Dohar had asked the Luminary to tell him everything he would about Siriin, that it was in both his and hers best interest, and Kahedins reluctantly explained the Siriin he knew. The story of her Dream, and his own appearance in it, would have startled him, had he been told before his meeting with Mother.

"Why was I not told of that before now?" It had been 2 days since his audience with the Pale Mother. The rage had subsided, to be replaced with a need to leave the Grove, get moving, try and do something about this fate that had been forced on him. He had gone to the Firstgrown to talk to Kahedins, and had found the Firstborn waiting for him.

Kahedins tried to appear neutral, but he could see that was not entirely the case. "All the times we talked about her Dream, whenever your name was brought up, she would become defensive and agitated. While she never told me why, I wanted to meet you for myself before divulging," he smiled slightly, "and while I don't know what Mother has planned, you at least seem intent on both hers and your own well being."

He had spoken little to the Luminary of Dusk since then. 2 weeks went by as he practiced, learned the land, acquired what maps and equipment he felt would be needed. He talked to various crafts-folk around the Grove, as well as the survivors of the Warden group she had worked with briefly. He wanted to get a good idea about where Siriin had been before he left the Grove, but he was also aware that time was running out, though exactly how much time was anyones guess. Surprisingly, it proved to be the human envoys in the Grove who told him the most. Siriin had been staying at one of their garrisons to the north when proper contact had been established between the human and sylvari and had befriended the local commander. While the envoys did not know more, they assured him that Captain Evangeline de Mascio's family were well-thought-of for their generosity.

After saying his farewells to the scant few he knew in the Grove, Dohar took his packed supplies and left. With Risen incursions ever on the rise, the jungle was fraught with danger for the ignorant or unobservant. Following the maps he had been given by Lyranna, his progress north was initially slow, as undead and forest beast alike hindered his path. The few sylvari settlements dotted around Caledon also proved problematic. Dohar still did not know the specifics of Mother's plan, nor did he entirely care at this point, but he also did not know if other sylvari had been involved beyond him and Siriin, so he wanted to avoid unneeded contact as much as possible. A month went by before he found the garrison mentioned by the human envoys. It was marked quite clearly on one of his newest maps, but in the wake of increased contact between human and sylvari, a settlement had been founded in the vicinity, so the two peoples could more easily support each other. He would just have to hope that none of the Wardens from the village would be visiting the garrison that day.

It was midday when he stood before the guards on the gate. He had not seen any point in attempting a stealthy approach. The two guards must have seen him coming a mile off, but did not seem alarmed. They kept hold of their weapons, but showed no sign of trying to show them off, let alone use them. "Halt in the name of- Ah, bloody hell. Who goes there?"

"Dohar, a sylvari of the Grove. I seek to speak with your Commander."

The bald man practically sneered at him. ""And why should the Commander speak to you?"

Dohar sighed. He had hoped he would not need mention the name to anyone but the most necessary. "I have information about her friend, the sylvari Siriin."

That wiped the smirk from his face, though it was replaced with a scowl a moment later. "Bloody hell's right.," he mumbled something to his companion, "Stay there, I will see if she will spare some time."

He was quickly ushered into a rounded office, decorated with pictures of other humans, as well as maps and ornate furniture. A female human sat at a large oaken table, black hair worn short. Even though the garrison seemed as secure as it could be in the middle of the jungle, she still wore armour and a scabbarded sword was leaning against the side of the table. A bow of sylvari design was mounted carefully on the wall, along with a matching quiver and a single arrow.

The commander looked up at him through steepled fingers. "Ah, our visitor. I hope you do not wish to stay like the last of your kind who came through here on uncertain business."

"Have no fear of that. Are you captain Evangeline de Mascio?"

The human leaned back in her chair, stoppering a black glass bottle and gently pushing it to the side. "Indeed I am. You have me at a disadvantage, sir -?"

He affected a slight bow. "Dohar, Noon-born of the Grove. I come north seeking a mutual aquintance."

"Siriin."

He nodded in response. "Just so."

De Mascio nodded slowly in return. "And why do you seek her? To that point, how do you know her?" She reached for a cup sitting on the table surface as she spoke, raising it for a sip.

"We are both involved in some plot beyond our will. I think she is in danger."

At the last word, the commander coughed, trying not to choke on her drink, Dohar trying to figure out if he should help, let alone how.

"In danger? How?" She croaked as she stood up, slowly regaining her composure.

A gut instinct, a feeling, a tickling in the back of his neck. But that was not evidence. "I wish I knew. She is involved in some plot, as am I. And," Admitting it galled him to the core, "I do not know what can be done about it, but she deserves to know. I mean to find her so that I can at least tell her."

The captain retrieved a rolled-up scroll from a drawer in her desk. "She went north over a year ago, joining a caravan led by another sylvari named 'Omanna'," Rolled out on the table, it was shown to be a map of the Maguuma, specifically an area further north called the Brisban Wildlands. He knew of it, but had never personally gone so far north. "It is an area rife with banditry, but the group seemed capable enough."

Dohar looked the map over. It had asuran symbols on it, as well as New Krytan translations. He did not have any map that matched it. "I know the area, but I have no map of my own for it. Finding my way there might take a long time."

De Mascio rolled it up again, holding it out towards him. "Then take this one. I bought it for myself, but if you can use it to help Siriin, then it will be of greater use to you."

He accepted it gratefully. "I see the generosity of the De Mascios is not ill praised."

A moment of silence. "If I might ask a favour in return." Her tone seemed quite different than before. She reminded him of Lyranna from when the Risen had nearly struck the Confine. "If there is truly nothing to be done, can you try and bring her back here before the end?"

Dohar knew not the extent of Mothers plan, let alone what it hoped to accomplish. "I will do what I can."

The map proved immensely useful. The distance between the edge of the Brisban wilds and the De Mascio garrison was nearly equal to the road from the Grove, but with the new guidance he made far better progress. 2 weeks had passed when the circular Brisban valley stretched out in front of him, encircling a mountain unnamed on the map. While the map gave a good understanding of the area, it predated the group that Siriin was supposed to have joined, so he was again left with a vague trail to follow. He must start somewhere. Siriin had wandered on her own before, and might have gone back to the lone road again. Following that line of reasoning, he spent a week exploring the southern parts of the valley, looking for any signs of habitation.

He was looking through a cave in the early morning when unknown voices emerging from the jungle around him prompted him to hide around a corner. 2 creatures were carefully pushing through the brush. His hiding spot offered a view, albeit a poor one, of the clearing they would emerge into if they kept their course. 4 sylvaries garbed in Warden-like armour carefully entered the clearing, slowly scanning the opposing tree-line and the canopy above. As 2 of them stayed outside, bows at the ready, the 2 others began slowly advancing into the cave. As thorough as they were being, they would be sure to discover him, and hiding for longer would only make him seem more suspicious.

"You can lower your weapons," He slowly emerged from his hiding place. "I mean no harm to you and the cave is empty."

To their credit, they made sure to see who he was for themselves before standing down. One called the others inside while the second hurried over to him. The armour was the same for all of them, but as they got closer he could make out their differences more clearly.

"Forgive us," She had a heavily-lined auburn-coloured face. "It has been a long time since we last saw a sylvari not of our own settlement."

The second one was of a taller and slighter build, visible even through the armour, with curious black lines on her white face. "If you were hoping for a peaceful place to stay, I am sad to say you will be disappointed."

"How so?" He picked his pack from the floor where he had left it.

"We have been attacked numerous times in the last year." The auburn one had stowed her weapon away, and was looking back at the 2 others who were standing a short distance away. "Creatures made by the asura, composed of living rock and crystals."

He felt a chill run down his back. "I don't plan to stay if at all possible. I come here looking for another sylvari, a Dusk-born named Siriin."

As he mentioned the name, sadness took over their expressions. The auburn one sighed gently. "Omanna will want to talk with you then. She should be in the settlement. We will take you there."

Judging by their reactions, Dohar did not have high hopes.

Their settlement was not far away. An hours brisk walking through the forest and they arrived at a thorny fence surrounding a large gourd-like plant, with open holes closed with wooden doors. It reminded him immensely of the Firstgrown from the Grove.

The patrol left him with a blue-skinned sylvari sporting a large green leaf, seemingly strapped on with its own stem, covering half her face. On the other side a striking amber eye regarded him with curiosity. After the group had quickly introduced him, they hurried back to their patrol.

With one hand she continued stroking the fern-hound she was tending to, while she stuck the other out towards him. "Omanna, third-born and leader of this ragged group. And you are?"

Dohar shook the proffered hand, making sure to look her in the remaining eye. "Dohar, Noon-born Valiant of the Grove. I've come here looking for someone, a fellow sylvari named Siriin."

Again, that sadness became immediately apparent in Omannas expression. "Over a year ago, we were attacked, and a few of our group were abducted. We know not why or where they were taken. Siriin was one of them."

He had suspected as much, but the confirmation still struck him. He sat down on a stool beside the captain. "Do you know anything else?"

Omanna shook her head. "Another of our number, Roanne, was abducted at the same time. Beyond that, we know nothing of what has happened to them since they were taken from us." The captain turned her attention back to grooming the fern-hound. "We do know that the creatures who attacked us are some sort of stone elemental, controlled by the asura."

"The asura? I thought they were our allies."

Omanna looked at him again, single amber eye glinting dangerously. "I don't know about that. On the few occasions that we have defeated one of the creatures, it has opened to reveal one of the diminutive creatures. Sadly neither speaks the tongue of the other, so they could not tell us anything."

Dohar felt tired. He had marched for over a month to find someone he had never met, to stop some obscure plan he knew little about. All for nothing. "Can I stay in your settlement for a while? I know not where to go."

He could see that the captain tried to look kind, but her naturally harsh appearance made it difficult. "Of course. I can hardly ask you to help our patrols right away, but come tomorrow you'll have to help, same as everyone else," She pointed at the gourd-building. "Find an empty room, there should still be a few. Our settlement is not very large, so you should be able to find me if you need to."

Dohar thanked her and walked off, looking to find a place to sleep.

He found an empty room and dumped his belongings in a pile. The bed was more comfortable than what he had gotten used to since leaving the Grove, but still he could not sleep.

Ever since his Awakening, he had thought that he was connected to all the essential elements of his Dream, that he would somehow sense their presence. Now, lying in a bed, looking into an empty ceiling, a starlit sky in the open window, he was not quite so certain.

The evening dragged on, eventually lulling Dohar into a troubled sleep.

He was in the jungle. 2 long vines stretched into the darkness around him. One was thin and slowly withering, but covered in beautiful pale leaves and white flowers in full bloom. The other was supple, fat and full of life. Covered in glistening dark-green thorns. The flowered vine was cradling him gently, almost as if afraid to crush him. As he watched, unable to move or shout out, the thorny vine crept up to him, the flowered vine retreating from its presence. It wrapped itself around his legs, his waist and his arms, forcing them to move like some puppet. Every time the other vine would attempt to get closer, the thorns would deter it. Slowly, he could see it encroaching on his vision, changing his sight. The last he saw with his own eyes was something new explode from the jungle around him. A burst of light. His vision and body was his own again. The new arrival was yet a third vine, a whirl of blue and green. Full of its own life like the thorned one, but also covered in beautiful pale flowers. Its touch had driven the thorned vine away, sent it dragging itself away into the darkness. The thin vine was still there, unafraid, but it no longer attempted to get closer either. But the new vine could only just touch him. It was too far away to do anything else. He could sense that it was close, that he could find it. He woke well before dawn. He could still feel its presence, like a soft leaf brushing against his cheek. Gathering his things as fast as he could, he left the gourd-house. He was on the edge of the settlement going west when a voice stopped him.

"Leaving so soon?" Turning around, he saw the captain Omanna looking curiously at him, bow strapped to her back and sword belted to her waist.

Dohar nodded, oblivious to the darkness around him, making the gesture almost invisible. "I have to. Something is calling to me."

The captain sighed. "As long as it's not an asuran elemental, I won't try to stop you. Just be careful, your Hunt won't protect you."

The jungle was dark and silent. Even the animals that would usually be active in the night were quiet. Dohar appreciated it at first, the feeling was weak and faint, difficult to focus on. But as his march dragged on and the feeling grew, so did his unease at the silence. The Maguuma was not usually nearly as silent as this. It was not right. Eventually he found a large cave entrance. The feeling was intense now, a strong heat just behind his shoulders. He was blind to the asuran creation before it was too late.

He awoke, head aflame, to a stone room awash in a blood-red light. He could not move his body beyond his head. The rest of his body was restrained by black stone clamps. He quickly put the pieces together. If he could punch himself, he would have. The elemental began moving again, eventually arriving at a spacious room with glass viewing ports along the ceiling. As the elemental dumped him on the floor, he could barely surge to his feet before a crackling field had closed the corridor off. Approaching it, he could feel its power from a foot away. Turning back to the room he had been put in, he realised it was not empty. A glass case in the middle of the room held an object obscured by some sort of fog. As he touched the smooth surface, the fog melted away, revealing a beautiful bow. The limbs were like a vine fresh from the jungle, and the belly was covered in pale flowers. The feeling of closeness was back, stronger than ever before, almost painful. The room was then bathed in the same light he had seen when he awoke. It tingled on his skin. The bow was shaking now, falling out of the stand it was placed on. As it touched the glass, the case shattered, sending glass pebbles flying in all directions. A hideous blaring noise like the cries of a warthog started flowing through the chamber, and he heard the crackling field behind him go silent, the telltale thump of the elementals coming closer. Seeing the only weapon he had access to, he reached out. As he touched the grip, everything stopped. The lamp holding the red crystal above him exploded, the crystal embedding itself in the upper belly of the bow. He had barely registered it before it was gone again, replaced by a small green figure he had seen before. In his Dream.

Siriin. He did not understand what had happened, but he knew what to do.

He turned around. 2 of the elementals had entered the chamber, reaching out towards him. Their movements were sluggish, easy to avoid. He danced away from them, touching a finger to the side of the figurine. As if it were the most natural thing in the world, he drew a bright green arrow, the bowstring easily catching the fletching. He loosed. The shot flew true, easily shearing off the creature's arm as though it was made from paper. It rocked back, landing heavily on its back. Another projectile punched right through the center of the second elemental, sending it onto its back and stopping it entirely. A third arrow knocked one of the walls aside, allowing an escape.

The corridor outside the chamber was filled with the diminutive asuras, mostly standing around confused as the alarm blared through the lair. He wanted to kill them, make them pay for what they had done. But Siriins voice held him back. Escape was more important than vengeance. She knew the way out. It was burned into her memory. The asuras were panicked enough that he encountered no resistance beyond a few gates. Siriins awesome power rendered them into rubble. Soon enough he was emerging from the cave, the lair of the asuras left smoking and devastated in his wake. Here Siriin could offer no more guidance, but he remembered the way to the settlement well enough. He arrived back at the gourd-like building in good time. Within the thorny fence, all the patrol groups were gathered. He and Siriin could not agree whether it was good or horrible timing. As he approached the building, the gathered sylvari crowded around him, many of them asking about the exceptional weapon in his hand. Dohar held the bow up before him, the figurine of Siriin catching the midday sun perfectly. "It is Kudzu, a boon from the Pale Tree." He stowed the weapon away again, silently apologising. "I need to speak to your captain," The blue sylvari stepped through the crowd around him. "With no onlookers."

The captain nodded slowly. "Everyone else, back to your work. If the asurans come looking, I want to know." The crowd dispersed, the patrol groups quickly moving back into the jungle. Omanna turned back to Dohar. "Follow me, I have an office of sorts at the top."

As the ascended the ramp, he removed the bow from its sheath, holding it at his side. The office was understandably sparse, a couple scrolls on a black panther furs on the floor and some stoppered gourds in a corner.

The captain sat down on one of the furs. "I hope you will excuse the lack of furniture. We have not had any other caravans come to our settlement yet, and our crafts-folk have not had the time to themselves to make any."

He sat down heavily on the other fur. "I found Siriin."

The surprise was plain on her face. "What? Where is she now, is she still in the lair?"

Dohar held the bow out towards Omanna. "Hold it in your own hands, she will show your herself.

While she clearly did not understand, she carefully accepted the weapon. As she held it, the silence in the room grew more acute. He could see in her eyes that she was experiencing something like what he had seen when he had found it. Eventually she handed it back slowly. "I see," the captain held a hand to her head, a pained expression on her face. "If only we had known."

He laid the bow in his lap. "You had no way of knowing. The lair was heavily damaged, you should have an easier time in the region for a while."

Omanna slowly nodded. "Thank you Do-," she held up a hand in apology. "Thanks to both of you. If I might ask, what will you do now?"

Dohar looked down at the figurine. "We each have a promise to keep first, but then we're leaving."

"Leaving where?"

"Leaving the Maguuma entirely. There is a whole other world out there, beyond the jungle. Mother will have to track us down if she wants to use us further."
Dawn came. Omanna sent a patrol group south to send word to the Grove of their situation now that they had time, and Dohar followed them for a while. Eventually they came to a fork in the road at the edge of a familiar clearing. As the farewells had been said, he turned to look at a familiar stone-walled garrison, a raven-haired human waiting on its walls.