Riseon woke to the sound of the baby Gryphon squalling and rose to feed it, seeing Theozsal stir from the corner of her eye. He only rose when the babe was fed, and crouched close to the ground, as if uncertain of his own whereabouts.

"Calm down." She blandly ordered. "It is close to sunrise." She rifled through her pack, pulling out several rolls stuffed with preserved meat and cheese. With a flick of her fingers, the food hung in the warm air coming from the coals of the fire as she groomed Zatistrasz. Theozsal eyed the girl for a moment before tending to his own mounts.

"Where will you go now?" He asked her slowly, leaning on Nychta. The cat purred lowly, nuzzling his hand.

"After I escort you to Telaar, I will report to Garadar. This afternoon the next messenger will meet me and give the Gryphon to me. We have prepared its return to Azeroth, where Thrall will take it." She finished her morning chores and pulled the now steaming rolls from the fire. Two went to Theozsal, who ate them silently.

Riseon banked the fire after they had eaten and glanced around them. Theozsal could not keep his eyes from her face; in the warm morning light she seemed beautiful to the Night Elf.

"I would like for us both to fly, but with your land mount I find that impossible." She fastened her hood, tucking her hair from sight. "I will ride above you. We should reach Telaar by midmorning."

Without another word she leapt to the saddle of the Drake, who snorted at Theozsal and exploded into flight, leaving the rogue to himself on the ground.

Mercifully, the Gryphon slept during his journey. The windswept fields were eerily quiet but for the creatures. Normally an adventurer or two would be roaming the fields.

Theozsal was nervous, though. He shifted his hold on his reins, glancing above him at the dot in the sky that was Feravel.

"Feravel…" he murmured, and returned his gaze to the road. "Feravel." The name sounded foreign in his mouth. Sundragon flowed like a breeze from his lips, but Feravel made his throat tighten nervously.

It was intimate. To call her Sundragon was to keep things distant. They would 'work together' for the sake of their people, but once it was over, she would be any other Blood Elf, albeit a Sundragon. Just a Sundragon. Just another Blood Elf. Just another… enemy.

Theozsal could not convince himself of the distance. She had blue hair and eyes, and a smile he would never forget. She had haunted his fitful dreams the night before, and her image was torturing him even in the day. She was unbiased by his race. She did not seem as scary as his Night Elvin brothers swore all Sundragons were.

Theozsal heaved a long sigh, wishing he could hate her and knowing he could not.

She was a Sundragon.

She reminded him of Laflanna.

A single tear slid down his cheek.


Riseon did not know of the Night Elf's dilemma. She was far to distracted by her duty to protect the hatchling.

Zatistrasz swooped and turned again, enjoying the warm breezes. "Why are you so concerned?" He rumbled over the wind. "We are almost there. The hatchling will be fine."

Riseon ducked her head, fighting a blush. "Yes, I know. He is a good man. He will protect it with his life." She took a breath, fighting the strange feeling in her chest. "I sense honor in him."

Zatistrasz snorted. "You sense honor? He is a rogue. All the honor they have goes to their precious shadow cults hiding under the stairs of inns. This is merely another job to him. He will forget it when he is assigned to kill someone."

"I don't know…" She frowned. "He did not seem so eager to fight. He was willing to be peaceful with me." Sighing, the Elf shook her head. "I don't know though. My head is very muddled."

"Sounds like someone is getting interested."

Her muscles locking, the Paladin clenched her jaw and fought the urge to duck her head again. "Interested? I don't know what you mean."

But the Drake was silent, soaring downward. He skimmed the ground with a claw, raking the grasses. Riseon moved with him, leaning as he curved in flight to glide beside the Night Elf and his charge.

"How goes it?" She called, shoving her previous conversation from mind.

Startled from his thoughts, Theozsal hoarsely called, "Fine," thanking the God's she hadn't come down minutes before she did. "How is the view? It must be wonderful."

"I do not see anyone around. While this may be a blessing, I feel uneasy." If she blushed at his flirty tone, she hoped he would not notice. "Telaar is coming into view though." She remembered, and bit her lip. "I feel if I follow much closer they will send troops to your aid."

Theozsal realized she was correct, and halted Nychta. Zatistrasz turned sharply in the air, landing with a thud next to cat, rider, and Gryphon.

Taking in a breath, Theozsal's mind scrambled for something to say. There were no proper manners for such a situation between 'enemies', though he felt the need to say something.

"I… am thankful, Feravel." He forced out, almost cringing at her name. She stared at him until he continued. "You… you have shown me something. I'm very grateful to you."

And if he sounded like any more of an idiot, he was sure she would send him to the crazy house in Shattrath.

"It was my duty, Darkstar. I was sworn to the hatchling." She fiddled with her reins, and Theozsal was surprised to see her blush. "This afternoon… if… if you were to be the messenger to represent at the meeting, I wouldn't mind taking you. If you don't know the way." She hastily added. "And if you didn't mind leaving your own mounts. And…" she stopped, shaking her head. "What am I saying… I apologize. Perhaps we will meet again, Theozsal." A timid small graced her face, inviting him to return the gesture.

Riseon pointed to his pocket. "Keep the coal." He felt his pocket, feeling the warmth pulse from the bauble. "Let it remind you of me."

Extremely embarrassed now, she nodded curtly and nudged Zatistrasz. Blushing furiously, she rapidly climbed into the sky, disappearing before long.

Theozsal grinned at her retreat for a moment, before pressing on to Telaar.


"Light, did he smell horrible?"

Riseon thanked the innkeeper at Garadar and accepted the glass of wine. Turning to her companion, she gave him a cool stare. "He smelled like the road, as any would after traveling nonstop from Shattrath."

"Yes, but, didn't he reek of Earthmagic?"

The paladin sighed, taking a sip of wine and wishing she could have gotten ale. Or at least something more potent. "I didn't notice, Ahti. Perhaps you should tell a Tauren that you would like to see if they reek of Earthmagic as well. I'm sure the warrior in the corner over there would appreciate it." She set down her glass and stared at the Blood Elf sitting next to her. "I told you he was a rogue. He doesn't have anything to do with druid magic." Fiddling with her glass, she continued, "He even showed a disliking to anything Druidic."

"He- oh no Riseon, you've got that look. You didn't go all experimental on him did you?"

"I'd never met a friendly Night Elf before!" She retorted, praying she didn't blush. "Besides, I will probably see him again and I wanted to see what he is like."

"He's a womanizing narcissistic pig who was probably checking you out the whole time. I knew your father should have sent one of his soldiers…"

"He isn't womanizing or narcissistic!" Riseon defended. "And he never looked at me like that. He was different, I tell you!"

Ahti smirked. "Riseon, you just admitted you had never met a Night Elf before. Just forget about him. I'll go in your stead to retrieve the hatchling and-"

"No." She interrupted. "I took the task, and I will see it finished." She glared her friend in the eye, purposely shifting her eye color. "Do not underestimate my control."

Defeated, Ahti held up his hands. "Alright. I trust you. Just be careful. Night Elves are known to be tricksy. Don't let your guard down for even a second or your mother will kill me."


"Theozsal! Why are you so late?! You were supposed to get here last night!"

Theozsal grimaced at Isel, who was tapping an arrogant hoof. "I got caught in the storm, keep your tail on." He had already been reprimanded by Luftasia, who took his mounts without as much as a pleasant greeting. "I feared if I continued I would be helpless if attacked."

"Well you worried me." The Draenei said, and at her tone, Theozsal winced. She sauntered over to the tall elf and placed a kiss on his defined jaw, slipping a hand onto his shoulder. "I missed you. You haven't been by to see me in months."

"About that…" he began, and slid her hand off carefully. "There's, ah, this problem…"

Isel's eyes widened. "What? What's wrong?"

"I don't think that this," he gestured between them, "is such a good idea. I'm going to be traveling a lot more now and I don't think we will work out in the long run."

Isel stared at him for a long moment, and the Night Elf assumed she would be understanding.

Two minutes later Theozsal stumbled out of the inn, escaping the shrieks of the Draenei woman. A pot flew out the door after him, and he ducked. Luftasia laughed nearby, and chucked a groom brush at his head. It missed, connecting with his leg instead.

Desperate, the elf hobbled behind a building nearby, leaning his back on the wall. A dwarf laughed at him, saying something about Night Elf sex tendencies. Theozsal snarled at the short paladin before turning and limping toward the building Khan stayed in.

"Theozsal? What took you so long?"

The rogue looked up at the interrogator, wincing as his leg shot a spasm of pain up its length. "Gracious Elune, it's no wonder I spend my days away from Telaar. Everyone greets me as if they had been waiting on me for weeks just so they could resume their lives." Stumbling to the wall closer to Khan, he scowled. "I'm taking the hatchling to the meeting place in a little while. I met the Horde messenger, a Sundragon, during the storm last night. It was my luck that she was the real one. Had an assassin been at that fire I assure you the gryphon would be gone and I dead." He took a minute to slide down the wall, closing his eyes.

Khan gaped at the rogue, who was in obvious pain. "You… you just… the Sundragon?"

Nodding, Theozsal reopened his eyes. "She was impassive to me when I first appeared. I let slip I was a rogue and she almost killed me. Luckily she caught sight of the hatchling and recognized me as its carrier. After that, she convinced me about the trade between factions. She-" Theozsals eyes lit up, "By Elune! She spoke to that Warcheif Thrall! Right there at the fire like they were friends!"

"They might well be." The Draenei shook his head, "All I know is that there will be a blue haired Sundragon outside our walls at noon, and we are to send a peaceful representative with them with 'the package'. AKA, the hatchling." He swiped his brow. "A Sundragon… well, at least we don't have to worry about any more of it after the beast is off your hands. We're having enough trouble with those Ogres, we don't need the Horde sniffing around."

Theozsal nodded, rising again. "I'll go fetch the hatchling. I let it rest with the other gryphons, but I think it's about time Feravel showed up."

"Yes, of course. Go ahead and- wait."

Theozsal paused, suddenly wary.

"…Feravel?"

Gulping, the rogue turned and met the Draenei's gaze. The interrogator was frowning.

"Do not, under any circumstances, become attached to a Sundragon on any level." He ordered. Theozsal stiffened. "They are murdering, corrupted wielders of magic. They are as horrible as any Blood Elf, and worse than the rest of the Horde." One of his thick fingers pointed between the Night Elf's eyes. "Never forget that they are the enemy."

Theozsal could not bring himself to speak, and merely nodded curtly before stepping back outside.


Riseon finished bathing in the small bathhouse and dressed in cloth. After a long glance at the sky she took out her polishing cloths and went over her armor, buffing out a scratch from one of her recent scuffles. Finding she still had time before the meeting, she sparred with the warriors of the Mag'har.

It was during the middle of one such spar that the edges of her senses tingled. She rolled away from the next hit, countered with a fake stab and ended the fight quicker than normal with a flick of her wrist that placed her blade at her opponents throat. The orc was surprised as they bowed to each other.

"Something wrong, Sundragon?"

Riseon shook her head slowly, not in refusal, but as if to clear it. "I don't know…" she muttered. "I feel as if something is wrong. Perhaps a charm I set has been broken-"

Zatistrasz shrieked as he plummeted from an overhead island, landing in the stream near his rider with a large splash. "Riseon! We are under attack!"

There was a sudden burst of activity as the war hardy people prepared for enemies. Riseon threw aside her sparring weapon and waded into the water to see if she could aide her companion.

A large slash oozed blood from his shoulder, under one arm and onto part of his chest. Riseon's blood boiled, and the healing spell exploded from her lips and hands. The wound leaked pus and dirt before closing and healing, until only a light blue scar remained.

Turning, she ran for her belongings at the inn, dodging warriors as they took on positions.

"Do you see them?"

"I don't see them… who was it?"

"Where are the-"

"In the sky! Aerial attack!"

Despite herself, Riseon froze with the crowd around her, looking up to see several hooded and cloaked people dropped from bats to land between her and the inn. Three held off the Mag'har, while four leapt towards her.

Cursing, for she had an idea as to what this was about, the Sundragon threw Light from her body and knocked the assassins back. With one leap she caught a branch of a nearby tree and pushed off, rolling as she hit the ground past the attackers and coming to her feet running.

"Riseon! Are you alright!?"

She shoved past her friend without pause, grabbing up her armor and shrugging it on as fast as she could. "Fine, Ahti. Help me get this on. Theozsal is in danger and I-"

The Elf rogue paused in doing up one of her straps. "Please tell me you are not actually worried about a Night Elf when your friends are out there fighting, under attack because you are among them."

Finishing the buckles by herself, she grabbed the front of Ahti's tabard, pulling him towards her. "You had better believe that I am worried about a very important creature that is currently helpless, and if that Night Elf comes to any harm the Alliance is going to blame his protector, and thus the Horde. That thing is precious to both sides, and it's my duty to keep it in the correct hands." Turning, she released her friend and grabbed her sword. "Beside's, the Mag'har can handle themselves."

"That we can."

Riseon jumped at the new voice, turning to see Geyah, Thrall's grandmother, grinning beside them. "Don't worry about us. Go take care of what you need to." She made a shooing motion to the young elf. "And while you're at it, tell Thrall I said hello."

Bowing, the Sundragon shot a last look at Ahti before bolting outside. The assassins looked like they were beating a hard retreat, and Garrosh was charging towards Riseon with a look that made her want to turn tail and hide behind Geyah.

"Sundragon!" He thundered, and pressed his face close to hers as he snarled, "What the Nether was this attack about! We've got pure chaos around here and you're just dallying in the inn-"

"A piece of a very dire trade is currently in danger." She interrupted, attempting to remain calm. "Every second I am away from the other target of this mess, is one more second that the enemy has advantage of. Should my charge come to any harm, I have no doubt there will be more bloodshed on Azeroth, and this time Thrall and Jaina will have no control over their forces." Loosing her grasp on her emotions, her eyes flashed blue and green, and waves of Light and magic bent the air around her. "So every moment I waste explaining matters that you have no part in is another moment you will be paying for from Thrall."

And without another word she shoved past the orc that was thrice as strong as her and a head taller and leapt onto Zatistrasz's back. Without a backward glance, she sped off for Telaar, praying to the Light she wasn't too late.


Theozsal felt something was very wrong. The ember Feravel had given him was throbbing with heat as he approached the figure outside of Telaar. The hatchling in his arms fought his hold, acting very different around the Blood Elf than she did last night.

"Hello, Feravel." He greeted, several yards from her and wary as ever. "Long time no see."

And before he could even take another breath, the figure's hand snapped up and magic consumed him. The gryphon shrieked as he released it, but instead of falling away the hatchling struggled to fly, retreating behind the Night Elf.

Gritting his teeth, Theozsal pulled out his two weapons, swinging at the enemy. One missed, but his second sword clipped the robe and tore it off, revealing a troll that he presumed was of the Witherbark tribe. Cursing, the she-troll cast another spell on him, and he struggled to stay on his feet as the world began to darken. He blocked the swing of a staff aimed for his head, listening more than seeing. Squinting his eyes, he leaned away from another wild swing and came back to stab her in the gut.

His vision was still wavering, but he managed to catch sight of three more troll shaped figures running towards him.

Grunting, he forced his body to remain upright. "Dammit Feravel, where are you…"


Zatistrasz beat his wings furiously, urged hard by his rider. The Night Elf was just one against however many of those damn Witherbarks they could manage. The hatchling was in danger, and she might not even get there in time to see them escape…

"Look!" the Drake beneath her thundered, pointing and diving at the same time. She scanned the ground, catching sight of a figure riding hard towards Garadar on a cat.

"Is it them?" She asked, leaning forward, the wind blowing hard on her face as they streaked towards the ground. "Is it the hatchling?"

It didn't make a difference. Zatistrasz came zooming up from behind the Night Elf, grabbing both him and the mount up in his claws and returning to higher elevations.

The cat screamed in terror, but Theoszal, with the hatchling clinging to his leather armor and screaming, crawled around the Drakes neck to feel blindly for the rider.

"By Elune if you are not Feravel I'm going to-"

Riseon interrupted him by throwing herself forward and grabbing him with one arm while clinging to Zatistrasz with the other as they made a crash landing on a large floating island high above the ground. The cat screeched again and darted from the Drake's hold, but fumbled to a stop at the edge of the island.

Riseon and Theozsal tumbled from the saddle, the Night Elf still blindly clinging to both the Blood Elf and hatchling, as Zatistrasz moaned in exhaustion and collapsed.

"Theozsal it's me! It's Ri-Feravel!" She checked him for wounds quickly, touching his bleeding sleeve and side tenderly before grabbing up the Gryphon. "Is she alright? Did they use magic on her?"

Theozsal sighed in relief and flopped onto his back, eyes wide and unseeing. "Yes, she should be fine. Elune guide me, for a minute there I thought I was dead meat."

Placing the hatchling under one of Zatistrasz's large claws, she turned back to the rogue and fell to her knees beside him. Releasing a sigh, along with it most of her tension, she tried a shaky smile. "I was very worried about you. When I felt the coal absorb several spells, I thought they had captured you and were torturing you for information."

The Night Elf shook his head. "I don't know what they did, but I'm just glad Zatistrasz could find an island to land on." Reaching out he grabbed for her hand. "Don't wander, you might fall off."

Suddenly troubled again, Riseon leaned over him. "What do you mean?" She asked slowly.

"I mean this darkness they cast. It's like nighttime, only I can't see a blasted thing like I normally can."

Paling, Riseon waved a hand in front of the other elf's glowing eyes. They didn't move. "Theozsal…" she began, voice shaky with worry, "It's bright as hell out."

He froze. "No, no it's not. It's pitch black."

Wincing, Riseon let her magic flow over his eyes. As she suspected, they cast a blinding curse on him. "Oh Light, Theozsal… they blinded you!"

He surged forward, grabbing her hands and facing her. "No… no they can't have." She responded with a gasp. "Can't you heal it?!"

"It's a very magical wound! I don't even specialize in healing!" She clenched her fist and released it, calling the Light to her fingers. Trembling, she brushed it like paint over his other wounds, slowly healing them. "If I try, I could burn myself out. Then you would be helpless to any attacks."

"Like I'm not already!" He gripped her hands, trying vainly to see. Snarling, he bent his head forward, mind racing.

"Kill me."

Now Riseon froze, heart pounding in her chest as she tried to catch her breath. "Wha- Theozsal I can't-"

"Do it." He turned his face back up to hers, grimacing in pain. "I'm going to go lame in a month from my leg, without my sight I am helpless. And…" He turned his face away, clenching his teeth.

"Without my wife, Laflanna, I have nothing to live for."

Riseon was stunned. Her mouth slowly dropped open as she realized he was serious. Her mind raced though, trying to catch hold of reality so she could sort this out.

But poor Theozsal… Night Elves married for life. To be widowed, or divorced, or-

"Wait…Did this Laflanna follow the Priestly ways?"

Theozsal attempted to hide a sob with a cough. Riseon's eyes widened further.

"She cursed your leg?" When he didn't answer, she shook his hands. "Theozsal, did your wife try to kill you?"

"Kill me!" He moaned. "Kill me like she failed to. Finish it. You've got the Gryphon." He dropped her hands, leaning his head onto her collarbone and letting the tears fall out of her sight. "Take what you want of be, but do me one favor and kill me."

"I… I…" She blinked, closing her mouth and pressing her eyes closed. The situation she sat in was surreal, and she knew her father would never believe this.

"Feravel, please… Sundragon," her grabbed her hand and pressed his own blade into it, "do what you are meant to do." He hiccupped, pressing his blade to his throat with her hand. "Kill the scum elf, like your family would be proud of you for."

She tore her hand away, tossing his sword aside and grabbing his hands. Something seemed strange... something she had almost forgotten, had not thought of for so long…

Her father… his one embarrassing moment of his career. It had to do with Riseon, when she was little. The paladin strained to remember, pressing her forehead to the miserable Night Elf in front of her.

She was very young. Her mother left her to Monsoon, her adoptive brother, while she went on a vacation. She was supposed to be with Father…

The tale returned to her. Father was in Outland. In Shattrath. She begged Monsoon.

She was outside the walls. Her father's enemies came. Monsoon had gone to see what was amiss with the spirits. She…

"Why did your wife try to kill you." She demanded. Theozsal moaned something in Darnassian and she shook him. "Theozsal, listen to me. I need to know why your wife cursed you!"

"She said… I betrayed the Alliance." He began to sober up, shaking his head slowly. "She said I was a soft-hearted fool who had made a terrible mistake. She told me that no corrupted elf would ever do such a thing…"

"When?"

"Wha… what?"

"When did you betray the Alliance?" She gripped him hard, taking in his features. He was handsome, but she did not let that distract her. She ignored her heart, which was pounding in her throat at their close quarter, instead urging him to tell.

"Some years ago…" He shook his head. "I don't remember exactly when the first time…"

"You have to remember." She released his hands to grab his face. If this was the one… who Monsoon told her…

"I…" he blinked. "Tw… twenty some years ago I think…"

She released him, stumbling back onto her bum. "It cannot be…"

He reached in front of himself blindly, eyes watering. "Feravel? What? Why do you-"

"Riseon."

He stopped, frowning. "Riseon? What-"

"My name is Riseon Feravel Sundragon." She spluttered. Tears were threatening to pour from her eyes now. All of the years Monsoon had searched…

"Riseon…" He looked confused for a moment. "Riseon…" His face froze as realization dawned on him. "No… not…"

"Monsoon is looking for you." She choked out. She had never thought she would ever… "The orc. He has something for you."

The rogue rubbed his face. "The odds were so out of the favor…"

"Theozsal," she said, and smiled through tears, "Theozsal Darkstar, you saved my life."

He shook his head, sadness overwhelming him again. "You don't understand Riseon…"

She crawled back to him, touching his face. "I always wanted to thank you. Oh, Theozsal, Fate has smiled upon us."

"No!" He retorted. "There was another one. An orphan. I tried… Laflanna wouldn't help… she stood there as he bled…" He clenched a fist. "She scorned me for crying over the little baby's dead body. She cursed me…" he sighed, "She left me."

Overwhelmed, Riseon shook her head. "Theozsal, you cannot save everyone. You-"

"I shouldn't even care about your kind." He snarled, but with his next words softened, "But after I saw them grab you… I couldn't let it go."

Silence followed. After a moment, Riseon fumbled at the catch of her necklace. It came free and she pressed the jewelry into his hand.

He felt it carefully. It was a ring, his family crest. He lost it during that battle…

"I've kept it with me ever since." She murmured. "I never wanted to forget the debt I owed to one Night Elf. I wanted to remind my family why I was even alive."

He shook his head. "I still deserve death." He stubbornly pressed. "I am lame and useless. I have nothing to live for…"

"I would be very sad if you were killed."

The Night Elf felt his throat tighten. "You… you shouldn't say that…"

"It's true." She shifted, leaning forward. "I think I owe you a reason to live."

"And what would it be?" He shakily replied.

"Me."

She kissed him, skimming her hands over his shoulders and holding him close to her. He responded quickly, pulling back. "I dare not, Riseon. You are so young compared to… You don't understand-"

"Correct. I don't understand why you wish to die." She turned away, hurt by his refusal. "I thought… we…"

"Impossible." He too turned away. "I am already worthless. You still have a good family and body, and a life to live."

She tried once more. "Let me share my family then. Monsoon would speak for you, despite his being a complete jackass."

"What could I offer to your family?" He laughed, "I am blind, and I am handicapped."

"Let me heal you." She whispered. "If I speak to Greatmother Geyah, she could return your sight. And with a wave of his hand my father would erase all damage of your leg."

The Night Elf wavered. "I could not… be honored like that. What have I done to deserve such gifts?"

"For starters, your own wife left you for protecting someone." She slid her hand into his, and he didn't pull away. "You risked your life for a mission that ended up for the benefit of the Horde. You saved my life." She touched his face, "Is my life not worth anything in your eyes?"

He stopped trying to fight her and leaned forward to capture her soft lips again. "I could never repay your kindness, Sundragon."

"Just tell me one thing, Theozsal, and I will give you a family and heal your wounds."

"Anything."

"Would you stay with me forever?"

The Night Elf faltered. Commitment… he was betrayed before…

But…

"Yes." He replied. "From the moment I saw you at the fire, I think I knew you were important. I will forever be yours."

"Zatistrasz!" She called suddenly. The Drake smirked.

"Done with your touching moments?"

She barely blushed, helping Theozsal to the Drake's saddle. "Take us back to Garadar, the cat too." She settled her savior and retrieved the Gryphon. When she was settled behind Theozsal, she thought of something.

"You will never be allowed to return to the Alliance." She suddenly said.

The rogue thought for a moment, about the cruelness of Laflanna, and the lack of caring from the people of Telaar. "I care not." He pressed her hand to his lips. "Ride on, dear one."

Laughing, she kissed the back of his neck as they dove into the air.