“She finally understood why the monsters in the Forest always seemed to smile. Beasts only bared their teeth as a warning before they attack.” ― Emory R. Frie, Enchanted Forest
They had been growing apart for years. Had been if Windsong was willing to be honest with herself. They shared the exact same name, face and sense of humor- they used to wear the same clothes and walk through the city. They tended the same bar and kept the other safe after the Scourge ran through Quel’thalas like the plague. But after… after her twin had slowly started to change more. She had been for decades, not finding the same jokes as funny or willing to spend time together out of work.
But when Windsong came back from Northrend she couldn’t deny her twin was a different person any longer. A part of WIndsong that had grown distant and fell away, coming back to her only with much coaxing on her end. It was unsurprising one day, coming to their shared apartment and her twin was standing in the living room with her bags packed.
What choice did she have? She let her go.
“I- I just don’t think Thallus wants company.” Tyleril had told Windsong as they observed the Blood Knights and the initiates train. “Didn’t he ye-yell and ask what you wanted?” Standing besides her and smelling of sweat and whatever rich masculine smell made up his soap. “Of course he wants company. Everybody wants company Tyleril.” The face of disbelief Tyleril gave her was almost surprising. “I think if someone wants to be left alone then even if they do need friends you should-”
She interrupted, waving her hand. “Everyone needs someone- no sentient can live alone and all that. Besides if he tells me to ‘fuck off’ then I will. I’m not rude Ty.” But only if he said fuck off.
“Oh. I- I suppose it’s ok then. As long as you respect his wishes.” With that Tyleril looked over the training yard to peer at Thallus. Windsong could spot his short cropped auburn hair easily amid the crowd of initiates.
“Pick that shield up Initiate! The next time you fail to block that strike don’t come back bitching if you lose an arm!” Wearing the reds and blacks of his order Thallus stepped between initiates, watching them with a critical eye and a resting angry face. As they watch his intense fel green eyes snapped to another initiate and his voice echoed across the courtyard. Tyleril turned towards Windsong. “If you really want to be his friend and will leave him alone if he asked you to then I think it’s a great idea.” His smile had returned and the familiar bright smile appeared. He didn’t have many other comments on Thallus beyond he seemed nice- which was Tyleril’s generic response for everyone who showed something else the smallest shred of kindness.
If anyone was a doormat for friendship it was Tyleril. WIndsong wasn’t sure it was a thing but if there was Tyleril was that person.
“I think I’m going to go back to harass him.” As much as she liked Tyleril there was a particular fun to Thallus being annoyed at her existence. It reminded her of her twin- someone who was like a rock in the sea of existence. Thallus might not enjoy her presence or even why she chose to visit him weekly.
But she would continue to do so. It was a relief to find someone who felt like a rock that she could tether herself to.
A short reprieve before she went elsewhere.
“That initiate has a loose rock they hide change under.” Windsong pointed at an intiate in the training yard as she stepped to stand next to Thallus. His eyes narrowed at her. Wearing clothing that was on the ragged side and looking a touch thinner than the rest the initiate continued to practice, paying nothing any attention beyond the target dummy they practiced with. “That initiate comes from a rather poor off family that has yet to reclaim any money from the Fall.” Was Thallus’s response.
In a display of magic she stepped back and sat down on a nonexistant chair, appearing to sit on nothing at all. Something was there, of course, a thin disc conjured by magic and hidden by her robes. "You should tell them to use a bank before someone finds the rock.“ She remarked lightly, leaning back in her invisible seat. Her favorite divining crystal was a well polished flat stone the size of her palm and she began to toy with it. "That initiate has a hidden bank account that will be handed over to him when he earns the rank of Knight. No one will touch that rock.” There was a silent ‘or I’ll break their wrists’ after that followed his words.
If it was her she would have taught the initiate how to open a bank account or how to properly exact revenge. She looked over to Thallus with a grin. “Aren’t you kind? Then I would be at that rock Friday at six thirty five in the morning.” He didn’t question her. Instead there was a subtle movement as he shifted and he only gave her a short response.
“Noted.”
Thallus didn’t say anything more when she was there. He gave an occasional bellow at an initiate for something or the other. Windsong simply sat there and enjoyed the company. Even if she was unwanted it was nice. She wasn’t going to admit she was lonely. After enough time had passed she looked upwards and squinted. “Oh, look at the time.” She waves at Thallus, moving close enough that he could smell the incense that clung to her clothes. “I’ll see you next week! I can’t believe I forgot the time!” Her voice was saccharine as she waved at Thallas. His lips twitched but if he said a goodbye she didn’t hear it.
Tyleril Silversword 