6-Comforting Pains

  -As a lover, as a Pillar, Selene

  The rumbling storm speaks to a greater power residing within, yet so tenderly it cuddles me so… Tonight is of no exception, but another deep slumber within the eye of the storm. His scales hold warmth, his feathers bleed emotions, and his hearts… His hearts cry. The sorrows, the missed Sparks… He cuddles me so tenderly, despite his pains. Claws trace my scars with worship, his maw nuzzles gently as he breath slowly flows down my back… One would expect him to ravish and claim like dragons of old, to rid himself of morality and claim what is rightfully his… The warmth he shares burns those dodgy, risqué tales like embers to the wind…

  That’s not to say his passion doesn’t fill my desires when the mood arises…

  Some awakenings, it’s impossible to leave his grasp… I have spent several days merely laying with him, not a single word spoken, just our bodies merely melding as one… I wouldn’t trade those days for anything in the universe… But this awakening, I can feel the calm in him. A new spark, a new hope. Even Necrona feels at ease today as I watch her claw deeply at his chest. She may not speak, but her words are of touch.

  ‘I’m happy, you’re happy. You’re doing good. Your storm quells my storm.’

  She’s been arriving less and less, a happy sadness in itself. Her tribe was… Unfriendly. Her rough exterior hides a heart of amethyst, yearning for connection. For now, that connection is us, and until she decides to move on, we will support and cherish her all the same… But I believe she has learned to love another as well, and that’s a joy in itself.

  …

  Aah…

  The countless people I wish to see today…

  To drag oneself away from such tender care is a travesty, but there are others I wish to check on… Necrona will keep him happy in my absence, and that will keep me warm.

  The hallway hums, a tranquil peace as Dro’Gul spars outside with a feisty Zelra as the night slowly steals the daylight. Her agility with Polearms, or in this instance a shovel, an astounding feat that improves each time, backflipping and—oh my. A small giggle escapes me as I watch the frantic Zelra land square on a gourd of sorts, her panic palpable as it gushes. Dro’Gul immediately drops his rake rushing to tend to any of her injuries. Oh sweet Dro’Gul, her only injury is that of her panic and pride… Something tells me another stewed meal will be on the menu in the morning…

  I appear to not be the only one who found amusement in such a friendly spat, our honorable Zerth who’s taken to making hallways spotless, a humble smile for a Githzerai as I trail past them, watching the scene continue to unfurl. They’ve been working since the early morning again, still collarless… Perhaps I may ask our newest Kobold cook, Duto, to make a splendid meal for them for when they wake.

  The ‘Night Gardens’ are always such a tranquil thing to pass. Slipping past the barrier to keep out the waning light and sound of the day-walkers, from the hallway, a-many of our nocturnal kin enjoy the tranquillity it gifts them. Silas has been tending the moon-petal blossoms once again, despite her misguided green thumb. Oh, how Borin would have loved teaching her… But she learns, and continues to grow, that is what matters.

  Finnian glances my direction, exiting from the moon pool so quietly, so gracefully. Even in his older age, our friendliest otter-folk helps tend to those of the night, helping clean and hunt for the rare plants they so indulgently love. Even those pretty minerals he continues to gift them. Perhaps Necrona would enjoy such a trinket…

  The day slowly fades, yet their warmth lingers with me still… I can’t help but smile at how cherished I am by him, and the others of The Hearth. My past still pangs my guilt on occasion, just as these old scars do. But every day they’re quieter, every day I feel I might have earned clearing my balance on the travesties I helped create.

  Perhaps it may be time to observe our newest member. He spoke so quietly when he carried her, so worried he would stir more of her worried, troubled soul. Passing the statue of Xylo, a waning of my heart panged deeper. Oh how Laeriel’s love was so deep for her… It took only moments, to restore it back to the beauty of its first day, letting my magic slip so carefully from my fingertips. But the love, the entry he left of her will forever resonate with The Hearth. To have it etched in stone, a forever piece for all to see…

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Entry 52 - Three Seasons - Year 430

  I loved a being whose people live for three seasons. Her name was Xylo. She burned with a light so bright it hurt to look at. In her first season, we explored every corner of this estate. In her second, we built a life. In her third, I held her as her light faded, her last breath a whisper against my cheek. The pain of knowing the end from the very beginning was immense. But she taught me more about living in those three short seasons than I had learned in three hundred years. Her stone is in the Silent Garden now. It is small, but it shines with the memory of a supernova.

  — Laeriel, Elven Scholar

  Aah… Tears fallen are not a symbol of weakness, but an homage to those who have brought us a joy we cherish…

  A rare sighting as I walked by the new members room, Briarfallen sits so openly, so watchful… I know she fears the gaze of others, for what she is, for what she’s done, it’s a pain I understand so. But I can’t… Help… But let a faint smile grow, knowing her journey for recovery is not in front of her. If she’s taken an interest, then this new member is not one such as I, even as a Pillar, could help feel at ease…

  My senses were right, Duto was still awake. Perfecting a new, delectable craft no doubt. I believe he was reading more of ‘The Whispers of the Hearth’…

  “Is that…?” I began, a hum, a quiet question as I watch the young Kobold dance with a small pot of bioluminescent fungi, climbing his ladder to set it on the counter.

  “Skeeve’s Grubs! Sun-Dried, Flash-Fried, just need to coat!” Duto explained, his happy squeals as he grabs a rather large, dried fungus. He doesn’t hesitate to start its crushing, working to turn it into a fine dust.

  “My my, I believe you’ve captured it almost perfectly.” My voice trailed towards the excited Duto, the little shiver that ran across him as he continued to work diligently. Even as I stepped next to him, admiring his craft, he didn’t hesitate. Such a beautiful blend of Skeeve and Miri within this young soul, I cannot wait to see what glory they bring to their namesake...

  “Skeeve mastermind, but crazy. If fungi not cured before, big bad stomach! If Grubs not cleaned, even worse! So meticulous, but perfection I think I’ve reached.” Duto spoke with glee, finally sprinkling the grubs a fine dusting of the fungi, the subtle luminescence of it reacting to the wyvern oil. He paused, setting the sieve down, admiring his work. Even with how odd the ingredients were, his plating was superb… “Miss Selene, would you honor me?”

  “A thousand times over, young Duto.” I spoke, gracefully trailing the rim of the plate, picking one of the grubs up. Crisp like that of fried meat, crunch that makes it impossible to eat just one. The dusting a true delectable mix to keep the flavors in balance. My breath held, refusing to let such intricate taste and texture leave…

  “Aah…”

  “Success… Success! SUCCESS!” Duto cried with glee as he watched me so attentively, slowly grabbing one himself. He crunched, he chewed, oh how he cried.

  “Oh Duto, how tenderly you crafted these.” I spoke, my hand slowly finding a second as I held them up to admire. “Perhaps, you might be interested in testing your skills a bit further?”

  “Oh, Duto would be honored! Thrilled! Challenge with love, challenge with grace! Well, Kobold grace. Maybe with hammer.” Duto chattered as he took several more grubs, happily popping one at a time.

  “Would you care to try and honor an old Githzerai?” I spoke simply, letting the question linger as I watched them ponder, scritch, and sit on the counter thinking.

  “Gith, tall warriors. Old? Honored… Omnivore, yes? Much-rooms, fruit, other long-term foods yes? Hmm. Hmm… HHHMMM… Perhaps, they like— No, no. Too strong. Home… Homey… Ah, yes! Kobold Recipe, much feel like Gith! Duto can, Duto will!” Before I could speak again, Duto’s energetic nature had him jump from the countertop as he rushed towards the kitchen door to the garden. He was truly happy now, and it was a gift I felt well beyond I deserved to see…

  I slowly wrapped and tended to the remaining plates Duto made, preservation and wrapping in a light container. My smile hadn’t faded since I first tried his cooking, a gift many more will soon begin experiencing…

  What I hadn’t expected was two shadows to appear at the same time at this time of night.

  “Tch.”

  Oh Briarfallen, twice in one day even for you is an honor many will never get.

  “L-Lady, um.. Miss… No… B-Briarfallen?”

  The new member, Kaelia was it…? calls Briarfallen by name… Meaning Briarfallen told her to… I felt my heart stop, my eyes wanted to meet both of theirs so desperately. To feel, to see that connection they have. But I knew better, when the shivering in Kaelia’s voice said it all. She didn’t want to be seen, just like Briarfallen, and in such a delicate…

  “Carry on, dishes in one of the racks. They’re done in bulk later. Lets get you to that bathroom.” Briarfallen spoke, her voice holding back her disdain for such mundanity, yet she was here, helping a new member so— Oh that clever girl. A tether of her finest velvet. Briarfallen’s silk is held in the highest regards when it comes to its texture. She’s using it to guide the distant Kaelia, letting both of them keep the comfort of distance.

  Kaelia quickly, confidently walked past me with no worry, trusting the cloak as I finished wrapping Duto’s grubs. I couldn’t help but look up, admire the beauty in what Briarfallen was doing. Even as she scowled, even as she tightened the magic around her to try and hide herself more, I couldn’t help but admire how much she’s grown…