• • Aludra is most often seen alone due to Kelywn's sickness from the curse. She has devoted herself to the research of different dimensions in hopes of locating Tir na nÓg to have Kelwyn's curse removed.

Mate: Quote:

Kelwyn "Where Kelwyn goes, I follow."

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Aludra followed Kelwyn all the way to the Sunbeam ruins to check on their son, Kresh, knowing full well it would be a one-way journey. Kelwyn arrived at their destination more dead than alive.

She hadn't been worried about their son until she saw how prepared the light clan was for their arrival and heard the report about wisps. Remi, her daughter-in-law, was highly susceptible to the lure of wisps. Back in Arboreus Kelwyn helped find Remi when she'd wandered after the glowing bog lights one summer evening. After that incident Kelwyn taught Kresh how to avoid them, who in turn taught all the other clan hatchings. Remi never quite caught on.

If Remi once again lost her way then there was no doubt Kresh went after her despite it being dangerous to go alone.

Kelwyn wanted to go searching immediately. Of course she did too, but instead she began humming an old wind lullaby. It took Kelwyn a moment before he recognized it and his eyes grew wide at her betrayal. He tried to cast a counterspell, but fatigue caused him to botch it the first time. She continued on, weaving more magic into her song until Kelwyn couldn't stay awake any longer. Maybe he'd forgive her some day, but she wouldn't lose both of them.

"Show me my son's den." Everyone had scurried away to give Kelwyn and her privacy, but one small fae flitted into view immediately. "It's on the edge of the wisp zone and off limits." "Then point me in the right direction and I'll get there myself." As long as it wasn't too far away, she'd be safe enough. "I'll take you," the pale yellow guardian who greeted them earlier offered. She left without waiting for Aludra's response.

Kresh had lived quite a ways a part from the rest of the clan, just like his father. "How much further?" "We should have reached it by now." Aludra stopped, but didn't see any wisp light in her peripherals, though an unnatural twilight had closed around them. "Is it straight on from here?" "Yes." "Close your eyes and focus on your brightest light spell. Do. NOT. Move. You'll be my beacon; I'm going on ahead." Instead of responding, the guardian began to glow.

Aludra trekked on ahead, nervous about not seeing even a glimpse of a wisp a long the way. She was so focused at watching from the corners of her eyes that she failed to see the three glowing orbs until they were only a few feet away. She stopped and closed her eyes. After awhile she peeked at them and saw they hadn't moved at all. And even stranger than that was they were really dim.

Aludra took a chance and walked towards them, but they didn't port away. Another step took her into a cave that had a familiar scent. Her eyes adjusted and she saw the hat she'd given Kresh along with other items he and Remi owned. And in the back of the cave was a nest with three dimly glowing eggs.

Aludra had no experience with light eggs, but she knew dim wasn't good. She made a sling out of her sylvan dress and quickly loaded up the eggs, worrying if she'd be able to make it back quick enough. As soon as she made it out of the cave there was no question which direction to go. A bright light flared up in the distance encircled by many smaller ones which she set out for.

"Don't open your eyes!" Aludra called out as she approached the bizarre scene. The wisps seemed fixated on the guardian. "Try taking a step backwards." The guardian obliged and the wisps moved in unison with her. Aludra had never seen this behavior before. "Keep slowly walking backwards until I tell you to stop." Aludra hoped that a wisp escort would cut down on travel time through the twilight.

It didn't even take half the time to make it to the border. "Stop! Slowly dim your light, but keep your eyes closed." As soon as the central light was gone, the wisps began to scatter. Aludra closed her eyes to be safe and kept walking forward until she brushed against the guardian. "It's just an imp length this way."

They walked side by side until Aludra could see the morning sun on her eyelids and opened them. "Eggs!" The guardian was already pulling back the makeshift sling and inspecting them. "So dim... we must get them back to the clan quickly."

Kelwyn was still asleep when they returned. After the eggs were inspected more thoroughly and declared healthy enough, she placed them next to Kelwyn and curled up beside them. "It's alright Kresh, we'll take care of them," she whispered before falling asleep.


Time seemed to move so slowly for them, yet still it moved. Kresh's last clutch had grown and gone, the clan had expanded their underground caverns, and, most importantly, Kelwyn had grown stronger. It was time to propose a change.

"I want to move to the Windswept Plateau - to the Cloudsong."

Kelwyn nodded.

If her theory was correct, an extended period of time away from the ground would help weaken the shackles of Kelwyn's curse. If her theory was wrong... she clutched the teleportation stone she's been pouring all her mana into since they first got there, hoping it wouldn't need to be used.

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