Repentance I: The Forgotten Path
I do not own World of Warcraft, wish I did, but I don't. (
I
The clear morning in Shadowglen left the new recruits shivering in their tunics and robes, wishing they were back in their rooms carefully wrapped in their furs. The sun was minutes from rising and the dew was thick on the rich fields. Grells could be heard in the distance with their nonsensical chattering and laughter.
"Are they all out there?" Ryniar asked as he pulled on his leather hide boots. Valasheika peered through the small window of the Trainer's corridors at the anxious apprentices.
"As far as I can tell," the young Night Elf replied. Quickly, she pulled back her sky colored hair and found clean robes in her trunk to put over her shirt and pants. As a priestess, she was rarely seen out of robes by the apprentices. Ryniar stood and stretched his hands to the sky. He was barely taller than Valasheika, but he made it a point to look down on her as much as possible.
Ryniar was no professional. He had been full of himself and arrogant since the day Valasheika met him, years before when they themselves were apprentices in Shadowglen. He was a gifted Druid of their age however; Valasheika had to agree with that. She was not surprised to find he had been accepted for the position of Druid Trainer in Shadowglen for the season. Here, they would train new recruitsÂ-young Night Elves ready to begin their class trainings. It provided a fair amount of silver as well.
"What are you staring at?" Ryniar snapped with paranoia. Valasheika woke from her memories of simpler times and smiled. With a raised silver eyebrow, Ryniar slowly turned away from her and continued down the wooden ramp of Aldrassil.
"You're all too sure that everyone is out to get you… Always thinking awful things about you," Valasheika spoke to his turned back. A small smirk was perched on her tinged blue lips. Her markings were the same color, shaped as oak leaves across her eyes. Ryniar's own markings were hardly visible with such a light color on light skin; it only sparkled with its sharp fingers down his cheeks.
"And you, Valasheika, fuel this. You are always thinking badly of me and we both know it." His voice traveled back to her. It held a soft joking tone and she knew he was smiling although he'd never let her see it.
"Me? Ryniar, your mind betrays you. Elune knows I have never thought an evil thing about you." Valasheika slipped passed the medium-built Night Elf Druid at the landing and made her way to her apprentice priests and priestesses. Their friendship was an odd one, full of sarcasm and denial. He had come to her more than once instead of his other friends for advice and help but he'd never admit it. She felt the same way and that's why they had remained close friends through the years.
Three years ago Valasheika had stood in the place of her pupils, eager and nervous. She'd had little difficulty performing the tasks given to her in Shadowglen, but when she had completed all that was asked of her here, her quests had gotten harder. Now, at seventeen, she looked at the young faces of her students and felt an overwhelming pride blossom in her chest. She was turning out exactly the way she had wanted and was reassured she'd be an essential part of the Alliance army.
"Priestess Valasheika," a friendly voice inquired. Valasheika turned to greet the faun Tarindrella. She had been there since even before Valasheika's time, watching over the forests of Shadowglen. The soft brown fur of her lower body was slim like that of a doe and her torso well toned, ready for flight or fight.
"Hello Tarindrella, what can I do for you this early morn?" Valasheika turned her back to her students who continued to shiver. There were five of them this time, later she would meet with more. They were at the very beginning of their training and would meet in the mornings for some time. Tarindrella's flank shivered.
"I've heard word of a human General visiting Darnacuss." Absent mindedly, Tarindrella glanced toward the Grell encampment. Valasheika knew there was something more. It was not unheard of for multiple race Alliance generals to visit the Elven city. "He seeks two young elves to venture with two of his humans around the world as scouts."
"Why do you tell me this old friend? It's nothing new for the humans to seek Night Elf help, or for the young soldiers to travel." Valasheika shifted from foot to foot and crossed her arms to conserve her body heat. Slowly, the sun was rising but the land wouldn't warm until noon.
"These words have traveled with fear hanging onto them Valasheika and I do not understand why. Whispers are that you are to be one of the elves chosen and our Ryniar the other. I wanted to warn you, but of what I'm not sure. This bothers me, you must know." The sincerity of her words startled Valasheika. The thought of being chosen for such a task was delightful, it would bring much honor. Valasheika had signed with the Alliance forces the day she turned seventeen and was awaiting the day they would decide her duties. Instead of taking the faun's worry to heart, Valasheika couldn't help but glow from the stirred glee in her belly.
"Thank you Tarindrella. I will take your words to the heart and listen for anything more. I must get to my students now. Elune be with you." Valasheika gave a slight nod before turning back to her class. The faun lingered, her head hung.
"Elune be with you Valasheika," she said before returning to her watching place of the Grell.
Valasheika wondered if what she had heard was true. If so, Ryniar and she would be receiving word any day now from a military messenger. Her thoughts were clouded throughout the day as she faced her students. One in particular, Braundel, noticed the faraway look in his teacher's eye. As Valasheika turned them loose to visit the Conservator Ilthalaine, he approached her shyly.
"Priestess," he called for her as she made her way to Aldrassil. She turned gracefully, the sun hitting a spark in her lagoon eyes. She smiled at the young priest.
"Please, call me Valasheika."
"Valasheika," he blushed. "I couldn't help but over hear Tarindrella earlier this morning. Something stirs in the wind when there is talk of this General and his group but no one can understand why." The two began to walk toward the large Aldrassil tower.
"Ah, so you have heard of it before Braundel?" She questioned with a soft voice.
"I have. I'm sorry for not mentioning it sooner but I thought it not my place." He looked to the ground. He was a shy elf of fourteen with dark blue hair and no markings. His skin was tinted a soft purple. Valasheika didn't know of any siblings or even any family of his. She had never really given him a second thought.
"You're forgiven. You were right that you have no place to continue rumors. With each pair of lips they pass, they gain a power we know nothing of. Will you do me a favor?" The priestess asked as they stopped at the marketers. Braundel nodded. "Will you tell the Druid Ryniar that I wish to speak with him?"
"Of course," Braundel accepted his task with a smile. Valasheika turned to the ramp-like staircase and made her way to her room. "Elune be with you," the young elf called.
"Elune be with you young priest." Valasheika waved down to him. Behind closed doors, Valasheika grinned broadly. She stripped herself of the thick purple robe and set about drawing a bath. The sun was still high in the sky and there were few hours left of the day. Soon, night would fall and it would be time for supper. Ryniar would be finishing with his own class soon and she wanted to be finished with her daily duties in case their talk of future battlefields ran long.