Ticking Down to New and Old Life

My Norns were on the move! Apparently springtime for me made them feel very active and adventurous. I found Pfeffablel in the kitchen area, shortly after her journey to the jungle. She must have sprinted! Regardless of how she got there, Pfeffablel decided to settle down and contemplate the concept of time, with a lot of help from the clock. Or, as I call the very unusual word group that includes the clock and shower, the “ticker.” She had quite an interesting expression on her face! Perhaps she was getting in touch with her peaceful side and slowing down.

Suddenly, nearly everyone in my world crowded into the kitchen, much to the disappointment of Pfeffablel! Among them was Krathlaysi, who suffered through a very trying pregnancy. She was too caught up with the others to eat, and she was generally miserable. There was only a shadow of her former playful, inventive self. Laying that egg helped her escape from some of the stress, thankfully. I remembered her very first egg, and how she had stayed near it for a bit. In this case, Krathlaysi laid her egg and got out of town! The unborn Norn still had a bit of growing to do, all in the comfort of his or her shell under the Albian sunshine.

And then it was over. Just like that, in the midst of a silly game everyone was playing involving the ticker, Krathlaysi collapsed and passed away. No one noticed at first, except me. She was gone: My favorite Norn of this generation, who brought so much laughter from her ingenious ideas and silliness. At just 8 hours and 30 minutes, Krathlaysi was gone forever.

Brekennion, Hybralvao, and Pfeffablel all moved on. But Preetar and Losthrayte stayed behind to honor their friend. Preetar was bound to take it very hard: Krathlaysi was the only love he had, and she was the only one who erased his deadly slapping streak. It seemed far too soon to say goodbye to her… As I sat with the two to mourn her loss, I realized that her egg was laid just a minute or two before her death. She gave life right when she was running out of it. Farewell, Krathlaysi: You will truly be missed. May you forever invent new things, and always haunt the shower with your snores.