The panther was draped across the edge of the moon well. One paw lazily patted at the water now and again, her eyes closed. As feline ears twitched at the sounds around her, the panther heaved a weary sigh, as even the familiar sounds of Teldrassil could not sooth her battered soul.

Getting up, she paced around the edge of the pool, the coolness of the stone making itself known through her paws. She made her way to a flat spot in the back, partially hidden by some water plants, far away enough from the benches near the front so she wouldn’t be spotted and disturbed. She sprawled out again, this time resting her muzzle on her paws, closing her eyes to making a brief attempt to meditate. For the past month her heart had done nothing but ache and Elune remained unresponsive to her pleas.

Her ears started to twitch again, whiskers and nostrils quivered as she picked up a familiar scent followed by the soft sounds of bare feet padding through the tall grasses towards the moon well. The panther did not open her eyes when the approaching elf made her way into her hiding spot. Knowing what was to come, the panther let out another sigh. Even her family would not leave her in peace.

“Auntie?” A soft voice drifted across the panther’s ears, a questioning tone could be heard in the single word and the smell of roses drifted down to the panther‘s nose. The elf sat down cross legged next to the large cat on the ledge‘s cool stone. A sad smile was on the elf’s face as she looked down at her favorite aunt. The aura of sadness that surrounded the panther made Cayre’s heart ache for her.

“Go ahead, Cayre.” the panther answered the unspoken question, her voice slightly guttural when the words came out . Few heard the panther speak since she found it hard sometimes to get the words past her fangs.

Gentle hands touch the panther on her back, fingers sinking into the thick fur and running from the panther’s neck to the base of her tail. The hands continued their petting until the panther, unable to herself, let out a rumbling purr, stretching and arching her back. It was a tradition of some sort that the two had started so long ago when Cayre was still a young child and the panther had just learned to shape shift. No matter where they were, who they were with, if the panther was there, Cayre wanted to run her fingers through the silken fur. Countless nights the panther remained so her niece could cuddle her, helping to chase away nightmares that plagued the child. The panther’s sister teased her about becoming a toy for Cayre but she did not mind. She had never been blessed with a child and loved her niece fiercely.

“Grandmother Naiad sent me to find you.” Cayre’s fingers absentmindedly traced the faintly glowing runic patterns that graced the panther’s shoulder.

“Cayre…”

“She said to tell you that laying about moon wells will not get you what you need.”

“Cayre…” the panther’s tone held the barest hint of warning to it.

“She also said that laying about moon wells will not get you to see the Shu’halo.”

The panther’s eyes flew open and she let out a low growl.

“She also said the Shu’halo will not come to you and that is why she gave you that letter of introduction and…”

The panther turned and snapped her teeth at the young elf. Cayre snatched her hand away quickly from the flashing set of fangs, a hurt look coming over her face.

“Do not bite the messenger, auntie.” Cayre told the panther with a slight frown between the moon kissed colored brows. “I am only doing what Grandmother Naiad bade me to do.”

The panther let out a heavy sigh and closed her eyes again. She softly said a few words that would allow her to shift to her Kaldorei form. Small sparkles of light began to shimmer and dance, then a grayish cloud infused with light covered the panther. When the lights and cloud dissipated in the panther’s place sat a Kaldorei female with a sad smile on her face as she looked at her niece. Her thick swath of blue-black hair flowed loosely about her body, gathering in soft piles in her lap and all around her on the stone shelf. Lily looked down at herself and arranged a few of the tresses more strategically in case someone stumbled upon them.

“My apologies, beloved child of my heart.” Lily looked back up at her niece to find Cayre still staring at her, the frown still in place. Lily reached out a hand and touched the line between Cayre’s eyebrows. “Do no frown so, you are too young for wrinkles just yet.”

“Auntie, you look…” Cayre bit her bottom lip for a moment before continuing, “kind of haggard.”

Lily smiled at Cayre, glad that her niece was not upset at the nip she almost received. Getting to her feet, Lily gave a slight stretch to her 6’5” frame before walking over to her knapsack that was resting in the bushes beside the moon well. Cayre tilted her head to the side and watched her aunt move away with a little smile. She hoped that one day she would be able to move without making a sound. She feared it would be a while since her training as a hunter was going so slow. She felt like a lumbering timberling sometimes, crashing through the forest. Cayre watched as her aunt pull out a robe from the pack and shrug it on. Next Lily pulled out a comb and her favorite hair clamp and made her way back over to where Cayre sat, her bare feet making no sound on the moon well’s stone. Lily sat in front of her niece with another smile and gathered the mass of her hair over her shoulder and set to combing it.

“I look this way because I have not slept well for two months.” Lily’s smile turned down a little at the edges. “It is why I have been, as Grandmother Naiad says, laying about.” Lily finished combing her hair and twisted it into it’s customary braid, securing the end with the silver clamp that was etched with runes that matched the ones tattooed on her shoulders and hips.

“Now, sweet child, other than running around doing Grandmother’s bidding, how are you? How goes your training?”

“Alright, I guess. Master Stonefield has arranged for me to travel to the eastern kingdoms so that I may pick out a cub from his latest litter of snow leopards. I am leaving this afternoon.” Cayre let out a heavy sigh of her own. “Grandfather is coming with me.”

“And did you not tell them you are old enough to travel on your own?” Lily asked.

“I did, but they do not hear me. Do you think you could say something? They are more apt to listen to you than me.” Cayre looked pleadingly at her aunt and then gave a big smile when Lily nodded her answer.

“Of course.” Lily patted her niece’s knee. “Do not fret so, soon you will be off and working hard. And Grandmother and Grandfather will realized you are no longer a child.”

The two elves sat in companionable silence for awhile. Lily had closed her eyes again, trying to let the glade’s sounds lull her. Cayre did the same, thinking of the other times she would sit and meditate with her aunt, although she never could sit as still as long as her aunt did. Sometimes Cayre would peek through one eye at her aunt to make sure she was still breathing since Lily had a habit of becoming deeply entranced. A few more minutes passed and Cayre started to wiggle in her seat. A little twitch here, a little scratch there. Finally she couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Tell me what happened, Auntie.” She offered Lily a little smile when her aunt opened her glowing silver eyes to look at Cayre, slight exasperation could be seen in them. “Grandmother is like a giant clam and Grandfather has no idea what is going on.”

“Cayre, really…”

“Auntie, please. How will I learn from other’s mistakes if I do not know what the mistakes are?”

“By not being so cheeky, that is how.” Lily frowned at Cayre. “Cayre, it is not an easy subject.” Lily looked down at her lap, not sure if she should tell her niece what she had done.

“Very well. Since I do not want you to suffer my misfortune, I will tell you.” Lily rose gracefully to her feet. “Let us walk back to the city while I tell you. I am sure Grandmother is waiting not so patiently.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Are you ready now?” Naiad looked at her niece and shook her head. “Night Lily Ama Bael’thal, never would I have thought this family would produce a coward.”

Lily turned to look at her aunt, pausing from packing her knapsack.

“Thank you, Auntie. I really appreciate it.”

“Well, what do you expect, child? Almost three months have passed. You are still tormented day and night by this thing and yet you do not go seek the Shu’halo out.” Naiad went to Lily’s closet and removed some of the dresses hanging there. She brought them over to the bed, but Lily shook her head, taking them from her aunt and hung them back in the closet.

“I am going, truly. I am going.” Lily sits down on the edge of her bed, her shoulders slumped. “I have to.” She raises her eyes to look at Naiad. “I almost bit Cayre today. I cannot live with myself if I hurt her. She is the one spot of light left in my life.”

Naiad stood next to Lily and wrapped her arms around Lily’s shoulders, allowing Lily to rest her head against her abdomen. She patted her niece’s back, murmuring soothing words, aware of how badly Lily was hurting inside. One last pat, she pushed Lily back so she could look down into her face.

“Come, sweeting. It is past time you started your search.”

*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Feralas, Lily thought, of all places. She rode on the back her favorite companion, Samia, through the forest heading for the coast. Two weeks had past since she began looking for the Shu’halo who was going to become her savior although he did not know. Two weeks she had spent lost in thought and tormented by the visions that plagued her. -He- must be in a frenzy right now based on the number of souls that were crying out to Lily continuously. Two weeks she had not slept for more than a hour here or two there.

Her hair was a mess, strands escaping the clasp that held her braid. Her face looked drawn, her eyes sunken in from the lack of sleep and hours of torment. She smelled of sweat and blood since she had not stopped to bathe this past week. She was too close to her target now.

Lily steered Samia down the mountain path to the shoreline, heading for the dock. They made it just in time as the ship pulled out going to the Feathermoon Stronghold. Lily stood patiently on the boat’s deck, Samia’s reins in her hand. She kept her gaze on the shoreline as the boat glided through the water.

He was supposed to be camping near the shore, down the coast from Feathermoon, near some ruins. Using her other hand, she shielded her eyes against the glare of the sun, attempting to make out a figure on the distant shore. Her eyes narrowed at she strained to focus them. Was that a tauren? With a fishing pole?

Lily felt a shiver go down her spine as the boat pulled up to the dock. Yes, she was sure that had been the Shu’halo. She clumsily climbed onto Samia’s back and nudged the cat into a full gallop, aiming for the camp she had seen from the boat. She pulled her mount to a halt about a hundred yards from the tauren’s campsite and dropped Samia’s reins to the ground.

This is it, she thought. Time to put her plan into action. She gave a shake of her head, thinking she could not fail. This was the only way. She had to get the tauren to kill her. As mad as -he- was at her right now, Lily knew he would not wish for her life to be spared. And the tauren would have no way to resurrect her. Lily smiled a sad smile. Her body could rest on the beach, her soul finally at peace. She just hoped the Shu’halo would bury her once she was dead, but she didn’t expect it.

Lily quickly shed her armor, laying it on the ground near the tree where Samia stood. She knew once that hunger sat in, Samia would chew through his reins and go free to catch something to eat. He would have to care for himself now. Lily walked over to the big cat and rubbed her face against the soft fur on the front of his muzzle, stroking his ears with her long fingers.

“I will miss you, dear friend. Please,” Lily’s voice wavered for a moment. “please take care.” She turned away from the cat and shed the rest of her gear until she stood there amid the trees in just her green robe. On bare feet she crept towards the campsite. Without thinking she shifted into panther form and prowled the rest of the way into the camp. Her head turned left, then right, making sure the tauren was alone. Lily’s stomach churned at what she was about to do but she had no other course.

Without a second thought Lily jumped towards the back of the fishing tauren, shifting out of her panther form to her elfin form where she would be easier to kill. Her eyes widen as in mid air she watched the tauren turn and stick out one large hand. The next Lily knew her feet were dangling in the air, her neck caught in the tauren’s grip. Lily tried to stop herself from instinctively lashing out at him, her feet catching him in the stomach. The Shu’halo growled and shook Lily by her neck. He brought her closed to his body so she couldn’t strike him with her feet again.

“What do you think you are doing?” Ventari growled at the night elf caught in his clasp. He watched her eyes widen as she realized he spoke Darnassian.

“Kill me.” Lily whispered through her constricted throat and then brought her hands up to grab at the fur that stood out from under his ears, yanking at it as hard as she could. Ventari let out another growl and then extended his arm, giving her another hard shaking. He pulled her hands free of his pelt with his free hand and held them by the wrist.

“I asked you a question, lass. What do you think you are doing?” He let his gaze run over the woman, taking in the straggly hair, dirty face. Was that? Ventari frowned and sniffed the air. It was. She stank as if she had not bathed in a week. He narrowed his eyes on her, watching her struggle in his grasp. Although he held her neck, it wasn’t enough to completely block her air flow.

Once again, Lily struck out with her feet, planting them on the tauren’s wide chest and pushing herself off of him, breaking the hold he had on her neck and wrists. Twisting around she landed on her hands and knees and scrambled away out of his reach. Swinging back to face him, she went into a fighter’s stance and gave him a taunting smile. Slowly she circled him, hoping the smile would goad him enough he would strike out at her. Her step faltered for a moment when he returned her smile with one of his own. As usual, the anger Lily strived so hard to maintain all the time got the better of her and she leapt at him again. This time however, he caught her by the shoulders and began shaking her so that her head rattled back and forth.

She brought her hands up to grab at his arms and began to scream at him.

“Just kill me.” She jabbed one fist upward aiming, underneath his snout. “One blow, you are big enough.” Lily told him through gritted teeth.

Ventari felt the blow glance off the underside of his jaw and stilled. His patience finally at an end. Letting go of the elf’s shoulders, he wrapped his long arms around her waist and walked slowly over to the water. She screeched and struggled in his arms, raining fisted blows upon his head, but still he walked calmly over to the waters edge. He went out a few feet, until the water hit his knees and then dropped her into the water. When she came up sputtering for air, he quickly dunked her back under, not giving her time to get her bearings. Three more times he did this to her until she didn’t come back up. He looked down into the water to see her laying on the bottom, watching him with her silver eyes. His own eyes slightly widen as he watched her let all her air out in one big bubble. Ventari stood there for a few more minutes, waiting patiently for her to shift into her water form but she didn’t. He knew from the first moment he caught her scent before she leapt out at him that she was a druid. A frown formed between his heavy brows and he noticed her eyes were shut.

He let out a weary sigh and reached down to drag her up out of the water. Grabbing a hold of the long braid that floated from her head, he pulled her up on the shore. He looked down at the slender Kaldorei and shook his head. This was a first for him. He scratched at his fur and tried to think of a time an elf ever threw themselves at him, wanting to die. Great Earthmother, he was tired of all the death, of all the killing and now, he couldn’t even fish without it following him.

She still hadn’t taken a breath while Ventari was musing so he leaned down and thumped her chest with his big hand. One thump was all it took and she was coughing up water. He watched as she curled into fetal position on the rocky shore, harsh coughs wracking her slender frame. Ventari bent over and scooped her up into his arms and walked back up to set her down next to the fire that burned in the middle of the camp. He turned and walked over to his tent to search for an extra blanket to wrap her up in.

Lily sat miserably on the ground in front of the fire. Disbelief coursing through her that she could not even get herself killed properly. She lifted her eyes to his as he draped a brightly colored blanket around her shoulders. She watched as he walked to the other side of the fire and sat down on a mat.

“Now that you are calm, do you want to tell me what that was all about?” Ventari asked her. He watched as different expressions played across her features. Regret and pain stood out the most as far as he could see.

Lily just looked at him, a resigned look settling on her face. Reaching into her robe to the little pocket sewn inside, she withdrew the soggy letter her aunt had given her. She reached across and held it out for him to take. She sat there in silence as he read the letter, unbraiding her hair and spreading it with her fingers so it could dry better.

“Well, this explains who you are and why you are here, but not why you attacked me.” Ventari told her, carefully laying the sodden letter off to the side of his mat.

“I thought to…end this all a bit sooner.” Lily dropped her gaze to the fire. “Which would have worked had you killed me. It is what most do in this world when they are attacked.” She let go a heavy sigh and raised her eyes to find him watching her.

“You will find, lass,” Ventari said as he got up from his mat, “That I am not like everyone else. That is why your aunt sent you to me.” He walked around the fire to where she sat and grabbed Lily by the arm and pulled her to her feet. “And she would be very ashamed to know what you have tried to do.”

Lily brushed his hand from her arm, drawing her shoulders back, standing with as much dignity she could muster considering she looked and smelled like a drowned rat. She tilted her chin at a angle , her nose in the air.

“Do not proceed to tell me of my aunt. I am well aware of her feelings and she will love me regardless what has or has not occurred here today.” Lily turned her back on the tauren and started to walk away from him and the fire, intent on making her way to Samia. Ventari reached out and grabbed a handful of Lily’s hair that was swaying loosely down her back. He wrapped the long tresses around his hand, using it to reel her back until he had her by the nape. He tilted her head back and looked down at her, blowing a hot stream of air from his nostrils that stirred the wisps of her eyebrows.

“Don’t push me, woman. You are here for a reason and we are going to take care of your problem. Because I am a friend of your aunt’s is the only reason I will help you. Now,” he herded her over to the tent and pushed her inside and threw in after her a piece of soap he had pulled out earlier, “get in there and undress, haul your ass to the lake and wash and then get back up here so we can talk.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

An hour later Lily sat before Ventari beside the fire. She sat cross legged in front of him, her hands resting on her knees. She had left her hair loose and the soft breeze blowing across the shore wafted up to them from time to time stirring the blue black tresses. She could feel the wind spirits lifting and playing with her hair but she didn’t move as she watched Ventari sit silently. His gaze was heavy upon her as he waited for her to speak to him. She watched as his eyes took in her appearance, her slender frame lost in the shirt and kilt he had given her to wear, she felt them touch upon the dark circles beneath her eyes, the worry line between her brows. Lily cleared her throat and his eyes returned to hers.

“I..I wish to apologize, Shan‘do, for my behavior. It was most unbecoming of a Kaldorei and one of the Circle. My only excuse is my desperation to have my torment end.”

“Explain.” The deep timber of his voice reached out to Lily, soothing her a bit but Ventari’s expression did not change.

To Be Continued...