[center][h1][color=afe39a]Ilan[/color] [color=black]&[/color] [color=8dc73f]Kenia[/color][/h1][/center]
[hr]

Kenia weaved through the crowd, following her paper bird, but also searching for her companions. While she’d tried to keep an eye on them during the last dance, it had also been difficult as she didn’t want to seem suspicious and had quickly given up on the task. Now she took the few moments to locate them and make sure they were okay. She wasn’t too worried about Malachi as she knew he could take care of himself pretty well, but she did worry about Corvina. They both seemed to be doing okay, however, and it brought Kenia a little bit of relief.

Soon she found herself in front of a fawn demi-human and realized this was to be her next partner. She only hoped that he wouldn’t be as pesky as the small fox they had encountered a few days ago. If how he was dressed was anything to go off of she would assume that he probably was worlds different from the fox. He was actually quite enjoyable and she found it easy to give him a friendly smile. [color=8dc73f]”Hello there, it looks like I have the pleasure of dancing with you for this second dance. My name is Elora, may I have your name?”[/color] She curtsied to the fawn and continued to use her false name even though she felt less of a need to do so. One could never be too careful, however.

Ilan glanced over his shoulder with a slight frown of worry on his features, feeling wistful as he watched princess Risa leave with someone else. Their dance almost got interrupted by the light elf governor with the icy stare. Ilan recognized him and he was glad Risa and Sakura managed to politely chase him off. He didn’t want to go through a repeat of what happened at the marketplace. He would be safe with his new allies, they were powerful and kind. 

Another beautiful woman approached him, she seemed to glide over the floor of the great hall. Dressed in sweeping folds of black, and a gold brocade mask she had an air of mystery and subtle danger. Her tone of voice was pleasant and did not fully match they way she looked. Ilan found it to be an interesting and pleasant contrast. 

Ilan returned her curtsy with a one of his own, bending down with his slender legs. He brushed off some non existent dust of off his clothes and smiled modestly at Elora. 
[color=#afe39a]“[/color][color=#b2e49e]I[/color] [color=#b9e5a7]a[/color][color=#bce6ab]m[/color] [color=#c2e7b3]I[/color][color=#c5e8b7]l[/color][color=#c9e9bc]a[/color][color=#cce9c0]n[/color] [color=#d2ebc8]M[/color][color=#d5eccc]u[/color][color=#d8ecd0],[/color] [color=#dfeed9]i[/color][color=#e2eedd]t[/color][color=#e5efe1]’[/color][color=#e8f0e5]s[/color] [color=#eff1ee]n[/color][color=#f2f2f2]i[/color][color=#eff2ed]c[/color][color=#ecf3e8]e[/color] [color=#e5f4df]t[/color][color=#e2f4da]o[/color] [color=#dcf5d0]m[/color][color=#d8f5cc]e[/color][color=#d5f6c7]e[/color][color=#d2f6c2]t[/color] [color=#ccf7b8]y[/color][color=#c9f8b3]o[/color][color=#c5f8af]u[/color] [color=#bff9a5]E[/color][color=#bcf9a0]l[/color][color=#b9fa9b]o[/color][color=#b5fa97]r[/color][color=#b2fb92]a[/color][color=#affb8d]”[/color] He walked up closer to her, his body language was hesitant, careful and slightly guarded. It contradicted his actions as he readied himself for the dance, leading Elora in a leisure pace.

[color=8dc73f]”The pleasure is mine, Ilan.”[/color] Kenia said sweetly as she took notice of his hesitant nature. He seemed young so she couldn’t entirely fault him for this. Besides it was rather nerve wracking to be dancing with a complete stranger. She kept a pleasant smile on her face as she followed his lead in the slower paced dance. Was it possible this young faun would want to see a change in this world? It did seem that it was a lot of the younger generation that wanted change so there was a chance of it. Still she knew she needed to be careful with how she navigated the conversation. [color=8dc73f]”Are you enjoying your night so far? What brought you to this event by chance?”[/color] She asked, keeping a light air to her words.

Ilan was pleasantly surprised by her kind demeanor. It gave him cause to trust Elora with a small piece of honesty and tell her why he was here. His words were carefully chosen and he spoke quietly of his journey.
[color=#afe39a]“[/color][color=#b0e39b]I[/color] [color=#b2e49e]w[/color][color=#b3e4a0]a[/color][color=#b5e4a1]s[/color] [color=#b7e5a4]a[/color] [color=#b9e5a7]t[/color][color=#bae6a9]r[/color][color=#bbe6aa]a[/color][color=#bce6ac]v[/color][color=#bee6ad]e[/color][color=#bfe7af]l[/color][color=#c0e7b0]i[/color][color=#c1e7b1]n[/color][color=#c2e7b3]g[/color] [color=#c4e8b6]m[/color][color=#c5e8b7]u[/color][color=#c6e8b9]s[/color][color=#c8e9ba]i[/color][color=#c9e9bc]c[/color][color=#cae9bd]i[/color][color=#cbe9bf]a[/color][color=#cceac0]n[/color] [color=#ceeac3]o[/color][color=#cfeac5]f[/color] [color=#d2ebc7]s[/color][color=#d3ebc9]o[/color][color=#d4ebca]r[/color][color=#d5eccc]t[/color][color=#d6eccd]s[/color][color=#d7eccf],[/color] [color=#d9edd2]t[/color][color=#dbedd3]r[/color][color=#dcedd5]y[/color][color=#ddedd6]i[/color][color=#deeed8]n[/color][color=#dfeed9]g[/color] [color=#e1eedc]t[/color][color=#e2efdd]o[/color] [color=#e5efe0]m[/color][color=#e6efe2]a[/color][color=#e7f0e3]k[/color][color=#e8f0e5]e[/color] [color=#eaf0e8]s[/color][color=#ebf1e9]o[/color][color=#ecf1eb]m[/color][color=#eef1ec]e[/color][color=#eff1ee]t[/color][color=#f0f2ef]h[/color][color=#f1f2f1]i[/color][color=#f2f2f2]n[/color][color=#f1f2f0]g[/color] [color=#eff2ed]o[/color][color=#edf3eb]f[/color] [color=#ebf3e8]m[/color][color=#eaf3e6]y[/color] [color=#e8f3e3]l[/color][color=#e7f4e1]i[/color][color=#e6f4df]f[/color][color=#e4f4dd]e[/color][color=#e3f4dc],[/color] [color=#e1f4d8]s[/color][color=#e0f4d7]t[/color][color=#dff5d5]a[/color][color=#def5d3]n[/color][color=#dcf5d1]d[/color] [color=#daf5ce]o[/color][color=#d9f5cc]n[/color] [color=#d7f6c9]m[/color][color=#d6f6c7]y[/color] [color=#d3f6c4]o[/color][color=#d2f6c2]w[/color][color=#d1f6c0]n[/color] [color=#cff7bd]t[/color][color=#cef7bb]w[/color][color=#cdf7ba]o[/color] [color=#caf7b6]l[/color][color=#c9f7b4]e[/color][color=#c8f8b3]g[/color][color=#c7f8b1]s[/color] [color=#c5f8ae]a[/color][color=#c3f8ac]n[/color][color=#c2f8aa]d[/color] [color=#c0f9a7]b[/color][color=#bff9a5]e[/color] [color=#bdf9a2]i[/color][color=#bbf9a0]n[/color][color=#baf99e]d[/color][color=#b9fa9c]e[/color][color=#b8fa9b]p[/color][color=#b7fa99]e[/color][color=#b6fa97]n[/color][color=#b5fa96]d[/color][color=#b4fa94]e[/color][color=#b2fb92]n[/color][color=#b1fb90]t[/color][color=#b0fb8f].[/color][color=#affb8d]”[/color]


He shifted and closed the remaining distance between them, so he could share the reason why he chose to support the humans. 
[color=#afe39a]“[/color][color=#b0e39b]I[/color][color=#b1e39d]t[/color] [color=#b3e49f]w[/color][color=#b4e4a1]a[/color][color=#b5e4a2]s[/color] [color=#b7e5a5]o[/color][color=#b8e5a6]n[/color] [color=#bae6a9]m[/color][color=#bbe6aa]y[/color] [color=#bde6ad]j[/color][color=#bee6ae]o[/color][color=#bfe7b0]u[/color][color=#c1e7b1]r[/color][color=#c2e7b2]n[/color][color=#c3e7b4]e[/color][color=#c4e8b5]y[/color] [color=#c6e8b8]t[/color][color=#c7e8b9]h[/color][color=#c8e9ba]a[/color][color=#c9e9bc]t[/color] [color=#cbe9bf]I[/color] [color=#cdeac1]m[/color][color=#ceeac3]e[/color][color=#cfeac4]t[/color] [color=#d1ebc7]w[/color][color=#d2ebc8]i[/color][color=#d3ebc9]t[/color][color=#d4ebcb]h[/color] [color=#d6eccd]s[/color][color=#d7eccf]o[/color][color=#d8ecd0]m[/color][color=#d9ecd2]e[/color][color=#daedd3]o[/color][color=#dbedd4]n[/color][color=#dcedd6]e[/color] [color=#deeed8]r[/color][color=#dfeeda]u[/color][color=#e0eedb]m[/color][color=#e2eedc]o[/color][color=#e3efde]r[/color][color=#e4efdf]e[/color][color=#e5efe0]d[/color] [color=#e7efe3]t[/color][color=#e8f0e4]o[/color] [color=#eaf0e7]h[/color][color=#ebf0e9]e[/color][color=#ecf1ea]l[/color][color=#edf1eb]p[/color] [color=#eff1ee]b[/color][color=#f0f2ef]r[/color][color=#f1f2f1]i[/color][color=#f2f2f2]n[/color][color=#f1f2f0]g[/color] [color=#eff2ed]a[/color][color=#eef3ec]n[/color] [color=#ecf3e9]e[/color][color=#ebf3e7]n[/color][color=#eaf3e5]d[/color] [color=#e8f3e2]t[/color][color=#e6f4e1]o[/color] [color=#e4f4dd]t[/color][color=#e3f4dc]h[/color][color=#e2f4da]e[/color] [color=#e0f4d7]t[/color][color=#dff5d6]y[/color][color=#def5d4]r[/color][color=#ddf5d2]a[/color][color=#dcf5d1]n[/color][color=#dbf5cf]n[/color][color=#daf5ce]y[/color] [color=#d8f6cb]o[/color][color=#d7f6c9]f[/color] [color=#d5f6c6]t[/color][color=#d4f6c4]h[/color][color=#d3f6c3]e[/color] [color=#d1f7c0]L[/color][color=#cff7be]i[/color][color=#cef7bc]c[/color][color=#cdf7bb]h[/color] [color=#cbf7b8]k[/color][color=#caf7b6]i[/color][color=#c9f7b4]n[/color][color=#c8f8b3]g[/color][color=#c7f8b1].[/color] [color=#c5f8ae]S[/color][color=#c4f8ad]a[/color][color=#c3f8ab]d[/color][color=#c2f8a9]l[/color][color=#c1f9a8]y[/color] [color=#bff9a5]h[/color][color=#bef9a3]e[/color] [color=#bcf9a0]p[/color][color=#bbf99e]a[/color][color=#b9fa9d]s[/color][color=#b8fa9b]s[/color][color=#b7fa9a]e[/color][color=#b6fa98]d[/color] [color=#b4fa95]a[/color][color=#b3fa93]w[/color][color=#b2fb92]a[/color][color=#b1fb90]y[/color][color=#b0fb8f].[/color][color=#affb8d]”[/color]
The young faun swallowed a lump in his throat, remembering the horrific events he went through not so long ago. He collected his bearings and continued to tell the story.
[color=#afe39a]“[/color][color=#b1e39c]M[/color][color=#b2e49f]y[/color] [color=#b6e5a3]f[/color][color=#b8e5a5]r[/color][color=#b9e5a8]i[/color][color=#bbe6aa]e[/color][color=#bde6ac]n[/color][color=#bee6ae]d[/color][color=#c0e7b1]s[/color] [color=#c4e8b5]a[/color][color=#c5e8b7]n[/color][color=#c7e8ba]d[/color] [color=#cae9be]I[/color] [color=#ceeac3]a[/color][color=#d0eac5]r[/color][color=#d1ebc7]e[/color] [color=#d5ebcc]l[/color][color=#d7ecce]o[/color][color=#d8ecd0]o[/color][color=#daedd2]k[/color][color=#dcedd5]i[/color][color=#ddedd7]n[/color][color=#dfeed9]g[/color] [color=#e3efde]f[/color][color=#e4efe0]o[/color][color=#e6efe2]r[/color] [color=#e9f0e7]o[/color][color=#ebf0e9]n[/color][color=#edf1eb]e[/color][color=#eff1ed]s[/color] [color=#f2f2f2]l[/color][color=#f0f2ef]i[/color][color=#eff2ed]k[/color][color=#edf3ea]e[/color] [color=#e9f3e5]h[/color][color=#e8f3e2]i[/color][color=#e6f4e0]m[/color][color=#e4f4dd],[/color] [color=#e1f4d8]w[/color][color=#dff5d6]h[/color][color=#ddf5d3]o[/color] [color=#daf5ce]w[/color][color=#d8f5cb]i[/color][color=#d7f6c9]e[/color][color=#d5f6c6]l[/color][color=#d3f6c3]d[/color] [color=#d0f7be]t[/color][color=#cef7bc]h[/color][color=#ccf7b9]e[/color] [color=#c9f8b4]p[/color][color=#c7f8b1]o[/color][color=#c5f8af]w[/color][color=#c4f8ac]e[/color][color=#c2f8a9]r[/color] [color=#bef9a4]o[/color][color=#bdf9a2]f[/color] [color=#b9fa9d]n[/color][color=#b8fa9a]a[/color][color=#b6fa97]t[/color][color=#b4fa95]u[/color][color=#b2fb92]r[/color][color=#b1fb90]e[/color][color=#affb8d]”[/color]

Kenia listened to Ilan speak, taking note of how he said he WAS a traveling musician. This choice of words had caught her attention and she found herself silently watching him a little closer. No longer did she just listen to his words, but she was watching his body language too. He finished confessing that his friends were looking for ones who wielded the power of nature and she found herself grinning internally as she’d realized she’d actually found another rebel. The question was, however, if he was aware of where they were to meet after all this?

[color=8dc73f]”I’m very sorry for your loss. It sounds like you’ve had a rough time of things recently. I find it quite intriguing on the ones you’re searching for.”[/color] She’d been talking in a rather hushed voice already, but now she leaned in so she could speak even more quietly to him. [color=8dc73f]”If you and your friends were to follow the coast up from Roshmi to the northwest to a small port town I can promise you that you’ll find more of the ones you’re seeking out.”[/color] She pulled back from whispering to him and gave him a grin. [color=8dc73f]”And don’t give up on your music. That in itself can be a very powerful tool. Help to uplift spirits and spread wonderful tales. Perhaps if we meet again sometime I could lend my own voice to your music.”[/color] She told him happily.

His heart jumped when he realized he had found another ally, exactly what he was meant to be doing. Ilan almost couldn't believe his luck. He smiled thankfully at Elora´s display of empathy, acknowledging the fact that watching someone pass away isn't gentle on the soul. His jade eyes widened considerably when Elora shared the location of a secret meeting place. There he would find other rebel forces, and if she was to be believed, more humans too. The idea filled the faun with a sense of hope. 

They returned to a respectful distance to one another. Ilan folded his hands behind his back, looking at Elora attentively as she continued to speak. She said something else which pleased his heart. It was a nice to meet another soul who appreciated songs the way he did. He smiled happily, and looked down at the floor. Something he often did when smiling, as if the act was something to be embarrassed about. 

[color=#afe39a]“[/color][color=#b1e49d]T[/color][color=#b4e4a0]h[/color][color=#b6e5a3]a[/color][color=#b8e5a6]t[/color] [color=#bde6ac]w[/color][color=#bfe7af]o[/color][color=#c1e7b2]u[/color][color=#c4e8b5]l[/color][color=#c6e8b8]d[/color] [color=#cbe9be]b[/color][color=#cdeac1]e[/color] [color=#d2ebc8]w[/color][color=#d4ebcb]o[/color][color=#d6ecce]n[/color][color=#d9ecd1]d[/color][color=#dbedd4]e[/color][color=#ddedd7]r[/color][color=#e0eeda]f[/color][color=#e2eedd]u[/color][color=#e4efe0]l[/color][color=#e6efe3]…[/color][color=#e9f0e6].[/color][color=#ebf0e9].[/color][color=#edf1ec],[/color] [color=#f2f2f2]I[/color] [color=#edf3eb]c[/color][color=#ebf3e7]a[/color][color=#e8f3e4]n[/color] [color=#e4f4dc]n[/color][color=#e1f4d9]a[/color][color=#dff5d5]m[/color][color=#dcf5d2]e[/color] [color=#d8f6ca]a[/color] [color=#d3f6c3]s[/color][color=#d1f7bf]o[/color][color=#cef7bc]n[/color][color=#ccf7b8]g[/color] [color=#c7f8b1]a[/color][color=#c5f8ad]f[/color][color=#c2f8aa]t[/color][color=#c0f9a6]e[/color][color=#bdf9a3]r[/color] [color=#b9fa9b]y[/color][color=#b6fa98]o[/color][color=#b4fa94]u[/color][color=#b1fb91]”[/color] 
Ilan added with a slight sense of hesitation. It would be a way to remember her by. She hoped they would meet again and he hoped the same. 

He bowed to her respectfully, a few curls falling out of his neat side part. 
[color=#afe39a]“[/color][color=#b6e5a3]U[/color][color=#bce6ac]n[/color][color=#c3e8b4]t[/color][color=#cae9bd]i[/color][color=#d0ebc6]l[/color] [color=#deeed8]w[/color][color=#e5efe0]e[/color] [color=#f2f2f2]m[/color][color=#ebf3e8]e[/color][color=#e5f4de]e[/color][color=#def5d4]t[/color] [color=#d1f7c0]a[/color][color=#caf7b5]g[/color][color=#c3f8ab]a[/color][color=#bcf9a1]i[/color][color=#b6fa97]n[/color][color=#affb8d]”[/color]