<div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/thumb/3/3c/Brennisen.jpg/478px-Brennisen.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>Brennisen<br/><strong>Class:</strong>Ranger<br/><strong>Time:</strong>Patchwall, 6 (am and pm), 7 (am), 577 CY<br/><strong>Location: </strong>Gnarley forest near Bertalana<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong>Kirien<br/><strong>Content Warning: </strong>None<br/><br/>Brennisen woke with the dawn, as was her habit.  She yawned, stretched, and crawled out of her tent.  She smiled to herself as she thought of her plans for the day.  First, she'd forage for some breakfast, as she usually did.  With luck, she might find some tasty nuts, or some wild crabapples to munch on.  If nothing else, she could hunt for a rabbit or squirrel with her sling.<br/><br/>It had been nearly a week since her last fresh meat, but she didn't need much just for herself.  And what she couldn't eat right away, she could dry and smoke for later.  If that was still more than she needed, she knew a certain high elf friend of hers who might like to share some venison or wild boar.  Most smaller animals, while enough to feed her, wasn't really much of a bounty to share.<br/><br/>Except with Teria.  Brennisen loved to bring little tidbits to the diminutive dragon.  She was pretty sure Kirien's exotic pet liked her, and she always got a smile from the way Teria pretended to be shy.  The ranger grinned at the thought of seeing the pseudo dragon again.  But more than that, she wanted to visit her friend, Kirien.<br/><br/>Since they had become friends, the young ranger made it a point to visit the mage about every three days.  It wasn't that there was a set schedule for her visits, but she'd found that three days was about as long as she could go without longing to see her again.  Brennisen imagined it was just because of the nature of their friendship.  After all, Kirien was a pure blooded high elf, and yet she wasn't stuffy, wasn't aloof or condescending like some of the other high elves Brennisen had met in her life. Kirien didn't hold the fact that the ranger was a half breed against her.  She was definitely a very special friend.<br/><br/>As the ranger moved silently through the forest, her attention was drawn to the gurgling of a clear running branch nearby, reminding her of how thirsty she was.  At this time of year, the water would be cold and fresh, and she found herself looking forward to the feel of it trickling down her throat.  A few moments later found her lying belly down, lifting a palm full of the refreshing drink to her lips.<br/><br/>As she drank, a peculiar sight caught her eye.  There in the gravel bed of the stream, an odd gleam shone, the light refracted through the clear water making it appear almost to move on it's own.  Brennisen arose and slipped off her boots, then stepped into the cool water, gasping at the bracing effect it had on her.  Wading quickly to the spot where she'd noticed the gleaming object, she bent to retrieve it.  Closer examination of it revealed it to be an oddly shaped piece of gleaming metal.  It struck her curiosity.  It wasn't gold or silver, so far as she could tell.  She didn't know what it was, but it occurred to her that perhaps Kirien would know.  In any case, it was one more reason to look forward to visiting her friend.<br/><br/>That thought brought another smile to her lips.  She put the little metal object in her belt pouch and returned to the stream's bank, put her boots back on, and headed back to her camp, whistling a jaunty tune.<br/><br/>+++++++++++++++++++++++<br/><br/>Oh that had not gone well, not at all!  She couldn't' believe what she'd done.  What had gotten into her?  Kirien probably wouldn't want to have anything to do with her now.  The thought that she might have ruined the most important friendship in her life made her feel hollow and empty inside.  Worse, she ached inside, and wasn't sure what to do about it.<br/><br/>She crawled into her tent and sat, chin in her palms, letting the upset she felt inside bring the mistiness to her eyes.  Why had she kissed Kirien?  And why did the thought of losing her to that other high elf make her feel so sad?  Was that the reason she'd acted so impulsively?  The mage had told her to open up and let others know what was in her heart, and the next thing she knew, she was kissing her best friend.  It wasn't normal.  Not the kiss, and not the way she was feeling about Kirien since it all happened.<br/><br/>But it had felt so wonderful!  Brennisen wiped her eyes and lay down on her blankets, remembering the sweet pressure of those warm lips on hers.  She looked up at the roof of her tent, but her eyes were seeing a beautiful upturned face haloed in soft brunette hair, and pretty green eyes like summer leaves.  She lost herself in thoughts of what she wished she'd said, what she should have done.  She imagined herself slipping her arms around the petite high elf and holding her close enough to feel the warm press of her body to her own.<br/><br/>Those thoughts made her feel funny inside, all fluttery deep down.  The half-elf virgin didn't equate the feelings with lust, more like a naive notion of romantic feelings she didn't fully understand nor could explain. But she knew one thing for certain.  She had to see Kirien again.  She couldn't let one mistake ruin their friendship.  And after all, the little mage still needed her protection.  Brennisen knew Kirien planned to leave the next morning on one of her frequent excursions.  Indeed, she'd asked Brennisen to come along before....<br/><br/>Brennisen shook her head in a decisive nod.  She wouldn't let it end like that.  She'd be there for her friend.  She wouldn't let the high elf out of her life without at least trying to make amends.<br/><br/>+++++++++++++++++++++++<br/><br/>The young ranger sat astride Ghost, reaching down to pat the shaggy little horse's neck affectionately.  It was to calm the animal, she told herself, though it wasn't Ghost's nerves that needed calming so much as hers.  Brennisen tried to distract herself from the upcoming confrontation she imagined was inevitable.  Idly, she noted the call of a distant bird, identifying it by it's song.  A rustle in a clump of grass nearby resolved itself in her mind as a small hare.  She noticed that the leaves were beginning to show signs of turning, though it would be a month or so before the full color hit.<br/><br/>Then came the sound of voices she was expecting.  She heaved a long sigh, blowing the air out slowly to calm herself.  Glancing back up the road towards town, she let her gaze come to rest on the shorter figure of the three riders, and felt the slight fluttering feeling from the night before return.<br/><br/>Even from a distance, she felt as much as saw the bright smile on her friend's lips.  It was as if the sun had come out from behind clouds to shine on her.  A similar feeling of warmth crept through her. She couldn't help returning the smile with one of her own, accompanied by a blush as the remembrance of the kiss flashed through her thoughts again.<br/><br/>She was about to attempt to offer some apology as Kirien came close, riding ahead of the others.  There would only be a moment to make her pitch to save the friendship, but before she could say anything, Kirien surprised her, coming close enough to touch her thigh, then moved to clutch her hand.  The gentle warmth blossomed into a heated spark at the high elf's soft words.  That voice had never sounded so wonderful to Brennisen, and the promise implied suggested possibilities between them that Brennisen scarcely dared to hope for.<br/><br/>"You feel it too?  Kirien, I....Y-yes, I want to talk about it with you.  I realize you are promised to Enastril.  I heard you mention the arranged marriage yesterday, before... Well, I-I suppose I overstepped my bounds." She lowered her gaze contritely, but a gentle squeeze of the gloved hand in hers communicated her feelings better than her words seemed to be doing.<br/><br/>But the moment passed all too soon as the other two companions came abreast of them.  Brennisen had to content herself with the anticipation of the conversation to come later that evening as they rode throughout the day.<br/>