When Spring had thawed the lands of Secak, Annelise WoodShadow had slid with all quietness from the hospitable home of Sha'uri. Stable was relieved of stalwart mare bred for endurance rather than speed. With an I.O.U tacked to stable door, Anne was gone. She stayed gone until the heat of the summer lay heavy in the air.
Sha'uri could probably hazard a guess as to why Anne had gone. After all, it had been the first time she had seen Secak since The Change, and that had happened when Anne was but a girl. Wanderlust. The same feeling that had drove her from her Father's home in search of her Mother's lands had driven her from her newfound family's arms into the unexplored and long abandoned regions of Secak.
Anne's wanderlust was never sated. One humid summer's evening, she sat within the wilds of Secak. Her weapons had been cleaned and polished, and meager meal of smoked meat and dried biscuits had already been consumed, along with a handful of berries that had yet to dry out in the oppressive heat. She was aware that this was probably the last of fresh berries to be found, so Anne relished the treat and thought hard upon how to supplement her diet in the coming weeks.
Perhaps the combination of full stomach and suppressing heat induced the dream-like state. Perhaps it was simply the reaching of power across planes of reality (as stranger things had happened in Rhydin and Secak, both). In any case, Anne was suddenly overcome by a feeling of dread. She felt as if some great battle were being fought - yes, there was a certain knowledge. Something of great importance was happening, she could feel it in her bones.
Even though the importance of it gripped her, Anne was in a lucid state. Her muscles were relaxed, her eyes half-lidded. It wasn't until the feeling subsided, until a flash of realization slammed into her conscious mind, that Anne really moved. When she did move, it was in a rush of activity. She was on her feet, tensed and aware. Emerald hues drifted to the night sky, full of confusion and wonderment.
Within seconds, she was on her mare, racing towards the Citadel where her family resided.
Sha'uri could probably hazard a guess as to why Anne had gone. After all, it had been the first time she had seen Secak since The Change, and that had happened when Anne was but a girl. Wanderlust. The same feeling that had drove her from her Father's home in search of her Mother's lands had driven her from her newfound family's arms into the unexplored and long abandoned regions of Secak.
Anne's wanderlust was never sated. One humid summer's evening, she sat within the wilds of Secak. Her weapons had been cleaned and polished, and meager meal of smoked meat and dried biscuits had already been consumed, along with a handful of berries that had yet to dry out in the oppressive heat. She was aware that this was probably the last of fresh berries to be found, so Anne relished the treat and thought hard upon how to supplement her diet in the coming weeks.
Perhaps the combination of full stomach and suppressing heat induced the dream-like state. Perhaps it was simply the reaching of power across planes of reality (as stranger things had happened in Rhydin and Secak, both). In any case, Anne was suddenly overcome by a feeling of dread. She felt as if some great battle were being fought - yes, there was a certain knowledge. Something of great importance was happening, she could feel it in her bones.
Even though the importance of it gripped her, Anne was in a lucid state. Her muscles were relaxed, her eyes half-lidded. It wasn't until the feeling subsided, until a flash of realization slammed into her conscious mind, that Anne really moved. When she did move, it was in a rush of activity. She was on her feet, tensed and aware. Emerald hues drifted to the night sky, full of confusion and wonderment.
Within seconds, she was on her mare, racing towards the Citadel where her family resided.