking the pile of dried and fresh herbs before the older elf.
"Oh good," her mother greeted, "You and Belraj are done. We just finished sorting." Evuniala's mother kissed her cheek and pointed to several of the piles, "We'll be setting off soon. You'll be going with Sylvas and be on the lookout for Spindleweed and Elf Root. If you can find it pick up—"
"Blood Lotus and Embrium, I know Mamae," Evuniala sighed.
"I know you do," she smiled, kissing her cheek again.
"Harea," another elf addressed, stepping up to Evuniala and her mother, "Sylvas and I are ready."
"Perfect, Nehnis," Harea nodded, standing up and taking a pack.
"You coming with us too, Niala?" Nehnis asked, a smirk on his face, immediately a hand went to run through his dark hair.
"Yes, I'll be with Sylvas while you search with my mother," Evuniala smiled as she picked up her own pack.
"Well good, Sylvas knows what you're looking for a lot better than me," Nehnis grinned.
"You're not that bad," Harea chimed in, laughing slightly, "Just as long as you don't pick up the deadly ones without me you'll be fine."
A red haired elf stepped toward the group, nodding to the three of them, "Ready?"
"Always," Evuniala smiled to Sylvas.
They walked to the edge of the camp, touching the head of Fen'harel before going off in their groups.