StarHawk/NelVSEleria

Eleria sat on the prow of the ship as they travelled to the Waterfalls. This would not be easy... She wished she wasn't the one that had to do it... "Nel...are you there?"

Nel almost jumped from the contact. She looked around to double check she was mostly alone. "Yeah... Uh... What's up Eleria.. I was going to tell y'all I was leaving but it was kinda urgent that I left then..." Feeling a sliver of guilt. After completing her last lession she took off without telling anyone. She didn't think many would have noticed. Especially not Eleria.

"No worries about that. I left myself recently too. I had to go to Onyx.. And I learned something. Do you have a moment? You should sit down.."

Nel was confused. "Sit? Why? Is something wrong? Is everything alright?" Nel obediantly found a quiet out of the way to sit.

Eleria bit her lip. She wished now for even an drop of Darius' social skills. "no I am ok, everything is fine.. I think... It... It is about Still Owl..."

Nel waited. She was curious what she had to say about it this time. So much had already been said people have begun just repeating themselves. Nel sighed inwardly. "Yes?"

"I... I don't know how to say this... and DON'T get your hopes up.. it is complicated... but I don't think he is dead..."

Nel tried to hide her shock. She hadn't told anyone, she kept her promise. How did Eleria find out?! Nel collected her self. She wished she had more to say. "How did you find out?"

Eleria's mental voice betrayed her shock, hurt. "You mean you KNEW? And you didn't TELL us? What? Why??"

Nel realized too late she had betrayed herself. She hit her palm against her forehead. She was almost pleading with Eleria. "I promised I would not tell. He was insitant. I was just so releaved that the Sun had brought him back to me. I was willing to agree to anything he asked... I know it was a foolish thing not to tell everyone, but I couldn't..." "Please, Eleria, you must realize how hard it is. It hurt to loose him the first time.. I just wanted to have him for a little bit all to myself... I'm sure he'd want people to know when the time was right..."

Eleria's silent voice sounded like she was near tears. "Darius was right.. he came to you.. Oh no.. Nel... It's not.. It wasn't... It wasn't the unconquored sun..."

Nel's voice caught in her throat. "What? That's not right... It has to be.. He was a solar too..." She was truely confused now. If not the Unconquored Sun, then ... what?

"This is so hard.. I am so sorry.. He WAS a Solar Nel.. not any more. The sea creatures.. they were a distraction. It was not them that pulled him under. My Elder was right. It was something... someone else... A Death Lord... He owns Owl now. Owl isn't a Solar... He is a Death Knight....I am so sorry... I didn't know until just now...And we didn't know you were seeing him... He is dangerous..."

Nel sat in silence. Her brain turned over the thought like some forign object. She removed her blindfold from her face and let tears fall. "This can't be. I don't want it to be true. He's still the same person. He sounds the same. He feels the same. He knows me, this can't be true. THIS CAN'T BE TRUE!"

"Oh Nel.. I am so sorry I am not there... I wish I could go to you... You are not alone.. you have us, your pack, remember this. I know this is an IMPOSSIBLE thing to hear... but we will help you through it..."

Nel stood up and shook where she stood. Anger at everything rattling her smallish frame. She took a few deep breaths. "It's alright, becuase I know I have to be right about this. I've heard him. I know his heart. He wouldn't turn his back on the Sun and on me like that. I know he's still the same."

"Nel I don't think he had a choise.." "The STill Owl you knew is dead..."

"I know I'm right... I have to be." She was determined now. She took one last deep breath. "I felt his warmth. I know he's not dead. He's still my Owl." "I am going to him as we speak. I will know I am right, and when I know, I will show you. Then you won't have to worry." Nel wiped her eyes dry with the back of her hand. She tied her blindfold back in place. "Thank you Eleria. But I must go.. Else I'll begin to glow."

"Nel... I don'w know how to say this... but he is gone. All that is left is his shard. And BELIEVE me, the shard and the sould are not the same. The soul of your love does not like in his shard... I have seen... Please... Don't go to him. He is a Death Knight. He is dangerous... Please... We care about you!"

Nel shook her head. She knew her energy was dwindling. She wished this was a conversation they could have in person. She could argue til she turned blue. She knew in her gut that this was right. She knew that he couldn't be that. She didn't want to believe. She exerted herself one last time. "I know you care. I thank you. But I must see for myself, atleast. He wouldn't hurt me. Owl loves me." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About a week later Nel found herself sitting on a ship bound east. Eleria's word still in her head. She banished anger from her mind and broke down. She mentally poked Eleria. "Eleria? Have a second?"

There was a LONG moment of silence. "Mmm wha... oh NEL! Are you ok? You need me to come to you?" She sounded like she was having difficulty getting her brain in gear.

Nel was calm. "No. Go back to as you were. I regret to tell you, you were right. I'm sorry I doubted you. But I don't think right now is a good time for me. I'm going home for some time. Perhaps when I return I'll be ready for your friendship again."

Eleria blinked trying to focus and rolled out of Darius' arms, slapping his hands away, and hurrying up on deck where the winds cleared her head. Good thing there was no one to see her..."Oh Nel I am so sorry. Are you ok? Please... Don't cut us off.. we can help... Please. You are not alone. I am so so sorry this has happened to you..."

"I am well. I can't cut you all off. You are bound to me closer than family. But I can't go back to Luthe like this." She unclenched her jaw and fists slowly. "I'm going away. I need to clear my head. I'm telling you because you bothered trying to tell me about Owl. But I don't want to be followed. And I'm certain you're doing much more interesting things."

Eleria blinked. "More interresting? What do you mean. Nothing is more important to me that my pack. I can come to you immediately. I can be there tomorrow. And of COURSE I bothered. I am WORRIED about you...."

"No. Don't come. I want to be alone... I need to be alone." She fought the sea of anger that was growing inside her. "I need to be unseen again. Surely you understand." She didn't wait for an answer before ending the conversation. "Goodbye, then."

"We are here when you need us. Goodbye Nel.."