OPEN POST

[mythalenaste]

“All witches are selfish, the Queen had said. But Tiffany’s Third Thoughts said: Then turn selfishness into a weapon! Make all things yours! Make other lives and dreams and hopes yours! Protect them! Save them! Bring them into the sheepfold! Walk the gale for them! Keep away the wolf! My dreams! My brother! My family! My land! My world! How dare you try to take these things, because they are mine!

I have a duty!”

--Terry Pratchett, The Wee Free Men

for shenanigans of all types, especially post-game

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[slipshot]

He let his hand drop, before stepping back. "Well. I'll try to make everyone proud," He said, even if he didn't believe it was possible. "... Goodnight, Pel," he murmured, and disappeared back into the camp.

[mythalenaste]

She's not sure if she'll see him off in the morning, or if she has already said her goodbyes and prolonging it will only make things more painful. She's not going to know until the morning. But she has to believe he'll be okay. Tonight, she prays for him.

In the morning, she does not say goodbye to Gavin. Instead, she kneels in front of the little girl and places in her palm a pendant on a string.

"This is made from the antler of a halla, little one," she tells her gently. "I want you to have it to keep, to remind you of where you come from."

The pendant is one Pel has worn for years. It feels right to let it go now, to give her part to the effort Gavin is making. He wanted her to belong in this world. Maybe there will come a time when she can belong to the clan as an elven child, but until then, she has this little reminder of the proud blood that runs in her veins.

She barely glances at Gavin when she stands. A little smile, and she turns away, and the line of goodbyes continues without her.