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The Black Shroud was where I’molha felt most at home.
She had a hidden spot she liked to hide away in when she wanted to be alone, lost in the trees even if just for a bell or two. Nothing around except the occasional chirps from birds or the running water from a nearby stream, just her and one of the most peaceful spots in Eorzea, and it was all hers.
I’molha lowered herself into a patch of grass, the same spot that now had a faint her-shaped outline from how frequently she now came after the events of Ultima Thule. The world was safe, content for now… finally the weight of everything was off her shoulders.
I could stay here forever, she thought. Sunlight peeked through the trees, warmth enveloped I’molha’s body as a wave of drowsiness washed over. Closing her eyes, she let her head rest on her folded up jacket. It’s the most peaceful she had felt in a long time.
“So this is where you’ve been sneaking off to, eh?”
A familiar voice called out, causing the miqo’te woman to crack an eye open. Thancred stood mere yalms away with crossed arms and a faint smile upon his lips. “Seems you have a habit of scaring us lately, I’molha.” He approached without another word, sitting in the grass beside her.
“You followed me here,” I’molha commented, ignoring his last statement and watching the gunbreaker make himself comfortable before closing her eyes again.
“That I did,” he quips, his gaze now falling onto the scenery in front of them. Silence falls between them, only the roar of a nearby waterfall fills the awkwardness.
“You’ve been awfully quiet since our homecoming.” His gaze fell upon I’molha, whose fingers were locked together and resting on her stomach.
“Nothing for you to worry about, I’ve just been doing some thinking.” I’molha dismissively replied, earning a frown from Thancred.
“When you start disappearing without a word then it becomes a problem. Pray tell, what’s on your mind?” I’molha just sighs, her eyes opening only to watch the passing clouds.
“Everything, I suppose. Thinking about everything we’ve experienced in the last few years.”
She recalls the bloody banquet back in Ul’dah then fleeing to Ishgard for safe haven, only to be pulled into their war… and handling Nidhogg. Then there was the liberation of both Doma and Ala Mhigo, also being sent to the First and nearly becoming a dreaded Sin Eater.
Of course most recently there was the world Unsundered—where she had met the Ancients in her attempts to halt the Final Days.
Meteion quickly came to mind upon that thought, Hermes’ sweet little familiar. In the short time that she had gotten to know the birdgirl, I’molha grew fond of her. Her heart panged with sorrow thinking about Meteion, how there was no saving her from the ultimate despair. Fighting the Endsinger and nearly dying at the edge of the universe—
“I’molha?”
The miqo’te woman quickly snapped out of her thoughts upon hearing Thancred call her name, tilting her head up to meet his gaze.
“Yes?”
“You didn’t hear a single word, did you?” He shakes his head at the woman beside him, realizing she hadn’t listened.
“I asked a question, but nevermind it.”
“Oh, sorry,” I’molha quickly mumbled an apology. “I’ll be fine, if that’s what you were asking.”
Thancred sighed, seemingly unsatisfied with the warrior’s response. “You needn’t carry your thoughts alone.”
She uncomfortably shifts in her spot, biting her cheek and debating whether to tell her fellow comrade what’s eating at her. “I don’t want to burden you or the others with what’s on my mind.”
“Even when I ask so nicely?” He playfully pouts, tapping at her arm with the back of his hand.
“Perhaps another day, if that’s alright.” I’molha smiles, yet it doesn’t reach her eyes. She isn’t ready; she doesn’t know if she’ll ever be ready to talk about it. In Thancred’s eyes it was clear to him that the miqo’te woman was in distress, despite how well she thought she hid it.
“Whenever you’re ready, my friend. I won’t force you.” With his support now offered he didn’t say another word, only opting to lay in the grass beside her. If I’molha wouldn’t talk, then he’d be there to offer an ear whenever she was.
“I appreciate that, thank you.”
She’d be content in this moment, knowing she wasn’t truly alone