Loria, ranger
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thunder rolled in from the distance as the cries of an elven woman in labor filled the small room of the midwife's home.
"hush now, it is almost done," the midwife crooned as the screams of a newborn pierced her ears. it was a girl. lightning struck abruptly lighting the night.
"it is a girl," whispered the midwife to the exhausted mother.
"take it away. take the monster away," the elven woman hissed as she turned over breathing heavily.
"as you wish."the midwife had been here before. she had birthed many of these… things, evidence of improprieties. was a pity what had to be done, but it was not her business. after all, she was getting paid to... take care of these little problems. she looked around and realized she had walked further intot he forest than ever before. the trees were thick and sun did not make it through the canopy. the chill in the air told her it would not be long for this one. a day, perhaps, if it didn't become lunch first. she snickered at the thought. this place was as good as any. she dropped the infant on the ground and made her way back as she came, humming quietly and thinking of what to make for dinner...
yogal had not seen an elf so deep in his part of the forest for quite some time. he watched, perched from a branch high in the canopy as she stumbled along through the deep underbrush apparently lost in thought. yogal found it strange that this elf with child would be wondering about so indescreetly. he would keep his eye on her. as he followed her deeper into the forest he realized that this elf was up to no good with that child. and when she dropped the child to the ground and abandoned it to it's fate he knew what he must do. he quickly climbed down, swept the child in his arms and started back to his camp. life was about to change.
yogal named her loria and taught her all he knew. over the years loria proved a good student and daughter. he never told her how she got to where she was and didn't think he should. she took tot he forest quite well, it was obvious that there was some elf in her.... but he could never be quite sure.
time passed...
loria found herself doing much more these days. yogal was still kind and gentle, but his hands had not been as strong the past few years. she cocked her head to one side and filled the water canteen from the brook flowing beside her. out of the corner of her eye she spotted a beautiful bush of flowers. yogal would like these. she picked a bunch and headed back to camp. she had made the trip countless times before, knew every stone, every log, but today something was different. there was an urgency in the air. she stopped and crouched. sniffed the air. the forest was quiet. she began to run. the flowers she had picked fell from her hands as she drew her bow and knotched an arrow. she sprinted into camp.
"yogal!" there was no reply.
"yogal, are you there," she asked, with no reply. gently she made her way to yogal's tent where he had slept many a night. she pulled back the curtain to reveal yogal, her mentor and father lifeless in his bed. loria cocked her head to one side, swallowed the tears that threatened to burst from inside. she quietly picked up her supplies, took one last look at the place she called home and started walking....loria
longin: brightsurprise
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Reviewed - XP Pending.
