My world is made of beauty, light. I live on the earth's surface; I hear the world around me as the wind speaks to me. I feel the glorious rays of the sun warm my pale skin and I feel the chilling beauty of the moon as it lights down upon the land. I would not trade my world for any other. not feel at peace with myself, should I ever leave where I was I left where I belong.

My world is tender but strong. The glorious sun rises each morning, filling my world with light and colors. The land itself breathes life, creating an essence about me, creating my soul. My alive. And only because of what my people strive for! We work hard to keep this land alive. Running through the forests, feeling and hearing the crunch of leaves beneath my feet, the air is thick with the perfume of wild flowers. A mist rises from the ground, intoxicating this land, enchanting it to be that of a human's fairyland. As the sun gleams in the day my people live peacefully, allowing the beauty that is my world to thrive and grow. We help. And within the night we dance and celebrate for another glorious day gone by. We rejoice for my is my world.

I could never leave my world.

But my world was not always this way. Legend tells of a dead race, creatures of darkness much in differ to us. For you see, I am elf. I am a fairy creature of the forest, and I am of its protectors. In the past, when .and my kind lived together, the forest was a dark place. I am thankful to this day these beings no longer exist. It shudders me to think of what my dear, beautiful home would be like, should those foul beasts still be here. This was many of thousands of years ago, I dare say, and Elves and the dark creatures lived side-by-side, working within the forests. My home though, then, was dark. It held a primeval air, creating darkness wherever the sunlight longed to touch. But then, there was no sunlight in the beginning. The canopy, though foul and dark, blocked out the light from the sun, trapping my people and theirs within the same forest. It was always dark. I fear the dark. all thrived upon the other. The dark creatures helped us through the shadows and we, in turn, kept the forest alive, or as alive as she would ever get with evil aura literally pouring from those creatures. Yet we had to work together to survive, and for that time, there was peace.

But the evil creatures' ways were that of treachery and backstabbing. They tried to control the Elves. When we thought we'd had an ally, though and odd one but an ally, they turned on us! War raged throughout my home, many died from both sides, but in the end we drove them into the Underdark. They lived within the shadows of earth. They live where you can feel the thrum of the land and feel the heartbeat of my home. They live in the shadows and live by their conniving ways. I live in darkness but in light. I feel my home's heartbeat as I touch the sacred trees and swim within her gentle rivers. I do not need to live in shadows to feel my home speak to me.

But it matters not. That race is dead, long buried within the crusts of the earth. And I am thankful. My home is special to me and I know; were they alive still, my home would not be what she is today.

I could never leave my home.

. sometimes.I want to.