Darkness. Cold. Wet. "Where the blazes am I? Oh, I shouldn't swear. Mama says it isn't polite for ladies to swear. Mama."

"Oh mama!!! Your gone!! I remember now!! No! I don't want to remember!"

Silence.

"I have to go home. Dadday is waiting. He must know what has happened. I have to tell him, if he doesn't already know." Running. Hiding. "They must not find me!"

Ariessus awakens from her nightmare, bathed in sweat. For a moment she has no clue to where she is. Dazed and still full of terror, she looks around desperately, searching for something familiar. Finally, she spots it. Or rather him. Her friend and mentor, Nekal, is asleep on his cot across the room.

Ari takes a few deep breaths to clam herself. As she has been taught, Ari thinks about the dream and relives the memories in her mind. One day these night terrors will be banished. She just has to put the past to rest. Easier said then done.

Ariessus casts her mind back into the past, back to her childhood when she was but a child, barely 50 years old.

We are moving today. To a new place a little deeper in the underdark. Jax said it's because Mama killed someone, but I asked Daddy if that were true, because Mama is a healer. She saves people. Daddy said that we are moving because someone did die, but no, mama didn't kill her. I always knew Jax was stupid.

Ariessus moves forward in her memories. Her early childhood was a source of great joy for her. She was innocent and carefree, fully aware that her parents loved her and would do anything to make a better life for her and her brother Jax. Her life started to fall apart later, when she was older and not so naive.

Mama is getting ready for her meeting with the Spider Queen. If all

goes well we might be able to move up again, moving even farther from

the surface. Although I do like living where we are now. Visiting

the surface with Jax is great fun. An adventure everytime!

Nonetheless, Mama is a great healer and has reached her limits. She

goes to Lolth for testing. When she passes, we will take over the

House of ?????. I hope mama doesn't make me help casting them out. It

seems barbaric to gain prestige by killing others. That thought I had

better keep to myself or I'll certainly get skinned for it.

I'm not allowed to go and watch Mama. I have to stay with Jax. He is

angry with me though, because he can not go to weapon's practice with

father, instead he must watch over me. Again. I am trying to convince

him to take me to the surface, but he is refusing. Sometimes he is

stupid just like he used to be. Well, I'll show him. I'm going to

go on an adventure anyway. I WILL follow mama! How else am I to learn

to be like her? If I'm careful I won't be caught. I'll stay in the

shadows and watch.

Finally, we are here. This niche I've found is wonderful! I can see

everything! Looking down I can see mama and the other priestesses.

They all look so beautiful in there costumes. I HAVE to be like

mama! I just HAVE to! Wait...there's Merra. What is SHE doing here??

She has no business being here when she is of a lesser house than us.

No time to dwell on that now.....The ceremony is starting.

Mama is next, Oh Lolth please bestow honor on my mother and my house

by granting her priestesshood. All is going well, mama is passing

all the tests!! Oh no..NO! what's happening?? That never happend to

mother before. Thats not right!!! MERRA! SHE'S doing something to mess

up mother's performance! NO! Mama has failed!! Not a drider!! Not my

mama!!

NOOOO!!! Blazes!! The priestesses have spotted me!! I must flee!! If

I'm caught I'll be a drider like mama!! Run...I must RUN!! Here, I'll

hide here. They won't find me in this little side tunnel. I can fit,

Jax always said I had a knack for crawling into unusally small spaces.

Darkness. Cold. Wet. "Where the blazes am I? Oh, I shouldn't swear.

Mama says it isn't polite for ladies to swear. Mama."

"Oh mama!!! Your gone!! I remember now!! No! I don't want to remember!"

Silence. Time passes.

"I have to go home. Dadday is waiting. He must know what has

happened. I have to tell him, if he doesn't already know."

Running. Hiding. "They must not find me!"

Finally, home. "Daddy!! Daddy!! It was horrible. Daddy?? Where

are you? No, not you too!! It can't be true. That's not you lying

on the floor, the sword embedded in your chest. This isn't happening!

JAX!! You have to be alive!! You can't have left me too!!"

Search for him. His body isn't in the house. Not in the courtyard.

Noises...who's there? Looking out the window I see people. Merra!

She's come for me. I must run again..always running. Will I never

be safe?? No time to take anything. Go!

The surface. They will never look for me there. Jax, he must have

gone to the surface too. Starlight. It windy tonight. I should

have taken the time to bring a cloak. No, no, there wasn't any time.

"Who are you?? Stay away from me!!" Light-lover, what's he doing

here?? Why near these caves?? I'm so cold...and alone... "Help...

please...I need help..."

It's been a quite a few years since that dark night when Nekal had

found her. He had seen the state that she was in and took pity on her.

So young and afraid.

Ariessus told her story to the surface elf, as he fed her warm food,

and sat her near a fire. No, he hadn't seen her brother. He was just

passing by. He had no clue that there were caves here. Ari learned

that he was a priest, searching for...something. He was restless,

sensing that he was being called upon to do some deed. He travelled

the land, seeking, always seeking.

As Ari slept, Nekal communed with his god - Corellon Larethian. Was

this what he was being called on to do? Teach this dark elf the ways of

the light? Convert her to Corellon's way? So be it.

For more years than she cared to count Ari stayed with Nekal, learning

the ways of his god. They found a place not to far from the caves that

she grew up in. Ariessus was not convinced that her brother was dead.

She needed to stay close in case he came to the surface. For months at

a time, she would search the underdark for him. And she also kept a

secret watch on the House of ????? Merra would pay for what she did to

her family. She would see to it.

Ariessus learned other things from Nekal as well. How to trust. How

judge others by what's inside them not by how much money or power they

have. How to be Good, and not Evil. He even taught her how to use a

sword and shield. Corellon Larethian is a god who believes his priest

should not only know how to heal, but how to hurt also. And a sharp-edged

weapon is better than a blunt one. However, the most important lesson

Ari learned from her beloved mentor was how to be happy with herself.

Ariessus decided to be carefree and take life as it comes. No more

would she let sorrow into her heart. She had more than enough to last a

lifetime.

Ariesses wrenches her mind back to the present. It's morning now and

it's time to fix her old friend his breakfast. As she bustles about

their little home, he awakens. Over freshly heated bread and warm

porridge, Nekal tells her that it is time for him to go back home. He

has taught her all that he can. It is now up to her to learn on her

own. Ari greets this devastating news with silence. So, another loved

one is leaving her. Wait, looking on the bright side, she tells herself

that she will finally be able to spend more time searching for Jax. More

time to study on her own.

Yes, the time has come for Ariessus Jarsali to become self-reliant.

She is grateful that Nekal came into her life when he did. Corellon

Larethian is indeed a kind god.

A few short days later Ariesses and Nekal part. He, back to his people,

and she, to look for her brother. Back into the underdark she goes.

Searching..forever searching.

Bored.

Bored. Bored. Bored. Will I EVER have my revenge?? Maybe I should give

up..NO! NEVER! <Sigh> Tired. And lonely. THAT is why I am bored.

Rest. This is a good place...Stop thinking...my mind is too full...

Ahhh...this rock feels good against my forehead. Maybe I should sit down

instead of standing here with my head against the cool tunnel rock. <Sigh>

Ok, so lift your head Girl..push off the rock and find a place to sleep.

Go on...you've been standing here for 5 minutes....Ok, ok...I'm going to

raise my head now...really....AAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Backpedal QUICKLY!!

BLAZES! Opposite wall at my back...What the....Peering...Golden Eyes..

How strange...Who ARE You??

""Silly Drow...I am S'torm, who else would I be?""

Oh, well, forgive me...I should have known. Ahhhh....can I errr...help you?

Heartrate slows...calm now..calm...look closely...BLAZES!!!! It's an

Elven Cat!! One hasn't been seen around here for ages...

""Of course we haven't. Most of you Drow are not very nice""

GASP! You read my MIND??? How??!!!

""Easily. The how is not neccessary for you to know at this time. Know

that I can and leave it at that. Will you listen to what I have to say

Elf?""

Tales..stories...coming back to me...be courteous to the Cats....Do NOT

insult....

Yes, Honored One. I will listen.

""Good. I have been following you for sometime now Elf. You have been

stirring up the Families with your ghostly wanderings of these tunnels.

Your lonelness and grief has made it impossible for us to ignore your

needs. I have been chosen to find out what has disturbed you and how

the Families can get you to stop this infernal noise you keep making.""

Noise? But Honored One..I travel these passages soundlessly. No one

knows that I am here.

""Not that kind of Noise, silly Drow. Your mind. You project your

thoughts and sorrows as loudly as any newborn kit who has yet to learn

control. We will never have any peace as long as you are untrained. You

must learn to keep your thoughts shielded. THIS is why I speak with you

now.""

""I have Read what is in your Mind, and in your Heart and have found you

to be both honorable and caring."

My most humble thanks Honored One.

""I have also come to realize that the only way for you to learn control

is to have a Bond-mate.""

GASP!!

""I see you know what that means. Excellent. I will gift you with a Bond

from my own litter, IF you agree to take the Oaths.""

Lady, I am stunned. And Amazed...And Honored!! To be a Bond-mate to an

Elven Cat...YES!! Please!!! Anything!! I will do ANYTHING you ask!

""Yes, I do believe you will. Pledge the Oaths then""

""First, NEVER will you perform an EVIL deed of you own violation""

I So Pledge.

""Second, the Care and Comfort of K'harn comes before all else. You will

Love her and treat her with Kindness and Respect""

I So Pledge.

""Third, You will Protect her with your very life. Never will you

intentionally cause her harm, nor will you let harm come to her.""

I So Pledge.

""Hold out your hand.""

Extend....Palm up....OW! She scratched me....tickles...her little tongue

tickles...She is Beautiful....

""K'harn...that is my name...And you are now Mine!! I'm Hungry!!!""

May I hold her??? Pick her up??? She is tiny...fragile...

""She is now in your care. Make no mistake. YOU were chosen as K'harn's

Bond-mate. Never forget that we honor you in this. And Never forget

the penalties you will suffer if your break your Oaths. And SUFFER

you will. I would see to it personally.""

Never will I forget Great S'torm. This day is seared in my memory for

all time. I rejoice that never again need I feel alone and lonely. My

thanks seem not enough. To repay this great kindness.....I have no way...

""Keep you Oaths, that is all I ask. Farewell.""

Gone..Quick she is..Are you that quick my Lovely One?? Yes, yes, food

we shall find for you. Here, sit upon my shoulder. I will carry you.

No need for you pretty paws to be dirtied.

""<Purrrrr> You are mine...Always..."

Yes darling...as you are mine..Sleep..

It's been months now since Ariessus parted from Nekal, and a few weeks

since she was gifted with K'harn. She has been keeping close watch on some

of Merra's clan. It seems that a few of them have gotten into mining. Well

now...lets just see what mischief I can do..

It's been a month now since Ariessus parted from Nekal. She has been

keeping close watch on some of Merra's clan. It seems that a few of

them have gotten into mining. Well now...lets just see what mischief

I can do..

Wandering the underdark for awhile now, Ariessus has found that

Merra has an interest in much more than mining. Hmm, Gems, I could

understand, but it looks like they are coming up with some strange

looking ore. I wish I knew what it is... That would give me an

idea of what they have in their minds."

Blazes! Must be careful to avoid the guards. That one saw me. Glad

it's been years since anyone has seen me, and I have changed since then.

I wonder... precious metal? Gold, platinum, I have heard that both can

can be found in these dark tunnels. Don't know. Oh well. I wonder what

kind of trouble I can stir up for ol' Merra.

"Heeeelllllooo....what's this....Minions of Merra's...interesting.

Think I'll just follow along and see where they go...."

Ah, miners...but only two? And humans at that. I wonder what is

going on. Better keep a watch on these two for a bit. It's a litte too

strange that the humans are alone.

Time passes.

The older one appears to be very sick. I should go forward and see

if I can help him. Wait, what are they doing? The young one is attaching

a rope to a beam. Why is he doing that????

Oh good grief! Now he is yelling obscenities with the members of Merra's

household playing in starring roles. Heh, THAT one was funny! Now he is

hugging the old man, and running off down a small tunnel.. How strange.

I hear the guards coming! Hide! You better hide old man! After what

your friend said, they will skin you and use your body parts for musical

instruments! He isn't hiding! They've caught him! Oh NO! But, why

aren't they killing him? Oh, clever, clever, he is showing them the rope!

Now three of them are running after the young human! Oh Look! The rope

being pulled caused the chamber ceiling to collapse! It looks like both

the old man and the guard are dead!

I will follow after the young one. Perhaps, just perhaps, I will get

a chance to strike at Merra.

Boy, those fallen rocks were sharp, glad I am past those. Now, what is

THAT? CAVE IN! I hear a CAVE IN!... It seems to have stopped. Forward,

cautiously now. What is this? Here are three guards.. one of them is

still alive.. Forgive me Corellon, he would cause my death.. ugh.. wipe

the blade before putting it away.

There's the human. His arm is caught in the rubble. I'll try to get

it out... Ugh... Grunt.. grunt.. got it. Oh yuuuuck. His hand is

ruined! Well, I can heal him... keep him alive.

*CAST*

Oh well, at least he has his thumb and two fingers left.

"Come along human.. Unless you want Merra to use you for decorations

on her walls, we need to get out of the underdark. Throw your good arm

over my shoulder and we will try to make it past the denizens at the gate."