The warm, salty air of the bay blew through the trees of the Eastern Green Sea, re-routing like a river before blowing shut the lid of a small woven basket next to a sleeping, wood-elf child. Her dark hair cascaded down her shoulders in a fishtail braid, her light-colored tunic with fine golden embroidery around the edges, sometimes swirling into the shapes of flowers or celestial bodies. Her skin was the color of freshly baked bread cooling on the window-sill.
She slowly opened her eyes, which were as yellow as honey, and yawned before realizing that she had fallen asleep. She grabbed her basket and got up quickly, making her way down the path. She laughed as her bare feet jumped over the small branches and leaves, and when she felt the softer texture of the moss that surrounded the old witch's house in the forest outside her village, she knew she had made it to her destination.
"Mama Lark, I'm here!" she called out as she walked by the brightly colored flowers and herbs that decorated her clearing. A small gruffmutt ran up to meet her, its piglike face snorting in happiness as it got into a playful bow, showing its thick black and red fur, before rolling onto its back, exposing his belly. She bent down and started petting him. "Oh, of course I came to see you too, Shadehoof."
"You spoil him, you know," a female voice called out from the house, opening the door after a few seconds. Standing in the doorway was a Shadar-Kai with an angular face and gray skin, wearing a simple peasant's dress, but sewn and fashioned in a way that showed she had a history of regality. Her eyes were a bright shade of blue, which almost glowed. She carried an empty basket at her side. "If you tire him out too much, he won't have the energy to chase away the rabbits from my garden."
Her jet-black hair had streaks of silver running through it, cascading down in a thick braid that reached her mid-back. A few stray wisps of hair framed her face, the edges showing hints of deep blue. These hints of color seemed like remnants of her younger days, a touch of vibrancy against the otherwise grayscale tones of her race.
The child reached into her woven basket and took out a scone wrapped in brown paper. She held it in front of the gruffmutt for a few seconds to get his attention before throwing it.
"Shadehoof, sit!" Mama Lark called out as the animal disobeyed. He leapt through the air into the bushes, and they heard sounds of eating. She sighed and looked back at the girl. "Shouldn't you be preparing for the braid festival, Solenrae?"
Solenrae turned, showing her intricately braided hair, jewels, and ribbons decorating it and reflecting the light as the sun rays hit it.
"Do you like it? I've been practicing so I can do it tomorrow and win the top prize!" Solenrae said with excitement as she tried to look over her shoulder to see the reaction. Mama Lark smiled and tucked her basket under her arm, mimicking an applause. Solenrae turned back around and moved closer. "I feel like something's missing, though. I was hoping you had some kind of pretty plant that I can put in my hair, too?"
"Hmm, you know, I have just the thing," Mama Lark said with a smile. She put her basket down and beckoned the girl to follow her into the house.
As Solenrae stepped through the door, it took her bright eyes a second to adjust to the dim lighting. She always loved when she was allowed into Mama Lark's house because it always smelled of herbs, incense, flowers, and something spicy that she could never tell.
"Sit here, little sunflower," Mama Lark said as she pointed to the singular chair at the table.
When Solenrae was seated, she handed her an intricately designed silver and black mirror, then walked over to a small shrine set in the corner of the house. She gently picked up an ornate box covered by a cloth that looked like interwoven raven wings wrapped around a crest Solenrae had never seen before.
Solenrae had seen her crying at the shrine a few times when she had come unannounced, and likely this is what she was doing in the house earlier today. Solenrae had begun her loud arrival and playtime to give her time to collect herself before coming out.
Mama Lark walked back over to the young elf and placed the box in front of her, opening it up to reveal a crystalline flower whose petals reflected all the colors of the rainbow.
Solenrae gasped in awe at the mesmerizing beauty of the flower. She gently extended a finger, cautiously touching the petals, which felt as delicate as gossamer, yet sturdy in its own right.
"This is a Moonshade Bloom," Mama Lark explained softly, the weight of countless memories heavy in her eyes. "A rare relic from the Shadowfell, it thrives under the light of the crescent moon. It's a symbol of enduring beauty in the face of darkness and adversity."
Solenrae looked up, her youthful eyes filled with questions. "Why have you kept it hidden? And... why give it to me?"
Mama Lark paused, considering her words. "It was a gift from someone very dear to me, a reminder of a life and a world I once knew. But beauty is meant to be shared, not locked away. Besides," she added, her eyes twinkling with mischief, "it'll make your braid look absolutely stunning."
Carefully, Mama Lark took the Moonshade Bloom and with skilled fingers, wove it into Solenrae's braid, making it the centerpiece of her intricate hair design. The flower seemed to gleam even brighter, casting iridescent hues around the dim room.
Solenrae gazed at her reflection, her eyes wide with wonder. "It's beautiful, Mama Lark. But... are you sure?"
"Of course, I am." She said, definitively. "Now you should run back to the village. Spend enough time with the village witch and you just might become one."
Mama Lark hunched over and pretended to be a monster, the gray skin showing warmth that would look out of place in her homeland. Solenrae put the mirror down and squealed running out the front door and grabbing her basket. Mama Lark moved gracefully to the door, and when she looked out, saw Solenrae standing still on the path to the entrance of the refuge. She was frozen in place looking forward at a cloaked figure standing at the gate. Mama Lark walked up behind Solenrae and put a hand on her shoulder, the young girl backing up slightly and pushing herself into the safety of Mama Lark's dress.
"Can I help you?" Mama Lark asked, in a way that clearly meant to get away. "I'm afraid I'm unable to make any love potions or poisons that you might be seeking today."
The wind stopped blowing through the clearing, as if it was waiting to see what was about to happen. The bees, and even Shadehoof watched with anticipation.
"Is that your daughter?" Asked the cloaked figure, her voice steady. "Would you sacrifice her as well?"
Mama Lark's eyes looked as though she had been stabbed, the sharp intake of breath scared Solenrae who wrapped her arms around her, which brought Mama Lark back to reality. She bent down slightly and spoke calmly to Solenrae.
"Sunflower, can you take Shadehoof for a walk to the village? I need some ingredients from town that should be waiting for me at the inn. If you bring him there and attach the satchel the innkeeper gives you to his collar he'll bring it right back to me," Mama Lark said with a smile. When Solenrae went to protest, Mama Lark put up a hand. "No buts. Now go, you need to keep practicing your braids."
Solenrae turned her gaze to the cloaked figure before letting go of Mama Lark's leg. She called for Shadehoof who jumped from the bushes and ran to her side. She grabbed him and they walked through the gate. As they did, the cloaked figure's hand quickly grabbed the girl by the arm, revealing her gray skin with black lines tattooed into it. Solenrae looked up to see piercing blue eyes looking back at her from the shadows of the cloak. The arm pulled her forward a bit so she could get a good look at the back of her hair and the flower now decorating it.
"Moonshade Bloom?" The figure said, anger building in her voice. She reached forward for it. "You cannot ha-"
"No, Mama Lark gave it to me! It's hers, not yours!" Solenrae yelled, pulling away. The figure stood stunned for a moment, then looked back at Mama Lark standing in front of her cabin before waving an arm at Solenrae, letting her go. Solenrae ran off into the woods out of sight.
"Mama Lark? Have you no shame?" The figure said, stepping forward. "How dare you."
"My little Larkspur... it was my way of being close to you," Mama Lark said, tears building in her eyes. "I saw you give your speech at Un'Sael when it was given to you, but I couldn't talk to you. This has been my punishment, but I still wanted to be close in case I-"
The figure rushed forward, drawing a long blade with scarlet engravings that glowed like molten rock. She used her free hand and cast a spell that picked Mama Lark up into the air, and threw her into the wooden structures holding up some of her plants. The figure screamed as she ran up to her, grabbing her by the collar of her dress and lifted her up.
"Sawyn, I'm... I'm sorry, I should have done more to protect you, I-" Mama Lark started before Sawyn tightened her grip on the dress and shook her.
"You should be sorry, but you'll have plenty of time to be even more sorry. Lady Elara Veilrend, you are hereby sentenced to die in a way fitting with your crime." Sawyn said, looking her mother in the eyes that matched her own. "You'll be able to witness what you missed all those years ago."
Tears ran down Elara's face as she reached out to put a hand on Sawyn's cheek.
"I accept my punishment willingly," she said, quietly. "If I had done more..."
"If you had done anything!" Sawyn yelled back. "You let father take me. You knew what he was planning all along!"
"N-no that's not true, Sawyn!" Elara said as she tried to look her daughter in the eye, but instead only saw the same scared little girl that was exiled to a place Elara wouldn't be able to find for years. "He hid it from me too, I didn't-"
Sawyn motioned to the woods, and Zephyrial stepped out. Her hands already casting a spell as chains began to appear out of nowhere wrapping themselves around Elara's body. Once she was fully wrapped, they seemed to roll into themselves like a black hole until Elara was gone.
"She should be in her cell as we speak," The Yuan-Ti sorceress said. "That should be the final piece we need."
Sawyn nodded solemnly.
"Thank you for finding her. I did not think it would have been possible," Sawyn said quietly. "I'll meet you back at vamp, I just want to look around for a second."
Zephyrial nodded and walked off into the woods as Sawyn stepped forward, looking at her mother's hideaway. As she turned to leave, she could just make out two yellow eyes peering back from the bushes. She thought about saying something but instead looked forward and walked off, hoping she could finally leave everything behind.