It actually felt strange to Ivash to sit up and move after being there so long. It was as if he was comfortable trapped underneath debris.

"Well at least you can move now." said Keln.

"True. Do you think we could begin to move to the Underground now?"

"Yes, but Ivash, tell me about yourself please. If you are to come with me I would want to know what you are like."

"Well, I guess so. But there isn't really that much to tell. Mine has just been a childhood like any other child's. I grew up in this once great city, I began to get tuition from the local archmage, just as almost every other child here did. My father, he was a priest. I know priests are meant to be volunteers, but somehow dad managed to get a salary for his work." Ivash gave a weak laugh at this. "My mother, she worked in the local market. Set up a stall there everyday, sold imported foods to the people here and the fresh bread I used to help her bake early in the morning, before anyone else was out in the streets."

"There must be something specific about yourself. No one is ordinary."

"Yes...I guess there is. Well, I have a thirst for magic. I've seen my dad and the others use it before, but that just isn't enough. I want more than just that magic. I need more than just that magic."

Keln looked on at him, facinated by Ivash's tale.

"I guess that's probably just about it." said Ivash

"I'm sure there's more than that young boy, but it doesn't matter, I wont press you into telling me more"

"I would like to get going now if it's ok with you. Im just anxious to get into safety."

"Yes, right you are. Lets get moving." Keln said

He closely followed Keln out the door, managing to walk quite easily on his mended legs with only a slight twinge of annoyance with every step. But it was nothing Ivash couldn't put up with. They continued at a brisk pace, trying to keep to the edges of the buildings or the shadows as much as possible in order to avoid detection. The two companions travelled for about half an hour, past one of the four arcane towers that served to protect the inhabitants. It was little more than a mound of stone and wood and dust now, with a faint smell of decay hanging around it. They even passed several large piles of carcasses, burning furiously and emitting a smell so vile that it can not be described in mere words.

They managed to pass several groups of demons loitering around the ruined streets, vandalising almost everything they could. Much like present day youths. However, it was a bit much of them to hope for safe passage to the Underground. It wasn't long before something caught their scent. Ivash and Keln had kept out of sight, but fell hounds had a keen sense of smell and easily sniffed out the intruders as soon as they made the mistake of getting too near. Fell hounds were much like dogs: Agile, deadly when they want to be and they had very keen senses. In a matter of seconds, the two fell hounds had leapt and bounded across the debris, traversing about half a mile in almost no time at all.

"Ivash, stay back. We're not alone. Quickly, hide yourself among the -" but Keln didn't manage to complete the sentence before he was pounced upon.

The force of the fellhound hitting into his ribs sent him reeling back into a wall, but this was not enough to throw him off guard completely. As the second hound made to lunge at Keln, the paladin swung his mighty hammer at the beast's head. The fellhound parried the blow with its horns, causing one horn to snap, but it's mate quickly retaliated with a thrust into Keln's chest. He doubled over, mouth gaping as he felt the blow. He felt a small trickle of blood run down his chest and noticed that a horn had pierced his armour.

"Quickly Ivash, run. The entrance isn't far from here. You can still make it."

"I wont leave you!" replied Ivash.

"Just go!"

"I...fine."

Ivash began to run in the direction of the entrance. He had only ran a short distance when one of the hounds moved in to block his path. The Elf staggered backwards, stumbling over some charcoaled wood as he went, till the back of his head bumped against the cold stone. He glanced over at Keln and saw, to his dismay, that Keln was on the ground. His hammer was the only thing between him and the jaws of his foe and it didn't look like the hammer's staff was going to hold for long. Ivash turned back to his own hound, the reeking smell of it's breath now hot in Ivash's nostrils. He fell to the ground, paralyzed in fear as it closed in on him. His arms were outstretched, willing the hound to turn away and have mercy on him. It was at that instant, when Ivash's arms reached out, that he felt a surge of energy pulsing through him. The monster was almost upon him, but as it took another step closer, a brilliant jet of orange flame errupted from the palms of the boy's hands. It blossomed forth, directly into the face of evil, spreading into every nook and crevase. The eyes, the nose, the mouth, even the ears. Although the hound had been born in fire, it was not accustomed to this intensity. It roared in pain as it sprinted back away from the boy, who all the time had been looking away. He turned back towards where the hound had been. The stream of fire had stopped and the incredibly magic that had coursed through Ivash had now diminished, thought he could feel something still there.

Meanwhile, Keln had been continuing his own battle. He had taken quite a beating, but had somehow slain his opponent. His armour was shredded from the hound's horns and blood was pouring from a wide gash on his forehead. He also had a limp in his left leg andwas clutching his abdomen. But he was far more concerned about Ivash, for he knew full well he had only been fight against one, which meant the other must have gone for the Elf. He limped over in the direction Ivash had been running, gasping with each step he took. He didn't have to look very far, for Ivash had not managed to get very far.

"Hey." began Keln.

Ivash didn't say anything.

"You ok kid?"

"Yeah." Ivash replied. "You don't look in very good shape." Ivash had finally come to his senses and realized what had happened.

"Heh, yeah I've been better thats for sure. But what happened to you? I was sure the beast was out to get you."

"Hmm...It was. To be honest, I really don't know what happened. I think...I think i used magic." Ivash said.

"Magic? At your age? Well i must say if that's the case, then I'm impressed."

"Thanks." said Ivash.

"Anyway, don't you think we should be moving on to our destination?" asked Keln

"Yes. You're right." Ivash replied.

"Well lets get moving. We certainly don't want any more distractions like that again."

Keln helped Ivash up off the ground and picked up his sledgehammer. They began to move on again, but with far slower progress seeing as Keln couldn't walk properly. It took them almost half an hour to walk to the entrance even though it wasn't that far to walk. As they approached the entrance, Ivash had a definite frown on his face. Thinking of all that has happened. Dalaran's destruction, his father's probable death and the attack. But in his heart he was smiling. He had used magic and that to him was something to be happy about.