#unfinishable

Even at the height of their numbers, there rarely was more than a family for a peak, and although Jueyun Karst is a giant mountain range, tiresome to traverse for everyone but the most resilient of birds, it is not infinite.

And yet, in the days of joyful yore, she who will become a revered Streetward Rambler oftentimes was at the heart of gatherings of youth.

Her younger sister, the one who was yet to become Cloud Retainer, the most whimsy of them all, tended to play a host, her mountain the first among many curiously looking over the valley open to the sea.

Inviting those of the valley below in kind, if they wished to come.

Some did.

Guizhong's crystalline laughter settled over them like a golden tint of sunshine on the glass' rim, form unfurling from her snow-white fur.

Marchocius' steady paws soon followed her weasely ways, and even Morax of the not-yet-Tianheng Mount, revered by name alone but truly known for a few, stirred in curiosity.

Guqin melodies that she who will become Liyue Harbor’s Madame Ping woven around their merry gatherings held the promise of eternity.

She, herself, did not squander it.

Others had quite a mixed luck.

///

She looked over her dear friend's figure, bent over maps and strategies, clutching her polearm tight, overcome with longing.

"Soon," she thought. "After the war".

///

But for Guizhong "after" never was.

///

She had been in no hurry – didn't they have all the time in Teyvat? So what the reason was to rush, rather than savor each moment for what it was, anticipation for what will become in each glance?

…

So now, all that left to her was a tinkling melody from the convoluted contraption and a yawning chasm in the place of her heart.

///

She caught him rehearsing in the Jueyun Karst.

It was obviously, painfully self-taught, dizi handmade and uneven, fingers clumsy and notes cut off.

And yet.

And yet, she could clearly hear his longing spilling forth, calling for another's soul.