Appearing Characters: Arthak Saurfang, Brightwing, Corvine Moonrise, Grelda, Grommash Hellscream, Legba, Nazgrim, Nyxxa Murkthorn, Omnuron Highwind, Rak'Symma, Selin Fireheart, Seria, Sol'chi, Taryndrella, Thisalee Crow, Valorinn, Ysera, Zar'Kaa
December 26th
Rak’Symma left the Dream Grove with Thisalee, Nyxxa, Omnuron, and three other Druids of the Talon. One of the druids, a white-haired man with a goatee, asked Rak’Symma if she could answer a question, which she relented.
The druid asked her if she had any memory of rescuing a druid from the greater Val’Sharah region, or specifically a storm crow. Rak’Symma got a bit sheepish, but confirmed she had saved several. The druid grinned and said that he was one of them, and he explained that some had mistaken her as a vision of Aviana, but he had not figured it was something quite so supernatural–even if there was truth to it all the same. Regardless, he wished to thank her, and he introduced himself as Corvine Moonrise.
They all took to the sky and started to fly northward into the western reaches of the Verdant Cliffs. Symma called for everyone to land before they reached the markers that indicated harpy territory, and she started her call of passage for the Matriarch to return.
A minute passed. Then two. Then three. There was no response.
Symma and Nyxxa looked around for any movement in the nearby trees, and they saw nothing, but they caught a scent of decay that carried faintly on the wind. There were also no sounds of any wildlife in the area, and the entire clearing was eerily silent.
Symma took a deep breath.
Thisalee Crow says: I don’t understand, shouldn’t someone have responded?
Omnuron Highwind says: There’s something else going on. Lets take a closer look.
Symma took off, and the group followed her. Before too long, they saw the corpse of a harpy. It was impaled on a sharp, broken branch through her back. She was partially decayed.
Symma looked resigned as Omnuron looked at the other druids.
Omnuron Highwind says: Search the areas. If something did this, I want to know what, but stick together.
Symma approached the body and looked for any other wounds that were not caused by the branch. The body had been there for several days, but there was seemingly no sign of a struggle. There were no other wounds beside some scrapes. Symma followed the trail and found the source of the broken branch, which appeared it had snapped after she impacted it.
Symma sat back on her haunches and used [Speak with Dead] to try and speak with the harpy. She blew some dirt on the wind, and the corpse shifted and started to speak as an echo of the body’s memory caused a facsimile of life. Its eyes were glowing with Symma’s magic.
Symma greeted her, but the corpse stared, waiting for questions.
Rak'Symma says: What caused you to fall from the sky?
The corpse didn’t know. Symma asked her if she was trying to fly away, and the corpse said no. She asked if there was an invader in the roost, and the harpy also said no. Symma’s brow furrowed.
Rak'Symma says: What are the last things you remember?
Impaled Harpy says: I was flying. Hunting for food. Then things got… heavy. Cloudy. Wings grew heavy. Then things went dark.
Rak'Symma says: Where are the rest of your people?
Impaled Harpy says: At their roosts. They would have no reason to leave. The druids would never attack it. We would know if they did.
The magic left the corpse as Thisalee and Corvine landed and informed Omnuron and Rak’Symma they had found something. She looked concerned. Symma exhaled, stood up, and they followed Thisalee to the site of the Wormtalon roost. As they arrived, they saw harpies. Their bodies were strewn about. Some of them were in their nests, others on top of nests. Some were in states of decay, while others were not. Some appeared to have fallen, one harpy was in a burned out fire, apparently having fallen into the fire. Another harpy was laying next to a partially-eaten meal, but seemingly not decayed, though her food was.
There was breathing from some, but that had not stopped insects from starting to chew on their flesh. Regardless, all were unmoving, and jostling did not wake those that were still breathing. Many were suffering from dehydration and starvation as their bodies seemingly continued to work despite the unconsciousness.
Omnuron told the other druids to find all those that were still living so that they could be returned safely. Meanwhile, Nyxxa looked to see if there were any animals in the same condition. There were some in the roost area that were likely domesticated by the harpies. They were in a pen, and they appeared to be some mountain cats and large worms. The worms were not slumbering, and were now feasting on various denizens. Further out from the roost, there were other animals, such as birds dropped out of nests.
Symma tried to sense for magic with [Detect Magic] but there was not an ounce of magic or enchantment. With some searching, she found who Rak’Symma believed to be Grelda the Hag, the Matriarch. By some mercy, she had not fallen directly into her cauldron, but her cauldron had spilled and left her severely burned.
Symma pulled Grelda away from the cauldron and she sprinkled some diamond dust on her to use [Restoration]. The spell restored some of the exhaustion that had settled on her, but she remained unmoving.
Omnuron told Thisalee to return to the Dream Grove to get anyone that was knowledgeable about medicine to report to the roost to help with those who could not be moved. Before too long, other druids started to arrive and those that could be moved were ferried away.
Meanwhile, Sol was flitting through the sky alongside Brightwing and a series of other faerie dragons after he had been transformed into a faerie dragon himself. They found themselves in a glade not too far from the Dream Grove, at the location of a small mushroom circle.
Brightwing says: Alright everyone, take your places!
Sol followed the lead of the other faerie dragons as they started to dance around the circle. Prismatic-colored magic swirled around the mushroom circle, and they disappeared. They reappeared in the Emerald Dream not far from Shaladrassil. There was an absolutely stunning view of the great tree.
Brightwing says: Here we are! Shaladrassil. One of the great world trees. It’s even bigger up close, isn’t it?
Sol agreed it was even bigger than the last tree he had seen, and Brightwing said she hoped she could see it someday. Brightwing cocked her head to to the side as she looked at Shaladrassil.
Brightwing says: Do you see anything? Do you feel anything?
She licked her own eye.
Brightwing says: Do you taste or smell anything?
Sol opened up his new senses in ways he never had before, and he felt a deep and resounding feeling of control. He felt like the satyrs were coming to the tree, and that was in fact their goal. He felt the tree and the branches of the tree, but it didn’t seem like there was anything wrong with it. There didn’t seem to be any reason to come there, unless it was to use the tree for something.
Then he realized he wasn’t the only person in the liminal space. Brightwing used his connection as a signal tower, almost like a sending: “Where are you? Things are getting scary here. We need your help. He needs your help. Come on. What are you waiting for?”
A deep, female voice replied: “Brightwing? I understand. Things have grown complicated… in many places of the world. But I understand. I’ll be there as soon as I can. I’m sorry for making you wait, old friend.”
Brightwing told Sol it was time to go, and she pulled Sol’s consciousness from it. Sol opened his eyes, back in his normal form at the Druid Grove.
Brightwing thanked Sol for his help, as she was able to reach her best friend, who was very grand and kind. Though she forgets to have fun sometimes, which was where Brightwing came in. She thought her friend would come sooner, especially since her son was in danger.
Sol asked Brightwing where forgotten dreams dwelt, and Brightwing admitted she didn’t know, but her best friend might. Sol opted to summon a large amount of food for the faerie dragons to honor his new friends, but as he left, he did not notice one of the faerie dragons did not wake.
Brightwing approached and licked the face of the faerie dragon, but they did not stir.
Brightwing says: Hm. It’s getting worse.
Brightwing grew to the size of a young adult dragon and gently pulled the other faerie dragon into a mushroom circle. She blew out a prismatic spray, and the faerie dragon disappeared.
Brightwing says: Don’t worry, little one. Sleep well, it’ll all be alright when you wake.
Arthak grabbed the scrying protection he had commissioned from the sayaad artificer and some booze, and he approached Gromm, who was in the midst of finishing off a drink. Grom grinned as he saw Arthak.
Grommash Hellscream says: Warchief, tell me you have orders.
Arthak Saurfang says: I have orders, but you aren’t going to like them.
Arthak threw the bottle, which had the pendant wrapped around it, at Grom, who caught it. Grom frowned.
Arthak Saurfang says: We should talk in your tent.
Grom grunted and gestured from Arthak to follow into the tent, which was outfitted with combat plans.
Grommash Hellscream says: Out with it.
Arthak Saurfang says: My first inclination is to hold you and your warriors in reserve. The war hasn’t started yet. It is becoming, but the real battles haven’t started and I want you and yours to be a surprise.
Grommash Hellscream says: A surprise. The Warsong do not operate with surprises, Saurfang. We are the Warsong! It is our way to tell those who hear our cries that it is we who is coming to kill them!
Arthak Saurfang says: I intend that, but at the right moment.
Grommash Hellscream says: When is the right moment, Saurfang?
Arthak Saurfang says: When I calculate your appearance will break the will of our enemy.
Grommash Hellscream says: More waiting. Always more waiting. You say the war has not started, then let us start the war! Make us your spear so we can chase Gul’dan from whatever cowardly cavern he resides in! Wield us, warchief. We are a weapon! We have waited long enough!
Arthak Saurfang says: You are a weapon. You are my best weapon, at present. My duty is to use you in the most effective way I feel. I know this is not what you wanted to hear, but if they don’t know these are your Warsong, if they are not expecting you at the tip of the spear… they will not be expecting if you are the one that will break upon them.
Grom sighed.
Grommash Hellscream says: I heard a story, Saurfang. Of your exploits in Outland. Back on Draenor. You slew a demon and extinguished the fire in our veins. We have done much waiting, Arthak. I waited in captivity for either my death or my rescue. My very captivity itself was a stain upon my name. Me, Grommash Hellscream, defeated and imprisoned by smallteeth! I thought perhaps it was age. Perhaps I am not the young warrior I once were, but as we have waited to leave, to uphold my end of this bargain for the priestess… as I have waited for this chance to fight for a warchief that would direct me to the man who had lit this spark in our blood, as we waited on the ships, I felt a tar, Arthak. It started in my hands. Then in my arms. And my legs. And finally my mind. It’s… something that I can’t fight, that I can’t kill, that can defeat me nonetheless. I’m not the only one that has felt this! You’ve seen it amongst your own warriors! A malaise, a listlessness. Nothing to spur us on to victory or death. How am I, or my men, to wait when every day threatens to choke our veins?
Arthak Saurfang says: I know of which you speak. I’ve seen it in my uncle, and in others, as you’ve said. I too am reminded of a story of a young warlord. Captured and strapped to a tree. Held by ogres. Forced to starve and wither for days upon days. Days he waited, but days his will held until the moment was right. And he killed the one who captured him with his teeth. Do you remember that story, Grom?
Grom gave Arthak a snarl of recognition.
Grommash Hellscream says: He sounds like a fool if you ask me.
Arthak Saurfang says: Well that is the thing with the beginnings of stories. Everyone focuses on the ending and forgets he got captured. I imagine in a few years my own youthful foolishness will be made into the signs of my greatness. Starting with the tattoos, perhaps, ancestors help us all. The Warsong, the Hellscream I need from you, Grom, is not the one that took the cup. It’s the man behind that. The warlord before that.
Grommash Hellscream says: I regret to inform you, Arthak, that those men are the same. I am not just the warlord, nor am I the one that sucked from the chalice of unity, nor am I the one that stands before you now, malaise in his veins. I’m all of them. If those are your orders, warchief, then I will obey them. I will trust that the patience that guided you to where you are today will guide us to blood and thunder, but know this… the peace you’re trying to build won’t be easy. I ensured that when I took the first sip. Peace does not run through our veins, Arthak. You cannot change an orc’s nature.
Arthak Saurfang says: Maybe. Maybe not. I am betting many things. Many, many things on the idea that I can. And consider if I can get Grom Hellscream to agree to wait… who knows what other strange and terrible things I might do.
Grommash Hellscream says: Let us hope for your sake my patience can withstand the test of time.
Arthak Saurfang says: It will.
Grommash Hellscream says: One of us believes this. Perhaps that is a good sign, or one of foolishness. I will inform the warriors of your orders. Anything else, warchief?
Arthak Saurfang says: At some point… I have something for you.
He gestured at the amulet around the bottleneck.
Grommash Hellscream says: What is this?
Arthak Saurfang says: It will protect you from the eyes of our adversaries. They are magicked should they attempt to see you.
Grommash Hellscream says: More subterfuge. Very well.
Arthak Saurfang says: I do appreciate this, Grom. And you have my word, when that time comes, when that battle comes.
Grommash Hellscream says: May we find victory or death when it does. Perhaps both.
Arthak Saurfang says: Perhaps both. But it will be the battle you are looking for. I would not waste you on anything less.
Grommash Hellscream says: As you say, warchief. As you say.
As Arthak followed Grom out, he released a call of attention to the Warsong.
Arthak Saurfang says: After discussion with your warlord, we need a second opinion. In your hearts, who is the greatest warrior of the Horde?
They all shouted Grom.
Arthak Saurfang says: Who is the most honored in the Horde?
Everyone shouted Grom.
Arthak Saurfang says: And who would you follow into hell and worse?
Everyone shouted Grom Hellscream a third time.
Arthak Saurfang says: Thank you, warriors. That’s what I thought.
There were cheers as Arthak tapped his breastplate to leave. Grom got a sardonic grin.
Grommash Hellscream says: You learned well from the elder’s shadow, Warchief.
Nazgrim also smirked and shook his head as he watched Arthak leave.
Zar’Kaa reached into his pouch and thumbed over the candy, as it had felt heavier. His eyes then glanced at his depowered spear.
Zar'Kaa says: What’s going to happen when I eat this?
He held up the candy, gesturing at seemingly nothing. He was greeted with only silence.
Zar'Kaa says: Whoever you are, overseer of the crossroads, purveyor of death, I don’t care. At least I’m not the one that’s hiding.
He popped the candy into his mouth. It was citrusy and undeniably nostalgic. A fog that smelled like incense started to roll in. As it passed over him, he was no longer in the clearing. He was thousands of miles away, years ago. He was deep in a forest underneath a canopy spattered with heavy rain. There were the sounds of jeering children, and tears streamed from his face. The rain washed over everything. It could wash away the blood on the chieftain’s blade, off the ritual knife that plunged into its young charge. Everything.
His nails dug into his palms as sobs raked his chest. It was the moment he had been most alone.
Then the rain stopped. It hung suspended in the air, as if time had slowed to a stop. He tried to fill the silence with a primal scream, the forest the only audience.
Until he arrived.
A voice spoke: “Let it all out, man. You deserve it.”
Zar’Kaa looked up, surprised and afraid of the sudden voice. Another person sat to his left. It was a troll with dark blue skin and clothing not like those Zar’Kaa traveled with. He had long violet hair in locs, with a tall top hat on his head. Candles were lit on the brim of the wide hat with the fires burning defiantly against the rain.
The man also carried a baby effortlessly in his left arm. The baby was not more than a few months old, and he was resting. The man offered a gentle smile as he rested a hand on Zar’Kaa’s back. Zar’Kaa jumped away, startled and frightened.
Zar'Kaa says: Who are you!?
Legba says: Sorry for startling you. Didn’t mean it. Don’t worry. I’m a friend of your mom and dad. Just here on a little errand. They wanted me to check on you.
Zar'Kaa says: What’s an errand?
Legba says: They needed me to do something, so I’m taking care of it.
Zar'Kaa says: No one else checked on me…
Legba says: I know.
Zar'Kaa says: They called me something. I don’t know what it meant. They sounded mad.
Legba says: People got a lot of things they’re mad about. I’m sure you will too, my little friend. People will say a lot of mean things, and they’ll do a lot of mean things. Life won’t get easier from here on out, kid. But you don’t gotta do this alone. Even if it seems like it.
Zar'Kaa says: He killed them… he killed them both and made me watch.
Legba says: I know.
Zar'Kaa says: Can you bring them back!? I want them back.
Legba says: I wish I could. I really do. But you have to go on without them now.
Zar'Kaa says: it’s not fair!
Legba says: It ain’t. Not fair in the slightest.
Zar'Kaa says: I want mama. I want dada. They left me here by myself. They left me with the rest of them who don’t even want me.
Legba says: It ain’t their fault. It ain’t anyone’s fault. It might seem like they left you, my boy, but I guarantee you that they would be right here with you if they could.
Zar'Kaa says: Is it my fault?
Legba says: No. No. It’s not. They made their choices, and you’re going to need to make yours now. Some will be hard, but someday you’ll be able to make an easy choice. It’s hard to say. But they’ll be your choices, just like they were theirs. But you don’t gotta worry about that now. Today you deserve to cry and scream until there’s nothing left in those lungs, because this world has never been fair. But… that’s why we keep going.
Zar'Kaa says: I don’t want to keep going. I want to be with them.
Legba says: Someday, maybe you will be. But you gotta make sure you have stories to tell them before you get there. It won’t be easy, but there are ways to make it hurt less.
Zar'Kaa says: How?
Legba held up his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, a piece of candy appeared in it.
Legba says: Little things. Things you enjoy. Things you love. Maybe your favorite food. Maybe sharing with other people. Putting a smile on their faces, helping them out when they feel like you do now. There are a lot of ways to bring good feelings in our hearts. And these bad feelings won’t go away, but they’ll make those moments all the sweeter.
Zar'Kaa says: …Okay.
Zar’Kaa got to his feet.
Zar'Kaa says: What if no one loves me back? What do I do?
Legba says: That just ain’t true.
Legba tossed the candy to Zar’Kaa.
Legba says: Because even if there ain’t no one else, ma and da will still love you. But they aren’t the only ones.
Zar’Kaa walked over to Legba and put his face in his shoulder and started to sob. Legba pulled him into a soft embrace with his free hand.
Zar'Kaa says: I hope you don’t leave.
Legba says: You might not always be able to see me, Zar’Kaa, but I’m never far.
Zar'Kaa says: if I can’t see you how am I gonna talk to you?
Legba says: You’ll figure out a way someday. But I’m a good listener, so don’t fret too much.
Zar'Kaa says: Okay. What should I do now. Should I go back?
Legba says: Right now, you should do whatever you want. You can cry, you can scream, you can spash in the puddles and eat some candy. Laugh at jokes no one is telling. Do whatever you want. And when you are tired and ready to go home, go find master Gadrin. I think he’ll find somewhere for you to sleep.
Zar'Kaa says: Okay… what’s your name?
Legba says: When you go to see him, let him know papa Legba sent you. He’ll know what it means.
Zar'Kaa says: You’re a dad too?
Legba smiled.
Legba says: You can say that.
He looked at the child in his arms.
Legba says: I gotta go make sure this one can get some rest.
Zar'Kaa says: Okay. Bye then. I’ll keep an eye out for ya.
Legba says: I’ll see you again, I promise you that, Zar’Kaa.
Zar’Kaa blinked, and then he was back. But Legba was still there next to him, Rokul Kaz still on the ground nearby. Legba looked over at Zar’Kaa.
Legba says: I’ve never been hiding, Zar’Kaa. You just haven’t been looking hard enough.
Zar'Kaa says: So all this time… all this time you’ve just been, what, following me around?
Legba says: You asked if I was a father? Hmph. It’s my job, Zar’Kaa, it’s what I do, and you’re no exception.
Zar'Kaa says: What was I supposed to do? Just blink hard enough so I could see you sitting there with your fucking cap and your vest?
Legba says: It’s a nice vest. I’m rather fond of it. I think you’re getting the wrong idea, Zar’Kaa... You didn’t do nothing wrong. You asked what you were supposed to do, and you were able to do whatever you want. Scream. Cry. Splash in puddles until you tire yourself out. It’s always your path, Zar’Kaa, and just because you couldn’t see me didn’t mean I wasn’t there, and just because you thought no one loved you didn’t make it true.
Zar'Kaa says: What do you know. Watching the show from the sidelines doesn’t make you an expert.
Legba snapped his fingers, and illusions danced in front of Zar’Kaa. There was a young, but slightly older Zar’Kaa watching Gadrin as the troll stirred a cauldron. He smiled and looked at Zar’Kaa, teaching him the intricacies of alchemy and other things. It shifted, and he saw Seria who was standing up to Se’Jib and other bullies. A partially bloodied ear was still in her mouth, as she had torn it from his head. It shifted again and saw Rokhan with a young teenage Zar’Kaa holding his weapon, determination on his face as Rokhan taught him how to fight.
Legba says: You’ve seen a lot of rough things and unfairness, Zar’Kaa, but it’s because I’m here on the outside that I can watch and see all the pathways that have been opening up in front of you. The way that your tale intercepted with those around you. I’m not an expert, no one is. But these are a few things I’ve seen. I think they’re worth something, don’t you think?
The illusions shifted, and he saw laughing and drinking after a job well done and turning in a contract. He saw his first time meeting Zuni and Zekhan, the two of them throwing spears at distant targets and Zar’Kaa winning by one point. Zuni laughed it off. He saw the moment he was awarded captain of the Reuniter, and the look on Zulfli’jin’s face, one of measured trust, as well as images of the last few months. He cooked with Nyxxa, sparred with Arthak, Riff embraced him.
Legba says: They don’t make the pain go away. They never will. But they count for something.
And then there was the moment where Bru’kan and him were speaking, and Bru’kan came clean about what his parents had taken from him, and the rage he felt. The connection they had made.
Legba says: I don’t have some magic trick that’ll make your life easier, Zar’Kaa. But I have this. And I have faith. You’ve done well. Sure, you’ve made mistakes, everyone does. I certainly have. But you made it this far. I think that’s worth something. But you gotta remember you didn’t make it here alone, even if you think you did, but that doesn’t make you weaker.
Zar'Kaa says: Do you think they would have thought that too?
Legba says: Your parents?
Zar’Kaa nodded.
Legba says: I know they would. That’s why they put all their faith in you and entrusted you with their legacies.
Zar'Kaa says: Their legacies… I wish I didn’t still think about them. I wish I didn’t miss them–
Legba says: Why’s that?
Zar'Kaa says: Because over the years I’ve come to hate them. I don’t hate many. The rage I show others, the lashing out…
Legba says: You have good reason to. I don’t think many would blame you for feeling that way. They wouldn’t. But that’s just… the way this life is. Normally I’d ask the big man. See if I could bring them over. But I don’t think that’s what you’d want, and if it is… you’d have to, well… would that it would be that easy. Never is. But especially not in this case.
Zar'Kaa says: On that we agree. I need to win the war, Legba. I don’t care what happens after. I don’t care if people don’t want me back for my failures, I don’t care if I walk away, I just need to win the war. That’s what I need right now.
Legba says: I’m the wrong loa for that. But Ogun… well, you’d need to earn his favor, and I don’t think you’re about to do. But a word of advice, Zar’Kaa, a life lived for war isn’t much of a life. You live the life you want, but if your life only matters when you’re fighting, what happens if there’s nothing left to fight? You say you don’t care, but is that true? Should it be? I’m the loa of pathways. Of doors. But if you shut every door and ignore all of them, you’re not doing yourself a favor. Wars end. And you might not.
Zar'Kaa says: Okay. Well, i guess I can’t stop you from following me.
Legba says: if you do die out there, someone needs to take care of you.
Legba smiled.
Zar'Kaa says: As long as it isn’t Bwonsamdi I’ll be okay.
Legba says: I regret to inform you, Zar’Kaa, I’m just the middle man.
Zar'Kaa says: Yeah. I fucking know. Is there more of these memories? These paths I shut off?
Legba says: Forgetting is easy, especially when we’re young. This wasn’t a special magic, it was just a reminder. They say taste and smell are some of the strongest sensations in memory.
Zar'Kaa says: Okay. Not the time for it now. But as we go along, maybe.
Legba says: One more thing before I go. It’s not my place to get involved. But you really hurt the old man back there. He wants me to take him back. Thinks he’s done more harm than good. But… we made a deal, and his end of the bargain hasn’t been fulfilled yet. So until that happens, I can’t bring him back.
Zar'Kaa says: What fulfills his end of the bargain? He never told me.
Legba says: Helping you make it safe back to the Echo Isles. It’ll happen, eventually, as long as you don’t get yourself killed.
Zar'Kaa says: And if I do, will you let him pass on?
Legba says: That’s up to Bwonsamdi.
Zar'Kaa says: I shouldn’t have thrown him out of the room. He shouldn’t have rushed to blame. Maybe we can hear each other out. Can you pass a message?
Legba says: Depends, but I am the messenger.
Zar'Kaa says: Tell him he doesn’t need to come back right away. Tell him he doesn’t need to feel guilty like he does about his son.
Legba says: I’ll tell him the first part, but the second part he’d probably rather hear from you. Take care of yourself, and may the next time we speak not be under poor circumstances.
They exchanged goodbyes, and Legba tipped his hat and stepped through a doorway and disappeared.
The living Wormtalon had been returned to the Druid Grove, and Nyxxa and Rak’Symma both did what they could to help. Amongst the many that were helping there was a young dryad who was doing everything she could to tend to the harpies. It was Taryndrella, the young dryad that had been with Valorinn and Tol’vas. She had seemingly taken no breaks.
But then she fell to her knees as she got faint. Symma was immediately at her side, and Nyxxa moved to back her up. Sol and Seria had also just arrived back on the scene.
Drella was thoroughly exhausted. She looked up at them and assured them she was okay, but Symma corrected she wasn’t.
Rak'Symma says: Thank you for all you’re doing, but I don’t need one more body to heal.
Nyxxa Murkthorn says: If you don’t look out for yourself, you can’t look out for anyone.
Taryndrella says: You’re right, I’m sorry. I’m just making things harder…
Rak'Symma says: You’re not, but you need to take care of yourself so you can keep helping.
Drella tried to stand but her legs wobbled, and she relented she did push herself a little hard. Valorinn came over to scold her and help her up. Symma followed as Valorinn walked Taryndrella to a nice perch, and they could see the twin moons overhead.
Valorinn told Drella to get some rest.
Valorinn says: I’m going to tell Tol’vas about this later.
Taryndrella says: Okay…
She took a deep breath and she looked up at the moons. Tears started to form in her eyes. She wasn’t sobbing, but they were big and bright tears.
Nyxxa Murkthorn says: Is something wrong?
Taryndrella says: No. I’m feeling better. Thank you for–
She realized she was crying.
Taryndrella says: What? Why am I crying? That doesn’t make any sense, I don’t feel sad about anything…
Symma wiped the tears from her cheeks, and Drella admitted she maybe was more tired than she thought. She looked back up at the moons.
Taryndrella says: Um. Is it true that the two of you heard Elune once? I heard the priestesses talking.
They both nodded.
Taryndrella says: What was she like?
Nyxxa Murkthorn says: Wonderful. Like everything was going to be okay.
Rak'Symma says: Welcoming and inviting, but the experience I’m still struggling to put into words.
Taryndrella says: Wow. That’s really something… I know it may be silly, but I had a dream I met her once.
Nyxxa Murkthorn says: That’s not silly at all.
Taryndrella says: Yeah, I hope I can meet her in person someday. No, I will! I have to. I have to tell her how much she means to everyone, and how much she means to me. Do you think I can? Somebody like me?
Rak'Symma says: You can see her right now, and believe me when I say she already knows.
Taryndrella looked back at the moon and cupped her hands over her heart as she started to cry again.
Taryndrella says: You’re right! You’re definitely right, but I’m still gonna tell her someday. Even if I have to leap from the tallest mountain like in my dream!
Symma’s brow knit together, and Nyxxa cocked her head as she looked at Symma’s perplexed expression.
Rak'Symma says: There’s a story like that.
Taryndrella says: Is there?
Symma nodded.
Rak'Symma says: That’s how Malorne and Elune met for the first time.
Taryndrella says: Oh! I didn’t know that! I’m still pretty young, so I haven’t heard all the stories. That’s funny though.
Rak'Symma says: Granted, Losna tricked him into doing it, but then maybe that was their way of helping.
Taryndrella says: I can ask them to help! But thank you, I’m feeling a lot better. Take care of yourselves too, okay? You’ve been working really hard, and it’s important to remember to rest your wings, both of you!
Valorinn says: They will when you do.
Taryndrella smiled, but she was starting to get sleepy as she just mused about how tomorrow was a new moon and she wouldn’t be able to see Elune, but Nyxxa said that was just another face of her. They actively watched Drella fall unconscious in Valorinn’s soft fur, and the great wolf said that he would tell Tol’vas everything when he saw him again.
When they returned to the Grove, Sol filled them in on what he had found.
That night, Arthak did another dream as he manifested the tower over the battlefield. He waited for a while, but not long after measured steps ascended the stairs. A crimson-skinned felblood elf crested the landing and regarded Arthak with a smile.
Selin Fireheart says: Well well, look who it is. It’s been a while, Arthak. I had a feeling you might reach out again. Call it a hunch. Tell me, have you been enjoying your time on the Broken Isles? I imagine you’ve been busy with the business in Highmountain and the business in Stormheim… I’m sure you’ve been having fun in Suramar too.
Arthak Saurfang says: I keep busy.
Selin Fireheart says: I’m sure you have. In spite of everything, it’s good to see you again. But I imagine this wasn’t a social call. So please.
He looked about the dreamscape.
Selin Fireheart says: Could you conjure up some furniture for us? Perhaps some refreshments. It won’t do to be uncomfortable while we discuss grim topics.
Arthak regarded Selin, and he noted the elf didn’t appear to be particularly worried.
Arthak Saurfang says: Did they take Runesight away from you for a while?
Selin Fireheart says: If only.
Arthak Saurfang says: I’ll see what I can do.
Arthak did what he could to conjure refreshments and seats.
