Her feet hit the solid stone of the Wizards Keep and she slowed, listening, her heart beating a hundred miles an hour. The nighttime was her time, any night she could see stars was her favorite. The buildings were her playground.
The gentle breeze whipped a few loose strands of her red hair around her face as she raced across the rooftops, unseen and unhindered by the inhabitants below. The slow buzz of the night life wafted up to her as she ran, leaping from building to building. She paid it little heed.
Apprentice rangers had been doing this same run for centuries through the streets of Succouth.
She halted, pausing, her breath slowing as she eased onto the summit of the Wizard's Watch Tower. The stones were ancient, almost as old as the town itself. She glanced up at the stars and smiled. It was a glittering cavern to her, one she had a difficult time explaining to others who'd never been to the Underdark, where the sky was a dark stalactite-filled cavern. All around her insects buzzed but in the Underdark, any noise meant a fight was to be had and death was around the corner. Silence was your friend.
The insect buzzing went silent and the hair on the back of her neck stood. She tensed, sensing more than seeing something wasn't right. She gripped her bow in one hand, her left hand drawing an arrow out slowly as she tried to find the source of her unease.
A rock clattered to the ground and she dropped down into a crouch, flattening herself against the wall. Someone was here, someone out of place.
It was someone who was unfamiliar with Succouth. Red knew every nook and cranny like the back of her hand. Every loose stone, and every pitfall she avoided.
There was a presence here, she sensed innate magic but she couldn't be sure if it was a wizard or not, perhaps a wayward student who wanted to test his boundaries.
The downward swoosh of a sword swinging low was all the warning she had as she rolled forward coming up on her feet. The blade caught the edge of the rock with a sickening clang. She fell back out of reach blinded as to the direction of the bearer. The sword slammed at her throat and she managed to roll backward leaping to the edge of the building and out of reach.
She gasped audibly, paralyzed with shock. Before her stood another drow, white-haired and ebony-skinned, he was a male of incredible height. His lips curled back in a grin of disgust, showing off his white teeth and his matching blue eyes. His white hair was in stark contrast to hers. A flame erupted in his hand, he held a sword in the other.
The drow hadn't moved, nor had his expression changed. A muscle in his face twitched and perspiration beaded on his face. The flame in his hand grew brighter and with a quick motion, a fireball erupted from his and flew at her. Red flung herself down and off the roof hitting the street in a roll before landing on her feet again. Some teenagers wandering around the corner gasped and fled. The tree behind the building ignited as the fireball struck with a shower of sparks.
The other drow followed landing heavily next to her, sword drawn going in for the kill.
She dived out of the way, made a running leap for the lower ledge, and swung herself back up before turning around to face him.
He wasn't there.
Red hesitated.
Swoosh!
He levitated up onto the ledge above hers, his sword still in mid-swing as she dodged feeling the edge catch the fabric of her loose sleeve. Pain rocked her elbow. He'd landed a cut.
Red ran. She could do battle with him but she knew she would be no match for someone that size. Her strength would wane long before his. But this was her home turf and she was determined to use it. Leaping from building to building she used her own levitation spell and rocked up into the air, landing on top of the bakery.
The other drow was upon her immediately ferociously swinging and Red was forced to draw her sword to stop his advance. She barely managed to keep him at bay.
"Who are you?" She cried out as her sword spun out of her hand.
The other drow put the sword to her neck hesitating to strick.
"Sister," he greeted, not lowering the sword. "It's been a long time.
"Rending?" She gasped. This wasn't the reunion she'd always imagined she'd have with her twin brother. "What are you doing here?"
"Lloth demands a sacrifice," he grinned. "She demands you."
