Sighing loudly as she flopped out full length on her bed, Zahneel absently pet the fennekits and spectrefoxes that swarmed her for love and treats. Then, when their wriggling became almost too much, she laughed and sat up enough to gently shove them away.“Easy, you goofballs,” she murmured and she got each of her pets calmed and settled. Then, with a slight smile, she turned to her journal and took it from the nightstand. Then, rolling onto her stomach, she opened it and began to write. Mostly about Eliza, the concerns she had for the other girl. But even as she wrote, her eyes skimmed earlier entries. Ever since she’d been little, the idea of being an historian had appealed to her. And, if she were honest with herself, the idea of recovering lost Grimm history was a dream she’d nurtured. Especially after the arrival and subsequent departure of Kestrel’s pack. But somehow, just recording dry history seemed… well, boring. She wanted people to understand the past. Good and bad, she wanted them to feel what had come before in their hearts. That way, maybe, no one would ever make the same mistakes as before. No one else would end up wondering where they’d come from and feel alone in the world.
Alone in the world… even as she thought them, the words conjured up an image of Eliza. She still didn’t understand the other girl’s parents. Why not let her have friends? It seemed almost a crime to isolate her so. Especially when she was blind. Without a clear understanding of where it was coming from, she felt a fiercely protective feeling well up in her heart. She’d promised the other girl that she would ‘see’ for her. That she’d be Eliza’s eyes and describe the world for her. Putting her pencil down, she stared, unseeing, at the journal for a moment. Wasn’t history just a different type of seeing? Couldn’t she see the world for her friend and also see the past for everyone else?
Okay, sure, her own opinions were bound to leak through, but she could train herself to see both sides. It would mean hard work, but when had she ever been afraid of that? All right, and it would mean possibly dealing with unpleasant people to get the information and answers that would help her see the full picture. And as her interactions with Elena had proven, she didn’t exactly have a cool temper. Still, she could teach herself to think more and emote less if she had to. Yes, she thought. Yes. That sounds right. It feels right. She would teach herself to see the world and it’s people. Not just for herself and her own ambitions, but for Eliza and all people.
She’d see the world. Smiling, she quickly wrote the words in her journal and admired them for a moment. She’d probably go ask to talk to the Headmistress later and ask for guidance. But for now, she was content with the path she’d chosen.
wordcount = 507
