Blink of the Stars

Stars were shining and fading away as a lonely ship passed by them by. Planets in all different sizes and colors, some strong and glowing and some just gray and pale, and their moons various in numbers. In the empty space between the stars there was niter day or night, no time and no seasons. This was privileges the planets and stars had all by themselves and among them you could feel free without any trouble or force.

This is how Jink was feeling right now. The silence, the peace and the beautiful view, she enjoyed it. She had believed the emptiness would be too much for her to bear, but she found herself content with it. She had all the stars to herself, all alone. Enjoying the sight from outside her ship, she turned the autopilot on and sat back resting her head back in her hands. She felt like related to the stars somehow. She belonged to them; they were a part of her. It was completely impossible to explain. She was after all born among them. Aurek didn't know what he was missing.

Her smile faded and was replaced with a shadow growing all over her face at the thought of him. She hadn't liked to leave him behind back on the Abode, but he had been stubborn. Living so long on a place made you stick to it, he had said. They had almost quarreled before she had left.

"This mountain, even how doomly I find it, has been my home for centuries, from my children days till now, and I will remain a while longer."

She stared at him, shocked. "Even after what's been here, you still choose to be here?"

He turned to her, his face hidden behind his cloak. "Daughter of my Soul, I have told you before, that I will not be the one holding back on your choices in life. If you feel that you have to do this, I won't be the one stop you."

She walked over to him not taking her eyes from him. "But Father of Memory, I don't know how long I will be gone. It might take decades, or even a century before I return. Are you certain you won't come with me?"

"Daughter, I do not fear loneliness as much as you do. You fear it might be too much for you. That is why you want me to come with you. But I am not yet ready to leave. Besides, I think this journey will be good for you. A change is just what you need right now."

He was right, she knew that. She walked over to the large egg that Aurek had had fun creating. It was the biggest he had made. It was here she had seen what she was planning to seek out. "Father of Memory, have you got faith in this? Do you believe that there might be some of our kin out there somewhere?" she asked him without looking at him.

Aurek walked over to her and laid his hand on her shoulder when he answered. "I suppose they might, but searching for them is quite a quest. But it is true, they did settle on many planets, not only here on the Abode. But if they remain is another question, and I cannot answer that for certain. The only way to find out is to go and find them."

She turned around and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him hard. "I will return as soon as I find something, even a tiny clue." He didn't answer, only hugged back, stroking her hair slowly.

She missed him terribly, but this was something she felt that she had to do. If there really were other elves out there it felt right to find them. But the stories Aurek had told her, the pictures he has showed her, about the High Ones' traveling to other realms, had really got into her, inspired her to go seeking for them.

A part of her saw this as an impossible mission, and in a way, wasted. Aurek had warned her about raising too many hopes into this. She didn't even know what to do even if she did find anyone of their kin out there. But she would get to think of that later. Besides, Aurek did have a point; getting away from the Abode was just what she needed right now; to get away.

She had to close her eyes for a moment preventing the tears from coming. She couldn't stand the thought of start mourning again; when she first started crying she could keep it going for hours, and that just didn't fit for her now. She sniffed and opened her eyes again putting on a determent face. No more crying, no more mourning. You're on a quest; keep it to that.

Her mind fixed on that she turned off the autopilot grabbing the steer continuing where she had cut off. Concentrating again, she continued her journey into the stars.