There was darkness, then.
The elf gasped in panic. It was as if she had closed her eyes and the world had ceased to exist. She heard the rustling of leaves and she spun towards the sound. There was a towering pine there now, illuminated by a lingering golden wisp. It circled the trunk lazily and then climbed to the top. Then another tree appeared, introduced by a silver wisp this time. It followed the same action, and then two more appeared, then three. So many lit up Kalira couldn't keep up. In a matter of seconds, an entire forest had shown itself around her as far as she could see. She looked down to find the charred earth replaced with lush, green grass.
A cool, welcome breeze passed by and Kalira suddenly felt refreshed. She ran her hand through her snowy hair to find it soft and untangled. Her tattered shift had been replaced by her temple robes and her skin nearly shined, free of grime, blood, and vomit. The soreness between her legs and the gash on her thigh faded from existence. She marveled at the healing process. She looked around once more and felt rather self-conscious, though she didn't know for certain if the friendly spirits were watching her. She squinted as a quick, blinding flash hit her eyes. Raising her hand to shield her eyes, she tried to see what it was.
The light waned as it slowly approached her and the girl relaxed. The entity stopped before her and dimmed, becoming an apparition. Before Kalira stood a naked elf woman of sublime beauty. The young priestess felt a warmth envelope her heart and buckled her knees. She didn't know how she knew who this poised woman before her was; yet she did.
The name left her lips in a whisper.
"Elune."
The moon goddess smiled brightly and closed her eyes as her translucent body filled with a delicate lavender flesh. She crossed her arms to cover her breasts as a swarm of tiny wisps came to conceal her. They flashed in unison and transformed into an ivory colored silk dress with sleeves that extended down to her knees.
"Thank you, children," she beamed as the forest of wisps surrounding them twinkled in unison. "My precious little artisans." With a small motion of her hand, a thick tree trunk shot up from the ground mere inches behind her. Then with a flick of her wrist, it split cleanly in two straight down the middle and one half crashed to the ground. Elune sat gracefully on makeshift bench, gently patting the spot beside her. "Why don't you come sit here Kalira," she offered the awestruck girl, who silently accepted.
"Well no need to be shy. Go on and ask what you're dying to know."
"Where is this place?" the girl blurted out and the moon goddess laughed aloud. The sound was pleasing to the ears and had an omnipotent quality, ringing throughout the surreal woodlands.
"Don't strain yourself, child. It's your first time here. This is the Lunar Dream, but I wouldn't be surprised if you've never heard of it. No one has, really."
Kalira's brows furrowed, confused. A sudden gust of wind shot through the forest and the trees groaned, struggling to steady their massive bodies.
"You know of Ysera's realm, the Emerald Dream. Her dream is the parallel of the world, unmarred by the hands of mortals, and all those that dream may see it. They are similar on the surface, yet the dreams themselves are very different." Elune paused as several curious woodland creatures scurried out from the brush and huddled around them. She gently pets a snow-white hare that climbs up the log to rest beside her.
"But this is your realm?"
"That would be the logical answer wouldn't it?" she crosses her legs and elegantly smoothes her dress before continuing, "All dreams serve a purpose, no matter how insignificant they may seem. Ysera's is a place of vision and prophecy. Your dream is a sanctuary for when you are in need of one."
"My dream?" she asked, genuinely surprised, "but I'm not a god, or even powerful."
"Well no one said you had to be to have a dream," she lightly touches the tip of Kalira's nose, "The Dream is my gift to you, but it is yours to keep and mold however you see fit. This realm is a reflection of you and the land will shape itself by your emotions."
Kalira remembered her first moments here. The desolate wasteland she stood in that stretched beyond the horizon and the overwhelming sense of misery. She closed her eyes and shuddered as a freezing gust of wind chilled her to the bone. A warm, comforting hand took hers and purged the cold.
"Be wary of your thoughts here, Kalira. They can carry your burdens or consume every part of you from the inside out. Don't turn my gift into a curse," the goddess gave a somber smile and gently combed her fingers through Kalira's silky hair. She twitched slightly in response to the touch.
"Speaking of gifts, I gave you one I think you'll enjoy," Elune said.
The young girl was perplexed. "But you didn't give me anything," she replied, laughing nervously. Elune looked down at her hands and back up to Kalira.
"That thief in the woods… took something from you that you will never get back," she changed the subject abruptly, "and the wound he left goes deeper than you know. You will heal eventually, but there will always be a scar."
Kalira cast her eyes down in shame, hesitant to ask her next question. "Does this mean I can't be a priestess anymore?" she asked, praying she would say no and that there would always be a future for her as one of her disciples.
"It is not easy for me to tell you this Kalira, especially after what you've endured, but I'm afraid so," she admitted empathetically. The young girl felt her heart ignite and the tears streaming into her eyes as Elune pulled her into a warm, comforting embrace. Her throat tightened as she tried to stop herself from crying, but knew it was impossible.
She wept uncontrollably on her shoulder as she realized the life she had devoted herself to all this time was for nothing. "That's not right, that's not fair," she managed to whimper between sobs as thorny vines sprouted from the ground. She felt the goddess' hand lovingly rub her back as she quietly shushed her.
"I can be a priestess, what difference does it make if I'm a virgin or not?" she cried out in bitter denial. The earth shook violently with her words causing the animals to quiver in fear.
This had nothing to do with chastity, but faith. A priest can never doubt their faith. They are a symbol of strength among their people and when they falter, the faith of those around them do likewise. I sensed that doubt in you just before you came to this dream.
I am not angry with you and this is not a punishment. It could've happened to any young priestess and she would very likely have shared the same thoughts and suffered the same doubt and self hatred you had. Those who don't are fortunate to never have to experience that test of faith."
Kalira let the words sink in, trying to squelch her sobs.
"Just remember this: even an immortal will never accomplish everything. You are young and the world is strange and full of things you don't understand. Do not dwell on your life as a priestess; only try to learn from it," the goddess the girl her final bit of guidance as she reluctantly released her from her arms.
She said nothing more and stood, clicking her tongue at the furry animals crowded around her feet. They slowly dispersed as thin clouds crept over the moon's face. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Kalira. I'm sorry, but dreams can't last forever. We'll meet again someday, hopefully during better times."
"Wait, don't leave!" Kalira jumped to her feet and grabbed for her hand, but felt nothing between her fingers. Darkness lurked towards them as the wisps went out like spent candles. As the clouds eclipsed the moon, she saw Elune mouth two words before everything was swamped in the stygian black that rolled over her world.
Wake up.
-
"Wake up an' smell da blindweed Penji! Ya can't be draggin' an elf around wit ya. Every minute we standin' here wit her lyin there we in a bad spot." Drenju was quickly losing patience with his little brother and struggled to keep his voice low. "I made a promise ta keep ya safe Penji, n' I neva be breakin' dat sorta ting. I kin' feel it in mah blood, dat girl be trouble."
Penji's breaths came ragged and his shoulders tense. He had defied his other two brothers all his life, but never Drenju. Even his mother had to respect his decisions as the eldest male in the family. Yet, his peculiar affinity for Kalira had stripped him of reason and rational thought. As he played through the events, he knew building the fire had lured the thief to them and led to her rape. Not only that, he couldn't find any reason why he wasn't already dead by the time he'd came to; except that Kalira had somehow saved him. As he cradled her once again, he felt he owed her a great debt.
She stirred then and Drenju shook his head in frustration, giving his brother space for their mushy moment.
She wore a calm smile as she woke up in Penji's arms, eyelids rising as slow as the sun. She didn't scream this time, nor even look surprised.
"Ka-lee-rah?" Penji said softly.
"Oh, Penji. I'm so glad you're okay," she sighed, closing her eyes in relief. Penji's eyes did the exact opposite several seconds later; realizing she had just spoke in Zandali.
Drenju let out a startled cry, as if a monster leapt out of the bushes.
"Deuagh! How'kin y'know Zandali?" he demanded, pointing his rifle at her head. Penji shoved the barrel aside defensively.
"She just wake up an' ya shovin' ya gun in her face. Ya got da madness?"
"I told ya she trouble, kid! She got da voodoo in' er or somethin'" he accused Kalira, aiming the gun at her once again.
"The voodoo?" Kalira asked, her gaze traveling up the barrel of Drenju's gun right into his bewildered eyes. She froze, bewildered now as well. "Wait… how can I understand what you're saying? Do you know Darnassian?"
In response to her question, Drenju lowered his gun and slapped his forehead. "Ya talkin' our talk elf girl. Kin'ya not even hear ya self?"
Penji simply sat with Kalira in his arms; obviously less concerned than his brother by her ability to understand them and simply relieved she was well. So obvious that Drenju stormed off with Tatanga in tow. "C'mon, girl. Lets git some breakfast while dese lovebirds do their ting."
-
Brann and Binkle watched the boar meat impatiently as the grease dripped down tantalizingly into the open fire. Tynka slowly rotated the spit as if to tease them. When Brann reached out with his wooden fork, she slapped it back with a thin twig and wagged her finger at him.
"Nuh 'uh fatso," she giggled, "be good like Binkle and wait 'till it's done."
Brann felt his slightly protruding gut.
"I'm not fat, I'm just wearing four shirts."
Binkle's fork clashed with his and the pair began to fork fight to pass the time. The gnome found an opening and lightly poked the dwarf's belly. "Ah hah! Surrender half your meal, fiend. Lest I pierce your four layers of chainmail with my arcanite fork or chainmail piercing arcanite," he demanded with his nasally voice through his red defias mask.
Brann knocked the fork away, "My shirts are made of wool, and that's a just wooden fork."
"You'd like to believe that because you'd like to!" the gnome growled, twirling the fork in his hand. They went at it for several more minutes until Tynka called out the food was ready. The pair, connected at the waist by a thick rope, stopped sparring and dashed for the fire. The cook opened her black bag and pulled out jars of various spices to season the meat.
"Don't forget your favorite Death Powder, honey," she reminded her husband and handed him a small black shaker. Brann eyed it warily. He'd tried it once and vowed never again.
"One day Binkle, that spice is going to kill you and the name will be fitting."
"You only say that cause you can't handle the spice! Can't handle it!" The gnome stabbed his fork into the thick, greasy meat and pulled out a good chunk. Peppering it lightly with the powder, he pulled down his mask before wrestling with the utensil. He chewed no more than twice before his head began to turn beet red and sweat poured down his brow. Tynka swelled with adoration, gently wiping the sweat from his forehead, "He's so brave!"
The dwarf shook his head and ate his share messily, the grease dripping down into his matted beard. Tynka ate slowly, cocking her head side to side, savoring the taste.
Brann ate in silence, wondering about their travel time. "Think we're gonna make it to the guild party? Sevrin made me promise I'd get you there on time or he'd break my shins because 'I have no knees'." The dwarf mocked the burly human's threat in his best tough guy impersonation. "That jerk is addicted to your food."
"He should be, I'm a god among cooks."
"Good to see your modesty is in check. Me and Binkle are the ones that get our hands dirty to get the meat for your little projects."
"Anyway-," she ignored the comment, "getting chased out of that inn by that elf girl saved us a few days. She yells at you once and you guys go bolting out the door. I spent the whole damn week trying to get you two out of that dank."
"Well you can thank your husband for that," he pointed accusingly at his companion. "But we got to see boobies while we were there, right Binkle?… Binkle?"
Brann swiveled his head to find the gnome had passed out upright again, his fork in one hand and the shaker of Death Powder in the other. Tynka gave him a withering glare.
"So! He's been eyeing other women has he?" her fist connected squarely with his sternum with enough force to send the gnome's legs into the air. Binkle inhaled sharply and clutched at his chest. "Thanks honey. I think- my heart- stopped- for a minute- there," he managed to wheeze out.
"We just need to make good time across the Northern Barrens to Ratchet and make it to Booty Bay in… three weeks," Tynka resumed her conversation with Brann as if nothing happened.
"Oh not that Barrens again, it's too hot," the dwarf whined.
"Yeah Tynka, the Barrens are too barren for classy travelers like us," Binkle chipped in. His wife's palm connected with both their left cheeks in one sharp, sweeping slap. The pair cried out in pain simultaneously, rubbing their reddening faces.
"We're going through the Barrens you lazy pigs and that's final," she asserted with her hands on her hips and narrowed eyes, "now eat your greens."
Binkle sighed in resignation. "Yes, dear."