#calebbe

Calebbe Val’anir by the amazingly talented @art-zoratrix!

October Writing Challenge Day 13 Word:  Seashore

It had been about 7 years now since that fateful night sailing around Kun-Lai Summit.  It wasn’t the first storm that the Lady Lillium had weathered, but it certainly was the worst.  They lost Benzi that night when he took a mast to the face, the same mast that knocked Red into the stormy seas.  He thought that was it for him, that was his end;  lost to the seas forever.  It would have been a fitting way to go, a sailor’s death.

There was no body to be buried, but they honored him right alongside of Benzi in the way they always did after losing a member of the crew:  Favorite stories and memories were spoken, a shot of whisky drank and then one poured out for the fallen.  Yet he wasn’t one of the fallen that night, the good spirits were with him and somehow he managed to drift to shore atop some debris that had broken off the ship.  

There he remained on the beaches of Kun-Lai until the following morning when a curious tiger discovered him.  It was how he had first met Calebbe and his companion Kass.  They saved his life that day, it was a debt he could never repay.  How do you even repay someone that had no use for gold nor material possessions?

Red pressed his fingertips along the large scar on his forehead as he stared up at the night sky.  It still hurt on occasion, usually every time a storm was about to roll in.  He wasn’t ready to leave the beach just yet, it was the first time he visited the shore of Kun-Lai since the incident.  It was a place he had been avoiding for years but it was time to put all of that in the past.  The wounds had healed, but the memory of that night would forever stay with him.  

With every throb of the scar he saw that face.  That giant face he saw under the blood-tinted waters as he was drifting away into unconsciousness.  Or maybe he was already unconscious and it was all a dream; it felt so real.  The platinum-skinned face, the hint of the smile playing across his lips, the lightning flashing in his eyes...surely it was just his mind playing tricks on him.

Red ran his hands down his face, sitting up to look out towards the darkened horizon.  A crack of lightning flashed in the distance, illuminating the still seas.  It was going to be a severe storm, just like that night.  He rolled to his feet and dusted the sand from himself before removing his flask from his pocket.  He raised it towards the sky, “To you Benzi, I miss you brother.”  He brought the flask to his lips, taking a hearty swig and then poured one out for his lost friend.  Eventually he made his way back towards his ride, he had been here long enough.

“In the end it just comes down to one thing… You can’t run from the wind, you face the music, you trim your sails and keep going.”

@calebbe @felonous

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Type:  Shaded headshot with eye color

First two photos are old commissions of him Last photo is his likeness reference: Jason Momoa

He had never been the best at keeping in touch with friends, but those that knew him well likely expected as much from a man that rarely found himself in or around civilization.  It wasn’t that he forgot about them or never thought of them, he was simply of the mindset that one did not need to be in constant contact in order to remain friends.  He had gone years without seeking out some of his animal companions, but when he visited them after that long it was almost as if no time had passed at all.  For him, friendship is infinite and why should it be any different with his own kind?  Not everyone shared his view, but he openly embraced his differences as did those closest to him.

He would see them all again, that he was sure of.

So much had changed, how long had he been gone?  Almost two years now?  It was hard to recall the last time he set foot in Quel’thalas.  First Hillsbrad, then Highmountain and finally Suramar; he had come to know those lands quite well.  The calm and peaceful nature of the Highmountain Tauren spoke profoundly to him and he felt an immediate connection to not only them but to their lands as well.  Yet it was Suramar where he had found himself much of the past year.  The city itself was fantastical yet extremely overwhelming so he spent the majority of his time along the outskirts aiding all of the creatures and people in need.

But there was so much more…

He needed to return soon, it had been far too long and he missed his friends, not to mention he had some rather important news to tell them.  Would they be upset with him?  No doubt they were worried and he was next to impossible to find while out in the wilds.  A letter would suffice for now until he could make proper arrangements, he would send Rebane ahead so they both knew the little fox was also alive and well.  He could absolutely use the spoiling for awhile!

A handful of photographs were enclosed from his time in both the lands, he had plenty more to show but that could be done in person.  A similar letter was put into each envelope as well, his handwriting hadn’t changed much (nor had his atrocious spelling).  One envelope sent to Sylrissa and one to Lynesse:

Calebbe had spent the better part of his stay in the clinic asleep after arriving a few evenings ago.  After his relapse into the sickness, he decided that it was time to seek medical help and there were very few he’d trust with that sort of thing.  The diagnosis was mono, not something he had ever experienced before and after spending months being ill, something he never wanted to experience ever again.  Unfortunately his body never responded well to magic, so instead of a quick cleanse of the virus, he had to suffer through the symptoms.

Doctor Deh’lorei gave him something for the fever and to help him sleep as well as making sure he was getting plenty of fluids after his stressful and long journey, but more and more it was looking as if the man may be stuck on bedrest for awhile.  For anyone that knew Calebbe, this was the worst possible outcome that could ever occur for the man who hated being stuck inside anywhere.  It was nice to see Lynesse and Sylrissa again and they ensured he was well taken care of as well, but he would have much preferred to greet them after so long while in better health.

Today Xanelen wanted to try something new and with Calebbe’s reluctant approval, he brought a tauren shaman in to see if perhaps nature magic could rid the man’s body of this persistent virus.  Most of the nature magic Cal had encountered in the past was on the offensive side, there were very few times he could recall it being used near him as there was little need to do so - at least nothing that he realized at the time was nature magic.  

Xanelen had his own theories about the wild man, he saw how he interacted with animals and how there would always be a collection of various birds, insects and critters gathered outside of his windows when he was being kept indoors.  He had an undeniable connection to nature itself and that led the Doctor to believe that Calebbe possessed quite a bit of nature magic of which he was entirely unaware.

He wasn’t wrong.

Again with his permission, he was allowed to be treated while asleep, another idea of Xanelen’s and for a good reason.  Calebbe had spent so long assuming that all forms of magic would make him violently ill since the majority did have such an effect on him.  So anytime he knew to be encountering nature magic, it was but a trick of his mind and he would get sick only because he thought he would get sick.

His body was almost too easily cleansed of the virus, surprising both the shaman and Xanelen alike.  He would still need a little while to recuperate from the months of sickness he had already endured, but he would be feeling much better when he finally woke up.  

It wasn’t that he didn’t know his actual birth date, he just had a tendency to lose track of what day it was.  Not that he celebrated his birthday, he rarely celebrated any holidays mostly due to the fact that he was more often surrounded by his beastly companions rather than others of his kind that cared of such events.  He wasn’t having very much of a happy birthday as it were, already having spent the better part of a month laying in his tent with a high fever, sore throat and feeling far too weakened and fatigued to do anything more than what was absolutely necessary.

He would fish at the nearby river and occasionally Rebane would hunt him up a meal, tea made with herbs to aid his symptoms was brewed once or twice a day although his supply was nearly non-existent by this point.  He considered sending the little fox or other local companions for help, but he was a stubborn man and figured he would get better on his own at some point.

Whatever was plaguing him was finally beginning to recede, or at the very least his throat ceased being horrendously sore.  Eventually he would make his way back towards Silvermoon, he had people to catch up with that likely were waiting on letters from him and he decided stopping by the Clinic might be a good idea to make certain whatever this ailment was would be gone.

((Sexy pic from Calebbe!))

Thaeldren raised a brow turning the photo over in his hands before smirking bemusedly with a sigh. “Bloody hell, Calebbe, do you still not know how to use your camera? Was Rebane chewing on it or something? I’m surprised it actually took a decent picture though. I’ll give it to Lyn.”