#xarian

@daily-writing-challenge

The sun poked through the trees with that early morning light, sunbeams washing over everything they could. The birds were already chirping, singing their spring songs of love and Xarian couldn’t help but smile. Mornings like this were a big reason why he had decided to return home to Rredridge and regain control of his family’s land. He remembered waking up when he was just a boy and hearing these same sounds starting his days and when he did it always brought a smile to his face.

He looked to the angled sawhorses that he set up and sighed, hoisting the log to his shoulder with a grunt. He walked it over and set it into place, turning it until he found some of the spots he was in search of. Grabbing his wood plane he starts to run it down the log, evening it out and smoothing several spots that were not quite right. Long ago his father had shown him how to work with wood, crafting all manner of furniture and other trinkets. It was something that Xarian always found relaxing, though throughout his life he was not able to take advantage of it that often. Now that his focus was back on his family's land, there was ample time.

The land had been in his family for many years. His grandfather passed it to his mother, mother to him…by default. The problem with the hand off from his mother to him is his land had been hit but the Horde when they moved south into Redridge and he had only just now been able to reclaim it proper. The house, sadly, was damaged beyond recognition and much of the belongings that were there before had been taken or destroyed by orcs or looters. It had taken him months to clean things up to even look at the house and see what could be saved, if anything, and there was not much that could. So he had stripped it down to bare bones and here he was now, rebuilding. Much of that entire series of events was on his mind almost constantly since being back here, but he knew those thoughts and memories would motivate him to return the land to its former state, and then improve upon what his family had done.

He pushed the plan along the log then turned it so he could attack the next spot. Before he did though he stood and stretched, his old body aching at him to remind him he was not near as young as he used to be. Sighing heavily he took a quick drink from a canteen he had with him and got back to shaping the log. 

Totally have had this done and just forgot to post it

Word Count: 1148

Summary: Xarian is paid a surprise visit by the last person he would expect.

Warnings: Minor violence

@daily-writing-challenge 

Xarian had been silently working on his dining room table, going over the edges with different gouges and other tools to carve out an intricate design around its edge. It had been going quite well at that, which never happens. No matter how good you are at any specific skill, there are always going to be mistakes. They can be actively minimized, but they still happen. Xarian was working on one very particular one when a knock came from the front door. He blinked several times as he looked up, he was not expecting company. So who could it be? He set down the gouge he was using and moved to the door, placing a hand in the handle before calling out.

“Who’s there?”

“Xarian. It’s me, it’s Sera.”

Bold for Common | Italics for Rare | Strikethrough for not applicable

DEFENSIVENESS

arms crossed on chest / crossing legs / fist-like gestures / pointing index finger / karate chops / stiffening of shoulders / tense posture / curling of lip / baring of teeth / tail lashing / pinned ears / intense looks / guarded speech

REFLECTIVE

hand to face gestures / head tilted / stroking chin nose / peering over glasses / taking glasses off to clean them / putting earpiece of glasses in mouth / pipe smoker gestures / putting hand to the bridge of the nose / pursed lips / knitted brows / lip chewing / Hand on chin / tightened eyes

SUSPICION

arms crossed / sideways glance / touching or rubbing nose / rubbing eyes / hands resting on weapon / brows rising or knitting together / lips pressing into a thin line / strict unwavering eye contact / wrinkling of nose / eyes narrowing / ears alert or upright

OPENNESS / COOPERATION

Open hands / upper body in sprinters position / sitting on edge of a chair / hand to face gestures / unbuttoned coat / tilted head / slouched shoulders / relaxed posture / feet pointed outward / palms flat and facing outward / smiling or warm expressions / playful banter

CONFIDENCE

hands behind back / hand son lapels of coat / steeped hands / smirking / baring teeth in a grin / rolling shoulders / tipping head back but maintaining eye contact / chest puffed up / shoulders back / arms folded just above navel / relaxed and easy posture

INSECURITY / ANXIETY

chewing pen or pencil / rubbing thumb over opposite thumb / biting fingernails / hands in pockets / elbow bent / closed gestures / clearing throat / “ whew ” sound / picking or pinching flesh / fidgeting in chair / hand covering mouth whilst speaking / poor eye contact / tugging pants of clothes / jingling money in pockets / tugging at ear / perspiring hands / playing with hair / swaying / playing with pointer or marker hands / smacking lips / sighing / rocking on balls of feet / flexing fingers sporadically / chewing on lip / pacing / stammering

FRUSTRATION

short breaths / “ tsk ” sounds / tightly clenched hands / fist-like gestures / pointing index finger / running fingers through hair / rubbing back of neck / snarling / revealing teeth / grimacing / sharp eyed glowers with brows drawn together / shoulders back, head up / clenching of jaw / grinding of teeth / nostrils flaring / heavy exhales / tail lashing / pinned ears

Summary: An old memory comes back after a bit of healing by @indraste-darktalon and makes its presence felt.

Timeframe: During the three years between Shadowlands and Dragonflight.

“LOOK OUT!” The scream came from somewhere close and he was moving without even thinking, covering the healers from the coming assault. Then a flash of green, searing pain, the cold snow..…and he was awake. He glanced around the room, his room, the weapon and armor stands coming into immediate view. He filled his lungs with a deep breath and rolled over, staring up at the ceiling for a moment before his head turned and he focused on the full potion that sat on his night stand. Indy had given him that to take for sleep, and last night he thought he would be okay, clearly he was wrong. He slowly threw the blankets off and sat up, swinging around to sit at the edge of the bed.

“Way to be stubborn you damn fool.”

Xarian rose and went towards the bathroom, moving straight to the sink and running the water. He stared at himself in the mirror, eyes bloodshot, hair and beard a mess. He looked terrible, which is how he felt. Even with the aid of the potions, he did not feel like he had truly slept well, or maybe it was more that being dragged back to Northrend repeatedly had just taken its toll on him. He closed his eyes and instantly saw another flash of green, his left side twitching as tingles ran along it. Cupping his hands, he dipped them in the running water and splashed his face several times, then finally looked at himself in the mirror again and shook his head.

When he finally exited the bathroom he glanced at the window, still dark. He let out a curse and ran a hand through his hair. Too early to work on anything outside, too awake to try and get anymore sleep by himself. Seemed that meant something inside but he had no idea what. He slowly made his way downstairs and over to the fireplace, prepping and lighting it. As the flames grew he got another flash of his dream, fire hitting him in the back. But not the orange and yellow fire that was dancing in the fireplace, no it was green and hurt a whole lot more. His hand covered his face, finger and thumb pressing at his temples until he was fully back in the present again as he leaned against the wall. Maybe the potion was in order..but not yet. He made sure the fire was building strong before moving to his work cabinet and digging. He grabs a small pack of leather wrapped tools and a smallish block of wood to go along with it, moving back to his table to sit. He unrolled the carving tools, running a hand lightly over the worn set and smiling as he thought back to past projects they had worked on together. He turns his attention to the block, turning it over several times as he tries to envision just what it was telling him it wanted to be. His head tilted when he finally got his idea then he turned back to pick out a knife. He lines up the blade with the grain of the wood and starts his cut, but the knife slips and slices his finger, causing him to drop both the block and knife.

“Of course…just ain’t my mornin’.” He says as he sighed heavily. Maybe that potion was in order after all. He closed his eyes, wrapping his other hand around the wound and a small flash of light filled his palm, healing magics closing the cut. He wasn’t the world's greatest healer but he knew enough to close a minor cut. Opening his hand he saw the streak of blood that was left behind, the only evidence that any cut had happened at all, and sighs. His eyes closed as another flash filled his head, this time of red streaked snow, causing him to wobble before slamming his fist down on the table. The potion was definitely called for. He pushed back from the table, leaving everything laid out, and turned back towards the stairs to make his way to his room. The fire would be fine and give his home a bit more warmth as he worked to forget the waking world.

He went back to his room and grabbed the potion, staring at it for several moments before pulling the stopper and gulping it down. He shook his head and a shiver ran down his spine but the sleep he would get was a worthy trade off for the taste of the potion. He sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, waiting those few minutes it took for the potion to take effect, and when they did he just let himself fall back in the bed and stare at the ceiling.

Here's a little nugget to follow for proof of who Xarian is.

Oh the plot thickens