The Story of Thaira!

Thaira was a young elf, innocent of the ways of the world and of its effects. Clutching a small agate in her hand, she smiles as she thinks of her foster-mother, Brihna. Thaira had been gifted with the small gem a few days ago. It was a symbol of the love and commitment that Brihna had for her. It was the most precious item she owned.
Running behind a tree, a young elf grins widely as her innocent game continues. Her friend Brihna remains farther behind, playing along and trying not to appear very knowledgeable of the young one's whereabouts. Calling softly Brihna continues to wander around some trees and smiles as she hears the twigs crack behind a large oak. Thaira's wildly curly hair wraps itself around the trunk as the gentle breeze lifts it gently. The bright gold locks float back down as the breeze shifts and Brihna continues the game as she walks past Thaira's hiding spot.
Calling softly once more Brihna feels the hair on her arms rise and gooseflesh appears underneath her light clothing. Something was wrong. Stopping, Brihna quietly listens to the forest. The birds are silent, the trees are still, and the air is charged with the presence of danger.
Turning swiftly Brihna reaches for her bow and realizes it is not there. Casting her eyes around the area, Brihna forces her mind to enter its hunting stance. She hears twigs snap softly from another side and begins to race back to the young elf who remains hidden behind the large oak.
"Thaira! Come out love, we must return," Brihna calls loudly. All sounds of the forest disappear, and the young elf remains hidden. Quickly Brihna races to the oak and sees a small green cloak lying on the ground by the tree. Brihna drops to her knees and picks up the cloak, smoothing out the wrinkles and finding the tiny spots of blood that are still fresh.
"THAIRA!" Brihna shouts as she jumps back to her feet.
"Thaira that's enough! No more games, where are you!" she cries as she becomes desperate to find the young girl. Silence greets her cry and Brihna stifles her tears, examining the area for tracks. Finding the marks of a young elf, Brihna begins to hope and follows them. Soon they disappear and the track is lost. Dropping to the ground, Brihna begins to sob tears of anguish for her lost charge.

In the meantime Thaira trembles as the giant drow elf binds her hands and feet together tightly. Moving quickly, he mounts an eagle and drags Thaira in front of him. Thaira whispers silently into the eagle's neck and closes her eyes as the bird takes off and begins its flight. Gasping as the cold air sweeps over her body Thaira's tears dry and her mind begins to function once more. Glancing down Thaira makes note of the landmarks as they pass them.
The drow elf speaks not a word as he guides the eagle in its path toward Dandy. Thaira jerks in surprise as she feels his warm hand cover her back and hold her steady as they begin the decent into the mountains. Gently the eagle lands near an entrance and Thaira is lowered to the ground carefully. Glancing up at the elf she begins to pray silently to Deori even as she realizes that her time is becoming limited. Removing his cloak, the drow elf covers the frozen young elf in its large folds and picks her up into his arms. Carrying her past monsters and creatures of the sort Thaira had only heard about they continued down the path through the Dark Elf Temple. Thaira tries to remain brave and keeps her chin raised defiantly even as her body shakes violently with the proof of her fear. Not watching where she went anymore, she was surprised when she finally took note of her surroundings. The throne in the center of the room held a beautiful drow elf as her minions stood ramrod straight nearby.
Placed on the floor Thaira blinks her confusion as the webs fall apart and she is free once more. Looking up she stares at the Queen Elf until she raises a hand and gestures at Thaira to step forward. Taking tiny steps closer to the throne Thaira raises her chin once more, attempting to peer down her nose at the great dark queen. Takara's gentle smile grew wider as the young elf stood in front of her, shaking and shivering violently, yet holding her head high. As proud as if she were the Dark Queen herself.
"Thaira," Takara began gently, "your time has come to learn the ways of the world around you. No more games, and no more dreams. Come closer m'dear."
Stepping closer Thaira stopped three feet from the large throne and gathered her smooth brow into knots trying to glare down the queen on her throne.
"Thaira," Takara continues to the young elf, "you must grow up, and learn of the world and its meanings and purposes." Reaching out Takara takes Thaira's hand and pulls her closer to the throne. Holding Thaira in front of her, Takara reaches out with her other hand and covers Thaira's chest over her heart. "Tis time for change my sweet."
Thaira cries out in anguish as pain rips through her heart, and she feels the darkness begin to enter the space where, once, nothing but innocence reigned supreme. Pulling back quickly Thaira feels a sharp blade prick her back. Standing extremely still Thaira glares at the Queen with true hatred. Where once stood a young, innocent elf of no consequence, now stood a world weary elf touched by darkness and evil. Takara chuckles lightly as she reaches out once more to take her protege's hand. Growling low in her throat Thaira pulls her hand away and drops to the ground. Rolling quickly toward the drow elf behind her, she uses what little there is of her to trip the elf. Thaira hears a cry of pain and panic follows amongst all the occupants of the throne room. Running toward the door Thaira stops and grabs the doorframe. Glancing back, Thaira witnesses Takara rip off the elf's head. The one who had managed to stab her with his sword as he tripped over Thaira's body. The wound was small and insignificant, but the effects were complete.
Clutching the ring of recall that Brihna made her carry at all times, Thaira closes her eyes tightly and feels a wave of dizziness as she was pulled out of Takara's lair and back home, to Woodtop. Thaira wanders the town in tears as she noticed the changes that had occurred during her absence. No longer is she a young innocent of 11. Now she is a grown elf of 17. Passing her old home, she notices the boarded windows and the abandoned look of the house. Blinking back tears Thaira heads to the Oracle and kneels down beside her.
"You've been away for a long time young one. The one you seek is long dead. She sought you out to her death and now her memory is all there is left."
Thaira raises her head to the oracle and blinks back the tears gathering in the back of her eyes.
"And now, now what?"
"Now you learn to adapt . . . you learn to move on . . . you learn to live," the Oracle states in the typical way of prophets to say much yet say nothing. Rising unsteadily to her feet Thaira feels the darkness within her begin to grow and expand.
Gasping sharply Thaira runs to her favorite tree within Woodtop and climbs to the top branch. She stays there, staring at the forest for days, contemplating her past, her present, and her future. Glancing at the sky, she spots an Owl crossing overhead.
"Change . . . " Thaira whispers to herself. "How do I control this change?"
"You learn to work with it my sweet."
Glancing back down she realizes that the voice who answered her was in her head. Looking back up she spots Owl just as Owl disappears into the heavens. Sighing heavily Thaira climbs down and holding her small agate tightly in her hand she turns to Devardec.
"I'll learn to use it. To force the darkness within myself to bow down to my wishes. I'll begin training in Devardec."
Thaira quickly gathers her items and smiling brightly at the blue-breasted bird that landed on her pack, Thaira makes a vow to the bird.
"I will learn the ways of the forest. I will use my birthright as an elf and make the darkness within myself into something useful. I'll learn to make the darkness and the light within myself work together."
Thaira raises her head again and peers into the heavens.
"Change . . . We either learn to live with it . . . or are destroyed by it. We shall see what the future brings, little Bird," Thaira continues to the bright bird as it takes wing and lands on a nearby branch. Picking up her small agate and her meager pack of belongings, Thaira turns to the future . . . with its Changes.
Thaira wanders the road unsure of how to find that which she seeks . . . Devardec. The days pass as Thaira moves with the shadows and passes from tree to tree. Nights she spends alone in the forest, listening to the wolves singing and the owls hooting. By day she listens to the birds chirping and the squirrels scurrying from tree to tree. Finally she finds her path stopped by a river. The wide crossing makes it seem almost impossible. Glancing at the afternoon sun she checks her directions and realizes that she will have to cross the river. On the other side she spots a path, and some travelers. Carefully Thaira removes her clothing and her short bow taken from Brihna's room. Folding them together she finds a large branch fallen from a nearby tree and quickly makes a carrier for her items. Gazing at the raging current Thaira draws a deep breath and closes her eyes in prayer.
Slowly Thaira makes her way into the river and begins to swim across. The river is freezing cold and the strong current tugs at her and her branch, pulling her further downstream and away from the path. Under her breath Thaira curses her swimming skills and keeps surging forward the best she can. Thaira's arms grow tired and her breath ragged, her skin grows numb and her brain ceases to think. The only thoughts left are the next stroke of her arms or kick of her legs.
It seems an eternity before Thaira finally feels her feet graze bottom and looking up she gazes at the shore just a few feet ahead of her. Dragging herself up she collapses next to her branch, half in and half out of the freezing water. There she sleeps . . .
Thaira awakens to feel her head pounding to the beat of her heart and screams as she realizes her body is on fire. Heat consumes her very being and Thaira finally collapses in pain. Through a haze she feels the rough drag of a cloth over her body. The cool liquid sliding off her singing skin, leaving a lingering coolness that draws her back to herself. Opening her eyes she looks up to find a redheaded elf bending over her chanting words of magic as she uses her hands to try to cool Thaira's fever. She sighs as she feels the healing light penetrate the heat and the cooling cloth sooth the ache. Thaira sleeps again . . .
"Come now, time to be up. You can't sleep your life away . . . " Thaira hears from a distance. Who could be calling to her? Brihna . . . was that her? Thaira's eyes fly open in the hopes of seeing the soft brown hair and shimmering silver eyes that she misses. Peering back at her, sits a redheaded elf clothed in dead rat bodies.
Immediately Thaira's nose catches the scent and brings her completely awake. Sitting up and backing away, Thaira looks around the room. The room is small but comfortable. A desk stands in a corner where a kind looking shaman sits, ready to heal those in need. Blinking back at the redhead she sees her smile softly.
"I'm Lisaria," she states while holding out a blood-encrusted hand. Cautiously Thaira withdraws from the odd figure and tries to stand up. Weaving precariously Thaira is forced to accept aid before she falls on her face.
"Lisaria? Where am I?" Thaira asks.
"Devardec healers. I found you in the forest. You were quite naked and very sick I'm afraid. I did manage to save your belongings from a small skunk who wanted to use them for a nest though," Lisaria provides as she helps Thaira walk to a chair and sit. Moving back, Lisaria smiles. Thaira sits and stares at Lisaria carefully, thinking.
Brihna had told her of the rangers who lived within Dirimloth. Brihna herself had been one for a small time till she left to help raise the small elf Thaira. Lisaria looked nothing like the sweet, shy Brihna, yet the ironwood was undeniable.
"My thanks," Thaira offers weakly.
Thaira raises her bow once more and takes aim at the target, and misses. Frowning fiercely she dodges a blow and takes a step back out of the way before raising her bow again. She will get this right. Letting yet another arrow fly she grins widely as it imbeds itself in the training monster and it falls to the ground dead.
Thaira had been spending too much time in the training halls. She was getting better with her bow, and she had a sword she was not too bad at using also. She turns around as Sironias appears behind her. "Ready?" he asks gruffly. Thaira smiles brightly at the halfogre, he is really sweet beneath all the gruffness.
"Aye, let me get some more arrows first. And the guild trainer agreed to give me one more lesson before I eft." Thaira gathers her items from the floor and quickly runs up the steps from the training grounds. Turning into the busy shop she seeks out the trainer who had taught her as much as he could during her short stay.
"Ahhh . . . Are you back for more? Don't you ever give up?"
The trainer asks lightly as he recognizes the persistent young elf. As she grins at him, he turns to put down his drink so she won't see his answering smile.
"All right Thaira. This your final lesson. Listen well and learn." The trainer went on to explain the technique of keeping her arms locked before firing so she wouldn't miss so much. When the lesson is over, Thaira throws her arms around the trainer's neck and hugs him fiercely. Reaching into her pack she unpacks a small pouch of gems. Opening it up she sifts through and brings out a small agate with a hole in the middle. Smiling to herself she replaces it and brings out a small ruby that sparkles blood red. She gives it to the trainer reverently and turns to leave.
"All right Sironias. Now I'm ready. And I shall not quit till I find the ranger's guild and make myself one of their own." Sironias smiles at her enthusiasm and shakes his head silently. She had her goals, and nothing kept her from them.
Sironias and Thaira wander through the forests for days, Thaira often leading and Sironias just hunting down dinner. Suddenly they came upon a portal. Taking a deep breath Thaira tries to enter . . . but finds she is unable to get past it. She is not yet strong enough. Frowning fiercely she turns to her half-ogre.
"Well. lets go see if we can't find someone else who can teach me some more so I can become strong enough to enter."
Thaira trains and fights and quests for another month before finally returning to the portal. Sironias stands at her side, ready to lend his assistance only if she should need it. Closing her eyes, Thaira prays to Khan for aid. This is her biggest change and she wants it to be good. Stepping through the portal, she finds herself standing face to face with the fabled Spiritual Stag.
Thaira stands in awe and gazes at the stag for a long moment before Sironias nudges her sharply and blocks the stag from ramming her into a tree. Raising her bow, she takes aim at the stag. Cursing loudly as she misses and the stag takes off running. Immediately Thaira chases after it. She shoots arrow after arrow. Some missed . . . some didn't . . . and still she ran after the stag. Several hours later she corners the stag and faces it. The stag gazes back at her solemnly, and Thaira bows slightly to the stag before raising her bow for the last time. Firing the arrow, Thaira watches the stag fall at her feet. Slowing Thaira walks up to the great stag and she kneeling at its side, prays her thanks to the lady Khan. Taking out her knife she carefully cuts out the heart of the great beast and places it in a cured hide. Turning to Sironias who stands gazing at her proudly she nods. "It's time," is all she says.
Thaira leaves Sironias in the forest and wanders into the area she'd spotted during her original visit to the forest. Looking at the vines she closes her eyes and hopes that she wasn't wrong about them. Pushing them aside gently she gazes past them into the hidden forest. Passing through Thaira finds the waterfall she'd heard so much about and KNOWS she is close. She gazes up, but the leaves are too dense to see beyond. Finally she finds the hole in the tree. Climbing up she gazes solemnly at the guard and unpacks the cured hide holding the heart.
"I'm here to be a Ranger," Thaira tells him, head held high her very attitude daring him to deny her the right. He steps aside and Thaira stands for a moment outside the doors. Peering inside she can see little . . . but she knows that this is where she is meant to be. This is where Khan had lead. Lifting her chin defiantly Thaira gathers her small agate into her palm and proudly enters the guild . . .

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