AN: This is a story I've been working on for a LONG time, ever since I acquired the swift flight form for my beloved balance druid….er….crit chicken. :D Her story is very involved and complicated and I figured I'd just put it in story form. This also may be my half assed attempt at participating in NanoWriMo. Also- this is my first attempt at first person POV. :X

Anyway. Enjoy. :D

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*Broken Wings*

"Sometimes the greatest challenge is standing up to people you love, for the morals you love."

The lush dark forest whispered around me, the violet green and blue leaves rustling in a hushed cacophony of voices. The moonlight trickled through the singing branches, bathing me in its glittering glow, dancing over my skin and hair in motes of light.

I sat in the aromatic grass, concentrating on the feel and sound of the forest around me. It pulsed with life and sentience, under and around me, the voices of everything whispering to me in a million tones and pitches. A bird murmured to herself as she covering her softly peeping chicks with the warm downy feathers of her belly. A colony of ants marched about, chanting monotonously as the performed repetitive but necessary tasks for their demanding queen. The trees creaked and rumbled in their deep resonating voices as their roots touched the heart of the earth. I drank it all in, savoring everything I was hearing and feeling.

I changed my focus to the moonlight. It almost chimed in an ethereal melody as it fell through the whispering leaves, and I could feel it dance on my lilac skin. I distracted myself momentarily, pulling the restricting hair tie from my tresses, never opening my eyes as I let them fall down my back in a shimmering pearl cascade.

I tried pulling the moonlight between my fingers, feeling it there, imagining it focusing into a beam. A flash of light shone before me, and I gasped, opening my eyes to see a pillar of moonlight. Power tingled in my hands and rushed through me, filling me with exhilaration at what I had done.

I got up, satisfied with what I had accomplished. I turned to return home and the met the stern and disapproving glare of my mother. Her silver eye gazed at me scathingly from her scarred face, her dusky blue brows knitted into a scowl of anger. As I always did, I avoided looking at the mass of scar tissue where her left eye had once been- the scar ran over the entire left half of her face, and ran down her neck, stopping at the top of her breast, knotted and twisted; the cruel reminders of the cruel father of mine that had mauled her and ran off to Silithus after finding out I was not the son he had wanted. After eighteen years I still could not bring myself to look her directly in the face. She had been beautiful once- so my aunt Selindrila had told me- and her scars scared me. She was not beautiful to me in any way. Had she been unscarred I still would not have found my mother beautiful.

"I'm going to pretend you didn't just waste four hours of study teaching yourself moonfire when you could have been learning how to wield the light of Elune," she said heatedly and stormed away, headed for the house. I swore under my breath.

I hated how my mother tried her hardest to deny the path of druidism that called so strongly to me. She herself had been a druid, but she no longer used her abilities. Not after the fight with my estranged father. Not after that night when she had presented me to him when he returned fromFeralas, a few months after my birth. He had become enraged, and shifted into the fierce form of a dire bear, and mauled my mother for her failure to have a son, then disappeared to fight in the war against the threat in Silithus.

Or so she told me.

My aunt and uncle spoke naught of my father, or the incident that involved him and my mother only spoke ill of my father. I suspected that the stories she told were fabricated and rooted in bitter resentment. When I finally left her home I would seek the answers myself. For now, I simply had to wait another year to be of age to leave her home, or be courted. I laughed in spite of myself. Me, courted; a humorous wish. Me, with my long nose, thin face, awkward freckles and a figure slighter than most females. I was hardly desirable.

I slipped into the house, ignoring the smoldering gaze of my mother as I headed to my room. The sky was slowly turning pale lavender as dawn tinged the heavens- my cue to retire to sleep. I slid into the soft bed, drawing the soft silky sheet over myself, listening to the soothing lullaby the woods provided me- murmuring, chiming, thrumming, primitive and ancient.

"I will never stop hearing this cacophony of voices. I will always be a druid. You will never stop me, mother," I whispered fiercely as I rolled over.

"No one will stop me."

---

I knew as soon as I woke that evening that my mother would still be simmering in anger. Talishae A'folan was one to hold a grudge. I dressed in a plain white robe to please her, plaiting my hair. She didn't look happy with me as I emerged into the kitchen, but the hard tight line of her mouth lessened as she noticed I was garbed in the style of a novice priestess.

She soundlessly handed me a small piece of bread and a flask of water. I said nothing of the simple, almost insufficient fare in the presence of a bird roasting over the fire, turning a golden brown as its aroma filled the house tantalizingly. It was how she punished me, but it mattered not. I never went hungry with my friends around.

As if summoned by my thoughts, Ythira knocked on the door. My mother brightened immediately and beckoned my best friend in. As usual, Ythira was the picture of pious beauty, dressed in mooncloth robes, her aqua hair combed until it shone, and hanging to her soft mauve shoulders. She smiled at my mother, the blue butterfly markings on her face crinkling gently.

"Good evening, Lady A'folan," she said politely, curtsying slightly.

"Good evening, Ythira, always good to see you," my mother replied, her mood lightening with every minute.

"I've come to escort Keliara to the temple for our week long training," Ythira said.

My mother swung her gaze towards me and I nodded, making her smile more.

"Very well. I'll see you girls in a week," she said happily.

Ythira and I left the house and called our sabers to us. Keeka, my black saber, ran up to me happily, her silver stripes shining. I loaded my pack and slid into the saddle while she purred, eager to run. Ythira sat on her white striped cat, waiting patiently. Once I had the reins, we let the great felines breaking into an easy loping run.

"So what did your mother catch you doing this time?" Ythira said in amusement.

I rolled my eyes, and adjusted my hips to move with Keeka's rolling gait.

"Moonfire," I said simply. Ythira made a soft sound of amusement.

"First wrath, now moonfire. It seems you're on your way to being a balance druid."

I nodded, excited.

"It's exhilarating."

"So I take it you'll want me to provide an alibi while you spend your week showing Loth'loren?" she asked slyly, smiling at me.

My heart fluttered in my chest as she mentioned his name. Loth'loren. An experienced Druid of the Talon; a spy. He was well skilled in mastering the form of the storm crow and soaring through the skies undetected. He dabbled in the ways of balance, but as far as his actual calling, he preferred the skies. My heart continued to stutter at the thought of his smooth smile and fierce yet kind, intelligent golden eyes. Ythira smiled.

"You've taken quite the fancy to him," she said, her grin wicked. Matchmaking- or meddling as I saw it- was one of her favorite things. I tried to keep my face neutral.

"I enjoy his company- he's a good tutor."

"He's noticing how you're almost of age…of age to be courted. I've seen it on his face," Ythira said, but there was no hint of cunning in her voice now.

"I know, but there are far better prospects than myself," I said, my heart sinking as I said it, the thought making me slightly put out.

"You'll just have to wait. After all, if he's interested, he has to ask your mother for permission," Ythira said gently. The thought didn't make me feel better. We were nearing his home. Instead of a house he'd communed with a large tree that shaped its branches with chambers and ramps to make a beautiful and natural home.

He sat outside, sewing a piece of leather armor, the moonlight falling on his periwinkle skin. He looked up as Keeka mewled happily upon seeing him- she loved the treats he made her.

A lock of shoulder blade length, midnight blue hair fell over his clean shaven face. His fine mouth shone with one of his slow easy smiles.

I admired the length of him as he headed over to us. Loth'loren was of average height, but slim and lean- didn't aspire to be heavily muscled like most Kaldorei males. He also stood more at ease, usually with his weight resting on one hip; his smiles voice and laughter was soft, relaxed and warm.

"I see you're providing an alibi for Keliara again, eh Ythi?" Loth'loren laughed.

"Aye," Ythira said, grinning. "Lady A'folan was grumpy this morning."

I snickered. Grumpy was putting it lightly. Ythira waved farewell and headed down the road towards the temple. Loth'loren extended his arms, and without hesitation, I leapt of Keeka's back and into his arms. Keeka purred and headed towards the grassy knoll near Loth'loren's home where his own saber, Daerga, was resting quietly.

Loth'loren smoothed my hair gently, frowning slightly at the braid; he liked my hair loose. I pressed my cheek against his chest, trying hard not to shudder as he ran his fingers over the top of my head and a few fingertips brushed my ear.

"You angered your mother again. What did you do this time?" He asked quietly.

I didn't respond at first, enjoying the scent of him- a semi-sweet woodsy musk with a hint of leather and the dust from feathers- and the feel of his chest under his soft leather jerkin against my cheek. I sighed out of nerves, irritation and contentment.

"I finally mastered moonfire," I muttered against his chest. He made a soft rumble of contentment in the back of his throat.

"Well done! I take it she caught you?"

"She did," I grumbled, pursing my lips in a pout. I was sulking, but I didn't care. Loth'loren never told me to suppress what I was feeling as opposed to my mother, and it felt good to express myself, however childishly I did so.

"Don't fret, Keli-bird," he said warmly, using his nickname for me.

I was glad my face was still against his chest where he couldn't see me blush. He rubbed my shoulder then pulled away and extended a hand to me.

"Come Keliara. Let's extend your knowledge in the ways of balance, as it's obvious that's the path that calls to you. Today I'll begin teaching you how to master starfire."

I took his hand and went with him to continue my study of my one passion, and my quiet defiance of my oppressive mother.

----

I sighed contentedly, nestling back into the soft chair with a warm bowl of stew. Through the ever open windows a balmy breeze and the songs of the forest came wafting through. Loth'loren smiled at me from his chair, eating his dinner quietly.

"I love when you come to visit- you always look happier here than when you show up from home," he remarked. I nodded, careful not to dribble any stew on my front.

"I am happier here. I don't have to hide who I am when I'm here with you."

Loth'loren smiled, but it was apprehensive- he seemed like he was about to ask me something or tell me something serious.

"You never have to hide who you are with me, and shouldn't have to hide who you are ever again. I appreciate you for all that you are, Keliara," he said simply, going back to his meal.

My spoon jerked halfway to my mouth as he said this, spilling stew on my chin. He reached over and wiped it off tenderly.

"Don't burn yourself, Keli-bird," he said, getting up to wash his bowl.

My heart thumped against my ribs, and I finished off my meal, hoping to finish before he retired to sleep for the day. As I got up to wash my bowl, I bumped into him. He took the bowl from me.

"You should retire for the night. You worked hard today, and I'm proud of you."

I had worked hard. This week I'd mastered the forms of the bear, panther and cheetah. I was disappointed that we didn't have time for me to try and master the form of the moonkin, the ultimate pinnacle of balance training. I shook my head.

"I have to go home tomorrow. I want to spend more time with you."

He smiled and set the bowl on the table.

"Come with me, Keliara," he said.

He took me by the hand and we climbed to the top of the tree, where he sat on a wide branch, and pulled me into his arms, holding me against his chest. This sudden affection surprised me- he'd often embraced me, but it was platonic in nature, completely different from the tenderness with which he held me now. I didn't protest and leaned my head against his shoulder, closing my eyes. He rested his cheek against my head.

"Tomorrow will be different, but only if you want it to be," he murmured.

"What do you mean?" I asked, knowing full well what he meant, but I could scarcely believe it.

"Keliara, I want to go home with you tomorrow and ask your mother if I can court you."

I thought my heart might explode from happiness – and fear. Mother would never let me be Loth'loren's mate- or the mate of any druid for that matter! I closed my eyes and soaked in the feel of him against me, his arms around me that were strong and warm, his scent in my nose, and I set my jaw, my resolve set. Mother would not take this from me. I twisted around so that I faced him, and looked into his eyes.

"Yes, Loth'loren," I whispered, running a trembling hand down his arm. He took my hand and kissed it tenderly, but was silent, pulling me to him so that I might curl up in his arms. He purred happily, a habit that I would someday pick up as a druid, and I leaned into his embrace as close as I could, the both of us watching the stars fade, dreaming of the next night and the change it would bring.