(2025-06-30) Shadows Cannot Hide the Guilty

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Author:	Alli
Summary:	Anareline follows Yveris out to the gardens, where she gently begins to try to understand her enigmatic ally. ~800 words
Rating:	T for Teen

Yveris stalks the evening gardens of Fallon House, having excused herself from the ballroom upon discovering other kaldorei in attendance. Her pace is slow, measured, and for once she is not wandering in an animal form. There is something almost lonely about her, the deliberateness of her steps, the tilt of her shoulders, and her occasional glances at the sky.

At least one person did not get the message about her avoidance of kaldorei, or if she did she ignored it. Anareline Silvershade's shimmering moonlight gown makes her easy to spot in the gardens, though her dark blue hair does provide some light evening camouflage. Anareline steps quietly through the paths, until she spots Yveris. She makes her way toward the woman in an unhurried, sidestepping manner, the way one might approach an animal in order to not appear a predator. She waits to be noticed.

Maybe it's a scent on the breeze, maybe the rustle of fabrics, but Yveris does notice, turning and freezing when she spots Anareline. Her eyes mark her exits in a brief flash, muscles tensed as if she is prepared to run. But she doesn't. Instead, she steps back, making room for the other woman to pass her, if that is her aim.

"Yveris?" Anareline asks, and then adds in Darnassian, "[I didn't see you in the ballroom.]" She pauses, and then adds in Common, "Were you uncomfortable indoors?"

Yveris stares at her. Oh no, language indecision. She points, and says in Common, "Flowers." Surely that explains everything.

"Yes," Anareline agrees. "Do you prefer Common? You do understand Darnassian, do you not?"

Yveris wilts a little. There is no escaping it now. "[I do,]" she says. "[Which do you prefer?]"

Anareline considers the reaction for a long moment of silence, and then says in Common, "I did not come out here to make you uncomfortable. Rather the opposite. First, I wanted to thank you for returning my shalan to life."

"My duty," Yveris says, her expression unreadable. Then her shoulders bow, and her gaze slips off to one side. "I'm sorry, for… messy."

"Messy?" Anareline asks. "What is messy? You have been… a trusted ally. But there are things that make me worry all is not… well, for you."

"The battle," Yveris clarifies. "Messy. I… Healing. Healer… preserve life. But…"

She watches Anareline, her pale eyes alert, wary, occasionally roaming the shadows behind her, in case another kaldorei waits there.

Anareline studies Yveris in return. "Battles are messy. That is no fault of yours. That we walked away from it is to your credit. Are you… avoiding someone?"

Yveris considers, a thoughtful pause fading the flow of conversation into silence. "Yes," she finally says. "A kaldorei. A murderer."

Anareline's eyebrows raise. "A murderer who yet walks free? Should I be watching for this person?"

"Shadows. Hidden," Yveris says. "[The light of Elune burns her soul.] She hides, but you will know."

She seems almost detached from the information the way she presents it, a serene calm pervading her features.

"[I'll know?]" Anareline asks, switching language. "[How will I recognize her?]"

"[Shadows cannot hide the guilty,]" Yveris says, turning aside. "[Not for long. Not from Her. If you see her, you will know, and Elune will guide your hand to what must be done.] She is not here, tonight, I think."

Yveris tips her head up to the evening sky as if soaking it in.

"[Did she kill someone you care about?]" Anareline asks, still faintly puzzled, watching Yveris.

Yveris nods, a flash of grief streaking through her face that she quickly washes away. "I heal. To preserve life," she says.

"And we value that," Anareline says, concern drawing down her brows."Though sometimes to fight is to preserve life as well."

"Maybe," Yveris says. "Others fight. I heal."

Anareline nods, and then she stands with Yveris in silence for a while. She does not seem to think it's awkward. Eventually, she says, "You do have allies. Remember that, if you need to ask for help. Those of us who were with you at Wyrmrest, and our team that traveled back in time. Me. I may not understand you fully, but I do not want you to be alone and afraid."

"Allies…" Yveris repeats, as though the word is foreign and distant to her. But she turns and offers a thin smile. "I will remember."

Anareline considers her for another long moment, and then nods, as if satisfied with what she is seeing. "Ande'thoras ethil, Yveris."

With that, she turns and strides back towards the house and its lights.