Astra and I spent two days with Erin and her mother, Linda. In that time we hunted enough meat to keep the small family fed for a few weeks, and collected enough skins to make a tiny leather dress for Erin. The furs we collected Linda stored for trade. I told her to sell them in the winter, because their value would rise then and she would probably collect enough to buy provisions until spring. I also learned to sleep again. I still woke every few hours from nightmares. I still worried when I woke that our camp was under a barrage attack of infernals.

Though Linda wanted me to stay longer, I felt the need to get back on the road. I could tell that saying goodbye was hard for Erin. She ran and hid near the docks the day I left. Her mother apologized for her, but I thought there was no need.

"I know why she hides from such things," I said. "She's a child. A child has every right to hide from pain. Let her keep her hiding place."

When we were finally on the road, on our way to the Eastvale Logging Camp, I could feel her presence, just a little outside town, watching us. I could have turned to wave, but this was a private piece of pain that she probably didn't even understand yet. I did though. I was a connection to her father. Watching me go had to seem like watching him walk away to war all over again. Astra and I even travelled the same road.

I decided to leave my armor. If I needed it again, I knew exactly where it was hidden. And the fear and bigotry that I ran into in Lakeshire convinced me to take a few precautions. I decided to burn my papers and accommodations. I would probably regret this later, but now it seemed the best thing to do. Anyone who had served there would probably recognize it in my eyes anyway, but it didn't seem wise to keep undeniable proof in my bags. I destroyed anything else that could link me back to the war with the Burning Legion, except for my bow and the strange, glowing bracer. I decided to sand the bow down, cut away all its ornate design work, and paint it to look more like a regular hunting composite bow. When I tested it, I was glad to see it hadn't lost any of its magic properties.

It took two days to reach Eastvale by foot. When Astra and I arrived we found food and lodging. The foreman seemed desperate for me to stay on to help protect the loggers, but home called to me. I missed my sister and brother-in-law, their little boy and girl, and their comfortable little house in Elwynn Forest. I hadn't decided yet if I would look for Alex. It had been four years since I had seen him. I think back on that time. I was such a young girl then. So innocent and naïve. I fell so hard for his rugged features and roguish charms. We left on such bad footing though.

Too many things took hold of our lives too soon in our fledgling relationship. Would there still be a spark between us? I wondered this over as I slept in a straw bed and listened to the sounds of lumberjacks snoring in the bunks around me. I had to smile at the thought. What would he think of me now? My skin darkened by the sun, scarred by my armor and the arcane magics that nearly took my life, was once soft like the silk robes warn by night elf priestesses, but now it was tight and thin. Every muscle and every vein showed. I looked more like an orc woman now than a draenei. I worried that a beautiful human like Alex would find me revolting, or even worse, he wouldn't even recognize me.

Astra and I were able to hire on as guards for a shipment of lumber heading for the Stormwind docks. Most of the five day journey was uneventful, except on the last. That day we were stopped by five men in the road. They wore dark blue leather and cloth armor and concealed their faces with bright red masks. They were armed with old rusty muskets and chipped knives. The trail boss, an old dwarf with a handlebar mustache and dark thinning hair, stood from his wagon and walked to the front cart where he could face the bandits.

There were six large carts pulled by teams of Eastvale horses. These horses were bred for pulling heavy carts and were at least two hands higher than most of the horses humans rode. As the bandits made their threats and demanded that we all hand over our gold and anything else of value, this old man unbridled one of these beastly horses. With an agility I had only seen in the most skilled of rogues, the old dwarf jumped from the ground and onto the lose horse's back. The animal reared up on its hind legs and jumped forward toward the lead bandit. The animal's giant hooves crushed down on the bandit with a sickening crunch. The man died so fast he couldn't even scream. As the horse reared up again for another pounce, one of the thieves fired his old musket. The weapon was in such poor condition that it backfired into his face, taking the man's cheek and right eye completely off his head. He covered his gaping wound and ran into the forest screaming while blood poured over his hand and arm.

The rest of the bandits scattered and ran. Laughing, the old man road his giant steed back to the wagon where Astra and I sat watching.

"Tell me again why I hired you as guard," he asked.

I smiled up at him, slowly stood, stretched my muscles and removed three arrows from my quiver. I knocked them, measured where they needed to rest on the bow, and then pulled the string back tight and pointed it toward the sky. I whispered to the bow what I wanted, and then I said, "This is why you hired me," and I let go. The arrows screamed into the sky, and as they reached their zenith, they seemed to take on a life of their own. They moved in the air like hunting birds of prey, and then dived down in different directions. Like a strange death chorus, the three men screamed out almost simultaneously.

The old man laughed loudly and said, "You're worth every coin, Darlin'!"

It took some time to gather the men's corpses, bridle the horse, and get the train of wagons moving again, but we managed to reach Stormwind by dusk. The logging company had the right connections, because we were able to bypass the regular queue into the city. Angry scowls greeted us as we passed merchants and travellers waiting to enter the city. Among those waiting were obvious veterans of the war, still in their Outland armor, still carrying their Outland weapons. As we neared the main gate, I was asked for my papers. I handed over my work orders drawn up from the logging company.

"Do you have any other papers," the guard asked.

"What sort of papers," I asked in return. "Are these not enough to declare my intentions and purpose?"

He looked me in the eye and I could tell he was suspicious. He pointed to my bow and said, "That weapon. Where did you get it?"

"I made it," I lied. "It's for sale. Would you like to buy it?"

The trail boss jumped from his driver's seat and though he was at least a few feet shorter than the guard, he had an aura about him that demanded respect. He said, "What's the holdup here, son? I got lumber to deliver for the Navy. You want to hold that up?"

The guard showed no disrespect to the dwarf, but said plainly, "How long has this ranger been with your company?"

"We hired her on, oh I'd say about two seasons back," he also lied. "An she's been a fine worker too. Why last year we had a bear wonder into the camp, an' the young miss and her—"

"Okay, sir," the guard said. "I get it."

The guard handed the papers back to me and said, "Just so you're aware. The city is relocating all veterans of the war either back to Outland or to the front lines in Northrend. If you were a veteran of that war and were caught with any armor or weapons on your persons you could be facing a fine and possible arrest. You understand?"

"As you can see," I said. "I'm just a hunter looking to make a little coin. No armor, no weapons."

The trail boss crossed his arms and said, "I do wonder if the Horde treats its returning heroes with such dishonor."

"I don't know, sir," he said. "I'm just following orders."

The guard let us pass. As we crossed through the front gates, under the giant statues that depicted the great warriors and admired men and women of the alliance, the military had constructed temporary holding pens where once great soldiers now sat stripped of their armor and weapons awaiting relocation. I had never seen so many tired faces, slumped shoulders, and defeated eyes. I raised the hood on my cloak, just in case someone I knew might recognize me. I felt like a traitor, but I was now thankful for the treatment I'd received in Lakeshire. My armor was safely buried and my bow was disguised from most eyes. A mage might see its potential, but Outland wasn't the only place to find these types of weapons.

We delivered our lumber and I said my goodbyes to the trail boss. He handed me my pay and told me to watch myself. He also promised that if I ever needed a job, there was one available for me at the company.

"Oh, and I almost forgot," he said. "I would solute you, Darlin', but they might see, so I'll just say, 'thank ya'."

"For what," I asked.

"For what you did there," he said. "I've served myself and I know the horrors. I cannot say I understand why the King's treating you folk this way, but I guess that's the methods of men in power. But a hard boot to the arse for them, I say." He laughed loudly at his own joke, and I laughed with him.

After the trail boss and I said our final goodbyes, I once again walked the streets of Stormwind. It was then that I felt completely detached from everything. Astra stayed close to my side and because I was draenei, I stood a head or two taller than everyone around me, and there were few of my kind in this world, so I had to accept the lingering stares of strangers.

It was when a walked through the long tunnel from the cannels to Old Town that I saw him, and that he saw me. He'd aged more than expected in those few years. His dark curly hair now had a slight hint of gray. He was a little wider around the middle, but not much. He had been in conversation with a gnome and a female night elf, both who seemed to obviously be agents of some type, but when he saw me all his attention went to me. I held my breath as he walked away from his companions and ran toward me. The look on his face was focused, absolutely singular, and he ran to me as though I was his only hope for survival. When he reached me a grabbed me in a tight embrace and actually picked me up off the ground. I laughed, and Astra jumped around us barking and snapping at the air in excitement. He slowly allowed me to slide down his body and met my lips with his. I grabbed the back of his long hair and held his kiss to mine for as long as we could.

"Verda," he said. "Oh, my Verda where have you been?"

Hearing him say my name was all I needed to release a floodgate of tears. All I could say was, "Alex, my sweet Alex, it's been terrible. Take me away from here. Take me somewhere safe."

We kissed again, and then, as though I were in some dream, we found our way to his room above the Pig and Whistle Tavern.

We undressed each other in the glow of the city lights, and though it had been years we moved together like one. I lost myself, once again in Alex's sure and strong arms and when we completed our love making we remained in bed and watched the shadows dance on the ceiling. He asked if I wanted to talk, and I said, "No. I just want to be. Just of a little while, I want to make this time last as long as we can."

He kissed me, and we made love again, and then we slept. I slept through the night; blissfully released of the constant nightmares.

When I woke in the morning to the sounds of blacksmiths hammering out new armor from the dwarf district, Alex was gone. On his nightstand he left me a rose and a note.

Do not seek me out. It's dangerous for you here. I'll meet you at your sister's home this evening.

Astra was already awake and waiting by the door, whining slightly, I knew he smelled the fresh pork and eggs cooking in the tavern below.

"Well, what do you think, boy," I asked. "A little breakfast before we meet the family?"

He scratched at the door.

After breakfast, we headed out into the city. This was a world that seemed untouched by the war. Vendors kept selling their goods and people continued to buy them. Children ran through the streets teasing each other and grabbing bits of dropped fruit from the under hoof and foot. The strong smell of horse dung was only covered occasionally by the salty fish stench of the ocean blowing in from the docks. Water from the canals was already starting to heat from the sun and the humidity made my clothes stick to me. It reminded me I still owed myself that bath.

It didn't take us long to find the cathedral. We were stopped at the door by Templars. I told them I was there to see my sister. One of them called to a boy, he looked to be about my niece's age. They whispered something to him and he left. When he returned a few minutes later he had brought along Olivia, my beautiful little niece. She smiled and told the Templar she knew me. They stepped aside and let me through.

"We've had to add security since the threat of the Lich King," she said. "His agents are everywhere. It's hard to believe he could have supporters even here in Stormwind, but he does. It's good to see you Aunty Vee."

"You've grown into quite the little young woman, Olivia," I said. "I'm not sure why, but I still expected you to be the little girl who used to bake me mud pies."

"I'm a priest now," she said. "I've still a lot to learn, but Mother says I'm making good progress."

"What about Von," I asked. "What's he doing?"

She shook her head and as we travelled the long corridors she said, "I guess you haven't seen Alex yet."

"Actually, I have," I said. "I arrived in town yesterday."

She looked back at me with a small touch of anger in her eyes and said, "He didn't say anything to you about Von?"

"We didn't talk much," I said.

We arrived at the chamber section where priests engaged in study and meditation. Olivia said, "Mother is just down here. Von is working with Alex now. I'm not sure what they do; it's all a big secret."

It did upset me a bit that Alex had Von working for him. It wasn't a common place for a dreanei find employment. However, after everything I've been through, I wasn't about to cast judgment on my nephew for finding what work he could. He was never very good with either the arcane or the healing arts, which is something that seemed to bring him a lot of shame.

"So he's working as a defender now," I asked.

"Here's her door," she said, and gently knocked. "I'm not entirely sure what he's doing, but Mother thinks he's wasting his potential. Our people have an innate talent for the mental and spiritual arts. He's wasting his time with a sword and shield."

I couldn't help but smile at the words that I could tell were almost an exact echo from her mother's mouth. "And I suppose I waste mine with a bow and wolf, eh?"

She looked away and said, "I'm sorry. I'm afraid self-righteousness is sometimes a byproduct of the job." She gently knocked again and called out to her mother.

An answer finally came and she opened the door to a small chamber. Inside sat a woman behind a desk with books opened all around her. Looking at her was looking into a mirror. Her eyes were like mine, or at least the way they were before the war. I had been told by other draenei that they now held emptiness, a kind of distant sadness. My sister's eyes still held all the love and hope of my people and I had to admit I was a little jealous of her for it.

"Verda," she said.

"Vawn," I answered.

"You're looking well," she said.

"I'm exhausted," I said.

"Well, you'll get a good night's rest and plenty to eat tonight," she said.

"I came for something else," I said. I reached into my saddlebag and removed the wrapped bracer. I placed it on her desk and peeled back the layers of cloth. The object seemed to glow more in the candlelit chamber.

My sister leaned over it and said, "This is remarkable. Where did you get it?"

"From a tower we sacked. Blood elves were experimenting with different types of magic there. I was hoping you and your people could properly destroy it."

"Destroy it," she said. "Why would we do that?"

"Because I think it's dangerous," I said. "I think it's too dangerous to allow anyone to try to use this bracer."

"Well," she said. "It's a kind of shadow magic. We do have a few masters of the shadow path here, I'm sure they would love to examine it. Can I keep it here with me?"

"Of course," I said. "But I would feel a lot more comfortable if I knew you planned to destroy it. I don't trust it. I travelled for a while with it in my packs while in Outland and the whole time I felt like the thing was calling to me."

"Interesting," she said. "I'm sure we'll want to study it first. Armor like this is rare. It would be a shame to destroy something that could be a potential weapon in our fight against Arthas."

I had to agree, despite my misgivings about the object. I left it in my sister's care. I wanted to catch up with her, to maybe see what had been happening in the world since I had been away, but my sister, like our parents, had a tendency to put her work before family. I understood, her work was important, and I had done what I promised. I had delivered the item to her for study. If she felt it was a good idea to keep the item for study, she would know best if it needed to be destroyed. I think that's sometimes the problem with being a hunter. We're used to doing everything alone. Sure, we generally keep hunting companions in the form of animals as a type of pet and compatriot to our outings, but they pretty much do as we will. Working in concert with another person has always been a difficult task for my type. So despite my misgivings, I let my sister handle the situation as she saw fit.

Olivia escorted me to the door and showed a lot of curiosity about the object. I told her all I knew. I assumed she would probably work closely with her mother to determine its value to the Alliance. I now wish I had better recognized that look in her eyes, because it wasn't simply curiosity, but hunger. If I had known at that moment, what I understood now, I would have destroyed that bracer any way possible.