Things never really happen as you expect them. I'd had visions of my little sister growing up to be much like my mother. The type that stayed close to home, tended a small garden, and raised a huge family. Some how I also expected her to stay forever young. I was not prepared for the sight that met me at the gryphon point near home.
"Kaliye!!!"
I looked up from my pack to see a lithe young woman with bright blue hair running toward me. Nearly bowling me over with her enthusiasm, her arms wrapped around my neck, she hugged me tight.
"You came, you really did this time." Her big bright eyes blinked at me, little tears shining in them.
I gave a little gasp. "My little Sabre is all grown up."
She nodded shyly, digging her toe into the dirt at her feet. "Mama said to bring you straight home, that dinner will be about ready. And that you can go over to see Zydin and Thalana later." She grinned wickedly. "Unless they come over first!"
Walking along the road home, we talked about the little things, I'd asked how her training was coming along. She shrugged carelessly. "Papa and I travelled to Darnassus a few months back. The Master there told me I was doing good. That I could stay home, and that Daddy was doing a fine job training me. He sent home books with us, and gave me new equipment." She gave a little sigh. "I wish there was a big hunter school I could go to like you did. I want to see the big wide world out there. I bet you've seen the whole thing." Her lips curled into a little pout.
I stared off into the distance for a bit before answering. "You're right, I've seen lots of things, things that would amaze you. Big walking metal giants. Dragons bigger than our entire town. But that's not all that's out there. There's evil and death and sadness. You see that too."
"Does it ever hurt? You know, fixing other people?" She looked over at me.
"No, not in the way you think. It doesn't cause me pain.. physically. But it hurts me to see other people hurting." I reached over and cupped her cheek in my palm. "Enjoy your youth, your family, the serenity here. There's times I wish I'd never left."
"But I know there's more out there. You've made new friends, you've seen things I can't possibly hope to see here. It gets so lonely, so boring. I miss you."
Tears welled up in my eyes and I pulled her into a hug. "I'm only a gryphon ride away hon, you know you're welcome anytime you want. Maybe when we get home, we'll talk to mom and dad about you coming to visit in the spring. We'll go travelling."
Her eyes bright, she hopped up and down, "You mean it?! Really?" And I nodded.
"When we get home, we'll talk to mom and dad, let them know I'll watch out for you."
With that, I gave her a quick wink and shifted into my speed form. Dashing down the road ahead of her, I hollered back over my shoulder. She put her fingers to her lips, made a trilling noise and waved her hands in a strange pattern in the air, bolting after me. Before long we were running side by side.
Collapsing into giggles on the porch, I felt at home, closer than ever to my once baby sister. A shadow fell over us, and we looked up to see mom standing over us in the doorway.
"Well then, looks as though someone made it home." She opened her arms in welcome, and hugged me tight.
"Come on in, dinner's about ready."
The closeness of our family home once felt comfortable, safe. Maybe I'd been gone too long, but now it was too close, as if I were suffocating. Maybe I just changed, but I yearned for my solitary little apartment back in Moonglade. But for the sake of my family, I stayed for the entire holiday period, as I'd promised.
On my last night there, after dinner I sat with my parents and discussed the possibility of them sending Sabre to stay with me for a period of time. Mama had resisted, insisting that she was still too young. But papa had pushed, he'd agreed that Sabre needed to stretch her wings.
"She'll come back Maurana. She's too close to us not to.. not like our Kaliye here." He gave me a sly wink. "She only comes back when she's dying for some of her mama's cooking."
I only blushed. "Just.. busy." And I rubbed my hands over my face. "So much to do, so much to fix, and never enough time. But you're right, I shouldn't stay away so long."
Mama hadn't said much, but leaned over to rub her hand over my hair. "Don't let it overwhelm you Kal. I know you're strong, you know you are.. but don't take on more than you can carry. You're young still... You still need to find yourself a man." I started to protest, but she held up a hand. "I'm not going to lecture you, but it'd be nice to see you taken care of, protected before your papa and I leave this realm." I nodded quietly.
"Besides!" Papa boomed, "I need some babies to spoil and get dirty and return to their mama as brats." Mischief twinkled in his luminescent eyes.
That night, I sat on the porch, unable to sleep. A man? Children? I hugged my cloak tighter around me. As if I have time to deal with yet another responsibility. Besides, who out there would put up with my mood swings, shapeshifting, and my overwhelming desire to save the world?
Hearing a noise at the end of the walkway, I looked up, and saw Thalana standing at the end. I motioned silently for her to join me. And we sat under the moon and stars, my head on her shoulder, quietly absorbing her serenity.
"How is it you stay so calm in the heat of battle? You swing that sword, and take life. I wave my hands, and give it back. Yet you're calm, and I'm a wreck." I sighed.
She gave a little snort. "See, it's all a matter of perception. To me, you appear to be the picture of serenity, and I feel as though I'm constantly conflicted with myself."
With a small smile, I nodded. "Funny how that works."
We sat in silence for a while before she looked down at me. "You know... Zydin was looking for you earlier. Might be kinda cool if you became my real sister." She gave me a wicked eyebrow wiggle.
And I slugged her in the shoulder. "What about you? Isn't it about time you found yourself a man?"
She shrugged. "In time. I'm not worried about it at the moment, I have other things on my mind. When the Fates send me my mate, I'll gratefully accept. Until then, I won't mess with their plans." She stood, brushed off her legs. "I'll see you in the morning? You promised mom you'd come over before you leave, and you fly out tomorrow evening."
I nodded and hugged her tight. "I'll be there, if she's making sweet bread.. I'll see you in the morning!"
With that, I slipped inside and went to bed.
I know it's probably not fair or right, but I felt such a sense of relief the next evening when I arrived home in Moonglade. I retuned to my apartment and took in my familiar surroundings. I know I could always go back to my parents, but this was my home.