The smoke chokes me as I call out, "Sophie!" Desperate to peer through the jet-black smoke I push forward. She must be around here. As my vision fades, wails of anguish drown out my final cry, "Sophie!"
While darkness encroaches, I think back. How did we get here…
The crashing sound of waves fills the air. I gaze over to the small child dashing in and out of the waves, the small jackal pup tight on her heels. Focusing on her laughter I lay back upon the shore I turn my gaze upwards. Setting my sight upon the moon, it appearing almost as if a white marble is imbedded in the folds of the night sky, its light illuminates the dark shoreline.
"Auntie Eilla, look at this shell I found!", exclaimed Sophie.
"Whoa, Pretty!" I couldn't help but stare in bewilderment at this child. It wasn't a couple years earlier that I rescued her from Ashenvale forest, the horrors of war certainly still fresh in her memory.
The sound of encroaching Nightsabers breaks me my attention. Turning to look down the path I see a group of Sentinals led by Captain Delaryn Summermoon. "No! I told you already Captain, leading the Sentinels on the Broken Shore was enough for me, far too much bloodshed. I'm Retired!" As I stared at the Captain I can see the look, the same when the horde slaughtered the outpost where I rescued Sophie. "What Happened?"
"Horde army advances from the south, Astranaar is already put to the torch.", Advised Summermoon. "The fleet is in route to Silithus, we have just have the City Guard and my Sentinels. We need every warrior we can get."
"Survivors?" Summermoon dips her head, "We'll need to get Sophie to safety." Rushing over to Sophie, I can already see she knows what is happening.
"You're going to leave me again, aren't you?" Sophie asked with a look that punches you in gut.
Kneeling down I run my hand through her hair, "I know… I promised you. Look, just this once more. Sentinel come here," as I pull her forehead to mine, the warrior steps up behind me, "you need to go with her Sophie. She will take you to Darnassus where it is safe." Planting a kiss on on her brow I hear a whine from the puppy at her feet. "and we cannot forget about you now," picking up the pup. "You look after Sophie now," putting the puppy down and turning to Sophie again. "Look out for Samson, the two of you will keep each other out of trouble."
"I will look after the human girl, Knight Eilla."
Sophie suddenly grasps me. "Promise nothing is going to happen to you."
My heart drops, I know the exact nightmare running through her head. " Remember what I told you last time I had to leave?"
"Elves are immortal?" the teary-eyed girl replied.
"That's right, and when I see you again we'll Celebrate your Birthday. It's not every day someone turns 8 you know" I say as I embrace her tighter. "So off we go now, I'll see you again soon."
Sniffling she replied "Ok".
With a whistle I call my trusty pet, a spirit panther from the depths of Sholazar Basin. Turning to the Captain, "Lets Go! I'll meet you at the Grove of the Ancients." With a nod the Captain raced into the night With Sophie riding behind the Sentinel, the pups head poking out of her arms, on her way to the Capital. I run into my house and dawn on my equipment, as I pull the quiver around my back I look to my trusty pet, Pillow." One more time my dude," as I reach down and scratch behind his ear," seems we can't retire just yet."
The seaborne breeze whips past my face as I speed towards the Grove of the ancients. Thoughts not far from what's at stake, "we must hold them here." I mutter to myself.