Karael Moonblade

[Vaelitha Skysong]

It was the howling that had drawn her. Her gaze focused and intent on her prey, Karael had heard it pierce the fragile hush of the wood she stalked through. The hind she had her eyes set upon leapt and bound away out of sight, and frowning, she turned in the direction of the sound, carefully pushing through the brush with practised care and ease.
It was not long before she found them. There were five of them, sitting about a campfire, laughing and talking loud enough to wake the very dead. Five Humans bragging and talking in the ugly, halting speech they used. Karael could only catch a few words as her Common was poor, and they were articulating with the ease and speed that those using their native tongues do.
She watched them for a moment, her nose crinkling as the smell of blood reached her. They didn't notice her presence, their kind rarely did, and she inched a little closer to take a better look. One of the men had bloody hands, and was preparing a skin, scraping it ready for stretching. One such pelt had already been so prepared, and was stretched over some branches, drying at the fireside. They had slain some of a pack of Wolves, cut them down and stripped them of their furs. This did not worry Karael as such, taking furs from animals was sensible. How else would one clothe oneself? It was a disrespect to the Wood and those in it to waste any useful part of a kill that had to be made, but as she listened and strained to understand, she realised these men had come to the den they had camped outside of, and had purposefully hunted down this pack to slay it. As she shook her head and moved to leave the place, she heard a whining. An insistent, plaintive cry that told of anguish and pain. She snapped her gaze back and narrowed her eyes as one of the men dragged a small pup from the den, laughing and mocking as he pulled it's ears and tugged at it's fur. It was clear these Humans had no respect, and Karael felt her usually calm and even temperament rise to the brutal baiting of such an innocent creature.
Notching an arrow in her bow, she stepped from the cover of the brush and fired an arrow into the leg of the man tormenting the wolf pup. It dropped to the floor in a daze and sat, whining still. The men turned and looked at Karael in a terrified stupor, too shocked to react as she calmly and swiftly aimed again with another arrow from her quiver. She did not release, but instead aimed at one of the men, her gaze sweeping them all and ignoring the one writhing on the floor in agony.
"You move to side. Turn for slow, and I not shooting." Karael stumbled over the words, but they were clear enough. One of the men reached for his knife, and she gave him a level look, shaking her head a little.
"You think you more, but I kill first who move. It be you? I not care. I kill first, and more. Who die for now?" The men did not speak, but moved slowly and silently to the side, and turned.
With swift and agile movements, Karael scooped up the pup and ran back into the forest, slinging her bow over her shoulder and smiling brightly. It was not usual for her to bluff as she did, but the surprise of her appearance had worked in her favour.
After a good twenty minutes running, she stopped by a copse and hid inside it, just to be sure. Smiling down at the pup, she held it up and admired the little thing. It was well-fed, and the moonlight danced over the pup's fur, making it shine silver.
"Moonfrost. That is your name now, little one. No fretting, for you are safe." Karael murmured to it in the lilting, musical tones of Darnassian and watched the pup as it chewed her thumb and seemed to calm in her hands.

[Vaelitha Skysong]

Water, everywhere. Can't breathe, can't move, so very tired. No air, no light... it is oppressive, suffocating. I look up and I see him staring, watching with impassive eyes. I can't hold out any longer and take a shuddering breath, but there is no air.. cold fills my lungs as water rushes in and then pain, blackness.
I die...

Karael sat up from her night terror in a cold sweat, her eyes wide and feverish as she took desperate gulps of cool, comforting air. After a moment she calmed and stilled, trembling gently. Slipping her hand into her sweat-dampened hair, Karael lay back onto her bedroll and looked up to the stars. The nightmares had started not long after her initiation and were now a regular occurance.
She had tried to put aside the fear but it was proving difficult. It was true that she had never really had need nor cause to extend her swimming skills beyond anything more than being able to keep afloat, but now these nightmares, and the remembrance of her drowning, was causing her to avoid the water and this was simply insupportable.
Perhaps it would be a good idea to seek the Elder's council on the matter, Karael mused as her eyes drifted over the stars blanketing the night sky. Closing her eyes finally, she turned on her side and tried to find some semblance of sleep, and, after what seemed to her an age, she drifted off into a fitful slumber.

Water everywhere. Can't breath, can't move...

[Vaelitha Skysong]

Karael sat with grace and poise, her meditating form close to the dying embers of a campfire. Moonfrost, her gray wolf, sat near her, keeping a watch on the curtain of trees that surrounded the small camp.
Suddenly, the she-wolf perked up her ears, letting out a low rumble as she looked into the dark cover of the forest. Opening one eye, Karael looked at Moonfrost, a small frown appearing on her brow. She reached out to cover the glowing ashes over with dirt, and then took a hold of her bow which lay beside her. Karael touched Moonfrost once, silented instructing the Wolf to be silent, and as her eyes scanned the forest, she heard it. Movement.
With a deep inhaling, she tested the air, and then stood slowly, following the sounds. It was a smell that was familiar, but she could not exactly place it. All the same, the unknown creature was making such an incredible noise, she had no trouble following. She heard it stop, and crouched, easing forward through the brush to try and catch a glimpse, even as she made a note of Moonfrost's slender form moving close by to her. Alas, she could not see the creature, and as it suddenly moved off at a faster pace, she followed along.
Pushing through brambles and thorny brush, she fought to keep up. Paying no mind to the catching and tearing of her clothes, she winced at a thorn catching on her neck, before suddenly happening upon a clearing. Karael squinted across the open ground at the figure close the the treeline on the far side. It was unmistakebly a Troll, and as she crept forward with her Bow raised, it darted into the trees.
Karael stepped into the moonlit clearing cautiously, looking left and right and shaking her head, feeling that things were not quite right somehow. It was only when she nearly tripped over it that she noticed the Boar in the middle of the glade. It had been dead for a little while, the bones picked clean and shining a morbid white under the stars. The hide was still intact, and as she looked down on the dead beast, a sense of overwhelming loss flooded her, and all thought of the Troll vanished.
It was only when the loud, mocking laughter rose from the trees that she remembered why she had come here, and with a low whistle to Moonfrost, she forged ahead, pushing the intense emotion down and stepping over the Boar. She caught a glimpse of the Troll in the trees ahead and frowning, blinking. It seemed to somehow resemble the lost Sister, Delenthia. Shaking her head, and pushing the thought aside, she aimed with her bow, and let fly an arrow. The Troll laughed again as it darted deeper into the forest. With another whistle to Moonfrost, Karael followed, trying to keep pace.
Suddenly, the ground gave way, and without warning she was slipping down a steep slope, the earth and grass tumbling with her making any kind of purchase for safety impossible. With a shout, she looked up and saw a dark presence wheeling overhead, the large body of a Dragon blocking out the moon and casting a shadow over Karael. Moonfrost bounded down the slope, and hit Karael in her effort to catch up and before any thought for handhold could be made, the two of them were tumbling over a cliff.
They hit the water below hard, the cold seeping into them with alarming speed. Karael flailed, thoughts of her initiation coming back to her, and with a panic, she started to sink. Looking up to the surface and reaching out she saw bright, yellow eyes. The Dragons eyes looking down at her and watching.

With a gasp and a feverish yelp, Karael opened her eyes and looked straight into Moonfrost's muzzle. The she-wolf was licking her face, and whining gently. Looking around and trying to move her sluggish body to sit, she recognised the edge of the clearing. With a frown, she clapped her hand to her neck, and tugged out a little dart, and throwing it away in disgust, she lay back down with a loud sigh, covering her eyes and shaking her head.

[Vaelitha Skysong]

Karael looked at the coastline and tried to catch her breath, treading water gently and keeping herself afloat. What looked like a balloon floated behind her, and she looked back at it, checking that the skull was still attached. It was infact the bladder of the bear that the skull belonged to, and Karael had filled it with air to help her carry the heavy skull to the Zoram Strand, the reason she was braving the wet.
She set off again, shaking her head as she fought down wave after wave of fear that threatened to grip her and send her into a panic. She fiercely kept her eyes open and fixed on the beach ahead as it fast approached. If she closed her eyes, all she saw was nothing but black, darkness, and Aldrannath's impassive eyes watching her sink.
With another curt shake of her head, she tossed the thought out of her mind and concentrated. Concentrated on the shore ahead and the task at hand.
The Elder was right. She would beat this irrational fear if she faced it, and often. Got used to the terror and overwhelming panic, and accepted it. Used it even, to give her impetus.
By Elune, the skull was heavy, she thought as she pulled it along, helped by the makeshift buoy. Aldrannath himself had given her the idea for it with his final words to her. 'May Malorne make you buoyant', he had said. The thought made her smile, and as her feet touched the sand of the sloping shore, she breathed a weary sigh of relief. She had done it. Conquered her fear.
Karael stepped out of the sea, dripping and wet, her hair streaming with water, and she looked along the coast with a small frown. The shore was disturbingly quiet. She had expected it to be crawling with Naga, but there were none. She approached the trees and peered, looking for signs of the Elder as she hefted the skull in her grasp. Lifting her hand, still quivering and weak from the long, tiring swim, she pushed back the damp tangle of her tresses behind an ear and turned back to the sea, looking out over it as she waited.
Suddenly a voice made her jump, it's deep, rumbling tones causing her to whirl and almost drop the skull in her surprise.
'You are not dead yet, then. Progress made.'
Aldrannath spoke with a serious look, and held out his hands for the skull of the bear.
'Malorne made me buoyant, Elder...', murmured Karael as she handed the skull over and closed her eyes, fighting off the trembling that threatened to shudder through her.
Aldrannath nodded once and turned, taking the skull to the treeline, Karael following behind with a small, triumphant smile.

[Vaelitha Skysong]

Karael Moonblade glanced at her fellow Kaldorei as they awaited Celegil's return. They had gathered in Feralas to take on another Hunt, and Karael smiled in anticipation, eager to be off and finding a quarry. The bear had already been an interesting find, with it's resemblance to Elder Aldrannath. She looked forward to broaching the subject with him.
The Tauren encampment was there ahead, past the narrow, winding path wending through vines and trees. Suddenly a figure broke from the brush, from an unexpected direction, running and calling for them to follow, to hide and take cover. Clearly Celegil had seen something, and without hesitation, they hunkered down out of sight behind some rocks, hiding from view. With whispered words and direct gestures, Celegil was asked what was up.
'A band of mercenaries.. I recognise the uniforms they wear. Not only them, but arcane users! Death Knights! They can intend no good here. We need to stop them', breathed Celegil, her voice barely a whisper and filled with excitement.
All three of the Kaldorei turned their eyes to the path, watching and listening, and before long it was there. Clanking, clunking.. the sound of heavily armed men making their way towards them.
Celegil bent to whisper to Amplisa, and with an exasperated look of annoyance, the young Kaldorei rushed to the road, laying down and pretending to be injured.
Karael frowned. This was not a good idea... but the Mercenaries were already in sight, it could not be undone.
The Mercs were on Amplisa, and seemed to intend her no harm. One of their number knelt, while others glanced around. They had with them a Tauren, a huge one. It seemed to be leading them somewhere. Karael recognised the uniforms as well, they were the Northwind Free Company, and she knew one of their number well. Very well. She felt a rising anger at not being privy to this little foray of theirs, and that this person she knew would allow the Company to bring in Mages to Kaldorei Lands, be colluding with the Horde. Be bringing Death Knights as well... she was incensed.
Barely hearing Celegil's words to move, she stepped forward and, with unerring accuracy, sent an arrow into the ground close to the nearest Merc's foot. By the time he looked up in surprise she had another notched and ready to fire, aiming instead for his head.
As her gaze swept the large group and Amplisa jumped up to return to where Celegil and Salabadon stood ready to attack, she recognised Osmund, and her indignation narrowed upon him. How dare he not let her know that he had meant to come here? To show such disrespect for who she was, for her people, to bring such hated and unsavoury travelling companions with him?
As she watched the band, she barely heard what went on, the talking back and forth between Human and Kaldorei. She glanced at Celegil as she spoke up, Celegil's voice shrill with indignation and affront.
'We cannot stop them, Sister. No matter what they intend. I suggest we follow them. See if this tale of theirs is true', Karael said, her eyes snapping back to Osmund. It was obvious he heard and understood as his eyes clouded in anger at her distrust. So be it, she thought to herself. He deserves it.
Speaking up, she sent Amplisa away to follow the Tauren and a few others who had headed off in the midst of the argument.
Celegil and Salabadon melted into the shadows, seemingly away, but Karael knew they would be close behind. As for herself, she stayed with the Mercenaries, listening to their words and watching them closely, in plain sight. When she knew where they meant to head, she would let the others know and be sure not to let them out of her sight.
Yelling at Moonfrost and ordering the Wolf away from Osmund and the she-wolf's wish to reaquaint herself with her old friend, Karael set off at a run, following the Company and watching in anger.

[Vaelitha Skysong]

Karael laughed. Her light, musical voice carried over the small, makeshift sparring ring, the sound of her mirth echoing around the forest that skirted it.
Crouching, a hand gripping the long, wooden stave she had thrust into the compact soil of the ring, she looked down on her cousin. The younger Kaldorei was laying flat on her back, giggling and laughing along with Karael with that carefree ease and exuberance that comes with youth.
"Come Shand, up with you', said Karael after a moment, extending her hand to help her cousin. As they stood, they embraced with obvious fondness and familiarity, Karael patting down Shandaril and brushing debris and dirt from her clothes with a wide smile.
"You know what you did wrong there, Shand. I saw it in your eyes the moment the mistake came." Karael gestured as she spoke, moving the stave in her hands. Her cousin looked on, nodding as she spoke, the picture of wide-eyed assurance in what she saw as more of an elder sister than a cousin. Karael smiled again, reaching out to clasp Shandaril's shoulder, lifted by the simple pleasure of the moment.
A voice cut through the peace and joy the two shared, sliced it sharply with shrill, shrewish tones. Karael frowned as she looked up, knowing full well what was coming.
"Karael!", called out Karmelian, giving Shandaril nothing more than a small, perfunctory glance before dismissing her neice from her focus of interest. "Why are you wasting time here teaching the brat? You need to be working hard on your own training, improving. How will you ever manage to progress to becoming a Sentinel as myself and my sister have if you do not? You are capable now, but it is not good enough. Come now, child."
Karmelian turned, fully expecting Karael to follow. She was used to being obeyed without question, and her daughter was no exception.
"Mother..", started Karael, her voice steady and firm. Only the shake in her hands belied her nervousness at facing down her mother. She gripped the stave in her hands tighter. "You cannot speak to Shandaril that way. Yes she is young, but she is not a brat to be tossed aside in that manner."
Karmelian turned, narrowing her eyes at Karael. Her voice snapped out, cold and forbidding.
"Insolent girl. I am your Mother! Who cares what the whelp is?", said Karmelian, but then paused and smiled in a more conciliatory manner as she saw Karael frown at her. Despite this, the arrogant, commanding tone was still there in her words, as always.
"Now, I have made arrangements for you to meet with some of my Sisters, they are expecting us soon. Wear that armor I bought you, you know the one. It will look most becoming, I think, and don't bother with that bow. You'll not need it here. Come, let us be away, so they may take a look at you", said Karmelian, and she moved to turn and leave once more, but as it became apparent to her that Karael was not intending to follow, she moved close to her daughter, her eyes flashing brightly and her hands finding their way to settle on her hips.
"What is this? Defying me? I put alot of effort into this, Karael, and you -will- be there with me."
Karael lifted her chin defiantly and stared her Mother down before uttering "No", firmly and clearly. Before her Mother could respond, Karael tossed the stave down at her feet and turned to stride out of the ring. The older Kaldorei was impotent with anger and shock, her pale cheeks flushing. As Karael passed Shandaril, who looked at her with amazement and awe, she smiled once, winking in assurance.
Her Mother had started to speak once more, sputtering as she finally found her voice, and she was shouting the usual. Threats, condemnations... even platitudes.
Karael ignored them all, and she stopped just outside of the ring and looked down at her well-worn bow and quiver. She stooped to take it up, and as her hand gripped the wood, and she slung the quiver onto her back, she felt centred. Reassured. In control finally.
Glancing at where her mother was still trying to order her to return, and where Shandaril looked on in bewilderment, she nodded at her cousin with a small, fond smile.
"Goodbye", she said, and walked into the forest without looking back.

[Vaelitha Skysong]

Karael sat on a verge over looking the large, still Ancients. Their old, twisted bark was thick with mosses and vines. Birds sat once more on their heads, their limbs, seeking a perch on the branches and wood. As she looked up to the sun setting, the clouds suffused with the pink glow of dusk in a stark parallel to the green miasma of the Felwood, Karael could scarcely believe what had happened moments before...

Karael wandered about, clambering over rock and earth, her bow across her back and a cloth covering her mouth and nose as a small protection to the foulness surrounding her in the fetid bogs.
She called out, her voice loud in contrast to the hush. She had lost Moonfrost. The she-wolf had ran off, chasing something, and more than a few hours had passed since Karael had sight of her. Karael slowed as she slipped down a ditch and came to a clearing. It was open, empty but for three large statues in the centre. The ground was as vile and fetid as the rest of the Wood, but the statues, immense as they were felt peaceful and serene. Karael immediately felt her anguish and pain at not finding Moonfrost diminish, and as she approached the three huge figures, unmindful of the taint clinging to her boots as she strided over, all thoughts of her companion fled.
The statues were a likeness of the Ancients, standing as if in silent vigil, firm in the earth. Their arms stretched out and they formed a circle, looking down to the ground below. Karael wandered around them, looking up in awe. She reached out and traced her fingers over the bark of one, lightly smoothing the moss and debris clinging. As she approached the centre of the circle they formed, she looked up and gasped, the breath taken from her.
The statues creaked and groaned into life. The eyes closed for countless centuries slowly opened, looking down to regard her solemnly. The limbs once stretched out for time immemorial dipped and moved, slowly and ponderously, as if testing the new-found animation. Karael stood fixed, her eyes wide with wonder. She could not move, the sight transfixed her, and when she eventually found her voice, she found herself unable to utter a word. What could she even say?
'Welcome, young one', rumbled one of the Ancients, the sound making the very ground tremble and reverberate beneath her. 'We have been waiting for you. Perhaps not exactly you, but one like you. A Hunter.'
Karael could do no more than nod. As the Ancient spoke, leaves and dirt rained down on her, and she lifted her arm to shield her face from it. The instinctive action broke her from her reverie, and she stammered a reply, tugging down the cloth wrapped about her face.
'I- ...I am at your service, oh Great Ones. Ask what you will of me, it shall be done.' Karael straightened up as she spoke, a flush blooming in her cheek now the only betrayal of her unease and surprise.
'We have felt a taint, little Sister, Hunter... it plagues and withers all it touches and must be purged. Demons! Fel creatures of pain and misery and twisted vileness in the depths. Depravity, uncleaness. Cleanse for us, Hunter. Find the Demons hiding in plain sight and reveal their nature. Cleanse the taint of their corruption. Your efforts shall not go unrewarded.'
With this, the Ancients moved and swayed, creaking in the sunlight as a ray, pure and sweet, broke through the clouds of fel uncleaness permeating the air above. The feel of it's heat on the skin was a blessing, and it shone in Karael's heart, bringing tears to her eyes as she watched the Ancients move with such grace and fluidity.
She called out, the sunlight giving her courage, and strengthening her voice. 'I shall do what you ask, I shall find the demons. Tell me where they may be found, set me on my path', Karael called up, even as the rays of sun broke, and the clouds once more cast a pallor over the marshy ground. The Ancient that had spoken to her reached down and held out a large, gnarled hand. In the middle, on the worn and lichen-covered palm was a sliver of bark, old and pertrified into an unbreakable toughness. Karael took up this bark and looked over it, reading what was written. The words were scorched on, the script as old and archaic as the Ancient's very speech.
Karael nodded as she looked at the directions on the bark. They were concise, even vague. But they were enough.
'Go alone, Hunter. Let not Kaldorei, nor any other accompany you. Let not your faithful companion run by your side. If any of the Demons see they are outnumbered, they will flee. We entrust this to you, little Sister, Hunter... do not fail us...', and with these final words, the Ancients slowed, stilled and were silent and unmoving once more. Statues in a forgotton grove.
Karael stared, as unmoving as the statues. It could hardly be believed, and yet... here was the bark, in her palm.

Karael started as she heard a howling whine, and stood as Moonfrost bounded over, her head bowed in a contrite display of remorse. Karael did not think to remonstrate the she-wolf, instead simply petting the beast, and rubbing her ears. The Elder will be able to advise me, thought Karael as she looked up again to the clouds, darkening as the night fell heavy across the blighted forest. Nodding to herself, she set off to meet at the allotted place, in the Vale across the sea.

[Vaelitha Skysong]

The wind whipped around Karael as she trudged through the snow, tugging at her cloak and chilling her to the bone.
As she approached the small cabin that had drawn her, she looked warily at the door and glanced around. The effort of checking if someone was watching was pointless. She was the only creature foolish enough to be out in the bitter snowstorm.
She lifted a shivering hand to rap on the door, but as she did so, it opened. Light and heat overwhelmed Karael and she was unable to prevent a small sound escaping her lips as she breathed a sigh of relief.
A hand beckoned her inside, and she gratefully accepted the offer of hospitality.
The hand belonged to a human. There was nothing out of the ordinary about him, except the faint aura of calm that surrounded him, and the presence of power. Since the events surrounding Eldre'thalas, Zangarmarsh and then what she had done afterwards with the Highborne Witch, Karael had become even more sensitive to this kind of power. It permeated the Human and saturated the cabin. He was obviously a mage of some sort.
Holding back a shiver, Karael pushed back the hood of her cloak and rubbed a hand over her head as she sat in the corner of the small dwelling. Her hair was only now starting to grow back. She had shorn it once she had freed herself of the wraith, the vanity she had held in her heart as she pulled the long, silky locks through her fingers had suddenly sickened her. Her mind and heart were once more her own, and she was determined to fill it with nothing but purpose and sense. There was no place for pride or conceit.
As she ran her hand one last time through the ragged, short locks, the human spoke up. He spoke Darnassian easily, the words falling smoothly off his tongue.
"What brings you out to this harsh land, Kaldorei?"
Karael shook her head sharply, not saying a word, briefly touching her hand to her mouth in an expressive gesture. Her vow of silence was not one she had taken lightly. She had committed acts of such wrong against those she counted as friends, she had vowed not to speak until she had atoned for it. The human nodded, as if understanding and he passed her a bowl full of broth. She could feel him looking at her ruined face, examining the scars that scored her cheeks and around her eyes. Where there had once been a carefully styled tattoo, there was nothing but silvery, puckered flesh.
Karael took the bowl and let the human look as she ate in silence.
She frowned and looked up at the human once more and saw him staring at her hand, as if to look through her glove. As he stared, she felt the ring on her finger grow icy. It burned cold against her flesh and as the human dragged his gaze up to her eyes, he saw the flash of anger and shame deep in them. Karael slid her hand down to the dagger cinched at her waist and he hastily held his hands up in a placating gesture.
"I felt it, that is all. I wish nothing to do with such a thing. How do you even have it, Kaldorei... and come to use it?"
The human shook his head, muttering under his breath as he breathed a prayer to the Light and retreated to his bed along the far wall of the cabin. He lay down and turned aside from Karael, and as he did, she watched him closely.

Morning came swiftly, and with it an end to the bitter storm. The human looked up from his pallet and blinked, rubbing his forehead sleepily. He stood up from his bed with a start as he recalled what had happened the night before, looking aroudn the cabin for the mysterious woman, but the cabin was empty. The Kaldorei had disappeared, and left no trace of her ever being there. The human shook his head and rubbed his eyes again, wondering if she had been a dream, after all.

[Vaelitha Skysong]

The stone was cool to the touch, and felt safe. Huddled under it, it provided a temporary respite from the chill. The snow was no longer falling as it had and the hush that had settled around Frostsaber Rock was peaceful.
Karael breathed out a sigh and circled her knees with her arms, pressing her face down, to obscure it from view. She felt him before he neared her, he exuded a latent power. He was a magic-user. Karael closed her eyes up tight, willing him to pass on and leave her in peace, let her alone, but as usual luck was not on her side. She felt the inevitable resignation wash over her as he wandered over and sat near her. He had a babe in arms and he rocked the child, cooing at it and murmuring to it for a while. Karael could feel him looking at her, but she studiously avoided his gaze. Hopefully he would take the hint and move on.
"Are you alright?" Karael heard him speak. His voice was low and pleasing to the ear, but she wasn't charmed by it. She gave a non-committal shake of her head, shrugging. Maybe he would leave if she didn't engage him in a conversation.
"Are you sure?" he said, speaking up yet again. Karael glanced at him and frowned when she finally had a look at who she thought was a Human. It wasn't. The handsome, smooth features of a Highborne looked back at her with an intense interest. Karael uncurled her legs and looked at him properly, taking in the look of his robe and the babe in his arms warily. She couldn't look away as his eyes held her own, and she felt paralyzed, saturated in memories of the highborne in Eldre'thalas. It was only with tremendous strength of mind that she was able to tear away her gaze and fix it on the footprints that he had left as he walked through the snow towards her.
He spoke up again as he looked at her. Something about her traveling far just to seek out shelter. It was clear he was expecting some sort of answer, so Karael relented and gave him one.
Pressing her hands to her lips in an expressive gesture she shook her head gently. She hoped her meaning was clear: she could not speak. He would not know why she was unable to talk, but it would be enough that he knew of it and didn't expect her to converse any more. Maybe he would finally leave.
He did not, however. He nodded in understanding. "Can you read and write?" he said, tilting his head as his gaze traveled over her face and the scars that replaced the tattoos that had once painted her cheeks.
Karael clenched her jaw in irritation, her pride pricked that he would even ask such a thing. She may look like a vagrant, even a simpleton, but it was far from being the case. She didn't try to convey any of this, instead settling on an arch of her brow and a churlish shrug.
He seemed amused by this and he waved his hand delicately in the air. Karael stilled as she felt the hum of magic resonate around them and suddenly a piece of parchment appeared, along with a rudimentary pen. The Highborne smiled and gestured to the items before leaning back and waiting. His eyes did not leave her for a moment, intent on her as he was. Clearly she intrigued him and this made her feel uncomfortable.
Karael picked up the pen and after a moment's hesitation started to write. She jotted a few lines down. Telling him she would not be writing anymore, and that her silence was by choice. A vow made till atonement was found. She wrote that if he had sense he would take the babe and leave her. She was dangerous.
He read the little note with a smile. He even chuckled a little. Karael snatched the paper and tossed it aside in anger, clenching her jaw at his folly. He would not be so dismissive if he knew what had happened, what she was capable of. What she had to carry. Her actions seemed to sober him, and he watched her yet again. Watched her hand stray involuntarily to cover the fingers of her other and squeeze tightly. He paused and offered his hand.
"Show me, " he said gently with a reassuring smile. Karael silently cursed her unconscious movement and squeezed her hand even more, wincing. She shook her head, and gave the Highborne an almost pleading look. He nodded at her, implacable and persuasive as he smiled again. "I fear nothing. I may be able to help you, Sister. Come. Show me."
Karael closed her eyes and nodded once, calmed by his words. She pulled off her glove to reveal her hand, and the Ring upon her finger. The Ring had sunk into her skin somehow. Burrowed itself in and burned even as it chilled and clung. The flesh was puckered and blue. Charred and yet frozen. As the Highborne Mage looked down upon it, Karael shuddered. An icy chill flowed through her from the Ring and it seemed to twist on her finger, seemed to sense the attention.
"Fascinating..." said the Mage as reached out to touch it...

[Vaelitha Skysong]

The wind stirred and tugged on Karael as she sat on the edge of the cliff, looking down at the gathering of Kaldorei below. She had been sent away, but she was determined to watch them leave safely all the same. She did not think they noticed her. They were already preparing to leave the outskirts of the goblin encampment.
Karael nibbled her lip as her gaze drifted over them all. The saw first the two druids, looking into the swamp. Nomani, she recalled, was the name of one, and Ashunera. The latter had been kind to her, though she had heard the tale of her deeds and betrayal. Karael shook her head a little. She did not know how to react to it. Fenrina was there still, though she was saying goodbye, it seemed. Karael frowned slightly as she looked down at the new follower. She had somehow stoked a dislike and ire in Fenrina, but for the life if her she did not know why. Perhaps it was for the best, she did not want to make friends, not with her, not with anyone. Karael's intense regard moved on, settling on Caranir and Deliaris. Del had yet again done something to embarrass her Shan'do. Karael fought back a little smile of amusement at the signs of Caranir's reproof and instead fixed a frown back on her brow. Deliaris did not appreciate how lucky she was.
She continued to stare at Caranir until Aldrannath walked infront of the Warder, obsuring her view. Karael flushed in remember upset as she watched the old Elder articulate to the others, gesturing to the little human and her deplorable ward. The cat slunk into view and Karael averted her eyes at the horrific thing. The humiliation she felt at her dismissal was fading. Aldrannath was wise, and knew what would be best. She was weak, he knew that. She could not be trusted. The thought of this made her scars itch and she reached up to rub at them, lost in her musings.
Aldrannath had fallen to his knees, she saw as she finally looked back, and leaning forward, she squinted to see what this was about. She smiled as she saw the priestess, Vaelitha, and shrugged to herself. She could not understand Aldrannath's constant scraping to her. She was just a priestess.
Suddenly, Karael tensed as she caught a scent on the air. She swung round on her knee to see what had come up behind her when she was struck hard on the temple. As she fell backwards and slipped on the gravel and loose earth of the mountain, she only had time to look up at a face leering down at her. The sky tumbled away from her and all went black.

[Vaelitha Skysong]

The pain was there, gripping her and moving through her. Constant, like an incessant buzzing. She tried to put it aside and ignore it, but it was becoming difficult. She did not know how much longer she could take of the torment.
It had been a little while since the orcs had left her last. They had laughed and croaked in their infernal speech, no doubt mocking her as she lay broken before them. Their warlocks had cast spells of control, trying to sift through her mind, but she had held them off. Much stronger than them had once broken her thoughts and controlled her, and she had broken free of them. They would not have her that way. But the pain, oh... it was unbearable.
Knives slicing her flesh, digging in and twisting. Gouging. Screams echoing around her head in the wake of blistering heat, smoldering flesh. The screams were hers. The flesh burned and blistered hers. They tortured her for sport foremost. For information second.
She had held out for this long, though. Not for much longer, and as she heard steps closing in on the little cave where she had been dumped in pools of her own blood, she begged Elune for death. She could not endure much longer. As the footfalls drew closer and closer, she weeped and closed her eyes.

Shandaril tugged on her shoulder laughing and smiling with delight. She was holding up the neat little pendant Karael had bought her, letting it flash in the moonlight as her cousin looked on. Moonfrost bounced around the laughing girl and yipped in shared joy. Karael looked on and shared the mirth, feeling the happiness of her cousin's pleasure wash over her and soothe her. She called Moonfrost over and hugged the she-wolf tightly, and after a moment, Shandaril joined them both.
"I love you, dearest Cousin", whispered Shandaril into Karael's ear. Karael smiled and looked up into her cousin's eyes...

...and saw someone new, someone different. Kaldorei, but not her beloved Shand. Shand had died in Auberdine... it must have been a dream. The newcomer was wrapping her wounds and binding them tight, pulling her upright. She spoke with strength and purpose. "Come on, Sister... up with you. We must leave. Can you walk?"
Karael nodded painfully at her rescuer and leant on her heavily, moving at a shuffle.
"Who are you, how did you find me?", she asked, her voice barely a murmur as she fought to speak through her swollen, abused lips. Her saviour smiled briefly and tightened her grip around Karael's waist.
"Kaylaneh Nightwind. Do not worry about that now, let us get you out of this cesspit." Kayla urged Karael on gently.
Her prayers had been answered. Not with her death, but with another chance at life.