it was dark in the forest. the trees were ashen and gray, the leaves a deep scarlet-mauve mix. elpharae perched in one of the trees, his crimson eyes scathing through the land. he glanced toward his staff, at the ruby on the end. it glowed faintly amongst the grayness. fog curled around him, the cold brushing his cheeks. he stiffened as he heard a faint cry coming from the snow-powdered ground.

slowly, he climbed over to another tree. his eyes widened, lips parting slightly with a gasp as he saw a human lying in the snow. blood stained the white powder. he inhaled softly, narrowing her eyes. what was a human doing in xoza? and... how had they gotten this hurt? no elves lived out this far into the forest- none but him.

elpharae jumped out of the tree, hesitating for a moment before approaching them. he kneeled into the snow, his eyes narrowed. the ruby glowed brighter the closer it got to the human.