Sorry it's taken so long. Xmas and New year etc.
Kalvor and Leanadas moved into Darkshore, tense and silent as they left the path and moved into the undergrowth. High winds tugged at their hair and the scent of fire and salt washed across their nostrils, Leanadas glanced at Kalvor's face as they silently moved through the forest, avoiding the animals that ranged about them. His handsome face was set as he stared out across the changed landscape. Ahead of them, they could see the whirlwind spiral into the sky, it's swirling breezes whipping their cloaks about them and threatening to tear the hood from Leanadas' head. They hadn't spoken since setting out, both too preoccupied with what lay ahead and what had happened to talk much. Leanadas cast her eyes about, looking towards the red glow in the distance.
"Is that Auberdine?" She called, pointing through the trees towards the beach.
"It's the right direction." Kalvor replied, worry straining his words. "Let's go," They moved faster, pushing through the undergrowth with ease. As they moved nearer to the fires, Leanadas looked out at the changed landscape, at the river and rent land it flowed through. When that dragon had taken flight, it had pulled at the land as though wrinkling a blanket and this devastation was the result. They carefully forded the fast flowing river and moved closer to the sea.
"Oh By Elune," Kalvor raised his eyes to the pounding surf and finally the devastation of Auberdine. Elementals raged through the destroyed dock and inn, the homes scattered like children's toys amongst the buckled land. "No." He whispered it at first and then, "NO!" He rushed forward, bringing the borrowed blade high as he moved into battle, slicing through the elementals as though they were paper. Leanadas followed, her magic ready to back him up. Kalvor sliced down the last elemental and stood before the ruins of a small wooden house. The timbers hung drunkenly against each other and fire had blackened one side of the house.
"Naya," He moaned as he lunged at the wood and pulled it free. "Help me Lea!" He called back, his voice breaking as he revealed the charred remnants of a small doll. Leanadas reached his side and began to help him pull free the debris. As light poured into the darkness of the house he brushed dirt and perhaps tears from his pale eyes. "I can't see her," He whispered, staring into the ruin with a burgeoning hope, maybe she wasn't here." Lea said nothing, unwilling to give voice to a hope that might be dashed. She reached forward and dragged another piece of wood clear and stopped, staring at the dark stain that she had just revealed.
"Kalvor," Her voice broke and she started again, "Kalvor I," She could not continue, her eyes began to fill with tears, for him and his loss.
"No Naya," He knelt before the dark red stain and began to cry, crystalline tears that dripped down his face and fell from his chin onto the dusty ground. Lea reached for him, placing an arm about his shoulders and pulling him to her.
"Kalvor, I'm so sorry," She whispered, rubbing his shoulder carefully, tenderly, trying to sooth him.
"I should have been here,"
"You weren't to know," She muttered, feeling shudders of grief run through his body. "It's not your fault,"
For what seemed like an eternity, they knelt before the ruins of the house and it's dark stained floor. The noise of the sea and the whirlwind faded into nothing as they stared at the wreckage, anguish flooding through them.
"What are you doing?" A voice, hostile and curious, sounded loudly from nearby, pulling them both round with an exclamation of shock. Stood before them in battered leathers was a Night Elf Sentinel, her fingers curled about the string of a bow. Kalvor turned to stand and the woman aimed an arrow directly at his chest.
"Not so fast," Her voice was musical and strong, yet a bloodied bandage tied about her upper arm and a strain in her voice, told of the horrors of recent days. "who are you and what do you want?"
Kalvor drew a hand across his face and slowly got to his feet, stepping forward so that the sentinel's attention was completely focused on him.
"I am Kalvor Starwing," There was a bleak note to his voice as he spoke. "I'm here to seek my family," He glanced back at the ruin. "I may have found them,"
"Oh," The Sentinel lowered the bow a fraction, understanding flooding into her face as she took in his hollow face. "You're Salinaya's brother?"
"Yes, this is.." He stopped and took a breath, "was, her house."
"I knew little of her." Sympathy flashed across her face and smiled sadly. "Have you checked the refugee camp?" The woman asked, calmly lowering her weapon. "Some of the family may have escaped the flood,"
Kalvor looked back at the house, the blood on the floor telling him one story, yet hope flared back into his eyes. "Did many escape?"
"Not all," The Sentinel, replaced the arrow and turned back to gaze at the surroundings. "It happened so quickly, the water. Only those who were away from the beach or on higher ground managed to survive. We still don't have a full list of the dead." She swallowed and brushed a small tear from her eye. "I can't tell you if your sister died here as I don't know, but I hope you find her."
"Thank you,"
The Sentinel nodded and headed back down the beach, patrolling out across the ruins. Kalvor turned to Leanadas.
"Did you hear that?" His voice, so bleak a few moments before, now swelled with hope. "Some of them may have, my sister or her children?"
"We can hope so," Leanadas was calm, trying not to drive up his expectations. "Let's go,"