"You take good care of your brother Drenju. Try to do all the things father did for you," Shenju smiled, seeing the image of her husband in her first son. She gently hugged him and patted his back.

"I will momma," Drenju returned her embrace and smiled.

"And you, you be careful," she pulled back and eyed him sternly, which only made the boy laugh.

"Yea momma I will."

"You watch the night sky. You and Penji come back by the sixth new moon or Rinjin and Tennin get your meals for a week after you're back!"

"Ya wouldn't dare momma," he stuck out his cheek to her and his mother pecked it.

"I know," she laughed swatting at him, "go on you lazy murloc. He's waiting!"

Drenju exited his mother's house gurgling and running like a fish monster, Tatanga close behind.

"And you take care of both of them Tatanga!"

-

Tennin bear hugged his little brother, leaking tears and spoke, "Ya have fun kid. Sorry papa ain't here to do go wit' ya, but ya know Drenju nevah disappointin' us."

"Yea, it's okay mon," Penji replied, standing with his arms forced to his sides, feeling a little embarrassed like this in the middle of his village. Rinjin stepped up and playfully punched Tennin's shoulder.

"Would ya let go of him Tennin? Our kid's nevah gonna find himself a girl when he get back with ya oozing all ova 'im like dat," the second eldest brother laughed and took his turn to bid his little brother farewell.

"Gonna be a wild trip Penji, make no mistakin' bout dat. Ya come back a man and tings nevah gonna be da same 'gain," he clapped his shoulder, "but I'll have some nice company waitin' for da man when he gets back." He gave him a sly wink and stepped back as Drenju came waddling oddly out of their mother's house.

"Ya ready to go kid?" he asked their youngest as he shouldered his packs and dismissed Tatanga for the time being. Penji simply nodded. He had been waiting for this day ever since it was promised to him. Unknown to everyone else, he felt his father's disappearance had cheated him of the real deal, but tried to make no outward sign as he didn't want to offend his brother.

"Y'alright mon?" he questioned with genuine concern.

"Just nervous brotha," Penji gave him a reassuring smile.

"Ya punks been fillin' his head wit' junk haven't ya? Don't worry Penji, dis gonna be fun," he looked to his other two brothers, "and ya two betta be visitin' momma every day." Rinjin and Tennin looked at each other and started pushing their brothers north.

"Yea yea, we take care of all dat. Git goin'," they nudged them to the path and began running back to their mother. As the pairs were gaining distance, Tennin called a prayer back to them, "Peace be wit ya!"

Drenju and Penji stood on the worn road and took in the rugged terrain. The older took a deep breath and gazed toward the horizon with a serene look across his features. "I know ya feelin' a lil down 'cause papa ain't here Penji, but he woulda wanted for you ta make da best of it and I know he woulda wanted me ta take ya on this trip if he wunt here. So let's help each otha out yea?" Penji was grateful for his brother's understanding.

"Thanks, mon. Sorry I didn't say nothin', didn't wanna sound ungrateful."

"Well c'mon kid, let's get rollin'. We got six months ta do dis trip'n I plan ta take ya all de way through."

-

Brenas stared sternly at his only child, his wife sitting by his side.

"I can't let you go Kalira, perhaps next year."

"But father I finished my training! Ashera and her brother are leaving for Darnassus tomorrow. Who will I go with next year?" the young priestess was on the verge of tears.

"You can make many friends in a year and the Temple could always use more tutors. It's just a year Kalira. Please, it is dangerous world and I don't want you to leave until I know you're ready!" her father's voice now carrying some frustration. Tears began welling in his own eyes and he hurried to dry them before his daughter saw. His partner's hand rested gently on his shoulder as her mother spoke.

"You bring your mighty father to tears my little one," she smiled lovingly at her daughter, "we've seen the world ourselves and it is a perilous and chaotic place." Brenas turned to smile at his wife taking his side as the pressure built inside of Kalira's chest.

"Though, I do seem to remember hearing about a novice warrior running away from home to adventure, despite his parent's forbidding him," she chuckled as the smile disappeared from his face.

"And they were right to do so! I was fortunate to escape death on many counts-"

"And was it fortune that brought us together during your forbidden exploits?" the matriarch interrupted him with an eyebrow lifted. Brenas hesitated.

"B-.. wh- That's not fair Sheralyn!" Kalira struggled not to laugh at how helpless her father sounded. Her mother glanced briefly towards her and winked.

"Let her go Brenas," she gripped his shoulder firmly, "she will be safe with her friends." The heartbroken father let out of a heavy sigh and buried his face in his hands.

"You amazons will be the death of me," he grumbled through his fingers.

"I'll take that as 'you can go'!" Kalira jumped and hugged both of her parents and ran out to share the news with Ashera. Sheralyn pulled her husband close and planted a kiss on his forehead.

"You are such a cry baby."

-

"Ran, what the hell were you thinking?" the muscled human sat with his employee at the Astranaar inn rubbing his temples, "you're in deep fucking trouble kid, you got me in deep fucking trouble. The Guild is gonna come to me and I ain't got enough to be coverin' for you." Ranoss lounged in his chair, twirling his dagger deftly between his gloved fingers. His cowl shadowed the top half of his face, leaving only a clean-shaven chin and mouth showing.

"They're gonna kill you if you can't compensate. You picked a great damn time to question your line of work, man oh man. I've seen you kill people in their sleep, kill people takin' a leak, hell you even killed some helpless old geezers."

"Eye of the Beholder kind of stuff, Grant," the rogue replied with his gravely voice and stabbed the dagger into the table, winning him a glare from the innkeeper.

"What the hell does that even mean?" the old man rubbed his bald head, "look kid, get your shit together. Ain't nobody gonna cover your back out there 'cept me. You push real hard, gather up a comp, you might make it. You think you're good Ran, and you are, but nobody been able to live on the run with the Guild after 'em.

"What do you think the comp is?"

"Hell, I don't know, at least five hundred. If this is gonna work, you gotta start tonight. I'll pull some strings and see what I can come up with. I got a family and business to take care of Ran, watch what you're bloody doin'."

"How much time I got?"

"A week at most."

"I'll have your five hundred by then," he yanked his dagger from the table and sheathed it, "that's a promise." He stood and smiled, walking towards the ramp back outside.

"You're insane kid," Grant scoffed and chugged the last of his ale.

"I know," Ranoss replied without stopping.