As quietly as she left...

[Malinne]

Malinne went on her journey to find out who her real parents were. She needed to know who she was and what she was destined to become. In finding her roots she lost her companions, including her beloved Alice. Her memory left her once again and she returned to Illarion with only vague memories. A few names floated in her mind though she could not immediately decipher whether they were friend or foe.

Her tendencies did not leave her. She cried out in pain every night as she was tormented by her own thoughts unable to sleep even in the forest so peaceful and quiet. As every soul in the town slept soundly, she wandered the outskirts and hunted for anything living. It had been a while since she last had human contact. Malinne was living alone the whole time. She has been healthy and alive as ever. Her unusual diet has made given her flesh a healthier tone and added some more weight to her fragile build. Being isolated helped her to cope with what she is. She was no longer devastated and gave in to her heart.

Finding out the secrets to her past only added to everything wrong with her in the first place...

It was a cool day. A gentle breeze blew through her disheveled locks of dark hair. She squinted her eyes as she stepped from a shelter of trees into the sunlight. She would never be able to tolerate the suns rays again and cursed to herself for deciding to go into town. Malinne pulled her heavy cloak close to her body and shivered as a chill of uncertainty rattled at her spine. She looked cautiously about as she walked casually towards Trolls Bane.

The town was quiet. The people of Trolls Bane were still asleep in their homes or wherever they slept. The shop was open however, and Eliza was already awake. Malinne entered the shop with a smile and left after purchasing a pair of scissors and a bucket for water. She wasn't surprised that Eliza didn't recognize her.

Malinne took the bucket and walked to the riverbank a few yards from the front of the shop and kneeled over the rippling water. She dragged the bucket across the water's surface and filled it to the top, then poured it over her head. After combing her hair out with her fingers she pulled her hair back in one bunch and cut her hair so that it's length now fell just beneath her chin. She dropped her cut hair into the water and let it float away. She sat and stared into space for a moment then washed her face and stood up. She stretched and yawned (this was the time she would normally be going to sleep) and decided to cut the few gemstones she had in her bag.

Malinne returned after a few moments when the town was more lively. At the same time, she happened to meet a familiar face...

[Delakaniam]

The face peers down from the branches above among clusters of cherries. De'am takes hold of a branch at her head and leans over to get a better look, her long hair running down. As the figure approaches, De'am narrows her amber hued eyes for a brief moment before they widen in surprise.

.......Malinne?

De'am grabs onto the branch of her seat and drops through the quivering leaves to land noiselessly on the ground below. She turns to face the figure beneath the branches.

Malinne!!

[paul laffing]

Paul, having to get up early if he wants to catch any fish, watches Malinne walk into town. He notices something different about her features. He is frightened by it. His blue eyes stray back to his his fishing rod. He makes no move to talk to Malinne, but he is certain she won't recognize him under his golden beard and moustache.