The rogue was outside, roughing up Remington. The wolf was so eager to please, chasing after the stick and obediently returning it to the dark elf, who in turn would wrest the stick from his jaws before rolling the canine on to his back for a vigorous belly scratch. Humie and the druid, in her chosen panther form, assisted in the playful torment of the poor dog, both enjoying themselves a bit too much. They were larger and stronger than Remi and would attempt to knock him off course as he flew after the stick the rogue would hurl into the trees for him to fetch. She could hear the laughter of the rogue, so rare, so cherished, watched him shake the hair from his eyes, and the labored pants and huffs of the poor wolf, mixed with the growls and purrs of the great cats. It was music to her slender ears. Athene, freshly back from her nocturnal tirade, hooted irritably at the noise from the rafters in the stables covering their precious steeds. Swiftmane and Luminesce nuzzled as they munched their grain, as horses often do, the stallion and the mare, while the great cats half dozed with their large bellies rising and falling, nestled among each other. Emerald and Bleu were often together, the great white frostsaber grooming the large stormsaber as if he were her kitten. Inside, Calyph dozed contentedly on the soft furs, closest to the fire, surrounded by piles of dusty old tomes and parchments, ever intent upon her druidic training. Her azure hair formed a halo around her lavender face, as if it were a shroud of utter tranquility. Ty remembered thinking that she ought to rouse her, to go outside and play with the other cats, then remembered that Calyph had not yet mastered the form. Best to let her rest until later, she was so diligent; Ty admired her sister’s steadfast devotion. It would suit her well.
Above all, she remembered that it was home, it was warm, and it was comforting.
Ty watched all from her vantage point nearest the window as she prepared the morning breakfast, exotic honeyed figs, sugared strawberries, succulent grapes, smoked sunfish, small delicate eggs, fresh sweet cream. She could almost taste each delicacy. She was not entirely sure how she dreamt the preparation, she had rarely cooked even before the druid had arrived. The innkeepers and butchers usually provided her with what she needed to survive. The thought brought her closer to reality. She didn’t eat much these days anyhow… it was no matter… As her mind cut the last thread of her dream away from her mind she thought “They are all gone.” Her eyes opened.
She lay still for a moment, readjusting herself to her new surroundings. The chill of the Azshara air brought with it the scent of the sea, and behind that the scent of decay. Autumn’s end always seemed to be upon these woods when she was here. The drifting leaves fell into her smoldering campfire and flared, comforting her with the scent. She had been here for some time. She could now sense the nearby Naga, but they paid her no mind. They focused instead on protecting their ancient home against others who obviously posed a threat, or upon those weaker than they. One look at Ty had left them in their place and she in hers. Still, it was best not to linger too long. Naga were not to be trusted after all, and there were commonly orcs, trolls, others about casually, seeking to rob the local fauna of whatever riches they could. Despite its golden beauty, this place was essentially, not safe.
“So be it” she thought as she finally rose and stooped again to grab her supplies. She had only removed the bare essentials from Luminesce’s armor the night previous, so that this morning would be quick. She felt a brief tinge of guilt at leaving the horse saddled and bridled for such a long time. The once brilliant white steed was haggard, filthy, and above all tired, as was she. Ty felt her pity turn to granite as quickly as it came. She would never again feel pity for another. The horse would have to wait, it would be soon. She attached her feed bag as she began gathering the rest of her supplies. Nearby, Athene swooped down upon the campsite when she realized her mistress had risen. The great owl hooted dolefully as Ty finished packing the horse, and removed the feed bag, too soon for the horse’s taste. Neither was thrilled with this fast pace, being spurred along tirelessly, but it had been this way for many days now. The both sensed their mistress’s heartache and quietly moved on.
She mounted Luminesce, and scanned the skies for her direction. The action made her chuckle. When she stopped to think about where she was going though, she realized she had no destination. How could this be? The Great Huntress, with no direction? When everything in her life had fallen apart, she stabled the cats and the wolf, figuring her owl would be her most silent companion and just started riding. She had no idea when she started that it would be a trip of this dimension. She had not been prepared for it. She would ride, find a place to sleep, stock up on supplies, look towards home and decide, as she had every day, to go in the opposite direction. Every morning it was the same. Until today… “Where am I going?” She let the thought roll around her mind for a moment as she spurred the great beast of Stormwind forward and tried to make up her mind. Followed by that thought, that question, so many more appeared. She remembered the dream, the day they left, what she had done, the promise that had been broken, the stories left untold, the lessons left untaught. So many things…
Reigning in the great charger she stopped on what happened to be the highest bluff overlooking The Great Sea. At the halt, Athene alit upon the rump of her horse, grasping the rear edge of the saddle for balance. She turned and stared in the direction her mistress had gazed, quizzically looking out to sea. Ty knew not what she was looking for, but for some reason, she thought it might be out there. In the depths, the grey swirling maelstrom she had never truly trusted… She nearly followed the impulse to go to it, had it not been for her instinctual fear of the Nether. She had never seen it, nor did she know exactly where it was, but she knew, as she scanned the foggy horizon, that it was there. Circling, swallowing, never giving anything away, and completely devoid of compassion. She thought suddenly of her heart, and the irony of the similarities between the two brought her back from her reprieve.
Gone. They were all gone.
It was her fault. She sent them away. It had to be done. It was the right thing to do. She repeated this reasoning to herself as if in a daze. She was never meant for a companion anyhow, other than her beasts, no amount of love could change that. It was simply "How Things Were". Elves were too emotional, too intrusive with their thoughts and energies. She had to focus on the balance. It was her lot in life, sent to her graces by Elune herself. It could never be, she had to know that. She feverishly reminded herself over and over again of the truths she had convinced herself were infallible. Mounted there, on the cliff side, overlooking the vast emptiness of the sea, she saw both of their faces, pleading with her to not leave them. The memories welled up in her mind like too long ignored tears. They washed over her like the waves on the shore below. They brought with them the same smell of salt and death, and as the barrage of regret hit her she gripped her knees in the saddle, leaned back with both hands on her face, and she roared. Luminesce reared and Athene started skyward as the noise of all the despair, pain, and anguish she had been trying so hard to ignore flew forth from her body in a vocalization so immense it could be heard across the region. The Naga stopped their tireless patrol, the wild hyppogryphs paused in their grazing and the giant elk sniffed the air as they sound washed over them. She screamed until she had no breath left and attempted to scream again, but the sound would not come to her raw throat and heaving chest. She slumped into her saddle, collapsed, sobbing into the mare’s mane. She wrapped her arms around the horse’s neck and gave in to the emotions she had been riding away from for so long.
Athene returned from her startled flight and landed again on the mare’s rump. The silent conversation between the two was secretly one of relief. Luminesce, realizing her mistress was no longer able to lead them, turned South, towards home. It was time to go, again. On to what, she did not know, nor did she care. She just hoped she could make it, and she hoped that whatever her mistress was looking for could be found.