While I was in the neighborhood, I killed some of the WoD mobs I’d never tried to solo before. At 120 it wasn’t exactly hard, but Fahradion killed Drov the Ruiner and then grabbed the mount from Garn Nighthowl.
The air hurt to breathe here; coarse sand whipped up by a ceaseless wind which carved the imposing rock formations, mixed with the soot of volcanic ash from nearby fissures. So dry, so hot, the land itself choked the very life out of anything that dare tread in such a desolate place.
Grakkar drew in a deep breath, and sighed; he was home again.
“We made it… I can’t believe it.” he said, tone a mixture of excitement and lamenting.
He gripped his axe handle tightly, holding it now at his side as he looked around the remains of his former home. The portal had deposited the pair on the outskirts of the last Mag’har settlement in the region; Hellsreach Citadel, nestled in the shadow of the towering Blackrock Foundry. It was laid low since Grakkar had last been there - the Lightbound and their Draenei overlords must have razed what remained of the Mag’har presence there. It made Grakkar grunt aggressively, to think how blind those Draenei and his Lightbound kin were. They’d spit on the Ancestors, if they could - nothing but their precious Light was sacred to them!
“... The final conflict happened at Beastwatch, south of here.” he told his Nightborne partner. “And beyond that, Shattrath.”
Grakkar turned to Aelissah, looking her over to ensure she was alright. He expected she was; portals were something her people used often, right? He nodded, eagerly, ready to go! Ready to save his beloved Sinafay!
Or die trying.
Aelissah was well used to portals. The arid air and harsh wasteland… not so much. The very air burned her airways at every breath! She squinted at their surroundings, eyes drawn to the hideous looking foundry. What kind of savage creature conceptualized that sort of structure? Who could even live out here?
Her hand instinctively moved to her pocket, making certain the item that would assure their way home was still there. With a relieved sigh, she brought her hood up over her head and pulled the collar of her tunic up over her mouth and nose.
“I hope our travels take us somewhere more pleasant,” she couldn’t help but comment.
Grakkar chuffed, shaking his head.
“More pleasant for you to look at, perhaps.” he retorted. “But much more dangerous. The closer to Shattrath we get, the more Draenei there’ll be.”
He started south, taking the worn, familiar path south from Hellsreach towards the site of the Mag’har’s final stand… and the last place he saw Sinafay.
“You’ve encountered the Light, yeah?” he asked, as they walked. “They have it on Azeroth, too. I’ve seen it used, even by the Horde’s allies. But… not like these Draenei use it. They’re zealots - no question.”
His voice grew more grisly and disgruntled as he spoke of the Draenei; his distaste for them more than evident.
“We were allies, once. I think I told you. After the Alliance and Horde came to help us vanquish the Legion, we had a period of peace. But their blind faith in the Light ended that quickly.” he went on, as the pair crested the overlook to the flat canyon of Beastwatch. “Peace wasn’t enough for them. They wanted adherence to their single-faceted faith, uncaring of anything else. The Ancestors, the elements, not even your Arcane. Nothing but the Light is sacred to these oppressive monsters.”
He stopped at the overlook… standing in the last place he and his people stood before being whisked away to Azeroth. The Beastwatch was eerily quiet, still… and littered with bodies of Orcs and Draenei alike. Grakkar remembered the battle well enough, short as it was. He even saw a few corpses of Draenei and Lightbound Orcs he’d cut down, now being feasted on by buzzards. He searched the fields for a sign of Sinafay - Circadia said she was still alive, but Grakkar couldn’t help but worry he’d walk by her corpse without noticing…
“... This is what the Light brought upon my people, Lissah.” he scowled. “Death and pain.”
Aelissah’s ears flickered as she walked alongside Grakkar, indicating her attentiveness to his words. She’d encountered the Light, of course. The Blood Knights within the Guard has utilized it on more than one occasion, both to smite their enemies and to heal. She frowned, remembering the disastrous effects it had when mixed with the Void. She couldn’t deny the Light had its uses, but to claim it as the one true power source seemed foolish.
“My own people are example enough what a dependency on a single power source can do,” she said solemnly, “It is foolish to claim the Light as the only path one must follow.”
The smell hit her before the sight… the field of decomposing bodies, Draenei and Orcs alike. No one had bothered to dispose of the bodies?! It made her feel sick to her stomach, and she had to swallow down bile that rose in her her throat as she turned away,
“Let us not linger in this place,” she said, looking up at the sky for a change of scenery, noting the two moons,“Where do the elves reside on this world?”
“No elves.” Grakkar replied simply, as he carried on south… through the field of bodies. “The only sentient races native to Draenor are we Orcs, the Ogres, and the Aarakoa much further to the south. The Draenei are said to be from another planet altogether… forced from their homeworld because they wouldn't cave to an oppressive power.”
The orc scoffed, glancing back to Aelissah.
“Sounds familiar, yeah?”
The fields seemed to go on forever, even to Grakkar. He still scanned every face, praying to the Ancestors Sinafay's wasn't among them. His heart nearly stopped, seeing one or two faces that looked like her at a glance. He shook it off, clinging to Circadia's prophecy as it echoed in his mind.
‘She is alive.’
He truly hoped so.
“I'm sorry… that I wasn't entirely honest with you.” he changed the subject, as the pair passed by the last of the sun-baked corpses. “I worried you would find my motives selfish if you knew she was my love. She really did make the sacrifice to allow our people to escape, though. That much was true.”
Grakkar frowned at the memory, just as painful now as it was then. His helplessness to save her… it gnawed at him. He shook his head, slowing his pace so Aelissah could walk beside him - now that they weren't navigating through a sea of bodies. He turned to face her, and sighed.
“... But I suppose it's selfish nonetheless, yeah? Were she not my love, I would merely honor the memory of her glorious death.” he admitted. “I want to save her, though. I've lost a lot in my life, Lissah. I can't lose her, too.”
His thoughts flashed back, briefly, to Aelissah's home, and the pictures on the wall. Specifically, the one of her beside another elf. A male… probably. If not, a significant person in her life, nonetheless. He nodded slowly to the Nightborne.
“... You understand, don't you?” he asked… though he felt he already knew the answer to that question.
Aelissah’s ears wilted, her fingers instinctively reaching to brush a gloved hand, a ring on her finger hidden beneath the fabric. She understood all too well the plight Grakkar was in. She may not have had to deal with alternate universes and complicated time streams, but she knew the feeling of being separated from one’s love, and desperately wanting to be reunited with them.
“When my people’s leaders decided to strike a deal with the Burning Legion, some of us fought against it. My husband was part of a failed resistance movement.”
She frowned heavily as she walked alongside Grakkar. To her relief, patches of greenery became more frequent as they traveled south. It was good to finally see something living in this wasteland.
“As far as we knew, they had all been killed in the attempt. In his memory, I secretly continued to work as an informant and assassin for a small remaining pocket resistance. Over time, most of us lost hope… Until a little over a year ago, when we discovered First Arcanist Thalyssra still lived. The Dusklily Revolution was formed. With renewed hope and the help of the Horde, it was a success. The Burning Legion and corrupted officials were eliminated and our city reclaimed.”
She paused, for a moment, debating on adding the next part, “When I learned of survivors withering away outside the city, I searched for my husband.” She shook her head, “By the time I found him, he was too far gone. I had no choice but to end his suffering…”
Grakkar grunted, after a solemn silence during Aelissah’s tale. He frowned deeply, brow furrowed - to make such a choice… to lay a loved one to rest by your own hand… he gained newfound respect for the Nightborne’s strength. He wondered, if it came to it, if he could possibly do the same. His thoughts turned to Neela, his first mate, and their meeting on the battlefield. True to his Clan, he sided with the Iron Horde in their objective to conquer Draenor and Azeroth both. But Neela, a Frostwolf, stuck with her clan and resisted. He couldn’t cut her down then, out on the battlefield. Could he have, if she were so far gone, like Aelissah’s husband…?
“Tragic.” he grunted, sincerity in the word. “No one should have to put an end to a loved one’s suffering like that. My condolences, Lissah.”
He reached over, briefly patting the elf’s shoulder - mindful of the significant size difference between them. She wasn’t as sturdy-looking as others he’d encounter - including other elves - so a light tap was enough to convey his support without knocking her over.
“You honor him, though. A fighter for your people, rebuilding what was lost.” he added, with a firm nod. “He would be proud, yeah?”
“Thank you,” she managed a smile, looking over to meet his gaze, “I like to think that I do.”
She let out a sigh, before rolling her shoulders back, keeping her composure. It wouldn’t do well for her to dwell on her loss during this mission. This wasn’t about her. This was about Grakkar, and making certain his quest to save his mate would be a success.
“I knew when I agreed to this journey, that it was your love we were rescuing from the start. Your words did not trick me. No one travels through time and space, into the face of certain death, for a good friend.” She chuckled, giving him an amused glance, “If your choice to do this feels selfish, then I am selfish along with you. Your plight connected with me. It was as though I was looking at my past self. I want to save Sinafay. I want to see the two of you reunited.”
She let out another sigh, “I could not have my happy ending. You should have yours.”
“Heh,” the orc chuckled. “I guess I thought you'd chalk it up to a cultural difference, yeah? But it seems love is too universal to fool you…”
Grakkar nodded appreciatively to Aelissah, as the continued on into the Talador Pass. He was grateful she understood, though sorry she had learned such understanding from personal experience. That she was willing to continue on with him, knowing from the beginning, made him all the more grateful he'd met her in Stormsong. Ancestors only knew if he would've met anyone else who would not only understand as she did, but had a means to help like Aelissah did, as well. Clearly, the Ancestors smiled on him.
Despite…
His friendly smile faded, as he looked out at the mouth of the pass. It was… quiet. Much too quiet for comfort. This place was dangerous, because sightings of strong Draenei presence were constant - he had seen it himself in days past. To come upon it now, empty and still… he didn't like it.
“Be wary.” he said lowly, stepping off the beaten path. “This pass shouldn't be so peaceful…”
Aelissah drew her daggers and silently padded off the path and into the foliage. She was silent as her eyes darted around the area, noting the different hiding places a sniper might be located. If this was a regularly patrolled area, as Grakkar mentioned, then no soldiers meant traps. They would have to watch out for those as well.
She glanced to him, signalling to him that she would follow his lead. He knew these lands and their enemies better than she did. He had the best chance at spotting trouble before she did.
Part of her wondered if there were no guards simply because there was no Orcish threat to worry about coming from this direction… She didn’t speak that out loud, however. Pessimism wouldn’t help anyone.
Silently, Grakkar advanced into the pass. He kept off the beaten path, progressing through into Talador, itself. This region was now the heart of the Draenei empire; it shouldn't have been so unguarded, even with the Orcs having vacated. Dangers of all sorts still lingered in Gorgrond…
Noise from up ahead caught his attention. He signalled silently to Aelissah that he was advancing, before cresting the small overlook. The ground shook, and a mighty roar pierced the air at a distance. Draenic shouting followed, as Grakkar made his way around the canyon bend. Then, he saw it; the Draenei locked in a vicious battle with a wandering Gronn - a full grown adult, as big as a building itself! There must have been a measly six or seven of them, desperately holding their ground against the behemoth invader. The orc stopped, kneeling down before signaling his hidden partner to join him.
“Great,” he sighed, observing the battle. “That gronn's attracting unwanted attention here. More Draenei will show up at any moment to deal with it.”
He frowned deeply, assessing the scene. On one hand, it would be easy enough to sneak through with the Draenei distracted by the imminent threat. But on the other, the road further in was likely crawling with Draenei defenders on their way to assist. This was both fortunate, and unfortunate at the same time. Grakkar motioned to the right, where the canyon opened up into more gentle greenery. If they could get there without being spotted, they had a good chance of avoiding the fight altogether.
“We make for the foliage.” he suggested. “On my signal. Be mindful - more Draenei will be coming from the road nearby.”
Axe in hand, Grakkar stood once more. He hunched low, watching the scene for their opportunity. It didn't help they were behind the Gronn, with Draenei eyes looking their way. Their timing had to be just right…
“--Veni tiros!” a Draenei called out!
The Gronn’s rampage hit its fevered pitch; the monstrous beast leapt up in the air, and began to slam the ground repeatedly with its huge calloused hands. The ground shook, shook, and stray rocks began to fall from the cliffside. The Draenei defenders started to scatter!
“--Now!”
Grakkar seized the moment, and rushed for the foliage in the cover of the dust and chaos. Just in time, too - as a boulder crashed down where he was crouched! The pair weren't safe from the Gronn's tantrum, even at this distance!
Aelissah moved as Grakkar moved, somewhat in awe at the monster. It somewhat resembled an ettin, except broader and having only one eye. She’d have to ask her partner what it was once they got to safety. It didn’t really matter what it was at the moment anyway. Right now, it was the perfect distraction.
The dust and debris made it difficult to keep Grakkar in her sight. The ground shook under the monster’s tantrum, causing her to miss her footing and fall to the ground. Large falling rocks bruised her form, but didn’t keep her down. She’d lost track of Grakkar, but continued to move in the direction he’d been heading.
She didn’t quite make it, bumping into a larger form in the dusty air. A Draenei! It peered at her with a look of confusion. While they had seen elves back when the dark portal was open 50 years ago, Lissah’s colouring was starkly different. Thankfully, she recovered from the shock first, throwing dirt in his golden eyes and striking out with her dagger. She caught him in the throat, silencing any call for help he might have attempted to utter. She didn’t wait to see if her strike had been fatal. She was on the move again in an attempt to find Grakkar.
It was as Grakkar feared - horrible timing! The pair rushed into the Draenei reinforcements, shrouded by the dust and debris on their way to help deal with the gronn! The Orc encountered a pair of them, wholly unprepared to see an Orc, of all things, emerge from the dust! Grakkar let out a battle shout - no need to be subtle now - before swinging his axe laterally neck-level with the nearest of the two. His head was carved clean off his shoulders, a look of confusion and fear frozen to his lifeless face. The other Draenei, however, retaliated quickly against the familiar foe. Grakkar was slammed hard by a crystalline hammer, which sent him off balance back into the dust cloud. Barely keeping hold of his axe, Grakkar shambled back to his feet, snarling at the silhouette of the Draenei before him.
The gronn’s tantrum kept up for another moment or two - the Draenei who earned its ire unable to get free from the monster’s rampage. A couple were smashed under the gronn’s hand… thankfully, it seemed that group had their hands full.
The other Draenei rushed at Grakkar, shouting in Draenic to try and rally his allies! Grakkar parried the hammerswing with a ferocious grunt, before following up with a strike of his own. He clipped the Draenei’s leg, forcing him to a kneel. Pressing the attack, Grakkar kicked the Draenei over, and finished him off with a swift downward strike!
“Lissah!” Grakkar called out through the dust. “They’re upon us! Make for the trees!”
He turned to make for the foliage, making it into the cover of the underbrush. He took a moment to survey the scene, looking both for Aelissah and any more encroaching Draenei reinforcements - those two couldn’t have been the only ones…
For a moment, Aelissah considered making her presence known to the other Draenei and give Grakkar a chance to get away unnoticed. Then, she thought better of it. She didn’t know these lands: This planet. The two getting separated, no matter for how short a time, could prove to be a fatal mistake.
She remained low to the ground, her leathers thankfully blending in well with the dust in the air, allowing her to move easily unseen. She went into the direction she heard Grakkar’s voice, managing to make her way to the foliage without attracting anymore attention to herself.
Just in time, as the gronn set itself into another tantrum. Lissah remained seated on the ground, pressing her back against the tree for support. They had to get away from the area, but she didn’t want to move without Grakkar. Her ears flickered, attempting to pick up any sound over the battle between gronn and Draenei.
Another Draenei stumbled upon the Orc - he wasn’t exactly hiding, between shouting and slaying the oppressors that stood between him and Shattrath. They came to blows immediately, grappling as their weapons locked. Grakkar let loose a piercing roar, as he began to overpower the Draenei. Snarling and baring his fangs, the sight of the Warsong warrior was clearly far too intimidating for the single Draenei to handle! He staggered back, and turn to run away!
“Coward! Face me!” Grakkar shouted, lunging forth and catching the fleeing Draenei by his tail.
He yanked hard, bringing his foe back and to the ground, before quickly finishing him off by caving in his skull from behind. He jumped up immediately, prepared to face any others who may have made their way up the path. To his disappointment, there were none. Grakkar looked back at the gronn, still rampaging and slamming the ground with fervor. He retained his footing well enough, far as he’d charged from the scene. He looked again for any signs of Aelissah - a futile exercise, of course. He knew well enough that if Aelissah didn’t want to be seen, she wouldn’t be. With a grunt, he headed deeper into the foliage, and dipped down low. The fighting was over, for now. He watched from his hiding place among the roots and brush, hoping to see Aelissah. He couldn’t leave without her - they were partners! She was on an alien world, unfamiliar to her.
Besides, she was his only way back.
Aelissah’s ears swiveled towards the sound of someone… or something, moving through the foliage to her right. It wasn’t obvious, and would most likely be missed by a regular person, but the elf had a keen sense of hearing.
Her eyes narrowed and she gripped her daggers tightly. Pushing herself off the tree, she kept low as she silently stalked through the brush. Her ears continued to twitch as they listened carefully for anything else. She froze as the sound stopped.
Grakkar had told her to make for the foliage. She’d heard him fighting… had he made it to safety? Or was she being hunted by something else? She took a chance at the former.
“Grakkar?” She hissed, keeping her voice at a whisper.
Grakkar turned quickly to the voice whispering his name. Could it be…? Sinafay? --No, that’s ridiculous. It was obviously Aelissah. His eyes focused on the Nightborne, as she called attention to herself. He surely glanced over her once or twice, her drab leathers blending her into the backdrop. But now, focused on her eyes as they fell over him, she really wasn’t that far from him. With a grunt, he nodded and approached - keeping low, as not to attract any more Draenei eyes.
“That wasn’t so bad…” he smirked. “I got all three that saw me. One shouted, but… I think the others were too distracted with the gronn to notice. We should be clear...”
He took another careful look around, for any movement in the trees - in case he was wrong. It looked safe… for the moment. He motioned further into the treeline, due south, then nodded to Aelissah once more.
“Let’s press. Keep low and out of sight.”
The sounds of the battle grew faint the further south and into the trees they ventured. The foliage changed as they progressed, from a thick, humid, and green, to vibrant reds and oranges. The hike lasted several silent minutes - Grakkar kept quiet, watchful, in case they stumbled upon any more threats. So far, so good.
The sun dipped lower as the remainder of the day grew short. The trees began to thin out as they descended down a hilly slope, until finally, the two reached a clearing. The western, right-hand side opened up into a bay - on the other side, illuminating the evening sky, sat the shimmering city of Shattrath. Grakkar frowned, expression a mixture of disgust and determination. He grunted, and motioned out to the brilliant display.
“That’s it.” he told Aelissah. “That’s Shattrath. We’ve reached the Orunai Coast - well into Draenei territory, now.”
Aelissah couldn’t help but stare at the lovely scenery the trees of Talador offered. The bright orange colors of the leaves were so vibrant and different than the world. Clearly, she enjoys the area much more that the desolate wasteland they’d arrived in. She had to keep reminding herself they were in enemy territory. She wasn’t a tourist out here, she was on a mission!
Her partner led them well. They hadn’t attracted any attention since they’d left the pass. Clearly, he knew the area well!
Her jaw dropped, however, as the bay and the sight of the magnificent city came into view. She gasped, and couldn’t help but stand there, frozen in place as the admired the Draenei capital.
“It… it is beautiful,” she breathed, before clearing her throat, “I assume it is well guarded. What is your plan to get in? Where do we start?”
Grakkar was silent for a moment, as he scowled at the city across the bay. He had been there once before, helping pick up the shattered pieces with his first mate, Neela - atonement for his siding with the Iron Horde, he helped them rebuild their harbor, gardens, and residential areas. None but Draenei themselves were allowed in the city center, though. That, he figured, was where they would have Sinafay locked away.
“... I know the city only so well. The outer areas. But I suspect Sinafay will be held in the inner city, beneath that shimmering dome.” he told Aelissah, pointing off to the city center. “We’ll be going in blind.”
The Orc sighed, looking to the Nightborne pensively. Truth was, he didn’t have much of a plan. It was hard to plan something like this; something so seemingly impossible. But they’d come this far… further than he imagined he could when he first arrived on Azeroth. They made it here, to the outskirts of Shattrath… where Sinafay was being held captive. But alive…
“... There is…” Grakkar paused, grunting. “... there is more you should know.”
Aelissah’s ears flickered, and she took her eyes off the Draenei city capital to look at Grakkar as he spoke. Her expression was hard to read, especially with her face partially masked away. Something in her stare, however, and the way her ears twitched, showed that she wasn’t all too pleased with their current predicament.
And then, he announced that there was something else?
The Nightborne moved away from the ledge, looking over the bay. She leaned back against the tree and stared at the orc. She was curious on what else could make their predicament worse.
“Go on.”
The Orc hesitated. It burned inside, not being completely up front about all this. He didn't pay it much thought, until Circadia brought up the additional detail of Sinafay being his mate. The moment of panic haunted him, making him realize the controversy of two Horde operatives going to save a Draenei.
But Sinafay was different than these other Draenei. She had honor. Grakkar eyed Aelissah, wondering… would she understand that? She would understand love, at least. He was certain of it from her story about her husband's fate.
“... We do not choose who we fall in love with, yeah?” he finally spoke, eyes meeting Aelissah's. “Sinafay and I worked together for a great many years before we fell in love. Together, we resisted the Draenei zealots, and worked to make sure Lightbound Orcs who had the sense to escape their enslavement had an avenue to safety.”
He nodded, shoulders back - he was proud of what they had accomplished.
“Something like that… would not be possible without someone on the inside, yeah? Like you, and your Dusklily Revolution.” he went on. “That is how we were able to free so many of my people. We had someone who could move freely through Draenei territory…”
Grakkar grunted, and shook his head - beating around the bush like this didn't sit well with him. He already felt deceitful enough as it was! No ambiguity, it was time to come clean. He cleared his throat, expression growing resolute.
“Sinafay is a Draenei, Lissah.” he stated, firmly. “I know Draenei, generally, are enemies - both here, and on Azeroth. But Sinafay resisted these oppressors, helped free scores of my people… and risked her life to give us a chance to escape to Azeroth.”
He nodded, gaze keeping level with Aelissah's as he watched for her reaction.
“She is exceptional.”
Aelissah’s right brow twitched at the revelation. It was the only indication for some time that she’d actually registered his words fully. So many thoughts were swirling through her head, so many replies she could give, but if she attempted, they would only come out jumbled.
She brought a finger up, indicating that she needed a minute, before beginning to pace, arms crossed over her chest. Her frustration was obvious in the frantic pace, the way her ears flickered, the deep frown on her features. Occasionally, she’d chuckle and give her head a shake, unable to believe that she was in this mess all because her orc friend fancied a member of the enemy faction. Not just an enemy on this world… but an enemy on Azeroth as well. Rescuing Sinafay meant they were bring an Alliance fighter back to Azeroth! They were committing treason!
She finally stopped pacing to face him, opening up her mouth to reply.
“Well… you are correct!” She couldn’t help but exclaim, “Exceptional… good word!”
She went back to pacing, but there was still much to say, “Y-you...heh. This could not be mentioned -before- we stepped through the portal of no return?”
She was suddenly very happy that SHE held the key to get back, and not Grakkar. In fact, she had a mind to leave him stranded right now for the situation he put her in! She frowned again. No… she wouldn’t do that…
“Circadia, you bitch.” She growled, realizing her friend probably knew of this long before she formed the portal. She chose not to tell Aelissah. Why? Did this Draenei play an important role in the battles to come. Would she be a useful informant to the Horde as she was for Grakkar’s people?
She sighed, hanging her head in defeat. She was angry. She was hurt. But they had already come so far.
“I hope…” she growled, “You or Circadia have a good plan as to how to bring her back to Azeroth without branding us all as traitors to the Horde.”
Elves were such quirky, twitchy creatures, Grakkar couldn’t help but think to himself. He watched how expressive Aelissah was - it almost made it so he could hear what she was thinking. None of it good… he expected that. His hesitancy to tell her seemed validated in that moment. He wasn’t happy about keeping it from her in the first place, but he couldn’t help but feel relieved at telling her now - despite the poor reception of the news.
“--I know… it was wrong of me to wait until now to tell you. Dishonorable, even. I’m… ashamed of myself.” Grakkar admitted, shoulders slumping. “You’ve helped me immensely so far, Lissah. I can never repay you for what you’ve done already. I understand if you don’t wish to risk your life any further… for an enemy.”
He rolled his shoulders, as he sheathed his axe. Grakkar turned back to the city, looking it over as the sun sank down further beyond the horizon. Shattrath was so bright, however, it was hard to tell night had fallen. Still, it was as good a time as any for infiltration - if this was going to happen, it needed to happen now. With a grunt, he nodded.
“I’ll go in alone.” he declared. “Give me until sunrise to find Sinafay and bring her back. If we don’t return by then… use that trinket Circadia gave you, and go back to Azeroth yourself, alright?”
The Orc shook his head, before looking back to Aelissah.
“I love Sinafay too much to let her suffer here. If I can’t spare her this fate… I’ll join her in it.”
Aelissah thinned her lips, hand moving over the pocket she’d safely stored to pocket watch away in. She could never understand the attraction some had for other races. She knew some of her own people had branched off to do the same. Her nose scrunched up at the thought. Disgusting.
To each their own. Still, Grakkar undoubtedly demonstrated his loved and trust towards this particular Draenei by coming all the way out here and risking it all for her. Even now, he was willing to finish the mission alone… to the risk of being left behind. It was admirable.
“Grakkar… wait,” she said as he turned to leave, “I cannot allow you to do this alone. I am upset, not heartless. I will not abandon you in the middle of this journey, my friend.”
She reached into a pouch, and pulled out a pair of crystals, handing one to Grakkar.
“Take this. These crystals hold an enchantment that have the ability to disguise us as one of their own. When the time comes, we will have to silently take out two guards, scan them with the crystal, and we will take on their appearance for one hour. Since the inner city is the most guarded, it is best if we activate them there. It will allow us to move about more freely.”
Grakkar’s hardened, determined expression softened some, as he reached out to take the crystal from Aelissah. Rather than pluck it from her hand, he took hold of hers - a rare moment of friendly physical contact. He gently gave her hand a light squeeze, as his eyes met hers.
“... Thank you.” he offered his gratitude, sincerely. “Truly. I vow on my honor - what’s left of it - that I will make this up to you somehow. Starting with ensuring you are not branded a traitor for this when we return. If that’s an issue when we return, I will claim full responsibility. You had no idea.”
As he finished speaking, he offered Aelissah a hopeful smile, squeezing her hand once more before he drew the crystal from it. He examined the stone, curiously - ‘fascinating’ he thought to himself. He remembered hearing something about the Nightborne and their knack for creating - and discerning - illusions. The Orc nodded once to Aelissah, as he slipped the crystal away in his pocket for later.
“Let’s get inside.” Grakkar grunted, wearing his purposeful expression once more. “We have a couple guards to impersonate, yeah? It’d be rude to keep them waiting…”
He flashed a brief smirk, as he turned back towards Shattrath. He took a deep breath, exhaling slowly, before descending the hill. This was it - no turning back now! His heart beat faster, from excitement and fear both for the prospect of seeing his beloved Sinafay once again. Excitement to hold her in his arms again… fear for what sort of condition they might find her in.
If they find her…
~*~
((Co-written with @kidcatgemini / @aelissah / @sinafay-of-draenor ))
“Do not be fooled by the beautiful vegetation of Everbloom Wilds, so fast it attracts your eyes as quickly devours you ... Draenor remains an ancestral, brutal and wild world.” _from Anubaranco’s travel notes
This is a part of my adventure through the World of Warcraft scenario… see my other daily sketches here:
TWITTER INSTAGRAM
#project hail mary
#cats on tumblr
#f1
