FALLEN HOPES

"Kia..." heard the girl someone calling her name. The woman with the soft voice was near. Maybe she didn't hide well enough? It was too late to change her hiding place now so all she could do was coil up deeper in the rind of the tree.

"Kia...Where are you my darling?".

Once again the call; only this time it was even closer. If Kia could judge correctly it was coming right from behind. Not wanting the game to end so quickly the girl remembered what her father told her once about their special power as a night elf: "My child Shadowmeld is an ability that only we the Night Elves possess. When activated it enables us to slip into the shadows, reducing the chance for anyone to sence or presence. However, if you will use it stay put, don't move an inch or it's effect will be cancelled." Shadowmeld..what a beautiful name and what a strong power. As soon as she said inside her mind "Shadowmeld" Kia felt like her whole body was dissapearing. Feeling lighter and almost invisible she rejoiced at the thought of being a night elf.

Unfortunately, despite her best efforts not to move, a little spider went up her back slowly moving it's thin feet. The sensation she felt was too much to bare while staying still, so with a pretty annoyed swing of her hand Kia removed the little spider, also removing the effect of the Shadowmeld.

"There you are my darling" the older woman interjected aloud while extending her arms to grab the little girl and get her out of her hiding place. "I found you".

"Aww mother but it is not fair. If it weren't for that spider you would not have found me. Not fair" she cried out while crossing her arms sulkily.

"Stop complaining" laughed the woman. "It is not his fault that you chose precisely that tree to hide in."

"Yes but but..." mumbled Kia while tugging her lips in a very sweet manner while trying to find a good excuse.

"You are so sweet when you do that. I feel I could eat you up...or, even better..." giggled the elder Night Elf while looking suggestively at her elfin like daughter.

"No...mother not that -" the girl cried out right before her mother started tickling every inch of her body. Kia was overwhlemed by laughter so she started laughing so hard that her stomach was aching. "Please..stop - i'm dying..here..." was all that she could manage to say between the gaps of air she could take.

In the end the woman stopped and Kia could breath freely while wiping the tears from her eyes. With a lovingly look Aiko embraced her child and gave her a long warm hug. "How beautiful she is" thought the young elf. "And how powerful" added in her mind. Involuntarily memories from a few years ago ran in front of her eyes. Kia remembered how a raid of almost 25 Horde members came to invade their peacefull capital Darnassus. Everyone started to panic, the guards made their fight stance but as calmly as she has always been Aiko went to the entrance, slowly riding her swift frost saber. Right behind came Rylai, her husband. Even though Aiko was a very powerful druid, she couldn't face an army of the Horde alone. But together they managed to drive the enemies back. No wonder they were Fandral Staghelm's lieutenants. They were one of the most respected druids who ever lived in that time. Though the husbands did not fully approve the Arch Druid's beliefs they had to admit he did many for the Night Elves after Malfurion Stormrage's dissapearence. It was thanks to Fandral and his fellow druids that the new World Tree, Teldrassil, was grown.

Looking up to her mother Kia felt a wave of daughterly love for the elder Night Elf. She loved her so much...she admired her so much. From the day she saw Aiko fight against the Horde invaders she knew that the Druidic destiny was her own. It was what she chose and what the Gods had chosen for her. Also the amber eyes she had were a proof of what was in store for her...

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"Mistress?" asked softly a druid initiate.

Seeing that she didn't answer, the night elf gently touched the woman's shoulder and repeted her question "Mistress Kia?"

Sensing the hand on her shoulder Kia turned around and fully faced the initiate. For a second her eyes were staring blankly at new arival not really realising who she was. But in short time Kia regained consciouness of the present. "Yes?"

"I am sorry to bother you Mistress Kia but the Arch Druid Fandral Staghelm wishes to see you"

"It's alright sister. You weren't bothering. I was just...lost in old memories" replied with a spark of sadness in her eyes the elder druid. "Should I come now?"

"I'm afraid yes Mistress".

With a deep sigh Kia turned around to see one more time the place where she used to play with her mother when she was younger. Those times seemed so far away now. So many things have happened since they had a calm life like that.

Not wanting to make Fandral wait too long Kia decided to go see what were his orders.

Soon they entered the greatest city of the Night Elves, the home of the leaders of both the druids and the faithful of Elune. Mounted on her frost nightsaber Kia walked along side the Warrior Terrance and past the Craftmans Terrace. The atmoshpere in Darnassus was usually melancholic. She always loved to roam the streets freely because she didn't feel the confinement like she felt when she visited Ironforge or Stormwind, where the buildings were so close one to another.

Finally reaching the Cenarion Enclave she thanked the druid initiate then slowly made her way to the top of the main tree where the Arch Druid resided in a wooden house.

"You wished to see me Master?" asked Kia with a respectfull bow.

After a few minutes the Master Druid finally arose from the table where he was very concentrated writing something on a parchment.

"Ah yes my child. I am glad you have come. The Cenarion Circle has need of you once more."

"I only live to serve my people" replied Kia while bowing her head again.

"I know my child. And you know I am glad to have you here with us". Fandral looked at the woman proudly. He knew that her power was his deserve. All that she knew about a druids power was thanks to him. After her mother and sister's tragical death and after her father's departure for the Emeral Dream, it was him who had mercy of the little elf's destiny. Also sensing a strong dormant power within Kia, Staghelm decided to awaken that power in the name of the Cenarion Circle.

"First I would like to congratulate you for the victory of your last mission. By succesfully leading your group and taking control of the northern outpost in Hillsbrad Foothills we can keep a closer eye on the Horde. However as it was to be expected they reclaimed the settlement again. I suspect they received aid from the Forsaken of Tarren Mill."

As soon as Kia heard the name of the race she most hated in this life, her eyes slowly rose up from the floor and pinned the Arch Druid's eyes.

"For-saken?" she whispered.

"Indeed. The interest they have in that abandoned outpost is what intrigues us. It has been abandoned for such a long time and yet they suddenly develped a strange attention twords it. I need you to go and investigate the core of their preoccupation. I fear the worst so you may take other warriors along -" suggested the elder Night Elf. Yet before he could finish the sentence Kia replied with an icy voice:

"There's no need. I will take care of this matter myself."

Knowing it was in vain to insist Staghelm approved.

The female Night Elf bowed graciously and left the Arch Druid's home.

"Frosaken..." she murmured. A pale of cutting wind blew her long purple hair along her right part of the face, fully convering it. With a deep gaze upon the sky Kia repeated the word wich meant so much to her in this life:

"Forsaken"