#ellyka

She sat. She watched the sunset advance, dusk winning the constant war for the day's light, starlight from the Astral Plane poking through overhead. She knew somewhere to the East, Elturel thrived - lacking Tieflings, safe and secure, rebuilding after being dragged into the depths of a literal hell. A community in healing, in mourning, having excised a percieved cancer.

Zevlor hadn't fought for them. Zevlor had left, taken them all with him. Capitulated to the demands of a city that was desperate for an enemy - any enemy - that could help them heal.

Ellyka had lost family, friends. Community. She was expected to build one anew in this roving band of infernal cast offs - this ragtag group of tieflings who had nothing in common beyond being hated for the infernal ancestry that ran hot through their veins.

When night came, Ellyka welcomed it - a darkness to give company to her thoughts. When a body hunkered down beside her, Ellyka knew Zevlor hadn't come - he wouldn't have sat so close.

"Rumour has it you're leaving," Pandirna said.

Ellyka didn't respond. Couldn't turn to look. She knew what she'd see - curled ram-like horns, fiery red eyes, an arm bulging as it casually rested on a knee.

"Can't help but feel a little weird about it," Pandirna continued, filling the silence, "seeing as we just… changed."

Ellyka swallowed a lump in her throat. "It's not because of you, Pandirna."

An exhale - relief. "Oh, thank the Gods."

Ellyka wanted to smile at that - at the honesty of the reaction. "Did you think I was leaving because it was awkward?"

"Well," Pandirna hedged, "awkward or the sex was bad and you didn't want to tell me. Would've had a very honest conversation with myself about skill."

Ellyka turned her face to tuck it into her harm to stifle her laugh. She could hear the larger woman's smile around her words, could feel it even when Pandirna nudged her shoulder - playful, respectful.

"So why're you really leaving?"

Ellyka squeezed her eyes shut, shrugged helplessly. "Can't be here anymore. Can't do this."

Pandirna stretched her legs out in front of her, leaned back on her hands. She was big - a few inches taller than Ellyka, built like a porter. She'd worked the docks in Elturel, knew a thing or two about throwing her weight around.

For Ellyka, it had been lust at first sight.

"'This' being the refugee caravan?" Pandirna asked, voice soft.

"I didn't sign up to be a hrasling scout in a roaming community of freaks," Ellyka said.

"Oh, well, ouch."

Ellyka glanced at Pandirna, then - saw the smile, the kindness in her eyes. Felt the pull that she always felt towards her, the want to wrap herself in Pandirna's good humour and forget the darkness that constantly pushed into her world - the defeat and hate and fury that vibrated her body.

"The druids hate you all, by the way," Ellyka said, "Zevlor isn't a politician - he isn't going to be able to keep them at bay."

"Just need to get stronger, then," Pandirna said, patting her arm, "make sure they can't shed us so easy."

"Please," Ellyka said, rolling her eyes, "you're plenty strong, Dirna."

Pandirna flashed her fang-filled grin again. "So're you."

They turned their attention to the growing darkness. Ellyka's nightvision was fully engaged, now - the world became monochrome, greys and blacks and pops of white. The darkness outside of her vision pushed in on it, narrowed her world until it was just Pandirna and she, sitting on a cliff face, saying everything but goodbye.

"For what it's worth," Pandirna said, "I don't want to change your mind."

Ellyka jerked her gaze back to the other woman.

"You know yourself," Pandirna clarified, "you know it so well. S'what attracted me, really, in the first place. If you think this is right, and you need to do it - then I believe you can and should. And if it turns out to be wrong, you're talented enough to find your way back to us."

Ellyka nodded, still studying her one-time lover's face, wishing they'd started earlier. Wishing she had more memories to call upon than a too-cramped tent and a rushed embrace.

"Did someone ask you to change my mind?"

Pandirna shrugged. "Zevlor heard me asking for you - told me you were up here. He wants you to stay, asked me to convince you."

Ellyka sighed, nodded.

"I'm sorry he disappointed you," Pandirna said quietly.

"Me too," Ellyka responded.

Pandirna shifted, the heat of her gaze boring into Ellyka's so severely that she needed to turn away. In the night - in the darkvision's gaze - Pandirna was all contrast. Bright eyes, textures, darks and lights. In the night, she was striking - kindness and muscle and grit behind it all.

"I can leave you alone, if you'd like," Pandirna said, "I know it can't be easy to prepare to leave."

Ellyka watched her, turned her gaze to the darkness, and said: