" ... it's a snappin' turtle, Mezzy."

It's deep in the night, and from far, far above, drifting down the stairs, through the carven stone portals, the bright noise of merriment can be heard. Ceramic and metal mugs clink, the tease between the Thunderbrew's patrons and the barmaids banter back and forth, bits of rowdy drinking songs call out to the night and the clatter of wooden plates upon wooden tables the comfortable sound of dinner.

The little gnome warlock sat at the edge of the small hearth, the single room she called home lit by a pair of candles in coloured glass shields and the ever shifting orange and saffron warmth of the fire. In her lap was a small expanse of dark cloth upon which she carefully stitched, emerald threads carefully and so painstakingly embroidered into a stylized chelydra serpentina.

She took her time.

She was a warlock.

And warlocks never did anything fast.

" ... you know, its funny Mezzy.

"No, not that kind of funny."

Her glance slipped to the side, where, charefully folded, a worn and well traveled tabard lain folded. Black and white, shadow and light, its emblem of all things, a compass rose.

"Walking between darkness and fire, thats me and you Mezzy. Thats the path that keeps us together. So that just fit. Or atleast it seemed to.

"But I guess we found out that you can walk and walk and walk, but if'n you don't know where you are going ... you never really get anywhere.

"And for that you need a real compass, not just one made of silver thread and cloth dark."

There's a long breath taken in, as the small tailor looked own at her finger curiously, and then raised it to her lips to suck away the drop of blood where she stuck herself.

"Ouch."

The big voidwalker glanced down, to roar meanacingly at the traiterous needle.

" ... oh I'll be fine Mezzy, no need to be worrying, but thank you."

Continuing in her embroidery, she made sure each stitch was carefully perfect.

" ... now there are those who say that well, its the journey that's important. And there's some truth to that. You find interesting places, interesting folks. But then the joureny continues on, and those places, those folks, they get left behind, from friend to nothing but memories, like a dream just after waking.

" ... and memories, Mezzy, they fade over time ... "

There's a quiet pause, as the small warlock warmed her hands over the fire.

"Oh no Mezzy. I'm not sad.

"Because I don't know if Miss Nicole knows how grateful we are for her.

"Without her we'd never have met Mister Ellundus who can heal anything, Miss Vamira ... you know I still have trouble recognizing her when she's not a big fluffly ... well feathery ... moonkin, Miss Sethlenara whose a warlock just like us only different, Mister Insta whose just like Miss Sethlenara except he's a he's and she's a she and even more different and such, Mister Inflagrante who attracts more trouble than we ever did, Mister Neginoth who is also a magiker and the sneaky Mister Plars and Mister Etreios, who runs around really fast and sneaky like ... and of course there's wise Master Chel ... he's the one that really, really likes turtles.

"You remember. We ... we had a family once. You and me and Pizyap and Dissy and Zhaa. And a real mother, and a real father.

"And then we didn't."

For a moment, a long moment, the little lass just reached out to touch a cobalt and gold trimmed bracer.

"I know.

"You never ever left."

Then she looked back up, smiling, a small and so very quiet smile.

"They make me feel like I might actually be a real person too. And they understand about you, and there's so much I can be learning from Miss Sethlenara.

"Little things ...

"Like felcloth traded for icky venomy sacks.

"Simple things ...

"Like coming halfway across the world to help slip into the library hidden deep in Dire Maul.

"Its just folks looking out for each other.

"You know what it is Mezzy?

"Itsa family ...

"We are part of a family now."

The small warlock ducked her head seriously.

"That's right, we got to look out for them too.

"And that's a very very good thing."

Her smile was gentle and true.

"Is it a journey still, Mezzy? I think so.

"But there's a difference."

Nellisynthia looked down upon her new Guild tabard.

"Turtles always know where they are going."

To all of Veritas ...

From Nellisynthia, Mezzy, Pizyap, Dissy and Zhaa ...

Thank you