An End

Chapter 1: The Girl with Sensitive Ears

Thunder shook the small room that Elpida was sleeping in. To most in Elinia, thunder was a sign of rain, which meant good harvest and more food, but to her, it meant a night of no sleep. She always felt petrified when the booms surrounded her, causing her to sit and watch the storm, flinching every so often. Many of her room and classmates taunted, laughed at her because of this. How could someone so brave and strong-willed, be frightened of a sound, like a small child? 

 As a young elfling, she had always been brave and courageous, but she was also kind and humble, helping all who needed it. Still, she was a small, twig-like girl, and there wasn't much she could do. She was too weak to lift anything larger than her frame, and too small to reach anything higher than a low shelf.  However, as she grew older, she grew stronger. She enrolled into a fighting academy, the best anywhere, Pugnam, and became one of the strongest students ever to have enrolled. 

Elpida tossed and turned at the sound of Mother Nature. Finally, with a tired sigh, she sat up, gazed out the window with a glare, and effortlessly glided across the wooden bedroom floor to the small kitchen area. From there, she opened a small cupboard and pulled out a small tin cup, given to all students. Walking to a wooden bucket next to the fireplace, she filled her cup and went to take a sip. As she did, lightening flashed, causing her to give a small jump and her fingers to loosen on the handle. When she did this, the cup fell, filling the completely quiet room with an echo of tin hitting wood.

She stilled, listening for any kind of footsteps. After several tense minutes, she heard the soft pounding of large feet on the wood. She closed her eyes, sighing, and looked through the dark to see her dearest friend, Mikro.

Mikro was an interesting character. He was stout, shorter than his elven friend, but quite tall for a dwarf.  There weren't many other dwarves at the school; most went into blacksmithing or woodwork. Mikro however claimed that battle called to him as young dwarven child, and despite his parents imploring him for a safer occupation, they helped him enroll. Since doing so, he became the second of his class, behind Elpida. 

He stood with his arms folded across his wide chest, and an all-knowing smirk on his face. His eyes had a slightly mischievous glint to them, a teasing grin on his lips as he walked to his taller companion. 

"Did you hear that, my dear Elpida?"

She quickly shook her head. He chuckled, placing a finger on his chin. "No? Strange. I could have sworn I heard a small, tiny,  mouse scurry away from the big, scary storm. Are you sure you saw nothing?"

Elpida glared down at him, forming her mouth into a thin line. "I'm sure. Why?"

His grin got wider. "I wanted to catch it."

Elpida kept glaring, then her eyes copied his mischievous glint, her hands latching to her hips as she grinned at her friend. "Are you sure Mikro? Because from what I can remember you could hardly catch the pick pocket-er who took your wallet. Mayhaps he's back for more." Her grin went wider as his went smaller.

Mikro's eyes hardened slightly. "He only got away because that cart got in my way!"

Elpida leaned down to his face. "I don't recall a cart. I think you were sweet on him. He was rather handsome."

Mikro's face erupted into a deep red. "I-I'd n-never! How dare you-! He-and the cart-!" His hands waved everywhere as he tried to get the subject away from his mind.

While he was ranting, another flash lit the room, causing Elpida to whimper. Mikro stopped and looked at his friend with sympathy. He looked out the window as the rain kept falling.

"Looks like it will be a long night for the both of us.."