Elysa comes awake with the sun shining through her eye lids. She rolls over on her stomach to escape the light. The warmth and pressure that she had fallen asleep with disappears and her movement only wakes her up more. She half expected to wake up in her bed. Yesterday felt like some crazy dream.

She opens her eyes and sees the screen of leaves and the sun, well past dawn, shining over the trees. Sighing as she got up, the grass was very comfortable and brushing herself off.

Elysa looked back where she had been laying and found Lloyd still asleep. He looked peaceful and her stomach fluttered. The sun was shining on him. His bronze skin and golden hair seemed to absorb the light and glow. His presence reminds her. Memories of the night before flood back.

The sounds of the trees behind her. Running through the shadows. The creature with it's horns, hooves and black armor and sword. The ray of light striking the creature like lightning turning into Lloyd gleaming in the dark like fire. The battle and death of the creature. Finally, finally talking to him and the joy, sadness and pity it caused. Almost smacking him for he had to be what followed her but instead hugging him like she would never let go again.

She is surprised that she actually fell asleep with all the excitement and fear but it was very late and the steady warmth and strength of his back were very reassuring. She looks away from him and examines herself.

She is a mess. Her clothes were covered in dust and she was sure she was too. Her palms itched and there were a few blood-crusted cuts on them. She was stiff and sore from her long run and her hair was a mess. She was hungry and thirsty having eaten nothing since before noon yesterday. All together she was physically miserable and she was due for some reprimands when she got to the village but she was still happy.

Faint stirring sounds behind her with a deeper breath let out in a groan. She looks back at Lloyd to see him, still laying, stretching with his arms above his head, eyes clenched.

"So you're awake finally," she says. His eyes pop open and look at her, gemstones flaring in the sun. He pushes himself to his feet and looks her up and down no doubt taking in her haggard appearance. "Well how am I supposed to look after running about all night?" anger flaring. "Was that you following me the entire time?" He nods. Elysa glares at him and reaches out to rap her knuckles on his head. He winces. "You scared me half to death with all that noise!"

"I'm sorry," he says looking sincere. "I.. uh.. I wanted to make sure you.. you got home safely." He looks uncomfortable.

"Because I am completely helpless and need protection?" Anger still strong.

"No I just..."

"Well I don't need your help, thank you very much. Especially if you are going to stalk me all the time."

"Well I did kill the demon," he returns angrily. The image of the creature bearing down on her flashes before her eyes and her anger vanishes.

She feels somewhat guilty at yelling since he did save her but she doesn't let it show. "Well you didn't have to avoid me, you could have come out," cold.

Lloyd shrugs and says matter of factly, "That's what my brothers taught me. To avoid humans."

"Brothers?"

"My pack," completely serious.

"Pack of wolves?" she blurts out incredulously. She looks at his golden eyes and recognizes what she always had. They were wolf eyes but the idea he might actually have contact with them had never occurred to her.

"Of course,' he says with pride. "They took me in after I.. escaped." Old pain flashes across his face and she remembers what he said the night before. The thought of him being a slave disgusts her and the fact that it was to those.. demons makes her want to hold him and keep him safe.

Elysa reaches out and cups his cheek in her hand, regretting what she is making him remember but still wanting him back. She looks at his eyes and still sees the wolf but also him and that hidden fire. They stand like that for a while both lost in thought.

Lloyd jerks back to reality first. He reaches up and gently pushes her hand away. "We need to get you back home. Noon is fast approaching," he tells her sadly.

That reminds her of how she looks and how long she has been gone. She sighs, "I suppose you are right but I'm not looking forward to it. They will have been worried and will be angry when I appear." She can already imagine what is going to happen and she signs again.

Lloyd looks thoughtful for a moment before grinning and saying, "Nothing you're not used to." Anger comes to her and happiness. That had to be a memory of old. Elysa sniffs and pushes him. He chuckles and starts walking away from the stone.

"Alright, this way."

She follows after him and walks through the gateway in the screen of leaves he holds open. She was dreading the"talk" she would receive let alone parting with Lloyd but she couldn't wait to take a bath, comb her hair and change clothes. The villagers fear and hate him as some sort of beast-man and would never accept him and he probably wouldn't want to stay there anyway.

She looks at his back as she follows him through the trees. The sunlight slanting through the trees sets his bristling hair glittering and the skin on his back glowing. She can see the dark brand on his back and she winces. It looks like the shadowed figure of a man in a robe with arms outstretched. There are chains around the arms hanging back into the rest of its body. The rest of his back is normal except for a circular scar on his ribs on the right side and a few lines crossing each other.

Before Elysa could stop herself she reached out and traced a finger along one of the lines. Lloyd gasps and twitches away as though in pain before spinning around and looking at her wildly. Startled but still curious she asks, "What are those?"

He looks at her a moment longer before turning his head away. "A whip," he mutters then turns around again and continues walking rigidly. Stunned she stares after him for a few seconds before moving again.

Not entirely sure she wants to know Elysa asks, "And.. and the other?" She had to swallow before she could say it. She saw his back tighten a little.

"A spear," emotionless.

Elysa feels sick. Having a long pointed pole thrust between his ribs.. she shivers at the thought. "Why? What possible reason could anyone have for doing that?" she asks in a somewhat unsteady voice.

He keeps walking without change. "Demons have to have their fun," still in a flat voice. She can't stand the emptiness of it.

"Oh, Lloyd.."

"Here's the road." Just ahead the golden-brown stripe of dirt lay shimmering in the sun's gaze. This area looked more travel-worn. They must be beyond the junctions connecting the road to surrounding farms. The village isn't far off.

"Lloyd.."

"It's like you said, they are only memories. Done and over with. It doesn't matter." He seems almost annoyed as though she had pestered him for hours. It must still hurt.

Elysa sighs at his stubbornness. "Alright but would you be willing to come to the village?" He snorts. "I didn't think so. Will you atleast let me talk to you sometimes?"

He tilts his head and chews his lip absently thinking. He takes a breath steeling himself, "I suppose we could talk.. sometimes but Ill come to you and no one else."

"Not even Aunt Rosemary?"

"No, it's best with as few as possible." She scowls at that but nods in agreement. So she has to keep him secret and can only meet him when he wants. Still it is more than she had yesterday.

Elysa hugged him again, holding him until he returned the gesture for a few seconds then saying farewell and walking to the road. On the road she stopped and looked back to find him gone. She smiled and shook her head at that before setting off up the road. I'll be in the village in a few minutes.

She turns her mind to at least attempting to clean herself up. Using her fingers to comb through her hair straightening it a bit and removing a leaf and a few bits of grass. Then she dusts off her skirts and blouse raising small clouds. She would have done this earlier but Lloyd's apparent unconcern made it seem foolish.

A few plumes of smoke stain the cloudless blue sky over the trees. Elysa turns onto the path leading to the village from the road and groans. Little Ema and Evans are playing with something on the side of the path, no doubt told to wait for her. Ema has her hair braided with a white ribbon and has normal short white dress and sandals. Evans, her older brother, shares her brown hair color but cut short and has black trousers with a green shirt, sleeves rolled up and boots.

They looked up at her groan and Evans says something to Ema before getting to his feet and running to the just visible village. Ema gets to her feet and hurries over smiling.

"Hello Ema," Elysa says to the girl attempting a smile.

"Hi!" the girl says excitedly. "Sara told us to stay out here and watch for you. She sounded very worried and she kept saying all sorts of things she was going to do." Ema giggles like it is all a fine joke.

Elysa holds back a sigh. "Yes, well, we will just have to go see Sara now won't we?" The girl grins at her and starts off for the village. Elysa silently sighs then follows.

"Was it fun?" Ema asks suddenly.

"What?"

"Staying out all night! Did you have any adventures? You must have or else you wouldn't be so dirty. It must have been exciting."

Elysa grimaced before answering, "Yes I suppose I did have an adventure. I'm not sure about it being fun but it was definitely exciting."

"It had to have been fun. How could it not be? You have to tell me about it!" They had just stepped through the first house of the village.

"Maybe later, Ema"

The village was called Valleyridge for the valleys that begin there and the beginning of the mountains not far away. It was a quiet little village, separate from the world's problems except for the few the occasional trader brings word of. The houses are simple structures, wooden with thatch roofs. They are built close together around the villager center and thin out as they get further away. There are about eighty buildings all together.

The village has one smithy on the fringe of all the houses, it is often the only reason traders stop in the village, brining to ore required. There is only one inn, the Valleyridge Lodge. It is the only two-story building in the village and is the only place for travelers to stay. The remaining buildings are houses of varying sizes depending on who owns them.

As Elysa and Ema walked through the village several people walking by on various errands would greet them or just wave. They would both return the greeting but they didn't stop to talk, likely everyone knew what was going on. No one stopped them.

In general the villagers looked rather similar. Their families had lived here long enough that many families were related. Few ever came or left the village and less stayed. Most of the villagers were thin but hardy with brown, red or occasionally blonde hair. The men were often only a little taller than Elysa and a good number shorter. The women were mostly two or three inches shorter.

They were heading for one house in particular. Evans was standing next to Sara in front of the open door. Sara's kindly, motherly face often hides her sharp wit and sharper tongue. She is the wife of the mayor, Syll Bradsov, but is often using her wit and tongue to lead him. It is often a joke among the villagers but no one can blame him when she focuses on them. Her focus was on Elysa today though.

"Ema, Evans, you can go now. Perhaps your mother needs you," Sara said kindly but in a way that left no doubt they should obey. "Inside, pelase, Elysa." She turned inside and Elysa followed without a word.

The inside of Sara's home is brightly lit from the sun shining through three windows. There are three doors leading from the main room, two closes, one leading into what could only be a kitchen. The walls and floor are bare except for two large rugs placed under a small table with four chairs. A coat hanger was placed next to the front door, nothing is on it currently.

Sara closes the door behind Elysa and walks over to take a seat at the table. "Sit down, dear," she says, "you look like you could need it." She is wearing just a hint of a smile. Elysa take the seat next to her.

"I've sent out my husband and a few other men but obviously they have missed you. I would dearly love to know what happened to you though. Last I knew you were looking for something." Elysa gets the feeling Sara knows more than she thought again.

"I got lost," Elysa instantly begins her lie, "after I found it.."

"I know all about the boy, dear. Rosemary has told me everything and I saw him the few moments he was visible. No need to keep him secret." Sara smiled a secret smile.

"Oh.. I didn't think Aunt Rosemary would.." her face heated slightly. "Well after I went back to the pond.." she started into the true account. She left out her break-down and most of the things Lloyd said but Sara gave no sign of anything missing. Elysa felt rather foolish about leaving the basket but Sara waved it away.

"My husband will find the basket," she gives a loving smile for him. "No one will blame you for forgetting it. What worries me is this.. demon. Something out of a story but I'm sure this is no tale. What to do about it I'm not sure. We will just have to be ready."

Sara thinks for a few moments. "This boy of yours. It would be nice if he would live here but the village won't accept him even if we dress him and I don't think he would come here either. I have never believed the beast-man nonsense but most everyone else does. It would be best if you kept him secret. "At that Sara rises from her seat. "Now I believe you would like some refreshment after all these ventures.

Elysa blinks not entirely understanding. "You aren't going to punish me for lying or staying in the forest?"

Sara gives her a soft smile. "Of course not, dear. I understand your reasons perfectly and you are a grown woman after all. You can make your own decisions" Elysa returns her smile. "You just rest here while I get some food and drink." Sara disappears through the open doorway.

Elysa releases some tension she didn't know she was holding. Her body was in fact calling for sustenance but she had ignored it. She had been preoccupied with coming up with a proper lie but it was done with already.

Sara came back through the doorway carrying a steaming bowl of soup with a loaf of bread on top of it, a knife sticking out of the bread. In her other hand she held a pitched of tea and a cup. She placed these before Elysa who ate gratefully.

As Elysa ate they talked of inconsequential things. A few doing of the villagers, a few travelers that had stopped here and some of the news they brought. They smiled and laughed over the latest things Sara's husband had done, Emeril's pregnancy and Ema and Evans' teaching. During their conversation Elysa finished the soup, ate4 half the loaf f bread and drank two cups of tea.

Sara stood again and whisked the finished meal away and quickly returned. "Well, I would imagine you are fairly satisfied. I think we are all done here. You should go home now dear, you should find a hot bath and clean clothes when you get there." Elysa stood and thanked Sara before saying goodbye and stepping outside.

The sun had fallen a good deal since Elysa went inside. Everything was beginning to wind down and everyone was finishing their last chores and heading home. Elysa walked home through a mostly silent village.

Elysa's home is a newer building, smaller than most as there were only two living here. It was built near the edge of the village and had plenty of space around it. Two windows were visible on the front side of the building.

Elysa opened the door and went inside. The main room was fairly plain. A rug on the floor near the stone hearth was the only true decoration. A small fire was burning in the hearth. There are two doors one leading to the kitchen and the other to the bedroom she shared with her aunt. There are three chairs facing the hearth set on the rug. One of them held her Aunt Rosemary.

Rosemary was a plump elderly woman. Her mostly gray, black hair was held in a bun behind her head. Deep wrinkles lined her face. Her eyes were filming in old age and were steadily failing. Her veined hands could still do incredible sewing work such as they currently were. She is wearing an all greet dress and repairing a hole in a gray one.

"Aunt Rosemary, I'm home," Elysa says kindly to the old woman.

"Oh, Elysa my dear, you're back. I was getting quite worried," says Rosemary in a quavering voice.

"I'm sorry but I saw him again and I had to try. I was able to talk to him. It is Lloyd after all."

That's wonderful, I know how much you missed that young rascal." Rosemary smiles. "You can tell me the full story later though. I'm sure you are tired and Ema and Evans warmed water for a bath for you."

The prospect of a bath sounds like a blessing to Elysa. "Alright, I'll tell you later then," she says. Elysa walks across the room and through the doorway to the bedroom closing the door softly behind her.

The bedroom is somewhat dark, its only illumination a window across the room letting in a little sunlight. There are two beds covered with thick brown blankets and single pillow each. At the foot of each bed there is a clothing chest. There is a single brass bathtub waiting full of steaming water.

Elysa opens the window a crack to let some of the steam leave. Then she opens her chest and pulls out a few candles, lights them and places them around the room. She digs in her chest and pulls out a clean, green dress and underclothes and lays them out on her bed. She takes a towel from the chest then closes in and walks over the bathtub.

Elysa sets the towel on the floor next to the tub and kicks off her sandals in the direction of her chest. Then reaches behind her back and undoes the buttons of her dress. Sliding out of her dress and pulling off her underclothes and leaving them next to her towel.

She signs as she submerges herself in the hot water up to her neck. Her body relaxes and is soother by the warm water.

She lets her mind wander as her weariness is washed away.