Kras held her body tight against his, dozing under the skins in the grass of their yard. Lena nuzzled her head under his chin and yawned, pointing up at the night sky, "A shooting star." He opened his eyes just in time to see the tail of a streak across the black, nodding a little and hugging her close.
She flung a leg over his and drew small shapes on his broad chest, as always, tracing along the scars and marks their long lives had left there. Her voice was drowsy as she continued, "The humans say that making a wish on a shooting star means it will come true." She felt him shift slightly under her, tucking his chin to his chest to look down at her, "And what did my little Lena wish for?"
She lifted her head, her eyes shining mysteriously, "Oh, no, Krastos. They also say that if you tell what you wish, it will surely not come true." She laid her head back down on his chest, smiling shyly to herself, resuming her exploration of his skin. "Besides," she murmured, "Lena has already gotten her wish."
He chuckled softly and pulled her closer, his large arms encircling her, protecting her, kissing her head, "You are too cute sometimes, you know that, my little Lena?"
Lena lifted her head again, her face solemn and eyes still shining, "She wished long ago to spend all her days with you."
He grinned and rolled her onto his body, pulling her into a deep kiss.
Lena sat up suddenly, the dream memory fading fast, still sure that she could feel Krastos's lips on hers, the skins keeping their bodies warm against each other. Her face fell as she peered at her surroundings. Her heart shattered once more inside her chest cavity, the shrapnel ripping her apart again from the inside out. He was gone. They killed him.
She was sleeping on the hard ground of Bloodmyst Isle, barren and still red even after all these years. Tucking the thin blanket around herself, she ran her hands through her hair, matted and dirty as it was. She hadn't much care for personal hygiene since Thuleos had brought her here, though he did insist on checking on her wounds as frequently as she would allow. Until she just left.
She huddled in her small cave, drawing the blanket tighter around herself. The dreams and memories and visions kept coming. She could do nothing to quell her pain. She thought only of driving a dagger into the heart of the man who killed her mate.
Her ribs had finally healed, as had her eye. It had taken weeks of carefully documenting her progress, probably much longer than he would have liked, as Lena frequently refused to eat and given little care to her safety and well-being. Thuleos sat back against the rock and considered his options. Lena had taken her bow and a few scant supplies and simply disappeared. The island was small; he should have been able to find her by now. He punched his thigh and growled out loud, shaking his head.
Lifting his hand, he tugged at the end of a tendril, then rubbed his face. He would have to send word to the Shadows. To get their help. He had been willing to help his aunt as much as possible, but she was no longer willing to accept it. And she was getting dangerous, reckless. Thuleos worried what she could do with her rage. He reluctantly got to his hooves and lumbered toward his pack, pulling out a piece of parchment and a pen.
I know you have been worried about Lena, and to a lesser extent, myself, when we left Shadow Watch all those weeks ago. I urged her not to do such a thing, to not undertake any plans for revenge, but I could not sit by and watch her disintegrate before our eyes.
She is all the family I have left.
We have been training on Bloodmyst Isle, and all had gone fairly well. I still could not get her to speak, but she was becoming a fairly skilled marksman and tracker.
Unfortunately, she has escaped from my watch. She took her bow, a few supplies, and simply left. Even my best tracking beasts have not been able to detect her - something that had once been easy when she was a magic user.
I am concerned for her safety, both physical and mental. She must be found. I don't know that she can be reasoned with, but she must be found.
I know I am in no position to ask for help from the Shadows, but I ask for it anyway.
Please, Maeorra. I know that Lena matters to you. Please. Help me find her before she brings disaster to herself.
He whistled to his owl, tucking the note into a small cylinder on it's leg, and sent the creature off in the direction of Shadow Watch.
