Heroes of Azeroth
The Calling
A/N: I do not own World of Warcraft/Warcraft. This was a story I wrote for Blizzard's Global Writing Contest. I doubt it won, but I still had fun writing it. The two main characters in this story are based off of my and a friend's character. I just had to change his character's name ot something that sounded more Warcraft-ish; Deadkamo doesn't sound like it. Anyway, enjoy
The sun slowly rose over the vast land of Mulgore, marking the beginning of a brand new day. The cool breeze swept over the earth, the tall grass dancing to the wind's breath. Mulgore's various wild animals began to awaken from their nightly slumber, ready to feed, work on homes and nests, and survive.
The grasslands of Mulgore were beautiful and lively with the pure essence of life. Large mountains and grassy hills dominated the land. Atop one of the hills near Mulgore's capitol city, Thunder Bluff, sat a large and powerful male lion. His golden yellow body rippled with strong sinewy muscles and mutilated with long ragged scars, one single scar over his right eye. His shaggy mane was a dark brown and going down the length of his back. Three inch long canines stuck out from his upper jaw and his thick sharp black claws raked the ground. His eyes were an aqua green and his head was crowned with a pair of deadly horns with black tips, going out to the side and forward.
Blackhorn Spiritshifter watched over the vast grasslands like a feline guardian. He was a powerful, hardened druid, specializing in the art of feral combat. He had grown well known with his allies, recognized by his Horde leaders and the leaders of other factions, including the Dragonqueen herself, Alexstrasza. His adventures had taken him around Kalimdor, Eastern Kingdoms, Outland, and most recently Northrend. He fought many of the most dangerous beasts and survived thousands of battles. He had become one of the most powerful druids of the Horde.
He had recently come back from his adventures in Northrend, seeking a well deserved rest from fighting the Scourge and doing errands for his allies. He had rested in Thunder Bluff, taking residence within the inn.
With this time to rest, he had kept himself busy, watching the younger druids as they trained to become stronger as well as observing nature for the pure relaxation of it. He regularly sat around on the hills, surrounded by what he practically lived by. He communed with Mother Nature herself, entwined with her living spirit, sensing her pain, her happiness, her rage. He enjoyed watching in his preferred cat form.
But lately he had sensed something disturbing to him. He had returned to Northrend on a few occasions to obtain materials to sell. Every time he had gone into the snowy regions in certain areas, he felt a disturbance in nature, especially when he flew around Storm Peaks. It troubled him to a great extent. He had kept it to himself, but the power he sensed began to grow too much for him. He was going to tell his chieftain, Cairne Bloodhoof, but he didn't think it would've helped them much. He decided to alert the one he thought was closest to Nature: Alexstrasza the Life-Binder. She was an ancient dragon, and he knew that her presence in Northrend would've made her capable of sensing this disturbance.
He had decided to rest one more day in his home city before he would go back to Northrend. It was going to take a few days to fly to Orgrimmar and then take the zeppelin there to the icy regions. The sun was barely beginning to rise. Now was the time to depart on his journey.
He transformed into a smaller brown bird, various parts of his body armored with simple leather armor and a necklace of sharp teeth and wooden beads, a pair of black horns going off to the side and upwards. He took flight, flapping his strong wings and heading towards Thunder Bluff. He flew towards the inn and returned to normal, landing in front of the structure. In his true form, he was a tall, mighty tauren adorned with a magical leather armor set known as the Dreamwalker along with a staff that was white and crowned with was looked like the bony wings of a dragon at its head. He began to grab supplies for his journey, snatching some food, water, and a few potions into his pack. Believing he had everything he needed, he set off to leave for his journey.
Shape shifting back into his bird form, he immediately flew northeast towards Orgrimmar, determined to reach Northrend and speak with Alexstrasza as soon as possible. Whatever this disturbance was, it needed to be dealt with now.
A few days later, he had finally reached his destination: Dragonblight, the snowy graveyard of dragons and the home of Wyrmrest Temple, the place where the Dragon Aspects themselves the ambassadors that represented them would meet. It was a tall temple, golden and intricately built with various statues and formations. Around it flew red dragons, young and ancient. Also surrounding the temple were the bodies of red and blue dragons. The place was constantly attacked by the blue dragonflight, for a war had erupted between them and the other flights after Malygos proclaimed war on Azeroth's spellcasters. But no aerial battles were occurring at this time.
He flew towards the temple, heading towards the very top where he knew Alexstrasza resided. He landed on the flight platform, instantly shape shifting back to his true form. Before him was the place where the Ruling Council met up. The Council consisted of Alexstrasza, her consort Korialstrasz, and the ambassadors of the other dragonflights and they met to discuss current matters that concerned them. They seemed to have a meeting currently, but Blackhorn could not afford to wait.
Before the druid took another step, he heard a loud roar. Glancing behind him, he saw a powerful looking azure drake heading towards him, but not of the blue dragonflight. The sight made him smile, for the coming drake was his faithful netherdrake mount, Azurion. The netherdrake usually stayed around Wyrmrest Temple whenever Blackhorn was away from Northrend. He would otherwise be flying the druid where he needed to be, helping him explore or fight when needed.
The drake landed on the flying platform aside Blackhorn. "Master, you have returned!" Azurion excitedly shouted with a smile.
The druid chuckled and rubbed the side of his drake's head. "It's good to see you again as well Azurion," he greeted. "But I am here take care of something. Something's wrong."
Azurion's expression became more serious. "What is wrong, Master?" he asked.
"I don't know. I've come here to see if I may be able to find out. But something just feels wrong."
"Then I remain by your side, Master."
Blackhorn nodded with a smile. He turned to the Council and began heading towards them. But suddenly a red foreclaw blocked his path. He looked to his right and saw the large red dragon Torialstrasz. He was the majordomo to the Ruling Council and made sure that no one would disturb the Council when a meeting was in session. He looked down at the druid with a stern look. "None may enter while the queen and the Ruling Council are in meeting," he firmly announced.
"Please, I must speak with Alexstrasza," Blackhorn explained. "Something is very wrong. She must know and I need her help."
"Where do these matters lie?"
"I don't know. But something powerful may have awakened and it could be evil. I need to find out if Alexstrasza may know what it is. I cannot wait for this meeting to end."
Torialstrasz snorted, puffs of smoke exhaling from his nostrils. "I shall see what I can do, dragonfriend."
The large drake turned to the council, approaching and speaking with his queen in what Blackhorn felt was Draconic. A few minutes passed before finally the dragon returned to him, along with Alexstrasza in her high elven form. Her skin was a reddish color. Her hair a crimson red, and her eyes were like smoldering orbs. Her red and yellow armor was elegant and strong. Her head was crowned with two pairs of horns, white horns draped with jewelry from the back of her head and black horns curving upward on her forehead.
"I have much more important matters to discuss, Spiritwalker. I do not have time to be called upon like a servant. You may be a respected dragonfriend, but you have no greater power to pester me of little matters and avoid my wrath," she said in a frustrated tone. "What is this about?"
Blackhorn bowed before her. "Please forgive me, Dragonqueen. I would not have demanded your presence if it were not very important."
"Then speak."
"Dragonqueen, I have sensed a great disturbance. Every time I have come here, especially the Storm Peaks, I've felt something strange. Something powerful is stirring. I can sense it, and I get a feeling it could be evil. I need to know, have you sensed anything? Do you know what this is?"
Alexstrasza sighed. "Yes, I have sensed something great. But even I cannot say what it is." She cocked a brow in interest. "But perhaps…you can discover it yourself."
"Me?" Blackhorn had not expected her offer. He had seen himself as the last person who could fix this.
"Yes. You have proven to me your strength and your determination. I believe you can do this and discover this disruption in the balance."
"I—I'm honored, Alexstrasza. But this doesn't seem like something I can handle."
"You can. You have shown me what you are capable of. You and your allies are powerful. Whatever it is, I believe you can handle this."
"Thank you, Alexstrasza. I will go on this quest."
"However, I would suggest scouting first and finding the source of this. Do not go on alone."
"Yes, Dragonqueen. I will not venture on my own."
"Good. Return to me at once."
Blackhorn bowed again. "I shall."
Alexstrasza nodded in reply and turned back towards the Council. Blackhorn watched her go and the meeting continued. He felt a nudge at his back. Looking back, he saw Azurion nudging his back with his pointed snout. The drake looked at him with a new determination and excitement. He smiled and rubbed at the side of the dragon's neck. "Who do you plan to bring, Master?" the curious dragon asked
Blackhorn gave him a half-smile. "A good old friend."