[ WP ] Legends tell of the Elder race who utilized strange `` technologies '' instead of magic . As hordes of brutal killers invade from the north , a young elf heads off to search for ancient ruins , looking for humans ...

It was warm. 
 
 Galadah crouched through the thick underbrush. The strange beast had n't seen her yet, and that was good: her stomach could n't handle it getting away. As it drew nearer, she blew out a dart. The enchanted weapon found home in its neck, startled it for a second, and then caused it to drop dead. She sighed. Meat was far from her favorite food, but after not being able to find anything recognizable in these strange, hot lands, she settled for it anyway. Her supplies had run out suns ago and she was n't sure how much longer she'd have to go on before finding the fabled Others... if they even still existed. It was a foolish undertaking, but in the face of onslaught, even something foolish bested certain death. 
 
 She managed to drag the carcass to the river where she had made camp, her fire still burning. With a *thud* she released the weight of the beast and she plumped down next to the fire. While taking some water from her sack, she noticed a bird on a branch in a tree only a few yards away. Like so many things here, it looked strange, with weird colorful feathers. She lowered the sack. This was perhaps the strangest of the beasts she'd seen until now. It looked like it wore jewelry? She stood up to have a closer look, but by the time she got up the bird was already gone. Such a shame; she loved birds and really wanted to see it up close. With a sigh she took out her Home Stone from a pocket, but its sight did n't do much to lighten her mood: yet another of its facets had gone dark. Almost half of it now had that dull, ominous glance instead of the soft pulsing shimmering she was used to. No time to spare. 
 
 She started skinning the animal and roasted it as fast as the enhanced fire let her. After removing some of the meat for direct consumption and travel provision, she placed a Fresh spell on the roasted meat as she wrapped it back up in some skin. She'd return here within ten suns to scout another path if the one she was going to take now did n't work out. Having fresh food upon her return would make things less complicated. The sun was already starting to sink as she made her way to the top of a rather large tree a bit south of her encampment. The forest was large, without any discernible details that would help her pick her way... Except for a shimmering in the distance. She did n't pick up on it first, dismissing it as just being heat, but now that the sun was going down, temperatures were n't so high anymore that could have been the case. She frowned. Well, at least it was something to investigate, instead of wandering around aimlessly. She took a glance behind her, in the general direction of where her much softer home lands were... And noticed a faint plume of smoke. *Laraina's Curse! They're following me! * She hasted her way down and made sure to hide her meat stash better, then doused her fire and dispelled the smoke. She'd have to move faster even than before. 
 
 When Galadah finally reached where she thought she'd seen the shimmering two suns ago, she found the first sign that her travels might not be in vain. A large city, in ruins... Her Elders had warned her that she might sense an invisible force there, something more evil than that for which she was seeking help. All they had to offer was that she should try and stay clear of it as much as possible. And, indeed, she felt this force, radiating from the city. But she had no choice. If she was going to find the Others, this was her best shot. 
 
 Fate had something else in mind, though. 
 
 As she turned around, two things happened. She first saw the colorful bird again, with it's silver jewelry-like motif. Second, something started to make a noise in the forest edge. Before she had time to react, she was down on the ground with her chest so painful that she suspected at least half her ribs were broken. On top of her was an Imperial Drago beast, it's rider smiling at her with so much hate that it made her nauseous. As she struggled to keep conscious and tried to get the best to remove its paw from her chest, the rider stepped of and removed his helmet. `` Well well, what do we have here Shraga? Looks like a little elf, lost in the world!'' 
 
 The beast snarled and clapped it's bird like beak at her. The warrior laughed and patted its side. `` Seems you eat well tonight. But first... It would be a shame to not use her for a bit more than just food first...'' Her heart skipped a beat. She knew what would be coming. And with that... *thing* on top of her, there was n't much she could do. All her magic was based around defense, not offense, save for the darts, let alone the fact that concentrating on releasing magic with half her ribs broken would prove challenging in normal circumstances, let alone the problem she was in now. And there was no way she could... 
 
 *Thud* 
 
 The warrior came crashing down to his side, a perfect hole pierced right through his chest. The animal let out a deafening screech and made a run for it. It did n't get far before a beam of light put it down as well. With some difficulty she looked to where the beam came from and saw a young woman emerge from the forest as well. She holstered a shiny thing back to her side... And had the strange bird perched on her shoulder. She whistled something to it and it took off with a speed she could n't even begin to comprehend. As she knelled down, Galadah noticed she lacked the ears of her own kind. And she was *tall*. The woman smiled and pressed something against her neck. What followed was the best sleep Galadah had since she had left her Circle... 
 
 ***** 
 
 `` You know it's not policy to intervene in the squabbles of the Neo's, right Diana?'' 
 
 Diana shrugged while she got a coffee from the replicator. `` You should've seen that thing, Nathan. I know evolution takes its own course, but this was more akin to a friggin *dinosaur*. And sorry, but I'm not going to let some barbarian lunatic rape a young girl if I can help it.'' 
 
 At the other end of the briefing room, lieutenant Nathan Gar smirked. `` Right. Female intuition right there. Big guy, little girl, must be a rape going on.'' Diana threw him a look. `` He commanded the beast to work her to the ground so hard that we've been busy for five days repairing all the resulting broken bones and ruptured muscles. And I do n't know what your wife thinks when you're unclasping your belt and pants, but I bet it is n't `` he wants to talk about the lovely weather today'', right?'' 
 
 `` That'll be enough, both of you.'' Counselor Drake stepped into the room and motioned the two of them to sit down. `` We've been reviewing the girl's biometric data. Things are off. We were n't sure, but after reviewing the videos from your dronebird, Diana, we can only come to one conclusion.'' The counselor motioned to the vidscreen. The girl was seen moving her hands while a green glow enveloped the animal she had prepared. `` Next to the fact that we confirmed that the animal she had roasted was done -in a mere thirty minutes- our investigative squad found that the meat she had stowed away was still warm.'' 
 
 Nathan shook his head. `` So? Probably just rest warmth. And thirty minutes? Get lost. I'll bet you that half of it is now infested with maggots.'' Diana smirked as she took a sip. `` You really do n't want to hear it, do you?'' Counselor Drake sighed and sat down too. `` We had a hard time believing it, too. But it's true. We brought in the stashed meat and it's *still* hot. I'm sorry, Nathan. But Diana was right...'' 
 
 Gar shook his head again and stood up. `` I'll prove that it's all a sham. This is n't over yet.'' The force with which he closed the door made it all the more clear that he was pretty annoyed. With just the two of them left, the counselor turned his attention to Diana. `` That leaves us with a new problem: what are we going to do with a girl -an *elf*, as you say- that uses magic?'' Diana looked into her coffee for a bit. `` It's evident she came looking for us. None from beyond The Border have come this way since it went up, yet here she is, with a barbarian in hot pursuit. I think we should just ask her...'' 
 
 ***** 
 
 A lot is left open, so more story could easily flow from this. For now, if you guys'n gals liked this, [ here's my personal sub ] ( https: //www.reddit.com/r/TheAlcove/ ): - )
