Fenris had been standing still for at least a few minutes now, waiting for the sun to set, but it appeared to be frozen in time, as if the trailing edge of its disk was determined to glaze the horizon for all of eternity. He found himself walking east of the village, where the density of the naked forest allowed some degree of shelter. He did not know why he was straying away from the small elven community, but his instinct guided him towards a specific location. At the entrance of a cavern, where he could hear the splashing from subterranean streams, he stopped and called for someone. The drop sounds ceased, and the wet footsteps of a creature who was presumably bathing prior could be heard approaching the exit where he was waiting. A small human figure suddenly halted, but the obscurity prevented Fenris from identifying the target. The smooth voice of a female, placid and monotone, broke the silence.
''What have you done''.
Fenris felt an inexplicable rush of concern and raised his arm forward for the girl to take a hold of. He raised his head to see the village engulfed in flames. Sharp nails were digging into the flesh of his palm.
''So it hasn't died out yet. The blood that betrayed my innocence, the blood that first deceived me'', said the girl in a tone that was elevating inconsistently, as if to hide a silent hatred that was consuming her at a fulgurous rate.
The elf cautiously deviated his gaze to meet hers, and despite not being able to pinpoint the exact source of the memory, recognized her face instantly. The ghostly white skin, the jet black hair flowing past the waistline, the frail childish silhouette and small wrists and ankles – all seemed too familiar. The blaze was swallowing mercilessly the timbered houses and its inhabitants, who were frenziedly moving, like ants in the distance, giving the scene a gruesome crimson ignition. The girl discerned the old elven priest running away from his burning shrine in horror, and in a dark mist, summoned darkspawn to finish him off.