Chapter Text
Hi, I'm Tiadrin. I ... don't usually get to tell people about my life before the events that took place at the Storm Spire, you know, with that dark mage trapping Lain and I in cramped coins. I was born to my mother and father - both assassins - in the Silvergrove, but I ended up losing both of them when I was about eight or nine years old. But then, two years later ... I ran into Lain - literally. And, because of that chance encounter, we began the biggest, bumpiest ride of our lives.
Swish! Swish! Clang!
The Silvergrove is enveloped in its usual quiet, save for the sounds of weapons hitting each other. Two Moonshadow elves - in training to become warriors - are sparring with each other. One has a longsword while the other has two short swords. The elf with the longsword charges forward, a battle cry escaping their mouth, as they surge forward towards their opponent, a taller elf with long white hair that's braided in the back. The other elf blocks the strike from the longsword with their two short swords and holds their position, staring the other elf down.
"You keep overexerting yourself, Tiadrin," the tall elf says in a deep, masculine voice, pushing the shorter elf preteen back a few steps. "You shouldn't keep rushing headlong into the fight without paying attention to what your opponent is going to do."
Tiadrin smirks, backflipping to avoid the other teen's swing of his swords. "At least I'm not so rigid like ya, Runaan," she teases, rushing forward and sliding below Runaan's swords as they move above her head. As she regains her footing, she kicks Runaan's feet out from under him and holds her sword to his neck. "I win," she says smugly, getting to her feet again. She returns her sword to its place on her back and offers her hand to help Runaan up, which he accepts.
"I must say, you've improved greatly since our last spar," Runaan says as he and Tiadrin exit the training grounds.
"I know," Tiadrin replies coyly, turning around and walking backwards in front of her friend. "I won fair an' square with tha' sweep-the-leg move I did."
Runaan chuckles and shakes his head ruefully. "You know, you're going to get yourself in a right amount of trouble one of these days if you keep bragging like that," he admonishes.
Tiadrin turns back around and holds her hands behind her back, her pace quickening steadily. "I don't know wha' ya're talkin' about," she replies innocently, rushing forward to get to the bakery for any Moonberry Surprises.
Runaan stops walking and just watches his friend behave like a young six-year-old again.
Tiadrin sits down next to the Moon Pool and absentmindedly moves her fingers through the water. She’s just watching the ripples her fingers make in the water and she’s so focused on it that she doesn’t see the person flying towards her. Next thing she knows, a heavy weight barrels into her and then she’s paddling her way to the edge of the Moon Pool to haul her wet self out. She rolls over the edge and tumbles onto the soft grass, staring at the trees above her, dazed, as she tries to make sense of what just happened.
Another splash and then footsteps as someone comes hurrying over. “I’m SO sorry about tha’,” the person says, their voice not as deep as Runaan’s, as they help Tiadrin to her feet. “My Shadowpaw got spooked an’ I couldn’t get him ta stop.”
Tiadrin leans over and wipes the water out of her eyes, chuckling. “Ya need ta learn ta control ya’re mount before somethin' worse than bein’ thrown into the Moon Pool happens,” she reprimands, finally looking up at the cause of her predicament. ‘Oh, god, I’ve messed up,’ she thinks, standing up straight and looking rather sorry for herself. ‘Why did it have ta be a guy? Tha’s it; I’m screwed.’
The elf in question shakes his head. “I’ll have ta remember tha’,” he replies, making her look up in surprise. “Someone thankfully caught the reins, stoppin’ my Shadowpaw, but couldn’t stop me from flyin’ off the saddle an' landin’ both of us in this predicament.”
Tiadrin smiles and tucks some hair behind her ear. "Well, I guess we can call this an accident," she says, her ears tingling from excitement. 'For Moon's sake, why is he bein' so cute?' she thinks, both of them turning to look at his Shadowpaw, who's trying to get to his rider. The tall elf puts his thumb and first finger to his mouth and lets a lingering whistle out, the Shadowpaw lunging forward and reaching his rider in just a few long strides. The elf swings his leg over his mount’s back and grabs the reins.
I didn’t get ya’re name,” he says, smiling. “My name’s Lain.”
Tiadrin blinks and nods. “Oh, right,” she apologizes. “The name’s Tiadrin.”
Lain bunches the reins in his hands. “It’s nice ta meet ya, Tiadrin,” he says, soothing his mount when it begins pawing the ground. “I hope we meet again soon.”
Tiadrin nods and smiles. “Yeah, ya too," she replies, watching as he turns his Shadowpaw around and the gentle giant stalks away. Tiadrin just watches, completely oblivious to Runaan walking up until she feels his hand on her shoulder. She glances at him with her head slightly turned in his direction as she gauges his reaction.
"Quite an odd lad, isn't he?" The taller elf asks, looking at Tiadrin with a brow raised.
Tiadrin nods. "But tha' doesn't mean there's anythin' wrong with him," she replies, crossing her arms. "He seems pretty cool."
Runaan chuckles and nods. "He might be a little peculiar, but he does seem like a cool guy."
Tiadrin stared in the direction where Lain had headed and wondered if she'd ever meet him once again.
It's me again. Tiadrin. So, that chance encounter with Lain led to a rollercoaster ride of happy memories we made together. I ended up learning that he absolutely fawns over his Shadowpaw and he'd ended up training the cat to come to both his whistle and mine.
Tiadrin didn't have to wait for long, though. She headed to the Adoraburr Meadow to get some time away from Runaan's antics as well as find a quiet place to polish her sword. ‘I’m goin’ ta sit under ma favorite tree,’ she thinks, walking towards the back of the meadow. She stops when she notices a large lump ahead of her and she slowly creeps forward. ‘Oh, Lain, for Moon’s sake,’ she thinks, stopping right in front of the young teen. She watches as he breathes in an even pace during his nap, his Shadowpaw having curled its body around the boy.
Lain inhales sharply and groggily blinks his eyes, looking up at Tiadrin once his vision focuses. “Wha’ are ya doin’ here, Tiadrin?” he asks, confused.
Tiadrin shrugs. “I could ask the same thin’ of ya,” she retorts, crossing her arms with a terse look on her face.
Lain sits up, covering his mouth when he yawns. “Wha’ do ya mean by tha’?” he asks, getting to his feet.
Tiadrin huffs, indignant. “I was just on ma way ta ma spot at the far end of the meadow,” she replies.
Lain walks forward until he’s standing in front of Tiadrin, a couple inches taller than her. “Is my bein’ here a problem for ya?” he asks, gently prying for her opinion.
Tiadrin shakes her head and walks around Lain, sighing softly. “I don’t have a problem with ya bein’ here,” she relents, stopping at the edge of the long grass. “But, if ya’re goin’ ta come, be sure ta let ma know so tha’ I can come with ya.”
Lain turns around and watches as she sits down under the shade of the tree. "I'll be sure ta keep tha' in mind," he says, using a hand signal to call his Shadowpaw.
Tiadrin watches the interaction between Lain and his mount, a tiny smile breaking out on her face. "Ya never told ma the name ya gave him," she says ta him.
Lain chuckles. “His name is Keiran,” he replies.
Tiadrin smiles. “I like tha’ name,” she comments, her eyes widening when Lain holds his hand out to her.
“Ya want ta meet Kieran officially?”
Tiadrin’s ears perk up a little, her face filled with a combo of surprise, happiness, and nervousness. She tentatively reaches out and slides her small hand into his larger one.
Lain guides her up to Keiran and flips her hand around to an outstretched palm. He pauses for a minute when he notices her nervous look. “Ya okay?” he asks, his ears moving down slightly.
Tiadrin shakes her head. “Yeah, I’m fine,” she replies, releasing a sigh as her hand slowly falls. “I just ... I was attacked by a wild Shadowpaw when I was five an’...“
Lain catches her meaning. “An’ ya’re now afraid ta pet a Shadowpaw?” he finishes, his tone a mix of curiosity and sympathy.
Tiadrin nods, but doesn’t say anything.
Lain places a hand on her shoulder. “Do ya trust me?” he asks, a smile on his face.
Tiadrin looks up at him and nods. “Yeah, I do,” she replies, somehow feeling completely at peace.
Lain holds his hand out to her and she takes it with no nervousness present. “I raised Keiran from a kitten an’ the most attackin’ I’ve received from him is tacklin’ me ta the ground when I get home.”
Tiadrin takes a deep breath and presses her flat palm against Keiran’s nose, a huge smile breaking out on her face when the big creature begins purring.
Lain lets out a long whistle. “Wow, tha’s unusual, even for Keiran,” he says, running a hand down his face as if he can’t believe what he’s seeing. “He usually has ta take some time ta get used ta someone new-“
“Not ya,“ Tiadrin interrupts, a smirk on her face.
Lain chuckles. “Yeah, other than me,” he relents. “He must think ya’re special or somethin’ because he warmed up ta ya right quick, somethin’ he never does with anyone else.”
Tiadrin pulls her hand away and rushes up to Lain, giving him a tight hug. “Thank ya for doin’ this for ma,” she whispers, tears beginning to escape their confines.
Lain, surprised by the sudden hug, smiles and wraps his arms around her to hug her back. “Ya’re welcome, my friend,” he replies softly.
So, it’s Tiadrin again. Yes, I know what you're thinking. Why am I even hanging out with this guy? I'll tell you why: he showed me how to get over my fear of Shadowpaws by letting me take my time to get to know his Shadowpaw, Keiran. I have to admit, my first impressions of Lain are growing on me and I'm glad I can count on him as a friend. We aren't at the point of being 'best friends', but we're getting there.
———————
Six months later...
Tiadrin makes her way up to the Adoraburr Meadow, trying to find a way to distract her mind. Her adoptive parents had recently been sent out on an assignment nearly a month ago and she hasn't heard anything from either of them since. She smiles when Keiran bounds up to her and gives her a 'hello' nuzzle. Tiadrin laughs and pushes his head away. "Alright, Keiran, off ma, ya big ol' cub," she scolds gently, resuming her pace. The Shadowpaw bounces around, obviously very excited to see her. Lain is nowhere in sight, though she knows he's here. Tiadrin signals for Keiran to follow her. He knows exactly where she's going and lays down, his back against the base of the tree. Tiadrin grabs her sword and sits down, leaning her back against the big Shadowpaw's silky side.
"Psst."
Tiadrin's ears perk up at the sound, but she simply leans her whole body against Keiran's and closes her eyes. The leaves rustle above her and she peeks an eye open to see a part of amber eyes staring back at her. “Ya got ta do better than tha’, Lain,” she sasses him, a smug smile on her face, as she opens both eyes.
Lain pulls his body up to jump out of the tree and does a backflip before landing in the grass in front of his friend. “I knew ya’d find me,” he replies, flopping down next to her. “An’ it wasn’t like I was really tryin’.”
Tiadrin covers her mouth to stifle a giggle. “Oh, Lain. Ya seem ta like just bein’ silly for ma,” she says once the laughter dies. “Sometimes I wonder if ya had chosen the wrong dream.”
Lain arches an eyebrow at her. “Wha’ do ya mean by tha’?” he asks, genuinely confused.
Tiadrin chuckles softly and shakes her head. "I thought ya said ya wanted ta become a Vanguard,” she replies, allowing an Adoraburr that came over to jump onto her palm.
Lain sighs softly. “Ya always find a way ta twist my words,” he retorts, threading his fingers behind his head.
The two continue bantering back and forth, knowing that their friendship couldn’t, and wouldn’t, change anything between them and that they’d always be best friends. But they also have no clue about what’s in store for them in the near future.