<89>

The naked Drenan quietly lamented walking away from his daughter, but at the same time part of him felt this was something he needed to do himself anyway.  The wonders of Ardenweald were second to the fear and concern that swirled in his mind.  What would she say?  How much should he tell her?  Has she been keeping track of things on Azeroth while deceased?

So engrossed in his thoughts, Drenan hadn't even noticed that he'd stepped into a dead-end clearing at the base of a massive tree.  Blue-hued magic swirled lazily in the air around the perimeter of a pool of still water, illuminating each blade of neatly-trimmed grass before the circle of smaller trees.

"Intruder," a feminine voice broke the silence.

Drenan froze in place, looking up to see the ethereal blue image of a vulpin.  That voice, even with its echo, was one that the bull had committed to his heart.  "I... forgive me, I-"

An eerie, melodious laugh rang out through the grove as the vulpin leapt into the air, and as it touched down in front of Drenan, a swirl of magic reverted it to its natural form.  The tall, tauren female's blue aura faded just a bit, revealing her dark fur, jet black mane, and vibrant green eyes.  A thin, ornate wrap was loosely tied around her truly massive bust, accompanied by a matching, beaded skirt that hung down from her waist to her knees.  The only noticeable difference in her appearance was a visible scar that ran nearly the full length of her abdomen.  Kinah merely smiled and reached out to touch her once-husband's face.  "Stuffy as ever.  And is that a bit of gray I see here?  Or maybe here?" she added a bit more teasingly, poking at his exposed pubic region.

Drenan's hands began to tremble right before he lurched forward, embracing the spirit of his deceased wife.  "Kinah... I...."

"Shhh," she cooed and returned his embrace.  Kinah remained still as she tenderly touched Drenan's back, allowing his tears to gently fall upon her bare shoulder.  "It is alright, my love.  [i]I[/i] am alright, I promise."

The ex-paladin tried to blink away his tears as he drew back to look her in the eye.  "Was it... was it painful?"

Kinah tried hard to stifle a giggle at this.  "Well, yes, it was [i]childbirth[/i]," she quipped almost teasingly.  "But beyond that, no, darling.  It was like falling asleep, and waking up here."

A shudder of relief left Drenan.  "That is... comforting."

Her smile slowly faded into a look of concern.  "I had hoped I might see you again once your time had come, love, but I can tell you will not be staying, considering you are... well, made of meat.  Perhaps you can tell me then... what of our child?  Did they...?"

It was Drenan's turn to smile.  "[i]She[/i} lives.  Lyrah is here, too, somewhere."

Kinah's eyes lit up so powerfully that a flare of blue magic illuminated her green irises.  "Is she!?  Will you stay long enough that I could, perhaps, meet her?"

Drenan moved to squeeze both of her hands softly.  "I promise we will not depart until you have met.  But... there is something I must tell you first."

The dark-furred tauren looked inquisitive once more.  "Oh?"

The ex-paladin put on a slightly sheepish look.  "Okay, do not be mad...."

* * * * *

The lost lovers had taken a seat next to the water as Drenan poured his heart out, while Kinah sat in silence listening to him.  Everything from Lyrah's return home, their gradual transition to lovers, to their present issues came flooding forth.  Besides Lyrah and, occasionally, Shele, Drenan hadn't ever had another soul who he could trust to speak with of these matters, and once it was all said and done he let out a long exhale, trying to steady his voice for a final comment.  "This was never something I had ever expected to happen, nor would I have ever done anything of this nature if Lyrah had not agreed to it.  She still is, and always will be, our daughter, and I will protect her for as long as I am able."  Silence settled in, and Kinah's expression remained stoic, until....

[i]*snerk*[/i]

Kinah tried to hold back chuckles, but the losing battle turned her stifled chuckles into a full-blown belly-laugh, so powerful that she fell flat on her back in the grass and could hardly catch her breath.

Drenan's mind went blank.  Was she about to murder him?  Would he spend his eternity with her hounding him?

As she finally caught her breath, Kinah sat herself upright once more... and smiled again.  "By the Light, Drenan!  Of [i]all[/i] the girls on Azeroth, of [i]all[/i] the colleagues in the Sunwalkers you [i]could[/i] have mated with, you chose a [i]Grimtotem[/i] as your life-mate.  And even after my [i]death[/i], your chance to start with a clean slate, you let a veritable younger version of [i]me[/i] talk you into it all over again!"

The naked bull appeared utterly stunned.  "Kinah-"

"Oh come [i]on[/i], you dumb bull, how is that not funny to you!?  I mean... there are [i]druids[/i] out there, Drenan!  You could be fucking a sentient [i]stag[/i] girl right now!"

Finally, Drenan couldn't hide a smile, and the two of them laughed together for the first time in over two decades.  Their hands softly touched as they looked out over the water, their laughter slowly receding as Drenan added, "I would argue, in my defense, that [i]she[/i] chose [i]me[/i]."

"Hah!  Maybe so," she conceded, still smiling.  "I have no judgment to pass upon you, my love.  My afterlife is here, and you have made a new life of your own with one we both dearly love.  Is it unorthodox?  Extremely.  Taboo?  Gods, yes.  But you have always been an honest bull, and there is no lie in your voice. I have no doubt that she is in very good hands with you, darling.  I am more eager than ever to meet her now."