(2024-04-29) An Old Friend

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Author:	Alli
Summary:	Nesselos and Therald look for Ness's old friend Kraz in the Grizzly Hills, and at long last the search comes to an end.
Rating:	T for Teen

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discussion of social interaction, guilt and forgiveness

Nesselos and Therald meet up outside the western camp of former Zul’aman treasure hunters. They’re prepared to go see if Kraz is among them.

[Nesselos]: Therald!

[Therald]: Nesselos, hello!

[Nesselos]: Ready to… to go see?

[Therald]: Ready.

Nesselos smiles at Therald.

[Therald]: Are you?

[Nesselos]: I think so.
Nesselos takes a deep breath. "Let's go in!"
Nesselos looks around. He peers at the orc Morgom, but shakes his head. Not Kraz.

Therald looks at Morgom, then looks at Ness. Not Kraz, got it.

[Nesselos]: Mister? Is this… Budd Nedreck's team?

Samir says: Budd? Yeah, he was our leader, till that mishap at Zul'aman.

[Nesselos]: Mishap? Oh no! What happened?

Therald frowns curiously.

Samir says: Well, some Horde folk went in and killed the warlord, and Budd claimed credit when they came out. He wanted glory for it, I guess… but what he got was some kind of troll curse.

Nesselos gasps.

Therald looks at Ness. "Can… the elements do something about curses?"

[Nesselos]: I… don't know. I can cleanse some curses, but if it's from someone really powerful. I could try?

Samir says: He's over there if you want to talk to him. It's about time for his daily walk, so… if you want to do that…

Therald turns around and looks at the man with the troll mask. "Is that… him?"

[Nesselos]: Sure, I mean… we can do that.

Samir says: Yep, that's him!

Budd says: Ok, mon. Tell me when we be close to mah troll bruddas.

[Nesselos]: Budd? You're not a troll.

Budd says: Nuttin' says luvin' like a little tap on da noggin.

[Therald]: …

Nesselos tries to pass a curse dispel over Budd, but nothing lifts.

Budd says: My troll bruddas be in for some real fun today, mon!

[Therald]: Uh.

[Nesselos]: I don't feel any curse on him.
[Nesselos]: But there is… something.
[Nesselos]: I suppose we can go for a walk, and I'll see if I can figure anything out?

Therald nods at you.

[Therald]: Yeah. Let's take him on his walk.

Budd says: Time to play some troll tag, mon!

Budd tries to play troll tag with wolves. They are not amused.

Nesselos looks helplessly at Therald.

[Therald]: Hmm…

[Nesselos]: Budd, no! Stop playing with the wolves!

Nesselos and Therald do their best to keep him safe.

Budd says: Ey, mon! Take me to mah troll bruddas!

[Nesselos]: Do you think the Argent Crusade might have a way to help him?

[Therald]: I have no idea… I don't think our paladins deal in… curses. Maybe some of our mages?

[Nesselos]: Hm…

Budd says: You sure we be goin' da right way, mon?

Neither of them answer this one.

[Nesselos]: I know there's an Argent Crusade outpost in these woods.
[Nesselos]: Have you been there?

[Therald]: I haven't been positioned in this area, no.

[Nesselos]: I know since the Lich King has been killed, many came back here.
[Nesselos]: I've heard it's a post for… for healing.

[Therald]: Healing?

[Nesselos]: Yes, for people who need peace and calm.
[Nesselos]: I've heard a lot of people are heading that way, before they go back south. It doesn't seem like the south is all that peaceful right now.

[Therald]: … Yeah. I heard about Ironforge…

[Nesselos]: Yes, that sounds like a tricky situation. And all the earthquakes… I heard Menethil had some problems as well.

[Therald]: Menethil, too? What happened?

Budd says: Hee hee hee! Dis gunna be some fun, mon!

Budd goes for some more wolves. Come on, Budd. We keep him safe.

[Therald]: Are… are you good, Budd? Was that walk enough?

Budd says: Ya, mon! Always good ta play wit my troll bruddas.

Nesselos looks sympathetically at Budd.

[Therald]: I guess… that's a yes?

They take Budd back.

[Nesselos]: But I was saying, Menethil, it was the same earthquakes that hit Ironforge, I think.

[Therald]: Wait… those are… kind of close, I guess?

[Therald]: Still, big earthquake.

[Nesselos]: Yes, it's just north.
[Nesselos]: Well, earthquakes are kind of a tricky thing.
[Nesselos]: It's not just one movement.

Therald raises his eyebrows. "Really?"

[Nesselos]: There's an epicenter of the movement, and then it… ripples out. Like waves.
Nesselos nods, confident on this point. He is a shaman.

[Therald]: Uh…

[Nesselos]: And there are like… echoes. That's not the right word. After… Aftershocks, that is the word.

[Therald]: So… earthquakes happen after earthquakes?

[Nesselos]: Yes, for a while
[Nesselos]: The way things are happening now is not normal, though.

[Therald]: What? Why?

[Nesselos]: There should not be so many, so often, and in unexpected places.
[Nesselos]: The planet has… places that it likes to move.
[Nesselos]: Sort of like ley lines, but for shifting of the earth.

[Therald]: Uh…

Nesselos nods. "I do not know what is causing it."

[Therald]: I'm hoping it's just… maybe the world is learning to adapt without… Arthas?
[Therald]: I don't know…
[Therald]: It' may just be temporary.

[Nesselos]: Maybe. Since he was a shaman, maybe he harmed something.

Therald nods at you.

[Nesselos]: Anyway, I think we can recommend they send Budd to Heartwood Trading Post. I can take him there later.

Therald nods at you.

[Nesselos]: On a happier note, how did you like the party?

[Therald]: Um, it was nice. How did you like it?

[Nesselos]: I thought it was lovely! Such a nice gesture.

Therald nods at you.

[Therald]: Too bad guests were trapped in Ironforge….
[Therald]: Bad timing.

[Nesselos]: Yes, well, there will never be an ideal party time. We make do with what we have!

[Therald]: That's true, I guess.

[Nesselos]: I noticed you were kind of hesitant to talk to people?

Therald sighs. "Yeah I… didn't want to bother people."

Nesselos frowns a little and looks at Therald.
[Nesselos]: Sir Ference seemed happy to see you?

[Therald]: I don't know. He's someone important. I'm just… Therald.

[Nesselos]: Do you not think… maybe it made him feel a little sad, when you pulled away?

Therald shakes his head. "We worked together, once or twice. That doesn't mean he wants to speak with me outside of work."

[Nesselos]: But… he did. He greeted you, didn’t he? That was a welcome.

[Therald]: I don't know. I think he was just being polite.

[Nesselos]: I think you should consider. Hm. If you came up and said "Hello, Ness!" and I looked at you like you were a stranger and turned away. You would not feel very happy, would you?

[Therald]: … I guess so.

[Therald]: But that's not what happened. I just said… I'd wait for you to get here too.

[Nesselos]: Okay, okay. *Ness smiles* I wasn't there, so I trust you how it went.
[Nesselos]: I just think… you could reach out more.
[Nesselos]: You might be surprised how much people reach back.

Therald winces a little. "I just don't know… how. I don't know… what people want me to say. I got nothing to say."

[Nesselos]: Maybe you can say that. You can say, "I'm sorry, I'm not very good at conversation, but I'm happy to see you."
[Nesselos]: Not that you aren't! But if you think you aren't.

Therald lifts his eyebrows. "Would that work…?"

[Nesselos]: I think it would. *Ness nods earnestly*

[Therald]: I guess I can try that next time.

Nesselos smiles encouragingly. "That sounds like a good idea."

Therald doesn't look convinced there'll be a next time as he says that.

[Nesselos]: And now.. maybe soon I should ask them if they've seen Kraz. I just… I don't know if he wants to see me. *Yes, Ness, you can give advice, but can you follow it?*

Therald nods. "You should. Even if he doesn't want to… well, that'll be like an answer to some of your questions."

[Nesselos]: I suppose you're right. And his son was nice, right?

[Therald]: He was, yeah.
[Therald]: Worth a shot, I say!

[Nesselos]: Do you think you'll head south, in the end? Or stay up here and… well… keep the Scourge in check?

[Therald]: Depends on where the Argent Crusade will need me.
[Therald]: What about you?

[Nesselos]: I think I should probably head south soon. I do not know what is wrong with the elements, and… my cousin is unwell.

[Therald]: Unwell? I'm sorry to hear about that.

[Nesselos]: She was kidnapped and taken into Ulduar.

[Therald]: Oh, no… What happened?

[Nesselos]: It seems like they'd been taking mercenaries to make them fight in an arena. To distract someone and make him easier to control.

[Therald]: That's terrible…

Nesselos nods. "She was in there for eight days."

[Therald]: Eight days?!

Nesselos nods again, sadly.
[Nesselos]: She's down at the Exodar now. I know they are taking care of her, but… maybe family nearby would be good.

[Therald]: She got out of there, at least.
[Therald]: Yeah, I think that would help her…

[Nesselos]: Should we check the east camp for Kraz?

[Therald]: Yeah!
[Therald]: I'll be there with you.

They fly to the east camp.

Nesselos smiles at Therald.

Therald smiles at Ness. "Ready?"

[Nesselos]: Ready. *Ness nods nervously*

Nesselos walks into the camp, and says, "Hello, I was hoping I could ask if… uh… Kraz."
Nesselos 's eyes go wide, and he seems to lose his words, staring at a middle-aged orcish man.

Therald looks at Ness, then the orc, his eyes widening.

Kraz looks quizzically at Nesselos, and then his own eyes widen. "A spirit?"

[Nesselos]: No, no, I'm… it's me. Nesselos. You remember me, don't you?

Kraz says: But you haven't aged a day! You must be some kind of ghost, I've lived a lifetime.
Nesselos has the grace to look a little embarrassed about that. "It's only been a few decades."

Therald looks at Kraz, awaiting his reaction.

Kraz's orcish face goes through a few emotions. Surprise, happiness, and then, finally, guilt.

Kraz says: Did they… survive? Any of your kin?

Nesselos nods. "Not many. My parents are safely on Azeroth. You… weren't yourself, Kraz. I know this."

Therald gets teary-eyed.

Kraz says: I cannot ask for forgiveness. The elements have not forgiven, not fully. I know that my crimes are unforgivable.

Kraz says: So many lives cut short, all because… *Kraz shakes his head*

Nesselos looks at Kraz, his own eyes getting teary. "I cannot forgive you for everything you've done, Kraz. That is not in my power. But I can forgive what you did to me. I know, it was the fel, it was the demon blood… it wasn't you."

Kraz says: It was me, in a way, my old friend. I cannot just claim innocence from acts committed by my own hands. That village, I knew it was your home. And so many others.

[Nesselos]: Then, I say clearly, for what you did to me, I forgive you.

Tears gather in Kraz's old eyes. "I don't deserve this… but thank you."

Nesselos steps a little bit closer to Therald.

Therald breathes deeply, but silently. "By saying you don't deserve that forgiveness, you're doing a lot more than others do."
Therald raises his arm to gently pat Ness's shoulder.

Kraz says: I have striven to make what's left of my life worthy. To raise my son as a person who would not do such things. And the spirits, they do talk to me now, even if the elements won't answer my call.

Nesselos scooches down just a little, to make the shoulder pats easier.
[Nesselos]: That's all we can do. There is no changing the past. But the future, the future is what we make it.

Therald nods at you.
[Therald]: We met your son. He's a good person. *His voice gets shaky. He clears his throat.* You did good, with him.

Kraz looks at the human in surprise. "You did? I've not seen him since we came up north. I'm happy to hear. I guess with the Lich King dead, it's about time to head home for all of us."

Therald looks down. "It is, yeah."

Nesselos nods. "I suppose so. Well, I should be on my way. But… I still count you as a friend."

A strange, wistful look comes into Kraz's eyes. "Friends, still, then. I would not have thought, but… I'll remember that."

Therald looks at Kraz, then Ness. "Will… will you stay in touch, somehow?"

[Nesselos]: As long as the lines are open, we could write?

Kraz nods gruffly. "No telling how long that'll be, what I hear of hostilities in Icecrown. But… I'll try."

Nesselos nods, and starts to back away.

Therald nods. That's good enough for him. He sniffles once or twice.
Therald nods goodbye to Kraz.

Nesselos brushes tears away from his eyes.
[Nesselos]: That went better than I could've hoped!

[Therald]: It did, yeah!
[Therald]: I'm happy for you you saw… your friend is still there.

Nesselos smiles, his eyes still sparkling. "Yes. He went astray for a long time, but… he still has his heart."