[b] Vitralese-Witch [/b]

Vitralese watched as the different siblings made their way forward, having dismounted her jet black stallion once she had reached the edge of camp. Some of the men and women were familiar to her, such as Khelek, but only in name and power. She had heard of many of her sibling’s existence, manly through her father’s rants and whispering of spirits but had never met any of them. Vitralese had been kept in her father’s domain for the entirety of her life, even her mother had been kept close before her birth, and it was rare that she was even allowed to leave the mountain where the Shade watched over her every move. Only Lina and their brother Acride had ever set eyes upon the woman and so now the meeting of so many felt odd and uncomfortable.

Vitra watched as Lina spoke softly to a young one, a child of pale skin and dark hair. She was so young Vitra doubted she had even seen the moonlight since the girl was born, until tonight at least. She hoped the child had not bitten off more than she could chew; she was too young to even be here and Lina had to know it too. Vitra watched as her sister greeted their siblings each as they arrived, waiting for them all to appear before she explained the gravity of their duty. Vitra herself did not know what their quest was but the fact that she stood there, her blood red cape pulled over her head and wrapped around her body, meant it was important. She knew the Shade’s lenience in letting her leave was not to simply to allow her to ‘prove herself worth,’ he did not give two shits about what others thought but he did have his own motives. Vitralese was to be allowed this last adventure out in the world, a sort of farewell, to settle her spirit before returning to take on what she knew would be her new duties. Also the Shade did not trust Lina and Vitra knew she was to act as a sort or spy on her own sister, a thing she disliked very much.

As Lina mad her way over Vitra smiled, raising her head so her glowing pale skin could be seen in the darkness. As the sibling met they embrace, a flash of Vitra’s bejeweled white floor length dress could be seen in the darkness. “Of course my Lina. I would not miss a chance to go with you.”

A sigh of relief touched Lina's lips as she worried for her sister. Something about the way the shade spoke to the girl set her nerves on edge. "I should hope not, but one can never be assured of the restrictions put upon us."

Vitralese’s smile faltered as she nodded. “You are right sister.” She looked at the fire behind her sister, where she had been apparently living and shifted. She had not been pleased at her sister’s mistreatment by their father. “Perhaps soon things will become easier for you.” She felt her soft smile come again as she looked at her sister with kind but sad eyes. Soon she would have more influence than she had now and only hoped to make her sister’s life a bit easier. “Now what is it we are doing?”

Lina ignored the kindness in her sister's gaze, unwilling to acknowledge her care for their father, but feeling much more comfort in holding closely her angst. "We are to take the cup and see if we cannot gain access to the ancient language that holds its power at bay. I'm headed now to collect the item. Gather the rest of our brothers and sisters and let us meet at the bottom of the valley?"

Vitra shifted. “I do not know. I do not know these…people but for you I can.” Vitra had never met any other Shade child but for Lina and Acride, her father had kept her well hidden. “When do we leave?”

Lina smiled, letting her face soften only a little. "We will leave within the hour. Night is a greatest protection against the forces rousing in the large city-state below. Thank you for your help and stay close to me as we make this journey, my sister." Lina touched her sister’s cloak again and moved quickly into the shadows to obtain the object that was assured to be their undoing

Vitra nodded, pleased not to be traveling in the light of the day, and watched as her sister moved out before stepping forward and lowered her hood to reveal her soft brown hair and smoother, delicate features. She looked about to the siblings she had never met, her eyes once again hard and almost emotionless with her spirit shifting inside them. 

“We have not met. My name is Vitralese.”