• Serka walked into the Room of the Mother Tamer, the leader of the Beast Tamers. She was always playing her best “scared” face when she comes even near her. She never wanted to be a Tamer, for they are usually shunned by society, but while she was here, she might as well be the best. She was a Liari elf, not really a surprise for her kind of elves.
    “Yes, Mother Tamer?” She asked, playing her best child-in-the-face-of-bandits face.
    “Ah… Serka,” The Mother started, her old Selune boned wearing her out, “It is good that you came to my urgent call.”
    As an old habit, Serka scanned the room, hoping that there might be a clue to the old Selune elves “retirement”. To her utter glee, the Tamer Staff, a symbol of the Mother Tamers power, was placed in the center of the room on a pedestal that was made from the finest pine and oak trees.
    The old hag is finally retiring! Serka tried to hide her glee, almost to the point to where she was sweating bullets.
    The Mother followed her gaze, “oh, that? Well, please, don’t be surprised.”
    Surprised? Are you kidding me? “Why, Mother Tamer?” Her voice was trembling with excitement.
    The Mother Tamer stroked the Staff. “I have been Mother for over a thousand years. Even Tyr can’t keep me alive. Soon, She will call me to Her Clearing.”
    Tyr is the goddess of there order, and being a beast tamer is a symbol of your faith to the Goddess, and being Mother is the Highest honor in the clan.
    “Who will be the next Mother?” Me, that’s who!
    The Mother had other things in mind, “Well that’s why you’re here…” her voice trailed off and Serka was about to jump and accept the offer until Serka heard the Mother again.
    “Would you help me make a list?
    Serka’s heart stopped as if it turned to stone.
    “What?”
    The mother saw the confusion in her eyes “We need an election, so that we can find the next Mother and Tyr will oversee everything to make sure-“
    Next thing they knew, Serka grabbed the Staff and struck the Mother dead with a fatal blow to the head. It wasn’t until she hit her that she found out her arm started to hurt. No one but the rightful Mother can wield the Staff. Didn’t stop to care though.
    “I’ve waited for over two hundred years just for you to die, hag!” She yelled as the body of the Mother decomposed into a bed of wild flowers, the traditional way for a Beast Tamer to die.
    Serka held her breath for as long as the body transformed and more. She yelled, “I am the rightful Mother and nothing will stop me from obtaining that title!”
    The Liari stood over the bed of wildflowers that was once the Mothers body, her body felt a chill as she held the Staff in pure delight and in pain. “Two hundred hard years I well earned.”
    “If you keep talking to yourself like that that, the other Tamers will find you and kill you.” said a voice that made Serka jump from her stance.
    From the shadows stepped an Ashlin dressed in the garb of a prophet. Simple, yet insane prophet. Ashlin are a short lived race, compared to the Elves, but they are more dominating than the rest of the races of Alvion. The Ashlin are ambitious and very dangerous. But not all are like that. Most of the time.
    “Jerimaha.” Serka mused, not happy at all.
    “Hello, Serka.” The prophet looked down at the bed of wildflowers-and the pool of blood. “It seems that you decided to act upon your wish. That is good.”
    “You …. Saw?” the Liari could not move, nor could she barely speak. How could he have been there this whole time? Jerimaha only shifted his weight and walked closer to the bed.
    “Yes,” he said simply. His words were like a spear hitting her body. “ … But I won’t tell nobody if you decide not to tell.”
    Serka thought about this. If she had this prophet on her side, she will not only be able to cover up this murder, but be able to learn of any who somehow find out about the murder. But at what cost?
    “It also seems that the Staff rejects you. I can mask the pain. If you wish.” He sat there in the dark looking at Serka as if she is his prey waiting to strike.
    Of course the Staff hurt but is that enough?
    “What do you want?” she asked to be safe.
    “Just to be at your side. Everyone knows your limits and I can see through those limits. If you let me work with you.” He said coldly.
    Serka let out her breath that she held in for so long, then stroked the Staff in pain and accomplishment, “Fine.”
    The prophet only smiled.