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Solaris swore under her breath as more of the guards appeared. She was hard to see, crouched in shadow and dressed in dark clothing but she wasn't impossible to locate.

She'd been stupid in that pub and let her hood slip, everyone nearby getting a glimpse of slightly pointed ears marking her as a half-elf and pair of mismatched eyes, one bright emerald and the other burning amber, before she'd yanked her hood up and fled. Unfortunately, she wasn't quick enough, they knew she was here and it would make getting out of the city very fun indeed.

Pity she couldn't use her magic, thanks to another sorcerer who'd put a small curse on her. Then he'd told the people from the last city she'd been in that she was plotting to annihilate it so she had to flee...again. The only reason she'd come HERE was because she'd heard that the evil ejit that had done it was in this particular city.

Not that it mattered at the moment, she needed to relax just a little bit, plan ahead, and get the hell away from the human guards. Staying low and moving slowly so they wouldn't see her, Solaris carefully moved along the shadowy building until she got to the corner. She was about to turn it and get unnoticed to freedom, when another guard came along and tripped over her.

That did it, secrecy was gone and she was off, sprinting down the road, dodging people left and right and hoping her lower face mask and hood wouldn't slip.

This wasn't going to be very good for the bow she stored, unstrung in the quiver attached to her back but she had to trust that it wouldn't fall out. It was her only protection now.

Solaris glanced behind her, but although she'd out ran the guards, she didn't slow her pace. He would know she had followed him soon, and this time if caught, it would be her head that was taken instead of her magic.

The way her luck was going, she would run into a bounty hunter soon which would be the LAST thing she needed. It was really frustrating, having a bounty on your head, simply because you had an elf for a parent on top of the fact you had a knack for magic you couldn’t use.

How was it HER fault the king’s beloved wife had been assassinated by a sorcerer? She wasn’t even MALE for crying out loud!

Lost in her bitter thoughts, she continued to run not knowing where to or how she would get there; only that she would eventually and that was all that mattered.

The giant city gates were closed when she reached them, Well, I didn’t care where I was going, I guess I’ll have to find a place to sleep. She looked up as a drop of water hit her nose. Somewhere DRY…

Solaris hated the rain, she understood it was good for the plants and all but it was so cold and wet it just…bugged her for some reason. Maybe it had something to do with the fact her mother had drowned in a flood when the river had overflowed and technically rain was water…

A few people near by were casting nervous looks in her direction. “Bounty hunter.” She lied simply, making her voice rougher than it usually was. The nervous glances relaxed slightly, but not by much.

Ignoring them, Solaris walked by them, her eyes darting from place to place from beneath the shadow of the hood. Humans were rushing everywhere, their speed increased by the rain, which had began to fall. It was a soft drizzle but Solaris knew there would be a full storm soon, she could smell it.

She ducked into a nearby pub, making sure her hood wouldn’t slip this time. She sat down at the bar, and then froze.

He was sitting in the back corner, with His feet on the table like He owned the place. The ejit who’d taken her powers and put an even bigger bounty on her head, Sorthen Aramson. Her eyes narrowed slightly but he gave no sign he knew her and she gave him none who she was.

A glass of liquid was placed in front of her and she thanked the barman with a curt nod but didn’t drink it just yet. She could hear it raining harder and shuddered slightly, the worst of the storm hadn’t come yet. It might be a good idea to get a room for the night…

Someone sat down next to her and with a flash of hatred, she realized it was Him. “That hood doesn’t suit you at all Solaris.” He muttered not looking at her. “Hiding your ears with magic doesn’t suit you either Sorthen” she muttered back.

“Should we take this outside?” Solaris glanced at the rain-washed window, a man exiting the pub held the door open for a soaked figure and Solaris saw the storm had almost reached its heaviest point yet. “Let’s not, I can’t use my anti-lightning spell anymore.” she said a hint of bitterness in her voice.

He chuckled, “Still a wee bit sore?” “Try having YOUR magic removed for a single week then imagine having that done to you for an entire year. It was almost the only thing I had to protect myself and I’m still scratchin’ my head as to why exactly you did it.”

Her grip had tightened on the dagger she wore strapped to her thigh and about an inch or so of the blade had been pulled free of the sheath. “I needed an extra boost and didn’t want you hounding me for revenge, unfortunately, you did so I must deal with you.”

“Just try.” She spat, grateful the pub was loud and their conversation would be hard to hear. Sorthen sighed, “I don’t have to.” He nodded towards the door, “They will.” She looked up, and saw the guards from earlier coming into the pub, looking around. “You’re beneath my talents.” “Most of which you stole from me.” “I prefer to use your phrase for it, ‘borrowed without permission.’”

She stood up, Sorthen not even looking at her, he simply sat there, sipping his drink. No more running, its time to fight back. she thought then drew the dagger out the rest of the way.

Knowing it wouldn’t work but trying it anyways, she slashed at Sorthen’s unprotected neck. She had caught him off guard amazingly enough, but he’d recovered in time to get his barriers up, throwing her back a few steps.

She’d cut him though and a line of crimson appeared on his neck giving her cause for a small smile beneath the shadow of her hood. He scowled and put a hand on his neck. She attacked again and forced him to concentrate on her instead of his wound.

The crimson liquid slowly ran down his neck and stained the edge of his black cloak. A slash from a sword barley missed her nose and she instinctively ducked and turned.

The human guards had finally realized what was going on and had recognized her from earlier. She caught his wrist and flipped him over her shoulder, breaking Sorthen’s concentration yet again.

The humans in the pub had noticed the fight by now and there was egging on and jeers for both sides, but she wasn’t paying attention. Several adversaries who want to kill or worse seemed to be a better target of attention then idiotic spectators.

The hood was ripped off from behind and she swore, Sorthen had removed it with magic. All cheering for her stopped to be replaced by louder jeering. He hadn’t thought about the face mask though and she still had that on.

Brushing back a strand of raven hair that had gotten into her eyes, she attacked again, very conscious of the fact Sorthen was muttering something powerful, under his breath despite the fact it was learned early on to NEVER interrupt a sorcerer or sorceress while casting something you knew was powerful.

He frantically tried to finish the spell, not wanting to lose concentration and just as he got the fireballs in his palms, Solaris was right in front of him. In a blur of movement, her dagger was in his heart and his spell dispensed. “Nothing personal.” She said, remembering it was what he’d told her when he’d stolen her magic.

He slowly sank to the ground but she’d already pulled the dagger out of his chest and was defending herself against the human guards. She hit one over the head with the hilt of the dagger, knocking him unconscious.

Solaris was very thankful it hadn’t occurred yet to the watching humans they could fight too. It would but if she could just stick around until Sorthen died so she could be sure he wouldn’t come back after her, she’d be safe. Dodging guards would be easy after this.

It seemed to be an eternity later but it was more like a span of 10 seconds, Sorthen collapsed onto the ground and didn’t get back up. She felt an invisible wave of power wash back over her and she could actually feel her magic come back as the curse ended with his death.

Muttering under her breath but still fighting, she cast unconsciousness over the remaining guards then fled, grabbing the hood from the floor as she went. Mission accomplished and the storm, she noticed was easing up, slowly releasing the city from its heavy torrent.

Soon she too would be released but it would be freedom from bounty hunters instead of rain. All she would have to do would be survive until then, but she’d do it somehow. That was how she did everything, somehow.

Thanks for the review ^^ and you want more of my writing or more of this story? Technically this is it, it was supposed to be a short story but I might be able to continue it if people really wanted me to...

Somehow I think there will be more... I want more! That was good! It kinda sounds like Tales of Symphonia.

It's a Game Cube game that my sister plays, and I watch. The main population in the game does not like half elves, but other then that, I really don't know what is going on in it. Like the story though!

Sounds pretty good. =) I like mythical stories and all. I have a character who is a hybrid, Half elf and human. hehe So, it was nice to hear someone else write about one. Good Job.
~Kita