druid on draenor: i long for a bungalow
The Alliance outpost in the Spires of Arak was a tiny backwater place, but it buzzed with activity that belied its size. Adventurers seemed to come and go at all hours, drinking and fighting and selling the spoils of their victories. It would've shocked her to see them treating it like a business trip if she hadn't known that portals back to Azeroth had been set up weeks ago.
Not that she would've ever found that out if she hadn't run into Eirka. She sighed, staring up at the ceiling. I wanted 'im safe. That's all I wanted, was t' keep m' mates safe, an' I failed. O' course 'e says 'e'll be fine, but 'e always says that, th' idjit. An' 'e brought 'is namesake 'ere. Indeed, Eirka--the dragonhawk, newly nicknamed Eirs--was looped around a makeshift perch, fast asleep. He'd grown bigger in the months since she'd seen him.
She grimaced and hunched over, carefully reaching for the pen and paper on the little desk they'd given her. There were salves and creams for her newest scars, but they still pulled painfully if she made exaggerated movements. Gotta get outta 'ere. But...should write some letters first, send 'em in th' post.
The first batch would be for the Alliance postmaster, letters that could be delivered safely. She stuck her tongue out as she wrote, trying to use her best handwriting.
I'm still alive & in the Spires of Arak now. I'm sorry I didn't contact you sooner but I was afraid you hated me after what happened to my squad. I failed them. Please write & tell me if I really still have a job with the Circle or if they're kicking me out. If I am not kicked out I'll come up and see you just as soon as my arms finish healing - I got a little burnt. I also will be bringing some friends who I think you'll like.
She paused, blinking back the sudden sting in her eyelids, and turned to the next sheet of paper. This would be an easier letter.
Dear Dr Thorley & Ms Dyce,
It turns out that there are portals back to Azeroth now. I am looking forward to seeing you again and attending your lectures. Draenor is dangerous and terrible, but lovely. The Iron Horde is not as bad as the local wildlife.
I'm forgettin' someone. She chewed on the back of her pen thoughtfully, drumming her fingers on the table. When it came to her, she winced.
Dear Mrs Hexel & everyone else,
Your girl's gotten a bit banged up but she's alright. I'll come home to see you all as soon as possible.
The next batch of letters would have to be dropped off in person once she healed unless she managed to impress upon Eirs the importance of going to a specific place. Being caught with them would probably be treasonous, treaty or no treaty. At the least, she'd have to do more explaining than she wanted.
Still alive. Interested in resuming our business partnership if you are; please send reply with this messenger. Also please try to keep Eirka alive because I do not think he has the brains the Light gave a turkey.
I never thought I'd be able to write this letter, but here I am. I'm still alive on Draenor & mostly not hurt. Food is terrible, wildlife & Iron Horde is very dangerous. I hope you and your man are doing alright. I can't promise anything, but I will try to get leave to go through the portal back and visit you. I miss your cooking.
As she sealed each letter and scribbled the recipients' names down, she glanced out the window. The sun was setting, filtering through the trees as golden light; it was beautiful, and for a moment she was tempted to stay. It would be easy to never leave the inn at Southport, to run her business from Draenor and make regular trips to Veil Terokk. The scents were different, the winds weren't the same, but it could become a home.
She remembered her house in the Jade Forest with her things around her, the window open for the birds, and shook her head to clear it. I got a home. An' I'll get back to it once th' Iron 'Orde falls.
(( votgs, ellisterthorley, vandrysse, merchantofmanyfaces))
