Haha~ Next chap T^T I had fun writing this one, mainly because I get to bring back old characters. Plus, the suspense and irony is building up in my head. Things are about to get more action-based ;)
Again, sorry if there are any errors; I had an hour to write this, so I truly did my best~
*Disclaimer is the same
We eventually decided to camp out further in the woods, as far away from any town or fort that we could get without getting too far off track. Now, where our track was exactly was beyond me. Caldur was the one with the map, and I wasn't about to complain. Honestly, this was the first time I'd ever laid eyes on a map, so it'd be ridiculous to think that I could actually read one; I'm sure it wasn't too hard, though.
"Hey, Allaberry, can you toss me that branch beside you?"
I twisted to look over my shoulder and spotted the branch in question. In retrospect, this place was very different from home—especially considering that this is the farthest from home that I'd ever been. Everything was just so…blue. Yeah, I know, hence the 'azure' in Azuremyst. The grass was blue, the leaves were blue, the Draenei were blue…it almost made my eyes hurt. Being a Night Elf, I was so used to a diversity of subtle, cool colors that the sudden invasion of blaring blue was beginning to eat away at my sanity. I wrinkled my nose distastefully.
"The blue one?"
I heard him chuckle from the other side of the fire pit we were setting up.
"Take your time."
Scowling, I bent over and retrieved the branch. It was surprisingly light, and I couldn't help but wonder whether it was because I had somehow grown in strength over the short duration I'd been away from home or if it was just a different sort of material than the grand, illuminate trees I was accustomed to. Well, I suppose it didn't really matter in the end—as long it was able to burn. I tossed the branch forward, up into the darkening night, and watched as it was caught with nimble fingers and then cracked and dropped onto the pile of sticks we had already collected. Caldur clapped his hands together twice, a cynical look of excitement adorning his striking features.
"Now, all we need's a little magic."
I moved forward and knelt as he did. My eyes followed his hands as he lowered them to hover just above the tops of the sticks. The air around us began to grow warm at the same time that a tiny glow blossomed from his palms. I held my breath, awestruck despite the fact that it was only a minimum display of his ability. Then there was a sharp pop, a brief flash, and a tiny flame flickered to life before us. I gazed at it, mesmerized. He clapped his hands a second time, more so to rid his digits of the numb feeling brought about by use of magic than to portray his success. I licked my lips and inclined my head to regard him; it was much easier to see him now that we had a light source.
"Can you teach me to do that?"
Caldur blinked and gave me an odd look.
"Light a fire?"
I stuck my tongue out.
"No, dummy…create a fire."
The Elf sniffed and settled himself down into a comfortable sitting position. He laced his fingers together and rested his chin upon them in a studious manner. His golden eyes looked stunning as the building light of the small flames reflected dancing shadows across his face.
"That takes a lot of special training. Years at least."
I nodded once, slightly disappointed.
"But," my head jerked up at the playful tone in his voice, "I can show you how to fix a boot."
He lifted his leg to show me the three toes that wiggled through the hole in the front of his right boot. I tried to stifle a laugh, but it ended up converting itself into an amused snort. Caldur grinned, obviously pleased by my response. He lifted his hand, ready to use whatever energy he had to magically fix his shoe; however, an abrupt idea struck me. It might've been crazy…but, for some strange reason, it really appealed to me.
"Wait."
The Night Elf paused and looked up at me bemusedly. Feeling bolder, I rose to my feet, drew my knife, and pointed it at him. He lifted a brow.
"It's nice and all to fix a hole or two, but your Druid powers can't make a new outfit," he continued to offer me a puzzled expression, waiting for me to get to the point, "So, let's go find something better to wear."
I whirled around on my heel and began to walk off in an arbitrary direction. The scuffling of feet sounded behind me, and within seconds, a strong hand landed atop my shoulder and spun me back around. I found myself face-to-face with an adrenaline-high Night Elf Druid.
"And what exactly does that mean?" he sounded as if he were restraining more forceful words.
I narrowed my eyes.
"It means, I'm going to go find something better to wear," I replied sarcastically.
His canines flashed wickedly in the firelight as his lips peeled back in the beginnings of a snarl.
"How? Stealing?"
I sighed and gave him a light shove to the chest. He begrudgingly calmed down and took a step back, though it was palpable that he was still bristling. I watched as he took a few deep, consoling breaths and then tilted his head back to stare up at the dark canopy above. I swallowed.
"You're different than I am. You survive by being courteous, by acting. People love you because of the fake smiles you give them. You laugh off the pain and ignore threats, but, to me…that's just wrong."
Caldur's chin dropped, and his eyes flashed fiercely. He took a step forward once again and grabbed harshly at the collar of my frayed shirt. Now he was snarling.
"And stealing is better?"
I gritted my teeth.
"It's how I've survived!"
"There are other ways."
"Like being fake? No thanks."
"I am not fake!" The desperation in his voice made me falter.
His wide, distressed eyes bored into me, impaling my heart in an unfamiliar way. His fingers loosened but didn't quite let go of my shirt. Slowly, I reached up and grabbed his wrist. An uncomfortable silence fell upon us, which was only penetrated by the distant noises of beasts rummaging about in the foliage and the slight presence of a midnight breeze. I ran my thumb in small circles against the soft skin of his palm. His shoulders seemed to ease a bit.
"Yeah, I know…sorry."
Suddenly, he jerked away. I dropped my hand as he took several steps back, putting space between us, and took one, last deep breath. Then he shook his head.
"No, I'm sorry," his eyes slowly rose to observe me, "But, I still don't think stealing will make anything better."
I sighed, half in irritation and half in uncertainty. What's a girl to do? Caldur bent over and placed his hand over his boot. I watched as a fleeting light sparked. Then he straightened, offered me a small smile, and shoved his hands into his pockets.
"Then…what about buying? Or trading?" I inquired with a tiny amount of hope leaking into my voice.
His expression softened, making his smile seem more natural and his eyes more spirited.
"You're most definitely a work in progress, Allaberry."
A smile of my own crossed my face, and I tried to hide it beneath a lame accusation.
"What's with the stupid nickname?"
He sputtered.
"Stupid? Honey, I'm the king of nicknames," he purred.
I lifted a brow and gave him an incredulous look.
"Did you just call me honey?"
He pointed at me meaningfully.
"Yes," an odd expression took over his face, "And I'm never doing that again."
I laughed and shook my head at his antics. I really don't get him—not in the slightest. One minute he's a bristling ball of fur and then the next he's a grinning jester. It's no wonder people seem to ease up in his presence. He's just got this aura that makes you want to stick around him, to put your faith in him and believe everything he says. I'm not so prideful as to admit that I'm an exception, for I'm just as much drawn to him as any other stranger would be.
"Sure thing, Cal," I scoffed.
There was a slight crackle in the air, a sort of mental explosion that had the hair on the back of my neck standing on end. I glanced up at my companion to see that he was staring at me in disbelief.
"You…" He trailed off.
My brow furrowed.
"What?"
He peered at me closer. I edged back as he moved forward. The concentration with which he was scrutinizing me with was sort of putting me off. I backed up until my shoulder blades hit the bark of a nearby tree. Thankfully, he halted a good two or three feet away. Nevertheless, he was still giving me that weird look.
"Hum-drum?"
My eyebrow twitched.
"Who?" I deadpanned.
His eyes were wild now, flickering with the many emotions of an internal battle over Elune knows what.
"…not possible," he muttered under his breath.
I shook my head helplessly.
"Caldur, I don't understand what-"
"You're not possible," he breathed.
I ogled at him.
"What do you mean? Of course I'm possible. I'm here, aren't I?"
He reached forward hesitantly and fingered a loose strand of my hair.
"What is your name?"
"I already told you. It's-"
"Full name," his eyes locked onto mine sharply.
I swallowed. I hadn't even told Nar my full name. Why should I tell him? Why should I offer up my identity to a stranger? Then again…he wasn't really a stranger, was he? I've had absolutely no knowledge of my past—who my parents were or where I came from—and I have long-since accepted the notion that I may never know. Yet, here, standing before me, is a single Night Elf that is looking at me as if I were a ghost wrought from his memories. Perhaps he knows…perhaps he knows…
"Allacaya-"
Just then, however, something whizzed towards us and thwacked loudly against the tree mere inches above my head. Startled, Caldur and I glanced up. It was an arrow. At first, panic adorned my companion's face, but it was soon overcome by a wicked smirk. The Night Elf reached up and tugged the arrow from the tree trunk. Then he stepped away. I allowed myself a breath of relief and pushed away from the rough bark, making sure there was sufficient amount of space between myself and the Druid. Caldur fiddled with the arrow for a minute or so, walking around the small clearing as he did so. It was almost as if he were trying to be inconspicuous about searching for something…or someone. Then he called out.
"See, this is why you're so much better than all of those other Hunters. They all use Dentaria's arrows, but you, my friend, have always stuck to being unique."
I had half a mind to question the Elf's sanity when, suddenly, a deep voice responded from the shadows on the other side of our small campfire.
"You sound awfully happy for a man that's being hunted down by the most terrifying woman in existence."
I narrowed my eyes, attempting to get a better view of our attacker; however, it was still too dark to see properly. Caldur, on the other hand, came to a stop opposite the shrouded figure. He held out his arms, an act that only puzzled me further.
"But you found me first."
The figure stepped forward, submerging himself in the light of the small flames. He was tall, for a Night Elf, and obviously a well-rounded marksman. His long, teal-hued locks were woven into an intricate plait that crisscrossed down his back, complimenting the light violet of his skin. In his right hand, he loosely held a bow. Upon closer inspection, I could see that it wasn't one of the customary bows that the Priestess of the Moon dispersed to her archers. So…he wasn't one her men, then? Moreover, did he know Caldur?
"Lucky for you," the stranger mocked.
His eyes, a stunning silver, looked somewhat familiar as he glared at the Druid before him. I knew that look…
"Lucky for me," Caldur agreed with a pleasant beam, "Unandel came to my rescue."
The Hunter glowered irritably and then turned slightly to look at me. I stiffened. He motioned with his free hand for me to come closer. Reluctantly, I did so. I edged nearer but made sure to keep closer to Caldur's side. My companion rested a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
"Don't worry, Allaberry, he won't bite. We're good friends, right, Del?"
The other Night Elf made a face of disgust and reached back to situate his bow next to the quiver on his back.
"I told you to stop calling me that," he grumbled.
The Druid beside me perked up.
"I thought you liked it?"
The Hunter, 'Del' as he was called, furrowed his brow.
"Who the hell told you that?"
When Caldur didn't respond, the stranger sighed, scratched his head thoughtfully, and then turned his attention to me.
"So, who's this?"
I figured this was as good a time as any to speak up.
"Oh, this is Alla-" My companion started.
I cut him off.
"Allacaya Dawnweaver."