"Syrenah?" She heard her mother, Iraelia, call. Rising, the young Blood Elf turned and walked inside, entering the dining room, where Iraelia waited for her.
"Yes, Mum?" Syrenah asked, biting into a juicy apple.
"Happy 18th Birthday, dear." Iraelia smiled. Brushing a wisp of her long white hair from her eyes, she handed her daughter a brand new, horned recurve bow. It was very smooth, and of a pretty wood.
"Th...thank you!" Syrenah grinned, hugging her mother tightly.
"You're welcome. Your twin couldn't make it today due to training, but no matter. We'll see her soon, no doubt." Iraelia said, handing a slice of cake to Syrenah, "I hope you don't mind being alone tonight...I have to go hunting again." She sighed, frowning, "As much as I'd like to stay, it's necessary."
"Oh, it's no problem, Mum. I'll be fine." Syrenah assured her mother, an excitement welling up inside her. Clearing her throat, she set her cake down.
"Mum?"
"Yes?"
"Well, since I'm 18 and all..." Syrenah shuffled her feet nervously, not quite sure how to say what she thought.
"Yes...?" Iraelia coaxed, tilting her head to look in her daughter's downturned eyes.
"Can...can I go on a hunt?"
"With me or...?"
"Ah...alone." Iraelia was quiet for a moment, the happy expression on her face replaced by the usual stern gaze. Syrenah bit her lip nervously, afraid she had said something wrong.
"I, ah, you know how I feel about letting you go somewhere alone, but, for this occasion, you may go. But only on two conditions." Iraelia sighed. Syrenah's heart skipped a beat, the excitement within her nearly too much to bear.
"One, both Tash and Jinx go with you. Two, be back in 2 days, maximum." Iraelia said, clearing the table.
"Thank you, Mum! I'll leave when you do." Syrenah exclaimed, overjoyed, and skipping off to her room to prepare.
That evening, she stood with Jinx and Tash, her fox, at the border between Silverpine and Hillsbrad. She shivered, partly because of the cold night air, but mostly because of her nervous excitement. Patting Tash, she jogged forward, her animals giving no sound, and she herself making very little. Nighttime creatures rustled about in the dark, and she could hear the wind swaying young saplings nearby. Spotting a mountain lion not far off, Syrenah picked up her pace and came within the cover of some bushes by the great cat. Crouching, she notched an arrow and pulled back the string. Releasing the arrow, it whizzed over the cat's head, waking it. Tash and Jinx charged, falling upon the cat and slaying her quickly. There was a growl behind Syrenah, and she tried to turn, but was mauled in the back of the head, falling unconscious. The cat had a mate.
Syrenah woke some time later, a crushing headache assaulting her head. Squinting her eyes against the firelight, she saw she was in a cozy little cave, with a merry, crackling fire in the center. Jinx and Tash lay beside it, Jinx's front left paw bandaged. Next to the fire was stooped a Blood Elf woman with her back to Syrenah, her long, white hair cascading over her shoulders. Propping herself up on her elbows, Syrenah cleared her throat.
"Excuse me, madam?" She called, coughing. The woman turned, and it was Iraelia.
"Mom! What are you doing here?!" Syrenah squeaked. Iraelia came over and sat by her daughter, brushing a strand of her brown hair from her eyes.
"Syr...I knew you would hunt here, so I decided to hunt here too, just in case you needed me. Do you know why I was so protective of you and Kirrie growing up?"
"No, Mum, why?" Syrenah asked, still confused.
"When your father was...killed, I was pregnant with you two, alone, and barely holding on to my home. I grew very ill during that time, and it was a miracle you two survived. The pain I felt watching your father fall, and seeing the purple of shadowflame fade from his body was so great, I knew that if all three of us survived...I would do my best to give my life for you." Iraelia said, her voice choking into a whisper, and a single, glistening tear rolling down her cheek.
"What do you mean 'do my best to give my life'? To die for someone only takes a second." Syrenah whispered, feeling like it would be wrong to speak louder.
"No, dear. Giving one's life for someone means not to only die for someone, but to live for them as well. You see, even if a decision of mine seemed 'stupid' or 'unfair,' it was good for you in the long run. I love you, Syr." Iraelia smiled.
"I...I'm sorry, Mum. I wasn't ready to go on my own. I...I thought..." Syrenah started, but Iraelia hushed her, cradling her daughter's head in her lap.
"I know. You thought you were. I did the same thing. Don't worry. You're safe now." Iraelia smiled, rocking gently back and forth.
"I'll help you train when we get home. We can go on a hunt together soon." Iraelia smiled, hugging her daughter, she began to softly sing, and Syrenah fell asleep.
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I hope you all enjoyed it! Here is the song I imagined going with the piece: Music! Thanks for reading!
Part 2 coming soon! (Sorry it was shorter than I wanted 
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Comforting to me, really. (don't really know why 
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There are a lot of songs that make me think of my different characters - we could probably make soundtracks! 
