The Caverns

The tall, unkempt orc wandered through the Drag of Orgrimmar. A section of the war-city laced with back-alleys, buildings of dubious purpose, and many shady characters, all of them suspicious, he did not often come here without reason. Not that he was worried, there were few among the shadows that would think to bother the veritable tower of steel that was the orc warrior. The man's brown eyes scanned the crowd that seemed to be forming outside of one of the many shops that littered the city, looking for another, one specific person that was quite familiar to him. Ahh, there she was, golden eyes peeked out from underneath a beautiful row of dark azure hair (beautiful, that was, if you were an orc). Her eyes met his, and one winked softly at him as she strode towards the warrior. "A most enchanting presence that I have not felt in some time, good madam, I have truly missed it..." whispered the man in to her, motioning for her hand. The orc woman extended her dark green arm daintily, though clearly in an amused manner. He kissed it gently, before breaking out in a massive, knowing grin. Unable to take the silliness anymore, she rolled her eyes, breaking out in a boisterous laugh. "You're quite the joker, dear brother!" Rhaka said, winking to him. Ghaku joined her in laughter, linking his twin's arm with his, talking to his sister as he walked, his heavy armor resounding throughout the city, while her soft leather bindings made not a sound.

The pair ventured through to one of the more private areas of Orgrimmar, towards the ponds in the Valley of Spirits. In front of them was a path of stones across the shallow pool, rocks leading towards a small hut in which two members of the Horde resided. One, an aging orc with rough hands typical of his race, though rough not from years of battle, but mending, watched the other patiently. A tall, also aged, troll woman with long red braids carefully bound together bandages of excellent quality for her companion.
"Ahh, most excellent, Netherweave, yes? Of course it is, with that glow..." the orc mused to himself. The troll did nothing but look up to smile politely in affirmation, her face lighting up with boundless joy as she noticed the twins approach. They were, after all, to her as her children. "Ya here'!" she exclaimed, "Good t'ing too, big plans today!". Ghaku embraced her tightly as Rhaka winked at her, "After you went on about how it was 'big mojo', of course we came, wouldn't miss it, Tiji..."

Her long, elegant, robes, uncharacteristic for a shaman such as herself, brushed softly against the wooded tower in which the trio stood. Their conversation was made somewhat difficult by the constant entry and exit of screeching windriders to and from various destinations throughout the continent.

"Dis'll be somewhat a long flight, dearies! I've been hearin' words in the wind from da Bronze Flight, so we be headin' to Ghaku's favorit' place on Kalimdor!" Tiji exclaimed with a wink and a smile, knowing that the warrior had very little love for the desert. He sighed, "It just had to be Tanaris... This had better be some damn life-threatening happenings for me to be going back to that place!" Ghaku wailed, jokingly.
"More t'en you know, dearie..." Tiji whispered back, her aging lines showing in the blue-skinned beauty's worried face. Rhaka chatted a swift "Hello, Doras, back to Tanaris for us", to the wind-rider master, pressing only a few coins to his palm.

"Isn't that too..." Ghaku began, but the short, squat tower-master cut him off, "Shattered-Hand business," he said, eying the thin orc rogue woman, "Probably better if you don't tell me..." the short orc sighed. Doras the wind-rider master was used to that. The pair of twins couldn't help but wonder what Tiji had meant of the Bronze Flight, as they mounted the beasts and quickly were removed from the war-city. Drums beat in the background as the Horde in Orgrimmar marched about their day.

As the three sped across the plains of the Barrens, the crags of Thousand Needles, and even the shimmering salt flats, Ghaku's eyes were locked on the rider in front of him, on Tiji. The shaman's presence brought out the calmest corner of the warrior's soul, a part of him that was rarely otherwise evoked, and try as he might he always longed to be at her side. Their relationship was certainly not one of romantic love, however, the troll had served as a matronly role that he, and others that she took upon herself, had lacked. Seeing the sands below him rise up as the windrider descended in its flight, the warrior recast his thoughts to their journey. Still uncertain of anything in the Tanaris desert (or any other desert, as far as Ghaku was concerned) that was worth coming for. Fortunately for his twin, however, this presented Rhaka with the opportunity to mingle amongst some of her favorite people: the Goblins. Shrewd, typically dishonest, and every one of them greedy, goblins were beings that a rogue such as Rhaka could really fit in to (and also relieve of their worldly possessions if the opportunity presented itself). Her thought of doing such was suddenly interrupted by a loud, shrill, whistling sound from Tiji. Bounding forward, summoned by the magic that was contained in the shaman's whistle, was a great emerald green raptor, striking great contrast to the endless grays and tans that were the desert. The twins each brought out their own wooden whistle. In the distance could soon be heard the howling of wolves.

Soon arriving (and then departing at Ghaku's request) at the goblin city of Gadgetzan, the trio had scarcely left the walls in to the abyssal sands when a sudden whacking sound interrupted them. Try as he might to look around for it, Ghaku found that he could not and had in fact been knocked unconscious, with a large bruise now on the back of his head. Immediately upon hearing the intrusion, the smaller of the two orcs vanished in to the wind (as only rogues can do), leaving Tiji standing alone with the yet unseen opponent. A soft chuckling was heard as a lanky man emerged from the sand behind the shaman, gleeful at his fortune. Tiji sighed as the man spouted off some gibberish in the human tongue, but the smug look on his ugly face was enough to tell the woman his intentions. A swift strike from the mace that hung at her side was enough to remind him that the troll was a threat, and another glancing blow to the side of his head was more than enough to anger the human! He spat at her, quickly unsheathing the blades he wore and bearing them menacingly at her. Unfortunately, in his cockiness the man had forgotten the third member of the group, having snuck up behind him. Rhaka, being no stranger to the ego that was the human, grinned wickedly as her own blades sprung in to the man, tearing his clothes from his body! The human shrieked a most un-manly shriek, before running off stark naked in to the sands. Tiji let out a half-grunt half-chuckle, "Alliance... don't be takin' much to throw dem out!" The women winked at one another, each taking a turn to kick their unconscious comrade in the shins before re-mounting in to the desert.

A journey through the sands of Tanaris was neither pleasant nor forgiving, the trio lost themselves many times before sighting the rocky mountain in the distance.
"I can't help but notice..." the warrior started, "that you've not told us where we're going..."
Tiji gave the orc a look as if the answer should have been obvious, "Dere be two places in all of da desert I t'ink are worth going to..." the troll began, laughing, "One is da windrider to get out of here, and da other is da Caverns..." She gestured towards the opening in the mountains where, if the sand had not obscured it, they would have seen a cave entrance. What was not, however, covered from vision by the sand, were the ruins that held the caverns in embrace. Numerous buildings and ships littered the surrounding sands, all having been worn down by the sands of time, but all serving as a reminder of times past. "You've been here before, haven'tcha dearie? Or maybe you've been here later, as they would say..." the shaman chuckled at her own joke, which was obviously lost on the orcish twins. As they neared the entrance, figures previously unrecognizable now became apparent. "Ahh!" exclaimed the troll woman, "Da Bronze Dragonflight..."

"We had almost expected none to come," said a softly-spoken female, guiding the pair as they descended in to the Caverns of Time. Though she was currently in the guise of a Quel'dorei elf, she had identified herself as Alurmi, a member of the Bronze Flight. "Very perceptive..." she murmured.

"It's not me that brought us here, mon," Tiji replied, "da wind whispered in to my ear and da wind is what brought us to your door, we just be da ones who heard it first." the troll said with a bow. The elf smiled politely, gesturing further within the caverns, towards a glimmering purple rune circle in the distance, "Tiridormi will explain the situation, she waits shortly over there." Rhaka turned to ask the elf what exactly the situation was, but she had already vanished. Clearly she not amused that someone else could pull that off too, Rhaka ran after the others who had already set off towards the rune circle.

"Helloooo?" Ghaku called out, standing amidst the floating rune circle. Unintelligible words shaded with a violet tinge slowly rotated in the air, their purpose unknown to all but their creators.

"Good morning," echoed a female voice, seemingly coming from nowhere. Then, out of the circle emerged a massive draconic form, quickly taking the shape of a Bronze Dragon. "I am Tiridormi, I understand that you'd like to help, hmm?" came the unseeming humanoid voice, it sounded odd coming from a being of her type.
"You're awfully eloquent for a beast of your size," Ghaku stated, quirking an eyebrow towards the dragon.

"And you're awfully chatty for one of your kind," she replied, classily, scanning her eyes across the group. When the Bronze reached Tiji, her eyebrows raised in question, but the shaman hadn't noticed.

"So," began the troll, "what be happenin' in da caverns thats oh-so-important?"
"Oh, just your entire past, present and future... And, of course, the interference of the so-called 'Infinite Dragonflight'." The she-dragon stared intently at the shaman as she talked.
"Could you be a bit more ominous and a bit less specific, maybe?" Rhaka cut in sarcastically, wanting to get to the point.

The dragon winked, "Just for you, dear, I'll do just that. Apparently no longer content to disrupt the chain of events that culminate your history, the Infinite have taken a somewhat more militaristic approach and have been raiding the Caverns, in an attempt to allow them to rampage throughout this world's past unhindered. We, the Bronze Flight, are of course proud fighters and would battle them to the last, which is exactly why they would not suspect us to be aided by the mortal races of Azeroth. We need you." The dragon continued to stare at Tiji as she rattled on of the Infinite.
"A'right den, we just need to... Why you starin' at me? Does Tiji know ya?"
"Not yet." replied the Tiridormi, mysterious as dragons come, "Though I suspect you will..."

The Bronze began to pace towards one of the various tunnels within the Caverns of Time, motioning for the trio to follow along. Abruptly, Tiridormi ceased in her path, before speaking "Oh dear, it seems they're here already... or is it here still? I can never tell." Gesturing forwards, the group saw a shimmering green portal, surrounded by trees and, of all things, a moonwell. Out from the gateway screamed many dark figures, howling as they emerged towards the group. Unlike any other dragonflight, the Infinite were truly an enigma. Seemingly made of shadows and silver, the beasts could be traced to no single dragonflight with certainty, even the nefarious black dragons were unlike them in appearance. As such, little was known of their motives and methods, they were a difficult enemy to combat. And yet, here they came, pouring out of places unknown, a dozen of them charged at the small group of Horde. Spirit of Earth... Tiji whispered to the ground, We ask you not for ourselves, but for our people, aid us in this conflict! An experienced and aged shaman, Tiji was rarely met with denial when she called the elemental spirits. The sand began to rumble and shift, as in front of the charging line of enemies it rose up to create the hardiest of barriers! It slowed them, though for only a moment, even the sand could not hold them back. Already charging to meet them, Ghaku drew his blazing King's Defender, striking boldly at his draconic foe. A number of them charged the rogue outright, striking her with surprise, knocking her to the ground. Jabbing with their shadowy weapons, Rhaka's eyes grew wide as she vanished in smoke, her nemesis striking naught but the earth.

"They don't even bleed?!" the warrior cried as he sliced one apart, angry that the dragon would deny him the satisfaction of being awash in its life essence. Spirit of Wind, I call for you! Do not allow these fiends to roam unchallenged, the other elements have need of your aid! whispered the shaman to the air. A sudden breath intake could be heard, but from the opposing Infinite Dragons, not the air. The beastie began to breath fire upon the advancing orc warrior! The air began to shift however, at first with a gentle breeze but it soon developed in to a raging wind, forcing the flaming breath to retreat back upon its creator, scorching its body. The dragon screamed in its own draconic tongue, screamed until it no longer had breath with which to expel, until it ceased to live. The remaining Infinite, having not expected such resistance, wailed in their language, one of the largest among them pointing a shadowy hand at the troll shaman. It gurgled with unknown words, but the Bronze Dragon among them understood. Tiridormi sighed, "I had hoped that was not this day..." The Infinite regrouped themselves, dividing in to three groups. Many of them tackled Ghaku with unexpected force, pinning the behemoth of steel that was Ghaku to the ground. Several of the others descended upon his twin, who had been driving the attackers off of Tiji. One seized the rogue, shoving her towards the group, the others pushing her around like a rag doll. Finally, the remaining draconic invaders launched at the troll shaman, taking her in their shadow grip, attempting to drag her from whence they came. Spirit of Fire! Tiji willed to herself, We have need of you! Burn these would-be defilers, so that we may continue to live in peace! Fire, however, did not answer her call.

Shocked, Tiji struggled against her captors as they carried her towards the shimmering verdant portal. Behind her, Ghaku shoved apart his own attackers, even numerous of the powerful beings could not hold still his fury. Withdrawing the pair of axes from his sides, his typical sword having been torn from his grip, Ghaku began his retaliation against the Infinite. Axes flew as his eyes glowed with bloodlust, piercing the throats and hides of his would-be opponents until none were left to defy him or his twin. "Hm, I remember there being more of them..." he pondered to Rhaka. The rogue suddenly looked around in a panic, "Where is she?"

"I'm right here... oh you meant the troll." said Tiridormi, most unhelpfully. But it was too late, the remaining dragonkin had vacated the area, the orcs' mother in tow.

A quick explanation to where the Infinite Dragonflight had taken Tiji soon resulted in Ghaku flinging himself against the portal. "Why will you not allow me entry!" the warrior shrieked. Tiridormi slowly approached behind him, "Even we cannot enter that timeline, Ghaku. We are not, for lack of better term, 'attuned' to that path of time. The Infinite, however, are. That is why they have been able to take her." Rhaka gazed questioningly at the dragon, "Where? Where is it so laced with protection that even you cannot enter? Where is my mother!" Tiridormi answered slowly, the pain was obvious in her voice, "The never-ending battle, where the Legion will make war with the mortal races forever until the timeline is restored to its natural state. She is trapped in the Battle of Hyjal."