There are No Words for the End of the Road

We're an hour out from Teldrassil, home of the Night Elves, and I have to write as fast as I can.

I legitimately don't know what I expected at the start of the voyage but this… This was and was not it.

I have brief flashes of memory, of in-game Teldrassil, complete round and straight with branches jutting out every now and again. It looked stupid. An eyesore even!

But this… This Teldrassil… It has curves and bends, a towering twisting truck filled to the brim with life, an expansive forest lives on Teldrassil's mighty roots and thick tresses. Branches so tall that there are clouds trapped there. And the lights, oh the lights. A myriad of colors and sizes, the most prominent being the warm glow of fire-light in homes and hearths. There is the bright white-blue of the Wisps, the green of druid enclaves, and a soft violet of the town beacons, telling those in Darnassus that nothing amiss.

"We will be docking in Rut'theran Village," Nightwind told us. "And look, there, just above Rut'theran lies the small of Dolanaar, and to the east lies Starbreeze Village, my home."

Shadowglen was hidden from our view, as was Darnassus, which sat higher in Teldrassil's branches, at the crown of the world.

And it's… It's barely even noticeable. I would have missed it if Shand'do had not stayed my hand… Teldrassil… Teldrassil had greeted us.

It is -was- an indescribable feeling… Like…

It felt like the joy of seeing an old friend again, after you haven't seen them for several years, but the friendship that the two of you share is too strong for time.

It felt like a parent's unconditional love, a grandparent's calm temperament and soothing wisdom.

It felt like home.

And I couldn't help myself when answered back with everything I had. And I swear by each and every God Teldrassil sang.

Not… Not sang a song for all to hear but… it was an answer, a welcoming, a… A feeling, all wrapped up in a neat little package of Power and Teldrassil sang to Shand'do and I.

I can feel Teldrassil from here, through the ocean and the breeze and time just seemed to slow down and speed up at the same time. The wind picks up. Nightwind says that Elune must be smiling upon he and his fleet and I don't have the heart to tell him that it's Teldrassil that is calling us home… Home.

We can call Teldrassil home.

I… I feel at peace, no. Not peace per se… Content I think is the word I'm looking for.

We'll be okay.

Whatever happens next, I'll be ready…

I've forgotten what hope feels like.

A/N: And here concludes the Running Arc! YAY! Cool beans. What do you think should happen next? I was thinking a few time skips plus some world building before going off and exploring this new and exciting world Rae finds herself in. What do you all think? Please comment your thoughts!