Compassion; Yllithia

The sun burned down on Yllithia. It was so bright, she'd only seen a few sunrises in her time, and the occasional set, but twilight was much different than the glaring light of what she'd guess was mid-day. Even though everything shone, she didn't feel the heat. It was cold and pressing, as if she was encased in stone. Shielding her eyes she took in the scene. The wind was playing on a vast plain, short grass parched in the dusky landscape swirled. But all was not so plain in the tones of red and yellow of heat. Ahead was a small green patch, a hill shaded what seemed to be an oasis. Trees sprouted around, lush and full of life. Green grass blanketed the shaded area, moss crawling up the only sign of life this desolate place revealed. And in the center of all this greenery was a crystal clear blue pool. It almost hurt to look at it, the way it mirrored the sun back. Between Yllithia's blinking she focused on movement. It wasn't just a plain landscape after all. She caught her breath as joy surged through her, a bright smile quickly grew as she ran towards the oasis.


Sitting on the soft grass, leaning against a tree was a woman that so resembled Yllithia it wouldn't be hard to draw the conclusion she must be of the same flesh and blood. Her deep purple hair was cut short, close to the same length Ylli's currently was. Her skin a violet hue, darker than Ylli's but from time spent in the daylight hours. And the same longing look in her silvery pools that could be seen from time to time in Yllithia's.

Yllithia called out, sure her mother would be just as happy to see her, even if they were far from home. Her voice didn't carry. Not a sound escaped from her lips, but she heard it echoing in her inner thoughts. She tried desperately again, but to the same effect, the wind whispering by like the sounds of pages being turned slowly in a book was the only noise to be heard. Ylli ran, she pumped her legs, her feet soundless on the dried grass, but she felt sluggish, she wasn't running fast enough, it was taking an eternity to get any closer.

Lliahandria pushed herself off the ground. Rhythmically she began putting on her armor that had been tidily put in a pile. No! Mother! Ylli screamed in her mind. Don't go! Not yet, just, please, look my way, you'll see me. She pleaded knowing it was useless. But the woman stopped her actions as if something had caught her attention. Whatever it was didn't seem pressing on Lliandria's mind for she slowly turned towards Yllithia's direction and smiled. She didn't look at Ylli, she peered around the landscape surveying the scene.

"Yllithia?" Lliandria's mouth moved, the voice ringing so clear, but being oddly out of place. It didn't come from in front of her, it was as if her name resonated everywhere around her. Ylli stopped in her tracks. The pressing weight that had been surrounding her deepened, her joints began to ache, her muscles feeling stiff. She willed herself to move, to call again, nothing of hers would work, drowsiness was overtaking every part of her being.

Yllithia let out a muffled groan. It wasn't fair, she was so close, her mother must know she was there. The landscape darkened, a sweeping blackness that was crawling swiftly across Ylli's vision, consuming everything in it's path so there was nothingness. It only took moments for the sun to be blotted out, with one last feeble attempt she pushed her hand out, reaching out to her mother's fading form.

"Mo..ther..." she whimpered, only that strange whisk sound of the wind and her own words accompanying the shadows. And within that pitch blackness her hand was received. A thumb stroked the fleshy part between her thumb and fingers on the backside of her hand. Her fingers twitched squeezing this unseen comfort, it wasn't her mothers, it was small and somewhat delicate still. Small rivets marred the palm, rough bumps like solidified sugar.

Suddenly a cascading symphony of thunder assaulted her ears, toppling down in the distance. Thud thud crash squeak thud! "Drats!"

Yllithia shot straight up. The darkness blurring as she blinked her eyes, trying to orientate herself. The sun was gone. The unfamiliar plains no longer existed, nor did the oasis spotting that empty land... along with her mother, it was all gone. She pressed her eyes tightly then blinked a few more times, stone walls surrounded her. The musky smell of dust on old text. The grumbling of her father's voice behind her, muffled by bookshelves between them. And there in front of her peered a slightly curious face switching his eyes from Ylli to around the nearest corner, his hand cupping hers. Ylli smiled, she knew this place, she knew the sounds, the smells, she should, she'd spent several decades in this same spot with the same surroundings. She knew the face in front of her, though not quite as long as the rest, it was all coming back.

"What are you doing here Landrien?" She smirked at the young elf in front of her. He was just a bit older than Ylli, twenty years, though Ylli often felt she was the older one, Landrien got in more trouble than she did at times. Dark blue hair pulled back in a small pony-tail, purple hue to his skin, and riddled with scratches, some new, some old. It was a common thing to see a new wound on him. He was head-strong, or stubborn, always poking at things better left to those that could control them.

Landrien? You didn't touch anything did you?" Yllithia heard her father ask from a few isles back.

"No sir! I was here with Ylli, you can ask her yourself." Landrien peered over Ylli's shoulder. He snickered softly, lowering his head in an impish grin. The week old scratch on his cheek causing him to look even more guilty, hardly letting his smile stretch.

Ylli eyed Landrien. "You didn't... did you?" A grin spreading across her face as well.

Landrien lowered his voice. "I was just looking... had to get you out somehow. Lithriel would have you sorting otherwise. I was talking to him, he thought you were back here cleaning or something." Landrien paused looking down at his hand still cupping hers. "You were dreaming."

Ylli followed his eyes down, realizing that he was holding her hand. "Oh." Was all she uttered. She turned Landrien's palm over. "You got bit again huh?" She slowly traced her fingers over the new rivets.

Landrien nodded. "I was trying to coax a wolf into following me. He didn't like it much. But hey, it's going to make one neat looking scar when I get older!" Landrien pulled his hand back looking over the bite as well. She smiled, how proud he was of all the failed attempts. He wouldn't allow anyone to heal them, if they weren't there no one would believe the mischief he got into.

"C'mon Ylli, let's go outside, you haven't come to visit in a while, he keeps you locked up here. It's not like you really enjoy it do you?" Landrien questioned still eyeing his bite but the pleading tone easily heard in his voice. Ylli looked around at the books she had been pouring through before she had nodded off.

"I like the stories. I'd take them with me if I could Landrien, but they don't belong outside. Besides, Papa needs me here. He wants me to do his work when I grow up, and -they- don't visit, Landrien. With Mom gone he's all alone. Compassion and caring." Ylli sighed as her ears picked up Lithriel's grumbling over the shuffling and stacking of text books. "Did you have to make such a mess?"

Landrien looked down showing his guilt for only a moment. "Let's go. Before he says anything." With that he jumped up, plucking Ylli from the floor and nearly dragging her to the door. "Elder Lithriel, I'm taking Ylli to show me a few things. She'll be back in a few hours." He shouted as he dashed through the doorway, tugging Yllithia the whole way.

She felt as if he was pulling her arm out of its socket. Only getting a small glimpse of the overturned shelf and Lithriel already working to remedy the situation Landrien had prompted. Up the winding staircase and through the halls they sprinted. Landrien nearly knocking into several groups of people on his way out. An occasional shout and a shake of their head as they quickly moved out of the way. He'd learn someday that not everything was so forgiving, not everyone could smile and go on. Some just never learn to ignore the small whispers, their lack of caring feeding the snide remarks of supremacy. Snuffing out any minute flicker of compassion. He'd learn someday.