A Candy Shop Window

"I don't think I'll ever get tired of picking peaceblooms."

There was a small smile on the young gnome lass' face, as she first brushed the soft petals against her cheek, to then drift it beneath her button nose, to take in its scent. Her eyes closed, long lashes falling in the night's shadow, to take in a deep breath, only slowly letting it out. Her breath frosted in the night air, a puff of elven midst there then gone.

The little warlock sat flounced in the snow, on her knees, a moment's peace within the snowbound valleys. Her pointed warlock hat was at rest in her lap, as she carefully, fingers delicate, slipped the flower into its band, white petals, saffron center, a gentle counterpoint against the hat's rich hues.

"Just pretty, Mezzy."

A tilt of her head is all it took, to look up to the big shadow that was the voidwalker. Protective and strong, the demon hovered at her side, talons long and sharp, his bracers gleaming beneath the starlight. The snowcats, they prowled elsewhere now - hunting their little bunny-rabbits – a much safer chase than to dare the black and cobalt magic that was Mezznuz, a predator himself, but of a very different sort.

"That's all. Just pretty. Sometimes, sometimes it just doesn't need to be anything more.

"Just pretty."

She looked down then, carefully setting her hat back atop her head, smoothing her hair with her fingers, tugging wild pigtails back into behavior. Next to her, the voidwalker extended its arms, its roar echoing deep throughout the night, slipping from mountainside to mountainside, for a moment eclipsing the wolves howls, the occasional bark of a hunter's shot.

"No. Not me."

There were red stains in the snow, bits of charred cloth, the streaks of sweat and grime marring her features like a fair night elf princess' make up after being caught in the rain. She tugged quietly at a frayed cuff, tracing the rents and tears with her fingers.

"Wouldn't know how, Mezzy. Must be nice though.

"Pretty, nice … that's someone else's life.

"It’s like looking in the windows of the shops in Stormwind."

Small arms wrapped, hugging herself, eyes closing at the memory. The warmth of bread on the air, the tempting scent of chocolate, trying to remember what it was like to wear a skirt that was made for swirling and not to dull the teeth of an overgrown two headed dog that drooled and had a definite taste for little Nellisynthia sized puppy snacks.

The memory was nice though. Warm bread. Chocolate. White gown, just like snow.

"Me and you, Mezzy we're just ..."

Small shoulders rose and fell, a simple motion, hinted with deep philosophy.  She steeled herself, as if warding off a snow bound breeze, bitter cold.

"They are just things, Mezzy. Things. Stuff to put in one's pack."

Quiet eyes closed again, the breath taken in, the breath frosted out.

"I would trade all the gold in Gnomeregan, all the scales of all the dragons in Blackrock Spire, and all the gems in all of Ironforge ...

"For a hand to hold on a winter's night."

For a long moment there was a silence in the dark. Nothing but the cry of the wind, the whistle of snow slashing through pine needles, billowing in spectral drifts.

"I guess I don't really understand people."

She looked down at her worn tabard, trying to brush the soot off of worn stitchery, the embossed compass faded into almost nothingness.

"And people change, their path winds this way and that, like stars falling across the face of the night time sky. And its like gears of a clock shattering, tossed from one place to another, rolling in the snow, leaving its tooth marked trail until the wind shifts, the snow drifts and its as if they were never there in the first place.

"Sometimes, I guess, if one's lucky, the little sprocket will be found and set to work in a new place ...

"At least for a little while."

Her eyes closed again.

"... Felicia ... Jellipeppy ... Freyara ..."

And she hugged herself again.

"You know Mezzy, I'd rather have my head bitten off by that awful dog that the emptiness that's left over from losing ... folks."

"Its worse than when the priest just left us bleeding on the hills of Maris Stead."

With that last from the big voidwalker came a grumbling, harsh and low. His eyes flashed, bloody crimson and his talons slashed at the air, as if his magics could shorn the very night. Dark, centuries of shadow laced in that deep predatory growl.

"It's fine Mezzy."

Eyes wide, the little lass looked up at her companion. And while she could not hold a hand of magic and smoky shadows, she could place it upon bracers of gold and blue.

"You are always here for me, Mezzy.

"Always."

She managed a small smile at that. But it was a true one, honest, clear, no question at all.

"You are my best friend, Mezzy."

Her head ducked, shy, almost coquettish.

"I know you don't understand."

Fair eyes met demon eyes, and they sparkled like the stars themselves.

"But maybe, maybe, one day you will."

A beat, a pause, a heartbeat that lasted forever and ever and ever. Before the gnome lass swallowed and looked down again, to offer her friend the shyest glance, hidden by tossled bangs and the wide brim of her hat.

And a whisper, soft as snow.

"... a girl's got’ta have her dreams, right?