Dark Memories

[Rhonya]

Endless stars stretched over the night sky, the large moon visible high up, illuminating the surroundings and giving everything an even more eerie glow, outlining the large trees looming over. A small shape was sitting on one of the hills overlooking the gloomy town below, hidden mostly from view by the deep shadows the light of the moon cast around her. She was holding something on her lap, the edges shimmering as she shifted position somewhat, tucking her legs under her small frame. Her fingers slid over the rune carved into the steel of the dagger, following the shape, she wasn’t even looking down at it, as if the curve and shape of the weapon was so familiar to her she didn’t need to see it to be able to properly envision it.

‘Family’, the rune meant. Rhonya remembered, the day Krogon had given it to her, the special steel enchanted by spirits grace, the old ways of the burning blade. A dagger especially for her, to aid her in her connection. She had carried it ever since. The timing of the gift had been a little odd, seeing at that moment she didn’t really think she was doing the right thing for her ‘family’. The evening had been a little messy, orcs grumpy, Forsaken all around, that odd pandaren burning his paws on her dagger… The touch of the cool steel calmed her now though as she looked down over the graveyard down below, the night anything but quiet.

A chilly wind was blowing around her, and it brought the sounds of the night with it, amongst other things. Moans, cries of pain, torment, agony… Rhonya could hear them, not so much with her ears but more with her being. Of course she could hear the noises of the ghouls and the braindead down below, but this place had more to it than just the visual aspects. She knew Srelok heard everything a lot louder than her, and Rhonya hoped he was able to handle it. She was still a shaman herself though, and not deaf to the cries of the land, the beings inside of it, the history of the place, the pain it had faced and still did.

Slowly Rhonya pushed herself up to her feet, making her way off the graveyard, following the path through the gloomy town. She stepped hurriedly, knowing the dead don’t sleep, and she didn’t want to be interrupted on her way into the woods, knowing she’d have to do this now, alone, at this moment, or else she’d never have the courage again. Her feet left the path, instead moving into the woods, the hem of her robe brushing over the slightly damp grass as Rhonya moved deeper into the woods, towards the place she remembered so vividly. It didn’t take long for the dark mouth of the cave to appear in front of her, and she felt once again the fear, the utter panic squeezing her throat shut.

Rhonya only managed a few more steps closer to the cave before she just fell on her knees on the dark grass, her breathing ragged and fast, almost as if she was choking. She clenched her teeth together, a low growl coming from her throat. She hadn’t been here since that one time… that day where she had gone to help a friend, and came back to the tribe near dead, only the barest of threads still keeping her to the living world. It had been the priests… The Cult of Shadow and Dunderholm. She remembered the feeling of his fingers around her throat, squeezing the life from her, the pain from the bolt of pure shadow when it had hit her, thrown from further back…

Her own hand moved to her neck now, as if the bruises were still there, and silent tears ran over her face as the memories took control, her form trembling. A thrumming in her head, the ever present feeling of the shadow there, a light headache coming up. It reminded her not all of them were bad… Belthran had helped her. But this place, the memories… it was too much. With a shake of her head she forced herself to stand up, close herself off to everything around her. Miraculously her feet directed her back to the village almost automatically, until she reached the little house next to the barn and she made her way inside, just curling up under her furs in the corner, the dagger still gripped tight in her hand. Rhonya closed her eyes, but sleep wouldn’t come that night, she knew. Perhaps this week would help her get over the past, make her able to handle the memories.

Time would tell. But for now, she wouldn’t come anywhere near that cave again.

[Okiba]

Much approve!