Return to Blade’s Edge
Ledonia, I know who you are. I ask that you come visit me in the Blade's Edge Mountains. Also, you cannot hide from me, so don't even think about not showing.
Leona had received the letter that morning, and she turned the parchment over and over again, trying to find some clue as to who sent it or why they wanted her to come. So the question was... should she? Mama had made it clear that she was to go nowhere by herself, and no adventures without an adult. But this wasn't exactly an adventure. At least not yet.
But why Blade's Edge...? I... I haven't been back to that place since the massacre. Could she go back there? Leona closed her eyes, almost hearing the events of that night again, the fear that came with the smell of burning flesh and... She gasped, forcing her eyes back open, and going to pace her room. If I don't go now, I'll lose my nerve. But I can't go by myself, and Talah's not talking to me right now. He won't even let me in his room. And I really think he and Zaer want some time to themselves after everything. I’m just in the way again. I could ask Haidee if she wants to come... at least get Asca back. And Udon will be with me... A second later she was whispering to the hedgehog she had made for Haidee back when she was still in the doll, telling her that she'd be coming by. A second after that she was loading up her messenger bag and putting on her weighted leather armor... her plate was still too heavy, but she knew she should at least go with some protection. A few moments after that she was writing out a note to Zaer and Talah, telling them she'd be back in just a short while, and left the mysterious letter next to it on the bedside table. Then she grabbed her dagger and her practice swords and climbed out the window with Udon floating after her, saying nothing to anyone, though a mental hug was given through Opossum to Talah... just in case he did want to talk to her at some point. And so... an hour later she was riding her stone panther through the Outland, heading towards a place she had never wanted to return to. Not after Grandfather and Mr. Anlen... She shook her head, trying not to think about what had happened over four years ago, taking a deep breath as Asca bounded up the path into Blade's Edge and flew above the spikes, and Udon peered out from the messenger bag. Leona remembered the smell, the strange overpowering stench of dried meat that had been only slightly alleviated by the greenery the druids were working on with the black flight in that small village. She had still been blind when she was here last, though she knew that there were some bodies stuck in the spikes, Kit had been captured trying to get one down for a decent burial after all. It was how they came to that village, the happiest few months of her life until the terrifying night that led to her adoption. She had never expected anything like this. No one told her... she had thought that maybe there were only a few, just... Somewhere screaming started, screaming that she wasn't sure was her or the stones that held the bodies or the memories of the last moments of the dragons trapped there. Asca faltered, nearly falling for half a second, then growled as the ghost panther cub inhabiting him regained control and bounded as far from those spikes as he could. They were everywhere. There was no escaping them. It was no use shutting her eyes, because then she'd hear the events of that night from so long ago. The smell and screaming would follow her no matter where she went here, the sight of the bodies... Something called to Asca, and he started to descend, and Leona took deep breaths, trying futilely to calm herself as they headed towards a tauren lady that looked as if she hailed from Highmountain, a woman that had been watching them very closely. It took Leona a moment to separate the scent of a living breathing dragon from the others, but until the woman had transformed, she didn't believe it. Couldn’t believe it. She had thought every one of them destroyed along with the others that night. But this woman never lived in that village, she stayed near the caves in solitude... Leona had been called here by one of the last living Obsidian flight. One that called her Ledonia... the same name she was called when the Sword fell... then the tauren-dragon told her she was her son's daughter. This woman, this dragon that wanted to return to Azeroth but needed to know how Leona was able to be free of the Voices before she could... She was her grandmother. (to be continued by @mira-ashsong) (for mentions @theravir @conclave-of-knives @zaerathian)
