This is the last of the pre-written stuff- stuff that had been saved before my crappy luck spree. Yeah.

So if after this it gets choppy or goes faster... my bad. In my defense... this began forming pre-WoW. So. Three expansions later i'm finishing. Let's all just be happy that it's getting done- and forget the pace haha

I don't own Blizzard content

For some reason I didn't realize we were alone in the tent until he shifted. It was then that the temperature in the tent exceeded inhumane, the walls started closing in, and sweat began to prickle my back. I stole a glance at him; he was cool and collected as always, not even glancing my way. I quickly brought my vision back to the table before us, trying to reign in whatever that giddy feeling was.

"Ruara…"

I jumped a foot, blinking and looking at him eagerly, ready to eat up his every word.

"Kael…about the other day…" My traitorous mouth! He now looked uncomfortable, blushing slightly.

"There is no need for explanation. I… I regret my actions."

Regret? What was this? My chest seemed to be caving in. Was it nothing then? Was I nothing to him, nothing but a burden?

I couldn't say anything, because we heard Vashj and Zichrad coming towards the tent. Kael turned away from me, inspecting the map before him. I was left to feebly stare at my hands.

Vashj entered, swiftly examined the two of us, and grinned. Without a word to Zichrad, she slithered over and sat next to Kael, sliding her hand onto his knee and peering with feigned interest at the map.

Unreasonable rage exploded in me when he did nothing. I trembled lightly, restraining myself barely enough to smile tightly and greet Zichrad, who looked uncomfortable.

My senses keened. I didn't want to be cooped up in the tent, but my fatigue stayed my outburst. Givious entered the tent a moment later, his fingers still sparkling with light.

"Sorry, one of the men didn't watch what was around him and his foot got crushed by a wagon."

It seemed he was the last person to be in on the meeting. Kael now stood, instantly commanding the attention of everyone. I couldn't forget the day he became so undone that he blasted Givious and I.

"If you have yet to hear, we are apparently being followed."

I looked up for a moment, but swerved my eyes from his face quickly enough that I did not catch his eyes.

"Who?"

Kael pressed his fingertips to the table, leaning on it. "Seemingly all of the Alliance."

"What?" I spluttered, forgetting my shyness.

"Three battalions at least are far enough away we need not worry. I believe they are being sent to Darkshore."

"Your magic tells us nothing else?" Vashj hissed, eyes glaring at where he indicated.

His magic. Of course. He only needed to see their smoke from campfires.

"Humans?" Zichrad queried, timid. He was still unused to speaking freely.

"Yes. But there are two sentinel hunting parties that are following a path eerily similar to our own. They are pressing from the north, making our march more and more dangerous."

"From the north…" I whispered, and traced my finger along their route. "And from the…west…"

Kael continued. "What's more, the sentinels are battling the orcs to our southeast. We are quickly running out of the wilder woods, where we are no doubt safer than in the middle of a warzone."

"I told you!" Vashj snarled. "We stayed too long at the lakes! Had we left sooner, the orcs would still be south for winter, and the elves snow bound!"

"Quiet, Vashj!"

I ignored the argument that stormed around me, eyeing where Zichrad had marked the humans, elves, and orcs placement.

Something tickled my thoughts. I closed my eyes, tuning out the others, focusing on the feeling.

Without warning, I saw I wolf- a shaman's spirit wolf- racing through the undergrowth. It dodged vines, trees and roots with ease and grace, tearing across the land.

And behind it rode a Night Elf on a mighty saber, regal as she too sped along. Priestess markings were everywhere, and another symbol I felt I should recognize…

The wolf skittered to a stop, the elf following suite.

"Yes?" She asked.

The world slowed, focused and unfocused. The wolf froze too, looked up and around it for a moment, before leaning its head back and howling into the tree boughs.

I fell back into my chair, panting. My arms ached, and I realized I had gripped my sword in one hand and the table with another.

I knew the wolf. Somehow, its fur and markings struck some deep memory in me. But how would I be familiar with an enemy shaman? And why was the night elf working with it?

"Ruara?"

I blinked, looking up at Kael, who was leaning over me. Gulping, I felt my muscles lock.

"Are you alright?"

I didn't know. "Yes."

He watched me for another moment. A flash of concern crossed his face, but Vashj brought him back to the map with a hiss.

"Anu-iszera'thera." I whispered. Zichrad watched me.

"What does that mean?" He asked after a moment.

Kael paused in a discussion with Vashj. "What did she say?"

I frowned, still looking at the map. "Anu-iszera'therA!"

Vashj slid from the tent, and began calling orders. Zichrad looked from me to Kael. I met the king's eyes willingly, questioning to see if I might be wrong…

"Do you think…?"

"Rhok'ilisar." I whispered, and glanced around.

He looked like he was thinking very hard. "When?"

I bit my lip, looking back at the map. After a short calculation, I looked back to find him closer. "Tor'Elunenor."

Before I could blink he was out of the tent. I slumped, rubbing my forehead. What had it meant? How could my fellow elves have possibly found us so easily? And why exactly where they so desperate to stop us?

Kael re-entered and waved a hand, sending all of the loose materials into crates as he stared hard at me.

"They wouldn't throw themselves into battle so eagerly," I said, knowing what he wanted. "They would wait until the lumber mills started, so they can attack the non-fighters."

"They want the orcs on us too."

My eyes met his briefly before I studied my wrist with interest. It wasn't a question, but I thought so too.

He paused, steeling himself I imagine. "The… the Dark Portal. Do you know what it is?"

I nodded, glancing at the door as I heard the camp being packed with haste.

"Well, it's been opened. The little itch of a war that the Horde and Alliance has been scratching at? It has all but disappeared as the Legion provides them with a common enemy."

"They have come to see the Outlands as the enemy- my own, as their enemy."

My eyes flicked to the random objects flying around the room and settling themselves.

"Caught in a crossfire," I murmured.

He nodded.

"So…" I took a deep breath, "We are going straight to Outland."

Silence. I told myself not to look at him, told myself that I shouldn't, but I had to see how he would handle this.

His eyes were wide and blank, as though he was seeing something else. The tips of his ears trembled.

"Yes. Straight to Outland. Straight to the Black Temple."

I swallowed and stood to face him. "Straight to my death?"

This time he didn't even try to answer. I left the tent to gather my things.

The darkness of this night did not comfort me.

"When have I asked for a favor Staghelm, when?" Tyrande finally snapped, and Fandral jerked in surprise at her tone, "I have let you plot against me and the like for years with nothing said! I have only ever helped and aided the Cenarion Circle and its followers! I protected the memory of your son when others sought to defile it! And now," she took a breath, a light entering her eyes that made Fandral grip his staff, "Now that I need your help, you seek to turn it against me, you try to humiliate me to the point of stepping down."

Rising, she narrowed her eyes, "Well, this is me standing above you, Staghelm, and telling you that you cannot count upon me for personal favors. I will save her without you."

The Archdruid watched the High Priestess storm from his rooms, shocked.

Tyrande squinted despite the lowering light in Darnassus, gripping her dress' skirts hard and forcing any who saw her step aside with haste. The Temple soon loomed before her, and she only calmed when she stood in the soft glow before Elune.

"Tor'Elunenor… I will save you then…"

Hokay so, more coming soon, getting this sob over with

Oh, and there is a big twist next chappy. What? I'm hinting at stuff now?

geez i'm tired of this one haha