Chapter One

"For ten thousand years, the immortal Night Elves cultivated a druidic society within the shadowed recesses of Ashenvale Forest. Then the catastrophic invasion of the Burning Legion shattered the tranquility of their ancient civilization. Led by the Arch-Druid Malfurion Stormrage and the priestess Tyrande Whisperwind, the mighty Night Elves rose to challenge the demonic onslaught. Aided by the newly arrived orcs and humans, the Night Elves succeeded in halting the Legion's advance and defeating its master, the demonlord Archimonde. Though victorious, the Night Elves were forced to sacrifice their cherished immortality and watch their beloved forests burn.

"In the aftermath of the horrific conflict, Malfurion and Tyrande helped their people rebuild their shattered villages. Slowly the Night Elves began to adjust to their mortal existence. Such an adjustment was far from easy, and there were many who could not adjust to the prospects of aging, disease and frailty. Seeking to regain their immortality, a number of wayward druids conspired to plant a special tree that would reestablish a link between their spirits and the eternal world. When Malfurion heard about this plan, he warned that nature would never bless such a selfish act. Shortly thereafter, Malfurion's spirit was somehow lost within the depths of the Emerald Dream. Though his fellow druids attempted to find his wandering spirit, only his body remained sleeping within his Barrow Den.

"With Malfurion missing, Fandral Staghelm – the leader of those who wished to plant the new World Tree – became the new Arch-Druid. In no time at all, he and his fellow druids had forged ahead and planted the great tree, Teldrassil, off the stormy coasts of northern Kalimdor. Under their care, the tree sprouted up above the clouds. Among the twilight boughs of the colossal tree, the wondrous city of Darnassus took root. However, the tree was not consecrated with nature's blessing and soon fell prey to the corruption of the Burning Legion. Now the wildlife and even the limbs of Teldrassil itself are tainted by a growing darkness.

"As one of the few Night Elves still left in the world, it is your sworn duty to defend Darnassus and the wild children of nature against the Legion's encroaching corruption."

Alpea listened to the druid's speech with half an ear, watching as the bonfire before her roared with life. All around her, in a semi-circle before the druid, others sat, listening to the history of their people and what they must do upon the completion of their beginner's training. But the speech was outdated; the Legion was long-since held at bay in Outland. The danger now was in the spread of the Scourge, the army of undead that a demon named Kil'jaeden created years before. One great city, Lordaeron, was one of those destroyed and taken by the undead. Prince Arthas, heir to the kingdom, was eventually taken under by the Scourge and was now one of their strongest players in the war, the Lich King. It was he they needed to focus their efforts on, not the Legion.

Regardless, Alpea listened to the dated speech and bowed her head when it was finished, as was custom. "Now come," the druid told the group. "You shall be fit with the tattoos of our people, so that others will know of your accomplishment." He stood and beckoned them to follow; they complied and stood, following his lead. He led them to a lodge that was nestled into one of Teldrassil's great branches, and from there into a tunnel that led them down, 'underground', to a warm den. It was comfortable in here, dark except for the torches perched away from the wooden walls; Alpea loved how cozy it was, despite how cramped it was with so many initiates coming in. This was how their ancestors lived, nestled underground in warm, pitch-black dens, their white eyes glowing with the ability to see even in such dark places.

A man sat on a stool before them, the inking materials spread out on a small table near his knee. His dark green hair was cut short, tied back into a small ponytail at the base of his neck. His shoulders were wide with the training that only a paladin or warrior would go through, and he was tall; she assumed he had been initiated as a warrior, a powerful fighter; although warriors tended to be much more short and stocky, like a charging ram. A scar ran down the side of his neck, the end visible on the bare skin of his bicep; he had probably been badly injured and was unable to continue fighting against the Scourge and Horde, turning instead to the important job of marking night elf graduates with the symbols of their people. The druid instructed them to sit before the man, and they did. He gave them another speech about initiation rites before turning it over to the man on the stool. Alpea examined him as he called someone forward, a female by the name of Myrandes.

He had used green ink on her, expertly tattooing the delicate skin on and around her eyes. She was presented to them when he finished, a full-fledged soldier. "Night Elves of Darnassus, I give you our newest holy woman, Priestess Myrandes. May Elune bless you,"

"Elune bless you," they repeated to the tall girl before she stood, bowed and resumed her seat among them, so that they might be presented as equals.

He called her forward next, completing the rites of the females first. Alpea stood and gave him a slight, nervous nod as she sat down and pulled her white hair behind her long ears. The retired warrior advised her to close her eyes, and she did, forcing herself to relax as he began tattooing her eyes. It stung in some places, but he was more adept at the process than she had expected; she predicted there would be no bruising the next day, and maybe only slight swelling. She had chosen a purple butterfly-like pattern – pathetically girlish, she now realized – that he finished in a few minutes. She was given the same blessing and introduction as before –"Our newest hunter, the Ranger Alpea. May Elune bless you," – and sat back down while the others finished their inductions. There was another priest, three druids and two rogues. Once they were finished, the elder druid appeared before them once more.

"Tomorrow morning you will report back here, to Shadowglen, to begin your lives as adult night elves. Congratulations," he said to them once more before heading out, leading the way for them to return to their class huts.