There, You'll Find Your Peace [Open]

[dearest-nehaa.livejournal.com]

In light of her run-in with that odious, terrible, frustrating the Death Knight and the Tauren, Nehaalista had chosen to retreat to the sensoriums. While it still baffled her a bit, it was there she could call up Tuurem, as she'd known it, before the Horde, before her own training had led her family to the city.

It was a little collection of small homes and buildings (small as compared to a Draenei, anyway), along the river. Villagers she remembered, now long, long dead, bustled here and there, attending to business that had never concerned Nehaalista. Huntsmen and bakers, blacksmiths and fishwives, all protected by the peacekeepers that patrolled the town in twos. The sound of hooves were everywhere. Somewhere in the distance, an elekk trumpeted as it came down the road. The light in Terrokar was blue as ever, thanks to the olemba trees filtration.

Nehaalista sat next to the riverbank and watched workers setting up tents for a festival of one kind or another. She smoothed a hand over the skirt of her robe and nibbled at some bread. She passed it over to the little Draenei boy next to her and signed, [Eat, Faram.] The words appeared over her head as she signed them. It was good to hear her mothertongue spoken in such volume again, coming over the buildings and rooftops in half-muttered curses and well-meaning joking.

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[dearest-nehaa.livejournal.com]

Nehaalista continued to muss Faram's hair as she mulled over Choline's situation. Certainly, to be so bonded to another was probably as comforting as it was frightening. Not for the first time, Nehaalista was thankful she'd only been so with her family (and none of them had yet to make an appearance in her quarters).

[I do not think you are going crazy. I think that he must have loved you very much, and he is right, all is possible with and under the Light. Be fortified by this, Choline. Draw upon his memory as you need, but do not depend upon it as your everything. The future is ahead of us, and the past,] Nehaalista looked down at Faram and nudged him on towards the little round homes of the draenei town. [The past must be let go, and remembered fondly.]

Faram nodded and smiled rakishly at Choline before he hurried down the path. His little hooves clattered instead of clacked like an adult's would've. Nehaalista bit her lip and gathered her resolve. It had to be let go and remembered fondly.

[tricks-of-trade.livejournal.com]

Choline watched the little one clatter down the way, and likewise bit her lip, trying not to let too many tears well up in her eyes.

"Your child?" she asked, frowning a little more.

[dearest-nehaa.livejournal.com]

[My brother,] Nehaalista corrected gently. She sighed in that neutral way of hers, and pulled the Night Elf close. Her long fingers stroked over Choline's hair by way of sisterly comfort.

[tricks-of-trade.livejournal.com]

And it was that which caused Choline to lose it.

She squeezed the Vindicator as though her life depended on it and simply sobbed.

[dearest-nehaa.livejournal.com]

If Nehaalista could have murmured soft words of comfort, or even hush-hushed Choline, she would've. But since she could not, she merely continued to slowly brush her fingers over Choline's hair.

From over the river came the sounds of strings being tuned and drums being pounded slowly. Someone called out, and another replied, a procession of Draenei dressed in their best festival clothing paraded over the bridge. Nehaalista watched them through half-lidded eyes and rested her cheek on Choline's head.

[tricks-of-trade.livejournal.com]

"I... I loved him. I still do. I don't know if I ever won't. And I wonder if he knew that." She sniffled, but stayed for a few moments longer right where she was.

Having someone who understood was... refreshing. She didn't even get that much back home.

When the procession began, she heard the drums and lifted her head. "If you can go down there, I would go."

[dearest-nehaa.livejournal.com]

Nehaalista lifted her eyebrows, then wiped the rest of the tears off of Choline's face with her thumbs. [If you would like.] She smiled, and pushed herself up off then bank, brushing off the back of her skirt. [Let's go.]

She started to lead the way, heading for the bridge and the music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LjAi4p--C4) became louder and louder. People sang, and called responses. The smell of roasting meat wafted over the air.

[tricks-of-trade.livejournal.com]

Choline lifted herself up as well, but before she could take off with Nehaa down the path, she felt someone behind her.

"I always knew," said that stoic, painfully familiar voice. Choline didn't dare look back, but she felt the construct's embrace and allowed herself to be comforted by it. "And I'll be here as long as you need me. But for now - go."

She allowed herself a moment longer, then steeled herself and ran away, turning back to see Anatoly standing there, smiling as though all was right in the world.

All wasn't, of course. But perhaps she could find some villagers to teach her the Tunak after all.