Kirlothenin pushed the food around on his plate, not really hungry. Ileeya and Dormir had just finished telling the two humans of their adventures with the cult. Adorei was asleep upstairs. The talking was finished and now everyone had fallen silent. Everyone that is, except the child named Amy. Oblivious of what had been discussed before, she was asking question after question about elves. He would have been amused, had he not been in a foul mood already.

He decided he had finally had enough and stood up. He left his dishes on the counter to be washed later and stepped outside to the back yard. The fresh air helped his mood only a little. For the most part these last two months, he had been trying not to remember all that had been discussed today. He walked over to the edge of the garden. One half was filled with various vegetables and some fruit. The other half grew various flowers and some herbs. There was a small herb garden on the back porch as well. He figured that Ileeya could make anything grow.

"Kir?"

He didn't bother turning around, merely raising his hand and crooked his finger to bid her approach. When she stood next to him, he looked at Ileeya. She had a question in her eyes. "I'm fine, Ileeya."

"No, you're not."

"Hm." He looked at the garden once more. He remained silent for a couple minutes. "I still don't understand why you insist on telling your friends what is none of their business. Even this Kristie had said so."

"We need friends to help us look after Adorei."

"We can look after her without them." When she said nothing, he looked at her once more. There was worry in her eyes and he sighed. He brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes, letting his fingers linger against her violet cheek for just a moment longer than needed. "I cannot argue with your decision as there is some truth to it. I am still unused to relying on others."

He wanted to kiss her, but held back. Ever since that first kiss between them, he had been somewhat reserved. He had succeeded in making her recognize that she cared for him. Now he waited for her to decide if she could love him. This was something he could not force, as much as he wanted to sometimes. But he refused to back off too much. He kept up small gestures to constantly remind her that he loved her in hopes of her finally returning the emotion.

"Maybe if we return to the festival together, it'll give you and them a chance to get to know each other better?"

Letting his hand drop down to her hand, he took it and brought it to his lips. "Perhaps." Her reaction to his kiss was as expected. She neither pulled away, nor encouraged him further. She merely accepted the gesture. "Come. Let us see if these humans are truly as worthy as you believe them to be." He turned with her and followed her back into the house.

Dormir was descending the stairs with Adorei as they entered the home. "She woke up while you two were outside." Ileeya reached to take the baby, but Dormir waved her away. "I want to hold my granddaughter. You relax."

…

Mathias Shaw reached the top of the stairs and turned the corner that led to his office. Standing in front of Shaw's open office door was Renzik, his second-in-command. The goblin rogue had a scowl on his face and his arms crossed in front of his chest. "You've got a...guest."

Very few people ever elicited such a reaction from Renzik. Shaw immediately became both apprehensive and curious to see just who was in his office. He gave a nod to his second-in-command and entered the office. Sitting in Shaw's chair with his feet propped up on his desk was an older man with shoulder length white hair, a neatly trimmed horseshoe mustache, and a small, triangular soul patch for a beard. His black, gray, and silver leather suit was obviously tailored to fit him just right. His collar fastened closed with a sapphire in the shape of a crest.

Had just about any other man been the one to so audaciously sit in Shaw's chair, he would have thrown him out of his office. As it was, Shaw knew that this man was just as dangerous, if not more so, than even he was. Shaw didn't bother closing the door, knowing Renzik would be standing nearby in case he was needed. "Lord Jorach." His voice betrayed none of his feelings of annoyance and concern. He walked over to his desk and picked up a folder, not caring which one it was. He opened it and began to scan the parchment inside. "It's been a long time since you've been to this part of the world."

The older gentleman put his feet down and leaned on Shaw's desk, lacing his fingers together. He turned his ice-blue eyes on Shaw. "When are you going give up this stuffy old job and join my guild, Mathias?"

Shaw kept himself from looking at the man. "Hm, give up being leader of Stormwind's Assassins to become one of your lackey's? Tempting." His voice remained deadpanned.

Lord Jorach chuckled. "You have a point." He then stood up. "Well, down to business then." He moved around the desk. "I'm looking to do some renovations back home. And of course, I'll only hire the best to do the job."

"I'm flattered, but I'm afraid my expertise lies in another field." Mathias closed the file he was holding and set it back down on his desk, now giving the man his full attention.

Another chuckle. "Always ready with a sarcastic remark." He returned to the topic at hand. "Of course, I had heard a long time ago that my first choice for this job had died. It's too bad. He was good...as I'm sure you are well aware." He swept his arm around Shaw's office. "Stormwind is looking very nice these days." He turned to study a simple painting on the wall. "I hear that the one responsible still resides in Stormwind. I'd like to talk to him."

Mathias frowned ever so slightly. This wasn't good. "I'm afraid that man is very busy with many different projects on his table. It might be in your best interest to look elsewhere, Jorach." He leaned back on the edge of his desk, keeping a cautious eye on the older man in front of him. "Besides, I can tell you right now that he won't like you. He's got a ...peculiar dislike for our kind."

"Oh, he doesn't have to like me." Jorach turned around to face Shaw again. "I'm used to that anyhow. It won't bother me in the least." He stepped over to the bookshelves now and began perusing the titles on the spines of the books. "I'm prepared to offer him a substantial amount."

"Regardless of the amount, I know for a fact that he'll turn you down. Again, you would do yourself a favor by finding someone else."

Lord Jorach narrowed his eyes slightly and his mouth formed a small pout. "I suppose you are right. You would know best, now wouldn't you?" He turned towards the door, pausing before leaving. "Come visit me sometime, Mathias. I'm sure everyone back home would love to see you again." With that, the man left Shaw's office.

Mathias did not relax, however, as Renzik entered. "I sent Jackson."

Shaw nodded, needing no other explanation. "I've got a bad feeling."

…

Amy was transfixed. Not only was she listening with rapture to the story being told by the creature in front of her, but she was also in awe of the creature itself. He was a keeper of the grove. Although his torso and head were like the night elves, his body was that of a stag. Antlers grew out of the top of his head and his left arm was twisted and gnarled like the branch of a tree. Vines grew on his right hand and forearm. And his hair was made up of leaves and moss.

His voice rumbled deeply as he spoke. The story he regaled was that of when the demigods had rushed the Burning Legion and had been able to push them back even for a time being. Keeper Remulos, the one telling the story, was said to be the son of the demigod, Cenarius.

There were no chairs. Those listening had to either stand, or sit on the grassy ground. Amy sat on the grass, leaning back against Adam as she listened. Kristie sat next to him. Ileeya, Dormir, Kirlothenin, and Jelune sat nearby as well. As the story wrapped up, people began to stand and move on in separate ways.

Dormir bid them to stay and once the area was clear, he approached Keeper Remulos, asking to introduce his friends. The keeper nodded and Dormir signaled for the humans to approach. "Keeper Remulos, I would like to present family friends. This is Adam-" He paused and glanced at Adam, realizing he did not know his last name.

"Just Adam."

Dormir gave a short nod. "Adam, Kristie Alexston, and Amy Masters, their soon-to-be adopted daughter."

Keeper Remulos gave a slight nod in greeting. "Welcome to Moonglade. Are you enjoying the festival so far?"

Amy nodded her head as Adam answered, "We've had quite an interesting day so far. Thank you for your story. You go into more detail than what we've learned in our school system."

"That is probably because humans were a fledgling race at the time of the first war." He turned to observe Adorei. One long talon from his wooden-looking hand gently moved close to the baby. He spoke something in Darnassian. Ileeya bowed her head and she curtseyed before him. His hand moved to hover over Amy and spoke in Darnassian once more. Amy wasn't sure what to do, so she imitated what Ileeya had done. After that, Dormir motioned that it was time to go.

After they walked for a little ways, Adam glanced around with a frown, feeling as though he were being watched. Not seeing anyone, he shrugged it off for now and asked Dormir what Remulos had said back at the shrine. "It was an ancient blessing. To receive a blessing from Keeper Remulos is truly an honor. Amy responded admirably." They continued walking around Lake Elune'ara as Dormir described the Barrow Dens found on the far side of the lake. "It is where many druids, myself included, sleep while we walk the Emerald Dream."

"What's the Emerald Dream?" Amy looked up at him curiously.

"It is a spirit-realm that exists parallel to this physical one. Inside, one will see how Azeroth looked before mortals changed it with their buildings and wars."

"Wow. Can I go there someday?"

"I'm afraid only disciplined druids can go there."

"I wanna be a druid so I can go there!"

Dormir smiled. "It is unheard of for a human to be a druid, other than the Gilneans. But if it is truly what you aspire to be, then maybe one day you will be. We will see."

They had reached the Barrow Dens by this time and Dormir showed them the entrance, though they were not allowed to go in. After looking around some ruins and an old shrine, they decided to go back to Nighthaven. As they returned to the road, they heard some voices laughing and what sounded like a firework shooting off. Dormir and Jelune immediately became alarmed. "What do they think they are doing!"

As they rounded a tree, they saw two human teenage boys shooting trees with fireworks. Occasionally, one of the pyrotechnics would be shot out over the lake. The boys were laughing, thinking it all to be quite hilarious. "Stop!" Jelune yelled at the boys and ran forward as another firework was shot off. "Stop the fireworks! You'll wake him!" Dormir raced after him.

Adam became concerned. "What's going on?" He asked Ileeya. "Wake who?"

"Omen. One of the demigods from the War of the Ancients. He carries the blessing of Elune and is immortal. He used to be full of wisdom, guiding hunters of ancient times. But after the Burning Legion came, he fell into a fitful dream and slowly became consumed with insanity and rage. He was defeated here at this lake, but every year at this time, he stirs. Fireworks shot over the lake can awaken him. It usually takes a number of people to defeat him and send him back to his slumber at the bottom of the lake. If those boys awaken him..."

"They'll be ill-prepared to face him." Kirlothenin finished her sentence for her. They watched as Dormir reached the boys first in his cheetah form. He transformed into his elf form and grabbed the rocket launchers away from the two boys, chastising them for their thoughtlessness. That's when Adam heard it. A low growl behind them. He turned to see a large, ghostly white wolf standing there watching them. Immediately on alert, he asked, "Ileeya? Is that...Omen?"

The rest of them turned as Ileeya shook her head. "No. That's one of his minions. They appear before he does." She said a quick spell and the wolf curled up and fell asleep. "Hopefully that was the only one. It should give us time to retreat to the other side of the lake and gather reinforcements." Ileeya, holding Adorei, quickly led them over to Dormir, Jelune, and the boys. "Minions have appeared. We need to go."

Dormir said something in Darnassian, grabbing each boy by the arm. "Let's go!" But it was too late. First one huge head emerged from the lake, and then another. They were both attached to the same large lupine body. Omen's two head's snarled at the small group in front of him and he let out a loud roar.

Shoving the boys backwards, Dormir immediately transformed into his bear form, even this large form was dwarfed by Omen. He let out his own challenging growl and forced the demigod to focus its attention on him. Kirlothenin was immediately casting his own frostbolt spells as Adam ran forward towards the creature's rear where he could safely stab at it without risk of getting bitten. Ileeya worried for her family and friends. She stayed back with the the others until she saw that Dormir was struck by a massively clawed paw. The thick skin of the bear form is all that saved Dormir from a more fatal wound. Still, blood oozed from the gash in his shoulder.

Ileeya turned to Kristie. "He needs my help! But..." She glanced down at Adorei, concern filling her eyes.

Kristie took the infant from Ileeya. "I'll protect her. Go heal your dad." The young druid gave a grateful look before taking off in her father's direction. Kristie shifted Adorei to one arm and pulled Amy back towards where the two boys were. She nudged them to get them to move further back. She did not want to be anywhere near the fighting, though she couldn't stay too far away, not with Adam in the thick of the danger.

She watched as Dormir swiped at one of the heads and quickly dodged out of the way of its strong jaws. Kirlothenin sent frostbolts that injured it and slowed its movements. Jelune pulled arrow after arrow from his quiver as Sabine clawed at its legs. Adam had somehow jumped on the back of the creature and used his daggers to stab at its spine. The small blades seemed to have little effect on Omen. A few others nearby heard the commotion. Some joined in the fighting, others stood and watched. A few more ran to get help.

Ileeya cast her rejuvenating spells to help the fighters keep up their strength and heal them. When Jelune got Omen to focus on Sabine for a moment, Ileeya quickly dashed to her father. With a touch, she cast a longer and stronger spell that healed his wounds. She was fast to move out of harms way, though. They had other things to worry about, however, as large balls of what looked like starlight fell from out of nowhere. Apparently, Omen had magic of his own and was using it to injure those around him. Kristie urged Amy and the boys back farther in order to avoid what she could only describe as falling stars.

So engrossed was she, that at first, she didn't hear another growl coming from her right. When she finally did notice, the ghostly white minion of Omen was only eight feet away. It was the one Ileeya had put to sleep with her spell. The spell must have worn off. Kristie quickly turned to the wolf and pulled Amy behind her, desperately trying to figure out what to do. "HAH! GET!" She was told once that to get a wolf in Elwynn Forest to leave you alone, you needed to be loud and dominate. Unfortunately, this was not a mere wild wolf. He had a bit more intelligence than his distant cousins.

The minion's response was only the laying back of his ears along with a snarl and growl. The two boys near her hadn't noticed this new threat. They were still gaping at Omen. "Amy!" She hated this option; It would take Amy out of one danger, only to put her in another. But she felt there was no other choice. "Run to Jelune! Stay beside him and move when he moves at all times! Go!" Amy seemed to hesitate at first, but when Kristie yelled at her to go, she took off towards the hunter.

Now Kristie had only Adorei and the boys to worry about. The boys could at least run to safety. When the wolf saw Amy take off, he started to chase after her, but found himself distracted by another yell from Kristie. With a growl, he changed his course and pounced towards the woman and infant instead. Kristie turned her back to the wolf with the intent of keeping it from hurting Adorei.

Luckily, she had done it at just the right time that her shoulder smacked into the wolf's head and forepaws, knocking him to the side, stunned that he had been thwarted. It took a moment for her to realize she was unharmed, but in that moment, she saw the rocket launcher that had been dropped on the ground by Dormir when he went to fight Omen. Lurching forward, she could hear the wolf renewing his attack.

Kristie reached down and scooped up a launcher in one hand just as the wolf pounced again. She felt herself pushed to the ground. It took all her strength to keep herself from crushing Adorei between herself and the ground. She hunched her shoulders to keep the wolf from crushing her neck with its jaws as one finger found the launcher's trigger and shot off a rocket. The firework fizzled into the ground nearby as Kristie had no opportunity to aim it at the minion. But the loud bang startled the wolf enough to make it shy away a few yards before looking back to see what had made the loud noise.

Kristie turned around on the ground and pointed the rocket launcher at the wolf who was getting ready to attack again. The noise of the fizzled firework drew the attention of Kirlothenin. Seeing his daughter in danger, he abandoned the fight against Omen. At this time as well, Amy had reached Jelune who turned to see why the child had come to him. He grabbed her and pulled her out of the path of a falling star. Afterward, he turned to see the wolf charging Kristie on the ground with his niece!

Kristie fired the rocket launcher at the wolf. But she was no hunter, or fighter for that matter. The firework launched just off to the side of the minion. It shied away for a second but quickly renewed its attack and jumped towards the human. It found its attack cut short when ice suddenly formed around its paws and rooted it to the ground. The minion immediately began to gnaw at the ice to free itself, oblivious of the blood elf that had appeared between itself and its intended victim.

This mistake was its end as Kirlothenin pelted it with arcane bolts, followed by a fireball. The creature died as the blood elf turned to Kristie and Adorei. He helped the human woman up, taking his daughter from her and checking the infant to make sure she was okay. Satisfied he turned his attention back to Omen who was now retreating back to the lake.

Enough people had joined by now to defeat the demigod. As he disappeared into the lake, cheers from the fighters arose. Adam, Dormir, Jelune, and Amy returned to where Kirlothenin, Kristie, and Adorei stood. Kristie had skinned her elbows, hands, and arms from when the wolf had pounced on her. Kirlothenin noticed this and glanced at Adorei for a moment before looking into her eyes. He gave a nod of appreciation for her attempts to keep his daughter safe.

Author's Note: Lazuli, of what sacrilege do you speak? Break up Ileeya and Kirlothenin? Outrageous! ;P Don't worry. The original pairings will stay the same. I only put night elf/human in there as the main characters because it wouldn't let me put night elf/blood elf/human as the main characters. :) I didn't really think it meant 'pairings' so much as who the main characters were. But if it seems confusing, I will put it back to night elf/blood elf.