The trees were crooked and dark, the snow stark white. I observed the contrast. The further away the trees became, they more gray they were, until they disappeared wholly into the white. I couldn't remember how I'd ended up here. It didn't matter, for a briefest moment, all I cared about was staring into the alabaster abyss. The cold gnawed at me, even in my thick tauren coat of brown and white. My amber eyes blinked fallen snow from my eyelids. As I slowly awakened, I began to recall what happened the night previous.
Not much.
I traveled, as I ever have for the past five years. I used to have my cousin with me, but we parted ways. Since going through Winterspring, I found some vendors selling frostsaber cubs. Normally this would not mean much to me, but...I'd grown tired of being alone. The small felines was adorable and a striking lavender purple, with paler striping. It was practically love at first sight. I was still a girl calf at heart where small, cute animals were concerned. I bought it. I knew that a frostsaber was a typically Alliance creature to own, but I didn't care—I've seen too much to be drawn into the bad blood between the factions.
The goblins eyed me strangely, but a profit was a profit, and they couldn't say anything. Everlook was a neutral region, I could purchase whatever I pleased from whomever I pleased. I named the cub Sigalit. She would serve me well as a riding mount once she's grown, although I hadn't the faintest idea how to properly go about training a future riding mount beast. I could learn if I simply asked around in the right areas. I had slept here overnight, Sigalit curled comfortably in my lap. Her little chest rose and fell with each breath she took.
I was relieved she hadn't frozen in the night, her faulty caging had fallen apart while I walked. She had been crying and squeaked when she hit the snowy forest floor, to my surprise. Those damnable, cheap goblins...I had been hoping to fill her cage with cloth so she would stay warm, but it was useless now. She was a clever cat, rushing to me for warmth immediately, instead of cowering in fear as I'd known plains cats to do. I could see the resemblance between her kind and theirs...but it was only physical. Frostsabers are renowned for their loyalty and minds.
How do I know so much about an Alliance creature? Hmph. I was a druid. I could transform into a large feline myself. I had grown attached to them, studied them in books no matter their affiliation. Once, a book was torn from my hands, and I'd been called treasonous. It was a public library, I didn't see the problem. I was kicked out anyhow. Prejudice knew no bounds, and I desired no part of it. Sigalit stirred and made an odd trilling sound in her throat. I suppose she was hungry. Good thing, I'd hunted a sizable buck days before I'd bought her, and still had some meat leftover.
She was old enough to eat solid foods. They wouldn't have sold her to me if she wasn't...or, I hoped they wouldn't. She pressed her face into my stomach as I rustled around in my bags for her food, purring faintly. I found it amazing that a big cat such as this could purr, but it was possible she'd lose the ability as she grew older. That was in the future, and I was focused on the present. I used to think too much on the past and what was to come, never living for what was happening then. I'd changed much since I'd last seen my cousin. I'd learned to love life.
I find the food and Sigalit's eyes brighten at the scent. Something about the light and innocence about her brought an unexpected sense of joy in my chest. I think I've found another thing to love, I thought.