It felt odd, riding on a horse again. Back in my training days I had to learn to ride one and I didn't seem to have forgotten it just yet. I had grown as accustomed to riding back then as I was to flying right now. I never got the chance to think about the oddity of flying though, I didn't get to think at all, my mind was not my own. I bet it would have felt odd.
Aelana wasn't too good at this, her face was full of worry and it seemed a bit green of nausea. Even without her having to issue commands to her mount, she had the greatest trouble holding on to it. Behind her, I could see Releana making fun of her predicament. She giggled whenever Aelana clamped herself around the horse's neck in desperation.
I decided to halt when we were about halfway. Silvermoon wasn't too far to begin with but I thought it would be good to give Aelana a break from her torment.
To be fair, she was not doing too bad for her first time, and I had hoped she would like it, but she really did not seem to, at all. She was very quiet when we sat down against a tree next to the road to eat and drink a bit. She cast a few spells on herself to make her stomach less upset before nibbling away at the bread she and Releana brought from the inn.
The arrow that narrowly missed me and embedded itself next to me scared Releana to death. She immediately stood up and prepared to unleash a blast of arcane into the direction it came from. I knew who shot this arrow and didn't move one bit, neither did Aelana, which surprised me. A large black lynx came dashing our way. I told Releana to stand down. She gave me a face of utter confusion before conjuring up a new spell.
"Stand down I said!" I said louder this time.
She stood there as the oversized cat pounced on me and started licking my face.
"She just wants to play," I giggled at Releana who would harm such a harmless creature.
I scratched it behind the ears and earned a soft purr.
Releana was extremely suspicious and stood at a distance as Aelana rubbed the lynx's belly.
From behind the trees came the huntress to whom this animal belonged. I knew her as Shaestra Sunblossom. In many ways she looked like Sylvanas, Golden hair that flowed down to her hips, almost the same facial features, eyes that were as sharp as a hawk and a true master of the bow. A big difference is that she valued her pet's companionship more than her marksmanship skills.
Perhaps it was the warmth she showed for her lynx that later made me develop a crush for her instead of Sylvanas. I later heard from multiple people she was into females, I guess that was another reason. I only got to meet her a few months before my death and didn't get to see her much, so things never really got somewhere, but I had always hoped there would be a time where we could be together more and maybe work on things together as ridiculous as it may sound.
"If it isn't Aelana," she said in her usual soft tone as she approached.
"And who are you? Nora seems to have taken a liking to you."
I looked at her, and waited for it to sink in. Her face became one of shock when she recognised me.
"Angel, no, that can't be. Angel?"
"Nora here seems to have an easier time accepting that it's still me," I scratched the linx's head, to which it pressed its head further against my hand.
"She has grown a lot hasn't she? Last time I saw her she was but a cub," I tried to lighten the mood.
Shaestra sighed and sat down next to me, "but how?"
"Long story."
"I thought I'd lost you, I lost everything but Nora that day, she is the only reason I am still here today."
"Many of us lost everything that day. You don't want to know what hell I have been through, I mean, just look at what that fiend did to me, you don't want to know what he made me do. And now that I am free I am hardly accepted by some of my own kind."
"I can imagine."
"We need to move on with our lives Shaestra," I soothed her. "Speaking of moving on, we need to move to Silvermoon, Lor'Themar is expecting us."
"Do you mind if I tag along? I would like to catch up now that you are still alive and such."
I almost laughed at that, "Sure, I don't think Aelana minds lending you her horse, She can ride with me."
"Yes please," Aelana said, almost too eagerly.
"That would be great, thanks."
I got on my horse and helped Aelana get up and in front of me. She held on tight to my arms as I held the reins. I could feel her relief as we left for the elven capital.
