Chapter 5: Convergent Paths

It had been an entire week since Iskatl found the unconscious elf girl. Scarcely had he left her side, sitting beside the bed Katja had placed her in. Katja had applied various herbal remedies to her wounds and made sure she got proper nutrients via various tinctures. Throughout it all, Iskatl watched over her; he skipped his training, his hunting, and various other duties. Nothing was more important to him than making sure this girl recovered. Yet, even he wasn’t sure why.

He, in good conscience, couldn't let her escape his sight until he knew she was fully recovered. There was only one thing on his mind: watching this girl until there was no doubt she was okay, monitoring any abnormalities, any signs she'd gotten worse. He noticed one thing about her condition upon inspecting her body with his enhanced extrasensation: some sort of spell was woven into her, multiple at that, but there was one that stuck out the most, as it seemed to interfere with the other spells that were affecting her in an adverse way. Intense light came from her body when he examined her mana, but at her midriff there was what seemed to be a hole in her mana, enhanced by some strange magic he had never seen before.

Staring down at the girl, she looked to be around his age. At least that's what he assumed. He knew elves aged differently, so she could have been way older than him for all he knew. All he did know was she was hurt, and in the healing process. He turned his head to see Katja, who sighed as she sashayed over to the crimson haired lad.

"So? How is she? You gonna come eat?" She tilted her head, concerned with his dedication for watching over her. He couldn't help but shake his head; he was the one who found her so it was only natural to him to be there when she recovered. Surprisingly, he didn't look emaciated nor dehydrated, as if his body was sustaining itself off of some other source. Katja waved as she went off to eat with the rest of the Pack.

Amani exhaled softly as she looked around in the blankness that was her mind. She had been having this dream for so long; a deep, dark hall with no end to it. There were many archways and doors with minimal details, which led down even more dark halls. No matter where she turned, darkness would follow. There was never a behind, it seemed like a wall would follow her, blocking any escape she could try to make yet still, she wandered.

What was the point to all of this? Everyone she'd known, and grown up around was dead. Everything was gone, and she was left to wander these dark corridors without a hint of guidance, or any form of light. Come to think of it... She'd look down and couldn't even see her hands. She was all alone, within the darkness.

A voice would call out to her, "Please don't die on me. Please don't die. Please!" It was a young man's voice, around fifteen it sounded like. He sounded concerned, but for what? Her? She couldn't imagine why; The Moon Maiden was a great honor within her village - a protector against all evils, the village's Guardian and even so, she was too weak to take out the Dragon Priest. So why did anyone care if she were to live?

"Please wake up." She heard that voice again, as a flame lit the ground before her and spread along the ground, illuminating that deep black hall she was in. The voice sounded more solemn, and sorrowful than before. Before there was concern and worry, but now it seemed like the boy was prepared to accept that she was gone, or soon to be at the very least.

Who was that? Was it him? A flash in her mind, at the boy with the crimson hair she saw from before. It had to be, but why was he so concerned with saving her? He had horns, and red hair - he was either a demon or... another of his kind, right? Following the trail of flames to a room, a circle of flames encircled a shadowed object as the elf looked at it, unable to make out any details on it, before that voice echoed out and resonated with her very being.

"You can't be dead. You have so much life ahead of you, don't you? Last of your village, last of your name. The Maiden with Silver Hair, and eyes of Gold. So beautiful. I don't think you deserve to die." That object in the center revealed itself to be a brazier which lit itself with his next words, and she found it had illuminated what seemed to be like a door, with strange runic carvings.

"Of course... Perhaps you're right." At that, the door would illuminate, not only with the flame that covered the dark room, but interweaved with the purple light she had oh so often produced as a gasp escaped the girl's lips.

When she came to, she saw him, the boy with the Crimson hair, gripping her hand firmly yet with a surprising gentleness to it as tears streamed down his cheeks. She'd tilt her head as she looked at him and he'd look back at her. "You... Was that your voice I heard?"

His cheeks were stained with a red blush as he let go of her hand, exhaling deeply as he looked down at the now awakened elven girl before offering a reply, "I do not know. It may have been. I can't possibly have seen what it was you were dreaming of, Miss. I am Iskatl, Hellfang's Son."

A tilt of her head, Amani had heard that title before but now the name. He was younger than her, that much was obvious. "I'm Amani, the Moon Maiden.."

As if on cue, Katja would walk into the room and gave a tooth filled smile as she saw the elven girl sitting up, and the blushing Iskatl beside her, "Oho. Girl's finally awake and now yer embarrassed, Iskatl? You weren't embarrassed sitting by her bedside every day, refusing to leave her be."

The elf looked to Iskatl, her face going bright red as he lay his hands on his lap, clenching his fists as he shot Katja a glare, "You know it isn't like that, Miss Katja. I was concerned for her. I hate to see people die, and I don't know. I feel like having someone there, as you recover helps. You know?"

The older wolf laughed softly as she waved her hand, "Of course, boy. I'm jus' joking. I think I heard you say yer name is Amani? You can stay here as long as you'd like and the boy here can show you around later. For now, I've some stew warming in the other room if you're hungry."

Amani went to decline that offer before a loud growl came from her stomach as she'd chuckle sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck as she smiled. "Of course, ma'am.. Thanks."

Offering a hand to the elf, Iskatl sighed softly before she took it and he helped her get up, as wobbly as she was she managed nonetheless. It had been over a week since she stood up, after all.

"Iskatl, what would you say about me teaching everyone else around your age group in the village about magic?" Katja asked, a random comment which caused a brow to raise from him before he'd shrug.

"What I think is that's your business, ma'am and you shouldn't let me influence your decision." Katja clicked her tongue as she turned to Amani and asked the same thing.

"I think that'd be wonderful, not enough Beastkin used magic and from my experience Beastkin mages are usually almost as talented as us elves!" She seemed excited at the very notion before Katja chuckled softly and Iskatl guided Amani to where the stew was.

Getting a bowl for not only himself but her as well, he'd get them both some of Katja's stew before handing Amani her bowl.

"Iskatl? Thank you... For saving me."

"There's no need to thank me for doing something I'm obligated to do. It feels uncouth."