A Long Trip to Moonglade

Nightfall dimmed the Ashenvale foliage as Ti'Ran slept atop a bear-form-Denar'eth. They traveled a few miles before the bear slowed to a walk.

Ti'Ran awoke at the sudden change of pace. "If ya tired, jes lemme know." She teased as she hopped off of his back. Denar'eth returned to his original form and they strode along the stone road slowly. "How far we be from Moonglade anyway?"

Denar'eth wrapped his arms behind his head and sighed. The battle at Raynewood had worn on them both. "It's a long trip. We must pass through Astranaar, head north into Darkshore up to Lor'danel. Then we fly by Hippogryph into Moonglade. It's a three day walk from Astranaar, but the trip is worth while since you learn the bulk of your intermediate training, from there."

"Three days from Astranaar? Well, how far be Astranaar from here?"

"Relax, it's only a few more miles down the road."

"A few more miles? Den, we been fightin' all day an-"

Denar'eth quickly placed his fingers over the girl's lips as he turned to her. "When you're on a journey, the road is long and the destinations far. Take in the scenery for a while, will ya? Trust me, I'm just as tired as you." And with that, he turned and continued down the road.

A bit surprised by his response, Ti'Ran paused as she watched the night elf continue on. He was right, of course, but what really bothered her was the feeling she got every time she disappointed him, even just a little. His acceptance of her was so important for some reason and she could not understand why. The blood elf troll slowly began to follow him, watching his tired but seemingly care-free stride. She replayed the day's events in her mind, realizing that she had only known this night elf for one day. Yet, Denar'eth showed such generosity and cheerful guidance that he seemed nothing less than sincere. Still, all of Ti'Ran's pondering led down to one question.

(Is it all an act?)

The blood elf troll was no fool. She had spent the last couple of months learning the art of deception to use against the Alliance. What if Denar'eth was simply doing the same?

Was this night elf really a quiet rebel against the Alliance? He proudly claimed that he only showed true allegiance to the Cenarion Circle. But Ti'Ran knew so little about the faction that she had to question their beliefs and intentions as well. What if this "journey" was nothing more than a trap… and Denar'eth had the bait?

Ti'Ran had sunken so deep into thought that she did not notice where she walked. Denar'eth now stood before her and stopped her from taking another step. The blood elf troll suddenly looked up to see molten lava flowing over the broken stone road ahead of them. The surrounding trees were singed and burning and fire elementals floated about as if they were protecting something.

"What happened here?" Ti'Ran asked fearfully.

"The Cataclysm happened. Ever since that cursed dragon surfaced, all hell has released from the depths of our planet. Here, the fire elementals have gone awry. I've been told that the other elements are banding together to try to calm the fire's fury but they need more power." Denar'eth explained as he helped the blood elf troll climb the broken jetties of road.

"Can we help?" Ti'Ran asked, rather disappointed to see such a beautiful land tainted with such massive destruction.

"A mission of that degree is beyond our ability right now… especially when you have so much catching up to do."

Ti'Ran frowned as they climbed and hopped over the jagged blocks of broken road. Denar'eth picked up speed and hopped ahead of the blood elf troll. Ti'Ran grew annoyed as she watched the night elf leap effortlessly from rock to rock.

"How ya doin' dat?"

"Doing what?"

"Jumpin'deh blocks like it ain't difficult tah do?"

"Oh…a night elf's grace? We're pretty quick on our feet. You're part elf too. Where's that trait in you?" Denar'eth asked playfully as he came back to help her.

"Deh blood elves probably lost dat trait when dey were banished from deez lands."

"You learned that history, huh?"

"Yep." She replied curtly as she made her way past him. Suddenly, Denar'eth swooped the girl up into his arms and leapt onto the main road.

"Whatcha doin? Put meh down!" Ti'Ran fussed.

"Stop, stop." The night elf said in a hushed and serious tone as he looked back to the jutted rocks and began to run.

"What is it?"

"I think we may have caught some negative attention. Guards from Silverwind Refuge are coming up behind us! I forgot their post was so close!"

"Well put meh down! We can fight'em!" Ti'Ran said eagerly.

"Not nine of them!" Denar'eth said as he lifted the blood elf troll over his head and onto his back. He quickly transformed into a bear and out ran the Horde soldiers.

Nearly three miles down the road, the duo pressed on toward Astranaar. Denar'eth had given up bear form once more and struggled to keep a decent pace. Ti'Ran trudged slowly behind and smiled when she saw the gates of a village surrounded by a lake in the distance. However, Denar'eth did not share the blood elf troll's joy for he noticed something wrong with the village. Astranaar glowed…burned …on fire! The two ran to the gates, past the guards, who desperately put out flames all about. Every rooftop in the village was in flames and people ran around with buckets of water, trying to reduce the damage. Denar'eth noticed a particular Sentinel who ran about barking orders and decided to head towards her.

"Captian Thenysil!" he called out as he and Ti'Ran came near. "We've come from Raynewood Retreat to-"

"Well don't just stand there!" The Captain snapped as she threw two buckets at the couple. "Help us put out the fires!"

Ti'Ran and Denar'eth took their buckets to the lake and began throwing water onto any fiery surface they saw. For twenty minutes, the duo exhausted their already tired bodies with this game until Denar'eth became frustrated.

"Errrrrgh! This is useless!" He shouted, chucking the bucket.

"It's like deh fires jest won't stop! What's causin' dis mess!" Ti'Ran asked, feeling rather overwhelmed.

Denar'eth looked up and pointed high out over the lake. A group of Horde members on windryders flew around the perimeter of Astranaar pitching branches of fire onto the small town. Some of the enemies used fire spells to cause more drastic damage and they laughed as they flew by.

"This is ridiculous! I hate getting mixed up in their messes but we need a place to rest and we're already here." Denar'eth said as he paced back and forth in frustration.

"Whose mess? What'dya mean?" Ti'Ran was utterly confused.

"The Alliance and the Horde! Enemies attacking a thousand year old tree of the Cenarion Cirlce is one thing but THIS kind of caddy shit never ends between these two factions!"

"So… ya don't side wit deh Alliance?"

Denar'eth gave a half smile and looked to the lost blood elf troll.

"Not unless I absolutely have to… and right now, if we really want a soft bed to sleep in, then we've gotta make them happy." The night elf explained as he looked to a set of catapult throwers bound and unused at the center of the town. "Follow me!"

The duo quickly came to the catapults and began to set one up. Ti'Ran rushed to the lake with her bucket and began filling it with water and rocks. She filled the thrower until it was full as Denar'eth cranked up the massive device and pulled the release lever. Water and rocks flew into the air, hitting a cluster of flying Horde members off of their windryders. The village people quickly caught on and began to set up the other throwers. As more and more Horde members were taken down, the rest of the attacking party decided to retreat to their small camp across from the lake. The people of Astranaar cheered as Denar'eth winked to Ti'Ran, who watched Captain Thenysil approach them. The Sentinel, however, did not seem as pleased as they had expected.

"They'll be back… by tomorrow, no doubt. Overuse of the throwers causes wear and tear on our backup defense mechanisms. We don't use them when we can avoid it but you obviously weren't informed of that and that is fine. Anyhow, you've somehow managed to muster up some enthusiasm in our public against those hooligans and I thank you for your help." The captain finally cracked a small smile for the couple. Her smile dropped immediately as she squinted and came uncomfortably close to Ti'Ran to examine her. "However, I find it rather odd that you would come to our aid, you… you…are you troll or elf?"

"Both ma'am."

"What an odd cross breed." Thenysil stared for only a moment longer before shaking her head and stepping back. "Nevertheless, you did help our town… so you must be on our side. I take it you will be expecting some reward but unfortunately our-"

"The hospitality of your inn is all we ask." Denar'eth interjected as he handed over Melyria's letter. "And perhaps some spirits and good food." He chimed with his squinty eyes aglow.

Denar'eth waddled recklessly about; with his eyes wide open as he called out in a loud and obnoxious tone, "Aaaaaughibbrgubugbugrguburgle!" Ti'Ran burst into laughter as she rolled over, nearly spilling her cup of wine. "Dat beh a murloc alright! Hahaha! But come on, now. Dat's jest too easy! Do anoddah!"

Denar'eth gulped some of his wine before putting the cup down and squealing as he waved his staff in the air. He scooped up a small cluster of leaves that lie on the floorboards of the inn and blew them off of his hands and continued to squeal.

"Wait, wait, wait! I know dat one! … you's a quillboar!"

"What kind?"

"Shaman quillboar! Hahaha!"

"Correct!"

Ti'Ran squealed in victory as she finished off her cup of wine. Denar'eth picked up the bottle of Moonharvest and brought it over to her.

"Ya see… I lose at that game every time because I'm tooooo good at doing impressshions." Denar'eth cheesed as his eyes squinted cheerily and he poured the girl another cup of wine.

"Oye, ya tink ya slick, givin' meh all dis wine, eh? Ya gonna try n' seduce meh next, right?" Ti'Ran smirked.

"My dear, lovely little lady, you and I both know, (hic!), that I would be a FOOL to try and pull such a move on you."

Ti'Ran laughed and nodded.

"Alas, such a fascinating experience could only happen, if you decided to make a move on me." Denar'eth explained as he finished filling his own cup and returning to Ti'Ran. He raised his cup and nodded respectably to the blood elf troll.

"To a most unique and rare new friend… with a new found hope. Welcome to Druidism and it truly is a blessing to have you by my side." He toasted and tapped his cup to Ti'Ran's.

Ti'Ran paused for a moment and thought about his words. She had to ask, "Den, I am tankful fo all ya done but I gotta ask… why did ya save me… and why ya helpin' meh? I nevah knew anybody so willin' tah go outta dere way before. Why you doin' dis?"

The night elf's cheerful smile waned as he looked down to the ground. "I feel that I can relate to your disposition with the Horde quite a bit, really… with my own faction, that is…"

"Ya mean deh Cenarion Cir-"

"No, no. Of course not… I mean the Alliance." Denar'eth stood and slowly walked to the banister at the overlook, that provided a beautiful view of the surrounding lake.

"I wasn't always so open to the races of the opposing faction, although I've been a Druid all my life. In fact, I despised all Horde members like any other night elf would. However, when I traveled to Moonglade for the first time to meet the Great Bear Spirit, I crossed paths with a tauren who surprisingly spoke Darnassian… Duren Sunwatcher. His knowledge on the history of my people was impressive and he had always highly admired our druidic roots. He taught me the full purpose of the Cenarion Circle and told me of how the tauren played a vital role in preserving and protecting our planet… just like the night elves. He was so young to have provided me with so much knowledge. He was like a mentor to me… and he became my closest friend. Unfortunately, we were being particularly stupid one day and decided to wander around Zoram Strand to practice our abilities on some naga. … I wish I had never brought him there…":

"Duren, get your fuzzy ass back over here! It's been ten minutes, you cheater!" Denar'eth teased as he called out to his friend. Duren ran to him with great speed as he carried a heavy collection of naga heads.

"No need to cry, sweetheart, I'm right here." The tauren teased back. "And I've brought you a present." He threw the heads at the night elf's feet. "Twelve."

Denar'eth frowned. "Ya didn't tell me we were supposed to collect the heads! All mine are probably floating back out to sea!"

"How many did you get?"

"I guess I'll go hunt for them-"

"Den… how many?"

The night elf tightened his lips as he glared. "…Eight."

"HA! Beat you again!" the tauren cheered.

"Easy to say when you're three spells ahead of me." Denar'eth stuck out his tongue.

"Oh come on, then." The tauren laughed as he put an arm around his friend and they headed back inland. "So how goes it with Telessya? You two figure out how to…um… make it work… heheh!" he giggled and made hand motions of two bodies romping.

"I'm not answering that question… get off my back." Denar'eth scowled as his tauren friend shook him playfully.

"Hey!" Denar'eth smiled as he morphed into a bear and pounced on Duren. The tauren quickly transformed as well and they rolled around in the sand play fighting.

"That's so sweet, it's sickening." A voice appeared.

The two bears stopped playing and looked up. They quickly morphed back into their natural forms and stood up.

Before them were three powerful-looking Alliance missionaries on mounts. Two were night elves and the other, a human. The female night elf dismounted and walked up to the frozen druids.

"I can't believe I'm seeing this in my own lands. Have you lost your mind, young brother of Teldrassil?"

Denar'eth was prepared to speak when Duren quickly interjected.

"Please, we wish for no trouble. We are but two druids simply training for better preparation to serve the Cenarion Circ-"

"Silence, you filthy cow or I'll cut out your tongue! I cannot believe you would dare use the Darnassian language when it is not yours to speak!"

Duren quickly lowered his head.

A smile suddenly crept onto the night elf's face.

"I challenge you two to fight each other… to the death."

The druids looked up in shock as the night elf turned back to her friends. "What do you guys say? We'll place our bets on this duel!" She chimed maliciously as she turned back to Denar'eth and Duren. "Ten gold says the cow will win. He looks a bit stronger than his… friend, here."

"I agree!" the human laughed.

"No, I place faith in our race… the night elf will win!" The male night elf exclaimed as he pulled out a small bag of gold.

Duren looked up with a stern expression. "I will not harm my friend."

The female night elf swiftly unsheathed her sword and pointed it at the tauren's neck. "YOU WILL FIGHT OR I WILL KILL YOU BOTH! Cooperate and the winner will be left unharmed." She threatened as she backed away and motioned for them to begin.

Denar'eth looked to his friend, "Duren, I will not do thi-" Duren slammed into the night elf knocking him a few feet away.

"Duren, stop!"

"Hit me, Den!" Duren snapped as he whipped his staff from over his head and struck his friend with Moonfire. The arcane beam of light burned through Denar'eth's body as he struggled to his feet.

"No! I will not fight you!"

Duren violently shoved his staff into the night elf's stomach. Denar'eth doubled over and received another blow to the face. He turned over and crawled away slowly as Duren came to him once more.

"STRIKE ME, DENAR'ETH!" The tauren shouted angrily and kicked the night elf in the stomach.

The two night elves and human sat on their mounts laughing and cheering the battle on.

Duren struck his friend with a Starfire spell that blew Denar'eth nearly five yards away. Denar'eth slowly sat up and spit blood from his mouth as he watched his friend walk toward him.

"Strike me… I beg you, my friend." Duren implored, his eyes filled with tears.

Denar'eth rose to his feet once more and pulled out a long dagger.

"Good." Duren whispered and ran at his friend, his staff raised.

The two cried out as they made contact. Denar'eth's blade was jammed deeply into the tauren's chest as blood seeped from out of his leather armor. Duren placed a hand on the night elf's head and smiled down at him.

"Stand strong for our faction."

Tears rolled down Denar'eth's cheeks.

"Stand strong for only our faction." Duren fell down into the sand as Denar'eth fell to his knees beside him.

"Dammit, you won!" the human said, handing the male night elf his bag of gold. The female night elf did the same and approached the druids.

"May this serve to remind you who's side you're on. If I see you again, I will kill you for the shame you put to our race." She hissed and rode off with her allies.

Denar'eth sat and cried before the body of his friend.

Ti'Ran wiped the tears from her cheeks as she looked to Denar'eth with sheer sympathy.

"Having my own faction turn against me forced me to question the integrity of the Alliance… and my own people. I feel like my race has been blinded by the humans and their purposes strongly swayed. From that day on, I felt no allegiance to the Alliance. My only faction is the Cenarion Circle… a faction that has no boundaries… and one who's priorities still remain true to the ancient times."

"How long ago did all dis happen?"

"About a year ago. I returned to Teldrassil and remained in the Cenarion Enclave in Darnassus. I practiced no magic; only studied. Studied back into the history of our people and the original class of all night elves. Only after Malfurion's return to Darnassus did I feel compelled to take action for the Cenarion Circle once more. I only follow along with the Alliance because they have so much power and some still choose to fight along side our cause thanks to Tyrande Whisperwind."

"Tyrande is deh leadah of deh night elves, correct?"

"Yes."

"And Malfurion… Stormrage. I heard ah him before. He be married to Tyrande."

"He is also the leader of the Cenarion Circle."

Ti'Ran came to Denar'eth's side and tightly held onto his arm.

"I will learn to protect and preserve nature as you do. I want to learn everyting I can about deh Cenarion Circle and what we can do to continue tah serve deh faction. You'll help meh wit dis, right?"

Denar'eth smiled as he put a hand to the girl's cheek. They stared at each other for a long moment.

"Welp, in that case, we better get some rest. We've got quite the journey ahead of us tomorrow!" The night elf said, suddenly cheery once more as he ran and leapt onto his bed. "Cuddle with me? I'll change into a bear so you'll have something warm and snuggly to fall asleep with!" He chimed, his eyes turning to squinty little sunbeams once more.

"Not on ya life, ya crazy elf boy!" Ti'Ran snubbed him, jokingly and crawled into her bed across the room. She smiled when she heard him whine teasingly, and fell asleep.

A beam of sunlight shined brightly into Ti'Ran's face as she awoke from her heavy slumber. When she opened her eyes, she immediately went into shock. The blood elf troll had been tied up and set upon an Astranaar Thrower! Sentinels and the town's people surrounded her.

(Damn, I musta been real drunk to have slept through dis one!)

She turned her head to find Denar'eth tied to a lamppost.

"Den! What's happenin'!" Ti'Ran called out as Thenysil climbed onto the catapult beside the girl.

"I received word from Melyria Frostshadow of your victory over the Horde at Raynewood Retreat… well done."

"And DIS beh deh tanks I get?" Ti'Ran exclaimed.

"Melyria was just as wary about your traitorous position against the Horde as I am and it turns out we had every reason to feel so. She received word from Azshara and passed it on to me immediately." The Sentinel explained as she pulled out a piece of written parchment.

"Thenysil, this is ridiculous! What have we done wrong? Will you please explain!" Denar'eth shouted.

"You're a blind idiot, young Druid of Darnassus. I had hoped you would know better than to aid such a disreputable member of the Horde."

"She no longer pledges to that faction! She's on our side!" He insisted.

"Oh really…." Thenysil said with a smug smile and a raised brow as she began to read the letter. "I warn you and your Sentinels to be on the look out for a blood elf troll. She will appear similar to our race's likes but has bright blue skin, loud red hair and is particularly small in stature…"

Ti'Ran glared at this.

"This so-called rebel of the Horde will appear to you denouncing her allegiance to her faction and may even aid you in your need. However her following crimes against the Alliance in Azshara stand worthy of great danger to our people:

-First degree assassination of Lorena Lorekeeper and the deaths of over 25 members at the Darnassian Base Camp

-Destructive espionage as well as subversion of the Azshara furbolg treaty

-First degree assassination of Captian Grunwald and Mariel Dawnsong and the obliteration of Talrendis Point!"

Members of the town gasped in shock while others cursed the blood elf troll.

Ti'Ran looked fearfully to Denar'eth who stared at her in complete astonishment.

"Den, listen! I was ordered tah do deez tings but dat ain't who I am. I was jest tryin' tah prove mehself. I jest… I jest wanted tah be accepted somewhere… fah once…. I jest wanted a place tah belong."

"Then why betray them now?" Thenysil questioned as she glared at the blood elf troll.

"Because I nevah belonged wit dem…" Ti'Ran said sadly.

"And you thought the Alliance would just accept you with open arms… especially after all you have done? IMBECILE!" Thenysil hissed with disgust.

Ti'Ran turned back to Denar'eth, "Den, please undahstand!"

"You completed all of those crimes… all of those missions… on your own?" He asked in shock.

Ti'Ran shamefully nodded.

A grin slowly stretched onto Denar'eth's face. "You're a better missionary than I thought."

"ENOUGH!" Thenysil shouted, now infuriated. "We should have strapped you to the throwers as well!"

A shadow passed overhead and the night elf looked up and smiled.

"You're friends have returned." Thenysil said as she jumped down from the catapult and watched the Horde wind riders return with their fire.

"Horde beasts! A member of yours fell into our grasp but we don't want her!" She shouted in Common tongue. "Take her BACK!" Thenysil cut the rope and Ti'Ran went soaring into the air. The little blood elf troll screamed as she nearly missed a wind rider and fell down into the lake.

"TI'RAN!" Denar'eth shouted as he struggled to reach for his dagger, still bound.

"Sentinels, shoot her! Make sure she surfaces only in blood!" Thenysil ordered as her troops lined the lakeshore and began to shoot arrows into the water.

The Horde wind riders began to cast fire spells upon the town's buildings and town's people picked up buckets and vats to begin their defensive routine once again.

Once Denar'eth managed to cut himself loose, he ran into the lake but he was stopped knee-deep by a blade at his neck. He turned to find Sentinel Leader Thenysil enraged. "Traitor! How dare you behave with such disrespect to our race and our legion!" She exclaimed as she drew back her sword but before she could strike, Denar'eth quickly punched the woman, knocking her to the ground. "Usually, my morals keep me from hitting a female but geez what a bitch!" He scowled before turning back to the lake and diving in.

Many Sentinels now targeted the Horde threats who flew above but arrows continued to pierce the lake.

Ti'Ran, who had sunken to the bottom, had unluckily managed to become entangled with vines. She desperately struggled to free herself but found such difficult as her arms remained tied behind her back. Losing her breath, she believed that she had become delusional, for a seal appeared to be swimming toward her. As the seal came close, it morphed and became Denar'eth once more. Arrows plunged into the water's depths all around them as fire continued to fly high over the surface. Denar'eth quickly ripped the vines from Ti'Ran's ankle and began to channel a spell. As he looked down at her, he realized that she had lost her breath and struggled not to inhale. Denar'eth leaned into the blood elf troll, pressed his lips tightly to hers and parted her mouth. Light-headed and confused, Ti'Ran suddenly felt air gently flow from his mouth to hers and back into her lungs. She closed her eyes as the sounds of battle above the water disappeared and the only thing she could hear was the night elf's heartbeats coincide with hers. Suddenly, everything went white.

When Ti'Ran opened her eyes, the atmosphere gently glowed in soft greens and blues. The blood elf troll and night elf slowly pulled away from one another and Ti'Ran watched as Denar'eth's face turn slightly magenta. He let out a quite laugh as he smiled and turned to look around.

"We made it… it worked."

"What?" Ti'Ran asked, still in a slight daze.

"Moonglade. My teleportation skill still works."

"I'm sorry… what?" Ti'Ran said, a bit confused.

"All druids gain the ability to teleport here at a young stage in their training. We cannot be harmed here. It is our sanctuary." The night elf smiled as he took in his environment and sunk into a bit of nostalgia.

Ti'Ran's soft and curious smile suddenly cracked into a slight sneer.

"Teleport?... Ya mean tah tell meh dat we coulda teleported heah deh whoooooole time?" She came close to him.

"Yep… "Denar'eth turned and beamed a sunny, squinty-eyed smile, satisfied with his spell's ability. He immediately received a fist to the face and fell back.

"What on AZEROTH did you do that for!"

"Ya damn fool! Puttin' meh through all that trouble back in Ashenvale when we coulda been heah TWO DAYS ago!"

"I forgot, okay? Geez! You save a female's life and she decks ya in the face for it!"

As Denar'eth shook his head and turned away, Ti'Ran suddenly noticed an arrow that had pierced the night elf's back. She quickly came to him and reached for the arrow.

"We're going to have to get new weapons… and armor."

"Yep." Ti'Ran squinted as she tapped at the arrow.

"Ow! Leave that! I'll get it once we get to Nighthaven."

"Nope, I'ma get it now." The blood elf troll tugged on the arrow again but Denar'eth jerked his body and twisted away from her.

"Ow! Cut it out! They have healers in Nighthaven. Now come on."

"No, lemme get it now, ya big baby." Ti'Ran insisted as she stood before the tall night elf. She reached around and gripped onto the arrow as Denar'eth winced, awaiting the pain.

"Oh stop dat nonsense! Here, I got sometin' fo ya…"

The night elf looked down in shock as the blood elf troll flashed a breast with one hand and ripped the arrow out of his back with the other.

"Ack! What the hell!" the poor night exclaimed, in pain and rather confused.

"Be an old troll-gal trick. Okay, now where's dis Nighthaven ya speakin' about?" She asked as she casted Rejuvenation on him.

Denar'eth shook his head in disbelief and lead the way.