Siril woke from reverie with tears running down her cheeks, momentarily disoriented by her sudden return to present; surprised to find herself nestled against a decided male body, with her head pillowed on his hard, muscular chest and his strong arm warped around her. Elves do not sleep like other beings, instead they relive the moments of their past more vividly than any memory could ever be in a trance like state, but the sudden return to reality was often jarring. Lifting her head, she met Coran’s concerned gaze, then Kara’s, who was snuggled against his opposite side, the light of recognition flickering on in her eyes as she became reacclimated with her whereabouts, offering a warm smile to easy their minds and sighed regretfully; “I’m sorry I woke you.” “You were crying,” he comforted softly as he reached up and brushed a lingering tear from her cheek. “Reverie,” she breathed, as if it would explain her tears, but seeing that it wasn’t sufficient added; “Happier times lost forever.” When that still didn’t seem to quell their curiosity, she reluctantly explained further. “My family held an estate in the Elven Court… nothing large, but we were comfortable and happy there… so we chose not to heed the Retreat, even when all those around us did. Then the drow came. Father warned us that they would one day, and we made a plan to escape through hidden passages and meet in the forest when they did. I wanted to stand and fight, but he insisted that there was nothing there worth dying for. When that day came I did as he wanted, but no one else escaped. I hide through the night, knowing they have the advantage in the dark, and snuck back in after dawn, but they had completely infested the house. I saw my parent’s bodies… and assume my sister died as well, but I couldn’t find her… so I made my way here. I snuck back home once, but they’ve turned it into an armed camp, and there were too many of them for me kill alone.” “We’re sorry for your loss,” Kara offered gently, reaching over to caress her arm comfortingly; her eyes full of sincere sympathy. She had seen a good deal of the drow’s cruelty and brutality herself. “At least I can put my bow to good use defending this place,” she stated with conviction, then added with a capricious smirk; “Even if I don’t exactly blend in. Although, my mother always said that I have a moon elf’s face and a wood elf’s heart.” “I have a feeling you’ve never gone unnoticed wherever you go,” Coran teased lightly, bending his head to plant a lingering kiss on her succulent lips. He had known his fair share of beautiful women, including the gorgeous druid nestled against his other side, and more than a few of them elves of various types, but Siril had an almost unnatural allure that was clearly not lost on anyone who laid eyes on her. “Maybe,” the elf mused with an impish glint in her eye, “but I do try to at least dress to fit in.” “If you’re attire was meant to make you less notable… you clearly missed the mark!” Kara jibed with a coy smile, remembering how her delightful shapely legs were accentuated by her brief skirt, while her ripe breasts, which were unusually full for an elf, were barely contained by her short corset. “Really… and here I thought deerskin, feather and beads would do the trick,” Siril snarked back in a tone of mock disillusion. “I don’t think the material is the issue,” Coran taunted, joining in on the on-going jest. “but the amount of it… not that I would advocate a change, nor do I think any of the poor broken hearts you left in your wake last night would either.” “Well then, I suppose it’s just my fate to be uniquely… me!” she cooed with a self-satisfied smirk. ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** Unfortunately this is as far as I've gotten... I have an idea of were things will go from here (you may have picked up on a thread I left hanging in the text above), but I'm not quite sure how I'll get there yet. Thank you for your attention and interest!