Chapter 9
Tylira slowly opened her eyes to check how Karis was doing. It had been long enough that she should have been able to create some kind of small world for her mind to dwell in. What she saw, however, was not what she had expected.
Karis was lying on her side, her eyes wide open as she stared blankly at the sky above. Tylira quickly moved over to Karis, a surge of panic entering her.
"Karis!" she called as she reached out towards the girl but stopped herself just short. Karis' eyes were glazed over, as if she was staring into space, and her breathing was if she was still deep in her meditative stance.
"No…surely not…" Tylira whispered to herself as she studied Karis, making sure not to touch the young girl. Standing up quickly, Tylira lifted up the part of cloth she had been sitting on and placed it over Karis.
"I will be right back, Karis, I promise" Tylira said as she took a step back from her. Turning, she started sprinting towards Nighthaven before leaping into the air, rapidly changing into her bird form. Within moments she was circling over the town, her small eyes trying to find the person she was looking for. As soon as she saw him, she rapidly descended.
"Loganaar!" she called out as soon as she had shifted back to her Night Elf form, causing a few gasps from those around her at the sudden sight of the naked woman. Loganaar himself turned and looked to Tylira, one of his eyebrows raised slightly.
"What is it?" he asked her, leading her to one side to offer her some privacy. The tone of his voice, Tylira noted, showed that he had picked up on the urgency in Tylira's own voice.
"Its Karis, I think something has happened. I need you to come quick" Tylira said, looking in the direction of where she had just come from. Loganaar nodded and motioned for Tylira to lead the way.
The two of them both shape shifted, Tylira into her bird form and Loganaar taking on the form of a cheetah. Tylira flew fast, Loganaar keeping up just behind her, as the two of them made their way through Nighthaven back to Karis. When they arrived, Karis was exactly as Tylira had left her.
"What happened?" Loganaar asked as he returned to his usual form. Tylira landed beside him, also changing back before quickly crouching down beside Karis.
"We were doing the mental exercises in preparation for contact with the animal spirits" Tylira said, looking up to Loganaar who also crouched down beside Karis, looking her over. "She had achieved the first stage and was able to fully and clearly picture herself after only a few minutes of meditation."
"After only just over a week?" Loganaar said, looking to Tylira who nodded. "That is rather quick. I assume you were then teaching her to create her own personal world?"
"Yes, that is what we were doing today" Tylira said, looking back down to Karis, shivering slightly as a breeze blew past them.
"You still haven't got some proper druid attire sorted?" Loganaar said, having noticed Tylira's shiver. Tylira looked to Loganaar and shook her head slightly. Whilst Tylira had lost her clothes during her shape shift, Loganaar's were still completely intact.
"I am working on it" she said, sounding slightly impatient. "Right now, let's focus on this."
"Yes, you're right, I apologise" Loganaar said, looking back down to Karis. "What happened next? Had she managed to create her world?"
"I don't know" Tylira said, sitting down on the slightly damp grass and bringing her knees to her chest, resting her head on them. "I opened my eyes to ask her and found her like this. If I didn't know any better though, I think has jumped a few lessons ahead, whether through her own choice or not. I think right now she is talking to a spirit. That's why I got you."
Loganaar remained quiet as he absorbed this new information, looking intently at Karis' open eyes. Tylira watched quietly, unsure of what to do in the situation.
"You do know how unlikely it is for an un-initiated to have achieved contact already, I assume" Loganaar said, looking at Tylira. Tylira nodded slightly in response. She did indeed know. Some people would spend months trying to contact a spirit whilst trying to learn their first form. For some it came naturally and they managed it after a couple of weeks, but very few achieved it after only a week.
"As unlikely as it is, that seems to be what has happened" came a voice from behind them. Both Tylira and Loganaar turned around to look at Remulos who was now standing behind them. Both of the Night Elves rose to their feet before bowing slightly.
"There is no need for formality" Remulos said in his usual whimsical voice. "Especially considering the circumstances…" Remulos turned his head to look at Karis as the two Night Elves stood upright. Turning his attention solely to Tylira, he continued.
"My child, as much as I know you enjoy being free, the chill in the air this evening won't do you any good." Both Remulos and Tylira seemed to chuckle slightly as Remulos reached into a bag that he was holding, pulling out a long dress, which he promptly passed to Tylira. "Here, put this on, and then we shall deal with young Karis."
Taking the dress, Tylira slipped it over her head, adjusting it slightly so that she was comfortable. She had to admit, once she had it on, that she did feel a tad warmer than before hand.
"The spirits are watching the young one with much interest" Remulos said, reaching down and running his fingers across Karis' brow. "They do not often encounter a mind so young, so full of imagination, trying to learn how to commune with them. It seems that one of them has taken it upon themselves to present themselves to her already."
Remulos paused for a moment before turning to Loganaar.
"Loganaar, return to Nighthaven and go to Karis and Tylira's room. I want you to set up Karis' bed there for her." Loganaar nodded and returned to his cheetah form, sprinting away from the scene, leaving Remulos and Tylira alone with Karis.
"What can we do?" Tylira asked Remulos, crouching down beside Karis again. "Can we even move her? I know that it can be very dangerous to move someone when they are communing with a spirit."
"My child, worry not" Remulos said, offering Tylira a gentle smile. "We will be fine to move young Karis for the time being. But we need to let her come out of this on her own." Remulos paused again as he looked at Tylira, then Karis.
"Do you remember when you were going through your druid training all those years ago? When you were learning to commune with the spirits?" he asked her, reaching down and scooping Karis up in his arms, making sure to be careful with the girl.
"Of course" Tylira said with a faint smile, moving to stand beside Remulos. "The day that I was going to attempt to commune with my first spirit, you decided to call it off due to a disturbance amongst all of the spirits."
"But you didn't listen to me, such was your way when you were younger" Remulos said. Both Tylira and Remulos let out a faint chuckle as the two of them made their way towards Nighthaven.
"No, I didn't…" Tylira said quietly, thinking back to that day. "I was unconscious for almost a week. Why do you ask?" Tylira turned her head to look at Remulos who was looking into Karis' eyes. She had a feeling she already knew why he was asking but waited for him to confirm it.
"You need to be prepared for the fact that Karis may also be in this state for a long period of time" Remulos said as the two of them entered Nighthaven. "Although I do not see it lasting as long as yours, it may still be a few days."
Tylira nodded and remained silent as they made their way to the room that Tylira and Karis called home. As they were walking, many of the townspeople stopped and bowed to Remulos, who in turn politely bowed his head, offering them smiles as well.
By time they arrived at the room, Loganaar had finished preparing Karis' bed. Remulos placed the small girl upon its surface before laying the sheets over her and gently closing her eyes.
"The two of you will need to keep care of the young one" Remulos said as he made his way towards the ramp back down into Nighthaven. "I will keep a watch over things via the spirits. Do let me know if there is any change in her condition."
With a nod, both Loganaar and Tylira watched Remulos walk away, leaving the two of them alone.
"If you need me, you know where to find me" Loganaar said to Tylira, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. Tylira nodded and smiled in thanks.
"Indeed" she said, letting out a sigh, her shoulder sagging slightly. "Come see me in the morning. I doubt I will sleep tonight, and I would prefer not to leave Karis unwatched."
"Don't worry, I will" Loganaar said with a nod before he too vanished back into Nighthaven. Picking up the cover from her own bed, Tylira climbed onto the bed beside Karis, laying down close beside her.
"Don't worry Karis, I'm here" she whispered quietly before getting herself comfortable, preparing herself for the long night ahead.