***Note***

Yes, I missed the Thursday update. I'm sorry! My pc went crazy and I ended up having to reinstall windows . Therefore, I have to reinstall alll my programs, which is a big pain and really annoying, especially since I just recently reformatted before this. Grr! So, since I didn't have Microsoft Word installed (I actually STILL don't) I was unable to write the next chapter, thus, I was unable to post it on Thursday. So, updates will resume NEXT Thursday. Sorry for all the trouble! See you next week!

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Author's Notes: Ugh...ok, yes, I did in fact miss last Thursday's update. Sometimes...it's really hard to force yourself to write . But this chapter is a bit longer than the norm, so think of it as making up for last week's! ^.^ Enjoy the chapter!

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At a tavern in Felwithe, the night before the trial to decide the sentence of Raaj, the commander of the White Wolfs.

Renka sat silently, her eyes focused on the mug before her, her thoughts far away.

"Hey," she heard a voice beside her, "You ready for tomorrow?"

Renka looked up. It was Myrall, one of the White Wolfs. She paused at his question, then let her gaze focus back on the mug before her. "As much as I would ever be, I suppose. I really…I really wish this wasn't happening," Renka said.

Myrall paused. "Hmph! Don't get so down. Commander Raaj hasn't done anything serious. They should let him out of jail in a few years," Myrall said.

"A few years!" Renka exclaimed, "Don't you realize how much a few years could hurt the White Wolfs!" Renka exclaimed.

Myrall put a hand over Renka's mouth and glanced around the tavern nervously. Renka squinted, realizing she had just might have just given away to everyone in the tavern that they were the bandit clan, the White Wolfs. She looked down at her table.

"Don't talk like a few years is nothing! You should know better than that," Renka said quietly.

Myrall looked at her. "Don't worry about it so much. You're over-reacting," Myrall said, taking a sip of his drink.

"Am not!" Renka exclaimed.

Myrall rolled his eyes at her.

Renka hit her fist against the table, pushing herself up to her feet, and looking at Myrall. "Stop acting like Commander Raaj being captured is nothing! This is going to jeopardize everything! You, just as well as me, should realize this!" Renka said forcefully.

Myrall looked hard at her. "We'll get a replacement," Myrall said simply.

Renka hit her fist against the table in anger. "You well know, Myrall, that this will tear the White Wolf apart and lead to wars and rivalry amongst ourselves! Raaj is what brought us back together!"

"Raaj was a good commander, but that doesn't mean he can't be replaced!" Myrall exclaimed back.

Renka looked at him coldly, and for a second he thought she was going to punch him. "Don't tell me you're hoping to become the new commander yourself, Myrall!" Renka exclaimed, staring him hard in the eyes.

Myrall kept the eye-contact, his gaze unwavering, yet he remained silent.

Renka hit the table in frustration and sat down again, taking a big drink of her ale. "I don't want to think about it. At least…at least, can't we wait till after we see his sentence tomorrow to start talking about a new commander?" Renka said.

Myrall sat down too. "I wasn't the one who brought it up. You were the one getting all worked up about it," Myrall said.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and light footsteps entered the tavern. Renka's eyes focused on the short figure that just entered the tavern.

"A gnome…" Renka whispered to herself in surprise. The gnome's eyes rose to meet her gaze for a few moments before he turned away. The gnome was dressed in wealthy mage clothing, and he held a certain noble air. Despite his short stature and gnomish appearance, by his aura and the look in his eyes, she sensed a confidence, a power. While she wondered about him, she heard Myrall snicker beside her.

"Look at the little guy…he's so small! What's a gnome doing in Felwithe, anyway?" Myrall said.

Renka ignored him and kept watching the gnome as he made his way across the room. It looked like he was coming towards her. Suddenly he scooted himself onto a barstool a few away from Renka. His glanced again at Renka, and to Myrall and the other White Wolfs that were in the tavern before turning back to the bar to order a drink.

"I hear the White Wolf's are having a lot of trouble these days," the gnome said after ordering a drink.

Renka narrowed her eyes at him. "How did you know we were White Wolfs?" she asked suspiciously.

The gnome looked at her. "You have a wolf engraved on your belt buckle. It doesn't take a genius, my dear," the gnome said.

Renka looked down at her belt buckle. She had disguised herself as a commoner so they wouldn't get in trouble in the city, but she hadn't thought about her belt buckle. Renka stared at the gnome. "You're a very suspicious person," Renka said bluntly.

He smiled at her, holding in a chuckle. "I like the polite, yet subtle way you work around things before coming directly to the point," the gnome said, smiling.

Renka looked at him, brows furrowed. "Huh?" she asked, completely confused.

He looked at her. "It was sarcasm," the gnome said dryly.

"Are you trying to make fun of us?!" Myrall asked, suddenly joining the conversation.

"Are all you bandits so rash and blunt?" the gnome asked. Myrall enraged, punched at the gnome, yet the gnome sat unmoving. Renka caught Myrall's fist before it hit the gnome. Myrall's eyes met Renka's for a few seconds before she shoved him backwards.

"Myrall! What do you think you're doing? Stop it now, you've already gone too far," Renka exclaimed.

Myrall looked hard at Renka. "Don't give me orders like you're in charge, foolish girl!" Myrall said harshly.

"Well, when Commander isn't here, someone has to keep you out of trouble, rash idiot!" Renka exclaimed.

"Don't take over Commander's place so easily, Renka! You think the White Wolfs will pick a little girl to lead them?" Myrall asked, a sly grin on his lips.

Renka hit the table with her fist, making a loud thud. "I…told you already…I don't want to talk about that!"

Myrall looked at her as she continued her steady glare at him. Finally, he turned. "Whatever. I'm going to sleep. Your constant whining and bickering has made me sleepy," he said, walking away. "See you in the morning," he said.

Renka watched him leave, walking upstairs to his room in the inn. When he was out of sight, she sighed, sliding back onto her stool.

"That Myrall…why is he always so…" Renka mumbled.

"Better keep an eye on that one. He's foolish and stubborn--a very bad combination," the gnome said.

Renka looked at him, surprised. "Ahh…yeah, I suppose so. It's not that he's a bad person. He's just so stubborn and hot-tempered! I can't help but have conflicts with him all the time, because I suppose I have a similar personality. But I can't stand it when he starts talking about the Commander like that… Gah! It gets me so upset! He's always saying things like that, and…" Renka looked over at the gnome, who was watching her curiously. "Err…sorry…got a little carried away there…I'm sure you really don't care…" Renka said.

"Well, it's not that I don't care to hear it, but isn't it unwise to tell random strangers at the tavern all of the conflicts between your bandit clan? Are you even trying to be secretive about you all being White Wolfs? You've already caused so much disruption…" the gnome said.

"Yeah…you're right. But somehow…Well, it doesn't seem like you're untrustworthy. Well, I mean, you can't work for the Felwithe authorities since you're a gnome. And you're not from a rival clan, or I would know. And you don't look like some commoner that would go blab about it on the streets. Well, I mean… I don't know. You're probably right. I should be more careful. Everyone already knows I can't keep a secret to save my life, though…" Renka said chuckling at herself, a bit embarrassed.

The gnome stared at her, and couldn't help chuckling, himself. "You're very…odd. How you turned out to be a bandit, I will never know," the gnome said, smiling.

Renka looked at him and smiled. "Oh yeah, I'm Renka of the White Wolfs," Renka said, extending her hand to shake his.

He looked at her hand and smiled as he took it. "I am Pluton the Wizard. Nice to meet you, Renka of the White Wolfs," Pluton said.

"Well met, sir Pluton!" she replied happily.

"Renka, are you planning on going to sleep so we can wake up in time to see the trial tomorrow, or do you plan to spend the rest of the night chatting to your friend about the White Wolfs?" one of the White Wolfs said to Renka, tapping her on the shoulder.

Renka turned. "I suppose I can do whatever I want to!" Renka said, sticking her tongue out at the other White Wolf.

The White Wolf hit her on the back of the head playfully. "Tch! Grow up, little Renka!" he said, turning to go upstairs to the inn rooms.

Pluton smiled inwardly. It appeared that the White Wolfs were a clan of older brothers to the young girl, Renka.

"Well, I better go now, since all the others have already gone up to the rooms to sleep. I don't imagine we'll have another chance to meet again, since we'll be returning to the Greater Faydark forest soon, but it was nice to meet you, sir Pluton!" Renka said.

"It was nice to meet you too, Renka of the White Wolfs. As for this being our last meeting--you never know what the gods of fate have in store," Pluton said.

Renka nodded, smiling and waving, before turning and walking up the staircase to the rooms above.

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Arelle sat on a hill, looking out over the vast Greater Faydark forest. It was finally getting warm now that winter had ended, and for some reason the newly arriving warmth made her nostalgic. What was her family at home doing right now? How was Arelliah, her twin sister, doing? Oh yeah, spring was starting--that meant everyone was probably getting ready for the Festival. The Festival…it was the biggest High Elf holiday, which really had no point but just to celebrate good things, such as the arrival of Spring. The Festival was like an invitation for every merchant from far and wide to come sell at the town centers, and the people loved it, because you could find just about anything, from just about any land, no matter how far away.

Arelle sighed. This season brought so many memories. So many Festivals she had spent with her dear family. This would be the first time she ever missed it. It just didn't feel 'right', not preparing for the Festival. It didn't feel 'right' to miss it. But it's not like she could go to it. Even if she wanted to go back to Felwithe, she would have to leave Moren and the others, and she didn't want to do that. Moren especially wouldn't want to go. She had asked him to come to Felwithe with her sometime for a visit, but he hadn't said anything about it since that time she asked. It seemed like just a few days ago, but it had really been nearly a month.

Well, if she had to miss the Festival, she had to miss it. It wasn't a big thing, anyway. She liked it out here better anyway, didn't she?

Arelle sighed, resting her face in her hands.

"'Ello, Arelle!" came a voice behind her.

Arelle looked up. It was Moren. "Hi, Moren," Arelle said, flashing a forced smile.

Moren cocked an eyebrow at her. "Heeey…what's this?" he asked, sitting next to her.

"Huh? What's what?" Arelle asked.

"This sad, distant look in your face?" Moren said, poking her cheek.

Arelle brushed his hand away. "Hmph! I don't know what you're talking about," Arelle said defiantly, turning away from him.

"Something's bothering you, isn't it? Tell me!" Moren said anxiously.

Arelle stared at him. She giggled. "You're so weird," she said.

Moren smiled at her. He turned to look over the forest, the trees beginning to spring new leaves, the flowers and bushes reviving themselves from the harsh winter. "It's getting warmer. I like it warmer," Moren said.

Arelle looked at him. "Me too. I'm glad it's getting warmer, because I like it warm. This time of year always makes me happy, because my thoughts always dwell on the Festiv…" Arelle ended abruptly, looking down.

Moren looked at her. "The what? What was that?" Moren asked.

"Uhh, that is…" Arelle didn't like to talk about Felwithe things. She knew it made Moren uncomfortable. She wished she hadn't said anything, that she hadn't spoiled the mood. "The Festival. It's… it's a Felwithien holiday," Arelle said quietly, hoping he wouldn't get mad or unhappy as she stared at the ground. She paused, waiting for his reply.

"Tell me about it," Moren said softly.

Arelle looked up at him, wide-eyed. Had she just heard that correctly? Moren wanted to hear about a Felwithe event?

"You like it, right? This 'Festival' thing? You said your thoughts always dwell on it at this time of year. So, what's it like?" Moren asked.

Arelle stared at him, but his gaze was still overlooking the forest. "Umm…well, it's probably the biggest event, or holiday, in Felwithe. Unlike most holidays, it doesn't really have a significant meaning. It's not to worship the gods, or to praise nature, or anything like that. It's just a time when everyone gets together. Merchants come from all over Norrath to sell goods in Felwithe at this time, so you can find all kinds of amazing things--rare gems, magical weapons and armor, foreign flowers and plants-- everything. It's such an amazing time. And it's also supposed to be a time to be with your friends and family. There are all sorts of events to go to, and things to win.

"The children also love it--it's so magical. One of the most popular things with the kids is to invite the girl you like to go with you to the Festival. It's the time all the girls get flustered and excited, waiting to see if they get asked to go with a boy. In fact, the time before the Festival might be just as exciting as the Festival itself! It's as if everyone's holding their breathe in anticipation!" Arelle ended, smiling happily as she stared off into the sky, obviously in her own little world.

"I see," she heard Moren's voice from beside her.

She looked at him.

"So, you want to go to the Festival," he said more than asked.

She stared at him. "Ahh! That is…" she started. She looked at him, but he wouldn't meet her gaze. "No…that's not what I want," Arelle said.

Moren looked up at her in surprise.

"That's not what I want…If I have to leave you and the others here, that's not what I want. I don't want to leave you," Arelle said.

Moren looked at her, and their gaze met. "Are you sure about that? You really don't want to go? Even though you have to miss the Festival?" Moren asked.

Arelle stood up, dusting herself off. "Don't be silly. If I said I don't want to go, I don't want to go!" she said, smiling. "Come on, let's go see if Lilliah has lunch done yet!" Arelle said, catching Moren's hand and pulling him towards the camp cheerfully.

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Pizza Pizza: Hey, you're back & you updated =D Always a plus, but I don't understand a few things. There was a time skip but how much later is it? Who got stabbed by Drahkin and who's in jail?
Amai's Reply: Hey hey! I am indeed back! So, yes, after re-reading, i realized that some things were a bit unclear, about the time jump and all. It was actually 5 years ago, when the White Wolfs and Drahkin first collided. Drahkin was seeking revenge for Linnira's death then. He took out most of the White Wolfs, then was facing off against the Commander, when he met Raaj, the commander's son. He managed to defeat Raaj, but Raaj's father threw a dagger at him, hitting him in the shoulder. Ignoring the pain, Drahkin picked him up, as he had basically lost consciousness, and took him to the authorities. 5 years later, the present, Drahkin found out the White Wolfs regrouped, so he goes to take them out again, and finds out Raaj is now the commander in place of his father. He defeats Raaj and takes him to the authorities. While Raaj is locked away, Drahkin reminisces about 5 years ago when they fought eachother. *breathes out* Whew! I hope I cleared that up! Sorry for the misunderstandings--I put a newer version of last chapter up now.

Adept: i didnt think drahkin was that young :o good chapter, got some more fight detail in there for once ;) (formerly DEbig3.. not a new reviewer ;p)
Amai's Reply: Actually, Drahkin's about 23. I hope I didn't confuse you with that time jump at the beginning of the chapter -- that was 5 years ago when Drahkin was 18. If your confused, you can read the reply I gave right above this ^.^ Sorry about making things confusing! Thanks for the comment, I'm so glad you liked my pathetic attempts at fight scenes ^.^

Blue the Echidna: Wow Drahkin was strong even as a kid O.o Cool! Can't wait for the next chapter.
Amai's Reply: Well, Drahkin's had a tough life, so he had to learn how to fight at a young age. That's probably why he's sort of erm, odd in the head sometimes ^.^;; But we still love him! Poor, poor, Drahkin...

Lilliah: I have to say I agree with Plut on the going away thing hehe *smiles* Cant wait to see where the gnomie fits in *waves* checking in again soon, keep up the wonderful work hon.
Amai's Reply: Ha! You can't complain either, since you're also in the story =P Hehe, j/k ^.^ I'm glad your still keeping up with Arelle! I'll keep updating as much as I can ^.^ Thanks for the comment!