Chapter 26

I woke to crying, and was with Shad in moments. I lifted her from the basket and tried to quiet her, but she wouldn't.

"She's hungry."

I jumped, looking up to see Draka in the opening to our little hut, bottles in hand. She had a warm, fond smile on her face.

My own face heated as I realized she hasn't eaten since Elune knows when. I'm an idiot.

I took one of the bottles from her, holding it to Shad's lips and smiling in relief as she drank, quieting immediately.

"Thank you," I said gratefully, and Draka sat beside me.

"You have never mothered before," it wasn't a question, and I sensed Anduin stirring behind me.

"She will need to eat every four or so hours, and be held almost always. She needs to be kept warm, and you shouldn't leave her alone," Draka said, and I nodded, desperately hoping I would remember this advice.

She let go of the bottle, and then began to cry again. I tried to shush her, but Draka simply chuckled.

"Burp her, young one." Draka said, amusement humming through her voice, and I even laughed self deprecatingly, holding the babe to my shoulder and tapping fingers on her back gently. She was so damn tiny.

The babe burped, and then giggled, pulling on my hair a little, and I smiled, bringing her away from my shoulder to cradle her again. She looked up at me, her lips pulled into a smile where only the tips of her tusks could be seen.

"Good morning, Anduin," Draka said behind me, and I looked over my shoulder to see him looking at me with a mixture of emotions, but his eyes fell to the baby and they changed.

I could see his doubt about caring for her, but I didn't Care-I can love him, be a warrior, and care for Shad at the same time.

"Would you like to hold her, Princeling?" I asked, and he looked startled, sitting up and giving me a look that questioned my sanity, but after a few moments he nodded.

I carefully passed her to him, and she began to cry as she was held by a new person. He tried to shush her, looking somewhat panicked, but she got a grip on his finger and quieted. He was dead still as she babbled, until she gave him a look, and I could see his doubt die in its tracks as he softened towards her.

"Hi there," he said softly, smiling as she giggled, and I felt my face stretching with a grin.

"You will be just fine," Draka decided, but I turned to her before she could leave.

"Where did you find that food?" I asked, needing to make sure I could find more.

"It's ram's milk, from the farseer's cave. They've been enchanted and raised to produce babe's milk for the mothers who can't." Draka said, and I nodded, cataloging that for later.

She left, and I turned back to Shad, taking her back from Anduin almost greedily as I curled up around her, pressing little kisses to her head as she giggled.

"You would love Azeroth," I whispered, and Anduin stilled, "It's all kinds of colours and sounds and fun." I smiled, my chest aching, "I hope I get to show you."

"We'll go home, Jadearra."

I looked up to see Anduin's gaze on me, the mirth gone from his eyes, replaced by a resilient promise, "We will see Azeroth again."

I spent the majority of the morning playing with Shad, until it came near time to feed her. Anduin had gone out to speak with Khadgar and Thrall, so I bundled into furs and tucked Shad into my chest as I left the hut, bracing as the cold set in. I set off for the glowing cave I saw the night before-that must be where the farseer was.

I was given many a strange look as I walked-word must've spread that I had taken charge of the runt babe-but I kept my chin tucked in not out of shame, but to protect Shad from the bracing wind.

I reached the cave, and a warm wave of magic enveloped me, and I brought my chin up, allowing Shad to peek out a little bit at our surroundings. I moved deeper into the cave, working my way down until I reached the source of the brilliant blue light.

There, a jeweled pool that swam in power, with a single stone in the middle. An orc sat there, with a blindfold about his eyes.

"Ah, the elf who sacrificed herself for my rescue." He was the orc from the Jungle!

My arm twanged at the memory, but I shifted my grip so it wouldn't effect the babe, "Draka says you have enchanted ram's milk."

"Indeed I do, she came to me for some this morning. I assume you're the reason why." His head tilted, then he smiled warmly, "Ah, yes, you have taken charge of the orphaned runt babe."

"Her name is Shad," I corrected, and he smiled again, rising and coming to where I stood.

"Forgive me. I am Drek'Thar," He said, and I jerked, looking at him in shock-Thrall's teacher?

"Jadearra Theron," I gave a small bow, careful of Shad, "But my babe is hungry. The milk?"

"Ah yes," he smiled and led me to another 'room' of the cave, where a collection of rams stood, "They have been milked for the day, at the back of the room would be a collection. Take a bottle and fill it, and your babe will have food." Drek'Thar spoke.

Shad gave a small cry, and I shushed her, thanking the orc and making my way to the milk. I carefully balanced her and the bottle, and soon was holding the little suckle to her lips. She drank and was happy.

We made our way to the surface again, the sun high in the sky but doing nothing to warm the day. I curled around the babe again. I saw Anduin speaking with the others near the central bonfire, and made my way over.

Eyes found me as I approached, then went to the bundle at my chest.

"How is your ward, young one?" Draka asked kindly, and I smiled.

"Just fed her, I got nipped by a ram, and she finds cold unpleasant," I said, and Draka gave me a smile in return.

"We want to move out within the next few days," Khadgar said, and I tightened my grip on Shad reflexively, and she looked up in curiosity.

"Move where?" I asked, mindful of Shad's food source and how far I can get from it.

"We want to regroup with the rest of our party in the Shadowmoon Valley," Thrall said, and I bit my lip hard.

"I need to make some correspondence before we move," I said, which got me multiple odd looks.

"She needs to make sure she can feed her ward when she leaves here," Draka said, looking at the men like they were idiots, and their mouths all formed small 'o's.

"I will send a letter to Kenlora, and explain the situation," I said, forcing myself not to think of Teir and what state she could be in right now.

"I will pack you supplies," Draka said, "You would have to journey through Gorgrond, Talador, and the Spires of Arak before you reach the valley, and they are at the western border, within the Temple of Karabor. That is quite the journey."

"What is with us and cross continental walks?" I looked at Anduin, who smiled nostalgically.

"I don't think the ward should go."

I jumped, looking at Durotan, but he continued before I could snap, "Iron Horde are moving all over the continent, and our time is ripe with war and conflict. You are warriors that will attract attention. I don't think the journey is safe for a babe. Not even a Frostwolf one."

I sighed. He was right, "But I can't leave her." I said, looking down into the bright, gentle eyes of the babe I held.

"I will care for her in your absence."

I looked at Draka in shock, as did Durotan, "Draka-!"

"Silence, Durotan." She held her hand up, "I was born a weak runt, one no one expected to live. Your willingness to care for her…I will care for her until you return."

My heart was going to burst, "Draka, I…thank you." I bowed before her, giving her a grateful smile.

"Looking at you, I know your ward's life will be ripe with war. But it doesn't have to begin so early on," Draka smiled.

"It's settled then. We will leave for the temple of Karabor in two days."

Two days of no sleep, ram's milk and crying, and I was going to miss it.

Sunrise had arrived, and with it my departure from Shad. Her eyes were bleary as I carried her through the sleeping camp, to where Draka, Durotan, and my traveling party waited for me. Draka gave me a sympathetic nod.

I felt tears prick my eyes as I reached them, and I pressed a kiss to Shad's forehead, taking in the soft, subtle scent of snow that always came from her.

"Be safe, Shad," I whispered, before I reluctantly passed her to Draka, who curled the confused infant into her own furs. I already missed the weight that had been near constant on my chest.

"We must go, Jadearra," Khadgar said from atop his wolf. Thrall had one of his own as well, but Anduin and I were to be sharing, to save resources.

I climbed atop the wolf, in front of Anduin, and he took up the leather stirrups, pressing a comforting kiss to my shoulder. I looked back at Shad, her little eyes looking around in confusion, and she began to cry.

My heart ached, "Goodbye my little warrior," I called softly, and we were off.

The sun rose on the snow covered plains, and the wolves loped over it gracefully. I felt a very conflicting mixture of emotions. On one hand, I was to be reunited with warmth, my best friend and people of my land and time. On the other, a piece of my heart was being left behind in the form of an infant ward that I called mine.

I pushed it all from my mind. There is no time to miss her, or to be in grief. I must focus.

I am a warrior. For now, that must come first.

The air began to heat as we left the snow, and I realised that the sun was quite high in the sky already.

"We're entering Gorgrond!" Khadgar yelled, and we pressed onward, leaving the snow for the hot ground of the sunbaked land.

My mind drifted again, and instead of missing my ward, I imagined how she would be as she grew, and what she might think of Azeroth. She would like Quel' Thalas, with its warmth and trees. She might even like Stormwind, though the people may not be keen on her.

She would be a proud warrior one day, and she would be mine.

I let myself doze, leaning into Anduin as we rode, and before I knew it we were under the cover of a dense canopy, and the sun was setting.

"Where are we?" I yawned as the wolves slowed to a stop.

"Hey there sleepy head, we've passed through most of Talador-tomorrow we will go through the spires and into the valley. For now, we rest," Anduin said, helping me off the wolf, and I realised how stiff I was.

My hand went absently to my chest, and I flinched, moving my hand to my side and clenching it in a fist. Not a mother. I am a warrior. I had daggers and a quiver and a bow. I am a warrior.

I sat down tiredly, not caring if it was dirty forest floor, and dug into our food, taking out a small portion and ripping into it, until the hunger in my stomach subsided and my eyelids were drooping.

"Go to sleep Jade, I'll take first watch."

I curled into Anduin and was out like a light.

I was in a half awake, half asleep state, the entire world shifting and off colour. What the fuck?

"Jadearra? Jadearra?!"

I looked around, finally seeing eyes that burnt white-

"Jaina Proudmoore?!" I yelled into the abyss of off colour shifting. The eyes brightened and the voice grew louder.

"Thank the light! Is everyone alive?!"

Is this a dream? I can't question it, if this is real-

"Most of the vanguard has fallen. Anduin is alive! So is Khadgar and Thrall and-."

There was a pause of muttering filled the weird void, until another question came bursting through, "What of Teir and Kenlora?!"

"Kenlora is fine! Teir-." I paused, took a deep breath, "Teir lost her arm, but she is alive!"

The connection grew chaotic then, voices ricocheting about as the colours pulsed painfully bright, and then it went dark.

I shot awake and to my feet, chest heaving. Anduin and the others were awake at once.

"What happened?" Anduin asked, and I explained as best as I could.

Khadgar's eyes had a light to them as he spoke next, "Jaina managed to speak with you through your mind from Azeroth?" He hummed, standing and pacing, "This means a connection remains between our worlds, which is not necessarily a good thing but-." He paused again, thinking, "That means there's the chance we can strengthen it, if we learn to communicate more freely and coordinate a joint channeling, we could, we could-."

"We could open a portal and go home." I said, and all was silent for a moment.

This was momentous news. This meant that Thrall could see Agra and his children. Anduin his father. Teir Sylvanas, Kenlora could see her people, and I-

I could bring Shad to Azeroth and see Father again.

"We cannot focus on this now, but once we reach the temple we can-."

I held up a hand, and he stopped. I inhaled slowly-

"Duck!" I yelled, and we all dropped as a volley of arrows shot over our heads.

Weapons were out in an instant as orcs ambushed us. They dropped from every direction, and we formed a back to back sequence, arrows and magic and axes swinging outward to keep the enemy at bay.

I thought back to what Durotan said. You are warriors that will attract attention.

Well, he was definitely right about that.

I decided that I hated fighting in the dark, and sent up two magical spheres of light that revealed our attackers. From there, I could shoot arrows through the now visible gaps in their armor.

The altercation was over quickly, but it still left us shaken.

I sank to the ground, panting as I patted my chest absently, Thank you, Draka.

"We should keep moving. They know where we are," Khadgar said, and I nodded, heaving myself back to my feet with Anduin's assistance.

"You know I could really make this faster-." I raised my hands, but Khadgar stopped me, "No! We do not know exactly the layouts of this land or its magic. We cannot risk it."

I sighed, my hands falling to my side, and we got on our wolves again, having roused them with our fight. We fell back onto the path, and made our way forward.

"Jade, sleep. You look half dead," Anduin said as we moved forward, having hooked his arms beneath my pits when grabbing the stirrups-he was making sure I wouldn't fall.

I didn't need extra encouragement, and instead I let my head loll to the side as I drifted.

I felt Anduin's steady breath on my neck and shoulder, the air colder along the ridged scar that poked out from beneath my Armor-I had shed the furs in favour of lighter armor-and I thought of Teir.

They said they were trying to help her. What did that mean?