Despite how desperately she'd awaited them, Ysondra jumped when Dentaria and Navara appeared at the top of the stairwell.

She'd been sitting on the edge of her bed, staring into the blue and white that shown through her window. The thought of leaving had kept her awake during the night, but she still couldn't help but bounce her heels against the floor while she waited. And when Dentaria's greeting came from the stairwell, she let out a tiny shriek, shoulders hiking on their posts. She whirled around, facing them with widened eyes and goosebumps up and down her arms.

Dentaria's eyes widened, though otherwise she didn't seem surprised by the movement. Navara stood dutifully beside her, ever watching and observing.

A smile stretched across Ysondra's face. She jumped up from the bed and took a step forward, facing them fully.

"I can go?" she asked, taking another step towards the exit.

Dentaria arched a brow, stopping Ysondra in her tracks. "Do not be so quick to leave," she told her. "There are precautions to take first."

Ysondra stopped, frowning.

Dentaria turned to her apprentice. "Navara will be accompanying you, to lead you. You are still sick, so I can not let you explore very far. Besides that, you can stay out as long as you like." The woman grinned back at her.

Ysondra frowned. 'I'm a patient, not a prisoner. I can leave when I want.' Her fists clenched behind her back, but beyond that her expression was unchanged. She blinked, and slowly nodded.

The priestess grinned, and strode towards her. "I am glad you are well enough to do these things. Truly glad." She raised a hand and brushed it against Ysondra's cheek, causing Ysondra to flush. 'Oh,' Ysondra thought, suddenly guilty. 'She is glad.' Dentaria took a step back, simultaneously unblocking her path, as Ysondra rocked back onto her heels. "Now, go. Enjoy yourself. I will be here if you have any need of me."

She turned away from Ysondra, retreating to her desk. Ysondra grinned. She flew towards the stairwell, floorboards creaking beneath her. She caught a glimpse of the apprentice's bewildered expression just before hearing a shrill 'oh,' from the girl and a snicker from Dentaria.

Her eyes widened and she screeched to a stop in the middle of the staircase, whirling to face the girl. "I'm sorry," she stammered, giving the girl a wide, toothy grin, though Navara appeared bewildered. "Please, walk with me."

Navara blinked, and quickly grinned, taking a step forward. "Of course," she clutched at her skirts, the silks slipping off and over her feet as she walked. "My apologies, you move so fast, I..."

Ysondra blinked. "Don't worry about it," The priestess came down to her level and stopped, glancing to her. Ysondra frowned in response. "Where are we going?"

Navara held her hands behind her back. "I am only permitted to escort you around the Inn," she told her.

Ysondra's mouth twisted at that. "Can't we go outside?" her eyes brightened.

Navara frowned, and shook her head. "I'm sorry, Lady Dentaria says you are too ill to leave the Inn. She's only permitted me to take you through the rooms here."

Ysondra sighed, and looked to her feet. Her toes fidgeted. She'd expected Dentaria to give her more options than one building. When she looked up again the girl was smiling down at her, but when the priestess caught Ysondra's frown, her eyes widened, and she looked away. Ysondra's mouth twisted. A part of her suddenly felt very guilty.

"I'm sorry, the staying in the inn will be fine," she told the girl. The priestess looked back at her and Ysondra offered a smile.

Navara nodded, perking up again. "There's a view of the ocean downstairs," she told her. "Even if you can't go outside, you can see a lot, and when the wind blows the water covers you in mist!" Navara stood a little taller, hands coming out from behind her back.

Ysondra's eyes widened. "Really?" She whirled around, jogging down the steps. It took only a moment for Navara to catch up to her, a small look of surprise on her features. "How often do you come here?" she came into the room and slowed, looking down the rows of beds. She blinked. Some of the covers were over turned, a few books lying on night stands; but only one or two people occupying the beds, and they were fast asleep. She strode past a bed and ran a hand over the wooden edge, sucking in a breath as she felt its smooth surface. "Who lives here? I mean, stays here?"

Navara took a few steps forward, glancing back and forth. Ysondra glanced over her face and saw her hands reach behind her back, fingers quickly coming together. "These are where the patients stay," the priestess told her. "The few we have, at least... the few we still have." Her mouth twisted. "I'm sorry, what did you ask?" her eyes widened. "Oh, yes, I come here every so often, though not so much anymore. The wounded need their rest."

Ysondra took a few steps forward, and Navara tensed in response. Ysondra stopped, looking around for the disturbance only to come upon a sleeping form, resting on a bed just ahead. She sucked in a breath, and quickly moved to the other side of the room, Navara just behind her.

Navara clutched at her bodice, briefly staring back at the sleeping form. "Blessed be Elune," she murmured, just loud enough for Ysondra to her. She frowned at the words, but turned away and continued forward. They were coming to the end of the room.

A gust of wind washed over her, and she stopped. Her hair whipped over her head and over her back, only a few stray strands stuck in front of her face. She rubbed her arms, feeling the goose bumps pop up over her skin. She smiled. "Does it always smell so heavenly?" she asked, inhaling through her nose.

When Navara came forward Ysondra was surprised to see the girl grinning. "I'd like to say it does, but honestly, it's only this nice in the spring." The priestess closed her eyes, taking in a breath as the wind began to fade. Her smile widened.

The hem of her dress whipped around her legs, and Ysondra quickly gathered the ends in her fists. Her nose twisted. 'Stupid wind,'

Navara walked past her, hair flowing across her back. "Come, Ysondra," she said, just as she reached the edge of the room. "You must look out, it's truly gorgeous,"

Ysondra smiled, and quickly followed, letting her skirt fall. She could see the ocean from the stairwell, but when she looked over the edge her face was met with a gust of spray. Her hair flew back and she nearly stumbled, but she managed to keep herself grounded. When the wind met a reprieve and she opened her eyes, she watched a wave smash against a rock and turn into a millions tiny bits of spray, before receding back into the ocean from which it came.

She closed the distance between herself and the edge and sat down, swinging her legs over the edge. She peered down, kicking her heels against the wooden rim while silently reveling at the sound of waves in her ears and the mist in her hair.

Navara strode over to her, a frown on her face. "I'd be careful. We are not permitted to sit over the edge like th-"

"Apprentice Navara."

Both of them stilled. At first Ysondra had expected Dentaria, but she quickly realized how unfamiliar the voice was to her. She turned, eyes wide, and came faced to face with a white-haired elf decked from head to toe in elegant beads and silks.

The woman looked to Navara, who'd gone rigid, and frowned. "Just what are you doing out here, apprentice?"

Ysondra could see Navara's fingers fidgeting behind her back. "Priestess Dentaria gave me orders to escort the patient, I-"

"Yes, I am aware of that," The woman said, eyes flickering to Ysondra. "Ah, you. What is your name?"

Her eyes widened. "Y-Ysondra," she said, blinking.

The priestess frowned. "Is that so? And what of your family name? Do you not have one, child?" the woman demanded.

"I-I don't know," Ysondra mumbled. Her gaze flickered back and forth. "That is, I don't remember,"

"Hmm." the woman's eyes narrowed. "Yes, I do recall Dentaria mentioning that." She said. Her lips pursed, and she swiveled around to Navara, facing her pointedly. "You have created a disturbance, Windeye."

Navara flinched, barely concealing the action. "My apologies, Priestess."

Her eyes sharpened. "Your parents would not be proud."

Navara looked down. "I am aware. It will not happen again."

"These patients are resting. There are not to be any others in here besides the priestess' and the sentinels." her arms crossed over her chest.

Navara looked away. "I am so very sorry, Priestess. I was unaware of the rules."

Ysondra blinked, and spoke, "I'm a patient,"

The priestess turned to her, brows furrowed. The look Ysondra received made her cold inside, and without her will her entire body tensed. 'Oh no,'

The woman's lips pursed. "Yes, child? What of it?"

Ysondra twisted around, facing her fully. "I'm a patient," she repeated, silently trying to find the words for what she had to say. "You said the patients are resting in here. I'm a patient, I can be in here. I'm resting. Navara's a priestess. Therefore, both of us should be allowed in here." She blinked, looking up at the woman. She was well aware of how still Navara had grown beside her.

A corner of the priestess' mouth twisted, but beyond that she gave no sign of anger. "How clever," the woman gave a single snort. She pointed to Ysondra. "You, stand. And come-" She turned away. "-follow."

She spun on her heels and walked across the room.

Navara hurried after her. Ysondra hesitated, then stood, walking quickly to catch up. 'What is this woman talking about?' She slowed as she closed in. "Excuse me, but who are you?" she asked, tilting her head to the side.

The woman let out a little snicker that made Ysondra jump in her step. "Has Dentaria kept you so ignorant?" The woman failed to turn around when she spoke, but Ysondra could tell she was shaking her head. "I am a priestess of the moon," she informed her, an edge coming into the last few words. "More importantly, I am the head priestess in this village," she continued. The woman stopped, just before the room ended and the staircase began, and finally turned to face them.

Navara straightened, managing to gather her hand neatly in front of her dress and hold her head slightly higher. Ysondra looked to her for a moment, but quickly brought her attention back to the woman.

The priestess spoke. "You've given us a fright, Ysondra." she told her, a force in her words that made Ysondra's eyes widen. "In fact, I am beginning to question just what you may be, and who you may be aligned with." The woman's eyes narrowed. "Occurences such as the one you were apart of are rare. For all Elune's guidance I have yet to comprehend how such a feat is possible."

'What? She... my legs? Is that what she wants?' Ysondra's mouth twisted. "Do you mean my legs?"

The priestess frowned. "You will earn your keep here," the woman said instead. "That is final. Until such time as you can be trusted, I will allow you to roam freely through this village." The woman shook her head. "Goddess forbid I allow another atrocity to occur."

Ysondra frowned. 'Atrocity... could she possibly mean...?'

"Navara, your help will be required," The priestess quickly derailed any of Ysondra's thoughts with her words. "Shaldyn'sbody has refused all the spells. Her body needs nourishment. You will tend to her while Dentaria and I attend toGershala,"

The priestess gathered her skirts in her hands and prepared to turn away.

Navara's ears perked up. "Wait," she said, holding a single hand up. The priestess stopped in between steps, letting her gown drop to the floor once again. Navara relaxed, bringing her hand back to her lap. "What of Laird? How is he?" she looked up at the priestess, eyes wide and blinking.

For a moment the woman's eyes seemed to soften, though her mouth remained a firm line. "Laird has passed. The cataclysm has taken him." The priestess looked down. Navara's eyes fell, and after a moment she simply nodded, looking away. Ysondra blinked, suddenly confused. 'Who..?'

After a moment the priestess sighed, turning towards her. "Ysondra, you-"

Her words were cut off by the creak of the stairwell. Each of them looked up. Ysondra smiled, expecting Dentaria to stride down the steps. Her grin quickly descended into a frown; instead of Dentaria striding downstairs there was a sentinel coming upstairs. Ysondra stiffened. 'What? Why-'

The priestess strode forward, calm in her steps, and paused before the stairwell; hands knitted together in her lap. In a swift movement Navara stood beside Ysondra, a presence Ysondra suddenly found comforting. She tensed. 'What's going on?' She looked from the priestess to the sentinel, feeling the tension.

The sentinel jogged up the remainder of the steps, making her way to the woman. "Priestess!" She stopped before her, and the night elves exchanged a brief nod of courtesy.

The priestess gathered her skirts in hand, expression twisting to worry. Ysondra could feel Navara leaning closer over her shoulder.

"Sentinel," The priestess gasped. She let out a long breath, inhaling deeply. "What has brought you here in such haste?" The priestess seemed to hesitate, shoulder's twitching ever so slightly.

"Serendia! I..." The sentinel sucked in a breath. "The trolls have come. They have taken the ruins."