Hi everyone, I'm Magna, and this is my first submission to Fanfiction.net. Now for the disclaimer...

I do not own the rights to WarCraftIII, The Frozen Throne, Maiev Shadowsong, or any other characters from Blizzard's campaign that is mentioned here. So please don't sue me Blizzard!! ^_^;

So, without further ado, the Prologue...


Diana sunk back into the warm, soothing waters of the hot spring; letting it bubble up around her strong, thin frame. Her hair black-green splayed out as her head dipped beneath the surface of the water. She hadn't had a bath in ages, and it felt so incredible. And Mirana, her dear younger sister, had even covered her shift in the cell blocks so she could sneak away to the springs. After a few more moments under the water, Diana sat on an outcropping so her head was above the water, then slowly slipped into sleep.

Diana awoke suddenly, something unseen jolting her out of sleep. She could not tell how much time had passed since she had fallen asleep. She swam to the other side of the pool, and stepped out, the cold air zapping the warmth of the spring. It felt as if the darkness of the cavern had greeted her. She dried off with a deerskin towel, and then put on her two-piece under garments. She hurriedly put on the thick cape and thin, form fitting armor, and rushed though the heavy door that took her to a path that led back to the deeps.

She ran down the winding pathway, and leapt into a warp gate. Her body felt as if it was being tugged by a hook in her navel, and her body traveled though stone and brick at a dizzying pace. She came to a stop several hundred feet away, back in the main cell blocks of the Barrow Deeps. Strange, she thought, there's no sound... Her stomach flipped at this, something was wrong.

She slowly pushed the heavy wooden door and it slowly swung outwards, giving her access to the main path of the cell block. There were no torches lit, and it was pitch black. Even with her Night Elf eyes, she couldn't see in total darkness. She took several steps into the hallway, and it felt as if something evil was hanging in the air.

Her bare feet stepped in something wet and sticky. She lifted her foot up, and swiped at it with her fingers. She brought her hand up to her face and smelled the fluid. Blood... Unmistakable... Her fears were reassured, something had indeed happened. For the first time in many ages, Diana Starstalker was afraid.

So she ran.

She ran in fear of her friends, and that whatever drew that blood was still alive and well in the Deeps. She slammed into the wall at the far end of this cell block. She fell backwards, cursed, and leapt back up and felt around for the door. She found the heavy iron ring, and slammed the door outwards.

She was at a lack for words at what she saw inside...

Blood was splattered over the walls like so much paint, and bodies were strewn around the wide corridors like children's dolls. By the Goddess... Diana muttered. She, she knew these people. Except she noticed a body near a fallen Owlbear or Wildkin. The body was that of a Night Elf female, clad in a foreign armor. Diana knelt down next to the body, studying it intently. The body was sitting at the base of the wall, and Diana touched her face checking to see if she was unconscious. The woman's head flopped around sickeningly, as if she had no spine at all.

Snapped her neck like a twig... Diana thought as she looked over at the Owlbear. Diana heard weak, stifled cries coming from behind the Owlbear. Diana carefully stepped behind the massive creature, and saw a strange sight. It was another outsider, clad in the same armor, but next to her was a creature Diana remembered from her youth. It was a Nightsabre panther, the first Diana had seen in several millennia. The girl had her arms around the creature's massive legs, and the panther was on it's legs, licking the girls torso. Diana took a wide circle around, and saw a gruesome sight.

The girl's entrails were spilled out on the floor in a bloody mess. The panther was trying in vain to push the girl's organs back inside her shredded stomach. The girl saw Diana and reached towards Diana.

I'm so cold... the girl whimpered.

Diana could not help but take pity on the girl, she took her hand and knelt down, and took her hand. I'm dying aren't I? the girl asked. Diana nodded, Yes, yes you are. The girl looked away, I'm so cold... she repeated.

The girls hand fell out of Diana's and hit the floor with a sound that resonated within the walls. Silence followed, and Diana looked into the girl's face. It was cold and lifeless, and Diana's tears slipped down her face and fell before the girl's lifeless frame.

Diana continued her grim way down the maze of cell blocks. The walls were composed of bland, tan stone, with etching inscribed in it. She exited the first major line of cells, and entered a hallway of heroes. The pathway was lined with alcoves, and within each alcove was a likeness of a hero of the Night Elves. Diana took notice of them, Shan'Do Stormrage, Tyrande Whisperwind, Cenarius, Shan'Do Blackmoon, why ever their senior Warden, Maiev Shadowsong, was immortalized here. There was less bloodshed here, but as Diana passed though to the second cell-filled hallway, that all changed.

Once again a sickening sight welcomed Diana. As she walked, she noticed that all of the cells were empty, broken open by blunt force. So, these people freed the prisoners? Who would want to free convicted criminals? She continued her way, the deeper she went, the more bodies were strewn across the floor. What did they do to deserve this? She followed the trail of blood and bodies, both local and outsider, to the central courtyards.

The central courtyards were a pair of pathways in a figure-eight surrounding two small lakes. The border of the pathways were also lined with a rarity in these Barrow Deeps, trees. She walked around the circular courtyard, and took a short, nearly impassable path, into the second of the courtyards, where she should have been stationed.

By the Goddess... Mirana!

Diana ran though the secondary courtyard, and then to where she should have been stationed. She saw Mirana laying still on the cold, stone floor. Naive, Diana ran over to her yelling, Baby sister! I'm here! I'm here! She stopped by Mirana's seemingly unconscious body and knelt by her. Diana took one her sisters hands in her own. Sister? Mirana?

Silence.

Mirana? Please! Talk to me! Sister... Baby sister... Answer me...

Skin colder then ice.

Mirana... Please... Speak to me...

Deathly stillness.

Goddess... No... Diana's body began to tremble and shake, and Diana slowly laid her ear on her sister's chest. No heartbeat or breathing welcomed her ear. Tears welled up in Diana's eyes, and great tears rolled over her cheeks and fell onto her sister's lifeless body. The shock overcame Diana like an avalanche of sorrow, she felt like she too, wanted to die.

Diana stayed with her head on her sister's body, Diana's tears eventually stopping, but she kept her head on her sister's chest for a long while. Time lost meaning to Diana, as she lay there in her sorrow.

And it was Diana's fault... If Mirana hadn't been so nice, Diana could have protected her, saved her, or maybe at least have died with her sister.

Diana's vigil was interrupted by the sounds of footsteps behind her, coming from the courtyards. Intruder or not, Diana didn't care, life was meaningless now. Leave me be, Diana whimpered softly. Diana felt a gentle grip on her shoulder that made her look up. It was the senior Warden, Maiev. Ma- Maiev? Diana asked weakly. Yes child, it is I. Maiev noticed Mirana's lifeless body. Mirana... She has passed? Diana bowed her head, Yes milady, Mirana is dead... Come now child, Maiev whispered in Diana's ear as she attempted to lift Diana off of her sister's body. But, Diana didn't want to leave her sister alone, vulnerable, no she couldn't let it happen again! She wrapped her arms around Mirana's lifeless body but Maiev overpowered Diana as she ripped her away from her slain sister.

No! No! I can't leave her alone again! Let me go damn it! Diana screamed. Stop this! Maiev yelled back, She is dead Diana, there is nothing we can do but bring our wrath upon those who violated this place. Maiev's words priced Diana's mind, and she became lucid again. Who did this? Who killed my sister? Diana asked, voice colder then steel. Maiev looked away, not knowing if Diana would believe the truth...

Tyrande Whisperwind came into our jail, she demanded that the villain Illidan be set free, we refused, and she stormed the complex.

Diana stood confounded for a moment, trying to remember who Tyrande was. Wait, Tyrande Whisperwind, the Sentinel leader? The Hero of the War of the Ancients? Why would she want to free Illidan? Maiev shrugged, I do not know. It is important that we find all those who escaped and bring them under our own justice.

Is anyone else alive? Diana asked. Maiev nodded, Yes, Naisha, and a number of the Watchers did manage to get out of this alive, for know, we should focus on regrouping our forces.

Milady, I have a request, Diana asked meekly, May I return Mirana to the ground myself? Maiev nodded, Of course my child. Mirana is yours to do as you wish. Diana knelt down, and picked up her sister's limp, cold body. I will take her outside for one last view at the moon. As Maiev watched Diana disappear into the shadows, Maiev knew that Diana would abandon her cause. Because for Diana, only vengeance was left for her.

***
A half a week later, Diana stood on the threshold of the Barrow Deeps, her sister silent in Diana's arms. Mirana's corpse was draped in a sacred white cloth, pure and pristine as the Moon itself. Diana took a deep breath, and stepped outside the caverns.

The foothills of Mount Hyjal were a beautiful place, marvelous to behold. The ground was comprised of sparse trees with a thick undergrowth of shrubs and bushes. The moon shined upon Mirana for the first time in countless years. It was around midnight, and the moon was just about to wane from it's full form. Diana remembered the forests, and how the moon used to shine upon her sister as they played their silly, childish games together. How the one night when the skies first rained fire, and the Demons came to Azeroth. Diana walked slowly in the moonlight, to a small, flat area several hundred feet away from the Barrow's entrance.

Diana lovingly placed Mirana's body in a grave which she had made in the previous week. She then placed a single enchanted seed on Mirana's chest, and covered Mirana's body in soil. As soon as the last patch of dirt was put back, a twirl of energy danced it's way high into the evening sky and towards the inviting moon. Diana's body quivered and quaked, but the time for tears had passed for her.

As the soul of her sister wound it's way towards the heavens, a small sapling erupted from the ground. By the sapling Diana placed her sister's armor, weapon, and helm. All of them were suddenly ensnared by the roots and branches of the tree.

Solemnly, Diana gazed as the last remnants of Mirana's spirit vanish into the Hereafter. As the energy dissipated, Diana was reminded of her sister's voice, laugh, and cheerful demeanor. Diana then burst into tears, burying her face in her hands. It was all so unfair! Why should Mirana have died? She was such a ray of light in those caves, always happy and upbeat. And for her to be struck down by her own kind, it made no sense...

Diana knelt on the soft forest floor, sobbing quietly. Her fingers dug into the soil, trying to unleash the pent-up rage she felt. Diana's tears fell upon the soil where her sister's body now forever lay. But then, something came to Diana's mind that she had not thought of before.

Mirana unknowingly sacrificed her life so Diana could bring her wrath upon those who had killed her. Yes, her sister had allowed Diana one final gift... And Diana would make excellent use of that.

Diana knelt by her sister's grave, and ripped her sister's sword from the sapling embrace. The sword was of medium length, but extremely light and easy to handle. On their blades were etched the sister's names in Night Elf runes. Diana put the sword's scabbards on her belt, and slid the weapons inside. Diana then took out a small, polished piece of magical stone attached to a cord from a small pouch on Diana's belt. It was pristine in it's color, a shade of violet like Diana's skin. Both sides of the stone were engraved in more Elven runes. On one side was Diana's name, and the other was Mirana's. It was a sacred item to the Starstalker family.

As Diana clutched the stone to her breast, her tears and sorrow were banished for now. Now, it was time to shed the blood of her enemies. They would soon know the wrath of the Starstalker family.

Her baby sister will not have died in vain. Diana would make sure of that...