Chapter 15

"Aw, is poor wicked scared" laughed the Hozen as I watched him tear the spear from the ground. I scrambled backwards and hit something. I hastily looked behind me to see I've backed myself into a corner of rock and a cliff to my left. When I looked back the Hozen already had its spear drawn again and the metal of the spear seemed to shine through the caked blood that was left on the spearhead. The Hozens laugh seemed to echo in my ears. I watched as the spear came back down. I jolted backwards trying to get away.

I dumped into some fur as I shot my eyes open, taking a deep breath realizing it was just a nightmare. I sat up to see that the fire was still going,

"You good?" a high-pitched voice questioned, I spin my head around to see Glimsparke finishing up a couple parts to the robotic dog. Glimsparke eyes looked darker than before,

"What are you doing up?" I questioned. Glimsparke looked up and shrugged

"I just can't sleep, I kind of just stay up until I pass out from exhaustion" Glimsparke chuckled nervously as he pushed in the last piece of the dog back into place

"Glimsparke that's not a good habit to have," I spoke as I slowly got up to get closer to the fire,

"I can't help it," Glimsparke sighed as he laid back in the giant shell that he was using as a chair

"What do you mean?" I questioned as I looked around seeing that almost all of the people in the village where asleep

"It's like every time I close my eyes… I have really bad nightmares. So I just wait until my body just can't stay awake then I pass out and I sleep great," Glimsparke jokes

"What kind of nightmares if you don't mind me asking?" I questioned

"The nightmares started after the invasion of Gnomeregan. The nightmare always starts with the fires in the bottom rooms. I'd watch the fire creep towards the explosives that the High Tinker keeps in the back room. That when they go off. It creates a big enough destruction for the Gnomes that were corrupted by the nuclear pools to break in. Everyone starts to run in fear. People crying and screaming as they watched others die at the hands of their own kind. I'd get up and start to run. Then I'd wake up in a cold sweat" Glimsparke replied as he chuckled.

Then there was a soft chirp that came from the willow tree that hung above us. I looked up through the branches to see no birds but there was a soft shine on what looked like metal. "What in the world?" I mumbled as I squinted to get a closer look. The blade was tangled within the high thin branches and the scabbard looked to be red,

"Glimsparke do you see what looks like a sword that is tangled in the trees?" I questioned as I looked down at Glimsparke then pointed to where the soft shine was, Glimsparke grabbed his goggles that were sitting on a large crate and adjusted them on his face. He tapped the side of his head and the goggles started to glow then he looked up

"Why is it all the way up there? … How did it get up there?" Glimsparke questioned as he adjusted his goggles almost like he was zooming them in.

"That's weird, did someone throw it up there?" Glimsparke questioned as he looked around for anything or anyone that could have got it stuck in a tree. I heard another soft chirp, I turned to look but could not see anything. But I saw that Ari was awake. He yawned than got up,

"Well hello," I whispered as Ari walked over and rested his head on my hip. I kept looking around for what could be making the noise. When I saw Manlan's Owl resting on a pillow, "That's who must be making the soft chirping" I thought as I watched Glimsparke muttering to himself. I slowly walked over to where Manlan's Owl was sleeping.

The owl seemed to be sleeping on an elvish pillow and next to him was Manlan tucked away in his bedroll. The fabric was a deep purple. It looked to be decorated with silver leaves that have been embellished into the leather. The leather also seemed to be embellished with small teal colored stones that looked to be glowing softly."Is this creepy? Am I being creepy?" I asked myself as I looked back at the owl that had now picked up its head. The owl cooed tiredly wondering what I was doing there. The bird managed to get its feet under its body when Manlan sat up.

"Good morning," I smiled as I scratched the owl's head when there was a small yelp. I looked over my shoulder to see that Ari was laying on top of Glimsparke,

"Morning," Manlan said groggily as he rubbed his eyes, he stretch then crawled out of his bedroll,

"Oh, I had to be sleeping on a rock or in a hole, goddess my back," Manlan groaned,

"Ha, you are not that old yet," I giggled as the owl snuggled into the pillow, seeming like he wanted to go back to sleep. I watched as the owl ruffled its feathers then smoothed down trying to look smaller than he actually was,

"Come on big boy," Manlan prompted as he scratched the owl's head then Manlan got up on his feet with a sigh.

"Not a morning elf are you?" I questioned as Manlan looked back at his bed rolled in disappointment.

"No, there is a reason the I'm, a Night Elf, " Manlan groaned as he knelt to roll his bedroll back up

"You probably should gather your stuff," Manlan noted when the owl got off the pillow and scooted the pillow to the floor then jumped of the ground,

"Yeah, Yeah I'm getting there, give me a second," Manlan grumbled as he stuffed his bedroll along with the pillow in his bag. "I probably should go put my stuff away," I thought to myself as I turned around and saw Ari was asleep … again. I groaned as I shuffled over to where Ari was lying to find that he was sleeping on Glimsparke. I chuckled to myself that Glimsparke was actually asleep,

"Ari up," I quietly commanded, Ari groaned, picked up his head then got up with a huff and came over to where I was standing. I tried to keep myself from laughing. Glimsparke was still passed out on the ground slightly snoring. Well at least he can now take a nap, and well deserved one.

I threw a blanket over Glimsparke and walked over to where Manlan, Admiral Taylor, and Karasshi were standing. They seemed to be talking about something,

"I believe you could talk to the Lorewalker Cho that lives at Dreamer's Pavilion on the other side of the Jade Forest. He would be more than happy to help you find this White pawn of yours," Karasshi mentioned as he gathered out towards the edge of the village,

"Thank you Karasshi, but Manlan before you go looking for this Lorewalker I want you to help arm some of these Jinyu for the possibility of a battle between us and the Horde," Taylor spoke

"Of course I'll handle helping the Jinyu with finding a weapon then I'll talk to Cho about finding the White pawn," Manaln bowed as turned to walk away,

"Manlan, is there anything you want me to do?" I questioned as walked next to him

"I would like you to pack up your bedroll and get some more information about this Lorewalker Cho. Can you do that?" Manlan stated as he pick up a couple simple weapons

"Yeah I can do that, anything else?" I asked as Ari stood next to me

"After that I want you to take Ari out around the Village and see if he can pick up Anduin's trail. If he can't find anything, just come back. I don't want you out there for too long without proper adult vision," Manlan told me as he turned around,

"Hey Manlan" I started, he spun around waiting for me to finish

"Can you get the sword I found out of a willow tree when you're done?" I questioned as I nervously smiled

"How did you get it in a tree?" Manlan exclaimed

"I might have dropped it when I was attacked by that Hozen," I remarked as I fiddled with my hands

"That does not explain how it ended up in a tree," Manlan ranted as his owl rested on his shoulder

"I don't know how it ended up in the tree okay" I explained

"Fine, I'll get the sword out when I'm done. It should not take me to long," Manlan huffed

"Thank you," I smile as I turn to pack up my bedroll. My bedroll was plain compared to Manlan's. It was a plain leather with a wool inner lining plus it was my brother's old one. The leather was scratched and the wool was aged. I sighed as I rolled it up and made sure I tied up right so it would not unravel, then placed it on the top of my bag,

"About time, I forget how long that takes" I grumbled as I set my bag up against the clam that Glimsparke was sleeping on.

"Okay now time to walk around the village to see if I can get an idea on where Anduin is," I sighed to myself as I stood up.

I walked out towards the outskirts of the village, I watched as the guard moved around the lake, "I should just walk right outside of the lake. I should be able to find something …. Right?" I questioned myself. I brushed it off as I reminded myself that I will find him and he will be okay. I started to walk outside of the lake trying to find footprints or pieces of fabric that could have been left behind.

There were weeping willows that draped themselves over the lake and tall bamboo trees that had to be at least ten feet tall. The leaves of the bamboo had different colors that ranged from green to bright red. There were plenty of large rocks that framed the edges. Also many lily pads for small frogs, little koi fish, and pearly tortoises that swam the lake. As Ari and I walked around the lake to see nothing, except the trail of footprints that surrounded the lake that was left behind from the soldiers that patrolled the outskirts. It was when I made my way to the far side then I saw an oddly placed torch. It was sitting just out of sight of the Jinyu and the Alliance. It had not been lit for very long. Ari was eager to check it out, he sniffed his way up to the touch and got a good whiff. He growled as he turned his head up the small path,

"What is it… smell something," I began as Ari's fur started to stand

"Free," I whispered, Ari made his way up the small path that the touch lit up. I followed close behind all the way up the thin path. The path widened out as another came into view, I looked up and down the path that looked well walked. There was a flash of red that I saw at the top of the hill that was lit up with more touches. My eyes didn't move from the pieces of what looked like a red banner. I could feel my heart creep up my throat. The main post of the banner was lined with spikes,

"No it can't be… they could not be this close," I whispered to myself. I creeped my way up to where the banner was placed. As I got closer the banner came more into view and I saw the sigil. I should have known when I saw the red fabric… The Horde.