Second Chance

 Celebration filled the halls of the Exodar upon Velen’s successful return from Argus. A small celebration was due, and all that could be spared with the emergency repairs still required on the ship. Everyone was busy; the engineers fixed up the broken pieces, tailors were working triple to make supplies for those affected by the war, the bakery spared food for anyone in need, and the anchorites had their hands full with broken bones and fel-scarred skin of the draenei – either coming back from war, or recovering from the direct attack on the Exodar.

One such patient hadn’t left the infirmary ever since the attack occurred, steadily sleeping for a few months. Korena has yet to wake up from her coma, and Kayaara has yet to move from her sister’s side.

She was given a private room per Kayaara’s (rather demanding) request after a week of no difference, and since then has remained, Kayaara barely leaving the room herself.

“You should go home and rest.” Kalaru, sitting beside Korena’s bed advised. She was the anchorite tied to Korena (again, per Kayaara’s request), and has been ever since she returned from Dalaran.

Kayaara, sitting on the other side of the bed, holding Korena’s hand, shook her head. “She may wake up when I’m gone.”

“If she does you will be the first to know.”

Pursing her lips, Kayaara ran her fingers through her sister’s hair delicately, watching Korena with a mournful gaze. She forced herself to look at Kalaru. “Tell me, would you have left Talaru’s side if she suffered the same fate?” She quipped.

Kalaru stood up and turned to the cabinet, wiping a tear away from her cheek and willing herself not to cry – not in front of Kayaara, at least. She turned on the sink and began to wash her hands, only so she could avoid looking back at the resentment in her lover’s eyes.

“Kalaru—“

“I don’t know what to tell you, Kayaara. You asked for me to help specifically yet act as though you don’t want me here! I’m trying here, and it feels like I’m talking to myself.” She walked across the room and looked Kayaara down, folding her arms across her chest. “I want Korena to wake up almost as much as you, I can assure you.”

Kayaara dropped her sister’s hand and stood up. She stood just an inch shorter than Kalaru but not any less intimidating. Kalaru took a small step back.

“I’ve lost her before. I can’t lose her a second time.”

It was hard to look at Kayaara; the anger and rage fading into worry and grief for a sister she had loved. Kalaru had to look away, seeing too much of herself in Kayaara from when her own younger sister died. Without saying another word, Kayaara headed towards the door, leaving Kalaru stood in the middle of the room fighting back another wave of tears.

She took her original seat beside Korena and let out a wearied sigh. She couldn’t remember the last time she returned to her residence since the invasion. The last time she saw it, Kayaara was on an expedition with the Echoes in the Broken Isles and Korena was under her care. It was a shock to Kalaru to have been asked to care for Korena now, when she’d failed in doing so before. Their reformed relationship was already questionable at this point – the fact that Kalaru allowed this happen to Kayara’s sister did not help their relationship recover.

Taking Korena’s hand in her own, she rubbed her thumb across Korena’s hand soothingly. “I’m sorry, Korena. I didn’t wish to argue in front of you.

“It’s true, though. I wish for nothing more than for you to wake up, okay? I love you as though you were my own blood-sister. I know it’s different… You’re different to the Korena I lived with, but it doesn’t stop my love for you. You can wake up whenever you’re ready just… As long as you do wake up.” She said, dropping her hand.

“I’m just popping out for a moment, okay? I won’t be long.” Kalaru had barely eaten anything for the past few days – she figured ten minutes away wouldn’t hurt anyone. As she reached the door, she stopped for a moment. She felt… guilty? Ever since Korena arrived no one had left the room alone – it was either Kalaru or Kayaara. She turned back to look at Korena, only to notice a slight movement in her arm, her nose twitching and her eyes scrunching up.

“Mmh… Kalaru… Ka—Kalaru, wait! Kalaru, don’t go!” Korena’s eyes burst open and she sat up straight, eyes welling up with tears. Kalaru immediately returned to her side, grabbing both of her hands in an effort to calm her down.

“Korena, I’m here! I’m here now, you’re safe. You’re safe…”

“Ka-a-laru,” Korena hiccupped, letting Kalaru’s hands go to clutch her chest, taking panicked and shaky breaths. “Ka—“ she was interrupted by a coughing fit and Kalaru rubbed her back in a soothing manner, muttering ‘you’re okay’ and ‘it’s alright’ and ‘I’m here’ over and over. She held Korena in her arms until the younger draenei calmed, silently sobbing into Kalaru’s shoulder.

Kayaara arrived barely five minutes after Kalaru called for her. Korena’s face was blotchy and slightly damp from her crying, and she was still hiccupping after her crying and coughing. Kalaru was still sat beside her, plaiting her hair. As soon as Kayaara arrived, she stood above Kalaru and rested a hand on her shoulder. “Korena, how are you feeling?”

Korena nodded – speaking strained her throat and Kalaru asked her to keep talking to a minimum, to save her voice later. She didn’t want her to exert all of her energy after only just waking up. So instead, Korena smiled up at Kayaara, to show her that she was fine now. She was okay.

“She didn’t wake up long ago. I would have called for you sooner, but—“

“There’s no need to explain yourself, Kalaru.” Kayaara said, giving Kalaru’s shoulder a squeeze. “I’m glad you didn’t grab me immediately.” Her attention returned to Korena. “I think we should bring you home, don’t you think?”

-

“I wanted to apologise, for what I said to you before. I know how much… How much it hurts to lose someone close to you, and it was out of order.” Kayaara held Kalaru’s hand in her own, fingers intertwined as they walked the path from the Exodar to Azure Watch. It was just beginning to grow dark, Azeroth’s moons rising while the sun fell behind the trees.

Kalaru tightened her grip on Kayaara, nudging into her. “When we were younger, we made a promise to each other. Do you remember it?”

The shorter draenei shook her head. “I can barely remember anything before the crash, you should know that.”

“’I’ll be there for you, and you’ll be there for me. Through thick and thin. Treat each day as our last.’”

“Sounds like a proposal.”

Kalaru chuckled. “You said the exact same thing before. She stopped at a clearing, the lake to the left of them, and stood facing Kayaara, taking her other hand and letting their arms sway. “I don’t deserve your forgiveness or apologies, but can I ask for a second chance?”

Dropping Kalaru’s hands, Kayaara cupped her face and pressed their lips together. Kalaru placed her hands on Kayaara’s hips, and when Kayaara pulled back, the anchorite pulled her back into a hug.

“Through thick and thin, Kalaru.”