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Solitario PART 1 Above the dense cover of the trees, the sun was setting for the evening, its brilliant orange glow illuminating the continent of Faydark with its days last sigh. Solitario watched in silence from her perch high above the platforms of Kelethin, stretched lazily out upon the highest branch of the largest tree in the grove. Stretching her slender arms above her head, she peered down in to the blackness beneath the leaves, sighing as she contemplated the evening ahead of her. Eyes closing, she thanked Tunare for her kindness, calling upon her gift of teleportation to bring her within a stones throw of the mighty city guards. Turning toward the outlying expanse of forest, Solitario checked her backpack for the necessary supplies for her evening patrol and began up the dirt path towards the city of the high elves, Felwithe. She sniffed at the thought of approaching the main gates, loathing the high elven superior attitude towards wood elves such as she. But her route was ordained by the priestess of Tunare herself and Solitario would not question the wisdom of her elder, not aloud at the least. Barely into her 8th circle of training, the little druid exhibited an out-going spirit seldom found in druids, much to the chagrin of her teachers and elders. The night closed in fully upon her as she approached the fork in the path leading to Felwithe and she paused, as she always did, forlornly gazing down the forbidden path to the right. The elders claimed it was unsafe for one so young, that only the elders could traverse it without worry but she longed to see the world outside her patrol route, outside her somber duties and the stifling protection of her elders. The spark of mischief that danced in her eyes danced higher as she glanced over her shoulder and about the area. No one to be seen, no danger certainly. Taking a deep breath, she sprinted down the right path until the gate fires of Felwithe were a dim glow in the distance and fell laughing to the ground within sight of the portals used by wizards of the land. The forest was still around her, as she bent to examine the runes etched upon the great stone pillars, when she heard the snap of a twig behind her and turned to look into the glowing red eyes of the largest wolf she had ever seen. Stumbling backwards against the stone pillar, her thoughts told her this was just a wolf, one of her brethren and nothing to fear but its eyes locked with hers and she felt a chill run down her back. This was no ordinary wolf. Howling it paced towards her slowly, watching her closely as it closed the distance between them. Solitario closed her eyes tightly, praying to Tunare for strength, trying to concentrate upon the words necessary to open a mystic portal. With a distinct cough, her eyes flew upon to behold a wood elf sitting upon the ground before her, his eyes closed in mediation, lips curled slightly in a small smile. "Where might you be heading, little elf?" He asked, looking sardonically up at her, as he rose to his feet. An air of confidence surrounded this one to a degree Solitario had not seen, even among her elders. "I go where I wish, elf, 'tis no concern of thee." She retorted, angry at the deception he had played upon her. "I bid thee good eve." Stepping to his left, her eyes took in his lithe, leather-clad form, the dangerous scimitar he held, the handsome curve of his jaw, the clear muscles of his arms and drew in her breath sharply. 'This one is more than the sum of his looks', she told herself, thinking of the cold, intelligent stare with which he had held her, 'much more.' A shiver played down her spine at the soft sound of his voice behind her, "As you wish, little elf, but the path you follow leads to the land of the dwarves and beyond that, the ocean. 'Tis not safe for one such as thee", he said, catching her wrist in his hand, drawing her close to the warmth of his body. 'So beautiful and yet…' she thought, the feel of his hand overriding her caution, her senses as she stepped forward into his arms, catching his lips with hers. Playing her hands across the expanse of his muscled chest, she sought the closure of his tunic and slipped her hands beneath. His hands tightened sharply on her upper arms as he deepened the kiss and pulling her tightly against his body before pushing her away sharply. "Wait." He bid sharply, groaning with frustration as she leaned against him once more. "We will find a private place. Hold fast to me now." Solitario laid her head upon his broad shoulder, hugging him close as he began chanting softly, his voice shaking as he swept his arms skyward invoking a portal of the gods before wrapping them tightly around her. His lips closed upon hers as the portal opened around them. PART 2 The air crackled about them as the portal reopened in a land of vast expanses, the night sky alive with a carpet of stars as he pulled her down onto the grass, the shadows of the ruins playing across his features. With a tug, Solitario freed him of his tunic and scimitar, tossing them aside and bending to kiss his neck and shoulders. His hands closed tightly on hers, stopping her from removing the leather leggings he wore. “Slowly”, he said, his lips upon her neck, “I wish to savor you.” Solitario lifted her eyes to his, “And I wish to have you. Let us find a compromise.” He grinned wide at her words, “Who am I to deny you, little elf? I will savor you later. Now unfasten your tunic before I tear it.” They laughed together as they undressed, sobering as he pushed her against the stone pillar. “Your name, little elf?” He asked, the soft timber of his voice vibrated against her neck. “Solitario” she whispered. “I am called…” he spoke but she cut him off in a deep kiss. She awoke to the sun breaking on the flat horizon, taking note that he had carried her away from the ruins to a small copse of trees some distance away. A small fire crackled within a ring of stones not far from where she lay and she lifted her head to survey the surroundings. He was nowhere to be found. Solitario shrugged, pulling her clothes on and gathering her staff once more, not allowing her thoughts to overtake her. Concentrating, she began chanting the words that would take her home, when he returned to the small camp. “Mato”, he said angrily, his features sharpening with the clench of his jaw, shadowed disappointment playing across his eyes, “I am Mato Crimsonleaf”. Her eyes opened wide, the releasing the gating spell and she smiled as she stepped forward, taking him in her arms to interrupt the incantation and dispel the portal. “Good morning, pretty wolfie”. And she kissed him slowly, languishing in the moment with him, resetting the fire they shared, caressing his body softly. One by one, his clothes dropped to the ground beside the fire and she guided him gently to the ground. Her lips traveled his neck and shoulder, laying soft kisses upon his chest and stomach, her long brown hair dragging a tantalizing trail across his flesh. "Mato", she whispered softly against his flesh, raising her gaze to meet his. "You were leaving." He stated, his voice unfathomable. Whatever pains he had felt in the past were not reflected in his deep brown eyes. "You were gone." She replied simply and without fault. Solitario looked up into his eyes, meeting his gaze with frank honesty, laying upon his warm chest. "It is not an uncommon practice, wolfie." "I am not common." He replied, his hands cupping her chin gently. "I take this not lightly." "Do not lay the ghosts of past deeds at my feet, they are not I and I am not they." She answered with a broad smile, "For they were fools and I am not. Now, where in Tunare are we?" He looked around briefly, remembering only that he had called upon a gate, any gate that was quick. The sun blazed in the light blue sky, mountains rose against the horizon to the west and he caught the merest glimpse of a tree moving in the distance. "It appears we are in the plains of Karana, little elf." Rising, he pondered the ruins of the teleport rings with some interest. "Where would you like to go, little elf?", he asked, as she moved to stand behind him, slipping her arms around his waist, her chin resting on upon his shoulders. "Everywhere and anywhere." She whispered in his pointed ear. "Where you found me is as far from home as I had ever been allowed. Priestesses in training are seldom allowed the freedom to explore, pretty wolfie." He stiffened slightly, turning in her embrace to look down into her eyes. "Priestess of Tunare?" He asked, staring off at some small point in the distance, remembering the custom of the elven priestess' to take an new husband each year. "Then I must return you to Kelethin and make my apologies to your kin." "Nay, Mato, you will not. I have chosen, as it is my right." Releasing him, she stepped back and raised her arms to the heavens. "You shall witness what those have not. The rightful grace of Tunare." With that, the ground shook with tremors of an earthquake and lightening danced in a disjointed circle around them. Her arms lowered to her sides and she rose into the air, transforming into a tree, then a wolf, and back again. "You neglected to mention that you were in High Priestess training." He chuckled, his mind racing to recall the details of her obligations, that her giving of herself to him channeled the will of Tunare through her, that she had chosen her mate - a right that was often overlooked and disregarded. He pulled her close again, his lips on her shoulders, hands softly stroking her sides. "I am honored to have brought you forth, little elf. 'Tis good that our paths crossed, it would seem." She laughed, taking in his well-toned form with obvious delight, "'Twas Tunare's will. I have chosen well. Now you had better get dressed before we spend the entire day frolicking." Bending to kiss her, he whisper, "Who am I to deny you, little elf", catching her up in a hard kiss that deepened fiercely as he laid her in the grass. It was thus that she saw it, lumbering toward their campfire, its huge humanoid frame blocking out the very sun. She froze, glancing to catch his eyes and nodding slowly past his shoulder. "I can see it mirrored in your eyes, little elf. I must rise to open a portal and should I rise, it will certainly see us both. Be very still, I will draw it away." He whispered gravely, easing himself slowly away from her. Reaching past her, he pulled on his leggings and boots, clasping his bracers on quickly and taking up his scimitar he began a slow, intricate casting. Becoming a wolf, he raced past her toward the beast, calling upon the roots of the earth to slow the monster, raining lightening upon its shoulders as it broke into full pursuit of him. Solitario dressed quickly, dosing the campfire and gathering up her staff, all the while keeping the wolf within sight, wincing as a huge hand swatted at the wolf. Fury rose within her and she lifted her staff to the sky,"TUNARE!" she yelled, calling down swarms of stinging insects upon the beast and praying quickly, begging Tunare to heal the wolf. With great horror, Mato watched as the monster turned from him, locking onto Solitario's tiny form instead. "RUN!" He cried to her as he raced after the giant, "Run and do not stop, no matter what." Her eyes widened in fear as the leviathan rushed toward her and she set off in a sprint, circling wide around the wolf to give him time to cast. Panting from her dash, she leaned back against the tree that stood near the druid ruins and sent silent prayers to Tunare. Growling at the giant, Mato circled just out of its reach, stalking angrily as he gathered his spells about him. With a fierce howl, he called upon the greatest of Tunare's gifts, the power of the stars. The plains light up in a flash of brilliant starshine and the giants dying scream echoed against the mountains. The wolf circled the dead giant once before returning to her side. "I see you wisely sought the protection of the treants." He nodded, satisfied. "Treants?", she asked curiously watching as he reached forward and pulled her away from the tree. Resting her back against his chest, arms wrapped around her, he tilted her head up. "Treants will never harm you.", he laughed as she gasped, taking in the incredible beauty of the living tree before her. Spinning in his arms, her eyes danced with fire as she whispered against his lips, "Yes, but do they watch?" |
