I woke with a start. Like a bullet I flew from a reclined position to a stark upright one. There is a warm, bare, body heating my own; in a bed that isn't my own.

"What's wrong?"

Now I wasn't the only one sitting up in bed. I calmed down as soon as I saw who it was next to me. Selron.

"Nothing." I relaxed my hold on the blankets I had twisted around my chest, "I am just not used to having a warm body in bed with me."

He let out a soft, calmer laugh.

"I can say the same. I am just relieved a fellow ranger didn't come in to check on me."

"What would happen if they did?"

"There would be a lot of explaining to do. But they won't come in without knocking, don't worry about it."

"Are you sure? I am a bit scared now."

"Well, I hate to say it, but you are stuck here." He reached over and pushed a wandering strand of my hair out of his view of my face.

"If you want to go home you will need to figure that out yourself. But I am not sure I would want to let you go."

"I don't want to go home, I don't think I can." I let the blanket slip from my hold and pool around my waist.

"Will you stay here with me? I'll keep you safe."

"I'd love to, but I don't want to live in fear all the time. You can't always be with me."

"I'll figure everything out. I promise." He took my hand, laying a soft kiss on it.

"Okay." I whisper. My heart fluttered from his request.

"This pleases me so much Cacithana, you don't even know. Things get so lonely out here, thank you for your company."

"You're welcome."

I let out a deep yawn before I threw myself backwards onto the bed.

"What in Kael'thas's name was that?"

I looked at the confused blood elf still sitting up. His blonde hair cascaded down his bare back, his face turned towards me.

"What was what?"

"That sound you made. It looked like it took control of you."

"My yawn?"

"Maybe. Do it again."

I sighed and got myself to yawn again.

"Yes! That!"

"Blood elves don't yawn?"

"No, we don't yawn." The word sounded foreign on his tongue.

"Interesting. I am not quite sure what yawns are. No one is. But it happens when we are tired."

"And it isn't dangerous?"

"I don't believe so. I don't know of anyone who has been harmed from a yawn."

Selron laid down next to me, pulling me over in a way that made me rest my head on his chest.

"Alright, if you say so."

"I know so." I tapped my head, "Also, yawning feels good. So it can't be bad."

"Mana feels good, yet too much of it turns elves into wretched. I don't know what happens to you humans."

"Touché. How about I sleep so I don't yawn anymore?"

"If it will get you to stop that atrocious sound you call yawn."

I lifted my head and looked at him to see if he was serious. A jokester smile was painted across his face. I smiled and shook my head as I placed it back in its rightful space on his chest.

When I woke again, it wasn't so jolting. I turned over in search of Selron's warm body, yet I was met with a cold and empty bed. I shot up in bed once again, my eyes darting around the cottage. Empty. I moved to a kneeling position on the bed. Selron's armor was gone from the floor, along with my robes. I clambered off the bed and pulled the downy comforter along with me, wrapping it around my bare body.

"Where did he put my clothes? Hell, where is he?" I whispered, biting my lip gently. I took a deep breath to calm myself. This time I took invested more focus into looking around the room. Without panic and sleep fogging my mind, I spotted my robes; folded neatly on the dresser.

I padded along the wood floors on bare feet. On top of my robes lay a small piece of folded parchment paper. I took it gingerly in both hands and unfolded it to read the message inside. His handwriting was an elegant mix of swoops and curls; an odd way to write common, but beautiful nonetheless.

Cacithana,

Don't be afraid. I promise you are safe

while I am on duty.

Make yourself at home, it is your new

home after all. One more thing; don't

answer the door.

For your safety.

~Selron

I smiled; it's comforting to know he cares. I set the note down and picked up my robes. I tossed the comforter over to the bed and slipped the heavy cloth robes onto my body. I smoothed them, then looked around the room. What could I do until Selron returns?

I set the pen I was using down on the table, inspecting what I had just done. After spending a half hour searching I found a pen, no blank parchment paper, but a pen. I had flipped the beautiful letter from Selron over, and spent the last few hours perfecting a drawing of a human girl erotically twisted around a male blood elf.

Despite a few mess-ups in the inerasable ink, I was pleased with my drawing. I shifted in my chair at the thought of last night that the image had conjured up. It reminded me of the lingering soreness biting at places that I didn't know I had. I also had feelings for Selron that weren't there when I first met him. I already miss his presence in the cottage, and I want him here to just be with me. I sighed and stood from the chair. I figured I might as well take a nap to easily pass the time until his return. As I began to lie down on the bed, I heard the door open. A soft, almost soundless gasp escaped my lips. Once again today I was panicking internally. I watched the door open, my horror mounting until I saw Selron slip into the cottage.

"Selron! It's you!" I jumped from the bed and ran to him, throwing my arms around his neck without a thought.

"Shh, shh." He closed the door behind him in an awkward maneuver, "I am happy to see you too. Be careful of how amorous you are around open doors though."

I let my hands fall from their place on his shoulders.

"Right. Sorry, I forgot."

Selron reached for my hands, encasing them in his own.

"It's fine. I just haven't figured out a solution yet. Once I find a way to ensure your safety, we won't have to worry."

"What if there is no solution? What if I have to live hidden away from the world, and in constant fear of being found? I can't see all of the elves around here accepting me like you did."

"Blood elves aren't that hostile. I am sure if we can find an easy way to show them you don't mean any harm, you will be left alone. Also, didn't you think of the consequences before coming here?"

"Well… yes. I don't think I expected to find a home here though."

"What did you expect to happen?"

I was beginning to grow overwhelmed with my lack of planning and the way Selron was blatantly pointing it out.

"I-I don't know what I had expected. I really don't."

Selron pulled me into a hug. I let him hold me tenderly.

"Well, I promise you everything will be fine. And look at me," he pulled my chin up, "feel lucky that it was I who found you. Other rangers may not have given you a chance to explain your presence."

I nodded before I laid my head back on his chest. I closed my eyes and prayed for a solution that would come quickly and smoothly.