"I have a special plan for each of you." Her evil smile spread across her face once more.

"Well what do you got in mind?" the darky on her left smiled.

Durk, the youngest of them all, listened intensely to every word that tumbled out of Valamora's mouth or the others. Durk's skin was usually light for a dark elf; this marked him an outcast from others except his group. He also had bright green eyes; the first of the darky's to have this trait. Some said he's only half dark elf and his other half was wood elf, but no one was sure. When he was young, his father orphaned him out of shame. He wandered the cold dark streets in search for food; he fought for it when he had to. It was one of his fights that caught Palou's attention. The biggest and toughest elf, next to Valamora, was Palou. So Palou took Durk in and trained him. For such a young age, Durk became very violent when he had to be. He trained night and day just to please the ones that became his new family.

Palou sat on Valamora's left; he drank some strong liquor as he listened. Across his left side of his face ran a scar; from above his eye to the bottom of his chin. He had many scars, but this one stood out the most. His arms were bare and his muscles bulged as veins shot down everywhere. His short white hair shimmered in the candlelight as the flames danced. His dark eyes gleamed lifelessly as he listened to Valamora. Palou's eyes were such a dark shade of brown that they were almost black.. black like the endless night sky. He and Valamora had grown up together and were once lovers, but they broke that off for an unexpected reason.

The elf across the table sat staring up at the ceiling, not a care on his mind. His real name was Webster, but everyone called him Puma since Webster was...not the right name for him. He got his nickname by how he was so sly and the way he attacked. Webster's face also resembles that of a cat, his pupils went straight down in a line, not like a regular eye that has round pupils. Puma was the eyes of the group, he scouted ahead and reported what he saw; Puma was very useful to everyone. You would never know between the two that they were related, but Puma and Palou were indeed cousins, but there was no family resemblance.

Now the other two at the table were the twin necro's. These two were the pranksters, and so to say, the troublemakers of the group. They were identical twins and even their names were the same. Aaron was the older twin and had his birthmark on his ear, that's how the two were told apart from each another. Erin, of course, was the younger twin. Erin was the one that was always getting lost or causing trouble, but either way both always love to pull pranks on fellow elves or complete strangers. These two always started the fights after Puma came back with the report. Aaron and Erin played very important roles to the group; they were the only casters while all the others were warriors so that's why the others put up with them. Aaron was listening to Valamora with little interest, as of his brother was flinging paper at other people at the bar. Erin snickered as a wad of paper hit a small dark elf in the head. Aaron laughed aloud and began to throw paper too.

*****

Running close to the wall, Lielay stumbled through the darkness. The rain blurred her vision and the wind sent chills down her spine. Dawn was creeping over the dim, dark forest slowly. Lielay began to see what was in front of her instead of bumping into trees. A little time later, she came to the rock wall leading to High Hold Pass. Her hand ran across the rough rock as she walked through. Cliffs rose up on each side, and ahead of her stood a guard in his station. He came out and crossed his arms as he saw Lielay coming. The guard eyed her while she walked passed him; Lielay glanced at him and hurried her pace. She scurried through High Hold Pass, sometimes getting lost, coming to a dead end, or just having to hide because of knolls or other creatures. It took her two hours just to finally exit the entire Pass and enter the Karanas.

Lielay had been walking for the past half a day and her legs were becoming extremely tired. The sun was in the sky high above her head; the sunrays poured down and heated the earth beneath her. The grass grew plentiful because of the rain that fell so often; Lielay enjoyed the change of scenery. Passing a settlement of farmers, they gave Lielay friendly smiles and waves, so she returned them. Lielay intended to go Surefall Glade since she longed to see the Glade and look upon the druids in their luxurious forest. Lielay had been to Surefall Glade before, but it was long ago and the memories flowed into her head as she thought of it. The vision of her parents stirred her concentration and tears swelled in her eyes; she wiped them with the back of her sleeve.

*****

Albain woke up in a warm bed with his feet hanging over the bottom. A sleeping halfling sat in a chair in the corner with his head bent on his chest. Albain's arms, legs, and back burned and stung when he tried to move, he whimpered in pain and stood up. The floorboards creaked and the halfling awoke with a jerk, he blinked his eyes, saw Albain, and jumped up.

"My lord, you need rest go back to bed."

"Lord? Wait, how did I get here?" he paused, "Where's Lielay?"

"Lielay? There is no Lielay here. And you are in the mayor's guest room."

"Why? And what do you mean Lielay isn't here." he remembered. Lielay ran out and disappeared, "Nevermind."

"I'll go get the mayor, he'll want to thank you for saving two of his citizens." Without a response from Albain, the halfling ran out the door.

"Lielay why do you keep running away? And were are you going this time?" he sat back down on the small bed and put his head in his hands. A rush of feet was heard walking down the corridor and a short stout halfling stood smiling in the doorway. Albain slowly lifted his head and eyed the halfling.

"Master elf, I am Mayor Gubbin of Rivervale. We are all honored with your presence." He bowed low.

Albain scratched his head dumbfounded, "Uh, why?"

"Why? Why you saved a child and his rescuer from the burning house last night, my dear elf!" the mayor clapped his hands together.

"Fire... child... damn my mind is blank, all I can think about is this burning pain and Lielay." He rubbed his head.

"Your burns will heal, we have already had a druid tend to your wounds, but who and what is this Lielay?"

"Well, Lielay is my..." Albain didn't know weather to use friend or love to explain Lielay, "very close friend, she is my partner."

"And what of her?" Mayor Gubbin raised his furry eyebrows.

"She is missing, again." Albain stretched his arms.

"Again? Does this woman get lost often?" the halfling shifted his large, hairy feet.

"Well, only when she's mad, the thing is I don't know where she is running to now."

"Oh. do you plan to leave soon?"

"Yes, to go look for her." He began to look for his packs.

"You must stay for the celebration tonight though. You must, since it's in your honor."

"I will stay then," he then remembered Mirk waiting in the tunnel, "I will only stay if my friend is allowed to enter the city, join us, and no one will cast him out."

"Who is this friend?" the mayor crossed his arms.

"He is harmless and wouldn't attack or hurt anyone. He's an iksar."

"An iksar! Here in Rivervale!" Gubbin stepped back.

"No, he is waiting in the tunnel for me. Like I said, he wouldn't hurt anyone."

"Well. if you say he is harmless I guess he can enter Rivervale." Gubbin sighed.

"And no one will jeer or cast sour looks?" Albain scratched his cheek.

"I will make sure they wont, but I'm sure the young one's will be thrilled with him. By the way what is his name?"

"Mirk."

*****

A slight mist fell upon the Karanas as Lielay trudged along the path. To her side she saw flying creatures in the distance, but she did not approach them for she feared them. She walked for a mile before she heard a faint crying; the cry sounded as if someone was in terrible pain. Horrified, Lielay followed the sound; she wanted to help the person in need. The sound led her off the path a bit; the noise grew louder and Lielay saw movement from behind a tree ahead of her. She ran to the tree and peered around. It wasn't a human in pain, but a young lion. Its paw was ensnared in a metal trap set by poachers. The thought of them flared in her mind. Lielay reached for the cub; he snapped his mouth wildly at her.

"I just want to help you. If you just stay still and stop hissing."

She attempted to try again, but the cub jumped back. Lielay chanted a soothing spell, a memorizing one. A blue mist surrounded the cub and it relaxed, it looked at Lielay and became charmed. It purred and tried to nudge her hand. Lielay pulled the trap apart and the metal released the cub's leg and it hobbled a few steps away. Another spell was casted and the lion's paw began to heal and close up. The little lion bounded over to Lielay and jumped all over her legs. She laughed and patted its small head, then turned towards the path and strolled off. The cub looked at her curiously, and playfully ran after her feet.

"No, go to your mother, she must be worried. You can't follow me." Lielay patted the lion's back and continued to walk.

The lion's whiskers twitched and his little eyes gleamed. He sprang after Lielay again and bumped into her leg, he rolled backwards. Lielay turned around and put her hands on her hips. The little lion cub acted like a playful kitten as he swatted at Lielay's boots. The lion rolled over before her and waved his paws in the air.

"What's the matter? Don't you know where your mother is?" Lielay looked up and scanned the plains before her. Vultures circled the sky and dove in to feed upon a rotting carcass in the distance. Lielay shuttered and bent down to the cub. "I'm sorry little lion; poachers caught her. Well you can stay with me." She picked up the heavy lion, "I should call you Snappy." She poked his nose.

Lielay put the cub down and began to walk towards the entrance of Surefall Glade that lay ahead a hundred yards or so. Snappy followed happily and pawed at the back of Lielay's boots. Lielay talked to him all the way they walked. In front of the entrance Lielay picked up Snappy again and took one step at a time into the Glade. The sunlight was dim in the forest and the foliage covered most of the sky. Humans and elves were scattered here and there, Lielay loved the smell of the Glade, but hated the memories. Animals scared of poachers hid in the Glade as well and hid in the shadows or lay in patches of sun. Lielay stepped into the main building and waited for someone to come. She only had to wait a few minutes for a human male came from the back of the building and smiled.

"Is this a wild animal or a pet?" he asked.

"Well, I rescued him from a poacher trap and his mother was killed. He follows me all around."

"So, he is a pet then?" the man questioned.

"Yes, I really want him as a pet." Lielay pleaded.

"Shall we tag him?" he smiled again.

"It's the right thing to do, so yes."

The man tagged Snappy's ear and weighed him. He also told Lielay how to take care of him and what to do if he gets sick; Lielay thanked him and asked if she was allowed to visit the animals that hid behind the waterfall. She was given permission to go, so she moved out of the building with Snappy in her arms. His playful eyes looked wildly around as Lielay walked over to the waterfall where bears lay panting and smiling. Lielay went further into the tunnel until she came to an older brown bear with black streaks down its sides. Snappy was placed on the ground and Lielay sat next to the old bear, it lifted its lips into a smile and looked at Lielay. The bear stood up and sat next to her with his head on her shoulder.

"Hello again Bear." Lielay kissed his forehead.

The vision came to her again. Lielay was eight years old when her parents, Lorilie and Yanno Liltreehuggr, took her and Joshua to Surefall Glade. Lielay's father was also a druid and when he came to the Glade he always took Lielay to train her. He said that Surefall Glade was the best place for a young druid to practice. Lielay remembered her and her father finding a lone bear cub next to a mutilated corpse of what had been its mother. The cub was yelling and crying. Yanno put the cub into Lielay's arms and told her to take it into the Glade. Yanno left to search for the poacher or poachers that did this since Yanno loved animals greatly. Lielay carried the cub and brought it to her mother, Lorilie, who then told Joshua, who was twelve at the time, to watch Lielay and take the bear to the waterfall. Lorilie left and searched for Yanno. Lielay sat with Joshua and patted the baby bear while humming to herself. Another hour past and the two decided to go out and look for their parents.

Snappy jumped into her lap, breaking her thoughts. She looked down at him and smiled. She was scratching Bear's ear, "You sure are playful."

The vision filled her head again. Lielay was out of the Glade with Joshua, running around. Then they heard it, a high pitch scream from their right. Joshua placed Lielay behind a tree and ran off. Lielay huddled close to the bark as she waited for her parents and Joshua to return. The sound of a person running came close and then stopped. Lielay peered around the tree and saw an ugly human that held a huge crossbow, the man scanned the horizon and went into the Glade, and he threw his bow into the shadows. More feet came, but this time they stopped in front of Lielay; it was her father, Yanno. Yanno spotted Lielay, gave her a worried look, then picked her up and hid her in the branches above. The man stepped back out of the Glade, picked up his weapon, and put an arrow to his bow. Yanno gulped and with sorrow looked at Lielay only for a second, not wanting to give her away. The arrow sang as it was released, it hit its target, and Yanno fell to his knees. An arrow stuck out of his chest. Yanno gasped for air and tried to heal himself. Another arrow was let loose, but this time Yanno fell to the ground, not moving. Lielay looked in horror as the man walked over and pulled the arrows out of Yanno's chest.

"Should never mess with a poacher." He said angrily.

Without knowing it, mana surged in Lielay's hand and shot at the man. He screamed in shock and in pain as the flames burned his skin. Yelling at the top of her lungs, Lielay leaped from the branches and jumped on the man's head. Her fists flailed at the man's face and neck. He fell, still screaming and burning. Lielay jumped off with minor burns and screamed while running into the protection of the Glade. Later that day, Joshua stumbled into the Glade covered in sweat and blood. He had dragged their mother all the way to where Yanno lay. Lielay was terrified and hid in the waterfall, not telling anyone about Yanno or the man. Joshua informed the guards, in hysterics, that his mother and father weren't moving and about the poachers. The guards ran out and Joshua searched for Lielay, he didn't find her until she came out the next day. Yanno and Lorilie were said to have died a brave death and were honored by the entire Glade. They were buried in Surefall Glade next to others who had died trying to save the animals of the Glade. Joshua and Lielay were then taken back to Kelethin two weeks after the deaths of their parents to stay with relatives.

"Excuse me, Miss." An old man tapped Lielay on the shoulder.

Lielay shook her head and looked up, "Yes?"

"Its time for me to feed and clean the bears, so if you don't mind moving."

"Oh yes, I'll leave."

*****

In the mayor's guest room, Mirk sat, he was uncomfortable and scared about Rivervale, "I don't know about thisss." Mirk said to Albain who was checking out his new tunic.

"I've made sure it's all right. I talked to the mayor." Albain folded the collar of his shirt.

"Thisss isss my firssst time in a city that I'm not allowed in." Mirk looked toward the window.

"Huh?" Albain turned his head and waited.

"Usssually I'm not allowed in peaceful citiesss like thisss becaussse of my race."

"Oh, well that's going to change my friend." He stared at the mirror at himself.

"Do you have any clean robes to wear? Mine are all covered in blood." Mirk plucked at his sleeve.

"I can get someone to get you one. They all like me here." Albain laughed.

"Sssure."

"Durgo!" Albain yelled, "That's the little halfling helper." He told Mirk.

Durgo slid into the room, "Yes master elf?"

"Clean robes for master lizard here, please." He held his head up high.

"Right away my lord."

*****

Valamora and her group had migrated to a warehouse from the "whorehouse" since their conversation and broke in. They began to take weapons, food, clothes, and anything else they wanted. Puma stood at the door peering out into the empty street. Valamora sat on top of a pile of boxes, overseeing them all. The twins were throwing things at each other as Durk watched and laughed. Palou searched through boxes until he found what he wanted; he pulled out a long sword with markings carved along its blade. Palou smiled and swung it around. He climbed the boxes and sat next to Valamora. She crossed her legs and turned her narrow face to him.

"Nice sword, anything for me?" she blew the white hair from her eyes.

"If you want something get it yourself." He ran his fingers along the blade.

"Why should I?"

"You have two arms and legs." He sneered.

"So do you. I'm the overseer." She stated.

"No you ain't, now go get a weapon!" he pushed her off the boxes.

She fell and straightened up, "I'll get you for that." She pointed her long fingers towards him.

"Oh, I'm so scared." He said sarcastically.

Puma slid into the shadows by the door and turned around, "Shut up there's someone coming, " he waited a second, " that means hide!"

Erin and Aaron jumped under a huge tarp, Palou slid behind the boxes he sat on, Durk lay on the ground in the shadows, Valamora put her black hood on and crouched down, and Puma hid behind the door again. A head peeked in and a burly dark elf entered. He looked around and saw the mess the twins made. He unsheathed his short sword and held it up. He began to throw boxes aside looking for the troublemakers. He was headed in the direction of Valamora, she didn't move, her eyes were fixed on the elf. The box flew that hid Valamora and she stood.

"Who the hell are you and why are you in my warehouse!" he bellowed.

"Why can't I?" she said coolly.

"It's trespassing!" he spat.

From behind him, Palou snuck up, the long sword hidden from view, "Someone wants to play with you." Valamora pointed behind the large dark elf and ducked behind some more boxes.

"How many of you bastards are in here, I'll kill you all!" he charged Palou.

Palou threw his long sword out and the elf ran right into it. The sword jammed into his belly and blood gushed out. The elf opened his mouth to say something, but only more blood spilled out. Palou twisted the sword's hilt and the burly elf fell dead. Palou pulled out the sword and cleaned it off with the clothes of the dead elf. Everyone came out of hiding and glanced at the body; killing was normal to them. The sword was sheathed and Valamora smiled to them all.

"Get the rest of what you need. After that it's go time." She said. The twins let loose a cheer.