Vol'jin spent the night awake, in his hut, staring into the fire. He hadn't even tried to meditate since the arrival of Cenahria, and now he sat, pondering. He wasn't entirely sure why he had made the offer for his people to teach her what they knew of druidism – he wasn't entirely sure any of them would agree to it. He just felt… drawn to her, in some way. Vol'jin sighed. All he knew was that he didn't want her to leave.
A small crackling came from behind him, with the smell of incense. He turned to face the small brazier at the back of his hut, and found Thrall watching him silently. "Hasn't anybody ever told ya not to sneak up on people in da middle of the night?" His friend smiled slightly, and Vol'jin smiled back. He rarely saw Thrall these days, and he missed his friend. "I'm sorry, Vol'jin. I didn't think you would still be awake. What's keeping you in here at this time of the night?" Thrall's voice was mellower than most orcs, but still carried a guttural ring. "I am just… thinkin', Thrall. We had a surprise visit dis mornin' and I'm not sure I'm making a good decision keepin' her alive." Thrall listened as Vol'jin explained the events of the day, leaving out his thoughts on Cenahria. "This elf is a druid you say? Exiled by her people? I knew the elves weren't particularly friendly with your kind, but exiling her for wishing to learn more? That seems a bit much… You have good judgement, however, Vol'jin. You would never endanger your people. If something is keeping you from killing her, there is likely a good reason for it." Vol'jin nodded. Thrall didn't need to know about the thoughts that had wound their way into his mind several times that evening; thoughts that were keeping him awake. They had absolutely nothing to do with his reluctance to kill her.
"I made her a promise to find someone to teach her. How do I convince da tribe to accept and teach an elf?" Thrall sat, thoughtfully silent, for a moment. "Have you called a meeting, of just the druids from your tribe? Explain to them the situation – as a fellow druid, they may be more sympathetic to her cause than the rest of the tribe. Get them on her side first, the rest will follow." Now that was a good idea. "Thanks, Thrall. Ya make sense, ya always do. I'll call a meeting in da mornin'. What did ya come here for, anyway? Ya didn't come here just to give me dat advice." Vol'jin listened, as Thrall briefly explained the new troubles facing the Horde. "A new leader is needed, Vol'jin, but, like you, I'm concerned my choice may not be as good as I could hope. I am going to name Garrosh Hellscream Warchief soon. I will need you, along with Baine and Sylvanas, to come to Orgrimmar, to meet him." Vol'jin felt ice trickle down his spine. Garrosh was well known for his blood lust, and thirst for war. This could cause many more problems with the Alliance, and cause much more bloodshed. But. If Thrall thought him the best choice, who was Vol'jin to disagree? "Very well, Thrall. Let me know when ya wish for me to travel to Orgrimmar." Thrall nodded, and swiftly departed from the smoke. Vol'jin looked outside, and could see the first fingers of sunlight bronzing the mountains in the distance. He had a long day ahead of him. Putting out the fire, Vol'jin made his way to his bed, and tried to rest as best he could.
The following day blistered – the heat was overpowering, making shimmering waves in the air. Despite this, Vol'jin was in a good mood. Cenahria had arrived early, agreeing to stay and learn from his tribe. He told her of his plan to discuss her training with the druid students first, and advised her to stay away from the other trolls, for the time being. "It may take some time before the tribe warm to ya bein' here. I'm sure dey will get used to it soon. Did ya want to stay while I talk to da druids, present ya own case to dem?" Cenahria tilted her head to the side, a thoughtful looking crossing her face, and he smiled to himself. "I think I would like to stay here while you talk to them, but I think it would be best if you explained my situation. They may be distrustful of anything I tell them. And anyway, it is much cooler in here than it is anywhere else."
For the first time, Vol'jin noticed beads of sweat making her skin glisten a dusky blue, and he resolved to find something cooler for her to wear. Studying her form, trying to figure out a rough measurement to give to the tailoring trolls, a faint heat rose to his face, and he decided to leave that to the seamstress. Cenahria had not seemed to notice his slight awkwardness, for which he was immensely glad. She was stood next to the brazier, gently prodding the ashes, as if to figure out what he had been doing the night before. He cleared his throat, and called for one of his guards. She jumped slightly, as if she had forgotten herself, and made to stand behind his chair. Sitting down, he told the guard to fetch the druids.
"Do you have many druids, among your people?" Cenahria stood behind the chair, almost awkwardly, and Vol'jin motioned for her to move closer. "Aye, we have a few. 5, maybe 6. We ain't a big tribe, though. Ya'd find more druids among da other tribes. But da few we have here are fierce warriors, and very powerful. Ya will learn much from dem." Cenahria bowed her head. "If they are willing to teach me, of course." Vol'jin suddenly felt sympathy for her plight. All she wanted to do was learn, but all she turned to for help, shunned her. "If my tribe do not agree to teach ya, I will send word to da other tribes, and to da Tauren Chieftain, if ya would like? I'll do my very best to help ya, in any way I can." She looked up at him, and her eyes said her thanks. Tears threatened to spill onto her cheeks, and Vol'jin fought a sudden urge to brush them away. He turned, just as his guard led the druids into the room.
"Sit down, all of ya." The 6 trolls sat in a semi-circle in front of his seat, eyeing Cenahria. She moved behind his chair again, hiding herself. "Ya all know of our guest dat arrived yesterday. Dis is Cenahria, she is an elf, who has been exiled by her people." The trolls looked from Vol'jin, back to Cenahria, with a mixture of contempt, curiosity and compassion. He was glad to see that the bloodlust was not as strong as it had been with his guards the previous day. Thrall's plan might actually work. Vol'jin briefly explained Cenahria's plight, and as he talked, he felt the atmosphere of the room change. By the end, the trolls were looking at Cenahria with sympathy, instead of hatred, and Cenahria herself had even stepped out from behind the chair to stand next to him. "I understand that you may all hate me. My kind have never been friendly towards you, and for that I am sorry. Their prejudice against you is not shared by me. You have all already shown me such kindness by letting me stay. I hope you can find it within yourselves to accept me, and teach me as one of your own."
She hadn't raised her head as she spoke, but one troll stood, and moved towards her. She looked up, frightened, and the troll bent to the floor, and held out a hand. "My name be Zaria. I held watch over ya, ya first night here. We do not hate ya, but we are wary of ya. However, our chief has made us understand ya plight, and we would like to help ya. Druids are by nature peaceful people, regardless of der race. Ya have caused us no harm, and we will show ya da same. But know this; if ya use what we teach ya to hurt our kind, we will show ya no mercy. And not even our Chief will save ya from our wrath." Vol'jin rolled his eyes – Zaria had sounded extremely dramatic, and Cenahria had moved to hide herself again, but he knew his tribe. The druids would never disobey him. "Den it is settled. Cenahria will stay in our lands, as our guest. Zaria, would ya take her to the seamstress? If she gonna stay in our lands, she gonna need somethin' betta to wear." Zaria looked at Cenahria, and her thick, elven dress and laughed slightly. She reached to take Cenahria's arm, gently, and steered her to the door. "Thank you, Vol'jin. For everything." Cenahria called over her shoulder, and Vol'jin smiled as his druids left with her. Everything had worked out even better than he had hoped.
A weight had been lifted from his shoulders, and Vol'jin decided to use his time to meditate. Kneeling in the centre of the room, he began to deepen his breathing. He reached out with his mind, to touch the realm of the Loa. Soft whispering drew him deeper, and his entire body relaxed. He sank deeper into the meditation, so deep, that he gave a roar when a deep growl followed by a loud thud echoed into his hut. One of the female trolls barged in, a look of death on her face. "Chieftain! Zaria has just told me dat da elf is stayin' wit us as our guest! Tell me dat isn't true!" Vol'jin looked up at her, and realised it was Uyoga. Uyoga's family had been killed during an Alliance raid, and she had since developed an understandable rage toward any member of the Alliance. "Cenahria is goin' to be stayin' wit us to learn from our druids. She may be an elf, but she is not like da Alliance in any way." Uyoga snorted, and growled softly. "If ya won't put da needs of dis tribe before ya own feelins, den I will! I'll do whatcha cannot do, Chieftain, and I'll rid us all of dis monster." Vol'jin stood, and met her gaze. He could not, would not, allow Uyoga to harm Cenahria. "Ya will not harm da elf, and dat is an order. I have given orders to da tribe not to harm her, and I expect ya all to follow dem." Uyoga stepped forward, anger seeping through every pore. "Da elf will be our doom, Vol'jin. Ya lettin' emotion cloud ya judgment, and dat could mean our destruction. I promise ya, Chieftain. If ya will not put our people first, I will." And with that, Uyoga stormed out.