“Squirt get off me. Seriously. I don’t have any more fish!!” Sabryel swatted at the turtle. He just nudged her up under her arm and gave her the sad look that always got his way.
“You’re a brat! You’re worse than… a dog!” But her actions told a different story. She ran her hand lovingly over his rough head and kissed him on the nose.
“C’mon, I need to go talk to someone about this stupid rock problem.”
Sabre made her way through the crowded lanes in Ironforge when she noticed a shiny object wedged in a crack. As she leaned down to pick it up, a huge shadow loomed over her.
“Scuse me, you’re blocking the road here.” Sabre looked up to see… a spotted leopard staring her in the face.
“Uh, you.. can’t talk. Animals don’t talk.”
An exasperated sigh exploded, “Of course he doesn’t talk, I do. And you’re in my way. I’m in a hurry here.”
Sabre stood up to see another night elf with her hands on her hips and a pissed off look on her face. “You know, you COULD have gone around. There’s other road here.”
The pissed off face scowled back. “Right, but I’m looking for something. I dropped my key and you’re in my way.”
“Well pardon the pants off of me your majesty, I’ll be on my way,” Sabre smirked as she palmed the tiny key.
“Wait wait, I’m sorry. I’m stressed out, and worried, and tired. You didn’t happen to notice anything down there while you were crawling around did you?” Meanface enquired.
Sabryel thought for a moment and debated her conscience. Realizing the key wouldn’t do her any good without knowing what it went to, she held out her open hand and presented the key.
“You’re my savior!! Oh I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. Let me buy you lunch or a drink or something. I’m meeting my sister here shortly, we’re going to visit a friend. I guess I have a few minutes to kill. I’m Vanisia by the way.” She held out her hand in greeting.
Sabryel shook it kindly, “I’m Sabryel and this is Squirt. I was off to find someone to help me with… well rocks I suppose.”
Vanisia raised an eyebrow at her. “Sabryel as in.. are you a hunter?”
Sabryel looked at her warily, “Um, I’m trying to be? Why?”
“Wow. You don’t happen to have a sister named Kaliye do you?”
Sabre’s eyes went wide, “I do! Why? Is something wrong?”
Vanisia snorted, “Not really wrong. I mean.. well. Hmm. You heard about Zydin I assume. Sabre nodded.
“Well Senorita emopants is cooping herself up in her apartment, hardly speaking to anyone. And I understand grief and time and all that crap, but we need her. It’s been more than a year and it’s time to get over it.” Vanisia sighed. “She’s an amazing healer, and we sort of have this group formed on the battlefield. My sister and I are on our way to try and cheer her up and knock some sense into her…. HEY! I have an idea!”
It was Sabryel’s turn to raise an eyebrow. “A friend of my sister’s with an idea is rarely a good thing.”
“Nice to see that you share the same sarcasm,” Vanisia grumbled. “But seriously! Seeing you might cheer her even more. The Lunar Festival started this week and there’s a huge party in D-Town. There’ll be guys, and food, and alcohol, and dancing, and fireworks, and quests, and new clothes!! The Hunter Academy is closed anyway, you should come. I’ll even pay for your flight. Let’s go get your stuff.”
Sabre stared at her. “Do you ever breathe? My head hurts a little now.”
“Yeah, you’re definitely Kal’s little sister. She and I do that to one another all the time.” Vani turned on her heels for the Academy. “C’mon. We need to get you a bag packed and we’ll snag lunch before Merri gets here.”
The flight was uneventful, but when they arrived in Darnassus, chaos was in full force. People were running around in what looked like pajamas shooting fireworks at one another. Vanisia grinned from ear to ear as she grabbed her two companions by the hand and dragged them towards the Enclave.
Sabryel leaned over and whispered to Merri, “You know, you two are about as different as can be. She’s so… um. Loud. And you’re quiet and sweet. How can you be sisters?
Merrianna giggled, “Not only sisters, we’re twins. But Vanisia’s a good person, just a little more…” Merri thought for a moment, “Just a little more bitchy about it I suppose!”
Sabryel burst out laughing. “I think you’re very right about that! It’s incredibly nice of her to come help my sister. Even I didn’t know it was this bad.”
Merrianna nodded, “Kaliye seems to be keeping it to herself. Ever since she came back after the funeral, she barely sees any of us and just mopes. She’s been teaching classes at the Academy and refusing to heal anything. I think she thinks she’s broken. She has to realize that he would have died either way, and she’s not to blame.”
Sabre nodded slowly. “I think this party may help, if we can drag her outside.”
Vanisia flipped around, “Whenever you guys are done talking about me, we can get on with our mission here. We need to find Rankyn, Yohan, and the others. I think it’s going to take a serious force here.” She stabbed a finger at Sabryel. “If you think I’m bossy and bitchy, you should see your sister in battle mode. I look like a pansy. And right now she’s in emo battle mode. So put on your game face and lets do this.”
As they made their way through the crowds, Vanisia grabbed members of their group and dragged them along. As they reached the stairway to the Enclave, a night elf garbed in nothing but a pair of red underpants and a black cape jumped out from the bushes.
“VANI-SHA..’cup! What are you doin’sh here?” he slurred.
Vanisia stared at him, “What in the hell… Valar?”
He beamed like a little kid, “That’sh me!”
Merrianna and Sabryel stared at them in shock. “Who.. is.. that?,” Sabre whispered.
Merri giggled and leaned close, “It’s Valar, a friend of Rankyn’s. He has this bad habit of running around in..” she gestured at his get up, “well that little outfit when he’s been drinking. Just wait until he starts dancing.”
Sabre grimaced, “I can hardly wait.”
“We’re going to see Kaliye, she’s being a party pooper.” Vanisia explained, “You getting anywhere with that little outfit Captain Underpants?”
He nodded in blind drunkenness. “I got free drinks down at the Temple. Those priestesses know how to party.” He waggled an eyebrow at Merrianna, who blushed.
“We’re going upstairs. You stay here and keep an eye out for Rankyn and the others.” Vanisia ordered.
Valar nodded blithely, “Aye aye cap’n!”
When they got upstairs, Kaliye’s door was propped open and Vanisia peeked inside to find Aerynn standing there, hands on her hips.
“Kaliye Shadowmend, get your sorry self-pitying body up and out of that bed this instant. I will call your mother if you don’t stop this crap right now.” Aerynn yelled.
Kaliye raised her hand in a single finger salute.
Aerynn threw up her hands in exasperation. “I’m going to go downstairs and find some food. And when I come back, I want you out of that bed.” She turned and found three sets of glowing eyes peering into the darkness of the room. Slipping out the door she hugged Vanisia and Merrianna tight.
“I don’t know what else to do. Thank you so much for coming,” Aerynn’s eyes filled. “She’s important to us, to everything, and she’s so lost in her… sad nonsense. She’s being completely unreasonable. She tripped the other night, smacked her head and started bleeding. Instead of healing herself, she just let it bleed. I found her a couple hours later sitting in here on her bed in the dark. I’m not a healer, and I HAD TO FIX IT!” She pressed her fingers to her eyes. “I really am going to find her some food, see what you can do.”
Vanisia thought for a moment. “I got this, you take a break.” She turned to Merrianna and Sabryel. “I need you guys to stand out here and block the door. Don’t open it for any reason.” She slid out of her weapon harness, cloak, and shoes, handing them to Sabryel before she stepped inside. Offering up a silent prayer, she shut the door behind her.
Making her way around the messy room, Vanisia lit every candle and lantern she could find.
“What the hell!! Aerynn, go away. Seriously, I just want to be left alone. Go mother some one else.” Kaliye grumbled.
“KALIYE GET YOUR SORRY ASS OUT OF BED BEFORE I DO IT MYSELF!”
Kali sat up with a start, “What the hell.. Vanisia! What are you doing here?!”
“We’re tired of your crap. He’s dead, you’re not. You’re needed, we miss you. Emo-Kali sucks. Now get up.” Vanisia waved a candle over Kaliye.
“OH MY GOD! What have you done to yourself?! When was the last time you took a shower.. or washed your hair.” Vani reached out gingerly and touched the matted mess Kaliye’s silky purple hair had become.
Kali swatted at her, “Go away.”
“Oh no ma’am.” Vanisia grabbed a handful of Kaliye’s shirt and dragged her from the bed and across the floor.
“OW!! What are you doing!!” Kaliye exclaimed.
“You’re taking a much needed bath. Right now. And then we’re going to get you dressed. And you’re going to eat. And then we’re getting you downstairs to party. Time to live again.”
Kaliye gave her the look, “Let go of me this instant. You’re not my boss, and I’m pretty sure I’m older than you, and Lunar Festival is about respecting your ELDERS so knock it off.”
Vanisia shook her head as she continued to drag Kaliye towards the bathroom. Shoving her inside, Vani turned the water on full blast.
“You are taking this shower, you are washing your hair, and you will cooperate. If you do not, I will shave your head and steal all your dry clothes. You’ll be left here naked and bald. Your choice.” Vani stood there with her hands on her hips. “We love you Kal, we need you back with us, our happy Kaliye. You need to let it go, its time for you to live.”
And Kaliye burst into tears and clung to Vanisia. Sobbing with all of her pent up tears and anger, she let it out in the steam filled shower. Vanisia hugged her tight, letting Kaliye let go. Carefully Vanisia scrubbed Kaliye’s hair, untangling the mess it had become. Vanisia cupped Kaliye’s cheek and kissed her on the forehead before turning away. Pulling out new clothes and towels, she set them aside for Kali, took the old clothes and tossed them in the fire. “Out with the old, in with the new.”
When Vanisia opened to door to Sabryel and Merrianna, Kaliye stood before them in her long purple dress, hair streaming behind her. Eyes clear and twinkling she embraced the shocked elves.
“I need a drink. And I’m starving. Let’s get out of here.”