Pride, Wolf and Rebellion

Rebellion

Fen'Asha sat with Ghil-Dirthalen, or the Archivist as she preferred to call it. She was enjoying her dreams, making friends with the spirits.

Sometimes Cole would visit with her, tell her stories of hearts he swayed, pearls of pain he let loose.

But for now she sat with the Archivist, showed the spirit her new books and discoveries. The Archivist sparkled and swayed, it whispered memories of the ancient elvhen, showed her connections she wouldn't have made before.

Fen'Asha hugged the Archivist before it left. They melded for a moment, united in their unending thirst for knowledge and the joy of discovery. Then it faded from her dream, leaving the Inquisitor to the moon peering through the tree branches. She watched, she sensed.

"I know you're here," she said.

She stood up, found ground beneath her, searched through the dark green trees. She walked the forest, comfortably and without hesitation. Slowly, with resolve.

He was there, in the shadows. He was watching.

She watched for his eyes and caught them in the shade. "You could talk to me," she said.

The Wolf emerged, moonlight kissing the fur. He stood, just in view.

"What are you hiding from?" she said.

The Wolf sat on his haunches.

"You're hiding from yourself," she mused. "And from me."

The Wolf cocked his head.

She walked toward him. "You're scared, aren't you?"

He seemed to growl, stopping short only to recede back into the dark green trees.

"That's what I thought," she said.

She woke up, stretched, found herself warm and comfortable. The sun streamed through the window, passing by the small elfroot plants that'd begun to arrive in the garden.

Fen'Asha reached for her arm, the attachment Dagna had so carefully crafted. She twisted it into her flesh, the space and the fit was perfect. And she dressed, slowly but assuredly. Practiced it.

Sera greeted her when she entered the main room, smiling like the sun. Dagna sat at a breakfast table.

"There's word from the Red Jenny in Wycome," said Sera. "We can find some survivors of your clan, he says."

"And," said Dagna. "I've been working on something else to go with that arm thing of yours. Another arm thing for your arm...thing." She held up a crossbow and it glimmered.

"Oh look at you," said Sera, whistling. "All weapons and arrows now."

Fen'Asha nodded, grinned.

"If you think you'll ever be as good as me," said Sera, "you're out of your marbles."

"And Thom will be joining us," said Dagna.

"So he can finally see the bakery," said Fen'Asha, nodding and touching her chin knowingly.

"Yes," said Sera. "The bakery."

"The bakery," said Dagna.

"What he doesn't know won't hurt him," said Sera. "I think. Did I say that right?"

Fen'Asha nodded.

"What don't I know?" came a voice from the doorway. Rainier poked his beard in.