As Anna and Lazrator moved past the clearing of trees,

                       

But in reality, it was the trees that were moving past us.

            

Yes, everywhere they went, the earth and trees moved to accommodate the path they were taking towards the center of the swamp.

But now they had arrived.

             

It…

                      

It’s beautiful…

                            

Anna was awestruck.

                        

The center of the swamp was a large open area that held a blooming flowering sort of tranquil garden. The many and many of flowers there had several colors, ranging from white lilies, to red tulips, and violet orchids, and many more.

“Wow!”

“}We are glad you like it. When mother told us that you liked flowers, we set this up to surprise you…… We had hoped it would make you feel more at home after having been brought here.{“

Anna felt a tug at her heart at the extremely touching gesture.

“Thank you Lazrator… This is beautiful.” She reached up to wipe tears from her eyes. “You know what people don’t ever do for a florist, is give her flowers… but I do like to receive them despite being one.”

“}We’re glad.{“ Lazrator lifted their hand. “}There we are.{“ pointing towards the center most of the swamp.

“There we are? There we are what?…” But even as she just asked this. Anna could feel it and figured it out. Their presence was strongest dead ahead of where she was currently.

                              

“}There WE are, right there. In the center. That is our avatar.{“

                       

In the center most of the swamp. Lay a hill that had water running from little springs that ran down into the waters bogs of the swamp. The flowers made a path all the way up towards top of the hill where an object lay.

A majestically carved wooden staff made holly. Pristine and ghostly white in its appearance.

“Your avatar… Is that staff?”

“}Yes.{“ “≈Yes.≈“ “>Yes.<“ They answered her separately, in different sounding voices. “}>≈We were once different elemental spirits. All with our own names.≈<{“

“}>≈It has been so long since we were separate beings, that we can not even remember our original names anymore… So we took on the name of our creator.{ butcherer.< master.≈”

“}>≈We made a pact to help a Mokra’Torc shaman many generations ago, near end of the war between the humans and the Mokra’Torcs. We had been their ever faithful companions at the time, using our power to help stem the tide of the battle to help the children of Rayala… even against Mother Agra’Yala’s decision to help her children.≈<{“

This revelation shocked Anna to hear. But she decided not to interrupt their story.

“}>≈Our master, after realizing the battle was soon to be lost, made a last ditch effort. “Please my elemental friends! Lend me everything you are and have! Grant me everything to hold back the humans from our lands!” They asked us.≈<{“

She felt a profound sadness spilling out over the Lazrator’s garden.

“}>≈We did. We all realized that defeat might be inevitable. So we chose to give our master everything we were. We revealed our sources to them. They took them, combined them into a single vessel, creating our avatar before you. Her almighty weapon of power.≈<{“

                         

                            

Anna barely felt her eyes stinging as the tears spilt from them.                        

                            

                  

                                    

                           

                                                

“}>≈The staff of Lazrator.≈<{

                                

                                

                           

                     

“………its you………” Anna said as she realized what Agra’Yala’s blessing was.

                       

“}>≈…………………………………≈<{“

                    

Their silence told Anna everything.

                     

“She made me come here… to get you…”

                              

“}>≈That is right my friend.≈ partner.< love.{“ They told her in separate voices once again. “}>≈We are Agra’Yala’s gift to you. We will be your strength.≈ your shield.< your teacher.{“

They lifted Anna from their creation’s head, laying her at its feet.

“……………But!—“ Anna turned to look at Lazrator, or rather, at Lazrator’s creation. “What will happen to you?! That is your avatar right?! What happens to you after I…”

           

*GULP*

           

“……After I take you.”

       

“}>≈We will still be with you our dear partner.≈<{“ Lazrator assured. “}>≈Just not as directly as this; as we are now.≈<{“

“It’s not that simple!” Anna shouted. She went down to one knee and placed a palm against the ground. “I can feel it; I can feel you! You’re everywhere! You’re in everything! This ground beneath my feet, the roots of the trees! Even the water running through the swamp! You are connected to all of this, to everything: you are the swamp of madness! What happens to you after I disconnect your avatar?!”

“}>≈Our dearest partner, you need not be burdened for the swamp. Though we are thankful you are. It shows what an incredible shaman you will be and become in the future. But Agra’Yala and we have spoke on this. Our avatar is different than what most spirits would consider as an avatar, not just because it is a vessel. We are also three different elementals: one of nature, one of rayala, and one of water. We have had a miraculous occurrence happen with the creation of our avatar. With the help of our original master,{ partner,≈ butcher,< we were able to achieve symbiosis with each other. This allowed us to become one; with this avatar, while also being a vessel of our power for her to wield. When we were planted here, on our master’s tomb. A curious thing happened. Our staff≈ vessel{ avatar< took root. We were once again connected to Rayala, but instead of becoming spirits, we became a sentient elemental source.≈<{“

They reached down with their large hand, caressing the side of Anna’s head with their thumb.

Anna closed her eyes and relished the touch of her new friend that she knew she might lose soon. Allowing a few tears to escape.

“}>≈It is as you have said: we are the swamp; and the swamp are we. But the swamp has since a while ago, been able to grow new sources off of our own core.≈<{“ Lazrator reached over to stroke the hill side with their other hand. “}>≈The swamp will survive, and flourish, even without our direct intervention or supply from our source.≈<{“

“This isn’t just about the swamp Lazrator! What will happen to you once I take you?! Will you just lay dormant and trapped within the staff? Will I ever be able to talk with you guys again?! Is this goodbye?! I don’t want to force you to serve me! Or be some sort of tool for me to use!” Anna asked worried about losing her new friends, desperate to try and save their lives.

Lazrator chuckled.

“}>≈Worry not our dear friend,< companion,{ partner,≈ this was our choice. Mother Agra’Yala asked us, but we agreed to help you. You should, when you plant us within rayala again, be able to connect to our source within the swamp again. For we are all connected through rayala.{ rayala.< rayala.≈”

Anna ran towards the creation. Throwing her arms around its large surface that she couldn’t even reach her arms around.

“Thank you Lazrator!… I won’t forget this!… I know now that this is quite a sacrifice to make!”

“}>≈One, we are all to happy to make, our friend.≈<{“

They told Anna as with wrapped one viney arm across her back. Holding her close.

“}>≈And remember: we will always be with you; for you carry us with—≈<{“

                                     

*THUNK*

                                       

Anna looked up from Lazrator’s creations chest at the sound and at their abrupt stop.

“*GASP* Oh no!”

There was a large hand-axe she recognized as it embedded itself into Lazrator arm.

“RRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!“

Came the war cry of five extremely angry Mokra’Torc.

“No! Lilian wait!” Anna tried to reach her hand out towards her love as she saw her running towards her with fury in her eyes.

“}>≈NO!≈<{“

*GROAN!*

Lazrator turned its body so it was in-front of Anna, shielding her from the a few more axes that flew towards them.

“}>≈They are under the influence of the ¹the demon’s fireDuroak’fira! Your words are beyond them. They won’t stop until they kill this creation of mine. SO GO! Retrieve my avatar, force them to submit to your power while my construct holds them off!≈<{“

Anna watched as the creation that she had come to recognize as Lazrator move back to fight her love and friends.

“No! Don’t hurt them! They just!—“

“}>≈Listen to us our friend,{ partner,< master,≈ they will not stop until the destroy this construct. Do not worry for their safety, we are only going to let them attack us while forcing them to engage us. We shall not harm your companions. But do not stop in retrieving our avatar. That will be your chance at convincing them.”≈<{

“But what about you?!”

“}>≈Our friend,< companion,{ joy,≈ this construct is not the true us. We can always recreate it if it were to fall.≈<{“ Lazrator assured Anna.

They turned towards Anna’s friends, before shouting at her as the construct dashed towards the Mokra’Torc attackers.

“}>≈Now go! Retrieve us!≈<{“

Anna hesitated for a moment, but as she saw her love jump through the and slice a finger off of the construct, she knew she would have little time.

She dashed towards the hill the staff was atop.

                    

————————————————-

                                            

——————-A few minutes earlier-———————

                                           

Lilian and her group were just running past the most densely populated area of trees they had come across so far.

“Take it slower now.” Lilian called back as she slowed down herself. “No telling when we might run into the guardi—“

She stopped mid sentence as her line of sight spotted some movements.

“What is— HRMPGH?!” Safarti started to ask his Warchief when he had a hand shoved over his mouth.

“SHH…”

Lilian instructed them for silence and told two of them to make their way towards the other side of the clearing.

As Safarti and Grak’Horve moved to the other side for cover. They all moved to look past the tree line they were hiding near.

They saw large monstrous creature that looked like the very swamp had come to life itself.

“Is that?…” Horrik asked.

Lilian nodded.

“Most likely…  so men, say hello to the guardian of the swamp of madness.”

“By Rayala! That thing is huge!” Safarti whispered in fear. “Its almost as big as a mammoth!”

“Oh come on!” Grak’Horve berated back in a whisper. “Its not that big!… just uhh… A little smaller than a hut… or a small ogre.” He lamented.

“He is a little smaller than the smallest ogre I have killed.” Lilian comments off handedly.

Three out of her four soldiers look at her with surprised blinking eyes.

“What are they doing?…… It almost looks as if they are… conversing.” Harks pondered skeptically.

“………Maybe she is a—“ Horrik started to speak.

“Shut up.”

“Wha—“

“I SAID SHUT UP!” Lilian hissed through her teeth at Horrik. Lilian turned back to look at her love, as Anna just stood there looking up at the creature. Her eyes filled with emotions.

Lilian’s hands gripped tighter on the handles of her axes. She had never felt felt this type of anger at another before.

She hated that elemental guardian.

Hated that this thing seemed to lure Anna away from Lilian somehow.

Lilian didn’t want to entertain the thought that Anna actually was a shaman. It would mean that the two people she had come to trust the most had been hiding something so important from her for months.

I just want Anna back to how she was. Back to being my loving Ashu’Rágé; the one who cooks me wonderful meals and loves me unconditionally. Has show mean what it means to be in love with someone.

                                   

As Lilian watched her love and the beast look at each other. Her eyes went wide as she watched Anna run towards the monster, throwing her arms around its middle.

Lilian felt her breathing coming in faster and faster as she continued to look at this scene.

                

Harks turned from the scene of the human after having seen the elemental and the human get along swimmingly.

Even he too, was beginning to doubt his earlier conclusions.

He looked up towards his Warchief.

“Lilian, I think maybe we should…—“

But his words fell on deaf ears, as Lilian watched as the abomination wrapped its large slimy vine like arms around her Ashu’Rágé.

Lilian ran out from cover, already moving to throw one of her axes at the creature.

She watched as her axe bit itself deep into the creatures vine weaved arms.

                                     

“RRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!“

                            

Lilian’s war cry triggered her’s and the rest of her companions own ²the demon’s fireDuroak’fira.

They all gave a shout as one after that as they began their charge towards the elemental guardian.

Lilian pulled at a smaller hatch she carried and threw that at the beast as well.

Her soldiers following suit to pull out a couple of their own axes to lunch them at the beast.

Lilian saw her love reach towards her past the beast’s grasp.

“Lilian wai—!”

But she was cut off as the beast turned and stood in-front of her.

Lilian let out another ferocious roar as she charged the swamp monster.

I’ll save you Anna! She thought as she ran towards the monster.

As soon as she was within a meter of it. Lilian leapt into the air, her last axe swinging back behind her as she brought it down at the monster’s face.

It dug deep into the roots and vines of its head, but any satisfaction of having done damage to it was quickly squelched.

The monster reached for her with its hand, completely unfazed from receiving a large battle axe into its face.

Lilian had to abandon her last axe, in favor of escaping the beasts clutches. She kicked off of it, barely making the elemental lose balance from her shove as she flew backwards of over its arm.

Lilian reached down as she sailed over its arm to retrieve the axe she first threw at the beast.

After landing and regaining her footing. She watched as her men were attacking systematically from all sides, striking at its limbs as it made slow swipes and shallow attacks towards them.

She ran at it again, jumping up to land on an arm that it had just slammed down towards Safarti, who had easily had dodged its attack.

Lilian had ran up its arm, hacking at it with her axe as she made it to its broad shoulders.

It tried to shrug her off, but she jumped from its upper forearm towards its head again.

“RRRRRRAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!”

Her blade sliced through the entire face of the beast. Freeing her other axe in the process. She rolled with her fall to turn and face the beast. Ready to either attack, retreat, or go back for her weapon if necessary.

But to her surprise, and the rest of her group. The beast had stopped moving.

This made her group come up short, releasing them from their in-forced battle rage.

“Di— Did you kill it?” Asked Grak’Horve as they looked at the inert monster.

Lilian to was asking the same question in her mind as she moved to pick up her axe.

But then a root suddenly sprouted from the ground and entangled her.

“S-Shit!”

She watched helplessly as it coiled around her and her men, then vines then threw them back towards the way they had come. Way from the monster and the hill.

The all righted themselves and watched in horror as the beast’s limbs and face seemed to grow back or regenerate from nothing. Mending itself back together.

It turned to face them, letting out an earsplitting cracking sound, reminiscent of a tree falling down.

                      

*GROAN*

                        

“RRRRRAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHH!”

                             

Lilian let out a cry of her own as to answer the creature.

Her men and herself started their charge. The monster stood their waiting for their approach.

But just as they were about to engage again. Geysers burst from the ground underneath their feet, launching them upwards.

            

“SHIT!”

          

But before they could hit the ground again, they were caught up in vines and held in mid air.

Lilian looked up in anger, ready to start chopping at the vine holding to free herself.

But what she saw made her pause.

                       

“Ashu’Rágé?!”

                      

Anna stood right there near her.

Right on top of the monster’s broad head and shoulders like it was a hill.

Her eyes narrow as she looked at the Mokra’Torcs held in the air.

                     

“Is this enough to convince you guys now?!”

                     

She lifted her hand, it glowing with a green light as the vines that were holding them gently lowered them down to the ground.

The color of light changed as swirling blue water circled her hand.

“Or? How about this!”

                     

*SPLASH* *SPLASH* *SPLASH* *SPLASH*

                                 

More geysers of water funneled upwards around the front of the creature she was atop.

“IS THIS NOT ENOUGH TO CONVINCE YOU NOW?!”

             

She yelled at her group.

             

“I am a shaman! Just as I told you I was!”

Her other hand glowed green again with swirls of brown and dust circling it.

                   

The creature lifted its hand, bringing it up towards its head. Anna stepped onto it, before the creature lowered her towards the ground and her waiting group.

Lilian was waiting for her love down at the ground and feet of the beast as Anna stepped off of its hand.

“Anna!” She called as she rushed towards her.

Anna smiled at her and held open her arms.

          

The two came together in a wet embrace, because of Lilian getting soaked earlier.

               

“By Mother Rayala Anna! I was so scared and worried! Why did you run off?!”

        

She felt Anna shake her head into her shoulder.

“You know why. None of you were convinced that I was telling the truth; this was my only option to show you that I was right.”

“But what if you were—“

Anna pushed back with her arms to separate them a little.

“Look Lilian, I know this is hard to believe, and I understand that. This is why I won’t hold it against you that think I didn’t know whether I was being tricked or not.”

Anna smiled at her and reached up to cup her loves cheek.

“I know we should talk about this. But not here, not now… I know that Tharhym and I have been keeping this a secret. But we had a good reason for it.”

She felt Lilian whimper at her touch as Anna’s hand cupped her cheek.

“Just kiss me Lilian. Show me we are still okay and you still love me.”

“I do. You know I do Anna.”

                         

They bent towards each other. Anna standing on her tiptoes, Lilian bending slightly forwards, so that they could receive their lover’s lips.

The held each other, just relishing being together and enjoying the moment of being connected with one another, once again.

After they parted, Anna looked up at Lilian and said.

“I love you Lilian Dracogusse. And know I always will, you are my Ashu’Rágé, even if you choose to throw me away or leave me. I will chase you down and make you fall in love with me again.”

Lilian smiled down at Anna.

“And you will never have to, Anna Gardener, I love you with all of my heart. For I will go to the ends of Rayala or beyond to find you if I must.”

The stood their and smiled at one another before they once again reached for each other once again to seal their words with another kiss.

                      

Once they parted again after sharing another loving kiss. Lilian looked down at Anna.

“Let us return back to camp, then we can talk about when all of this began my Ashu—“

But her voice was cut off as her lips were pressed with two fingers to them.

              

           

“Lilian… My Warchief…” Anna started saying before trailing off.

                

Lilian felt her heart thump in her chest with a fearful anticipation.

           

“As I have just said. You are, and always will be my Ashu’Rágé, and I will love you always…”

          

“But please… honor this request of mine. That until I give you permission to call me that again. Only call me by my name or my title as shaman. To show you respect me as your Ashu’Rágé.”

                    

Anna then started to walk past her, but Lilian grabbed her wrist.

“What… What is that suppose to mean?!” Lilian asked Anna in frustration. “So are you suggesting that I am your Ashu’Rágé, but you are no longer mine?!”

“No.” Anna reached down and gently pulled her hand from Lilian’s grasp. “But until you know truly what the word “beloved” means, and choose me, and me only. Please don’t call me that name anymore… I like… I like when you call me by my name. So as punishment for not believing in me; that I was a shaman. Don’t call me that.”

           

Lilian looked at her departing figure incredulously, with a tinge of hurt in her face.

“Punishment?! For what?! What is it that I did WRONG?!” Lilian yelled towards Anna.

Anna’s gaze pulled up Lilian short. As she looked back at her. Her eyes were filled with tears as she spoke.

“The fact that you can say that to me. Is more than enough reason for me to believe that the words you have said to me meant nothing to yourself.”

                    

Lilian felt as if she was pierced straight through the heart by Anna’s words.

        

“My Ashu—“

“DON’T CALL ME THAT!”

                   

*RUMBLE*

             

As Anna yelled, her hands glowed a brownish glow and the rayala beneath their feet shook.

            

Lilian looked at Anna stunned by her out burst. She watched as Anna’s tears flowed freely.

“……Anna……”

But Anna shook her head.

“We don’t have time for this right now Warchief. We have a mission to complete.” Anna told her before looking at the other jaw dropped Mokra’Torcs standing around. “We need to get back to camp: we are only a couple days from the exit of the swamp from our camp… I… also know the way now.”

She lifted her free hand that wasn’t carrying the white gnarled staff. Blue lights with a watery appearance circled around her hand.

“Let me get us dry… Walking wet is such a pain.” She commented.

         

The water that was soaking their clothes pulled away from them, forming spheres in-front of each Mokra’Torc that was soaked from a geyser earlier.

            

Anna looked at the Mokra’Torcs she had been traveling with and gave them a nod.

“So… As you may have known me before. I am Anna Gardener, I am the mate to the Warchief… and I am a shaman.”

She release her elemental magic, letting the water dissipate into the air as mist.

The astonishment never leaving their faces as they continued to watch this human preforming law defying feats a human should not be capable of doing.

“If—… *HIC*” She started to say through her tears. “If any of you need of my assistance,— *HIC* don’t— *HIC* don’t hesitate to ask!” She told them in a strained voice.

She took in a shuddering breath before she spoke again.

“L-L-Let’s get back to camp everyone……….” She suggested in a quiet voice. “……… I am sorry for all the trouble and disruptions I’ve caused.” Anna said in apology to everyone.

                          

As the Mokra’Torcs watched as the human; their HUMAN SHAMAN, walk away towards camp. They hesitated with trepidation in complying. They all turned back to look at the down trodden expression of their Warchief, looking on towards her mate, as Anna walked away.

Lilian looked at their faces as they were torn with following what their new shaman had told them, and following what their Warchief instructed them.

Her expression hardened and she gave them a nod.

At her urging, they started following after their human shaman. None of them actually believing the words that did not seem right to fit together.

                

Lilian watched as everyone walked away. She felt that, after everything had happened. That after coming to rescuing Anna, only to discover that she was indeed a shaman: that she was somehow the one betrayed in this scenario, but also the one to be blamed.

“…What was it that I did wrong Anna?…”

She questioned in a whisper, but receiving no answer.

She then made her way after her disappearing group.