Torne has a minion!

Sol the Elaeka

premade profile by Chen
story by Foxe

What would you do for love?

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Part 2
It had been years since he had seen her face. He realized this now, as he stared down at the darkside dreamer that grew from the parched soil in the underworld. It was now the only thing that reminded him of her, a brilliant beacon in the midst of all the darkness and despair around him. She had loved the flowers, but she had never been able to get any closer to them than watching from a distance. Now that he was nightmare, he could smell them without worry, and the thought was bittersweet. He hated and loved the flowers for the memories they brought back, and although the pain the sight of them caused him was almost overwhelming, still he returned every day, every time he finished a job, just to remember.

He had tried so hard to save her. She had brought light into his hopeless life, had given him happiness that he had only ever dreamed of. Before he had met her, he had lived in squalor, in a sparsely populated forest that was constantly barren and cold because of the climate. It was close to the north pole, between the border of centropolis and the arctic frost. He had always considered moving elsewhere, but he was wild and free, surrounded by city and tundra. His forest had been an oasis, the only place that offered him enough food to survive.

It had all changed once she had appeared. She had been exploring the world, visiting Centropolis, and she had decided to camp in the woods north of the city so that she could learn more about the wildlife. Of course, she had gotten lost, seeing as the forest he resided in was massive, and all the trees looked the same. It was late when he had seen her first, wandering through a grove, her cream pelt spotted with moonlight, her dark eyes warily upturned at the creaking branches of the trees above her.

All thoughts fled his mind when he saw her, and he stepped into the grove, out of the shadows of the crooked tree he had been watching her from. His navy black mane, tangled and snagged with thorns, blew wildly around his face, giving him the appearance of a shadow-cloaked demon. Her eyes widened, and she let out of a shriek of fear before turning and galloping off into the forest. Torne felt his heart skip a beat, and he chased after her, knowing that anyone this far north would have had to be hopelessly lost.

He tried to speak, but years of silence and solitude had taken its toll, and he fumbled for words for a few moments before finally managing to shout, "Wait!" The neela in front of him slowed, but didn't stop, and she turned to look behind herself at the wild creature pursuing her. She slowed to a stop, but backed up when he got too close, so he stayed back and simply watched her, his flanks heaving. She peered at him warily, her dark eyes thoughtful and curious. "What are you?" She finally asked, taking a tentative step forward.

Torne took a step forward as well, and she flinched back, although she didn't run. He grunted, unable to find the words, then finally said, "Nee-la." He exhaled heavily through his nostrils, and then continued, "Torne." It was an effort to speak, and he had to think hard to find the words he needed to say. She continued to watch him, openly curious now. "Your name is Torne?" When he nodded, she smiled at him. "Mine is Sol." Torne leaned forward and sniffed her, and she watched him, her face clouded with confusion. She shook her head and stepped back, and Torne realized suddenly how strange he was acting. Sol didn't seem to care, though, and she soon asked him how to get back to Centropolis.

"Not far." He assured her, the words coming more easily now as his tongue loosened up, and his distant memories of speech came back. "Follow." Despite her initial trepidation, she did come with him, and he led her towards Centropolis in relative silence until the sun rose. It lit up her coat with a glistening sheen, and he envied her, looking at his own dull, muddy fur with disappointment. They reached the crest of a tall hill, and he stared down at the grassy fields below that led to the bustling city of centropolis. Sol nudged him, her eyes sparkling with adventure. "Do you want to come with me, a little farther? I'm sure you can get back to your forest soon. I know a great groomer, and some really nice spots in centropolis, but it's really not the same when you're by yourself." Although he was hesitant, Torne nodded, and Sol plunged over the hilltop with him at her heels. Fear and excitement fluttered in his chest, and he wondered at what the future might bring.

Torne coughed, the pollen of the flower stuck in his throat. He wondered briefly if the darkside dreamers truly did cause him nightmares like everyone else- all he could think of was her radiant face, beaming up at him as they lived life, and how he might never see it again. He had stayed with her after that, hating the busy city but loving being by her side. She had given him food, more than he had ever seen in his life, and he had eaten until it hurt that day. Over the weeks, they travelled together, growing closer, until they were the best of friends. She had grown up alone, but everywhere she went, people and pets alike flocked to her to be her friend because of her glowing personality. He was envious of her, but she always made sure to include him, even though the others found his sullen personality offputting. She put a smile on his face every day, no matter what happened. He loved her for that.

Deep within himself, he had known it couldn't have lasted. Exiled from his herd at a young age for something he didn't do, starving for the majority of his youth, he had never been allowed to be happy. When the one who had framed him found them together on that fateful night, they took one final step to ensure he never found happiness. Vice, the eldest son of the chief's brother, had framed Torne, the chief's son, so that he would be exiled and his father forced to step down. That had never been enough, though. After Vice had heard of Torne's return to society, he had hunted him down until he could ensure that the Neela would never again be happy. In Vice's mind, Torne's father had stolen the position of chief from his father, and his hatred and desire for revenge ran deep.

Torne was bitterly cold when he woke up and saw her lying still beside him. He had nuzzled her, to wake her up in the same way he always did, but a sick sense of dread had filled him when she remained deathly still. A pool of warm, sticky blood, drained from a single, thin slash. Her eyes were clouded, the wound fresh, but there was no one in sight who could have caused it. He desperately nudged her, curling up closer to her, hoping desperately that she would come back to him, but she was silent, and he realized with a chill that the inevitable had occurred. Torne had howled his pain to the sky, screaming that he would have his revenge, swearing that he would stop at nothing. That was when he had felt a tap on his shoulder.

"Hello." The cool voice whispered, snake-like and soft. Torne whirled around, fear filling him, fear and fury. He stood over her body like an avenging angel, prepared to kill whoever it was that was invading the sanctity of this area. In front of him, a cloaked figure stood, resting upon a gnarled staff. "I have heard your plea, young one. Revenge burns within you like a fire. Would you like her back?" Torne's heart skipped a beat. Hope soared within him, and he croaked out, "more than anything." The figure smiled softly, and then whispered, "Do you swear to do anything to have her by your side again?" Without waiting, Torne nodded, desperate for her warmth, not caring about the cost. "I have heard your wish! One thousand years of servitude, and then you shall be reborn, with her at your side. Do you accept?" Torne, without hesitating, nodded, his eyes brimming with tears. Anything for her. Sol had given him new life- now he would give her it back.

Torne sighed and straightened up. Had he known that each day in this hell would sap him of every semblance of his true self even more, he might not have said yes. Even so, just the memory of her glowing smile and her radiant face kept him going, and even though his memories slipped away once he was away from the flowers, he always came back, just to remember her once more, until the day they could be reunited once again.
Part 2

Torne - become in portuguese, tome in latin. In english, torn is meant to symbolize a rip or tear in a material or a bond.