Kerrigan's base on Tarsonis, Sunday

[moonbrain_tam]

River stared out the window, but she was looking inside herself rather than at the would around. It happened sometimes when memories of the past became too tangled with the mental impressions of the zerg. Just like herself, a hybrid of zerg and human, it seemed like there was nothing in existence that wasn't her

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[on_her_korhal]

It seems your thoughts are elsewhere, Kerrigan observed, her thoughts a quiet counterpoint to the confident stride of her pointed heels against the floor.

[moonbrain_tam]

They are in many places, was River's response as she turned her head to look at Kerrigan. Do you remember the dead birds?

[on_her_korhal]

I remember a lot of dead animals, she said. She looked back at River with a composed faraway stoicism.

[moonbrain_tam]

The ones you were supposed to be thankful for, River clarified. We didn't kill them.

[on_her_korhal]

Kerrigan's mouth quirked a little bit. You were thankful for dead birds, huh?

[moonbrain_tam]

I didn't say I was. I said I was supposed to be. River let out a teasing chuckle. We ate them. Stating causes for thankfulness. Human tradition.

[on_her_korhal]

Turkey, she said, after a beat. Dragging up an old, old memory. Yeah, I remember.

[moonbrain_tam]

The bird not the country. River tilted her head. I'd be more thankful if I had the country than the bird. What are you thankful for?

[on_her_korhal]

I'm thankful Duke and Fenix are six feet under, she said, nearly laconic, but laced with spite. I'm thankful Arcturus is crawling around the dirt of his own beloved Korhal right now.

[moonbrain_tam]

River nodded. We have a lot to be thankful for. Not victory yet, though. She paused, hesitating.

[on_her_korhal]

Her head tilted, tentacles spilling across her features. "Whatever it is," she said, out loud, "Talk to me, cerebrate."

[moonbrain_tam]

"I am thankful my brother never followed me." River stared out the window.

[on_her_korhal]

Kerrigan's head tilted back again, her dark golden eyes set upon that very same window. "It might have done you some good," she said, without a scrap of meaning wearing down on her words. "Anything else?"

[moonbrain_tam]

"I'm thankful for you." River turned her head to look at Kerrigan, her face expressionless.

[on_her_korhal]

Some of the gold slipped out of her eyes, revealing a slight sheen of green, and her pallour seemed to lighten some.

She didn't look back at River until several heartbeats had passed.

I'm thankful for you, she echoed, now-human fingers reaching out for hers. But she had to add, And the dawn of our empire.

[moonbrain_tam]

River let her fingers interlock with Kerrigan's, and she smiled. The sun will rise soon and neither of us will be alone.