Hello my wonderful, glorious readers! Sorry for the late update for responses, but here they are.
Raistlin the Mage: Congrats on the official account :D And I'm bad at passwords. I have 3 total that I just rotate around until I get the right one.
Strazor: Hahaha I was laughing thinking about it happening and couldn't help but write it. x)
Aeschielle-MoonGuard: Bwahaha. Wow. Such rofl. Many ha ha. Also I don't know if there is an improper way of emulating doge.. It comes from the heart. :D
Jillyjillyfairfax: He'll get better soon! ...Ish! ;) Also, that is the perfect Unaril saying. I may have to work it in eventually..
Shion Rasenka: Hahha! That's exactly how I felt about it.. Nyela couldn't help but think it was a wee bit hilarious. Plus Unaril didn't care, he laughed to bits. And me, too! Hunters are awesome!
Connet: Face cramps! I wonder if there is such a thing as a face massage... Ehhh.
Firedragon99: Thanks! :) Hopefully will be getting them published weekly, if possible.
Sonya-Valentine: Hahhaa I can't take all the credit for that; my sister was my inspiration for the fun. :D
Zarabethe: Favorite writers?! :O /bows down. I am not worthy! And hahah yes! She's going to have a lot of experience with that bonding spell and the emotional connection. :D Also, oooh, that sounds really cool, actually.. Sabotage! There is something going on in the grove, actually, which I'll explain probably in the next chapter (if not after).
...GONE!
A tragic, wailing voice hit Nyela like a brick wall at the same time as she, Unaril, and Sarion came into view of the inn. Judging from how the twins didn't react to it and how she heard it echoing more from her own head, she guessed correctly that it was Fenris. She could hear an underlying sound beneath his cries, the sound of a wolf's howl, but his voice somehow overrode the cries in her mind.
I'm a coward, a traitor! I abandoned her when she needed me most! He cried pathetically, and Nyela pursed her lips and picked up her pace. What was he blubbering on about? She could tell he was absolutely distraught, though she didn't need the emotional bond to be able to tell that much.
She jogged in through the doors of the inn, and sitting right there in the main foyer was Fenris, sitting upright on a chair, nose in the air and howling as if his life depended on it. She glanced at the innkeeper helplessly, and the woman made a face.
"Is this your pet? Can you please get him to quiet down?" the woman pleaded, and Nyela sent her an apologetic glance, then approached Fenris.
"Fenris," she said loudly over the sound of his loud wails, and she placed a hand on him, scratching behind his ears.
Immediately the crying stopped, and his eyes widened as his head whipped toward her, ears perking up and tail wagging. He launched himself off his seat and into her arms, and she let out a very loud 'oof!' and tried to catch him, but by now he was so large that his momentum merely took her with him, sending them both falling onto the floor.
"OW!" Nyela complained, shoving a very relieved and excited Fenris off of her and nursing her elbow, which had scraped hard against the floor and was now bleeding, but Fenris didn't care.
You're alive! he gushed, licking her face and prancing around her happily, How did you escape? I thought you died!
Nyela ignored his questions. "Fenris, you're getting too big; I can't have you jumping all over me anymore."
He ignored her, though, and suddenly bristled again, his gaze flicking up past Nyela and falling on something behind her.
You were followed, he muttered darkly, sniffing the air and staring through the doorway. I don't understand. Tell the two-leggeds to move aside.
Nyela began to smirk, and she stood up and turned around, glancing between Unaril and Sarion, both of whom were standing in the doorway and watching her curiously.
"Fenris says I was followed by the panthers from earlier, but he wants you two to move out of the doorway. They must be outside." She hid her smile.
"Is that so?" Sarion quirked one brow, a corner of his mouth tugging upward. He looked down at Fenris. "What if I were to tell him that he's wrong?"
No, Fenris argued, snorting loudly. I smell cat.
Nyela crossed her arms, smiling humorously, and she looked back at Sarion. "He says you're wrong."
"So if I were to do something like this, might it prove Sarion's point?" Unaril wondered aloud, then without further warning transformed into a blue-furred panther, the air around him flexing and shimmering at the volume change.
Fenris yelped loudly in surprise, the fur on his shoulders rising, and he began growling. Nyela ran her hand along the stiff fur on his back.
Fenris, it's fine, she consoled him, wondering if she could communicate without speaking out loud. It felt weird having one-sided conversations, and she hoped he could hear her thoughts as well. They won't hurt us. It's still Unaril.
It's dangerous, Fenris retorted, bristling his fur more.
He's not trying to hurt either of us, Nyela countered. If he wanted to hurt us, he would have already.
Fenris's growl became a little less enthusiastic, and he relaxed just barely, acquiescing without saying anything further.
She smiled, then looked at Unaril. "Transform back," she requested, so he did, then leaned his shoulder against the doorframe again.
Fenris's fur lowered, and he cocked his head. You control it?
Nyela laughed. No, he obliged to what I asked him to do.
I'd feel better if you could control him, Fenris mumbled.
But you're okay with them now? Nyela wondered, and Fenris sneezed in silent acquiescence.
You can't be alone with them, he sniffed, squishing his entire body against her leg.
She smiled. Good enough.
"He's okay now," Nyela smiled at the twins, and Unaril laughed.
"So I take it you can communicate telepathically, then?" he asked. "Is it like actually talking to a person?"
Nyela nodded, and he smirked.
"Ah, good. I was worried. I thought you were having a staring contest with the dog."
Wolf. Fenris rumbled.
Unaril's eyes flicked down to Fenris at the sound of his low growl.
"Wolf, not dog," Nyela grinned, and Unaril laughed again.
"My bad," he held up his hands, giving Fenris a relenting shrug, "Wolf."
Fenris sat down on his haunches, relaxing now with a drawn-out yawn.
Nyela smiled, approaching the twins, who both in their own ways looked like they wanted to get going instead of standing around in the inn. Sarion was standing half in the doorway with his arms crossed, and Unaril looked antsy with the way he was practically pacing in place, if that was possible.
"Thanks for taking me on a little adventure, you two," she grinned, and they smiled back.
"Anytime!" Unaril sent her a bright grin, while Sarion nodded.
"I'm sure you've got a lot to talk about with your wolf, now," he tilted his head. "Unaril and I are going to go find a tavern for the remainder of the day."
"Alright," Nyela smiled at them. She sent Sarion a sheepish smile. "And... Sorry for shooting you."
The dark twin's eyes sparkled as he smirked down at her. "Minor setback to an awesome day," he reassured her. "Plus, I hear women dig scars. You did me a service."
To the side, Unaril snickered. "Besides, it's not the first time it's been Sarion season," he laughed under his breath.
Nyela laughed. "You'll have to tell me stories sometime. And, well, you're going to a tavern, and I'm sure there are women there; there's your chance to test it out."
Sarion winked at her. "In that case, wish me luck."
"Luck hasn't been your strong suit today," Nyela grimaced jokingly, "But, okay."
"Hmm," Sarion shrugged, "I should probably test it out on a more reliable source before I throw myself to the wolves..." he looked thoughtful for a second, though Nyela could tell he was in a joking mood. He narrowed his eyes at her, speaking warmly, "What do you think? Is my leg scar unbelievably irresistible?" For effect, he cocked his hip toward her.
Nyela reacted with a contained laugh. "Mmmm, nothing like a big ole thigh scar to get me going," she said as overly-indecent as she could. "Especially if I created it in the first place."
Unaril cut in. "Whoa, whoa, whole new level," he laughed, "Stop while you're ahead. Sarion, let's go drink ourselves onto the floor before you embarrass yourself."
"But I was getting some really good feedback," Sarion complained as Unaril dragged him out the door. "I was going to remodel my entire wardrobe on this. You know, get some short-shorts to show off my battle wound."
Nyela watched them go, laughing to herself. Sarion craned his head back around and waved happily at her, and she giggled and waved back as she heard Unaril muttering something slightly unintelligible about loincloths.
"Have fun!" she called out.
"Oh, we will, Love!" Unaril sent back, and the twins then took off down the paved road toward the tavern.
Nyela tilted her head at that nickname, unable to ignore how warm it'd made her feel, and then shook it off and turned back to Fenris.
I've got a bone to pick with you, Nyela smirked at him, beckoning him to follow her as she scaled the stairs. Figuratively, of course.
Oh? Fenris asked her. Can we get a real one, too?
First of all, where did you come from? Nyela asked him. You aren't a Grey Wolf. So why was your mother a Grey Wolf?
He plodded up the steps beside her until they reached their floor.
I've never seen my mother.
So who was that you were with when I found you? They entered her room and plopped down on the bed.
Not my mother. My mother smelled differently than that wolf.
I thought you said you never saw your mother?
I didn't see her, but I remember her. I could not see for weeks, Fenris reasoned. By the time my eyes opened, my mother was gone, replaced by the one you found me with.
But why? Nyela asked, How come you were separated?
I don't know.
Do you remember much at all about when you were separated? Nyela asked.
No, almost nothing.
Nyela pursed her lips. It'd make sense that Fenris wouldn't know much - especially if, as a pup, he couldn't even see for weeks after he was born, plus he was apparently separated from his mom at an extremely young age. It was possible that Fenris's mother had wandered up from the south and the two had been separated, and then Fenris had been adopted by a different wolf. That wasn't an entirely ridiculous idea, especially if the Grey Wolf had lost a pup of her own recently.
She reached out and scratched under his ears. His fur was coming in thick and shiny now, tufting at his jaw and down his neck in what almost looked like a mane. Along with that, it appeared his lower canines were beginning to increase in size, and Nyela wondered if he'd look like those wolves in the pictures she'd seen, the ones with the big sharp tusked teeth. It'd certainly give him a fear factor...
She smiled and flopped back down into the pillows on her bed.
I like being able to talk to you, Fenris.
Her wolf crawled over next to her head and curled up in the fluffy sheets, taking up her other half of her bed. He let out a sigh, which ended in a puppy-like snort.
I like it, too. He sounded content.
With nothing else to do, Nyela fell asleep.
Nearly two whole months passed, and Nyela couldn't tell if they went by slowly or extremely fast; at the time, it had felt like forever, but then by the time she looked back, she realized how fast she'd just pocketed sixty days' worth of hunting, training, and focusing on her family.
Unaril and Sarion were occasionally around when she was at the inn, but for most of the two months, Nyela had become very engrossed in her training, which she was receiving now from the hunter trainer Dorion. In retrospect, what else would she have done? Julian wasn't waking up, and her parents would go off during the day doing who-knows-what in the giant temple with a big group of Priests, leaving her to do whatever she wanted. The twins would keep her company if they were around, but they were usually causing trouble in some sort of tavern or - at one point - messing with the people who passed through the Rut'Theran portal by showering them with flower petals and/or swarms of harmless-yet-terrifying bees anytime they would blink into the city. (This activity was promptly stopped by two nearby Sentinels who threatened to take both men into custody, earning a 'handcuffs' innuendo from Unaril and a friendly apology from Sarion.)
Dorion was a great trainer, far more specialized than Jocelyn, and he knew how to train Fenris, too. He was good at keeping the quickly-growing pup active and stimulated, so whenever Nyela would return back at her suite at the end of the day, after a hot bath, both she and Fenris were tired enough that they were content to relax in her room in the evenings.
As far as Nyela's own training, she enjoyed the new tactics she was learning. Dorion wanted her to focus mainly on her natural connection with nature, which he also said attributed her ability to connect with Fenris so easily. He trained her how to interact with her surroundings with stealth and speed, how to invoke aspects of noble beasts and utilize their abilities for her own skills. Sight of an eagle, speed of a cheetah, strikes of a hawk... It was all fascinating, the way he trained her, and she knew she was learning twice as quickly now than she had been in Stormwind. She'd learned her basics in Stormwind; here, she specialized her talents and honed her skills to the point of actually becoming a formidable hunter.
Though, what she'd use all these skills for, she had no idea. It's not like her father needed more people trained in combat or survival in his tribe. So, she viewed it as a hobby, nothing more. A wonderful focus for her to set her mind on and lose herself in.
Nyela was just now returning back to the inn with heavy, tired steps, feeling very accomplished from today's training. Dorion had taken her out today, all the way across the short channel to the forests of Darkshore to practice her training. They'd done this a few times before, but today had been a little different. In the deep, northern forest, she and Dorion had been ambushed by a patrol of Naga scouts, but they'd managed to escape with their lives intact due to their readiness to fight back. Dorion had been shocked there were Naga there in the first place; he'd said it was the first time he had seen the creatures there in nearly seventy years.
But that was beside the point. Nyela had sent an arrow straight into the eye socket of a frightening creature nearly twice her size and had lived to tell the tale. Of that, she was actually quite proud. Though, now that she had come face-to-face with one, (or rather, face-to-spear) she couldn't really say in truth that she wanted to see another anytime soon.
Fenris had not accompanied them today, for which Nyela was thankful. She didn't know how her wolf would have handled something like that. For all she knew, he could have been killed by the creatures, and that would break her heart. She loved her pup.
Speaking of which, Fenris was getting big. She'd thought he was big earlier, but she was far off. Two months, and he had shot up a full foot and a half more at the shoulder, and even higher when he held his head up; his head reached the height of her elbow already. He was only six months old and was already half as tall as she... Not only that, but he had picked up a lot of odd habits, like he preferred to stay somewhat clean, and he really liked wearing decorative cloths around his neck. As a joke, about a month ago, Nyela had found a colorful red-and-gold silk kerchief and tied it around his neck in a neat fashion, and he had taken such a liking to it that he refused to let her remove it. She supposed this was his own way of adjusting to the bond.
She readjusted the strap of her quiver over her shoulder and the bowstring at her torso and entered the inn, which was a lot more quiet than normal. A few elves were speaking hurriedly in hushed tones over at one corner of the parlor area, and when she walked in; they all stopped and stared at her.
She felt her ears burn simply out of the odd attention and gave them a funny look, then made her way toward the stairs.
One of the elves sitting there, a woman, called out to her though and caused her to stop.
"Are you the sick boy's sister?" the elf asked.
Nyela turned around, furrowing her brows. "Yes. What of it?"
The woman glanced over at someone beside her and then spoke again. "There is someone here to see him."
Nyela cocked her head, waiting for the woman to continue, but she didn't.
"O-okay," Nyela stuttered, shaking her head. There were people here to see him all the time; Priests going in and out of the temples, trying to find cures. It was nothing big that someone was here. However, out of curiosity, she decided to check it out.
As she neared his room, she heard a voice, her father's.
"How could something like that exist?" Lucian asked in a steady tone.
A deep, deep voice resounded out with such an intense, obvious power to it that Nyela froze in her steps; despite its quietness, it was still frightening. "I know it exists, because I helped her create it."
Things became silent for a second, and Nyela had to force herself to take another step toward Julian's room.
"Oh. That explains a lot, then," Lucian muttered quietly.
Nyela reached Julian's door and peeked in, eyes wide and anxious. The sight that greeted her made her stumble back a step and stare, mouth gaping open.
There was an incredibly-tall Night Elf man standing in Julian's room, even taller than Nyela's own father, which until now she thought impossible. He seemed so out-of-place that it almost felt like Nyela was looking through a dream. He was dressed in thick, decorated furs and he seemed so... wild. He looked like a man out of time, ancient and young all at once, weathered and pure and, oddly-enough, tired. He had a huge green mane and a thick, coarse beard that traveled halfway down his chest, and from his head sprouted a pair of massive antlers. His hands were beyond-feral-looking, clawed and almost furred. She knew exactly what this man was: he was a Druid. However, he was unlike any Druid she had ever seen.
Beside him stood a woman of the same race, draped in graceful, beautiful white and shimmery silks, her face smooth as porcelain and very poised. She had long blue hair that was sprinkled with beautiful, shining tiny jewels, as was her clothing and armored shoes, which all cast a strange bluish glow upon everything around her. The pair together was one of the most enthralling sights Nyela had ever had the chance of seeing.
Upon Nyela's entrance, both of the strange, otherworldly characters craned their heads over and stared at her with the same, studying expression.
"What's this?" Nyela wondered, glancing at her dad. "Dad?"
Norivana appeared from around Lucian's side, walking over to Nyela. "They're here to help Julian."
"Arguing around his sickbed?" Nyela almost smirked. "Odd way of helping him."
Norivana gave Nyela a stern warning glance, and Nyela let her mouth fall shut, ashamed with her own attitude.
"We do want to help," the beautiful woman spoke up, her voice serene, though a little sad. "There has never been an ailment I cannot cure... This is discouraging."
"Who are you?" Nyela asked her, having lost her uncertainty and now filled with curiosity and a good helping of awe. Lucian sent Nyela a funny look, as if he hadn't expected her to not know the answer to that question.
The woman looked over at her and almost smiled, but her face remained for the most part serene and stoic. "I am Tyrande Whisperwind, High Priestess of the goddess Elune."
Nyela's eyes widened so large she was afraid they'd pop out, and her jaw dropped.
"P-pr-" she stuttered. "Priestess?" Nyela gaped. She'd only read of this woman and her mate, Archdruid Malfurion Stormrage, in books. She was so shocked in seeing the woman here, in person, that she forgot all formalities and just stared.
Tyrande nodded, returning back to Julian's side and looking at the sleeping boy pensively.
Nyela spoke again. "Why are you helping us? I mean..." she tried to correct herself. She'd come off a little more blunt than intended. "I don't understand why you would take the time to help a random sick person, what with being... You know..." she fidgeted.
The Priestess stared at Nyela with a soft expression. "He is a child. A sick boy, a child under Elune. It would be unthinkable for me to ignore him."
The man, who Nyela now was entirely certain was Malfurion, let out a low rumble from his throat, which made Nyela jump. "It is not just the boy..." He folded his giant arms, turning his intense amber gaze to Lucian.
Tyrande shook her head. "No, not just him. There's an imbalance, something not the way it should be. This boy is merely a reflection of what is going on in your father's grove, child."
Nyela scratched the back of her head. "Then you know what's wrong with the orchard?"
Malfurion's expression darkened and his eyes flicked over to Lucian again. If Nyela didn't know any better, she'd say the look was accusing. "Partially."
Lucian interrupted Nyela's further interrogation by placing a hand on her shoulder and speaking in a quiet tone. "Nyela," he murmured, "give us a moment, please? You don't have to leave; I just... Just try to hold off on the questions. I will answer what I can in a bit."
Nyela looked at him, studying his expression, and nodded quietly. "Okay."
Lucian cleared his throat, looking over at Malfurion. Nyela had noticed the air between the two men was beyond tense, and she wondered why. They were both Night Elves, both Druids, right? What did they have to quarrel about?
Then she remembered the number one reason her own tribe differed from traditional Druids: her father, along with his own people, didn't follow the rules. Rules, Nyela now began to piece the puzzle together, set by the man standing in this exact room. Malfurion was the one whose practices and regards Lucian and his people had ignored all these years. Now Nyela really began questioning why Malfurion was helping her brother.
The intense air between the two men, albeit very intimidating, now made perfect sense.
Lucian was the first to talk again. "So, anyway, this...relic, is it? It can heal the grove?"
"And, in turn, heal your son," Malfurion said. "But, as I stated previously: I cannot take the risk of cleansing your home in Stormwind manually; this could result in super-inflated afforestation, which could do more harm than good. That spell you say you performed last century on your fel-afflicted subject... The preservation spell? I did not realize such an incantation remained in any written records, or I would have sought it out and destroyed it. It is not intended to be available for novice practitioners to throw about, blatantly disregarding the imbalances it can cause. Even I have my doubts when approaching such a volatile spell. Add onto that the issue surrounding you turning it into a blood spell..." The tall man shook his head resignedly. "I desperately do not want to recite the time-old saying 'I told you so', but..."
Lucian nodded quietly, taking in everything Malfurion was saying. "So, long story short," Lucian said after a pregnant pause. "Our only option is to go out in search of a mythical item that may or may not prove its usefulness?"
"It is not mythical," Tyrande spoke up. "I know you heard him say I created it, and he helped me."
"And it can help return balance to the grove? Set things right?" Lucian asked, clearly uncertain.
"Yes."
Lucian folded his hands behind his back, squaring his shoulders. "It's settled, then," he straightened up tall, "It appears we have no other choice. I will go to Stormwind and see about finding it. At least there's hope."
Malfurion nodded calmly once, and looked like he was about to say something, but Nyela heard footsteps approaching the door behind her and saw Malfurion's eyes flick over to the doorway. The giant Druid's lips parted mid-thought, eyes burning intensely with a look of familiarity and confusion, like he'd seen a ghost.
Nyela reeled around to see what he was looking at, but the only thing that met her stare was Sarion, frozen in the doorway. He looked like he had been about to knock on the doorframe or talk, but now that he saw the two unexpected Night Elf leaders in Julian's little room, he simply stood there completely unmoving, eyes wide. A split second later, Unaril also came into view, bumping hard into Sarion and causing Sarion to stumble into the room a few steps. When Sarion regained his balance, he quickly turned around, shoved Unaril out the doorway, and closed it in his face, then leaned his back against the heavy wooden door.
Nyela bit back a smirk and looked back at Malfurion, whose stare hadn't shifted, but then Tyrande raised a hand and placed it on her mate's arm, giving him a curious look.
"Malfurion?" Tyrande whispered quietly, questioningly.
He closed his mouth, blinking a few times, and then let out a sigh as he shook his head once. "I apologize," he said to Sarion. "You...look like someone I knew long ago." He furrowed his brows, then squared his shoulders and made for the door, but paused a second to look over at Lucian. "Despite everything, I am truly sorry things happened the way they did. Your son still has a chance. Do not lose hope."
Lucian nodded at him with a slight bow. "Thank you."
Malfurion gave Lucian one last look, then Sarion another once-over before going. Sarion stepped away from the door while Tyrande followed Malfurion out, then closed it again, but Nyela had gotten a tiny glimpse of Unaril still there, standing in the hallway and looking bored. Now, in the room were Norivana, Lucian, Sarion, and Nyela around Julian.
Sarion cleared his throat after about five quiet seconds, pointing a thumb over his shoulder.
"Why were they here?" he murmured, giving Lucian a confused look. "I thought you and the Archdruid were not on good terms."
"We aren't," Lucian sighed, taking a step back and plopping down in the seat behind him, resting his elbows on the armrests and stretching his legs out in order to attempt to relax.
Nyela looked up at Sarion beside her. "What was all that about?" she asked him in a whisper.
"What?"
"With you and the Archdruid."
Sarion gave her a halfhearted smirk. "I have no idea."
Nyela walked over and sat on the edge of Julian's bed, in front of where her dad was sitting in the chair. "Dad?" she said.
"Hmm?"
"What's going on?"
Lucian inhaled a slow breath, then let it out. "Tyrande couldn't help Julian."
"I suspected," Nyela murmured, "Seeing as he's still not okay."
Lucian sent her a glance, "She says there is a powerful relic, something that can still fix our issue."
"That's good, right?" Nyela asked him. "If we get it, that's a good thing."
Norivana spoke now. "Malfurion said he can't help the orchard in Stormwind, but the relic he and Tyrande created has the power to heal or re-balance nearly anything it touches. If we find that, we can use it ourselves to return balance to the grove and in turn free Julian from whatever it is that holds him. Only issue is, it's missing."
Nyela placed a hand to her forehead, rubbing her brows tiredly. "Can't anything be easy for once?"
Lucian let out a humorless laugh, reaching out and affectionately rubbing her arm. "If there's one thing I've learned in all my years, Nyela, it's that nothing worthwhile is easy." He stood up and cleared his throat, approaching Norivana and taking one of her hands into his own, pressing his lips to her knuckles wordlessly, then glanced over at Nyela and Sarion. "I'm headed to Stormwind, to the Priests' chapel there to investigate the relic's location. Apparently Tyrande says the relic is split into three parts: The rod, the crest, and the orb. She has the orb; the other two were sent to Stormwind. When all three parts are combined, the relic can be used at its full strength."
He started to leave the room, but Norivana grabbed his hand again. "Must you go right now? It's late; wait until morning and leave then."
Lucian paused, wrapping his fingers into hers and looking almost relieved as he pulled her in close to him. He let out a soft sigh. "Alright. I'll wait."
Sarion, who had been a little quiet for a bit, piped up, interrupting the two's exchange. "Why don't I go instead?"
Lucian looked up at him. "Hm?"
"I see no reason why I couldn't," Sarion replied. "Obviously you want to stay here with your family; I can go on this wild goose chase. You stay here, where you're needed."
"I..." Lucian pondered for a moment. "Are you sure? This is no simple feat, Sarion. There's no predicting where the search may take you, if the relic is not in Stormwind."
"Do I look like I'm hesitating?" Sarion smirked. "Besides, there's nothing like a good ol' treasure-hunt to get one's wanderlust sated. I'm beginning to feel a little cooped here."
Norivana looked up at her husband. "It really isn't all that bad of an idea."
Lucian's eyes squinted slightly as he thought, and he finally just shrugged. "I see no problem with this. Let me know whenever you are ready to go. I can provide you with a portal."
"Okay," Sarion nodded, then smirked. "And I'm sure you won't mind me taking Unaril with me."
"I already assumed that'd be the case," Lucian laughed soundlessly back. "You're inseparable."
"...And Nyela," Sarion said, and Lucian's gaze snapped up.
"What?"
"I'm kidding," Sarion grinned, reaching out and nudging Lucian's shoulder. "Sorry, Chief, couldn't help it."
"Actually," Nyela butted in, "That's not an entirely ridiculous suggestion."
Sarion, Lucian, and Norivana all stared at her; Sarion's expression mildly surprised, Lucian's deadly serious, and Norivana's amused.
Sarion sent her a look full of incredulity and dancing amusement to boot. "Nyela," he laughed, "Can I speak to you for a moment?"
Without further question, she let him tug her aside.
"Are you trying to get your father to murder me?" he asked her, laughing a little.
Nyela glanced down with a laugh. "He wouldn't."
"No, but he looks like he just might if we press this. You're serious? You want to go with my brother and me?" Sarion's glowing golden eyes flicked between hers.
"Well, yes," she reasoned. "It's my brother we'd be helping. I want to contribute, and I'm not doing much here. Would it be so bad?"
"Because if the relic is not in Stormwind, we'll be going to every length we can to find it. This means going anywhere in the whole world, or possibly others, for that matter."
Nyela blinked. Other worlds? Was this really what they were anticipating?
Sarion sighed. "I'd love it - and Unaril would, too - if you came with us. You've really become a big part of our lives, Nyela, and we really do feel like we're missing out without your company. But your father-"
"But your father thinks it best you stay with your family," Lucian interrupted from the doorway, smirking a little.
"Well then clearly, my father doesn't know squat," Nyela retorted back teasingly at her dad, but he just grinned a little wider.
"You're not going," he said, "Not on my watch." He gave her a cheerful-yet-firm finalizing look.
Nyela sighed. It was far too tough to blatantly disregard her father's wishes, plus she knew Unaril and Sarion respected Lucian too much to allow her to come with them, if push came to shove.
She glanced over at her mother, who had an unreadable expression on her face. Typical of Norivana to be cryptic, of course, but this time she looked almost... devious. Like she was hatching some dastardly plan. Then again, the quiet woman looked like that a lot.
Nyela smirked at her father's oddly-playful way of reinforcing his rules. "Fine. It was just a suggestion."
"A ludicrous suggestion," A smiling voice could be heard from down the hall, and Nyela turned around to see Unaril smirking at her as he arrived at her side. She'd completely forgotten he was in the hallway at all. "At least, if it's Sarion who suggested whatever it is you're talking about. Anything Sarion says is downright poppycock."
"Anything?" Sarion raised one long brow at his twin, fighting back a smile.
"Anything at all," Unaril nodded his head curtly.
"Unaril is the most handsome and charming man on the face of this world," Sarion said to his brother, looking smug, "And he never, ever smells bad."
Unaril nodded happily, crossing his arms. "Entirely absurd, all of it!"
"Well then, you'll be pleased to know it was actually Nyela here who just introduced the idea of her accompanying you and me to Stormwind."
"Stormwind?" Unaril suddenly dropped his goofy act and looked fully interested. "What are we going back there for?"
Lucian cleared his throat, seeming bored with having to explain himself for the third time now. "There's a relic, one that could save the orchard and Julian. We have it on good faith that that it is kept at the cathedral there in the city." He paused a second. "And no... Nyela is not going with you two."
Nyela grimaced to herself, but didn't argue.
Unaril cleared his throat, tone having become almost entirely serious. "I saw two...erm, esteemed figures leaving this inn. Have they agreed to help?"
"They're the ones who offered the relic in the first place," Lucian said.
"And the Archdruid..? What did he say...?" Unaril began to ask the question, but he just sort of trailed off and looked at Lucian with a curious stare.
"And the Archdruid is entirely willing to help."
"Do we know why? Why is he helping us?" Sarion spoke this time, also curious. "I thought we were lucky simply to be able to stay in this city."
"It's kind of obvious..." Nyela butted in, and the twins' gazes both switched to her. She glanced between them, and then clarified, "If he's the Archdruid, the creator of Druidism in the first place, and is entirely, fully devoted to keeping nature in a healthy balance, why would he let an entire, giant forest just outside one of his old ally's home cities get overrun and corrupted?" She shook her head. "So what if he and my dad don't agree on certain things? The man clearly holds his duty above his opinions."
"Exactly," Lucian murmured. "We don't see eye-to-eye in some major things, Malfurion and me, and I think part of this is giving him the satisfaction of teaching me a lesson. I honestly believe that he truly does care, though. I do really respect the man, despite all our differences."
Unaril, after listening to Lucian, waited a while to speak as they all chewed on Lucian's words. "So... Stormwind?" he asked his brother.
"Yes," Sarion nodded. "If you want to go, that is. The thingy might not even be there, and if it isn't, we still have to find it somehow."
"Hey, I like a challenge," Unaril let a smile cover his face. "It'll be fun."
Nyela grumbled under her breath, "It'd be fun if I could come, too."
"Yes!" Unaril said excitedly, but then cocked his head at her. "Why can't you?"
"Ask him," she sent her dad a look, with a dose of grudging humor.
Lucian just set his jaw and ignored her, and Unaril's gaze flicked between the father and daughter, and he then got an understanding look.
"Ah." he nodded once, sending Nyela an amused look that Lucian didn't see, raising his brows at her as if to say, 'tough luck!'
Nyela grimaced. Even the brothers were too respectful to challenge her parents' choices.
"When will we be leaving?" Unaril asked.
"I donno," Sarion shrugged. "Tomorrow? Maybe morning-ish?"
Nyela's frown deepened. Tomorrow? Seriously? That soon?
"Awesome," Unaril grinned excitedly. "I'll go pack."
With that, he turned and left, and Sarion joined his brother.
Nyela, now feeling quite sullen, slouched unenthusiastically and sent both of her parents one final forlorn glance and went to her own room. When she opened her door, Fenris greeted her by hopping up off her bed and wagging his tail happily.
Welcome back! she could hear a smile in his words.
"Hey," she said, spirits lifting just barely from his friendly greeting.
You seem tired, he mused, watching her as she sort of just tossed all of her things down on the floor at one corner of her room and then stomped over to her bed, falling onto it forward and not even moving from where her face was smushed into her blankets.
"What makes you think that?" Nyela grumbled, her words entirely muffled by the blankets in her face.
She felt the mattress shift as Fenris hopped onto it and stepped across it with his big paws, and he began sniffing her hair.
Intuition, he said simply.
Nyela smirked, but her exhaustion began to win over, and somewhere between sulking with her head smashed against her blanket and mulling over her discontentment, she fell asleep with Fenris curled up beside her.
The next morning, Nyela woke up to the extremely-faint sound of people talking in the floors below, and she suddenly became frantic. Unaril and Sarion had said they were leaving in the morning; what if she'd missed them? What if she didn't get to say goodbye and they ended up being gone for a really long time? She was so attached to them now, as much as she'd deny it if they brought it up.
She hopped out of bed and pulled on an outfit sloppily, hopping out her door as she shoved on a pair of shoes. Fenris wasn't in her room, meaning he must have gone outside sometime earlier, a liberty given to him now that Nyela knew with full certainty he would never, ever actually run off.
The stairs creaked beneath her feet as she stumbled down them, almost tripping twice as her sluggish, still-sleepy body tried desperately to catch up with her mind. She was not letting those twins leave her without the two of them at least receiving proper farewells.
She followed the sound of - she was extremely relieved to hear it - Sarion's voice coming from the main floor. She just barely caught his final words as she reached the bottom steps and approached him, Unaril, Lucian, and Norivana.
"-a little later in the day. Unaril and I have some business to finish up here before we leave."
Lucian nodded. "All right by me," he shrugged, "though I am a little curious as to what business you're talking about here."
"Just the usual," Sarion shrugged, and he kept talking, but Nyela was distracted by her mother, who walked up to her urgently.
"Hey," Norivana greeted her, "I'm going to make some tea. Want to join me? Just like old times?"
Nyela desperately wanted to hear what Sarion was saying and wanted the chance to talk to him before he left, but she hadn't had much time to catch up with her mom in a while and ultimately knew she wanted to do that more. So, she smiled and nodded.
"Sure."
Norivana smiled back approvingly and the two of them went to another section of the large inn, a hospitality room set off to the side where food was nearly always available. Norivana reached a tea station and sectioned out two strainers full of a dried, fruity herbal mix, then filled two ceramic mugs full of already-prepared hot water, placing the strainers in the water and allowing the tea to sit. She then turned around to face Nyela, leaning back against the countertop behind her and smiling.
"You still want to go with the twins?" Norivana asked Nyela after a few beats, noting Nyela's slightly-crestfallen demeanor.
Nyela took in a slow breath, raising her brows in resignation. "Yeah, but it's no use."
Norivana gave her a sympathetic look, and Nyela then began to talk, allowing her rampant thoughts to get the best of her.
"It's just..." she let out a frustrated sigh, gritting her hands into fists for a second before releasing a controlled breath. "I don't see why it's such a problem. Why is he keeping me here? I'm absolutely useless just sitting around. But now that we have finally found something that can actually help, I'm not allowed to do anything. It's frustrating that he still treats me like a small child. I can take care of myself; if nothing else, going with the twins can prove it."
Norivana simply listened to her daughter rant.
"And worse," Nyela's voice was raising, despite her attempt to stay calm. "I don't want to just sit here while two people who are now some of my closest friends go off for who-knows how long, to who-knows where, leaving me here all alone with nothing to do. Both of them told me they wished I could go with them. I wouldn't be a burden; I know my way around Stormwind, much more than them, plus I know the people there... And most of all, I'd much rather accompany them to wherever this search takes them than sit here, pining for them every single day."
Norivana, still not saying anything, turned back around and slowly dipped the tea strainer up and down in the hot, steaming water, letting the flavor saturate the liquid. A moment passed, and she finally turned back around and studied Nyela, her expression slightly amused and a little devious, just as she had been the night before.
"What is it?" Nyela wondered, smiling a little at her mother's expression despite her own foul mood.
"I think..." Norivana began, taking her mug and tasted the tea carefully, avoiding the vicious heat of the boiled water by sipping airily.
"...Think what?" Nyela asked.
Norivana finally sipped to her contentment, and then cocked her head at her daughter, studying her a little while longer before speaking again.
"...I think you should go with them."