Chapter 16

Karis had been watching Tylira talk with the two strangers when it first started. It was just a faint itch on the back of her neck, easily dealt with by scratching her skin. But then it came back, only stronger. It wasn't painful, whatever it was. It just felt like something crawling underneath her skin, only there wasn't anything there.

Soon Karis felt herself standing up, the grass below her starting to straighten out where her knees had been crushing it down. Her motions and movements felt slow, lumbering, as if she was moving through treacle. But all the while, nothing felt wrong. The entire process felt right, as if it was meant to happen, and Karis was fine with it to carry on.

Tylira's voice became quieter as Karis walked away, until finally she couldn't hear her. Instead, her ears were filled with the sounds of the woods around her. Birds whistled over head, singing their songs whilst the beasts both large and small ran past the young girl, none of them paying attention to her.

It took Karis a moment to realise that all the creatures that were running past, they were all running in the same direction, heading back along the path she had been heading along. She stopped walking, turning her head to the side to look at the animals running past. Her hand reached up and lightly rubbed her shoulder, the scar that her uncle had left behind starting to throb slightly.

With her hand dropping back down to her side, Karis returned to walking slowly, heading in the direction that all the animals were running from. A faint smile formed on her lips as she felt the soft ground beneath her bare feet, the blades of grass sticking between her toes with each step. A warm breeze travelled through the trees, wrapping its way around Karis, bringing with it a soft whisper.

….Karis….

Karis stopped again, wondering if she had heard the wind talking to her just now, the animals still running past, ignoring her. Again, the wind blew around her, repeating the same word, calling her name. Slowly, she turned on the spot, looking around, finding herself laughing at the fact that she knew she should be scared, but wasn't.

"Whose there?" Karis called out, feeling a chill run down her spine that caused her entire body to shake. Overhead, a squawk rang out, louder than any other, causing Karis' head to whip skywards. Above her, her raven was circling, its beady eyes looking down at the ground. Karis was so distracted that when the wind spoke again, it caused her to jump on the spot.

….Karis, its me, Vulpiera….

Karis felt her hairs stand on end at the mention of Vulpieras name, her mouth and throat going dry. She looked around, expecting to see the spirit creature, but was only greeted by trees and bushes. With her hands clasped tightly together, Karis closed her eyes, trying to clear her mind.

Vulpiera? Where are you? What's going on? Karis asked as she felt herself fall out of the haze she was in. Fear started to creep into her mind as the noises around her became less friendly. The animals that were rushing past started to get closer, as if to knock her over, and joining it all was a thick fog that gathered around her legs.

Remain calm, Karis… came Vulpieras voice, cutting through the fog and the fear in her mind. It is almost time… time for you to keep your promise. Do you remember?

Karis nodded slightly, fighting the urge to let out a whimper as a large sabre cat ran past, knocking into her slightly and causing her to stumble. Yes, I remember. Why are all the animals running?

They are scared, Karis… Karis could sense the tension and worry that was present in what Vulpiera was saying to her, and all it did was make the young night elf's own fear compound, growing stronger. She began to ask what had them scared, but was cut off before she could start. There is something in the vale, something amongst the trees and bushes. It is coming to find me, Karis, and to kill me.

What is it? Karis asked, holding back the shakes that kept trying to overtake her body. Even as the thoughts and ideas of what else could be heading to Vulpiera were taking shape in Karis' mind, she found herself walking onwards once more, unable to stop her legs from moving.

There was only silence across the winds as Karis walked ever forwards, more and more animals running past her, trying to escape whatever it was that Karis was now walking towards. Even her raven seemed to have abandoned her as the fog continued to swirl across her feet, obscuring them from view. Karis' mind shifted to Tylira, her thoughts wondering where the older night elf was.

Vulpiera? Karis thought, no answer from her initial question presenting itself. There was still no response from the spirit as Karis finally brought herself to a stop, the canopy of trees over head stopping any light from coming through.

I am here Karis… Karis found herself smiling and feeling safer at feeling the spirits words take shape in her mind. What came next, however, removed that feeling. I do not know what is here… it feels like a spirit, but moves like a man… take caution, young one…I look forward to meeting you….

As Vulpiera finished talking, Karis could feel a presence taking shape around her. She couldn't think how to describe it as she looked around, the shadows in the bushes and trees seeming to twist and contort. It felt as if something had crossed over from an unseen realm, something foreign, and it was now taking residence nearby.

As Karis' eyes darted around, jumping from shadow to shadow, the presence grew, the gravity of the situation increasing. It wasn't long before the young girl collapsed to her knees, arms wrapped around her body tightly as tears rolled down her cheeks onto the floor.

"What am I doing…?" she whispered between sobs, curling up into a ball and rolling on her side. Karis closed her eyes tightly as she shivered and cried, the fog rising over her in gentle waves. She knew she had to get up, knew she had a promise to keep, but her body refused to accept it, stopped her from moving.

"Tylira….where are you…" Karis murmured, waiting for the elder druid to come leaping through the fog to her aid. It seemed like an eternity that she waited, but no one came, not even any other creatures escaping the new threat. Karis was just left alone to her thoughts.

It was within those thoughts that something started to take shape. This was a trial. This was Karis' trial, her own personal trial. It wasn't Tylira's, it wasn't Remulos' and it wasn't Vulpiera's. It was hers. She had to complete it, had to prove she could do it. Vulpiera was counting on her. Tylira was waiting for her to pass. She might not be here in person, but she was certainly with her in spirit!

Placing her palms flat on the damp ground, Karis pushed up, sniffling slightly as she did so. She rose from the ground, standing up straight. She adjusted her hair with one hand, pushing it in place, whilst wiping the tears from her eyes with the other. Above her, the sun found a gap in the canopy to shine through, a gap that had a shadow pass over as Karis' raven flew down and landed on its owners shoulder.

Karis couldn't help but let out a laugh as she lightly petted the raven, receiving a light nuzzle in response from the bird. Karis stretched her arms out above her head, the raven taking flight as she did, before her arms dropped back down to her sides.

"I can do this, Tylira, I promise" Karis said with a smile, looking behind her for a brief moment. With renewed vigour, Karis sprinted through the trees, ducking and weaving between the low hanging branches of the trees. As got closer, two things started to become apparent to the young girl.

First off was the presence. It didn't feel anything like it had before. She could still feel something odd and unusual around her, but at the same time it carried a feeling of gentleness, even friendliness at times, Karis thought. The other thing she noticed, however, was slowly forging something filled with worry inside her.

As she ran onwards, Karis was coming across more and more branches that had been cut down, bushes that were thoroughly trampled upon, and not by animal foot. Whilst the animals appeared to have been very careful when making their mass exodus, this person had been almost deliberate in their damage. Could this be the other thing? Karis thought to herself as she paused for a moment, running a hand along a gash that had been made in a tree.

Shaking her head slightly, trying to focus it on the task at hand, Karis sprinted onwards again. She wasn't entirely sure on where she was going as she leapt over roots and carefully pushed large leaves out of the way, but she was certain she was going the right way.

Sprinting through a small clearing, Karis came to a sudden stop with a yelp, as if she had ran straight into a wall. She stood on the spot for a moment, dazed as her sense slowly came back to her. Slowly, she reached out with a hand in front of her. There was nothing there that could have caused her to stop, and whatever had made her stop hadn't harmed her. It didn't take her long to figure out what it was.

"I must be getting close then…" Karis whispered to herself as she took a careful step forwards. The presence that she had felt before had suddenly gotten a lot stronger, and where she hadn't been ready for it, it had overwhelmed her senses. Taking it slow and steady, Karis made her way forwards, eyes looking around for signs of anything.

In the silence of the small clearing came a piercing little cry, a cry that, at first, Karis didn't think was real. After the second and third times of hearing it, she started to hunt around going to the edge of the clearing as she followed the noise. When she found the source of the noise, Karis couldn't help but let out a little squeal.

Nestled inside a hole in a large tree was a fox that was curled up in a ball. Upon seeing Karis, the fox slowly uncurled to show three small fox kits, all letting out little whimpers as they nuzzled up to their mother, obviously new-borns. As Karis looked at them with eyes full of glee, the mother seemed to lightly nudge one of the kits towards her before looking up at Karis again.

Karis tilted her head to the side slightly, confused by the action, before looking at the kit. Unlike the other two, whose eyes were still closed and were still whimpering, this one was looking straight at Karis, eyes open, not a sound coming forth.

"Vulpiera?" Karis said with slight disbelief as she slowly reached out to pick up the kit. Karis' hands stopped short as she looked at the mother for a moment, unsure if she should pick up the small kit incase she was wrong. As response, the mother seemed to just lay her head down on the ground, eyes closed. With a smile, Karis lightly picked up the kit before her.

The moment that her fingers came into contact with the kit, Karis felt her mind fill with a rush of images. She knew instantly that it was indeed Vulpiera she held in her hands. But with that knowledge came another understanding. The presence she had felt, the one that had felt so kind and friendly, it didn't belong to Vulpiera.

Karis let out a cry of pain as a hand clamped down on her shoulder, squeezing tightly. Vulpiera leapt back to the fox mother as Karis turned her head, tears welling up in her eyes. Her eyes met with the hand that was now gripping her shoulder, a hand that fit the scar that was already present perfectly. Body shuddering, Karis slowly looked behind her into the snarling face of the one man she didn't want to run into.

"Hello, niece."