3rd Light - Not So Bright... (Forward dated to Dec. 1st)

[liorafae]

[Liora woke from her sleep at the dream docks, completely in a state of shock. She couldn't say she regretted making that move, but she was very, very shaken at what she saw back home. Still, she'd better announce her return. However, when she does, her device is very shaky in her talons.]

I'm...I'm back...

[That's all she manages to say before she quickly switches off the feed, not wanting the whole world to see her break down.]

Action: Fayren

[Liora lands at the edge of the town of Fayren, too exhausted to fly too far. This isn't the ideal place to break down, but she can't control her tears any longer. She walks slowly and blindly on her tiny legs, memories of the events back home all too fresh in her mind...]

[It had begun when Liora spotted Erebus in the Burial Grounds. In spite of him daring her to stop him, Liora could only watch helplessly as Erebus cast his dark magic upon the graves. And then Erebus was gone, but Liora could still feel the darkness. She quickly fetched Qubine, but Erebus's work was already done. The deceased dragons woke from their graves, shambling to attack the living dragons. Once the sun set over the horizon, the deceased became even more powerful and aggressive. To make matters worse, some of them were puking out a black sludge that seemed to form even more vicious monsters. Defeated by this threat, Liora regrouped with Cane and Snowy, and the three fled from the lair.]

[The worst part of it all is that Liora has no idea whether the other dragons of the clan had fled as well. Or did they all die fighting to save their home? Liora recalled her last memory of Qubine quite clearly; the clan leader fought so fiercely to save Shayla, the love of his life. While Liora couldn't imagine a warrior as fierce as Qubine falling to the dark forces, was he able to save Shayla? And the others...even if they did survive and flee, where would they have gone?]

[If anyone is passing the little dragon as she's sobbing her eyes out, they might hear whispers of, "It's all my fault..." After crossing through the main town, she'll wander into the forest, where she'll pick a random tree and continue weeping in solitude.]

Action: Genessia City Shrine

[Liora remembered the shrine that Ayame had led her to that one night. She believed it would become one of her favorite places, and so she decides to come here and hopefully try to relax. However, when she saw the fireflies, she remembered what Ayame had told her about them – that it was believed that the fireflies were the souls of the fallen. At that moment, all Liora could see were her clan mates, tiny ghosts drifting about in specks of light. Qubine, the clan leader, and his mate Shayla. Handel, the Fae dragon who had fallen for Liora; his brother Aether, and their other Passage partner Lazarus. Amadeus, a fellow Light dragon, wise and powerful. Reiko, Kitty, and Brenna, who had initially rescued Liora from the Beastclans. And Azalea, whom Liora heard had been in Genessia before. All of them, and the others, whom Liora may never see again. Instead of finding comfort in these fireflies, Liora's heart broke even more, and she began to weep once again.]

It's all my fault...

Comments

Fayren

[thelastguardian]

Medivh spent more and more time in the realm of Fayren these days - spending long days in the woods by himself and pondering his purpose here. He wasn't accustomed to not being needed in some way. Whether it was being a mysterious prophet and guide on Azeroth, or a Guardian that helped his allies in the Nexus - he always had a task or duty to perform. Here....he had a chance to get a taste of what a normal 'peaceful' life could be like. He had never been in an existence without war or conflict before. In short, the Magus was rather lost. It was an odd feeling.

It was during one of his stays in the village that he saw the little draconic figure pass through. He had been purchasing some simple fare at the market when he recognized the glittering scaled form. He hadn't seen her in a while, and quickly grew concerned at her body language and demeanor. Paying the merchant, he quickly packed the food he had purchased into a satchel and hurried off towards the edge of the village intent on following the little dragon.

When he eventually caught up to her, she was beyond the edge of the village and in the woods, huddled at the base of a tree. He slowly approached, brows beneath the shadow of his hood furrowed in concern. He wasn't attempting to be stealthy, not wanting to startle her - however he wanted to respect her privacy. He would leave if she wished it. He stopped with a quiet thump of the staff.

"Liora?" He asked with a gruff softness. "What happened?"

[liorafae]

The whole time Liora had her face buried in her knees, she could see nothing but the dark creatures wreaking havoc in their lair. Her terrible visions were suddenly interrupted when she heard the thump of the staff in the grass in front of her. She did perk up with a start, but calmed herself when she saw the familiar face.

"Oh...Medivh..." she uttered in between gasps. "I...went to visit the dream docks...to see what was happening back home... It was terrible.... My home...our lair...has been destroyed..."

[thelastguardian]

Medivh hesitated for only a moment before quietly moving to kneel next to the little fae dragon. He settled at the base of the tree next to her, resting satchel and greatstaff on the ground next to him. He wasn't sure exactly what to say at first, but his heart went out to her. He felt a personal resonance with her words. He understood her pain all too well.

Medivh too, experienced many visions and dreams of both horrors of the past...and possible futures. He didn't know much about these 'dream docks' though he recalled reading something about them before. What she witnessed most likely happened. With a soft sigh, he reached out and gently brushed the top of her head with his fingers in a somewhat tentative, but clear show of compassion and comfort.

"I am so sorry." Came the soft murmur.

[liorafae]

Liora felt the brushing of his fingers on her head. While she felt a small comfort, she also felt the pain welling up in her chest even more.

"Me too..." she murmured in return. "I wish I could have stopped him...but I was paralyzed...I just watched him do it..."

[thelastguardian]

Medivh was silent for another few moments before slowly reaching out to stroke her head gently, allowing the comforting touch to linger this time.

"I understand all too well, the pain of witnessing something I wished I could prevent. Or even wish I could have changed." He murmured gently. "If you wish to speak of what you saw, I am here. But I understand if it's too soon." He wondered who it was that she spoke of...and why she blamed herself so.

[liorafae]

Liora still trembled, taking comfort in Medivh's touch. She wanted to speak of it, but she'd have difficulty getting her words out.

"Erebus...the dark dragon who wants to cover the world in darkness...I saw him in the Burial Grounds, where we bury the deceased dragons. He unleashed his magic upon the graves. He dared me to stop him...but as I watched, I could only think of our previous encounter. He had knocked out Cane and Snowy easily, and he had restrained me with his magic. But this time there was no restraint. I just watched him, paralyzed with fear. The dragons in the graves...they came back to life and started attacking the living. And the larger ones...they were spitting out black sludge that turned into more dark monsters..."

As she continued her story, her body began to shake more and more. Tears streaked down her face once again.

"All of that... it was too much for us to handle. Cane, Snowy and I...we had to flee. I... I don't know what happened to the rest of the clan..."