Talarine: Ally to the Angels

Chapter 35

Tal awoke with shock on her mind. Anaurael's nightmare had greatly shocked her, but there was little she could do in the waking world. She stood and walked out of her house thankful she was dressed for another day. But she was quick to realize that the night was still upon the world and sighed. She walked towards the stables, a thing everyone had agreed to build to make it look like they were normal mortals, and heard the nicker of her stallion. "Hey buddy." She whispered as he stuck his head over the door to his stall. "Wanna go for a moonlit ride?" The soft nicker he gave her told his answer. "Alright let me get your stuff." With that she was quick to fetch his saddle, saddle blanket, reins and his favorite treat, a sugar cube. She fed him the sugarcube to pacify him as she quickly placed on his equipment.

When he was ready she hopped onto his back and the left the stables for a ride. His hooves made a thumping click type of noise as he walked out onto the road. He shook his head as they stopped and looked around just before they exited the town. As they prepared to leave another set of hooves sounded and she looked to see that Daren was finally in human form. He had picked his horse and she smiled as he came up and they managed an awkward hug. "When did you come back?"

"Last night. I decided that I had mourned long enough and that it was time to be normal again." He told her as they began riding. Both Horses they rode were warhorses, trained for battle at the sound of a wolfs howl or a war horn. "Where are you going?"

"For a ride to clear my thoughts. I couldn't sleep and figured this would help."

Daren was swift to remove a goldpurse from her side and smiled. "Where are you going?" He asked her again.

She sighed as she took the pouch from him. "To Kingsport. I need to get some more supplies for the forge and for my teas."

"Mind if I tag along? It will be nice to speak with you again." And with that they headed towards Kingsport. "It feels good."

"What does?" Tal asked as she looked skyward. She was feeling slightly off and figured it to be her worry for Anaurael but a sinking feeling was creeping up upon her and the converstation with Shade came up.

†***†

"What?" Tal asked slightly upset now.

"The palace in the Spirit World has fallen. Your sire has been captured by the Nightmare Wolves and all Dream Wolves have scattered to the winds. Most are coming here to seek you out. They wish to know who you are and if it is true that you are mated to Xypherius." Shade spoke keeping his voice calm. "My own two nieces are coming to find you after taking an elderly man's spirit to a safe place."

Tal immidiatly thought of the man that used to visit her. "Is his name Deckard Cain?"

"You know him?"

"Knew. He passed away before I could make a trip to visit him and his niece Leah." Tal spoke the names sadly.

"I am sorry. I didn't know."

"It's fine. He was seeing my grandmother for some time so I had the chance to know him and to know that he wouldn't want me to mourn for the rest of my life..." the conversation continued on for a while as they planned for the coming wolves.

†***†

"Tala?" Daren asked shaking her out of her memory.

"Sorry I was thinking."

"You've been doing that alot lately. What's bothering you?" When Tal told him he nodded. He remembered how she used to act with Cain and realized that everything was taking its toll on her though she never showed it. It wasn't the brickwall around her heart that was the problem it was the one that completely surrounded her that was the issue. She had been forced to put it up and to let it crumble now was almost impossible for her. She isn't afraid to let it fall its telling her that its okay to let it fall that is the issue. From what she is telling me it sounds like she is prepareing to build it higher. Imperius treating her like a normal mortal isn't helping at all either. I think I need to disscus this with Xypherius and see if he can't find a way to get Tal and Imperius to work together.

"...I wish I could see him once more." Tal's eyes watched the rising sun.

"I think anyone who knew him wishes to see Cain again. Wasn't him who gave you the nickname 'Tal' in the first place?" Daren tried to remember as she nodded.

"Its the nickname I cherish most now since his passing."

"I remember that after you recieved word of his passing you shifted and left us for several months."

"I was upset and had to check on Leah. She and I spoke after I found her heading towards Calduem with Tyrael and the Nephalem. At the time I didn't know it was actually Tyrael so I mistook him for someone else. Tal began to remember as they passed several small farms.

†****†

Tal was racing to find Leah. The young woman would need her and upon finding her, Tal stood upon a cliff. She was almost to Calduem and howled to alert her closest friend. Leah turned to see the massive wolf and gave the signal to meet after dark. Tal nodded and disappeared to wait the coming night which was rather quick.

"Tal! I am so glad to see you here! I've missed you!" Leah was crying as she embraced the giant wolf's neck. Tal growled a small growl to show that she was happy to have come. Tal laid down and Leah sat then leaned back to rest upon the wolf's back. "I had hoped you would come to find me after word reached you but it's dangerous for you to be here. There is a Archangel who is now mortal here and he would kill you upon sight." Tal huffed and Leah smiled. "Don't remind me. I keep forgetting that it's hard to kill you." Leah smiled as Tal huffed again this time with laughter. "I've missed you. You bring warmth and joy with you. Will you follow us?" Tal nodded and Leah smiled. "But you are going to stay hidden aren't you?" Once more Tal nodded. "At least I have you." Leah smiled as she brushed her fingers through the giant wolf's fur. Tal growled as Leah began to fall into sleep and she stood to walk back into the camp as Tal watched her from the shadows, ears folded back as the light of the fire revealed Leah to the others. She was quick to go to bed but before Tal could leave she met the eyes of Tyrael and the firelight flickered revealing her eyes to him. She huffed and left but keep close enough to move with the camp until they reached Calduem.

Upon leaving Calduem for Bastion's Keep Tal rejoined them following at a safe distance so Leah could visit her. One night Leah's mother, the witch Adria, had been bold enough to go find Leah only to see her with Tal. Adria had almost gone crazy but Leah had explained that Tal was far from being a werewolf. Adria had not liked it but Tal and Leah saw each other every night until they reach the area where they sailed to Bastion's Keep. That night was the last Tal had ever seen Leah again.

†****†

Tal's hands quivered. Adria's Betrayal was deep in her mind and just thinking of it upset her. Leah had been innocent and her mother had used her as a vessal for Diablo. Tal was visibly upset but calmed herself as she closed her eyes. The past was in the past and their was nothing Tal could do about it.