It's the Little Things

I went to bed last night happier than I’ve been in a long time. It’s easy to ignore how lonely you are when you hardly see anyone else. Nothing to compare it to, after all.

But last night so many friends showed up, even falling from the sky! Strange to see how much they’ve changed alongside all the ways they’ve stayed the same.

Hakka’jin is so much taller now, though there’s still not enough of her to match her attitude. But she’s actually made friends with an elf! Of her own accord and everything. He’s very nice, and seems to understand that insults are just a part of friendship with her. There’s something there, though. Poor guy.

Undel seems well. I’d been worried about her, when Hakka’jin told me about the oddly answered letters so long ago. She seems a little confused, Undel, I mean. Almost like she’s lost time or something. I can sympathize with that.

I wish I’d thought to send Lethandros back to the inn when people started showing up, though. I hadn’t considered just how disorienting it would be for them to see him. Oh well.

I’m a little concerned about Kolja. He seems perkier than the last time I saw him. Of course, he was pretty heartbroken then, so that isn’t saying much. He’s a little alcohol-obsessed now. But so are quite a few of the trolls I know, so maybe that’s okay? I don’t know. All the same, he reminded me so much of when I first knew him back at Phials, when he insisted he and Thokdok were old friends and I just had to try and keep up with the turns that story took.

Their news of things in the North was a little disturbing. One of Undel’s friends is part of a group that is fighting the scourge, and it seems like more of those are needed than ever. The Plaguelands are bad enough, but this? It worries me.

I don’t dare go there, though, not yet. I’m not entirely secure in my hold of Lethandros. I’m not certain I could maintain it if it was challenged, especially not by one with a prior claim. Best to stay in the Outlands for now. But I want to help.

Lerial. I was so glad to see her, but she seems… bitter? Maybe just sad. A bit quieter, anyway. I suppose a lot can happen in a year apart. I wonder what it is she saw, and did. I missed her.

I missed them all. Such a little thing, spending an evening talking, but it’s important. Last night I had some of my odd little family back. That means everything.