Did You Hear?
Counting as a solo


Word spread fast in a place like Tendaji. Surprising when the people were so spread out, but now that there was more traveling it was a growing rumor mill spreading word as fast as earthlings could move. It was little secret that a group of Alkidike were starting to cause problems in Tendaji. The extremist Alkidike felt that it was high time that Jauhar was taken back from the shifters and the alarming growth of others that were settling into their land.

There were growing accounts of ambushing in the jungles of Jauhar, where shifters and other earthlings were being beaten and sacked for their things before being threatened to leave Jauhar… and there was only so much these poor people could take before they fled the scene and packed their bags. What would happen if the Alkidike decided to spread out further than Jauhar and became a threat to all earthlings?

They were still rumors, and nothing could be proved, but many were beginning to cast a disapproving gaze toward the Alkidike and a weary eye to Jauhar’s borders...

      Ilyra couldn't believe it. This was the kind of thing that gave her people a bad name. She knew that there were some sisters who thought that they would be better off without the Earthlings, but this was going too far. So far they hadn't been bothered too much by the earthlings, and their islands had been kept away from. There were also more and more sisters joining their lives together with earthlings, and even having children with them. If Aisha supported this, Ilyra didn't understand how any sisters would have a problem with it. It didn't make sense that they would say they were protecting the Alkidikes and Aisha's will if they were doing something that it was obvious Aisha didn't agree with. Ilyra sighed, sadden about the news she was hearing more and more of. It seemed more and more sisters were joining with the extremist and attacking Earthlings. Although most of her was sad, there was also a small part of her that was scared. Although it was clear that she wasn't a Earthling, how long would it be until they attacked halflings? She wasn't a halfling either, but it wasn't rare for her to be confused as one.

      As she walked through the forest she kept her ears open. She didn't want to be caught with her guard down. Abathur flew over head, the two of them finally being reunited for the first time since the war. She was happy to have him back by her side, it calmed her and made her feel a lot more safe.

      She hadn't been walking very long when she spotted a pair of shifters. She smiled at them, but it didn't take more than a second for her to see that they weren't smiling back. The way they looked at her didn't scare her though, it made her pity them. "Hello there." she called out in the friendliest voice she could muster. She wanted them to realize that she meant no harm, although they looked scared at the moment there were more of them then there were of her and she wasn't up for a fight just yet.

      "We mean no harm. We were just leaving actually." one of the women said. As Ilyra looked them over she realized that the women was telling the truth. She had a back pack on, they all did. She frowned.

      "I don't mean any harm either. If you don't mind me asking, why do you have so much stuff packed?" she knew the answer, their faces held it, but she wanted to hear it come from their mouths. She wanted to hear about the pain and suffering that he sisters had caused, maybe then it would become more real.

      The women had to be in charge, as it was her who spoke again. "Your kind. We all lived in a home away from the others, preferring to be alone. But than some Alkidikes came and burned down our hut. They told us if we didn't leave they would kill us... Being homeless is better then being dead. But why do you care?"

      Ilyra sighed. "We aren't all. Some of us thinking sharing is best, that we have much to learn from your kind. I'm one of those kind. I apologize for my sisters, what they did and how they feel isn't how we all feel. I promise you." she frowned. The women and her group didn't look convinced, but at the same time they hadn't run yet and Ilyra took that as a good sign. "I'd be happy to escort you to where ever you are going. To help make sure you are safe." she offered. Even though she hadn't done anything bad to the shifters, she felt slightly responsible.

      "We can protect ourselves." one of the men said, speaking for the first time. He held a spear, his eyes full of anger.

      "I'm sure you can, but one more person could only help. I promise, I won't hurt you." Ilyra spread her hands out in front of her, hoping that she looked nonthreatening. "I've been picked on by my sisters before for looking different. Allow me to stand by you at least until you are in a safe place. Let me show you that we aren't all bad."

      It took some time but they finally agreed, allowing her to come with them. As they walked to a bigger community Ilyra got to know the shifters, and they her. When they finally parted ways Ilyra hoped that she had been able to make them see Alkidike's in a different light.


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