Lightless Path

Chapter 4: Anchored

It was a pinprick at first, but Mae's consciousness slowly coalesced. The numbness felt like a thousand knives sheathing into all parts of her, interrupted only by screaming or possibly laughter in the distance. She couldn't distinguish one from the other, they blended into one sound. The darkness engulfed every ounce of her existence, nearly swallowing her whole. Fighting against its pull, she grasped at flickering light floating at the edges of her consciousness—memories she realized. The image of a ghastly creature crushed, and limbs flying out before her took prominence. Mae focused her energy in an attempt to feel her fingers. Nothing. She couldn't feel her body at all.

Even her voice had abandoned her, a wave of helplessness washed over her. Alathan, I need you. Please help me, keep my star from being swallowed in your dark cloak. Something cool brushed her cheek. Alathan? Thank you, thank you! He was there, he had heard her prayer!

Mae turned her focus to her surroundings. She didn't catch it at first, a slight rustle of leaves. An earthly smell filled her senses. She grabbed onto the scent with all her strength, refusing to fall prey to the darkness again.

Something touched her cheek again. It was so soft, it took everything she had to attempt to lean her head against it. Tears of relief would have escaped right then if she could feel her eyes. Warmth seeped from the touch into her face. Tingling spread down her cheek, igniting sensation into her jaw and cheek. It trickled down into her lips. Enough feeling returned that a small gasp escaped her mouth. Her eyes came to life next—so heavy, that they were beyond her ability to open. The warmth spread throughout the rest of her body. Consciousness slipped away before the rest of her body come to life.

Mae woke slowly, relieved to feel the rise and fall of her chest. Her head felt like stone and her limbs tingled sharply, but she was grateful she had any feeling at all.

Sounds rushed in like the gentle lap of waves against a shore, not at all like the cacophony she had expected at first. She pressed her body to move; at first, only her fingers answered. Mae allowed her fingers to explore what she could reach. Soon discovering she was cradled in a plush bed—the weight of her head relaxed enough for her to turn it. She cracked her eyes open, blinking several times before she adjusted to the bright surroundings.

A beautiful woman sat next to her bed. Mae blinked a few times to make sure it was real. Was this Alathan? She knew the God could appear as anything he wished. The sight of a female was more comforting to her than a male.

"Thank you." Mae croaked, realizing the burning trail down her cheeks were a few stray tears that had managed to escape. Mae continued to relish the rise and fall of her chest. The undead woman must have been a dream. Thank you Alathan. I am grateful you have brought me to safety. Love you Alathan, thank you.

The woman glanced up from her book when she realized Mae was looking at her. A small, comforting smile greeted Mae.

"You're awake, blessed be you under my wing." The woman purred.

Mae felt uncomfortable for a moment, the woman's accent was too thick and sultry for her to be a dark skinned moon elf. She had dark tan skin, common to wood elves.

Mae studied the chair the woman sat in, twisting vines, leaves, and butterflies lining the armrests and back. Her eyes roamed over the rest of the large room. Her brow furrowed as she tried to make sense of the strange designs on the walls. Lines wrapped around the ceiling and walls, unevenly and slightly warped. A sudden realization hit her—she was inside a tree. Unlike her home where whole trees shaped her home, this was entirely inside a tree! She had read stories of the famous wood elf homes, homes made inside of trees; not carved, but sung with magic to shape whatever the wood elf desired. Mae had always been fascinated that a people could simply use their voice to create wondrous cities, bridges, or almost anything else, all the while remaining in harmony with nature.