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After a long journey, going upstream and crossing Antor, marching along the south bank as the north one was a dangerous option for elves:
Finally leave behind the Zher lake, arriving at the High Elven lands of Thilien, as they found the ancient Vanilion road.

Hastur was a bit worried about the two orc children that where the "entourage of the orc queen". Alisha tried to calm him, saying that as they where only orc children, it was enough to give them just some elven clothes and people would think they are servants or slaves of then, not asking further questions...

Hastur wondered for what would serve some servants who behave like monkeys, but that was beside the point:

Before their enter Thilien, the landscape slowly began to change, with some rounded hills, small forests that to the south began to be more dense, and the cultivated lands, as well other signs of elven civilization...

"Where is Tajadora?" suddendly asked Fluffy, noticing that the orc girl dissapeared in silence.

"Tajadora?"

"Or Taja. Is her name" said worried Fluffy... she couldn't be far away, she was sure she was there just a minute ago... An orc kid lost in high elven lands? that could end badly, thought the elves. Fluffy grabbed from the hand the orc boy, meanwhile Alisha and Hastur quickly began to see for traces of Tajadora...

"Put that elf down NOW!" ordered Hastur, as he found the orc girl who wasn't very far away.

"No. I find it. Iz mine! Find yourr own mini-Fluffy" protested the orc girl, hugging a terrified elf girl.

"That's not a mini-Fluffy, is an elf!" said Hastur

"Help please!" cried the little elf to the wild elf she see as her savior in the thilien elven dialect... she was playing innocently, when suddendly that hughe orc appeared from nowhere!

"Kan I keep it?" asked Taja toUncle Ha-hu

"No! Leave her alone!"

"Awww... Zee herr big eyes. How can you zay no to theze eyez?"

"You can't just pick on elven kids!" said angry Hastur.

"Iz not like I want to eat it!" defended herself Taja. "I juzt want a mini-Fluffy!"

"I said leave her!" ordered Hastur, while the elf girl began to cry and arrived Alisha and Fluffy with the orc boy from her hands.

"Fluuuuffyyy! I want a mini-Fluffy! Kan I keep it? Pleaaaze?" begged then Tajadora to Fluffy, showing what she have captured. the orc boy quickly joined to the pettitions to keep that mini-Fluffy they found.

"leave me go! please! please!" struggled the elf girl in the small orc arms.

"No, no, I'm afraid you can't keep her" said Fluffy, taking the girl from the orc kids hands, carefully.

"but I hunted it!" protested Taja. "It's mine!"

"Naemae, that's a dress. You don't use pants with a dress" said Alisha to Fluffy.

"Elven clothes are too complicated" said Fluffy, sighing.

After that, bored of the road, she began to walk in the grass... as she feel and enjoyed the contact with the herbs of her foot, and the warm sky blowing her face, she closed the eyes... and began running in the prairy.

"There we go again" said Hastur with his clucth under his arm, as soon followed Fluffy the two orc childs, laughing and stomping on each flower as only orcs seem to know.

Catched in her own thoughts -or lack of them- Fluffy just run between the grassy hills, enjoying being herself, rather than being Fluffy or Naemae, as the others expected her to be...

Finally, her race ended at the top of a low, grassy hill.

Looking to the horizon, she then turned back.

"Uncle Hastur!" she said. "Uncle!"

"What?" said Hastur, who followed by Alisha, walked with his clutch towards Naemae, while the two orc children rolled in the side of the hills.

"Is there?" she said.

It was then, when Hastur saw the High Elven Palace, home of his people after the fall of Al'Jathis...

"Yes" he said.

"It looks nice!" Fluffy said, smiling.

"The last lost daughter of Al'Jathis return home" Hastur the Lame thought, happy...

"What did I say about that?!"

"Awww, you are just jealous because you can't get a mini-Fluffy in your own!"

"You can't have elves like pets!"

"Mataelfo had a Fluffy! I want my own mini-Fluffy!"

"No mini-Fluffy for you!"

"But she was following me! I can't leave her all alone like that!"

"No is no!"

"Awww. Uncle Ha-hu is a meanie"

"Even the ambassador is present at our marriage!" said proud Alisha, as she hold the hand of her groom. Hastur "The Lame" Firemane was clearly umcomfortable in his own wedding party, with so many people around, of his own old village of Al'Jathis, aside from the servants and slaves of the high elven palace of the Manw in Thilien, who where there enjoying free food, music and dance. The presence of the Ambassador Manw and some of his concubines was indeed a surprise, as often the High elves looked down the wild elven traditions and festivities.

"He is only there for the free-booze, that freeloader" said Hastur, frowning.

"Oh, don't be like that!" smiled Alisha, as she dragged Hastur around.

"I didn't wanted to dance because my leg hurt! You will breake it again!" protested Hastur, as Alisha make him be way more sozial that he wanted.

"Hey! Neat headdress!" said Luthien to the niece of Hastur.

"Thanks! It was a gift from my husband!" said Fluffy.

"Oh! It's nice! But I don't recognice the patron..."

"It's orcish!" she said.

"Oh! How exotic!"

"Fluffy! Fluffy! Look! I got a mini-Fluffy!" said Tajadora, showing happy her new toy.

"Oh, that's wonderful" said Fluffy. She had seen, when the ambassador gave her the puppet. Then, she looked it more closely. "Wait... what happened to theprevious mini-fluffy?she asked.

"She is back there" Tajadora said, pointing to a scared elf child and her angry mother.

"If you can't take care of your orcs Naemae, keep them in the barn!!" said the elven mother angrily to Fluffy.

"I'm so sorry!" said Fluffy. "It will not happen away!"

As the mother and son left away, Fluffy turned to the orc child.

"I mean, what happened to the mini-fluffy before that one?"

"I wanted to play with it, and so my brother! We began to struggle for it, and it broke appart!" said angry Tajadora.

"And why didn't you both played with it?"

"It was MY Fluffy! He didn't had the right to play with it!"

"And because you where fighting, you lost your mini-Fluffy." Fluffy said. "What would be the lesson then, if such thing happen again?"

"I will kick his ass, if he try to steal my mini-Fluffy again!!!" said decided Taja.

...that wasn't the point, but sometimes some advices where just lost to orcs.

"And from where did you get this mini-Fluffy?"

"AuntyLu-thudid it for mer!" she said with a smile.

"And where is the previous one?"

Taja, embrasing her new doll, guided Fluffy to the hut where theentourage of the orc queenwas living. Once there, Fluffy saw the doll made after her image, gift of Ambassador Manw, with an arm torn.

"That should be easy to fix" Fluffy said to Tajadora with a smile. "Then, there will be two mini-fluffies, so you can share it with your brother!"

"two mini-fluffies for ME? Like Grandmother?"

"For you and you brother" said Naemae, as she picked up the torn appart doll.

"two mini-fluffies for ME!"

The weeding for Hastur Firemane the Lame and Alisha, following the tradition of the wild elves of AlJathis, lasted for three days.

While the first day was the public union of wife and husband, the next day, while the guests of the marriage continued with the party and festivities, the newly married couple secluded to themselves, giving them in such way time for their souls to become a single one. Finally, the third way, it was seen according to their culture, that the two elves returned as two parts of a same thing.

Since the return of the last daughter of AlJathis, Fluffy or as know by her people, Naemae-, she had meet again many people who said to remember her from her early childhood. Uncles, aunts, cousins, and a lot of other familiar relations which had their own specific elven name, but which meaning Fluffy ignored. Living so much more than the orcs she normally lived with, elves had much more clear the familiar links between different individuals of a community, reason why such words existed, specially in a community like once was alJathis.

Incapable of remembering all the specific relations, Naemae just called them Aunt, uncle or cousin, while smiling to them.

Many where rather intrigued about the last of the lost daughters of AlJathis, and asked Fluffy question after questions so when the Chief Hunter asked her to come along, to talk with her, during the second day of the marriage of Hastur, Fluffy did so, following the male elf.

They walked away from the palace of the Manw, into the small village where the servants of the state lived. While on her travels as a slave of the dwarven caravan of Wrall & Son Stone Trade Company Fluffy did saw many buildings, villages, palaces and fortresses, she had always see them just as she passed bye, and never living in them. And so, she always wondered what would be living in one of these stone houses, like the ones build in the Thilien architectural style.

Here said the Chief Hunter, pointing one of the larger buildings of the village, but otherwise similar looking to the other stone houses.

However, as soon Fluffy entered on it, she was hit by memories of a past self, she thought she had forgotten. She looked around, but instead of the stone walls, the interior of the house was of wood and crafted wooden pillars, the dirt floor partially covered in carpets, with some carpets and other decorations hanging from the walls. But what made her remember more, was the smell the smell of a forgotten home.

Young Naemae said a voice in the shadows, near a dying fire. Fluffy looked in her direction, seeing a very old elf woman, sitting. Come here by my side, so my tired eyes can give you a better look.

Fluffy did so obediently, and compelled with a hand gesture, she sat by the side of the elder.

My my, how quick the younglings grow! You are all an elf lady now! the elder said, while Fluffy looked around the building why it was so familiar to her?

The Mistress of the Palace didnt wanted us to build our houses in our traditional style explained the Chief Hunter, as he sat by the side of the two elven women. However, we build our communal hall, from inside, to be like our own in the old alJathis.

Fluffy smelled the hair. The scent, of some flowers, wild plants, cooking and herbs, made her remember some images of her lost home. As she saw the old elf smile, she knew that the surging of these memories was something wanted by her.

Here, have some tea, dear the elder elf said. It will be good for your memory. Both for remembering and for keeping what will be said.

This time, what gathered the Chief Hunter and Akhara, the elder of the tribe, wasnt simple curiosity. For long hours, Akhara spoke to Naemae, telling the epic of their people.

From how their first ancestors, first looked to the stars when Gods Walked on Aiers, and how they cowered in fear, during the War of the Gods. Then, she told her how these distant ancestors decided to march, leaving their first homelands of forgotten name that where turning into a frozen swamp, to crossing the bridges of screaming ice, and how after a long migration, they arrived to their new home, in the gentle lands of Haelfinel. There, their ancestors thrived, and the first stones of civilization where set. She told then the names of the heroes, of the long past elven wars that ragged in the old continent, between the High Elves and the terrible Hakes of Doom. As the elven wars ended, their ancestors needed a new quest, which will be the one of conquering a world, the gods had granted to them. They crossed the seas, and fighting orc, beast-men and dark elf alike, they proud ancestors founded the kingdom of Antariel, having rightfully claimed the plains of Antor, once a rich land.

She was told then of the arrival of the sky people, the humans and as well, of the treacherous actions of the invading orcs.

Then, Naemae learned of the Fall: the Fall of Antariel, and the other High elven kingdoms of Zarhuy, one by one, as they where too few to face the invaders, and to prideful to ask for help, and to give it to their former rivals of the other high elven kingdom and colonies.

She learned of fallen cities, sacked palaces and burned lands, of enslavement and decimation of their people, and how no refugee or safe haven was left for the survivors of Antariel, but to become errant nomads of the plains, that consumed by the orc horde, had become barren.

This was the epic, as Akhara eared it from her elders, in the same way her elder then young, learned it from her elders, and so on until the Time When Gods Walked on Aiers.

Then, she told her what she had lived, and what she had learned. How the errant survivors had become tribes, and how these tribes came to settle down in a territory by them claimed. She was told, how AlJathis was founded, and how it looked like. Who where her ancestors, and her family: their people, and their customs, and in such way, Fluffy was told who was her, Naemae, named in such way as namesake of her aunt Naemae, so her spirits lived by her, carried in her memory, as their ancestors was carried in the memory of their descendants.

Then, Naemae learnt about the raid and destruction of AlJathis, and the survival of their people, transplanted to Thilien.

These are my words, and the words of our ancestors. Remember them, so they may live by with you Akhara said, as she finished her tale.

Fluffy, who now was as well Naemae not only for Hastur, but for herself, nodded to the elder elf.

Now dear what you can tell of you? Hastur and Alisha had toll us some parts of it, but we want to hear a bit more? How did you survive so long in your own?

Well, I wasnt on my own always Naemae said. For much, I had my clan, who protected and helped me she said, thinking of her orc family. Slavery with the dwarves was hard and difficult but it was interesting, nonetheless! But then, I was liberated, and now Im married and are again with my clan! she added with a smile.

My poor dear! Must have been so hard said Akhara.

Your clan? asked the Chief Hunter, thinking that after the wars against the Orc Queen, there remained no Wild elven clans in the north bank of the Great River, but only the brave orc hunters bands who dared to venture there, and some errant elves.

Yes! said Fluffy, thinking in her orc family.

And you live in the north bank of the Great River? the Chief Hunter asked interested. And which is the name of your clan?

Yes! However, our village was destroyed by some raiders not long ago, and many where lost told to them Fluffy, remembering the elven orc-hunters. and my clan is the Wargh!

Damn raiders said the Chief Hunter, thinking in the orcs. Thats why, no Wild elven villages where to be found anymore in the north bank. the Wargael clan? I hadnt heard about it before he added, as he tried to remember the different wild elven nations.

Many of us survived the raid Fluffy said, seeing the worried face of the Chief Hunter and Akhara. We retreated to the swamp, where UncleHa-huand the Goat-elf live. It have been hard, but we are getting by!

Uncle Ha-hu? asked the Chief Hunter.

Hastur said Akhara, making it clear. And the Goat-elf? You mean, the White Hermit is still alive?

The last time we saw him, at least! Fluffy said. He is on a journey, and left us settle down in his swamp island! or she think he said they could settle there, Naemae thought. She really didnt remember if he said that or not, but Mataelfo said it was implicit, so she took his word for good. He knows what he does!-
In the swamp near alJathis? And is safe there for your clan? the Chief Hunter asked interested.

Very safe! well, not so much. The swamp can be tricky, but precisely because of that is safe against raiders! explained Fluffy. She didnt remembered much of it when Mataelfo explained her the defensive qualities of the swamp island, and she didnt understood much of it either, but she remembered well how her husband assured her, it was safe.

The Chief Hunter pondered her words. An elf settlement, near the ruins of alJathis? It was safe? When destroyed, alJathis was poorly defended. Living by the terror caused by the shadow of Hastur the Lame to the orc warbands, they forget that vigilance was the price of freedom, and they left the walls decay. In many nights, he wondered how different would have been, if they had proper defenses in that fatidic night. Would the orcs even try to attack a better defended village? Would they have been able to repel them?

In the past years, since the destruction of alJathis, they seeked for refugee in Thilien, the high elven controlled lands. When the High elves launched their wars against the unified orc horde under the Orc Queen, many of the young survivors of alJathis joined the armies marching against the Queen of the Orcs, hoping to claim back the lost lands, Some even dreamed, of founding again the elven kingdoms of Antor.

But as the Orc Queen defeated one after one the armies of the High elves of Vanilion, Nortolon and Rhonion, of the wild elves and of the savage elves, the armies of the human kingdoms and of the Dwarven Confederation of Kaiehm and the banners of the Orange Sun, such hopes where lost.

And as the allied armies retreated, the Orc Horde under their Queen marched to the south, over Thilien, and again the refugees of AlJathis had to abandon their haven, retreating to the south, to Vanilion.

When the Orc army stopped at the gates of Vanilion, without any reason, disbanding and the orc queen disappearing in the dust, they found surprised the Manw state wasnt sacked or destroyed by the ravaging Orc Horde but the north bank, had become since then, orc lands.

But an elven settlement in the swamp, near alJathis? An island in the swamp heard like it was an excellent refugee. A place where his people could again become proud descendants of Antariel, rather than servants of the vanili. To become again hunters, and that a tittle as his own Chief Hunter- had a meaning, rather than being Toy Makers, and poachers if they hunt the game, reserved to the masters of Thilien

And what if?...

Naemae Do you think your people will be willing to receive us, the people of alJathis, among them?

What are you thinking? asked Akhara to the Chief Hunter. Was he returning again with his fantasies of claiming back alJathis? but she couldnt avoid to think as well, how nice would be to see the land that was so dear to her again and to be buried along with her ancestors and family, rather than in a foreign land, when her time come

We will do our part of course, and will be working hard! the Chief Hunter said

Of course they will like it! said Fluffy. Orcs always appreciated when they hadnt to actually work, and leave it to somebody else to work for them!

Thanks the Chief Hunter said. It was something that was going to need much more meditation, and the approval of all the survivors of alJathis but he knew, many where tired of the life of servitude, and would be willing to take the risks to return to their appreciated freedom, and their former lands