Yerathiel Lunarie is a princess from a powerful elven kingdom. Her home and family have been wiped out and she grows up not fully knowing who she is until after her 100th name-day.
Now she has to survive in the outside world, running from hunters w...
A/N: And I'm back again. I am still sorry for what I did to you guys about Faraan in the last chapter.
A big thank you to xinsanexbandicornx for the amazing cover. Unfortunately there is no song for this chapter but feel free to listen to anything you want.
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Glossary:
*Falõn: Humanoid feline people.
*Hamin: elvish for 'relax' (verb).
*Chamrosh: a winged fox/wolf and very loyal to their family and friends.
Yerathiel packed the last item of equipment into her travel pack. Nagia stood nearby leaning on the doorframe, her eyes downcast and teary. Yerathiel turned towards her, hoisting the pack onto her shoulder. It was about two months since they embalmed Faraan; she felt ready to move on.
"I'm sorry," Yerathiel said, reading her foster mother's expression, "But I have been in this village my whole life; I want to see more of what this country has to offer." Nagia just nodded and kept her eyes fixed on the ground in front of her. Yerathiel stepped towards her, lifted her head and looked her in the eye before hugging her. Nagia wrapped her scaled arms around her foster daughter. Her flame-like tears fell one by one. They burned Yerathiel where they landed on her neck and shoulder. Yerathiel grimaced but kept her body still. Eventually Nagia looked up and cupped Yerathiel's face in her hands. "I lost my husband to the Veil only two months ago. Now I will lose you to a life of adventure," she said softly, gripping Yerathiel more tightly. A silver tear traced its way down from Yerathiel's silver eye past her cheek as she said, "You won't lose me forever. I will come back, I promise."
Nagia nodded and let go, wiping away the tears with her fingers. She took a shaky breath and said: "I might as well give it to you now. It would make him happy." Yerathiel knew that she was referring to Faraan. She followed her foster mother to her parents' bedroom. Nagia walked over to the cold fireplace and pried a stone loose from a section of the chimney above the mantelpiece. She reached into the hole and pulled out something wrapped in protective cloth.
"Here," she said, handing the package to Yerathiel. Yerathiel stared at her foster mother for a moment before unwrapping the object. She gasped when she saw a beautiful crystal amulet. She traced a finger along the intertwined gold and silver roses which framed the words 'Yerathiel'. The second word was so scratched that it was indecipherable.
"I-it has my... name on it," she mumbled. 'What is this word that's scratched out?' She turned to Nagia and asked: "Where did you get this?"
"It was around your neck when we found you." Tears welled up in Nagia's eyes. "Your father wanted to give it to you as soon as you were old enough to understand."
"Why didn't you?" Yerathiel tried to catch her eye. She was a very calm and patient person, but this was something that should not have been hidden from her. It belonged to her; it was the only connection she had to her real parents. Were they even still alive? Nagia stared at the floorboards beneath her feet, not wanting to meet Yerathiel's gaze.
"I...I didn't want your life to be consumed with finding out who you are. I wanted you to decide for yourself who you are, not who other people say you are." Yerathiel thought about it. What would have happened if they had given it to her? Would she have left Nagia and Faraan to go find the parents who were dead or abandoned her? She could see the reasoning of her foster mother's actions. She nodded her head in understanding. She closed her fingers around the locket and held it close to her chest. Tears welled up as she thought of Faraan's last words.
Yerathiel hugged her foster mother outside the house one last time before walking towards the west woods. Under the shade of tall oak trees she peered into the depths of the bushes and shadows. She searched for signs of danger around her, her pointed ears twitching, catching the slightest sounds. "You can never be too careful, even in a place like home," she thought to herself. Just then a shape pounced at her from one of the higher branches. She sidestepped just in time to avoid the creature as it landed on its paws.
"Akira!" she chastised as the *falõn rose onto its hind legs, the top of her head reaching Yerathiel's nose. Akira launched herself at Yerathiel again and wrapped her arms around Yerathiel's waist.
"I'll miss you so much!" She wailed with a lisp. Yerathiel chuckled at her friend's dramatics and embraced the falõn. She looked up and saw the rest of her friends step out from behind the trees. Leralia and Minora also had tears in their eyes while Leodrick smiled sadly. They were all sad to see their friend leave. Yerathiel gave them a small smile and held her arms open to them. They all came forward and embraced her in a one warm hug. Tears fell and words of farewell were said before Yerathiel waved goodbye, shouldered her pack and walked deeper into the forest.
Soon she entered a clearing a short distance from the treeline. She sat at the bottom of a pile of large rocks near her. The grass felt soft beneath her fingers as she trailed them through the tall blades. She gave a high-pitched howl and waited.
Several minutes passed in stillness. Finally, a pair of bright yellow eyes glowed between the shadowy trees to Yerathiel's left. She stood up as a wolf's muzzle inched its way into the sunlight. The wolf suddenly leaped at her. She landed on her back, the wolf's weight pressing down on her chest. The large wolf started to lick her face as she giggled like a little girl.
"*Hamin! You are crushing me, Fenris," Yerathiel gasped between giggles and saliva. The wolf reluctantly got off and shook its body, revealing feathery wings. The russet feathers blended perfectly with the *chamrosh's red fur. She got up and wiped the saliva off. The chamrosh nuzzled against her leg; she scratched his head affectionately. A memory suddenly played in her mind.
"Hold him steady," Faraan said, trying to bandage the baby chamrosh's broken leg. The pup's right wing was also treated and bandaged. He whimpered as Faraan straightened the broken bones in his leg and started to wrap the second bandage.
"Shh, it's alright little one. It's alright," Yerathiel repeated over and over again, caressing the pup's red fur, trying to calm him with her soft voice and soothing words. He whimpered again and looked up at her. She saw fear in his young, bright eyes, but she also saw trust. He trusted them not to hurt him, so she sang to him. He calmed down the more she sang and even began to purr.
"There we go. You'll be alright little fella," Faraan announced, placing the pup's leg down. "Princess, we need to get him back to the house. It will take weeks for the bones to heal and that will not happen out here."
"Yes Father, I know," she said in a bored tone while she slowly lifted the chamrosh. "And I am not a princess." Faraan smiled and shook his head. She rolled her eyes before following him back to the house. The little chamrosh snuggled into the crook of her arm. Rest little Fenris, she thought. Hmm, Fenris... that's a lovely name.
She shook her head clear of the memory of Faraan as she fought the tears that welled up. Fenris nuzzled her hand in concern while she was lost in her thoughts. She petted his head again before they headed out the forest to the road that lead out of the village.
A/N: And my little baby is leaving home and going into the big wide world.
