The clearing was quiet, the air clean and crisp. The fading evening twilight gave the forest glade a sense of tranquillity, all things in perfect balance.
The glade was surrounded by thick foliage and dense woodland, making it immensely difficult to stumble upon for even the most dedicated explorer.
Inside, the grass was a lush deep green, the soil damp and fresh. The small pool at its centre fed life to everything.
The peace and serenity had drawn all manner of forest creatures to make it their home. Deer grazed, rabbits raced and birds fluttered.
The High Priestess lounged beside the clear pool, dipping her hand into it and swirling the clean water absentmindedly.
She wore lose white robes over her lean athletic body, thin boots and bracers both etched with flowing silver. She had little jewellery bar two large earrings in the shape of crescent moons and a delicate silver headpiece, again a crescent moon, hanging from a thin silver chain.
Her violet skin was smooth and young, belying her years, and her soft features were highlighted by the pale light of the moon, sitting in the clear star-lit sky. Her silver eyes had the distant look of being somewhere far away, or perhaps somewhere long ago...
Her mind was passing over the memories, seeing them flow like a glowing stream in the dark space of her thoughts. Maiev...Kael...The bridge...Water... her mind plunged deep into the next memory, bringing it to life...
Tyrande stood upon a large smooth rock in the shallows of the river, bow string taught against her cheek. Her silvered war regalia reflected starlight and moonlight, making her glow like a goddess.
She loosed, sending yet another arrow into the undead abomination and watched it fall, striking the ground hard and sending out tremors like a giant tree toppled by the wind. Two of her own warriors stood beside her, lightly armoured with bows in hand. The last remnants of her forces. They were blocked in. The sides of the river were too steep to climb and the only way out was barred by hordes of undead monsters.
They came in waves, and each wave they fought back, but their numbers were endless and it seemed they would eventually overrun them.
"Come forth, you mindless wretches, and taste the wrath of the Sentinels!" Tyrande called out in defiance, her voice strong with conviction, "Elunes light shall never falter!". The undead hordes charged forth once more, bare bone, torn sinew and twisted features clear in the moonlight.
Arrow after arrow they sent into the press, each felling a foe. Even so, the undead pushed forwards, slowing closing the distance as they clambered over the fallen. Seeing this, Tyrande stopped firing and held her arms outstretched to the sides. Her eyes closed, yet you could see them moving rapidly beneath the lids. Thin strands of pale ethereal light began to flow from Tyrande, slowly spiralling around her body then upwards into the night.
Even though the roar of the undead forces was deafening, it seemed like a silence had fallen over everything else. Almost as if the world itself was holding its breath. Suddenly, clusters of power that seemed like the stars themselves came crashing down into the undead ranks, blasting and burning them in arcane fire. Tyrandes eyes snapped open and she watched coldly as the undead ranks screamed and fell. The bombardment stopped as abruptly as it began, and utter silence ensued. The undead now stayed back, out of range from their arrows, and waited. They seemed wary now that Tyrande had displayed such power. "They will not stay cowed for long, and I cannot do that again, my powers are running out." Tyrande whispered under her breath. "This may be our last stand my sisters". The two warriors nodded their acknowledgement without removing their eyes from the enemy. Even in such a dire situation, they showed utter fearlessness. Tyrandes heart swelled with pride. Hours passed with no movement from either side, until the undead masses began to shuffle, growing restless. "Here it comes my sisters, be ready.." Tyrande said, as she shifted her grip on her bow.
Suddenly, Tyrande felt a massive amount of power being released somewhere near, and she heard an enormous explosion followed by screaming undead cries. Most of the undead horde turned and seemed to charge at something Tyrande could not see. "Malfurion.." Tyrande whispered, hope rising up within her. She knew he would never abandon her. Knowing this was their last and only chance at escape, she gave the command, "Fight my sisters! Help is at hand!". At her call the three of them began walking forward at a steady yet determined pace, all the while firing into the mass. The remaining undead forces charged forward, trying to overwhelm them. They fought with everything they had, yet even as Tyrande dropped 3 undead warriors in the space of a second, she saw one of her Sentinels fall, dozens of ghoulish figures coming down upon her. It was only a matter of time before the other fell in similar fashion. Now only Tyrande remained, and her heart screamed for her fallen sisters. She fought with an absolute fury that was terrible to behold. Yet she knew she could not keep it up. Exhaustion was creeping up her arms, crawling up her legs. She was slowing down. She fought on regardless, demanding vengeance for her sisters, even if it meant her death. Then, out of the corner of her eye she saw the rest of the undead fleeing before what must be her saviour. Malfurion was here. She finished off the remaining monster in front of her and turned to face him. Her heart stopped and she froze. For it was not Malfurion that greeted her, but Illidan.
The world began to turn to grey mist, and the memory faded.
Tyrande blinked, returning to the now darker world, only moon and starlight left in the sky. A single tear fell down her cheek, before she wiped it away. It would not do well for Malfurion to find her like this. She could feel the Arch druid, her love, coming closer. Mere minutes away. She couldn't wait for him to arrive and to be in his arms. She felt empty without him. She stood up and began to wander around the glade restlessly.
Her face was serious, mind deep in thought. Her and Malfurion had a decision to make, and it was not to be taken lightly. She was worried.
Her fingers idly brushed the plants as she passed them, easing her worried expression as if their touch was comforting to her. But the expression came back as easily as it left.
No one could find out what would happen here this night...