Embers in the Dust

They stood in silence for a moment, then Leaf stepped back as Myla and Mr. Muffins started their barrage on Lyla.

“Why would you do that?”

“What were you thinking?”

“I didn’t know it could do that!”

“You could have been gone forever!”

“We don’t even know where it is now. What if you had gotten stuck?”

“Guys… I’m okay. I swear.”

Lyla collapsed into Myla’s arms, and Rhokhishi stood and watched. He was proud of her for facing the dragon head-on, but was shocked by the fear she felt in watching her disappear like that. She had been unable to help, and it scared her. She wanted to run up and hold her, too, but knew it would be unhelpful to overwhelm her. Instead, she looked beside her to see a figure standing next to her.

She was roughly the same height as the twins, with silver hair and pale skin. She had elven ears, and wore gray pants and a long-sleeve shirt, but had a black, sleeveless coat, a purple binder, and black boots that came above her knees. In her right hand she held a black staff, both ends purple with symmetrical, gray, feather-like protrusions coming from it.

“Hello, Rhokhishi,” She stated with a large smile.

“Gisela?”

Gisela nodded, and Rhokhishi took a step back to examine her further. He had never seen her at this size. He wasn’t sure if it was her magic, able to enlarge herself, or something else. She wasn’t the muscly woman she knew before, but slender, and her eyes were wide with excitement. Rhokhishi’s examination was interrupted, though, as she knocked into someone else behind her.

Turning, she saw a young elven man, with long brownish-red hair and scraggly clothes. He was bone-thin, and his fingers were covered in dirt and grime. Gazing at his expression, Rhokhishi followed his eyesight to Leaf, who looked stunned, staring back at him. He stepped forward slowly. Unsure of what to do, she grabbed her warhammer, then turned to Gisela, gesturing to see if she knew him. Gisela shook her head, then watched.

“You…” Leaf’s voice trailed off.

“It’s me.”

“S-Stop.”

Leaf held his hand out, defensively.

“How do I know it’s you?”

“Like this.”

The elf reached out and held Leaf’s hand. He brought it up to his face, and Rhokhishi saw tears start to form in both of their eyes. The elf leaned down and kissed Leaf’s lips, shocking everyone standing nearby.

“How?”

“I don’t know. I woke up, and your mother said you left, so I followed.”

“You saw my mother?”

“Yeah,” he laughed. “I think I made her shit herself, she was so scared.”

He reached up and held the necklace Leaf wore around his neck.

“You still wear it?”

“Every day.”

Leaf laughed, then brought the elf closer to him, enveloping themselves in a long hug.

“Uh, Leaf?” Lyla interrupted.

“I’m sorry. Are these your friends, Leaf?”

“Yeah.”

“Hello, my name is Wulfgar.” The elf stated with a smile.

“And who are you?” Rhokhishi asked.

“It’s a long story, but I’m Leaf’s…”

He looked down at Leaf, trying to discern the right word. Leaf smiled, then looked at his friends.

“My dead partner?”