Cerlana Darkwalker was born to two wonderful parents. They lived within Azyr. Her first 15 years were spent with her parents learning the ways of the Aelf. Her mother, Selendti, was a gifted Bright Spell caster. Her Father, Vizrin, a wealthy man, who was very respected by his fellow Aelf. She could tell you many things about her parents but all you would get from her was that they were gone.

Drakol… that was his name. The name that haunts all of her dreams. It has been many years from the day that her parents were murdered in front of her eyes. The fire that night had burned hot. The kind of heat that makes your skin feel like it’s going to burst. The details of why Drakol came to her home that night has always confused her. She only remembers the screams from her mother. It was an evening like any other. Her father was home in time for dinner and she was off to bed at her regular time. Cerlana had a black eye from fighting with the neighbour kids who always made fun of her for how short she was. She knew she was short for an Aelf. But that didn’t stop her from chasing them down and giving them a good beating. She got a harsh look from her mother, but she was used to it by now and Cerlana was stubborn.

She was in a deep sleep when the screaming started. Cerlana jumped to her feet. She had never heard a scream like that before. Her gryph-hound was clawing at her bedroom door trying to get out. She flung the door open to find her father lifted into the air by a large man. He casually turned to look at Cerlana as she entered the room. It was like her presence meant nothing to him. His focus quickly changed to her mother as she let out another scream followed by a fire spell. The man put out a hand and redirected the flames at the wall. Immediately the room began to burn. The body of her father was bathed in the red glow of the fire. It was at that moment she knew he was gone. Despite the fire her body turned cold. She faintly noticed her mother moving towards the man. Drops of warm liquid hit her face. She reached her hand up to touch it. As she looked at her hands she recognised the deep red colour. Blood. It had been so fast. A knife was now in the man’s free hand and Selendti was holding her neck. The reality of what was happening hit her in waves. She heard a scream again. It took her a moment to understand that it was her voice screaming. With a thud against the wall, her father was thrown aside like garbage. She heard the gurgling sounds of her mother, now on the floor, trying to breathe. She was mouthing something. Run. Run. She saw the lips of her dying mother mouthing the word run.

‘My name is Drakol.’ Her attention switched to the man in the room. He loomed over her. Cerlana unconsciously took a step back from him as he approached. Her legs gave out and she collapsed backwards onto the floor. “I want you to know the name of the man who ended your family’s disgusting line. He had a snarl of rage on his face. Blood covered his mouth. His hand began to reach for her but Striker leapt forward and tore into his outstretched arm with her beak. Cerlana, taking the moment of distraction, turned and scrambled on all fours and lept through the front window. She landed outside with a thud and ran for the treeline. Cerlana could hear the scream of rage as Drokal began to run after her. Striker was quick to be on her heels. Running as swiftly as her small legs could carry her she found herself in a clearing. Cover, she needed something to hide behind. A light on the far side of the clearing appeared, without a second thought, she ran towards it in hopes of rescue. She couldn’t hesitate a moment. Drokal was close behind. The light seemed to be just inside the next tree line. Cerlana heard the call of alarm from Striker. As she turned to check, her whole world was bathed in bright light.