OMG I AM SO SORRY!!! I promised a post when I came back from Florida, and then I had about three times as much homework as I expected, and then Christmas and then I couldn’t get on TPM...
I’ll stop giving excuses now.
But really, I really wish I had this written sooner. -_-;;;
~|~|~|~|~
Tevam Ryllena
- Zenzir Maeniy -

Somehow Nattye had convinced me to leave Telone with her. I don’t even remember it happening. I continually went over the past hour, trying to figure out how this girl had suddenly showed up again and pulled me out of the city without me even realizing it. And now she lay next to me, sound asleep. If she was so eager to leave Telone, then she probably should have rested first. There was no protection out here, which is probably why she dragged me along. She had been caught up in all the fear, leaving as soon as she had convinced me to accompany her.

I stood up, readying my wings for flight. It would be a lot easier to survive if she wasn’t burdening me down. Over the rustling I heard her stir. “Tevam? What are you doing?”

“I thought I saw something.”

I wasn’t sure whether she had bought my excuse or not; it was hard to tell behind her sleepy expression. Either way, she lay down and was soon asleep again. So I couldn’t fly until I had gotten away from her.

With a soft sigh, I started away on foot. It was her decision, let her rely on herself. I had no obligation to this Demal, anyway. If I was to get anywhere without being mauled by some creature, I had to move as fast as I could.

It was only a short while later that I heard the sound of wings, and soon after a figure landed in front of me. A combination of familiarity and lack thereof hit me at once, and it wasn’t until the female before me spoke that I realized whom it was. “So, we meet again, eh boy? Tis fate indeed that brings us together, for if you meet someone twice in one day, it is no coincidence.”

“Mara.” No matter how little interaction I had with her previously, there was something about this woman that set her apart from everyone else. She was one to be feared, that much was obvious.

“It is well when boys know their place...” As I thought, she looked down on me. As long as I was alive, though, I didn’t mind it. “Now, where art thou headed?”

I wish I knew myself, I mumbled in my head, yet again wondering how Nattye pulled me out here. “I’m not sure, to be honest. I had thought about taking Telone, but...” I couldn’t admit my weakness so openly around this female. “But I have no supporters...”
“How about you join me to Tailen? I am sure we could have... a fine time.” I accepted almost immediately, glad for the chance at having someone around should... anything go wrong. Although Mara was not the sort of person I’d trust...

“Why not? I have no other duties to fulfill,” I reflected on some of the things I’d been told, “and I hear that things are happening in Tailen that shouldn’t be missed...”

I found myself second-guessing my judgment, wondering if I would indeed be safe traveling with her. And it wasn’t the wild creatures I was worried about this time. I studied her again, and she smiled as I did so. I suppressed an uneasy shiver and focused instead on my curiosity. “You have changed somewhat since our last meeting...”

“I despise the filthy body that I had the bad luck to be thrust into.” So she had a talent with illusions. That would explain her new appearance. “I am the last surviving member of a race called the Lalli’huem...my people had, ah, a unique heritage…but we withered and died... Through the meddling of the Demal...” The hatred with which she said “Demal” caught me by surprise... it must have been quite an incident for her to harbor so much anger towards them.

“Ah, I meant no insult, bo... Zenzir... that was long ago...” I shook my head and smiled, trying to show I wasn’t offended, and also to hide the confusion her story had brought up. Lalli’huem? That sounded vaguely familiar... and for some reason, it wasn’t comforting.

“Let us set out then. I presume you do not object to flight?” She was off before I could reply. I watched her adjust her course, knowing that she was heading in the right direction. I had to be far enough from Tevam’s sister, she would not hear if I was to take to the skies. Slowly, and admittedly with a lot less grace than Mara had done, I took off and followed. I stayed a respectful distance behind, letting her lead.

“Mara, do you know what...? Mara?” But her concentration was elsewhere.