She tread lightly on the grass, the trees of the grove towered silently around her. Nanashi traced her hands over their trunks, the softly glowing runes told names, stories. This was the Memorial Grove, situated in the farthest of Haven's courtyards, each tree for a child fallen in the war. There were so many, and Nanashi had known every single one of them, although some better than others. She whispered softly to herself as she passed each tree.
"Nox"
"Lamiae"
"Oden"
"Sanura..."
She paused in the center on the grove, before the largest tree in sight.
"Selene"
Nanashi kneeled down between it's roots, her red clothing contrasting brilliantly against the grass. Her hands folded awkwardly in her lap, and she sat in silence for a moment before speaking.
"Selene, it's me, sorry it's been a while, things have been busy..." Her voice trailed off and she bit her lip. Once again that feeling of frustration came over her. Why do I even bother! She can't hear me anyway.
The slightest sound of a twig snapping under someone's foot brought Nanashi back to reality. She whipped her head around just in time to see a purple-clad someone try and duck behind one of the trees.
She sighed.
"It's alright Willow, you can come out."
The shy newcomer, blushing as much as one could with her complexion, stepped slowly into view.
"I'msorryIknowIshouldn'thavebeenfollowingyoubut..."
"What do you want to know?"
Willow stopped mid-sentance, "What?"
Nanashi repeated herself, "Curiosity led you here, so ask your questions, maybe I'll have an answer for you."
"Who's Selene?"
Nanashi involuntarily bit her lip, but quickly composed herself. Cracks in her unshakable mask were rare, but they did happen, just for a moment or two.
She took a breath before beginning.
"Selene...was a member of the original Haven's Guard."
Innocent, naive, Willow's brow furrowed in confusion.
"Was?"
"She's dead."
It took all of Nanashi's rigid control to keep the emotion out of her voice, to utter those words.
Willow's eyes glistened lightly with tears.
"I...I'm sorry." Was all the shy newcomer could manage.
Nanashi looked back into the grove.
"It's okay, Selene was just the first."
There was nothing more Willow could say.
Nanashi let out the breath she hadn't even known she was holding.
"Listen, Willow, I think that there's some old paintings of the original Guard around here somewhere, why don't you ask Gwendolyn, I'm sure she'll show them to you."
"Why Gwen?"
A smile teased at the corners of Nanashi's mouth at the sound of the nickname that the solitary elf hated so much.
"Because she painted them."
Willow's eyes lit up.
"Gwen paints? Wow, I would never have thought!"
Nanashi nodded,
"She used to, but not since...well, it was a long time ago."
Willow smiled,
"Thanks Nanashi...I'm sorry I followed you."
"You're forgiven." The samurai girl said with a faint smile.
Willow lifted up the hem of her skirt and left the grove, leaving the Haven's leader alone with nothing but her own thoughts, and the memories of those gone.
In the tower….
Gwen sighed, not even looking up from her book. "It's on the shelf like it's always been, Nanashi."
Nanashi paused on the stair. Was she that predictable now?"
"How do you know I'm not up here to get some air?"
The auburn haired elf glanced up at Nanashi, green eyes intense.
"Because I know you."
Nanashi had nothing to say to that, and turned her attention elsewhere.
She found a small frame on the shelf, nestled between several books and astronomical instruments. Her fingers touched the edge...
"Nanashi."
She turned as Gwendolyn spoke,
"Yes?"
There was a pause, then the elf spoke again. "There is no magic, in my paintings or elsewhere, that can bring back the dead."
Nanashi returned her gaze.
"I know."
She pulled it off the shelf, coughing as a cloud of dust rose. She brushed off the painting and held it up to the light. It featured two girls sitting under a tree with amethyst leaves. The one on the left was obviously Nanashi herself, but the other was...different.
Selene...
She returned the picture to the shelf and left without another word. There was no need.
The midday sun was warm on Nanashi's back as she crossed one of Haven's many courtyards. It did not due to dwell on the past, on the people, the friends or family that would never return to you. With a new arrival, it was a time to think of the future, but how could she? How, when that arrival was...
It would be best, for now, to not think of yesterday. To try and forget all that was lost. And how much she missed that girl.
That girl who had looked so much like Willow.