World Map: Starstriker

Grieving

Feravel grasped the boy's hand and lifted him gently out of the destroyed caravan. 

"Rayanist, eh?" He gave a friendly smirk to the young elf. "Fancy name, kid." He patted his shoulder.

Rayanist looked up at the armored man patting his shoulder a bit too hard that he almost fell over. "T-Thank you.." The boy stumbled about the ground, almost collapsing before Feravel caught him. "Woah! Easy there.. Here.. Uhm.." He dusted away some blood on the ground and motioned for the boy to sit. "Take a seat here" 

The shaken and traumatized boy still had standards and glanced at the bloody dirt pile he was about to sit on with a bit of disgust- but, for the sake of his savior, and to not look picky, as well as to prevent himself from collapsing once more- he took a seat. Feravel motioned to his group of Silvermoon knights in the background to assist. "So.. Rayanist.." He started to climb into the caravan that looked like an overused mouse-trap and started to search around. "Are.. your parents around?.. or any guardians?.."

Tears started to form in the young elf's glowing eyes. He tried to form a word, as if to say "No" but nothing came out.

Feravel assumed the worst. As he looked around he followed a puddle of blood that led to the other side of the caravan, and spotted a hand. "..I see.." As he approached and turned the corner, he found the mangled remains of an Elven man with similarly blonde hair to Rayanist's. Broken bones, and claw marks all over him made him barely recognizable- "..This was your father?" He kneeled down to inspect the body closer, turning to Rayanist and seeing him with his head down, nodding. He let out a deep sigh.

One of the knights of the group reported in front of the boy's savior. "Sir, we believe that one of the undead that we've slain during the skirmish is.." they motioned him to the front of the Caravan, where a pair of dead horses, lay. "Upon closer inspection.." the Helmeted Knight motioned to the face of the zombie "They resemble-" 

"MY MOTHER!" Rayanist cried out loud, tears flowing down his cheeks and his fists clenched on the waist of his shirt. "It's her.. I-.." The boy's sobbing overtook his speech.

Feravel stood up and walked toward the grieving boy. "Rayanist.." The young man sat down next to him, and without a word, embraced him in his arms.

They seemed to both be taken by surprise at this action, and it seemed in that very moment the world fell silent. The two elves in their own realm. 

"I'm here for you.." "..Don't worry"

The guards lowered their heads and looked down in the ground in silence. 

"I just don't know.. why.." Rayanist's words carried a great amount of sorrow and terror in them still, but he was able to talk. "..Why me.. Mother.. Father.. I-" 

Feravel placed a hand on his shoulder silently, listening closely.

"She.. was just fine a few days ago.. When we planned for this venture out.." He looked up rubbing his eyes and stroking his hair back in distress. "Then.. d-during the Caravan ride she started to feel sick, and we kept having to make stops.. dangerous as it was out here in the Dead Scar.." The young elf took a moment to breathe. "Then all of the sudden while I was resting on her lap, I heard.. growling.." Tears started to form once again on the boy's sore eyes. "Father quickly stopped the horses to check on Mother and.. when he opened the door.." Rayanist clenched onto Feravel's armored sleeve unknowingly. "She lunged out at him.."

The young warrior closed his eyes at the thought of such a horrific scene.. "This poor kid" he thought. "To witness his parents going through.. that.." He shuddered.

"As soon as I saw that.. I-..I-.. didn't know what to do.. Mother turned back to look at me.. but I didn't see her caring eyes anymore.. they we're white.. dead.." The boy wiped his eyes, his voice still trembling. "I closed the door quickly and locked it.. I was terrified, Feravel.." He looked up at the Knight. "I hid under the seat of the caravan, but soon I started to hear more growling and screaming outside.. until my father's stopped. Then.. those monsters tried to come after me.. they already killed my horses.. and tried to knock over the wagon and come inside to eat me next.." Rayanist turned to the Blood elf and suddenly embraced him, burying his face into Feravel's chest. "THEN YOU CAME TO SAVE ME!" He cried out, holding his savior tightly. "You saved me..! They surely would've.. killed me.. had you all not have arrived.." 

Feravel stared down at the crying boy in shock, he could feel all that he had gone through just by hearing the tone of this young elf's voice. He felt tears of his own start to well behind his eyes, but held them back, clenching his fist. "Can't cry.." "Gotta be the strong hero" he reminded himself.

The child looked around at the Silvermoon knights around, that we're listening aswell- all seeming distraught. Some gripped their sword in anger, vowing revenge under their breath. Some solemnly looked up at the sky, as if they we're saying prayers. 

A knight that was still inspecting the bodies spoke out. "I just wish.. we could've come earlier, young boy." Feravel stood up, and swallowed the trembling sorrow that clung to his throat, and spoke. "As do I, Rayanist.. I wish we could've saved your parents." He helped the child up off the ground. 

"Me too.."