"I don't think I'll
ever get tired of picking peaceblooms."
There was a small smile on the young gnome lass' face, as she first
brushed the soft petals against her cheek, to then drift it beneath
her button nose, to take in its scent. Her eyes closed, long lashes
falling in the night's shadow, and she took in a deep breath, only
slowly letting it out. Her breath frosted in the night air, a puff
of elven midst there then gone.
The little warlock sat flounced in the snow, on her knees, a moment's
peace within the snowbound valleys. Her pointed warlock hat was at
rest in her lap, as she carefully, fingers delicate, slipped the flower
into its band, white petals, saffron center, a gentle counterpoint
against the hat's rich hues.
"Just pretty, Mezzy."
A tilt of her head is all it took, to look up to the big shadow that
was the voidwalker. Protective, strong, the demon hovered at her side,
talons long and sharp, bracers gleaming beneath the starlight. The
snowcats, they prowled elsewhere now, hunting little bunny-rabbits
a preffered chase than to dare the black and cobalt magic that was
Mezznuz, a predator himself, of a very different sort.
"That's all. Just pretty. Sometimes, sometimes it just doesn't
need to be anything more.
"Just pretty."
She looked down then, carefully setting her hat back atop her head,
smoothing her hair with her fingers, tugging wild pigtails back into
behavior. Next to her, the voidwalker extended its arms, its roar echoing
deep throughout the night, slipping from mountainside to mountainside,
for a moment eclispsing the wolves howls, the occassional bark of a
hunter's shot.
"No. Not me."
There were red stains in the snow, bits of charred cloth, the streaks
of sweat and grime marring her features like a fair night elf princess'
make up after being caught in the rain. She tugs quietly, at a frayed
cuff, tracing the rents and tears with her fingers.
"Wouldn't know how, Mezzy. Must be nice though.
"But that's someone else's life.
"Like looking in the windows of the shops in Stormwind."
Small arms wrapped, hugging herself, eyes closing at the memory. The
warmth of bread on the air, the tempting scent of chocolate, trying
to remember what it was like to wear a skirt that was made for swirling
and not to dull the teeth of an overgrown two headed dog that drooled
and had a definite taste for little Nellisynthia sized puppy snacks.
The memory was nice though. Warm bread. Chocolate. White gown, just
like snow.
"Me and you, Mezzy we're just ..."
Small shoulders rose and fell, a simple motion, hinted with deep philosophy.
"They are just things, Mezzy. Things. Stuff to put in one's pack."
Quiet eyes closed again, the breath taken in, the breath frosted out.
"Would trade all the gold in Gnomeregan, all the scales of all
the dragons in Blackrock Spire, and all the gems in all of Ironforge
...
"For a hand to hold on a winter's night."
For a long moment there was a silence in the night. Nothing but the
cry of the wind, the whistle of snow slashing through pine needles,
billowing in spectral drifts.
"I guess I don't really understand people."
She looked down at her worn tabard, trying to brush the soot off of
worn stitchery, the embossed compass faded into almost nothingness.
"And people change, their path winds this way and that, like stars
falling across the face of the night time sky. And its like gears of
a clock shattering, tossed from one place to another, rolling in the
snow, leaving its tooth marked trail unti the wind shifts, the snow
drifts and its as if they were never there in the first place.
"Sometimes, I guess, if one's lucky, the little sprocket will
be found and set to work in a new place ...
"At least for a little while."
Her eyes closed again.
"... Felicia ... Jellipeppy ... Freyara ..."
And she hugged herself again.
"You know Mezzy, I'd rather have my head bitten off by that awful
dog that the emptiness that's left over from losing ... folks."
"Its worse than when the priest just left us bleeding on the hills
of Maris Stead."
From the big voidwalker came a grumbling, harsh and low. His eyes flashed,
bloody crimson, and his talons slashed at the air, as if his magics
could shorn the very night. Dark, centuries of shadow laced in the
deepset predatory growling.
"Its fine Mezzy."
Eyes wide, the little lass looked up at her companion. And while she
could not hold a hand of magic and smoky shadows, she could place it
upon bracers of gold and blue.
"You are always here for me, Mezzy.
"Always."
She manages a small smile at that. But its a true one, honest, clear,
no question at all.
"You are my best friend, Mezzy."
Her head ducked, shy, almost coquettish.
"I know you don't understand."
Fair eyes met demon eyes, and they sparkled like the stars themselves.
"But maybe, maybe, one day you will."
A beat, a pause, a heartbeat that lasted forever and ever and ever.
Before the gnome lass swallowed and looked down, to offer her friend
the shyest glance, hidden by tossled bangs and the wide brim of her
hat.
And a whisper, soft as snow.
"... a girl's gotta have
her dreams, right?
|
