Kennocha woke up to the morning light of An'she. She smiled as its warmth stroked her face gently, letting herself enjoy its simplicity.

Then she remembered.

It hit like a stampede of kodos; her brother was dead. He had left with the other soldiers to die. He died in battle, without a healer to look after make it worse, Jafern perished alone, with only a demon to watch the light of his eyes fade as he cried for his family.

The taureness felt tears running down her face, but she didn't care. All she could think about was if she had been there. She could have helped him. She could have mended his injuries, watched over him in the fight, convinced him to stay home, and so on. She could have saved him. He could still be here if she hadn't been taking care of the dying and the injured in Orgrimmar.

Then she wouldn't have to bury him. She wouldn't have to look Maliko in the eyes and tell him that his father was dead. Then Winoa wouldn't have to grieve on the day they were supposed to celebrate. Kennocha wouldn't have to face that she had let Jafern die.

Jafern would still be here if it hadn't been for her.

She continued to sob, letting herself curl up on the mat she had been sleeping on. She ran her fingers over the texture of the mat.

It was soft, but it wasn't the hide she was expecting. Instead it was cloth, intricately braided and woven into a work of art. The ends were frailed from use, the once brilliant colors faded to soft blues and greens. Stray threads were everywhere, needing to be trimmed so it didn't unravel. But Kennocha didn't care.

This was the first piece Winoa had ever woven. A beautiful design she had memorized long ago, one of trees and mountains underneath a bright blue sky. This wasn't even a mat; it was a tapestry. One meant to honor the ancestors and recently passed, with the Earthmother embracing her children as they crossed the line between life and death.

It had originally been meant to honor her deceased father, the first death many of the tribe's children had ever seen. Yet it laid here to honor the newest spirit of the tribe: Jafern.

Sighing, Kennocha lifted herself off of the mat. Not bothering to wipe her tears off, she looked around the tent for Winoa. However, she was meant by silence and the emptiness of the tent.

Winoa?

Kennocha's foggy thought echoed as she walked to the entrance. Lifting the flap, she made her way outside to the quiet of the city. Glancing up to the heavens, she saw that An'she had only risen her upper half above the distant mountains.

She looked back down at eye level and began looking for Winoa. Turning around the tent's exterior, she found the light brown taureness organizing her bags as she muttered something. She couldn't hear what she was saying, but she could tell that the words weren't in any way pleasant.

"Winoa?"

Kennocha looked to her friend, waiting for a response. She was ignored though, Winoa still working as she muttered.

"Sister, what are you doing?" Her voice was picking up confidence as she spoke.

Still, she was ignored.

"Winoa!"

The sheer volume of her voice surprised Kennocha. Winoa looked up with a calm fury behind her eyes. She hadn't ever seen Winoa like this.

"What is it?" Winoa growled, her usual patience cut thin.

"I just wanted to see how you were doing?"

Winoa softened her gaze, but kept her speech the same. "I'm fine."

"No, you are not 'fine'." Kennocha declared, her voice soft as she spoke. "Please, have some tea with me. I can brew it this time if you would like."

"No, we have to be leaving soon."

"And this means that you cannot rest for a cup? You always loved tea when you were stressed! Please, let me help."

Winoa stood up and strode to Kennocha. "What is wrong with this scene?"

"What?" Kennocha asked, confused by her friend's question.

"You heard me." Winoa growled, stepping to Kennocha's side as she waited for an answer.

Kennocha looked around the tent, yet she saw nothing of interest.

"I have no idea what you want to see, Winoa."

Winoa exhaled sharply. "Alright, who do you see out here?"

Kennocha looked again. By the pond, she spotted her fawn and rabbit curled up together. They were snoozing off, close together for warmth. They must have left the tent sometime in the night.

"Well, there is Nisi and Yadwi over there." Kennocha pointed to the pond's edge.

"And in the tent?" Winoa inquired, still waiting for Kennocha to figure it out.

"No one."

Winoa sighed. "So where Faeren?"

Kennocha thought about it for a moment, thinking back through the morning and previous night.

She widened her eyes as the lightbulb flickered on. "I haven't seen him since yesterday."

She stood there, still as a statue as she processed the information. "He was not even there when we went to sleep."

"Exactly." Winoa said frustrated. "I finished packing our bags for the trip, but I cannot find the wolf to load it on. This is when I'd go to Talshre, but he hasn't even landed yet!"

"It's days like this when I miss Pavati." Winoa spoke, her voice finally softening to match her face.

Kennocha looked to her friend, watching her distress over the situation. "I am sorry Winoa, but we have to stay calm in times like this."

Winoa laughed. "You've been crying all morning, yet you want me to go on like it's all alright."

"No, that is not-"

"Come on Kennocha, we have to go." Winoa pleaded, wanting to leave quickly. "Maliko is waiting."

Kennocha paused, choosing her words carefully as she replied. "I know he is, but we cannot leave without a way out. Please, let us enjoy a cup and calm our nerves."

Winoa sighed. "Alright then, but just one cup. Then we need to find Faeren."

"Of course, Sister." Kennocha wrapped her arm around Winoa as she walked back into the tent.

Once inside, Kennocha walked to the kettles and cups on the counter. She moved her hands around the counter, looking for the herbs she needed to calm them down.

"Kennocha?" Her friend called out.

"Yes?"

"You know where the herbs are, right?"

Kennocha shook her head. "Not that I can remember."

Winoa gave a small laugh before walking to Kennocha's side. Her hands moved over the counter to the corner of the cupboard.

"Here we are. You need to make a cup for yourself as well, okay?"

Kennocha nodded as her friend walked back to the tapestry. She was patching up her original work, cutting off stray ends and stitching the old holes out while Kennocha made them their tea.

As soon as Kennocha had finished brewing the tea, she walked over to Winoa with a cup in each hand. There were both hot to the touch, poured into small flasks with a strand of green sage sticking out of the opening. While she couldn't say it was her best cup she had ever made, Kennocha told herself that it was alright. That it was just what they both needed after such a rough night.

"Here you go." She handed the cup in her left hand to her friend.

Winoa smiled as she took the cup. "Thank you."

The two sipped their beverages, enjoying its warmth and flavor in silence. Kennocha knew they were both thinking over the last few nights, but neither wanted to bring it up. Yet Winoa stared at the wounds on her chest.

Of course she would. She is trained healer after all. Why wouldn't she be worried about a large gash across my body after a Cohort meeting?

Kennocha scolded herself, trying to enjoy the beverage. Then again, her concerns brought themselves back to her attention.

What would Jafern say about this? He would be upset after this, but she would call him on it, wouldn't she? Where is Faeren? Did he run off without her? How are they going to tell their tribe about what happened to one of their cherished members? What of Maliko? How are they going to work around the feast now?

Of course she couldn't just enjoy some tea with Winoa.

Kennocha looked down, her tears coming back as she finished her beverage.

"Kennocha." Winoa said, mentally demanding Kennocha to look up to her.

So she did. Their eyes meet, staring at one another until Winoa finally spoke.

"I know you said you were fine, but you and I are both trying to deal with….everything. You have to stay strong Kennocha. For Maliko and Jafern's sake."

Kennocha nodded. "How are we going to find Faeren?"

WInoa sighed. "I don't know. The only thing I can think of is to ask the locals if they saw him last night."

"That sounds like a good plan." Kennocha rose from the ground. "I can take the center mesa and its tiers. Would you mind looking through the outer mesas?"

"Not at all." Winoa lifted herself off the ground, extending her hand to Kennocha.

Kennocha grinned and shook the hand. "Thank you."

With that being said, the two exited the tent. They split up, leaving the rabbit and fawn to slumber as they began their search.

Author's Note-So I did some editing to streamline the story and make it easier to follow without the interference of the current roleplay. Of course, some events have been mentioned, like the Cohort meeting, but they won't have too big of an impact. As always, PM and/or review!