Reflections

[Lundra del Istolla]

Lundra walked among the people of Diana, looking around and hoping to spot someone she knew, but failing miserably. She had only known a few people from Diana (or the surface world for that matter) and most of them were long gone to other cities. She thought of returning to the clearing where her brother had once lived, but she had no idea what she would say to him, or if he even still remained in that forest. He wouldn't have wanted her there anyways.

Though it had been a long while since she came to the surface, Lundra still felt lost. She had been ripped away from her home before she was of the proper age to leave. It was all her brother's fault. If he hadn't run off, she wouldn't have been sent to get him, and she wouldn't have betrayed her kin to help him. It was all for nothing anyways. As soon as she had a chance to talk to him, Lundra had understood that he wanted nothing to do with her.

So now, Lundra wandered, not paying much attention to anything anymore. She was just there- a Vysstichi stuck in a world that she didn't understand. A sort of homesickness swept over Lundra and a few tears came to her eyes. It was an evil place, she had been taught that by the D'Rinishad house that had so kindly taken her in. Fingering the D'Rinishad cloak that she now wore at all times, Lundra felt a little bit better. At least she knew she was still part of a family.

[Leyon Juddah]

"That is an interesting cloak, dear," and old woman told Lundra del Istolla. Her weak voice betrayed her old age, but her sharp eyes were evidently elven. Her toothless smile pronounced the multitude of creases that lined her face.

A young Kemite lad came running towards the elderly elf. "Sister Luccia," he said gasping. "I thought I lost you. I just glanced away for a moment and you were gone. If you feel cold, we can walk back to the Motherhouse. We may resume our walk early tomorrow, if Aetheria permits."

"Oh, I already feel much better with our daily exercising. I'm loving it!" said Luccia rather enthusiastically. "The crisp winter air is nothing to me! In fact, I can beat you to a one-on-one race, right now. You can even bet on it!"

Leyon laughed and the frost hung in the air around his reddened cheeks. "It is only because the suns are out today that we were allowed to go out for a walk. Do not worry. As soon as spring comes, then it will be much warmer and we can take longer walks every single brightening," Leyon said.

He then turned to Lundra, "Serale! Hope you are having a wonderful brightening. My name is Leyon Juddah, a servant at the Benedictus Hospitalitus Motherhouse. This is Sister Luccia."

"Hello, dear," Sister Luccia said. "This young man Leyon takes me out for a walk every brightening, but he is getting too old and weak-kneed to keep up with it. Maybe you can walk along with me instead?"

"Sister Luccia! Come on, we have bothered the kind lady enough already," Leyon said as he smiled apologetically at Lundra.

It was at this point that Leyon noticed the tears in Lundra's eyes. "Oh, pardon me if we caught you at a bad time," he said looking away out of politeness.