After years of being denied access to the world outside the forest, Vander's mother was fed up with being stuck inside all her life, came up with plan to sneak out of the forest. She would sneak out the night of the full moon, during a ritual her clan performs when the moon is at its brightest. Almost all of the clan will gather for ritual, leading to a decrease of moon elves in the forest who might recognize her.

When the day of the full moon came she put her plan into action, she volunteered to join the guard on evening watch and snuck out after the changing of the guard just after nightfall. She headed east, toward the exit of the valley, passing though the ancient valley, scared by wars fought long ago. After about a months travel she had made it to the mouth of the valley, slowed by avoiding those sent after her and by letting her curiosity about the ancient ruins keep her from her travels. By the time she had made it to the mouth the next full moon was about to rise.

Vander's father grew up a farmer with is parents in the western reaches of the Burgian Empire. That was, until his family's secret was discovered. The village they had lived in for generations turned against them in a single night, burning their home to ashes and slaying those who stayed. The only two who made it out of the attack were Vander's father and his younger sister. Surviving off of what they could forage, while making sure hide from the full moon, they fled for months. Until they found themselves just about at the foot of The Ever Cliffs at the dawning of a full moon.

In their haste to find shelter from the rising moon Vander's father and aunt unknowingly entered into Mistletoe Valley, after spotting a small cave across The Field of Frozen Roses, rushing towards the cave the pair missed the approach of a young elven woman carrying a large backpack. Passing by The Field of Frozen Roses without entering it she approached them while waving to leave. Seeing that the sun had almost set they knew that they didn't have much time before they would transform and they both broke into a sprint for the cave. Seeing them suddenly charge into the pass the woman ran to intercept them while yelling in heavily accented common to 'Stop running! 'Wait!'.

Ignoring her they continued running, making it into the cave as the sunset, followed quickly by the elf.