To run away

"Mother"...

Sygnya's little whimpering voice made Laandra emerge from her troubled dream.

Had it been a dream?

She opened her eyes, blinking quickly as daylight seemed to blind her. She laid on the ground, in the exact position in which she had fallen. Small, cold hands, touching her forehead, her cheeks.

"Mother..."

" I'm not your mother", Laandra thought, heavily managing to rise to a sitting position.

"I'm no one."

Her eyes so void that the little girl stared at her almost afraid. Yet Laandra patted her back, reassuringly.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes", Sygnya nods.

"Then we should go.It's no good to stay in the woods, like this..."

Luckily, the road was not far, to their left. Dizziness washed over her, as Laandra tried to walk. It took all her will to just stay upright. Then, slowly, stumbling, she made her way towards safety, Sygnya's hand tightly held in hers.

Light was really with them, she thought, when, after ten minutes of careful stumbling she spotted two guards in front of them, patrolling the road to Azure Watch.

" May the Light be with you", she greeted them, her face showing now exhaustion and maybe a bit of confusion as well.

She didn't even let them answer.

" Could you help me, please? Take this girl to Azure Watch, to Valaatu, the mage? And tell her to send word to her father, up in Emberglade, to come and take her home?"

"I think we could", one of the Draenei guards said, eying her suspiciously. Well, she probably looked mad, Laandra silently thought.

Sygnya's eyes filled with sudden panic and tears as she tugged at Laandra's sleeve.

"Mother, what are you doing?"

She felt so empty inside. Yet the child pleading eyes managed to restore a bit of self awareness and control. Laandra bent on one knee and took her hand into hers, speaking softly.

" I need to leave, for a little time. Valaatu will take good care of you, until your father arrives."

She caressed Sygnya's brown hair, holding her close,in a tight embrace.Then, getting back on her feet, she gave her a small push towards the men.

"Mother!" the girl cried out, but Laandra did not make any gesture.

" Mother, don't leave me here..."

" I have to" she whispered yet no sound came out.

She needed time to understand what had just happened. To make out the crazy dream she 'd had.

No, there were all lies.

She just wanted to be alone...