It was a tremendous relief to emerge from the shadows of the trees- Rivin was no damned forest Elf, that was for sure. His people were the ones who burned down the trees, as opposed to prancing around them singing love songs to the bark. Or whatever it was the Liey'n did in their spare time.<br/><br/>He was also relieved for another, more pressing reason- the Imperials had been all over them, and closing in too quickly for comfort. If they had lingered in that clearing for much longer, they would've been finished. It also helped that it was the rabble residing at the bottom rung of the military that they'd faced- the Shadow Legion would've been another matter entirely.<br/><br/><span style="color: #008000"><span style="font-style: italic">Perhaps that's what will happen next, </span></span>he thought hopelessly as they approached the entrance to the mine. Rivin stared balefully at the Elf's back, wondering why he hadn't just gone his own separate way.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #008000">Well, I'm still alive at least, so that's something,</span></span>he thought fairly. The Elf seemed to be a capable fighter and had chosen not to kill him. That didn't mean he had to like him, though.<br/><br/><span style="color: #00BF00">"Unfit Bastard, eh," </span>he grumbled as he spotted an assortment of dried tree branches on the ground a few yards away from the mine's entry.<span style="color: #00BF00"> "Well, he's got a point. I did lie. And by now half of the damned Empire probably knows there's a Dark Elf, fit for duty, out of uniform,"</span>he concluded bitterly as he scooped the fallen timber up in his hands. He'd made a good run of it, he supposed. 20 years outside of the Empire's clutches. He thought it was 20, anyway. He wasn't entirely sure how old he was.<br/><br/>He reached the mine at the same time as the Elf- he shouldered past him, moving into the entrance of the shelter. He was no stranger to mines, although he'd never been in an abandoned one before.<span style="color: #00BF00">"Pardon me, <span style="font-style: italic">Master Liey'n,</span>" </span>he said sarcastically as he entered the mine's drafty shadows. Regardless of what the others might think, he knew the man was no Liey'n. It was like he was mixed with Dark Elf, but not in any way Rivin had seen before. It didn't add up.<br/><br/><span style="color: #00BF00">"Th'laam," </span>he muttered after he had made it a few steps into the thick darkness, casting a very weak flame cloak around himself so as to illuminate the way without the use of his hands, which were already being used to hold the branches.<span style="color: #00BF00">"We need to go in deep enough that they can't hear us from outside,"</span>he said without looking back.<span style="color: #00BF00">"But it will be cold. And dark. I think the Dwarf will prefer kindling, as opposed to a magical fire."</span><br/><br/>It occurred to him at that moment that he still hadn't eaten for the day. He felt a rumbling deep down in him, and realized he was far beyond hunger. The day had been a little too action-packed for him to realize it earlier, evidently.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #008000">Once the heat dies down, perhaps we can try to hunt down some kind of meal,</span></span>he thought as he reached a place where the main path seemed to branch into three different tunnels. Realizing what he'd thought, Rivin gave a rueful shake of his head as he came to a halt so the others could catch up.<br/><br/><span style="color: #008000"><span style="font-style: italic">We. I haven't been a part of a 'we' in a very long time.</span></span>