I woke to the Wood whispering in my ears. Her soft voice filled them, rousing me gently. Outside, the trees quavered in a morning wind, muttering to each other softly. If I lied still, I could hear everything for miles. My village was still asleep, but I felt anxious to leave my own house. I had long been pondering about the outside world. Unlike most viera, I was curious. I desired to know of the events beyond my home in the Wood. That curiosity had driven me to the option of leaving Eurut Village, and going on my own. I took my pillow in my hands and stared out the window into the endless green. My chestnut eyes wandered, and finally rested on the direction I knew to be the bridge that led into Golomore Jungle. I held fast onto my pillow as if it were my life that I was planning to leave behind. Today was a vital day in that lengthy decision. I had been training to be a Wood-Warder- a guard to our village, and today was a test that I had to pass to prove my skills. When I returned from my trial, I would leave. If I passed, that is. I slowly sat upright, in that beautiful daze of early morning. My village knew of my intentions, and as soon as I stepped into the open light, I would be persecuted by my sisters. It was not every day a viera chose to leave, and when they left, they were gone for good. Never again to return welcome. It was a sad event for my family, and somber for me as well. My departure would mean I turned my back on my people, and the Wood that I had known for all my life. I would be alone.

But I would not be trapped in the cycle a normal viera lives and ultimately dies in. This painful leap would earn me my freedom.

I could procrastinate no longer- the Wood called me. She was distraught with my decision, but knew that I still much go through with my trial. I dressed in my formal wood-warders garb, including the significant helm, and tied my ivory hair back with my metal clasp. It was a gift from my younger sister. And I knew then, that even when I left the Wood, I would still cherish this one token. I stood tall, with my ears erect as I walked down the main pathway of the village. Though the village was engrossed with a perpetual silence, today I could hear the dissented murmurs as I passed them. No one dared acknowledge me with words, but as viera, speech was hardly a necessity in communication. Some were somber, but most were angry with my decision. This deprivation of notice touched me like a blade. As one of the last times I would be with them, I wished for a kind of farewell. But none would come, I knew. Only a harsh exile, one that I would never be prepared for.

"Sister!" My ears spun at the soft, almost desperate voice. Hers was the only sound in the entire village, but it was the one I longed to hear the most. I stopped, and turned eagerly to meet my younger sister.

"Mjrn! You should not speak to me."

"I don't care!" She buried her face into my chest. Her pure white ears were almost flat on her head in distress. "I cannot believe this may be the last time I am with you- I do not want to." Viera do not have tear ducts, and thus we are unable to cry. But tears were another insignificant show of emotion- Mjrn's pain was obvious. I took one of my arms and wrapped it around her.

"I have made my decision, though my trial still awaits." I glanced behind me, making certain no one was close. "Listen to me, my sister." I knelt down to her height. "When I depart, I will no longer be of you, and you must forget of me." She instantly shook her head.

"No! I will never-!"

"You will, Mjrn. You must…" I heard another pair of footsteps- more delicate, refined. "Goodbye, my sister." I stood and turned away. She was the first of many I turned my back on. The feeling of loss that overcame me showed me why so many of my kind never left.

"Are you prepared, Fran?" A proud viera approached me, arms crossed. She stood taller than I, but with the same ear coloration and shade of hair. My older sister and leader of the village- Jote. To be the leader of a viera village was unique since we were creatures of following and habit. For one to speak out as a leader was what set them apart. I was similar to her in this way, but I did not want to lead as she did. That trait is what set me apart from the rest of my kind.

"I am, Jote." She nodded.

"You will enter the Golomore Jungle and return with the tail of the jungle hare. You must not kill the hare in the process." She gave the instructions in the same dull monotone, but the trial I was to complete was a difficult one. Jote acted casual, but it would take every ounce of my skill as a hunter to accomplish this. "Is this too complicated for you, little sister?"

"No. I will leave at once."