Chapter 32
Eight weeks later …
Sylvanas kept her gaze on the woman straddling her as she rested against the backboard of the bed. Alyna had her hands on her queen's shoulders to help keep herself upright, Sylvanas holding onto her lover's hips. Neither of them moved as Alyna recovered her senses while still sat on the strap on, her eyes closed, and head bowed. In time, the queen moved one of her hands to cup the captain's cheek, receiving a small smile in return.
With a content sigh, Alyna eventually raised herself up and off the protrusion strapped to her queen's pelvis. Both women slid themselves down the bed to a more prone position, their bodies automatically tangling with each other. Sunlight cut across their grey skin where it was not quite blocked by the loosely hung curtains in Sylvanas' quarters in Dalaran. One bright streak shone off a lock of her lover's white hair and she found herself transfixed by the delicate strands, partly seeing the deep burgundy they had once been.
Alyna trembled. Sylvanas tensed in response. She knew it was not out of pleasure or arousal. She had increasingly noticed the involuntary movements in her lover and had waited patiently for an explanation that had not been offered.
"Alyna?" she asked carefully.
"It's nothing," came the stubborn reply.
Sylvanas rolled onto her side and propped herself up on her elbow. She then hooked two fingers through the loop on Alyna's collar and pulled her close enough for their noses to almost touch.
Her words were low and menacing. "Do not lie to me."
Black eyes hardened once they got over their initial surprise at her queen's tone. "I'm not. I have it in hand."
"What exactly is it, Alyna?" She did not quite manage to keep the impatience from her voice.
The captain took a minute to mull over her reply. "I mentioned a side effect of my san'layn abilities some time ago. The more I use them, the more I feel driven to continue using them." Sylvanas gave her a small nod to show she remembered. The ranger continued, "I also get a physical … nudge."
"You never mentioned it."
"I didn't know about it." Alyna's brow furrowed slightly. "I have no personal experience with this, and the blood princes and queen did not exactly share their struggles with me. This would be seen as a sign of weakness."
Sylvanas mirrored her lover's expression. "You are constantly fighting withdrawal. That is not a sign of weakness, Alyna, but considerable strength."
The captain reached up and tucked the queen's loose hair behind a long ear. "I know that now." Her features relaxed slightly. "And I am dealing with it."
The queen released her hold on Alyna's collar, silently pleased to see it around her throat. She had understandably been hesitant to wear it after what happened in Zul'Drak, but Sylvanas had not pushed the issue. A couple of weeks ago, Alyna had worn it again without a word and she had gladly accepted the development.
"You will come to me if you need help?" she asked hesitantly.
Alyna gave her a brief nod. "Yes."
Sylvanas held the woman's gaze for a time before accepting the reply. She resettled herself on the bed, removing the harness around her hips. She knew there were things that had not been said but forcing Alyna into anything would only result in pushing her away. At least she had an idea what was happening now, and she would ensure Kyala kept an eye on the stubborn captain.
She brushed her lips against Alyna's forehead. It had been over a year since she had watched Alyna appear at the tree they had carved their initials into another lifetime ago. She had feared what the woman's arrival would mean for her future and could now see the folly of her concern. She now knew without a doubt that Alyna will always have her queen's best interests at heart.
As long as she was free to choose.
Alyna stirred and looked up at her curiously, perhaps sensing her mood as she was known to do. She belatedly realised that while she had let go of the collar, her fingers had lingered around Alyna's neck, stroking softly.
"It still bothers you." Her voice held no note of accusation. It was merely a statement of fact.
Sylvanas nodded. The words hung in the air between them, compelling the queen to address the subject. "That was the second time one of Arthas' chosen has tried to reclaim you. I cannot help but wonder how many more are waiting for such an opportunity."
"Is that why you keep me in the Undercity?" This time the words were not so neutral, bitterness subtly creeping in.
The queen closed her eyes briefly in lieu of a sigh. "Partly," she conceded. "I also enjoy your company. Having someone to confide in has been … refreshing." For years she had accepted the extreme isolation her role had brought. She truly had no words to describe what it was like to have Alyna at her side, sharing her burden as much as was appropriate. Thankfully, there was no need to voice the impossible as Alyna understood, and they both knew she did. Her red gaze flicked down to the black one watching her. "I know you are bored." She smiled slowly as she teased the ranger. "And as much as I would like to say I have summoned you to Dalaran to decorate my bed as beautifully as you always do, I do have a task for you."
A white eyebrow predictably rose in curiosity in a wordless question. Sylvanas chuckled at the eagerness. It was yet another characteristic Alyna had retained through undeath that further endeared the queen to her captain. She ducked her head down to capture the dark purple lips with her own in a tender kiss before she put the woman out of her misery.
"The meeting called by the warchief was on behalf of Highlord Tirion Fordring, the human paladin who leads the Argent Crusade. It was he who allowed you to set up our presence in Zul'Drak."
Alyna nodded slowly. "I'm aware of who he is. Liadrin appears to respect him."
Sylvanas shrugged with her free shoulder, not really concerned with the matriarch's opinion. "The Argent Crusade have managed to gain a foothold in the north of Icecrown, and the highlord has decided to set up a tournament ground on it."
Alyna sat up and stared back down at the prone Sylvanas in disbelief. "A tournament ground? Not a fortified garrison but a tournament ground?"
"Yes. He is calling it neutral territory. He intends to use it to find the greatest champions of Azeroth, whom he will recruit for his attack on Arthas." As she spoke, she watched as her captain's emotions visibly transitioned from amazement, to horror, to incredulity, and then finally, anger.
"What on Azeroth is he thinking?" Alyna finally exploded into motion. She practically leapt out of bed to pace out her rage. "There are plenty of places in which to set up his damned contest. Does he truly think the Lich King will just leave them alone as they raise an army on his doorstep?" She stopped and glared at Sylvanas. "This is madness."
The queen swallowed her body's reaction to her lover standing gloriously naked before her. Alyna had forever worn her passion in a manner the queen had always found attractive, even if that passion was expressed through anger as it was now. She understood her captain's reaction, having initially felt the same way. She had since altered her perspective on the plan.
"I don't know what Fordring expects from the Lich King, but the warchief is supporting the tournament, and so am I."
Alyna blinked in surprise. "Why?"
A year ago she would have snapped at the audacity of the simple question no matter who asked it. Sylvanas smiled slightly at herself before growing more sombre. "The events at the Wrathgate cost us much, Alyna. While people can be replaced, the greatest casualty was the tenuous cooperation between the Horde and Alliance." She brushed her fingers back through her own straw-yellow hair as she admitted, "It would appear that what Wrynn saw in the Apothecarium was a step too far for him to maintain the pact. He now considers us as bad as the Scourge, and Thrall unworthy for supporting us."
Alyna made a sound of disgust, her hands planted on her hips. "So he would prefer the Lich King win the right to rule his kingdom rather than ally with us? Wrynn is a fool."
"Be that as it may," Sylvanas started, "Fordring recognises the threat. He believes he can unite our factions under his own banner." She wished the woman would cease posturing in the nude before her during such a conversation. It was distracting.
"Fordring is still a human," Alyna noted. "Would the Horde's champions follow him into battle?"
The queen smiled knowingly. "The Forsaken will do as I say. Thrall believes most of the others will be bound by honour to obey if they choose to attend the tournament." She patted the edge of the bed, hoping Alyna would take the hint. "As for the sin'dorei, I can ensure their cooperation if they prove resistant to the idea." She paused a moment before adding, "Though I do believe Lor'themar has learnt his lesson after our last visit."
Seemingly accepting the reasoning, the captain glided back over to the bed and sat down, sunlight glinting softly off the metal ring on her collar. Sylvanas sat up to arrange herself around the woman, pressing into her back to embrace her and enjoy the physical reconnection. Alyna responded by leaning back into her slightly and reaching up with a hand to caress her queen's cheek.
"What is the task you have brought me here to do?" she asked quietly.
Sylvanas silently relished their closeness for a time before she answered. "Combatants need things to fight. The warchief promised that each people of the Horde would produce a worthy opponent."
Alyna turned in her queen's embrace, narrowing her eyes in suspicion. "You're sending me on a hunt? For an animal?"
"A wild proto-drake," Sylvanas clarified.
"A proto-drake?" Her black eyes became wide pools. "Those things are not simple beasts, Sylvanas. They have intelligence."
"Which will make it a formidable foe to represent the Forsaken at the tournament." She gave her lover a small mischievous smile. "And more than just a mere hunt to entertain my bored ranger captain."
Alyna scowled at her, and she pulled the tenacious woman into a kiss in response. She noted through her tongue that her lover's fangs were longer than usual, telling her she was hungry. She wryly thought the woman had earnt a good meal after their night and early morning. Alyna had been waiting for her as expected once the meeting had come to an end, and Sylvanas had been very keen to shed the mantle of 'queen' for a while. Only Alyna could create the oasis of normalcy Sylvanas found herself desiring with more frequency around the woman.
Their time together was now up though, and with some reluctance she ended the kiss. They both had things to do and the sooner Alyna wrangled a proto-drake for her, the sooner she could be back home at the Undercity to continue their liaison.
The captain raised a finger to gently stroke the queen's bottom lip. "Hm. I cut you." It was not the first time her lover's fangs had marked her, and Alyna was already in the process of raising her hand to press it against Sylvanas' chest to use her own energy to heal the small wound.
Sylvanas took hold of her wrist to stop her, conscious of their earlier talk. "I'll use a potion."
Disappointment briefly flashed through Alyna's fine features, but she then nodded in understanding as the queen shifted her body so she could rise and dress. She had no idea how Alyna was going to capture a proto-drake, but she had every confidence in the woman to figure it out.
Meanwhile, she would be preparing for their reunion. When her responsibilities allowed for it, of course.
The sewers of Dalaran were an impressive warren of dark, damp, stone tunnels utilised by those who wished to remain beneath the notice of the respectable citizens in the streets above. There were guards, but they were easily bribed to look away when privacy or anonymity was required. While the city was considered the magical centre of the human world and was even used by her former people as a revered place for study, most of the citizens who lived here had no affinity for magic. While Silvermoon was infused throughout with the arcane in many ways, magic was very much contained to specific areas within the human city. There was also a considerable amount of energy focused into the spell that kept the place afloat in the sky.
All of that meant Alyna did not require favours from the guards; she just used her dark ranger abilities to cloak herself in shadow, safe in the knowledge that few were capable of detecting her presence. She had spent the past hour prowling the sewer in search of the darkest dead ends and the people who occupied them in hopes they would be left alone. Every society has its rejects and criminal element, the dregs those who considered themselves civilised had no care for. They frequently disappeared through their own machinations, leaving no ripples in the fabric of the world above.
Which is exactly why Alyna was here. It made them easy to exploit as her prey. Three humans had met their sudden and clueless end to fuel her need, their bodies teleported into the snows of the nearby Storm Peaks to ensure they were not discovered. She had told herself the most recent would be her last one, but she was enjoying herself as she explored the den of iniquity that thrived beneath the regal splendour that passed itself off as superior. She had decided they were all the same at their core; the people in the sewers were just more open about their scheming and vices. In both worlds, only the strongest survived, and she was an apex predator.
It thrilled her.
As did the results. Her fingers tingled with power she itched to unleash. She dodged a couple of humans oblivious to her presence and strode down a narrow pipe that she knew led to one of the main sections of the sewers. It was a large, open area someone had dubbed the 'Circle of Wills'. Fights regularly broke out, arranged and otherwise. A ramshackle shanty town existed here, concentrated at each end of the zone. It was also the confluence of most of the sewer pipes in Dalaran. She had finished exploring her current section and had to cross it to find another.
She emerged into the busy section and immediately moved away from the entrance, pressing herself up against a sidewall to avoid any collisions. No fights were currently happening as the guards were present, but that did not discourage the various entrepreneurs from moving through the crowd trying to sell their illicit wares. The guards were likely taking a cut, so they permitted it.
Alyna moved silently around the edge, looking for the least congested path to cross to the other side, when she saw a slender woman talking down to a male goblin. Familiar dark red hair cascaded down the back of simple off-white white robes. Elven ears were visible through the flickering gloom. When the woman turned around, having bought a small pouch from the goblin, Alyna was left in no doubt she was looking at her younger sister.
She realised it had been nearly eleven months since they had last met. Alyna had agreed to meet the woman again but had just not found the time for it. Nor the drive, if she was honest with herself. While Lirea had not visibly aged in such a short space of time, she looked tired. She did not carry herself with the strength of youth she should still possess, and her face carried a serious countenance Alyna could not recall ever seeing before.
A face that was currently focused in her direction. The young elf raised a hand, the Light glowing in preparation in her palm.
"Whoever you are, show yourself," she demanded in Common, her voice strong and unwavering.
Alyna raised an eyebrow in appreciation. She was not surprised she had been sensed, particularly by a priestess. She was not hiding deeply in the shadows, after all. Her baby sister was certainly surprising her though.
She stepped from the shadows into full view, prompting a small gasp from Lirea.
"Alyna! By the Sunwell! You scared me." The priestess dropped her palm, the prepared spell fizzling out of existence.
The dark ranger favoured Lirea with a small smile. "You did not look scared, little sister."
Lirea pressed her hands down the front of her robe. "Startled then?" She shook her head and smiled. "It's good to see you." She stepped closer and opened her arms to embrace Alyna. When the ranger didn't pull away, she completed the action. She made the effort to return the hug, softly.
When they parted, Alyna found her gaze staring after the vanishing goblin. "I would not have expected to find you here, of all places."
Lirea waved away the notion. "It is here my help is most needed, Alyna." She then shrugged. "Besides, when the shops above blame the war for a lack of supplies, there are no excuses down here so long as there is gold. I am fortunate in my finances, so I use it to buy what I know will save lives on the front lines."
Alyna turned back to her sister. "The front lines? You frequent them?"
The priestess nodded. "Of course. I am doing my bit, Alyna. As I know you are."
"Oh?"
Lirea smiled. "The black-eyed dark ranger gets around."
Alyna narrowed the aforementioned black eyes at her sibling. When she was the topic of gossip, she generally knew about it. Outside of the Forsaken, there was only one group she had spent any meaningful time with, and she had kept mostly to herself whilst with them.
"You're serving with the Argent Crusade," she stated bluntly.
Pale green eyes twinkled in amusement. "Yes. And yes, Liadrin has been keeping me informed of your exploits. The ones she knows about, anyway." Slender shoulders rose in a shrug. "It's either that or have me constantly trying to contact you for a personal update. And we both know you prefer your space right now."
Alyna could not fault the logic, and she found she didn't mind the matriarch filling such a role. It also explained why she had not heard from her sister. "I assume our father disapproves of you serving a human-led organisation?"
"Probably. But he also doesn't like me even being in the priesthood. The last time I saw him was just before the last time I saw you, so he has not had the opportunity to criticise me." She folded her arms across her chest. "I send letters to Mother, but …" She trailed off.
Alyna knew why and found herself resting her gloved hand on the younger woman's shoulder. "I'm sure she reads them and is grateful for your words, Lirea. Do not take her lack of response to heart; it was two decades before father allowed her to reply to my letters when I joined the Farstriders. Once she talks him around, I'm sure you will hear from her."
Lirea covered the ranger's hand with her own and squeezed softly in silent gratitude. She then changed the subject. "How is Sylvanas?"
"Determined." Alyna dropped her hand back down to her side. "She is doing everything she can to make sure Arthas pays for what he has done."
The priestess smiled slightly. "Yes, I heard she's even supported the tournament. That surprised more than a few, I assure you."
Including Alyna, though she did not admit to it. "Will you be there when it starts?"
"I'm not sure if I'll be sent yet. Will you be there?" she asked hopefully.
"We have not discussed it yet, but if the Dark Lady attends then so will I."
The smile on her sister's face broadened. "That sounds quite possessive of you, sister. I presume things are well between you both?"
Alyna stared blankly at her sibling as she was teased. Liadrin had gossiped about her adventures, but it would appear the matriarch had been more discrete about her personal life. It was a good thing to know, she thought. "Things are … well, yes."
It appeared to be the right thing to say as she received another embrace from the priestess. "Good. You deserve a friend in all this."
The ranger inwardly smiled at the friend designation. She knew Lirea was not so naïve, but they were also in a public place, though the local denizens were giving the elves a wide berth. It would appear her sister had become shrewd in the past year, as well as battle-hardened.
When the priestess stepped back, she sighed. "I have to get these herbs to where they're needed." She tapped the pouch she had just bought. "See you at the tournament, perhaps?"
Alyna nodded, once. "Perhaps." Something inside her twisted slightly and she added, "Try to stay safe, little sister."
Lirea grew serious as she replied, "Arthas has taken enough from our family, Alyna. I won't give him any more of our blood."
The ranger watched her leave, hoping her sibling was right.
A few days later …
The thick tail swung around as the proto-drake turned, catching Alyna solidly across her chest. She was flung off her feet but when she expected to hit the ground, she didn't. Instead, she saw the edge of the mountainous plateau they had been fighting on disappear above her as she fell backwards over the side.
"Alyna!"
She barely heard Kyala's cry over the wind rushing past her ears. Before she had a chance to react, her body slammed into something that immediately disintegrated beneath her. The sounds of cracking echoed around her as she watched the blue-white proto-drake fly away. Many meters above, numerous pairs of red eyes peered over the snow-covered rocky edge to witness the fate of their captain. All were relieved when they saw she had not fallen far.
She felt wet.
Alyna sat up gingerly. She did not believe she had broken anything, but it was common for the undead to break a bone and not notice until it was asked to do something. After a quick assessment, her only injury beyond some scrapes was a branch that had pierced through her thigh. She raised her arm and frowned at a sticky fluid loosely attaching her to what she had landed on. Disregarding it for now, she pulled the branch slowly from her thigh, ignoring the low sucking sound it made as she did so, and then willed her body to heal the flesh wound.
A tremble took hold of her for a few seconds, and she grit her teeth against it. This was the third proto-drake to escape their clutches in the past day and the task was proving irksome. The last thing she needed was to have to go feed as it would take several hours to descend from the mountain peak they were on, several more to find the dwarves that lived in the region, and all of that again to get back to the peak they had selected to hunt on. It was not about to happen, so she pushed past her urge.
Kyala's hand appeared before her and she took it gratefully. Now standing, she saw the fluid on her arm was all over the back of her body.
"You landed in a nest," her lieutenant observed with undisguised amusement.
Only then did Alyna notice the very deliberate arrangement of branches and foliage into what indeed was a very large proto-drake nest. Her fall had been broken by several eggs, and she was now covered in yolk that was quickly solidifying in the freezing mountain air. She tugged her hood down to make sure it didn't soak through into her hair. The wind immediately caught her hair, flicking the white strands across her face until she corralled it behind her ears.
She narrowed her eyes at Kyala. "What happened?"
"One of the anchor points for the net failed. It was torn right out of the rock before we could hook out its legs from under it." She shifted her weight as the wind buffeted them both. "We'll have to fix the net before trying again. And get some more bait."
Alyna brushed her fingers back through her rarely loose hair. "Fine. Send a team for some more goats and get another to fix the net." She looked up towards the plateau she had fallen from and then scanned the skies. "We may have to move the trap. They're starting to avoid the area."
Kyala followed her gaze. "They're learning quickly. If we don't catch one soon, we will have to move to another peak."
"Then let's hope we catch one soon," she flatly stated.
She pulled her boots out of the freezing yolk and waved at the dark rangers above. A pair of ropes were lowered down that they clipped to harnesses they both wore to assist them as they climbed back up to the plateau. As her people got to work, Alyna pulled an eyeglass from one of their packs and began to scan the surrounding area for a new site.
The mountain they were on had many plateaus like the one they occupied, worn out of the rock over centuries by the proto-drakes that nested here. Many were bare, but others had nests in various states like the one she had fallen into. From her research, the mothers generally laid their eggs and then flew off somewhere else to gorge themselves to feed their live young once they hatched. They could be away for weeks, even months, leaving the males to protect what they hoped was their progeny. They had chosen this plateau because there were several nests at different heights beneath them, resulting in numerous males circling above their heads when they first arrived.
She felt more than heard the presence arrive at her side as she peered into the distance through the eyeglass.
"This is still better than garrison duty in the Undercity with those orcs about," quipped her lieutenant.
Alyna lowered the eyeglass to give Kyala an amused look. "You're not the one falling into eggs."
"True," the lieutenant allowed. She looked over her shoulder briefly to make sure the others were out of earshot before she added, "I'm also not the one leaving her girlfriend behind either."
She thought it was meant as a tease, but she decided to clarify the situation regardless. "You know that staying in the Undercity for so long has not been my choice, Kyala."
"I know," came the soft, apologetic reply. Despite it not being by choice, they both knew that Alyna's near miss in Zul'Drak had played a role in their continued garrison duty. Kyala was being nice not pointing it out. "Do you think we'll get rotated back out into the field soon? For more than just the odd mission."
Alyna collapsed the eyeglass back into its case. "I'm working on it. Delivering a healthy proto-drake to the tournament grounds will certainly help our cause."
As she handed the case over to Kyala she failed to hide a small tremor in her hand. Their eyes momentarily met, and she saw concern in the red ones looking back at her.
"I'm fine," she snapped, a little harsher than she intended.
The lieutenant did not back down. "Can you feed on the proto-drakes?"
Alyna looked up at the sky before sighing. "I'd rather not get a taste for draconic blood or souls if at all possible."
Kyala blinked. "They taste different?"
"Yes. Most people are only subtly different, but the more powerful a soul is, the more energy I derive from it." She gestured up at a distant proto-drake. "Their species is as ancient as the dragons, and somewhat related as I understand it. Their souls are stronger than your average mortals." She had viewed them through her greyscale vision when they first arrived, and each single soul was as bright as a small sun. It had taken a great deal of self-control to force herself to not taste one. She was still fighting it. She was determined to make sure her next meal was not a proto-drake. Ultimately, she did not want to let Sylvanas down and she clung on to that when she needed the extra willpower.
"I see," Kyala mused. "Well. We'll find you some dwarves soo—"
She was interrupted by a powerful roar above their heads, quickly followed by a shadow rapidly descending on their position. They both looked up to see the largest proto-drake either had seen flying right at the plateau.
Kyala gasped, "That's a matriarch!"
"I can see that!" cried Alyna as they both began to run towards where the net was being repaired. She had no intention of trying to capture the creature but the wind whipping across the plateau meant she could not shout at her people and be heard clearly.
She skidded to a halt in the snow when she was close enough to be heard. "Leave the net! We have to get away from these nests!" She had no idea which nest this mother claimed, but if she was coming towards them then they were too close.
The dark rangers obeyed and immediately started to run towards the edge with the only viable path down the peak. The matriarch had other ideas and landed in the centre of the plateau, blocking their path. She roared in fury at the intruders, nostrils flaring before she spat a beam of ice in their general direction. Lightning reflexes meant they all managed to leap out of the way, but Alyna knew they would not be able to keep it up for long.
She drew her runeblade and tossed a small bolt of shadowflame at the creature's head to get its attention. Unsurprisingly, she was successful, and the great head swung round to spit more frost in her direction. She blinked away from her rangers and threw another of her own bolts back at the proto-drake.
"Go!" she yelled at them as the matriarch lumbered awkwardly closer to her. She could see the blue-white snout raising to sniff the air, and she belatedly recalled being covered in yolk. The angry roar confirmed it was probably not a good thing and she backed away slowly as the proto-drake advanced. She could see Kyala hovering at the edge as their rangers darted past her to head down the path and she waved her away in irritation. She did not get the chance to see if she was obeyed as the matriarch chose that instant to charge at her.
She blinked through the beast and then ran towards the edge, not seeing the net that had only been partially gathered after being untethered. Her boot caught an edge and pulled her down. She landed hard with a grunt, losing her grip on her runeblade. By the time she rolled onto her side to retrieve it the proto-drake was already bearing down on her. Still tangled, she rose to a knee and cast a stronger bolt of shadowflame at the matriarch in the hope it would slow her down.
It didn't.
Alyna cursed. Her frost abilities were practically useless against a creature so attuned to the cold, so she had no means of slowing it down even with magic. She half-scrambled to her feet, the netting now fully twisted around her lower leg. She sheathed her runeblade and stood her ground before the now charging proto-drake. A couple of seconds before it slammed into her, she threw herself to the floor, hoping she did not get trampled. The mass of the matriarch passed over her with enough momentum she knew it would be forced to take off to avoid falling over the edge.
The netting around her leg abruptly tightened and she was pulled backwards. Unable to stop her skid she was suddenly airborne. With no small amount of horror, she realised the proto-drake had also been caught in the loose net and was dragging her along haphazardly. The unexpected weight had confused the matriarch and they dropped together as wings frantically tried to regain control of the situation. Alyna looked down her body to see the creature's large foot near her own, and with just enough time to see the proto-drake clip the precipice below, throwing her into an uncontrolled sideways spin.
Alyna swore as she narrowly missed hitting the rock herself. As the matriarch span, so did she, and they tumbled together down through the sky. After what felt like an eternity the spinning brought the pair together and she found herself pressed against the matriarch's belly. She was unable to do anything other than to try and hang on as the proto-drake tried to stop the spin and at the very least glide.
They careered into more rock and the proto-drake roared with each hit, Alyna grateful it was not her taking the brunt of the strikes. While each contact slowed their spin and general descent, it quickly became clear the matriarch was not going to fly their way out of this and the ranger braced herself for the worst. She had one last trick that could save her, but the timing was critical, and it could just as easily kill her if she got it wrong.
So, she waited. And they fell down the mountain, alternatively freefalling and bouncing off ledges and anything else solid that was in their way. She tried not to get dizzy as she kept focusing on the point she thought was the ground they would soon hit. The proto-drake continued in her struggle to break their fall, survival instincts driving it to not give up.
The ground rapidly rose towards them. A second before they hit, and with the proto-drake below her, she cast her spell. Tangled as she was with the matriarch, she took it with her as she blinked them both forward. They reappeared twenty yards away from their previous position, but their downward momentum had been completely arrested. They dropped the last few feet like their fall had only just started. While the landing was abrupt, it was nowhere near the lethal impact it could have been.
They lay there together without moving for several seconds before Alyna tried to reach for her runeblade to cut herself out of the netting, to no avail. Her arms and everything else were bound to the beast and even her undead strength could not snap the net. It had been designed to hold a proto-drake, after all. It was nearly a full minute before it dawned on her the matriarch had not yet moved. She focused her senses on her and heard her heartbeat, so she knew the proto-drake was still alive, despite being severely beat up and apparently unconscious. With nothing else to do, the slightly dizzy ranger finally let herself relax. She wondered what would happen first, Kyala rescuing her or the proto-drake waking up.
To her great relief, her rangers found her first a few hours later. They quickly cut her free and she half-staggered away from the proto-drake, her leg still wrapped in some netting.
"You have got to stop taking short cuts down mountains," Kyala groused. "I'm amazed you survived that. We all feared the worst."
"Remind me to never let the Dark Lady think I'm ever bored again," came her own reply, to several chuckles. She was still surprised she survived it too. She had also had time to realise that this was probably not going to endear Sylvanas to the idea of letting her company back out into the field any time soon. At least this time she was not entirely to blame; proto-drake hunting had not been her idea.
"What do you want doing with this proto-drake, Lieutenant?" one of the dark rangers asked Kyala. In turn, Kyala turned to Alyna with a raised eyebrow to pass on the question.
The captain shrugged. "The queen wanted something formidable, and I can think of nothing better than a screaming angry matriarch to represent the Forsaken." She suddenly realised what she had just said and glanced sideways at Kyala. "Don't tell her I said that."
The lieutenant half-laughed. "I have no intention of seeking another promotion. You're safe. So long as you don't find any more mountains to fall down."
Something told the tired captain she was probably not going to hear the end of this one for a while.