Time Song

Niera sat quietly on her bed, holding her favorite stuff animal.

Though the human huntress was 15 years old, and about to start exploring Azeroth, she still loved to collect stuffed toys. Her bed was full of them, she had over ten different types of her favorite animal, the horse, six cats, three dogs,, two rabbits, a snake, a pig, and a seal.

Niera had aall of these, but her favorite was her stuffed snow leopard. She had made it an intricate, thornless, rose collar with a large on the the back of it's neck. The rose would never die because her friend druid had cast a spell on it.

Niera lived with her father, mother, brothers, and sister. They lived near the stables in Elwynn Forest. Her father had gotten a job at the stables repairing riding gear, in turn the family got a huge discount on the mounts, And could ride the horses whenever they wanted.

Niera's room was covered in horse pictures and puzzles. She had a dresser with a mirror on the side of her room, and a closet straight across from it. Her bed was a large queen size bed, with deep purple dyed sheets.
the huntress prefered tight pants, or breaches with a shirt or coat, instead of dresses or skirts.

Today she was wearing leather breaches and a deep purple short sleeved shirt. Niera had her waist length chocolate, curly hair, pulled back into a ponytail, with a few locks hanging down by her face. Her black boots she had pulled over her breaches keep at least half of her calf warm.

Today was the day Niera would start her Journey.

Niera had already made her saddle bags, and her father was getting her horse ready. Niera was ready to go.

But, not for the first time, she wished someone was going with her.

With a heavy heart Niera stood up, and made her way downnstairs, picking up her saddle bags as she moved.

Niera stepped outside and headed towards the barn where she knew her parents were waiting.

The barn was a good fifteen minute walk from her house. But it was winter, it had snowed all of the night before and Niera pulled her rabbit fur cuffed, and insolated coat tighter around her body.

Niera came to a halt about half way to the barn and let out a low pitched whistle. Moments later a beautiful white and pale blue wolf ran up to the human, and nuzzled her outstretched hand, moving to stand by her leg.

"Good girl Feather" She whispered to her pet. Feather was a rare wolf in Elwynn Forest, her home land was Ashenvale, she had come from a pack of Ghost Runners the Night Elves had - through ways of gentlness even the Priest's of Stormwind didn't understand- gentled to trade with Stormwind. Her father had gotten Feather for her.
Niera smiled at the memory and continued towards the stables.

~!~!~!~

"Mum? Pa-" she cut herself off when she heard voices.

"Of course she can't go if she's done this!" what was her mother talking about? "But she's been looking forward to this for years maybe we should just let her go" That was her father.

Niera signaled for Feather to hide. Feather leaped over a door to the stall and hid by the horse inside -The horses had grown acostom to Feather and often enjoyed visits from her- and climbed up into the rafters.

If there were two things Niera did best, it was climb and ride horses.

Niera propped her elbow on the rafter as she layed down on her side, on the rafter above her parents. Quietly listening to what they were saying.

"It doesn't matter. She deliberatly got in a fight!" Oh. That. Niera sighed and rolled her eyes.

Niera had gotten in a fight with Goldshire's most annoying Paladin, in her opinion. And his name was Erik Bracken.

The human huntress had gone to Goldshire to do the shopping with her older sister Amberglow. They had meet Erik and his friends, Tremor, and Dash. They hadn't gotten along well. And when Erik had tried to grab her older sister, Niera had attacked.

"No. Once she gets here we will tell her she isn't going" her mother said in a voice that warned against any argument.

"You don't have to" Niera said dropping out of the rafters with Feather springing over to her side. "I know attacking him was wrong. But I do not regret it" She said standing tall.

"It's not that that bothers us. It's the fact that you didn't tell us. We could've helped" Her mother told her.

Niera's mother was a Night Elf. She had come to Stormwind to study at the Cathedral of Light. She was a priest but her talents had been fixated on shadow spells, because she had started exploring at a young age.

Her mother was beautiful, she had silver hair that flowed down to her mid back. She had the glowing silver eyes of her kind but wore a simple shirt and lose leather pants. Her mother's name was Felicity. Felicity was a kind hearted elf, but she had the ferocity of a mother bear defending her cubs.

Niera knew her parents weren't being unreasonable. And she knew they were right. But she still wished that they would've let this one go.

"What if you had gotten hurt?" Felicity went on, she looked at her daughter with barely concealed anger and worry. The worry was what fueled her anger.

Niera winced, and showed them a large gash on her bicep. she had wrapped it in herbs and cotten to start the healing proccess.

"NIERA!" Her mother screamed "Why didn't you tell me?! I could've healed you! I am still a pr-" she was cut off as the ground started shaking.

"What...?" Her father, Peter, a proud human warrior, questioned hooking the swift brown mare's bridle up to the crossties in the main walk way. He hurried to the door behind the horse and stepped outside.

Niera's father was a very broad man. He had fought in mant wars against the horde. He haad short grey hair and a clean face, he was a very kind hearted man, like her mother, but was fiercly protective and prideful of his family. He made friends with almost everyone and had a very good reputation with the King, and with everyone from Elwynn Forest, to Dun Morogh.

"Oh no..." Niera heard her father mutter. "Pappa?" She asked timidly. "Pete?... Is it..?" Felicity quietly questioned. "I'm afraid so" Peter replied. He hurried back in and picked up his daughter, placing her in the saddle on the armored brown horse. And unhooked the crossties from the bridle. Feather padded up beside the, quickly becoming scared mare, glaning around warily.

"Pappa? What's going-" Niera was cut off as the barn erupted in flames.

"NO! You shall not take my daughter from me!" Felicity roared, her form became enshrouded in shadow and she ran to the door, releasing a flow of shadow spells at an enemy Niera could not see, but could hear it's shrieks of fury and agony.

"Listen to me Niera. You have to get out of here. See if you can contact you're brothers and sister. Just get out of here. This horse will serve you well. Her name is Jacko'lantern" Peter told his daughter as she gathered the reins. "But Pappa. What's going on?" She asked "What are you fighting?" "Something very old, I'll tell you but you have to leave after I do" Niera nodded "It's called The Nightmare Lord" He replied. Niera froze.

Suddenly the wooden supports of the barn moaned, and creaked. Suddenly giving way and collapsing, smashing a row of stalls that had held horses moments ago, the horses having been moved thanks to the trainers and groom.

"Go!" Peter yelled moving to go help Niera's mother. Slapping the horses rump to emphasis his order.

Niera kicked her horse into a full gallop aand steered her out of the stables with Feather hot on Jacko'lantern's heels. Niera, Feather, and her horse galloped out into Elwynn Forest, the huntress' ears were filled with the sound of snow crunching underneath her mounts hooves, and he sound of magic clashing with magic. She brought the mare to a halt on the rise over looking The Eastvale Logging Camp, the mare danced around in circles as Niera looked down at her home.

Mists enshrouded her home, but Niera could see dark and blue/green flashes shooting from withing.

Jacko'lantern continued dancing in circles uneasily in place, as Niera watched her home burn, despite the cold. A floodgate kept an overflow of tears from pouring down her frozen cheeks, as she realized what was going to happen to her parents.

Feather let out a low growl and slapped the mares leg with her tail, making Niera's mount whinnie, before turning, and running. Niera gripped the young mare's reins and ushered her faster towards the human capital.

Stormwind.

~!~!~!~

Niera slowed her horse down as the mejestic gates of Stormwind came into view.

"Feather. Up" She commanded calmly. The proud wolf hopped onto her mounts rump. Easily keeping her balance in check. She out a sound of conformation to her master looking around.

Niera nudged the brown mare past the gates, into the Valley of Heroes. It was amazing. Statues of great heroes of each of the races belonging to the Alliance lined the bride leading to Stormwind. Pools of water had formed on either side of the massive bridge from where the canals running through the city had drained to keep from overflowing.

The huntress nudged her horse into a trot as they went around the large pillar that lead into the Trade District.

What made Niera want to exit just as soon as she had entered, was the noise. It made her head spin with how loud it was. But the human continued forward into the Trade District.

Niera's unease vanished when she saw how many races were buy, selling, laughing, talking, trading, walking, and how much everyone knew eachother. She smiled as she rode down the path leading to the auction house. It was linned with all sorts of shopps. And when she got to th intersection that lead to the auction house, the inn, the bank, the flightmaster, and out to the other districts. Niera couldn't keep the smile from her face.

"Niera? Is the you?" a familiar voice asked.

Niera turned her purple eyed mare around to face the way she had come. And her smile lit up and widened when she saw the three people, she had been friends with since birth, smiling back at her. "Karn! Snow! Bone! How are you?" She asked dismounting, she held Jacko'lantern's reins while Feather remained on the horses back.

Karn was a proud Worgen Druid, but he was in no way one with nature all the time. He often used his feral power to wreak havoc on any that opposed him. He wore a simple green cloak with a staff, that had green and purple energies swirling around the tip, strapped to his back. He had an ordinary blue shirt with large shoulder pauldrens, decorated with red tipped spikes, and pants covered with chain mail, with black boots. He also was wearing aa thick black coat. He was, of course, in his human form now. he had thick black hair hanging down by his face and had bright blue eyes.

Snow was a proud and beautiful Draenei Rogue. She could steal everything from you, and you would never know until it was to laate. It was what made her so wealthy. Many would offer great sums of money so that she would work for them. Snow wore a tight navy blue shirt, with her insignia on it. Two daggers crisscrossing, with a rams skull in the middle. She had thick rabbit fur insolated boots. Snow had tight, but thick breaches on. She also had a multi-colored scarf on, with a matching hat. She wore a thick rabbit fur insolated coat, like Niera's, that was buttoned up tight. Her two daggers were resting on either side of her hips, and she had a quiver full of poisoned arrows, and a bow slung around her so it rested next to her quiver.

Bone was a kind and lighthearted Human Paladin, he often came to visit Niera whenever he could, he was a very broad man. Even for a Paladin, and was often favored, when wars broke out, to help on the battlefield. He wore a simple shirt with the Stormwind insignia on it. The gold shoulder pauldrens he normally wore, had been replaced with a thick brown leather coat. He had black boots that went up half of his calf. He also had a massive two-handed broad sword strapped to his back, and wore black cotten gloves. He had bright green/blue eyes and short brown hair.

"Hey girl! What are you doing in Stormwind?" Snow asked running forward to hug Niera, careful not to startle her horse. "I was-" Niera was cut off short, as cries of terror erupted from all over th city. A terrible chill, set in over the city. It was colder and more terrifying then anything Niera had ever experienced before. And she had been to both Dun Morogh, and Northrend.

"Lich King!" someone screamed as the panic set in and the crowd's began running to escape a terrible fate.

Niera was already on her horse, Karn had tranformed into the massive elk form his kind had. While Snow got on Karn, Bone had summoned his Paladin's war horse.

Together, the group charged towards the docks, knowing going into Elwynn Forest was a death trap.

Niera manuevered Jacko'lantern into the Cathedral of Light, and glanced behind her to make sure the otthers were still there.

Karn, Snow, and Bone were gone.

Niera pulled Jacko'lantern to a stop. Staring down the canal tunnel as best she could, with the terrified mare under her dancing around, wanting to do anything but stand in place.

But that was the biggest mistake, Niera ever made. A chilling laugh echoed all around the human making Feather let out a low snarl, followed by a yelp. Niera knew she was gone.

Fear wound it's way through the girl, making her draw one of her short swords, and kick Jacko'lantern on towards the docks, the thick snow slowed the panicing horse a, but didn't come close to stopping her. Niera screamed over the sound of blood roaring in her ears, and her horses hooves crunching the snow and ice, as a shadow descended over the two.

Almost to the docks. Almost to the docks. Almost to the docks.' She chanted over, and over again in her mind.

"Niera!" A scream echoed as Niera and Jacko'lantern descended down the path, around the fountain, towards the boat leading to the famed Teldrassil.

"Niera!" Three voices shouted as she looked up, kicking Jacko'lantern across the wood of the dock leading to the boat.

But suddenly, a dark, bruise colored portal opened up in front of her. Niera screamed in terror as she tried to rein in Jacko'lantern, to keep from falling through. But the ice on the dock kept the panic induced mare from coming to a stop. Her hooves slid as she reared up in absolute terror, letting out a shrill whinnie, the whites of the horses eyes showing her fear.

"No! Niera!" She heard Karn shout over Jacko'lantern's fearful whinning, and hooves scraping over th ice. "Karn!"" She yelled for help, before letting out a terrified scream as Niera, and Jacko'lantern, fell through the portal. A echoing laugh chilling those on the boat as her terrified scream echoed through the docks.

~!~!~!~

Niera yanked her arm away from Ellen Stanbridge, before the wretchedd human could make anymore memories return to her mind.

"Think, Niera. Think back. Try and remember the hills and valleys of Elwynn, where you were born. Remember the splendor of life, sister. You were a member of the Alliance once! This isn't you." The former soilder cried, despretley trying to make the DeathKnight remember her former home.

"Staw away" The DeathKnight spat, casting a spell to knock the human away from her. Stanbridge went flying from her and slammed into the wall. She coughed and stood looking up at Niera with horrified, but determind eyes.

"What's taking so long, Niera?"

Niera turned her head at the sound of Knight Commander Plaguefist's voice.

"There... There's no more time for me. I'm done for. Finish me off, Niera. Do it or they'll kill us both. Niera..." Ellen looked up at her with resigned eyes, tears had streaked down her cheeks. "Remember Elwynn. This world is worth saving." Niera stared down at the kneeling human. Eyes wide and mouth gaping in horror.

But never one to refuse a task, Niera's expression turn to one of cold carelessness, as she brought her runed blade down upon the human's head.

Niera stepped out of the house, and swung gracefully swung onto her Deathcharger, oddly enough. it had the ssame armor as the horse she was riding in her vision. However, it was now decorated with skulls, bones, and was dripping cold, like Niera's cinderglacier rune.

It didn't matter. Niera was a DeathKnight. Loyal to Arthas The Lich King. And The Lich King alone.

~!~!~!~

Niera kicked her DeathCharger faster as she headed through the tunnel to join the battle for Lights Chapel.

The vision she had had when she had confronted Ellen Stanbridge still weighed heavily on her mind, and more and more it seemed that the human that the human might have been showing her the truth. Niera noticed that whenever she went into the corn field that held the cauldren, where the DeathKnight's created they're potions, the blood hounds would rush up to her with glee, and if they saw her in trouble, they would try to her her.

Niera shook her head, trying to dislodge the thoughts swarming through her head, as she rushed her DeathCharger into battle.

~!~!~!~

The Order of the Ebon Blade was free of Arthas' hold, and Niera was on her way to Stormwind.

Niera finally understood that the vision she had was really her own memories flooding back. She even remmembered her hunter spells. She realized that the horse she was riding was really Jacko'lantern, who was very pleased that her glowing blue eyed master remembered her name.

Neira swung onto her DeathCharger and entered Stormwind City.

Almost as soon as they entered the guards started shouting insults.

Jacko'lantern reared up as they yelled. Her normally calm stance being replaced as she realized that there were to many guards to fight. Niera kicked Jacko'lantern into a gallop, lest the guards make good on they're threats.

The DeathKnight steered her horse through the busy Trade District, where people parted to let her through, screaming in fear, and Niera spurred her horse on through the canals, leading to the Keep.

~!~!~!~

"You have mere moments to live, Scourge filth!" The king of Stormwind, Varion Wyrnn, snarled at the DeathKnight, standing before him on her DeathCharger.

Niera winced, and handed him the letter from Tirion. Varioon snatched it from her, and tore it open, begining to read, his face growing less, and less disgusted as his eyes darted between her, and the note. Finally he finished reading, and put the neatly folded note in his pocket.

"DeathKnight. Welcome to the Alliance." He said smiling. "What is you're name?" he asked gesturing for heer to stand. "Niera, Sir" She replied dismounting Jacko'lantern. Varian's eyes widened. "You mean Peter's lost daughter?" Niera winced at the mention of her Father's name. "Yes Sir. But I haven't seen my since I was fifteen, Sir" Varian's eyebrow rose. "How old are you?" he asked "Ninteen Sir" she replied. Varian nodded. "You've been gone awhile" She nodded and grabbed Jacko'lantern's reins. "I don't remember much sir. It seems like only weeks since I was captured" She told him, as she lead the massive DeathCharger out of the keep.

Varian stared at the back of the DeathKnight/Huntress. He still didn't fully trust her, but the fact of where her parents were, proved why The Lich King would take her. But she had been gone for four years, he didn't know if her parents would still be alive, and if she intended to go looking for them, would SHE come back, unscathed.

Niera walked the street's leading to the Trade District, with Jacko'Lantern walking quietly behind her, through Old Town. She still got disgusted looks shot at her, and insults thrown her way, though the rate of looks had gone down since Varian's announcment, the guards stifled them, but even they were glaring at her. Niera sighed, would she ever find anyone who would trust her? And where were her sister, brothers, and friends?

Niera stopped and looked up at the star soaked sky. Jacko'lantern nudged her shoulder, and Niera patted her muzzle. holding to to her shoulder as she looked up. Niera frowned as she felt the wind tug at her loose brown hair, she hoped with all her heart that thing would brighten for her, and her family.