[b]Shifting Shadows pt. 1[/b] She could hear his footsteps as they crushed the dead leaves on the ground. It’s why she had chosen this location, hard to be surprise attacked with nature on her side. Still, even without the leaves giving his presence away, she [i]knew[/i] it was him. She knew nearly everything about the warlock called Viktus-7. “So you mean to go through with it after all?” His slightly mechanical voice asked. Without turning around she answered, “of course.” There was uneasy silence for what seemed like hours. She continued to sort, organize, and pack her supplies for her trip, while awaiting the inevitable comment she knew was coming. “Llana,” his voice became softer, almost unhearable, “you don’t have to do this. You can let it go, let [i]him[/i]go. Killing him won’t bring back Cayde. You of all people should know that after what you did to the awoken prince. Where does it end?” Llana’s head came up from inspecting the Ace of Spades that sat on the table in front of her. His comments and questions irritated her. Leave it to a warlock to cut straight to the point, she thought. “It ends when all who are responsible for Cayde’s murder get their just reward.” “You know as well as I that Variks has a lover. A GUARDIAN lover! You would kill one of our own, for something as baseless as [i]revenge?[/i]” She drew out her personal Thorn and slammed it on the table. “Yes. I will kill even one of our own for revenge.” Her words were thick with rage and pain. “Some guardians understand there are other important things to fight for besides the Traveler.” Llana couldn’t bear to look him in the eyes, eyes so much like Cayde’s had been. She refused to turn around and let him see the tears in her eyes. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt his hand rest upon her shoulder. “I know you are hurt. You won’t admit it, but I know this manhunt is your way of coping. But don’t you see the irony in your own words? Shadow fights for more than the Traveler alone. She fights for the man she loves, and if you go out there and find Variks, she will [i]die[/i] for the man she loves.” His hand gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze before departing, and the warlock’s next words seemed distant. “If you truly intend to go along with this, I want no part. I won’t watch someone I care about destroy themself.” There was silence again. Llana had resolved to bury her head in her arms upon the table. It made her feel better some how. She knew Viktus meant well. He ALWAYS meant well. But his warlock logic always made her feel irritated. Finally she could endure the silence no longer. “Will you be waiting for my return?” she asked. There was no response. She sat up and and looked behind her. Nothing. He had already left, and she didn’t even hear him go. The mournful wind whistled through the trees and she could hear more leaves falling to the ground. Llana put her head back down. She had never felt more alone.