Chapter Three
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Ysera only stares at the being standing up and putting his clothes on. If anyone asks her what her day today would be, she would never expect that it would be like this. Being the Aspect of Dreams of Azeroth and probably one of the oldest and largest of dragons that ever live on this planet, she knows that she is no slouch. However this being, is way even beyond her levels. For all the power she wields, she is a mere speck in its touch. So when he announces that the trade-off for letting her stubborn dragon-mate live is for her to give herself up to him for an entire day, she doesn't hesitate on saying yes for everyone's sake.
Thus she is here in her usual elven form feeling for the first time in her life tiredness from the non-stop mating she has subjected herself to. Not that she's complaining. She has many lovers in her long life, dragons and Night Elves that caught her fancy. However this being, despite his icy fingers and touch is a great lover and her rather bowlegged legs are a testament to that as she lies there on a solitary spot of grass and flowers in the forest. The fact that his essence is inside her in great amounts is an added bonus, already she can tell that it will get her pregnant. A child or children of the being that is the avatar of Death itself and the Aspect of Dreams, she wonders how it will turn out. They may mate with their avatars like these, but creating a child, it is a mixture of essence that will determine what being it would come out to be.
"You will die," the sudden declaration of doom made Ysera stop in her daydreaming as she stares at the Aspect of Death who finishes putting on his clothes.
"What?" she blinks in confusion sitting up, uncaring for her nudity, her mind trying to catch up to what he just said.
"You will die," repeated the Aspect of Death, his dark eyes turning to her in a serious glint. "I've seen your future. You will be a beacon of hope to these Elves who love nature so much. You will be their guiding star and the guardian of the home that they love so much. You will fulfill your duties and you would make your creator proud with your deeds and your actions. But despite all your strength and all your wisdom, you will fall. Darkness will consume the tide of dreams and you along with it. You will become everything that you hate, and you would be the devourer of the very things and lives that you so fervently hold sacred. You would die in the most painful of ways, and though your soul will find redemption, your spirit will anguish in eternal confusion of the choice between light and darkness. You would be an abomination that would find no rest in death, and your legacy will forever be tarnished, along with your flight,"
Ysera doesn't even know that she's crying as she listens to his words. Every single contains a message of power, and she has been around Nodzdormu long enough to identify the feeling of a prophecy coming true. The aspect of the bronze dragon flight tends to make a game of it when they are younger, making them guess which of his words are fake and which ones are real. Now to hear her demise coming from the one that has just fucked her to seventh heaven, and the most feared being in the universe. It feels as if her heart has just been put to a pedestal that is full of thorns.
"I-I-I-I-," she tries to form words uselessly as her breathe and throat seems to work against her. In fact her brain is so numb that the thoughts are swirling like mad causing her entire being to shift from sad, anger, depression, surprise and a fear so great that she can literally hear her heart beating wildly on her ribs. All around Azeroth, everyone who is unlucky enough to be sleeping are having the worst nightmare of their lives as the Dreamscape itself breaks like glass.
"Do you want that future of yours to change, even at the expense of everything?"
"You can?" she looks up hopefully at the Aspect of Death who only nods at her.
"Yes I can indeed," he nods in affirmation. "Fate has never been a big fan of mine. I can prevent that future Ysera, but everything has a cost. The universe is fickle that way and has a way of keeping balance. I am going to ask you this once only Ysera, would you want this future of yours to change at the cost of the one destined to this world?"
For a moment Ysera hesitates as she knows how much her answer could destroy or change this world. Does she really have the right to simply decide for the entirety of Azeroth? This is a question that needs all Dragon Aspects to convene, however they are not here and herself is the only one she has at hand currently. The Aspect of Death doesn't seem to be like the most patient of sorts and she knows deep inside her bones that if he leaves now, she would never get a chance like this again.
For an instant, an image of a dead and rotting carcass of hers with veins of black and shadow flash through her eyes and her entire soul shivers. Is that what is waiting for her? Is that what will happen to her future? Her very soul is seared at the very thought of eternal damnation and her choice is made immediately without question.
"Yes," she answers with a small voice. "I chose a future where I can live and not suffer this corruption….whatever the cost,"
The Aspect of Death in front of her only nods before exploding once more into the giant black serpentine form of his dragon surrounding her bare Night Elf one, blowing a breathe into her making the very world shake as its destiny is forever changed by her decision.
"Twelve children you will bear to defend this world! They will be lords and masters of their fate, commanding all with strength and justice. Their rule will be eternal as long as they hold true to the same beliefs as you.
Aegnor as strong as the waters and turbulent of the seas, eldest he may be but he will not be for his temper is great.
Andaneran and Alion, their anger is a curse for it is fierce and their wrath will lead them to wander on this world forever.
Galathil; mightiest of them all, his brothers will praise him, his hands will be a guard against this world's enemies and they shall bow before him. The crown will be on his head and it will never depart from his head until the end of this world.
Annael shall live in the sea, and his homes will be at the haven where ships come to rest.
Mirodar is a peacemaker, once he finds a land that he likes, he will rest there and make it prosper.
Faliothal, shall be a sword of justice and every soul in this world will respect his decision.
Alaithor will be the arrows that strike the heels of the enemies of this world.
Saeros will be rich, food will come aplenty from him, and he shall serve servings fit for gods.
Niadamar will be free, wherever he goes will be a reminder of what the gifts of freedom are.
Argon will be a fruitful vine that everybody goes to. Enemies will attack him from above from below and he would remain steady. He would be Galatil's shadow and the second greatest of his brothers. Eternity shall be at his right and wisdom on his left.
Enel is a guard, in the morning he rests and at the evening, he guards against the terrors of the night.
These are the names of the twelve guardian dragons of Azeroth Ysera, you will become the mother of all and their roles will keep Azeroth safe for a million years for your kind as per our agreement. Thus I say, so shall mote it be!"
Ysera can only cover her eyes as the fabric of reality is torn apart and the black serpentine dragon let off a mighty roar that echoes throughout the entirety of Azeroth, touching his snout on her forehead before leaving with a powerful gust of wind and dust into the open sky.
The Aspect of Dreams can only sit there looking to the slowly disappearing speck before letting her hand travel to her bare navel. She could feel the pulses growing within and she can't help but smile. Her children would be leaders of a new world order later of prosperity and all it took from her is one day of pleasure.
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Shandris has never run so fast in her entire life. Being a full trained Sentinel and a commandant to boot, she's more than confident in her abilities. However against the roar that literally made the very air of this world shiver, she knows deep inside her being that her chances of escaping if that ever found her is less than zero. Thus she is here running as if her very life depends on it non-stop. Of course the fact that the giant bat she turned into a pincushion before was apparently yet alive, and was out for her blood was only an additional incentive.
She is still a bit far from the familiar boughs of Ashenvale despite making good progress in her run towards it. Normally it would take her a day to get to Ashenvale from where she wakes up. Now however, she is trying to make it there in only half the time. Something that even Shandris has never attempted before. The fact that any reduce from her current speed would be an inch closer for that bat to sink its fangs on her. It can also fly, meaning it would be faster than her, not constrained with obstacles of the ground. The only saving grace she has is the fact that the trees here so near at Ashenvale is so large and so thick forcing the bat to be slow down also lest it ends up with a good taste of tree bark on its face and a damaged skull.
Jumping to the side, to avoid colliding on a rather large tree root, she is just ready to make another jump to the left when her familiar battle instincts kicks in and her body moves to the right. Good thing too, for a flash of white light pass through where she would have jumped into a moment ago. Crashing to the ground painfully, Shandris can only watch in abject horror as the light cuts like a sharp knife over trees and stones. Not blast them, or rip them to nothing as most magic in Azeroth does, no, it cuts through them with a precision that only can give testimony to the complete focus on the magic wielder that uses it. If not for her instinct, she would have been split in two already at worst, and badly bleeding to death at best.
Growling through her teeth showing the familiar stubbornness that makes the Kaldorei weather the assault of the Burning Legion during the War of the Ancients, Shandris crouches, ready to dash again to the darker eaves of the forest when her eyes widen seeing the large bat appear without warning at her right side. Apparently her little tumble is more than enough for it to bridge the distance between her and it. Shandris only has time to cover her face with her arms before the bat slams to her crouching form.
Despite years of discipline as a Sentinel, Shandris is unable to stop the pained grunt that escapes her lips as the giant bat collides with her pinning her to the ground. At least one of her ribs are broken if her difficult breathing is any indication, she guesses. The smell of fur, dead animals and sweat immediately pervades her senses nearly making Shandris vomit all over the bat. It's very presence makes her nauseous that it takes all her self-control not to spill her guts out. However it is the bat's greasiness that makes her want nothing more than to run away. Grunting, Shandris tries to reach for the dagger at her belt, ignoring the flares of pain at ever breathe she takes due to her damaged ribs.
"Almost...there," she mutters more to herself as her fingers manage to touch the leather end of the knife's grip.
Blinding pain immediately fills her abdomen and all notions of trying to reach the knife vanish as she focuses her attention on the claws that now pierce her navel. The bat apparently realizing her effort on trying to draw a weapon plunges one of its claws right at her exposed abdomen.
Purple blood now fell freely and Shandris is unable to stifle anymore the small gasps that left her lips as she squirms and moves, trying to lodge off the claws her angle, she can see the appendage if she tries peering piercing her making her every breathe hitch. Every time she takes on air, she can see more of her blood pooling out from the wound and all she can do is try unsuccessfully to pull the claw out in a last ditch effort to spare herself the pain. Already her eyesight is getting foggy from blood loss and her usually sharp thoughts are becoming more and more muddled like trying to swim on cold water with your entire armor on.
"ENOUGH!" a canine voice suddenly calls out breaking Shandris from her slow stupor making her focus on the source of the voice instead of the claw at her abdomen.
A large black wolf appears from the gloom of the forest eaves, yellow eyes piercing her and the bat that is still pressing her to the ground. Shandris despite her slowing mental faculties blinks in confusion at the sight. Sure there are wolves that call the woods of Ashenvale their home, however they never grow this big. Not to mention the fact that this wolf speaks, it speaks! Something that wolves are not supposed to do. For a moment, she wonders if the blood loss has finally makes it to the point where she's hallucinating.
While the Kaldorei settles on trying to find out whether she has finally cracked or not, the wolf and the bat on the other hand are not pleased as usual on seeing one another. One due to his good mood being ruined by the bat's epic failure on following even the simplest orders and the other due to a grudge that he can't let go when the time when they can still call themselves human. Despite serving Death in life and beyond for thousands of years, the enmity between the two has never been appeased. The fact that neither of them wants to bridge the gap between each other doesn't help on appeasing things among the two.
"You are told to keep her safe and keep her there? What are you doing you greasy bat?!" the Grim snarls, baring its teeth on the bat who only hisses at the rather not-so-welcome reaction of the dog.
"Exactly!" the bat answers making the hairs at the back of Shandris' head stand on end despite the surprise that the bat can also talk. "My orders are to keep her there. It is never specified as to how I would do it mutt!"
The insult only results to the Grim snarling as it bares its teeth at the bat, though Shandris notices that it drops off to its side on the ground two unconscious figures wearing Sentinel armor. Her eyes widen in alarm as she notices the paint on their shoulder pads. Those two are trainee Sentinels, only found nearest to the temple of Elune for training and experience. Whatever or whoever this wolf is, it does not only manage to nab two Sentinel guards without raising the alarm, it also manages to come so near the Temple of Elune where most of the vigil is strongest. Once more she begins to struggle despite her slowly losing consciousness as more of her lifeblood spills on the ground.
Unfortunately the struggles of Shandris remain unnoticed by both the bat and the Grim who are now baring their fangs and teeth against one another. The Grim has its hackles raised in anger and the bat has its wings spread to their largest, trying to intimidate the Grim into submission.
"You have always been proud Snivellus," snarked the large dog, claws poised to jump. "Too bad that doesn't count for brains you imbecilic traitor. Everything you touch and love ends up DEAD!"
That is too much for the bat, cawing and hissing, it charges forward the same time as the Grim who also leaps at the bat. Poor Shandris still having the talon of the bat at her abdomen can't help the agonized howl as she is cruelly lifted off the ground for a few meters before the claw lodges free from her flesh giving her the essence of freefall before crashing into a nearby bush, bleeding out badly. Already her eyes are going blurry and her thoughts are scattering to the wind, barely even seeing the two titans trying to tear each other apart.
"ENOUGH!" boomed a voice making the very air quiver in fear and the two stop as a giant long figure landed from the sky, the branches of the ancient trees snapping in half due to its immense size.
"Sirius! Go play with your loot. Snape! Take to the skies and patrol the perimeter North of the cave not far from here. Make sure the surroundings are empty and safe. Anything moves, that is not us, you take it out. That is an order...NOW GO!" roars the giant animal once more making the ground quiver as if its afraid of it simply being there.
Shandris only watches through half-lidded eyes as the giant black wolf and the bat scamper off in different directions as if the hounds of the Burning Legion are after them. The wolf picking up the two Sentinels on its giant maws before disappearing North and the bat taking to the skies past the broken canopy thanks to the giant being's entrance. As it is, she can do nothing but sit there leaning on a tree as the shadow of whoever it is that commands the wolf and the bat to ran off looms over her. She can barely see it thanks to her failing body faculties. The urge of falling into sleep is growing stronger and stronger by the minute.
The giant head of whatever it is peers down on her, its breathe wafting over her skin, a warm draft to the coldness in her bone. Its head is so big that Shandris cannot see anything other than it anymore, so near to her good self.
"I am truly sorry my prize," it growls out, it's voice sounding like rolling stones before breathing on her gently.
The last thing that Shandris remembers as she once more loses her consciousness is a giant maw opening in front of her before darkness finally descends.