I’ve been running away from life ever since the day Quel'thalas fell.
The Huntress looked about her new residence. It wasn’t large, ostentatious, or particularly prestigious. But it was hers, and save for the Frostwolf who shared it with her, hers alone.
I’m done selling myself to people who won’t fight their own wars.
Five rooms in total, was all there was to it. The thick, Eversong oak front door, which she planned to secure with a lock of her own design, led directly to the main room. Bookshelves, a single table, and a handful of comfortable chairs made it snug next to the fireplace and fur rug.
I’m done fleeing from memories.
The kitchen was of little note. Big enough for her and perhaps a handful of others to sit at the small table therein. Enough for Haly to comfortably feed herself and Kalaika each day.
I’m done living my life like I owe someone. I owe myself.
Only a few steps would bring her to the bedroom, where a bed big enough for three had been moved in by surprised laborers. The furs, she’d supplied for herself. In practice, the “for three” meant that Kallie couldn’t take more than two thirds. It didn’t even cross the Huntress mind to make a separate sleeping arrangement for the Frostwolf, as often as she’d fallen asleep against her fuzzy flank out in Frostfire.
I’m done judging myself by the worth others put to me. That measure is nothing that can’t be taken away.
Last, save for the spiral staircase leading up, was the storeroom. Name bespoke function, and she’d made sure the enchantments keeping her stocks fresh had been tended to before taking ownership of the little residence.
I’m done putting my heart into people who just move on when it’s easier.
Ascending the staircase at the back of Haly’s new home, one would find the most eclectic chamber of them all. Spanning the full reach of the floor below in its dominion, her sanctum was that of an engineer. Tools, completed works, and what she’d been left with all resided here, including the three dragonling doppelgangers that had never been brought to life.
Standing in the midst of the orchard where the fruits of her own labors now lived, the crimson haired Sin'dorei watched the dragonlings thoughtfully. To her own surprise, the pang in her heart was dull at the thought of who two of them were to be gifted to, instead searching for an answer within herself. She’d considered scrapping them all just this morning.
…But there’s still room in this heart for more than just me. I’m done closing it off.
Walking to the cigar box sized container on her workbench, Halcyona flipped the lid open with a quick swipe of fingers. Within lay ten years of life for each of the three, in the form of an equal triplet of hand made power cores.
Pressing the cylinder into the rack beneath the crimson scaled constructs chest, the Huntress watched, fascinated, despite knowing what would happen. Retracting into the body cavity, as designed, the ribcage closed around the newly installed electric heart. A few moments later, the neck craned to look at she who gave life.
“Hey there.” the Huntress intoned, knowing it was a construct, and yet unable to stop smiling. Having only known she’d programmed them to be harmless, Haly knew nothing of what to expect otherwise, letting chaotic algorithms run their course. Thus, she was quite startled as the mechanical creature scrambled up her still outstretched arm to alight across her shoulders.
I made this moment for myself. I can make more like it.
Anyone passing the door might have heard the sound of laughter, very faintly, in the new home behind it.
