Chapter 1:

One of the only daughters left in the Windrunner family. That's who I was.

"What are you aiming at Valarisa! Please tell me you took that shot with your eyes closed or something?" my brother, Arator, laughed almost falling off the barrel he was sitting on.

"Shut it Arator!" I snapped quickly readying another arrow turning in his direction. "Unless you wish me to 'accidently' give you a haircut again. Maybe a little off the top this time." I threatened.

"No need for that Val. Take it easy." He quickly quipped holding his hands up in surrender.

I dropped my bow with a sigh. Arator knew as well as I did that I was just agitated. I was like this every year around this time. This was the season when our parents just disappeared from our home in Honor Hold leaving the two of us behind.

"You need a break. Well, I should say that target needs a break. How about we go in and get a drink from Sid?" My brother smiled wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

"It is hotter than normal today." I nodded following my older sibling into the local Inn.

"Finally taking a break I see Val!" Sid, in the inn manager, greeted setting some glasses to dry on the back counter.

"Yeah, it's getting too hot out there." I replied setting my bow and quiver pack against the bar taking a seat.

"Hot? That's a bloody understatement. I was starting to worry that you'd melt out there." Sid laughed as he started to prepare one of his signature drinks.

"No way! I still had a good bit of training to do but someone insisted I come in." I nudged Arator with my elbow.

"Hea! I only suggested you come in. You little sister made the decision to take my suggestion." Arator teased rustling my blonde hair.

"Well, dear brother, when Arator the Redeemer suggests something, you might as well take it as an order." I replied with a smirk crossing my arms over my chest.

"He may be Arator the Redeemer to many of the strangers who pass through here, but he will always be Little Arator to me." Announced a familiar voice behind us.

"Will I ever get to outgrow that nic-name Danath?" Your brother sighed with a smile as he stood up to greet his superior correctly. I didn't waste any time either getting out of my seat to stand at attention.

"No you won't Little Arator. You both can forget formalities I'm not here as your commander." Danath replied taking the seat next to me so I sat between him and my brother.

"How are you Sir?" I asked taking my seat again.

"Alright, just trying to organize another unit to cycle to the Ramparts. How about you Little Valarisa? Your birthday approaches soon does it not? Any plans?"

"Uh, no sir. I really don't know what I was going to do." I replied going slightly red.

Even though Danath helped Arator take care of me after our parents left, it was hard to see him as anything other than the leader of the Alliance forces here in the new Draenor.

"I don't know how it is with the High Elves, but eighteen is a mementos occasion for human children. It marks the end of your training but the start of your own journey."

"My own journey?" I asked.

"Here you all go!" Sid spoke up setting a large glass in front of each of us.

"Well Little Valarisa, Arator officially joined the order of the Paladins when he turned eighteen and now serves the Alliance here in Hellfire. And I do say he's done a glorious job so far. You my dear, will hopefully will pass your Ranger's Exam and join the ranks of your Elvin family. Who knows where that will take you?"

I remained silent fiddling with the glass Sid handed me. I had never thought of it that way. I was, hopefully, joining the ranks my mother and her sisters fought for. Though I never met any of them, I was told many stories about their battles in the Second and Third wars by the many travelers who came through Honor Hold. And here I was about to embark on the same path. Could I live up to the name 'Windrunner'?

"Well knowing Val, she'll probably end up causing trouble." My brother laughed breaking me out of my thoughts.

"I promise not to be too much of a hassle." I joked with a sly smile at my older brother.

"I think you'll be just fine Little Val. The only trouble I think you will cause is to any enemy who crosses your path once you get your first assignment." Danath pointed out giving me a light hug with his free arm.

"Thank you Danath." I smiled.

"That's true. If she goes at them like she just did that target out there, I don't know if there will be anything to drag back and report about." My brother teased.

"Yes. I was watching you from the Stronghold Val. You sure have gotten quicker recently. How is your accuracy with your new speed?"

"It could still use some improvement, but what I really need is another trip into Terokkar to work on my stealth abilities and ambushes. It's kind of hard to do it in the wasteland beyond the city walls." I replied with a sigh.

"Well then I'll talk to one of the commanders I know in Shattrath City to see if maybe one of his men could work with you for a couple days. You can count that as a birthday gift from me." He winked.

"Really Danath!" I gasped jumping out of my seat.

"No need to get excited Val. I have to see if he has someone to spare first. If not, you'll have to just go with one of our archers. They're not as skilled but it's better than nothing." Danath explained.

"Oh Danath if he does I won't know how to ever repay you!" I smiled jumping in place.

"If I can do it, how about passing your Rangers Exam with flying colors? That will be thanks enough for me and your brother I'm sure." Danath stood up setting his empty glass on the bar with a few silver pieces, "Thank you for the drink Sid, but I have to get back to the Stronghold. I have an operation to schedule, and now a little excursion for Little Val to set up. Thank you for the conversation kids! If you need me you know where to find me." He gave a wink at me and walked off.

"Well aren't you just special." My brother commented after Danath left.

"Oh shut up Arator! I know he did the same thing for you right before your big thing with the paladins." I replied setting a hand on my hip.

"Well Paladins are in abundance here amongst the Alliance forces so it's not too hard to get one to help a trainee. I think it will take a little more string pulling to get one of The Rangers, better yet a High Elf Ranger, to help you." Arator pointed out poking my stomach.

"True, but I don't doubt Danath's connections, but like he said if he couldn't do it he'd still send me with one of the local archers." I shrugged liking either possibility.

"Well my dear sister I must get going. I have to meet up with a party of new recruits coming in today. Don't get yourself in too much trouble now and I'll see you tonight at supper."

With that, Arator gave me a hug and walked out.

"So your Ranger Exam is coming up huh?" Sid asked leaning onto the bar.

"Yeah, I'm not sure how ready I am." I nervously laughed.

"Well I have something you can do to work on those skills of yours." He joked.

"And what's that Sid?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"I'm running low on some meats. Would you mind doing some hunting for me?" he suggested.

"Didn't one of the archers just do that for you yesterday?" I questioned.

"Yes, but the bloke brought only small game and ruined the best part of the meat with his shot. I think you're the only person here who knows how to hunt properly Val."

"Alright," I sighed grabbing my bow and strapping my quiver pack on, "What am I going for?"