August 13th
Dear Journal,
I don’t think that Kae was too thrilled with me last night because I was in one of those moods where if one drink sounded good, a whole bunch them sounded like the top of the world. I know that I didn’t have to go far to get a drink either because we keep some at the farm.
So, last night I sat on the steps at the farmhouse and watched the stars well into the night. I was just letting my mind run free and enjoying the beauty of the place. I don’t think that many people realize how beautiful Pandaria can be if you push the thoughts of the war aside and concentrate on how the land looks. It’s absolutely beautiful and not a place that I plan on leaving soon or staying away from when I do leave.
I know that I haven’t been any happier anywhere else on the places that I have visited in Azeroth. Here in Pandaria I have learned to accept myself for who and what I am without having to continue to suffer through the angst of being different all of the time. Of course, going back to the Sentinel camp always throws me back into the reality of things, however, that is usually pretty short-lived.
On my last trip to Stormwind, I was able to get my hands on some of the brandy that my Father likes and I can honestly say that I know now why he liked it so much. It’s very smooth going down and a bit sneaky in fogging up your brain – not the taste that I am accustomed too while drinking the brews from Ironforge nor the brews that they make here in Pandaria. Plus, I did something that I don’t often do and that is to smoke a cigarette similar to the ones that my Dad always smokes, however, I know that his have felweed laced in them sometimes. The ones that I have don’t have anything added to them.
I do know that I woke up with a headache this morning and my mouth tasted like I had been chewing on an old leather boot. It was awful, however, I got little sympathy from my beloved Sentinel.
I know that getting a letter from my Mother yesterday kind of kicked the whole thing off. She was talking about getting better and how she was going to start running the business again in Stormwind to help the war effort as well as something to keep her occupied instead of staying in Dolonaar with the little guys and my grandparents. She didn’t come right out and say it, however, I could read between the lines that she wanted to me to join her in Stormwind. I don’t know that I am ready to go back completely to that life again. I have learned so much here in Pandaria that I don’t want to leave all of this behind and go back to where I started.
Kae still hasn’t decided if she is going to leave the Sentinels and I am staying on as a scout until she can make her decision. I just don’t want to be away from her and I don’t want her to have to break in another partner when she is out on patrols.
Yes, we’re still patrolling as we always have although I will have to admit that it doesn’t seem to be as dangerous as it was a few months ago. The Horde seems to be thinning out and we are going further afield to see where they are these days. I don’t think that they are getting in very many reinforcements for the war here in Pandaria and the ones that are here don’t have the fire in their bellies like they used to have either. One thing I did notice is that there seem to be fewer Orcs roaming around in the bands of patrols like there used to be. I suppose that Hellscream has pulled most of his supporters back to Kalimdor to wage the war against the rebellion. From all of the rumors that I have heard here in Pandaria, I would say that his days are numbered.
I know that I am not as well educated as some of the others, however, I don’t think that I have ever read where a leader of a faction has successfully turned all of his people against himself. It sure has been a bizarre change. I know that Kae and I drew the lot to patrol part of Krasarang last week and we did run into a few patrols from the Horde, however, instead of trying to chase us down and kill us, they waved at us and kept going in the opposite direction. How is that a war anymore? I know that Kae and I both kind of stood our ground and waited for them to come back our way to fight, they never came back. How does one write that down for a report to turn into the Commander?
I know that I saw fewer signs of the Rangers being out in the field too. It’s almost as if they have been withdrawn to another area. I wonder if they have been pulled back to fight the rebellion in Kalimdor or if something else has happened. I know that I don’t think that I have seen a single sign of a hawkstrider in days now. I know that we got very close to the base down there and there did seem to be fewer people there and they didn’t seem to be all that intent on getting out in the field again. It almost looked as though they were starting to pack up the camp for a move, however, I have no idea where they are heading. It’s almost as if they are waiting for a signal from somewhere to disband.
I know that a lot of us have been wanting the war to slow down and even go away, however, I don’t think any of us were expecting things to change this dramatically or this fast. I know I was looking forward to the day when the war was over here in Pandaria and we could start building a more permanent peaceful life, however, I wasn’t expecting that to happen for years to come. Oh, I’m not bemoaning the fact that people aren’t trying to kill me all of the time, that’s kind of nice, it’s just feels like someone turned a switch somewhere and the fighting has dwindled down to near nothing.
I think that is what brought on the drinking bout last night. I am not quite ready to step back into my old life again. I don’t want to be in the position that I once had where I was sent out with contracts to get this or that item and come back to Stormwind to turn it in. I have gotten very accustomed to doing what Kae and I have been doing here in Pandaria. We grab a few contracts when we are in Stormwind and come back home to gather the products that will fill them. Very relaxed and very free lance. I don’t think that I want to go back to the way that it was, I never had any time for myself and it cost me dearly.
No, don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed working for my parents, however, it wasn’t all that I wanted from life. The money was good and there was always plenty to do and places to go, however, it never seemed like I had time to put down any roots and meet any people. I know that what friendships I had developed in Stormwind did kind of fall to the wayside because I never had the time to spend with them because I was always off working. At least in Pandaria, I have the scouting with the Sentinels, the farm and then, time for Kae – time for me to do some reading, which I dearly love, and then I get to meet some of our neighbors that seem to change from day to day.
I wish there were words that could properly describe how I feel about living in Pandaria and having my own home that I share very willingly with Kae. Sure there are ugly parts of the continent and extremely dangerous areas, however, the sheer beauty and the inner peace that you feel when you have a chance to step back and look around you, taking all of it in, is truly amazing. I think that the only time that I have ever felt this way was when I was able to get into the temple in Darnassus – that is truly a peaceful place.
One of these days I will listen to Kae and not drink as much because it leaves me rather muddle headed most of the time. I think that I am getting those “looks” from Kae right now because she wants to go fishing and maybe get some swimming in today. We don’t have to report back to camp for a few days, so, we have some time to just enjoy ourselves.
Kal
