Lia entered the mansion, fists clenched at her side. The house, if you could call it that, was huge. A stark contrast to her beloved crowded yurt, stuffed with friends and comrades. Until her power had grown way beyond, until she became someone shunned from the village. She looked at her early laugh with a mix of longing and bitterness, of a lover denied a touch before they were ready to be alone. This place would do nothing to remind her of home, and maybe that was a good thing. Because her fire was never able to be contained in the desert and dunes of Saadia. Her mind drifted to Samir, wondering if he was alright. He refused to leave the human realm, staying behind to help the stragglers of the exodus, the lost ones trying to get somewhere safe. As much as he proved to be a useless teacher for her, they had grown to be friends. Sharing rice and fruit together on the floor of his tiny market room, sleeping face to face on that same floor, exchanging stories and hopes for the future. She had told him where she was going, even though he had received his own invitation. He decided to stay back just a little longer, new lost elves were coming to him weekly looking for a way out of the realm that was becoming increasingly volatile to our kind. Lia had never had a hand in politics, never much cared. Her power, after a certain age, ended up consuming most of her attention and energy so all the stories that came from the traveling traders fell on deaf ears. She knew the war would never touch the tribe, but she was concerned for Samir. She hoped he bailed before he got himself killed. 
 
    Lia trailed behind the group, taking in all the rich wood and ornate-ness of the house that still held a tasteful appeal. She took a seat at the table and said nothing. Her hands clenched at her side, her nails a steady pressure into her palms, slicing half moons into the fleshy part of her hand. The action kept her in the current moment, and grounded. When her mind wandered the flame built, fueled by whatever thoughts her mind seemed to wander to. She took in the table, followed by a deep breath, and waited for the next thing to happen.