The wood creaked and frame of her hut groaned. It was straining to stay supported. With ears pinned back, little I’fe tugged desperately at her sister’s arm. “Come on, Na’ni! Get up! We gotta go!” No response came from the little Shatterspear. Tears welled in I’fe’s eyes as she pulled and wriggled in a vain attempt to dislodge the body. She had hardly heard the movement behind her. Kaldorei voices shouted out, making commands she didn’t understand. Dropping to the floor, I’fe played dead. Pieces of the hut frame were starting to collapse. By this point, I’fe was crying and couldn’t contain it. A bellow of a roar made her jump. It was her sire. She had no idea where he came from, or how he got there. As he lay into the Kaldorei outside the burning hut, he yelled for her. “I’fe! Go, little cub! I’ll meet you outside the Vale!” And so I’fe ran. She jumped up and bolted out of the hut and fled the Shatterspear Vale. And she sat. And she sat, and she waited, and waited. Her papa didn’t come. No sign of life roused from the village after the elves moved out. It was only a week later did the malnourished and starved I’fe move on to seek out Orgrimmar.
Slipping away.
She was slipping away. Endless waves. Endless water. Endless nothingness.
The sound of the water surrounding her lulled her into an odd comfort. It was cool on her flesh, soothing her heated face. All of the crying she had done made her feel like she was forever on fire. It was nice. She never really minded the cold, anyways. It was easier to warm up than it was to cool down.
For a while, the druid lost herself with the motion of being carried out to sea. She had waded out into the waters, last she remembered, early in the morning. With how the sun was tipping over the horizon, it was evening. A full day she had spent just floating. Floating and forgetting everything.
It was nice to not have to worry about anything. No hurt. No child. No hunger. No sadness. Just… a pleasant numb feeling. She didn’t feel left behind. She didn’t feel neglected, or overworked, or taken advantage of. She didn’t feel under appreciated or overpraised. Just nothing.
She didn’t worry about dinner, or cleaning, or healing, or where her mate had disappeared to. What her child shoved in his mouth. What trouble her friends got into. Simply nothing.
And as she floated, the druid turned to nothing. The water lapped at her form. She, too, started to become the water. Became the nothingness that cradled her.
It was just her.
The sky.
The waves.
"Ehn… He looks hungry, girly… Ya’ okeh?"
The voice was foreign. It shattered the nothingness. It brought her back. Once again, she was Zalmai. Once again, her heart hurt. Once again, she was on the shores of the Echo Isles, staring out blindly to the waters. And once again, all the worry, the stress and the fear came rushing back.
———————————————————————————————————————-
Those who knew Tanaris, knew that even a single cloud in the sky was not a good sign. So when M’chumba spotted just a whisp of a cloud? She wandered on home. Something in her gut told her to check on her family. And so, she did! Through the vast, sandy city she trotted, hears flicked up and listening. There was an eerily somber air to Zul’Farrak. Furrowing her brows, the little sunshine child picked up the pace. Outside her big ol’ hut, there were dozens of Sandfury gathered, all garbed in black.
Her pit lurched.
Running into the hut, she burst past everybody at the door. What she saw broke her wee little heart. Her sire lay on a matt, body garbed in ceremonial cloth. It looked like he was sleeping, but she knew he wasn’t. Rushing to his side, little M’chumba dropped and shoved her face against his bare chest. “Papa… papa, no, wake up…”
Ret'rali gasped, racing over the bridge in Thunder Bluff that connected the mesa of his home with the center of the city. The explosion was one that was heard all throughout the Taurhe home, And the explosion came from where his hut was.
It was a sunny, warm day. I'fe had come from Kun-Lai to visit with the children, Brekan in tow. They'd been talking about a fruit lunch. So, naturally, the men took the children and went to collect the fruits. I'fe rarely got time to herself, so this was supposed to be a treat.
Not heartbreak.
As the Shadow Hunter in training flew over towards the rising smoke, he regretted being the first to the scene almost instantly. Their belongings. Everything they owned. Their home. It was all in shambles, destroyed.
And then there was I'fe. She was a mess. What was visible of her, anyways. Her lower half was stuck under the mass of thick leather that served as the walls of their home. In his panicked, adrenaline-driven state, it took little effort to lift the leather to pull her out. Gathering up the seafoam-colored female, he whimpered.
"M'wana... M'wana, c'mon girlie... I know ya there... Please, M'wana!"
Blue eyes flicked open. She stared up at Retro, and parted her lips, only to rasp out a broken sound. As she did, blood oozed out; a replacement for words.
Ret'rali gathered I'fe up higher in his arms, choking out a sound. Meak little hands gripped at his chest, and his cheeks. He couldn't help himself. Ducking his head, he pressed his brow to the woman in his arm.
"You are my sunshine... my only sunshine..." he mumbled, ears fanned down. Another blood-filled cough escaped I'fe, her breathing shaky and uneven.
"You make me happy, when skies are grey..." Her shaking was growing weaker as his grip grew tighter. His voice trembled and cracked.
(Inside the box is a letter, and if he digs further, inside is a brightly colored doll made from knotted cloth. It almost looks like a voodoo doll. It has loose clothing, is dyed a blue color, and has a mane of bright pink "hair". Beneath that is a small packet of smokes, and beneath that there is a very simple necklace with carved totems of jungle creatures.)
Retro,
Long time no see. Or hear from. It's Fah'kiri, if you haven't already gathered that. Good news, I have finally found a teacher to teach me proper druiding. However, that means I am no longer with the Shadowtusk Clan. Haven't been for a little while now.
Either way, Winterveil draws near and I haven't forgotten the smokes you gave me. Or that you have a little one. The doll is for your child. The smokes, if you use them anymore, are from me. A friend of mine makes them. There's purple lotus in them, so make sure you don't have anything to do later, or else you'll be very tired. And the necklace is for I'fe.
Thank you for always being so kind to me. I hope to see you again soon, and if you wish to keep in touch, I am currently in Moonglade. It would be nice to hear from an old friend.
Happy Winterveil, and may the Loa smile upon you and your family.
