"Unamed-part two" by Jamie M. Juett

Tipha’s breath caught in her throat and made her gasp. The elder’s wanted her. Nobody went to see the elder’s unless something bad had happened, or they where getting married. Tipha seriously doubted the latter. It could only mean one thing..

It had started after Tipha’s second raid. Her doubts and questions had compiled within her mind until she could no longer contain them.

"I need to know…" She had stated bluntly. The statement had a less than desirable impact on her parents, her father looked like he wanted to cry, and her mother almost dropped the teapot she was holding. Tipha felt ashamed, to worry her beloved parents with such troublesome doubts. But she felt as though if she did not ask these questions that they would eat her alive, however awful it felt to ask them.

"What…. What exactly do you need to know?" Her father asked. Looking as though he’d rather have been fed to a pack of wild dog’s than answer any questions his daughter might have. He had thought that she would at least stay with them until she was 18, and here she was at 15 eager and wanting to know of the past, the horrible, undeniable past.

She had learned it all that night. How she had been abducted as a child from a human lab. She was a clone, and a menace to Mulkuth. She had wept for weeks and the elven community had wept for her too. Already they were losing the promising warrior that had brought joy and beauty to their little village. She had made them believe that even in the ugliest of things, clones and humans, beauty and warmth of soul could thrive, if given a chance and proper instructions.

But now the elder’s wanted to see her and already her entire existence seemed fake. Nothing was real to her anymore.

She sat before the elder’s, head bowed with sorrow and grief. She didn’t need them to speak to know what they would say.

"We have decided, as a council, that you, knowing your origin, should decide wiether you would like to remain here or seek out human residency."

"If I stay… I will endanger the residents here, wont I?" Tipha questioned, and was answered with stale silence. She sighed heavily. "Then you give me no choice at all…I shall leave on the morrow."

Tipha trudged dismally away from her lovely little village, and the life she had loved. She carried several extra jerkins and wore a simple dress slit up the sides to provide easy movement. At her hip hung her sword that she had gotten from her father on her birthday.

She lifted an eyebrow and turned, hearing distinct footsteps only a few yards behind her.

"You never learn…" She muttered half-heartedly and was rewarded with a smile from Redoy. His feather’s where elegant and pointed and perfectly elven in every way, and most of the girl’s would swoon on sight of his white beauties. Tipha only felt contempt; she had always felt he was mocking her in some way, now more than ever. However, Redoy wished more to please her than she knew. Ever since that first day of class when he had called her ‘stubs’ she had snubbed him and refused ever since to forgive and forget. This had kindled a rivalry that had lasted all through out their school years.

"You’re really leaving?" he asked incredulously. He wanted to say more, don’t go I’ll miss you, but he feared she would make fun or worse, laugh.

"Yes. I am." She replied with bitter iciness. She didn’t want any of his games and she certainly didn’t want his pity. Damn the fool who thought she wanted pity.

"You wouldn’t…not before we have our deciding match?!" He exclaimed. If he could only stall her,make her stay if only a short while longer.

"Why does it matter? You’ll be the best in the village when I’m gone." She answered with a sigh. Secretly she wished more than ever to fight him, to prove she was still, and always would be, the best. Redoy grinned cockily.

"Well, I suppose I wouldn’t expect any more from a GIRL." He said with a laugh and smiled triumphantly as she drew her weapon.

"On behalf of all women I challenge you, to our final match." Tipha grinned as Redoy drew his own slender sword. The two fought without mercy, and an observer might have believed they really meant to kill each other.

Tipha lunged and Redoy found himself on the defensive. Slowly his strength was draining while Tipha seemed to be gaining it. He fought valiantly, and after a strenuous ten minutes, lost.

"I suppose I’ll have to practice and become better than you, Tipha. So don’t slack or I might be the best swords person in the world." He said, and left.

Tipha was shocked, in his own subtle way, he had complimented her. She smiled for this last fond memory and walked away from her past life…