ALL STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLIED HERE.

This is my first attempt at a fan-fic story. Hope everyone enjoys it.

Will try to add more on a regular basis but updates may be sporadic sometimes as inspiration strikes. I am not sure what will happen with this story, it is writing itself, I am just the conduit that tells it to everyone. Again I hope you all enjoy.

I want to thank the people that find this interesting and adding it to their alerts. Hope you enjoy this next chapter.

Please feel free to review and let me know what you all think so far.

Chapter 4

I make my way to where the inn is located at near the main entrance. After a quiet meal, I settle into a pod-like bed to sleep. After some time, my dreams turn towards that of my vision from earlier in the day. The beauty of the red-headed paladin captives me dream self and we share a smile of love and companionship. Blood then starts to spill from the paladin's mouth as the sword is driven through her belly. I begin screaming in my dream only to be shaken awake before anymore can happen. I look around where I am sitting up on my bed. The innkeeper is beside me with his hands on my shoulders, gently shaking me.

"Are you alright," he asks once he sees that I am awake.

I look around wide-eyed trying to figure out where I am. Upon realizing that I am still in the inn in the Exodar, I take a deep breath calming myself. Seeing other patrons of the inn now awake staring at me, I lower my head.

"I am sorry if I have upset anyone. It was just a bad dream. I will be alright now."

I lay back down, curling up on my side and facing the wall away from the others around. I hear the patrons settle back down into their beds and soon everything is quiet as everyone falls back to sleep. I continue to lay there staring at the wall unable to go back to sleep. Quietly I get up and gather my belonging before leaving the inn. Looking at my surroundings, everything is quiet. Almost. I can hear the hum of energy flowing through the walls of the Exodar.

Deciding some exploration could help to take my mind off of my dream and thoughts of the paladin, I set off at a leisurely pace. Finding the bank, I buy myself a safe box and deposit some of the extra items I have collected. Locating the auction house, I look over some of the items for sale. Not finding anything to my liking, I decide to try and sell some of the gems I found while mining. Finishing my business there, I head back out and continue to explore.

After some time, I come across a couple forges towards the back of the Trader's Tier. Remembering that I have some ore that needs to be prepared, I set my pack down and unload the ore from it, piling it next to the forge. I begin loading ore into the smelting pot as I learned from the trainer in Azure Watch.

Time passes. A sheen of sweat develops on my body and I can feel the leather of my chest armor starting to rub. Taking a moment, I strip my chest armor off till I am only in a halter top. Turning back to the forge, I start pouring the molten copper into molds alongside. Again I load up the smelting pot.

For the next few hours, I continue to work, losing myself in my task. As the bars cool, I stack them on the floor next to my pack and pour more molten copper into the molds. Being so absorbed monitoring everything, I don't see the mining trainer approach until he starts speaking, startling me.

"If I had more assistants like you, business would be good," the trainer says.

Looking at myself, I start to blush as I realize my state of dress and quickly reach for my shirt. "I am sorry, I didn't realize anyone was watching me," I say quietly.

"I understand how warm it can get while smelting and have had many assistants strip down. I am impressed with the amount of work you have completed. How long have you been here," he asks.

"Only a couple hours."

"Impressive."

Quickly, I load my cooled bars into my pack wishing to be elsewhere right now. Putting my pack over my shoulder, I begin to head towards the auction house when I am stopped by a hand on shoulder.

"If you are ever looking for work, come see me. I can always use some good help," the trainer says warmly.

"Thank you, I will remember that," I reply.

"Oh and by the way, you are quite lovely," he says with a wink.

My blush returns quickly to my cheeks. I turn again and make my way to the auctioneers and put my finished bars up for sale. Finishing my sales, I strode out of the auction house and look around. Realizing that the morning is getting late, I head towards where Farseer Nobundo is waiting for me at.

Returning to the platform where Nobundo resides, I stop at the top of the ramp to await my turn as he finishes talking to another shaman. The male draenei rises and bows towards Farseer Nobundo before turning to leave. I notice the male leering at me as I step to the side to allow him to pass. I return his gaze with a glare. As he moves alongside me, I look past the draenei and ready myself to speak with Nobundo. Suddenly I feel a hand grip my ass. A look of shock and surprise crosses my face as I rise up on the tips of my hooves. Before I can turn and face the male, Farseer Nobundo speaks up.

"Vivian," he says quietly but with an authority that can't be missed.

Staring over my shoulder at the male shaman at he strides down the ramp, I make my way till I am standing before Nobundo. Bowing in greeting and respect towards Nobundo, he bids me to kneel. Settling myself down with my hooves under me, I bow my head, staring at the floor waiting for him to say something.

"Don't let the men get to you. That one in particular thinks he is the Light's gift to women," Nobundo says with a chuckle.

Silently I swear to myself that the next time I see that shaman, I will make sure to give him a gift of my own.

"Besides you are beautiful and you will find that people enjoy touching items of great beauty."

I bow my head farther down as I can feel a blush spread across my cheeks.

"Now let us begin and move you down the path of your choosing. All shaman before they choose their path must meditate and let the elements guide them on their way," Nobundo explains. "Have you done this?"

"Yes Farseer."

"Did you see anything while you were meditating?"

I hesitate to answer as I recall the events in my vision. "Y-Yes."

"What did you see?"

"I saw myself in battle. Totems surrounded me, shooting fire and healing me while giving me strength and speed. I am carrying two axes that I use to attack my enemies with. Beside me are two spirit wolves fighting with me."

"Ahh, the spirits have shown you what it is to be an enhancement shaman. As an enhancement shaman, you will stand before your enemies and not back away. You will use the elements to deliver quick, hard blows. Fighting this way will give you moments of clarity where you will be able to perform spells that normally take time and wouldn't normally be able to be done in the midst of battle. Does this appeal to you," he asks me.

"Yes sir, it does. I don't wish to hiding in the back lines. I want to stand before my enemies so they can know who they are fighting."

"Very good child. I will teach you the knowledge you seek. The air and earth will guide you, but don't ignore fire and water. To be a shaman, regardless of the chosen path, one must find balance amongst all the elements," states Nobundo.

"I will. I won't forget sir."

As I continue to kneel, Nobundo begins to chant in an ancient Draenic dialect. I close my eyes as I listen to his chant, absorbing the knowledge he is passing on to me. Soon the chanting stops and I look up to see Nobundo smiling at me. He turns and beckons me to follow him. Stopping before a crate, Nobundo opens it to reveal pairs of maces, axes, and fist weapons.

"Now that you have chosen your path, it is time for you to equip yourself appropriately," he says. "Choose yourself some new weapons."

Taking off my old mace and shield and laying them to the side. I approach the crate and look over the weapons before me. Slowly I run my fingertips across the grips of them. Suddenly my hand stops and grips the handle of an axe. Lifting it up, I realize that is looks nearly identical to the axes in my vision. Reaching down, I grab its twin and hold them both before me. The weight of them, the design, and the feel in my hands, everything about them feels rights. While still looking at them, I turn away from the crate and step forward. Looking up, Nobundo is before me and smiles as he nods in my direction.

As I gaze over my new weapons, my vision of the paladin comes rushing back to me. The grip I have on the axe handles tighten till my knuckles turn white. I let a whimper out and bring my hand up to my chest as the part of the vision where the red-head is impaled is replayed in my mind. My knees buckle and I collapse to the ground with a cry of anguish as my vision self realizes that the paladin is dead.

Suddenly I am grasped by my shoulders and shaken. Blinking and looking up, Farseer Nobundo is standing above me, looking down at me. He kneels before me as he realizes that I have come out of my trance.

"Vivian, are you alright? What did you see," he asks.

"These axes are nearly identical to those in my vision," I say as I hold the pair of axes up before me, "and they brought back the vision."

"Is there more to your vision that you haven't told yet?"

"Yes there is."

"Go on."

"In my vision there is a red-headed paladin that I am fighting alongside with. She smiles at me at one point and I smile back to her. I smiles have a sense of caring and loving shared between them. At that point, an orc steps before her and stabs his sword through her. I see myself launching myself at that orc with a cry of rage and hurt. The orc barely hits the ground dead as I turn to cradle the paladin. I begin to cry and scream in agony as I hold her lifeless body against mine," I tell. I look up to Nobundo with tears brimming in my eyes, "What does it mean?"