#HE'S A TROLL FER CRYING OUT LOUD

[nemospecific]

I hope Buoy gets a shout out when the Quangle comes to Climate Pledge arena.

[chemicalmongrel]

Out in the frigid tundra, a blizzard raged across an immense expanse of ice and sleet gripping the rock, soil and conifer trees in an icy chokehold. Wind whipped across the mounds of snow along the banks of a frozen river once responsible for dividing the immense forested side of a mountain range down the middle. It tore over the ridgelines of said mountainous terrain, shrieking in a way that could only be described as ethereal. But while intense vision-obscuring weather was no stranger to the Freljord--this natural phenomena was particularly nasty.  Even still, though, the pelt-bound Freljordians trodded through the white powder that came up to their mid-calves.  “Frode!” called the one taking up the rear, yelling over the scream of the wind. “We’ve been chasin’ this fool’s errand’a yours fer three moons now! We’re all gunna freeze ta death at this rate!”  Spearheading the expedition, Frodge stopped for but a moment to throw his voice back over his shoulder in response to the naysayer. “If ya can’t handle a wee bit’a cold, then turn back Arne! I ain’t givin’ in, not with what was promised ta us!”  “Us? What ‘us!’ Ya ain’t even told us who in the name’a Annivia is promisin’ so much we oughta risk our lives doin’ their bloody to-do list!”  Murmurs of dissent disseminated among those present for the argument, of which none fell on deaf ears.  Frode gritted his teeth and about-faced, really stopping in his tracks for the first time since they set out on the journey. A gale whipped past him, throwing the matted mess of hair hanging from the back of his head in thick braided ropes to billow past his shoulders. The edges of his beard were coated in a layer of frost, just like the countless furs overlapping one another. Fierce eyes narrowed down the slope they’d been ascending the last hour at the uncertain and naysayers.  “Told ya all w’at ya needed ta know! Soothsayers I found said ta get what they needed ta help our village! Ya all know we aint gunna last any longer in this winter! Is the only way!”  One of the men piped up, “But there’s nothin’ out here save fer snow, snow ‘n more snow!”  “Yeah!” Several others cried.  Frode looked from the initial voice to the two that joined in the same sentiment as Arne, face a mask of mounting anger.  “Cause we’re not there yet, fools!”  “But we’re runnin’ low on rations, ‘n the snow’s eatin right through our furs now! We can’ barely make it back from ‘ere, let alone wherever this thing a yers is!” shouted Arne.  “He’s right!”  “’n we’ve seen no animals ta hunt ‘round here since we reached this neck of the journey, we gotta turn back!”  Frode’s nostrils flared as his hands balled up into fists, knuckles whitening from the sheer tension.  “IF YA ARE SO SOFT, THEN TURN BACK WITH ARNE!” he hollered, cheeks burning. “THE ELDER LEFT ME IN CHARGE OF PROTECTIN’ THE VILLAGE, ‘N THIS IS HOW WE DO IT! GO BACK IF YA WANT, BUT KNOW YA GAVE UP ON-”  Suddenly, the crunch of snow reached the arguing band’s attention.  In an instant, whatever confrontation that’d been building up between Frode and the uncertain was pushed to the backburner. Their weapons were drawn without hesitation. Arrows were knocked, shields raised and blades brandished as they scanned their surroundings for whatever begot the interruption. Bit by bit, they began moving in towards one another to form a defensive circle. However, the flurry of ice and sleet hailing down upon them made seeing more than five feet impossible.  “Great... jus’ great...”  “Shut it Arne-!”  “Yer yellin’ attracted some beastie...”  “I said--quiet!”  “...gunna die cold and-”  “I said-!!”  A scream silenced them as everyone whipped around just in time to watch one of the stockier tribesmen got dragged off by the leg into the veil of snow. Some immense shadow disappeared along with him, the one responsible for whisking the man away. And just as soon as he’d started crying bloody murder, the shriek of the wind and ice drowned all in quiet.  “By Lissandra’s- FORM A WA-”  But there was no time to bark orders, for another two who’d backpedaled from where the first was dragged off got yanked back into the curtain of weather with loud shouts, both of which cut out abruptly. They spun about to try and face where the attack came from, but the sound of a screeching star from behind kept them guessing.  A flash of purplish-blue tinted orange and red pastels of light streaked out from beyond the five-foot limitation of sight, colliding with one of the hunters. They screamed at the burning sensation of raw starlight. But this, too, was cut short as the light drew in an armored form like a missile. Platinum blonde hair trailing down past ample hips whipped behind the form as she crashed into the man with a loud crack.  The body crumpled to the floor as she swiveled to position the shield responsible for the impact between herself and the rest of the group. Plates of star-touched metal expanded to fully cover her form as an orange-violet glow emanated from the nooks and crannies of the protective tower mounted to her arm.  A light like the sun radiated off her form, blinding the majority of the men remaining.  Even still, though, two more of the seven remaining tribesmen charged blindly at her. They did not hear the gradual clicking of the very shield responsible for laying out their friend. Nor did they notice how the light shining from the woman’s shield grew in intensity bit by bit until something gave. Before it did, though, she lurched forward to slam the same instrument against the two brawny warriors, dazing them from the sheer force of the impact. At which point, the energy welling up inside of the woman, her armor and shield released in a blooming wall of force and superheated gas.  They were sent sprawling onto their back, smoke wafting off the singed layers of furs covering their body.  “WHY YOU-!” cried Arne.  He came up from behind the woman with twin hand axes drawn, ready to bury them into her skull for seemingly frying his kinsmen. But she was far faster than he, spinning around to knock the hafts clutched in his hands with the searing length of star-kissed metal forming her sword’s blade.  The man gasped and stepped back, loosing hold of his weapons, as he hollered out in pain--for even a momentary touch of such material was enough to scald stone. Before he could react further, however, the woman lunged forward anew to crack Arne in the face with the pommel of her longsword--knocking him out cold as well.  In no time at all, Frode was down to only three of the original ten warriors he brought with him. Or so he believed, for when he cast his eyes over his shoulders to try and give commands to the three men he thought still standing, the only sight that greeted him was the towering pillar of white and blue-tipped fur, muscle and sheer mass of some lupine chimeric entity with the unconscious body of one of his kinsmen clenched between its teeth.  Frode’s eyes widened the moment he spotted the arm of True Ice on the creature.  From back when he was but a tot listening to the stories of ole, he recalled hearing of a hunter-turned-monster that had an arm of True Ice replacing the one he lost in a conflict with a wizened troll. He remembered how the storyteller told him and his childhood friends how this man-turned-beast only ever hunted the greedy, the prideful and people with ill-intent in their hearts. That only brigands and wrongdoers were ever subject to its ire.  Before Frode stood none other than the Tundra Stalker, Hunter of the Malicious.  And when faced with nothing short of a childhood nightmare come to life, Forde could only fall onto his back in terror, scrambling to get as far away from the beast as possible.  “I asked you to take no life, Moonie,” said the woman as she sauntered up from behind Forde.  “BLOOD SHED... LIFE EBBS, YES, BUT NONE TAKEN, JUST AS SUNSHINE ASKED...” the beast replied, releasing the unconscious body from its jaws.  Turning to be on hands and knees, Frode tried to scramble away as fast as he could, but the firm wall of metal impeded him. He looked up only to meet the judgemental warmth of gold and purple coalesced eyes. Her radiant features were hardened with determination, a drive to see whatever goal laying ahead of her through to the very end.  She stepped forward to place the heel of her boot against the waist of the man, raising her sword up to hover mere inches away from his neck. The sheer intensity of the heat wafted off and chafed his skin.  “I seek the soothsayers with which your bargain was made, speak and no harm will come. But hold your tongue and I will forced to do what must be done.”  Heavy footfalls approached from behind now--they were undoubtedly the Stalker.  Swallowing hard, a dry wad caught in his throat and kept him silent for a moment, two moments, three. Each second elapsed allowed the Stalker closer until the crunching snow filled his ears. He squeezed his eyes shut and awaited the end that never came, only to open them anew to find the immense head of the Stalker nestled up under the arm that’d been holding the woman’s shield, nuzzling up into the hand freed up following her stabbing the shield into the ground.  In response, a subtle grin played on her lips for a moment while her fingers ran through the dense fur of the Stalker.  Confusion marred his facial features at the twist of events, but the twitch of the blade beneath his chin incentivized him. He whispered a prayer to the gods he stopped believing in when he became a man, clenching his eyes shut.  “U-up north of Rakelstake lake--past the mountain ridge!” he stammered.  For a moment, he believed his end would be then and there. Once the information passed his lips, she would surely plunge the tip of her sword into his throat and let it charr him alive. But no such action came, rather all he heard was her mumbling something to the chimeric beast and the waning sound of crunching snow.  Until, at last, he was left with only the screeching wind and furious blizzard to keep him company.

[autumnpawtribe]

Just a moment in time - Vol'raka, Tiny, and Xiao Chun

Tiny had finally started to sleep long enough for her Papa and Ba to spend some more intimate time together.  It was a time to relax, and love, come together as a couple after so long apart.  Xiao laid against Vol, nuzzling into his neck in return to the trolls affections. "I love you so much, Vol... more than I ever thought I could." He whispered breathlessly still before giving a tiny chuckle. "I... did not hurt you, did I?" He finally asked, turning his head to kiss Vol's cheek and then gently press a kiss to his lips as he nuzzled their foreheads together. "No mah love."  He looked a bit sad that he hadn't been hurt, but kissed his mate on the top of the head softly.  "Ah be fine."  A soft chuckle accompanied the troll picking his mate up and tossing him over his shoulder.  "Ja gonna be crunchy furred.  Showah fer Xiao..." Xiao smiled and nodded. "I was worried, I think you are uh... bleeding in a few places." He said with a blush as he glanced down to Vol's thoroughly scratched up thighs as well as the few marks on his back. Before he could speak again, he squeaked in surprise as he was scooped up, clinging to his mate now as he was hoisted over his shoulder. "I miss being crunchy if it is from you..." He said with a little giggle as he hugged Vol's shoulder as he was carted off. "Nothin' wrong wit pain, lovah.  Ah crave et.  Ah'd say we fall asleep like dat, but Ah know dat any minute dat lil time bomb we got gonna wake up.  Ja take longah den me."  He swatted the pandaren on the ass just as he put him down.  "Get clean, ah gonna find pants.  Ah need a showah, get da tangles out mah hair an at least two houahs sleep." Xiao blushed a bit more, nodding. "I... almost forgot about your penchant for pain. I guess some part of me remembered otherwise I wouldn't have scratched you up like that." He said with a smile before squeaking in surprise as his ass was smacked. He turned around to lean up and give Vol a long, loving kiss before he could leave. "I... have never been happier than I am when I am with you. Never forget that. I promise, I will be here this time."  He said against Vol's lips, hugging him hard before sighing contently and pulling away to head off and do his oh so secret cleaning routine to keep his fur as wonderfully soft and plush as his mate had always known it to be. "Ja can scratch me up all ja evah want."  He'd never really let Xiao know how deep his want of pain went, one day maybe.  "Bettah be.  Scoot."  He busied himself with changing  and reswaddling their daughter and sitting next to her hammock to watch her sleep, singing another lullaby.  "Gotta sound proof ja room before we know et, hmm?" Xiao wandered off as his mate told him, the water running in the me functional but far less fancy shower since this wasn't the main home. Maybe an hour or so later, Xiao came back out, fur dry and wonderfully fluffy, grinning like a fool as he entered their daughter's room to find his mate. "Hey..." He nearly purred, love glowing in his eyes as he leaned against the doorframe. "Ja finally done...  longah den usual."  He sat in a chair, smiling as she ate and smirking.  "Second bottle en an houah.  Should warn ja.  Troll babies eat like big orc mons.   Bottomless pits mah ma'da once call em.  Get used ta dis, hmm?" Xiao chuckled a little. "There was more to clean up than normal. I also let my fur grow out a little more than normal so it takes longer to dry over the vent." He moved to sit across from Vol on the bed. "Do we have enough milk for her? You said it is goat milk, right?" "Ja.  Goats be outside at dis house, da Vale and Hillsbrad.  Da Admiral say he can get a Tauren fer helpin' out.  She get fed, Get ever'ting ah can be gettin' er. "  He said a few words in Zandali, trying to teach her even at that age.  "Yuutee Saakes, Zutopong.  Skam m italaf deh'yo ackee..." "Good, the last thing we would want is our little girl to go hungry, though I know you would never let that happen." He smiled, patting the bed. "Here, you two should come over here. Let her Ba feed her?" He asked with a hopeful smile. "What was that you said in Zandali just now, anyway? I still know... well, next to none of it, unfortunately." "Shadowhuntah, Daughtah.  Just a Hungry lil ting."   He stood and let Xiao hold the girl who was none too pleased about moving, and not eating right then and there.  "Ja get ta watch 'er a bit.  Showah."  Booping her daughter softly on the nose and doing the same to Xiao, he went to get himself clean, Xiao getting to deal with a whiny, amber eyed girl.  If Xiao looked, he'd see Vol's features, no doubt who sired her.  Amber eyes, the same green and gold hair, with the barest bright highlights of blue, and the same strong nose.  She looked up toward him, too young to focus on anything or properly see him. Xiao happily took the little bundle, cradling her against his bare chest, having only put on some loose linen pants after his shower. "Do not worry, I have her." He said with a smile as Vol headed off to take his now. He stared down at her now, having some true quality time with his daughter. Seeing his mate in her eyes, her hair, so much of him in every part of her. It actually made a tear come to his eye. He whispered to her in Pandaren now, letting the girl hear him speak in something other than his stilted and heavily accented Orcish. "My dearest daughter.. I will give you anything and everything I can... your papa and I, we will give you the world. You are the gift we never saw coming, the missing piece we never knew we were missing. Some day, you will have a brother or a sister. Your life will be filled with happiness, adoration, praise... and above all, love. This I promise you." He kissed her forehead gently, a single tear dripping down onto her cheek and causing him to chuckle as he leaned up and noticed it. "A little salty rain never hurt, hm?" He continued to murmur, wiping off the tear with the fur of his thumb. "You have not seen it yet, but your home... our home, the place we will eventually be a family, forever... your room will be everything you have ever dreamed of. Everything for our baby girl." It was then he gasped. "Vol!" He called out in Orcish now. "I have an idea, we need to talk when you are done showering!" He sounded excited, but his smile faded as he cringed, the loud noise making the poor girl fuss and cry. "Sorry, my lovely." He cooed in Pandaren again. "Ba is sorry, little one, shhh, it is alright. Here." He shook her bottle a bit, jostling the milk and getting her attention with the warm sustenance, quickly quieting her as she went back to drinking happily. "Talk bout what, hmm?"  He came out, clothed in a towel around his waist and one going at his hair.  "Et wait until ah able ta find pants.  Ever' tin' be down at da Vale or Hillsbrad."  Green locks were flopped over on one side and he had freshly shaved the sides of his head down to the skin.  "Gonna need ta clean tings up en 'ere."  He looked around, the room his daughter was sleeping in for the time the same she was born in.  "Ja gonna teach 'er Pandaren, ah gonna teach 'er Zandali.  Gonna get REshka ta teach her Thalassian..  an ALL of us be teachin' orcish." Xiao practically wiggled in his spot on the bed. "Maybe I do not want you to find pants." He said with a little grin. "Remember that... illusion on the top of the canopy in our bed in the Vale? I was thinking for her room, I could have Kyl do the entire room as an illusion. Instead of just normal wallpaper, we could have... an entire scene. Maybe a waterfall, a beautiful view, stars on the ceiling. I am not sure exactly. Ooh, maybe we could do a view from stranglethorn! Something to remind her of where she came from? I wanted to ask because, well, you said you had investments. I was hoping you might have some excess laying around. It would not cost nearly as much as the house upgrades did, the illusions were fairly cheap, actually. The thing that did the most damage, gold wise, was the engineered magically contraptions like the shower, the self-cleaning bed, and all of the, well, everything in the stables. I just thought, you know, it would be calming and beautiful?" "No.". He dragged the towel over his head and looked to Xiao intently.  "Not paying Kyl Dem prices.   He gonna learn ta haggle like a troll.   His price took ja  away.   Not happening again.   Stranglethorn be where she concieved.  Ja really tink ah wanna be reminded of dat?".  He wasn't made just matter of fact.  "We look into et, aftah ah surah day dat fuckin snakr not gonna slitha enta ouaj bed an kill me.  She not gonna appreciate et fer a long while.  Patience, lil love.  When ettime, we talk more on et." Xiao blinked. "No?" Then he heard the rest and nodded. "Kyl may haggle, honestly I do not know. I... did not think to try." He blushed a bit, never having been one to haggle. Then he frowned a bit sadly at the mentions of Stranglethorn. "Sorry, I thought Stranglethorn might be good, I didn't know that was where it happened." He shook his head. "I just did not think it through I guess." He said as he peered down at Tiny now, biting his lower lip and feeling a bit silly for his idea now. "We gonna figuah out sumpin, lil love.  Fer now, she not gonna care ef da walls be all white or just stone.  She gonna be en ouah room till we can get sometin so we can hear when she need us.". With a small kiss on his love's nose and a smile, he whispered softly.  "Ah not mean ta sound harsh.  Ja not know where dis all happen.  We both do thinking on et.  Sides, where she come from be Pandaria.  Dis da land of er birth, ja?"

[shadowphoenixrider]

Azsuna Awaits (3/7)

(A chapter up in under a couple of weeks?! Sacrilege! Anyway, enjoy this chapter! Paging the usual folk: @highpriestessbriyanna, @galleywinter, @sigurdjarlson, @fer8girl, @elfgirl931)

(Previous chapter)

“This does not look good.” Khadgar muttered grimly as they walked into the Repose. “He does not look well.”

The great ancient dragon that had to be Senegos was laying in a large pool of mana water, surrounded by his kin and Stellagosa. He was an immense creature, similar in size to Malygos, with six pairs of horns made entirely of ice on his head (with one on his nose), and thick, dark cream fur down his neck and forming a long beard under his chin and down under his neck, drifting in the pool’s water. His wings were folded against his body, but even from here, Draggka could see the large icicles that had formed on the ends of his wing ‘fingers’, and that the membranes between them were so friable and tattered, it was clear that the dragon would never fly again without magic. The troll had never even considered a dragon could grow so old to lose the ability to fly, and she’d seen the Dragon Aspects. How old is he?

Stellagosa had taken her mortal form, which was of a high elf with long sky blue hair, and she glanced anxiously over to them as they approached.

“What is happening here?” Khadgar asked, looking over to Senegos. His eyes were half-open and dull, and every breath he took wheezed with effort. Draggka’s heart panged to see such a great creature reduced to this, and Spike uttered a soft whine in sympathy.

“I don’t know.” Stellagosa said. “He was like this when I got here. I’ve never seen my grandfather like this before.” She hesitated, her long ears dropping. “I...I think he’s...” She trailed off.

“Dying.” The archmage finished, softly. “Senegos is quite possibly the oldest dragon alive, by the looks of him. We cannot simply let him slip away.” He tilted his head a moment, like a bird. Draggka noticed his eyes glaze over for a couple of seconds, as if his gaze had momentarily turned inwards. “There is something not quite right with the magical energy here. Can you feel it too, Stellagosa?”

The elf-dragon glanced away, her long ears shifting back up as she frowned, blue eyes glazing over much the same way Khadgar’s had done.

“It does feel strange.” She agreed. “The power coming from the leylines shouldn’t feel as choppy as this.” Her frown deepened. “They weren’t like this before. Something’s happened to them.”

“I thought so.” Khadgar nodded. “Good to know I’m not going senile, but we’ll have to investigate later. First things first, we must buy your grandfather more time.” He took a deep breath, and the troll felt the air around her twirl and thrill as the arcane was drawn towards the mage, shimmering around his body and concentrated into his hands. Khadgar stretched his hand out then, the arcane rushing from him towards the frail elder dragon in a stream of pure energy. Senegos took a deep breath, and blew out a equally deep sigh, as the magic was drawn into his body. His eyes seemed to brighten, and whilst his breaths were still quite ragged, Draggka could tell that they were coming easier now.

“The leylines are the cause of the potent energies of this place, and probably why Senegos and his brood settled here.” Khadgar explained, answering her unasked questions. “I can use them to channel energy into Senegos to help stabilize him without exhausting myself. But I will still need your help.” He gestured with his spare hand. “Some of the leylines’ power becomes crystallised in rocks close to the surface, and they retain the power even when pulled from the ground. If you could could collect some and throw them into the mana pool, the resulting power should buy Senegos a few more breaths. I spotted some caves over there as we came down the hill; I’d suggest starting there.”

Draggka nodded, her brows drawing together grimly.

“Dat sounds like a plan. I’ll do dat.”

Senegos groaned then, catching their attention. He tilted his head very slightly towards them, catching them both in his gaze.

“I know why you are here, small ones...” He breathed, voice low and weary. “Please...help...”

Draggka’s ears drooped at the pain in his voice, Khadgar’s silver brows knotting together in sympathy too.

“We be doing everyting we can.” She replied, before hurrying off towards the caves, where a steady stream of whelplings were flying from, mana crystals clutched in their tiny claws. They would drop their cargo into the pool, before wheeling back for more, completely ignoring the troll.

Draggka followed them into the cave, her fur prickling against her skin as the arcane thickened in the air. She might have only been a hunter with only enough of a grip to enchant her arrows with those energies, but even she could feel the effect of the leylines bleeding into the rocks and air around her. She wondered what it was like for Khadgar. He could clearly sense them, and they were allowing him to keep Senegos alive without draining him, but else was it doing to him? She had noticed there had been a slight spring to his step as they’d gotten closer to the Repose...

Spike’s sudden snarl broke her from her thoughts as crystal worms suddenly burst from the ground around her, their floating crystals glowing brightly, and emitting menacing, unearthly noises.

“Ugh.” Draggka grimaced, nocking an arrow. “I had enough of these assholes in Deepholm.”

The raptor charged the crystalline creatures, crushing the animate crystals between his jaws whilst his companion smashed the others with her dagger and well-placed arrows, though their rotating ‘teeth’ tore into her armour, causing considerable gashes in the mail.

There was an upside to this attack, however. The crystals the worms were made of were rich in ley energy, and Draggka gathered as much of the large pieces as she could before hurrying back to the pool. As soon as she reached the bank, the troll dumped the whole load into the water, the minerals fizzing brightly as they struck the liquid, dissolving instantly. To her relief, Senegos let out a loud moan of relief, and the dragon shifted his position to a more comfortable one.

“Thank you, both of you.” Stellagosa said as Draggka rejoined her and Khadgar. “Your efforts dull his pain.” She sighed. “Call me a fool. I’d always just thought grandfather would be with us forever...”

“Ya not be a fool.” Draggka murmured softly. “We all tink dat of our family. We tink dey be invincible. It be...we not be so innocent aftawards.” Her ears drooped. “But I can’t imagine what it be like fer you. To be livin’ so long, den to see dis...” A pause. “I be sorry.”

“It’s alright. But thank you.” Stellagosa replied. Draggka felt eyes on her then, and when she glanced over, she noticed Khadgar was watching her thoughtfully. They’d not spoken too deeply of their pasts to one another; neither had pried into the snippets of information the other was given. As much as they could glean from the other was that they’d both had parents, yet now those parents were no more. The troll wondered if and when they’d get the time to discuss such things, if they even wanted to.

Senegos lifted his large head up towards them then, blowing a breath out of his nose that did not sound like a wheeze, more an actual breath.

“You seek...one of the Pillars of Creation.” He spoke, strength returning to his voice.

“Yes.” Khadgar replied with a nod, causing his stream of magic to ‘bounce’ slightly. “We know one is here on Azsuna. Do you know where it is?”

“You speak of the...Tidestone of Golganneth...” His next breath shuddered with pain, and he had to rest his head back down into the pool.

“Rest now, grandfather.” Stellagosa said, rubbing a hand over his massive muzzle. “You must save your energy.”

“Don’t be so eager to mourn, starlight.” Senegos replied, eyes opening to regard her. “Give me this one last adventure.”

As this was happening, Draggka suddenly became aware of Spike headbutting her side insistently. When she looked to him, she saw that a small blue whelpling was perched on his head, bright, golden eyes staring back at the hunter.

The whelpling made a wheezy chirp, jerking its head to the north east before it fluttered off in the same direction. After a brief glance at her companion, Draggka set off after the whelpling, following it towards a large, burly dragonspawn, whose arms were full with small bodies. He barked out something in the guttural, hissing tongue of Draconic, before he caught sight of the troll.

“Hail, hunter.” He spoke in Common, though his accent was thick. “I am Agapanthus. I don’t know why you are here, but we could use your aid.” He lowered his arms to show that the bodies were four whelplings, weak and barely moving, their eyes closed or slightly open. The whelpling from before, hovering nearby, uttered a shrill cry which only echoed the pain that flashed through Draggka’s heart.

“An onslaught of withered elves have assaulted the whelplands, and though my troops are defending them as best as we can, these four were not so lucky. They are near death, and need to be treated with ley crystal immediately. Their lives are of the utmost importance, as they may be some of the last whelplings Senegos can rear.”

The last? Draggka thought, but didn’t say. This was not the time to ask questions.

“I be Draggka. ‘Course I will help ya.” She nodded. The little whelpling chirped again, jerking its head in the ‘follow me’ gesture. It led the hunter and her raptor to a cave behind Agapanthus, filled with humming crystals and mana wyrms hovering lazily nearby. The troll frowned.

“Dese be different to da ones I be giving to Senegos.” She murmured, watching the whelpling. “What do ya want me to do?”

The whelp fluttered to a crystal, taking it in its paws and giving it a tug, flapping away when one of the wyrms turned and hissed at it. Spike snarled at the wyrm, which flared its head frills menacingly at the raptor, neatly distracting it as the hunter pulled the crystal from the ground. The wyrm didn’t take too kindly to that, however, and launched itself at Draggka, only to get caught in Spike’s jaws and unceremoniously crushed and devoured. The whelpling proceeded to pick out other crystals, which Draggka would then extract, and Spike would munch away at any mana wyrm that attempted to attack them.

Four ley crystals now in tow, she hurried back to Agapanthus, wondering how she’d manage to get the energies into the tiny dragons. She thought back to when she was in Karazhan and Khadgar’s instructions; perhaps that was how to do it. The troll tried it for the first whelpling the dragonspawn offered her; concentrating power into her hand and out to the crystal, then pulling it out and to the whelpling. It seemed to work, as tendrils of whitish blue magic arched out from the crystal into the small creature, and luckily they took over from there, greedily draining the crystal dry. Colour brightened the little one’s sky blue scales and yellow eyes, and it took flight with a thankful chirrup-bark.

The next two whelplings recovered in much the same way, but the fourth did not. There was brightening of colour of its scales, but the whelp merely coughed, wheezing a plaintive mew that pricked tears at Draggka’s eyes. Agapanthus sighed.

“Ahh...I feared we might lose that one,” he said softly. “He was so weak when I found him.” He held the whelp out to Draggka. “Take him to Senegos. I must return to my keepers, before we are overrun.”

The whelpling barely weighed anything as Draggka took him into her arms, and there was no resistance to her handling. Spike’s soft whine described exactly how she felt, and she gathered the little creature close to her chest, hoping maybe her body heat could give it a few more minutes.

“Hold on, little one. Let’s be getting you to ya father,” she murmured, not knowing if the whelp could understand her, but praying it could at least sense the meaning in her words. The hunter moved as quickly as she dared, trying not to jostle the whelp in case she hurt it further.

Senegos seemed to sense that something was wrong, and he lifted his head with more speed than Draggka expected in his current state, causing Khadgar and Stellagosa to jump and follow his gaze.

“Another Nightfallen attack?” Senegos said, his blue eyes settling on the bundle in Draggka’s arms, and his thick eyebrows furrowing. “Bring my child to me, young one.”

As Draggka came closer, Khadgar’s expression contorted with pain, closing his eyes as if warding off tears, and Stellagosa covered her mouth with her hands, uttering a soft :

“Oh no. Not again.”

The hunter tenderly lifted the frail whelpling up to Senegos, the dragon nuzzling the small creature with great care, despite his size. The whelp opened its eyes to meet its father’s, and it rattled out a soft, plaintive wheeze. In that moment, Draggka felt the life fade from the whelpling’s body. She bit her lip almost hard enough to draw blood to hold back the tears that stung at her eyes, watching a blurry Senegos close his eyes and utter a deep, mournful rumble that seemed to quieten the entire Repose. Both Khadgar and Stellagosa glanced down in respect, though the mage pinched his eyes with his spare hand, trying to suppress his own tears.

“Cedonu.” Senegos spoke, his eyes opening once more; they were older, full of sorrow.

A dragonspawn walked over to them, looking up at their patron from under their helmet.

“Yes, Senegos?”

“Please lay my child to rest with the others.”

Draggka’s heart panged painfully, her ears drooping as she wiped her tears away. How many has he lost?

“Of course.” Cedonu bowed his head, taking the whelpling from the troll’s hands and walking off with the body cradled in their arms. She wondered idly where the dragonspawn was going. She knew the dragons flew to the Dragonblight to die, but what of the whelplings, who couldn’t survive such a journey? Was there a way to take them there? She shook her head to dismiss the thought.

“Of course those withered devils would attack now.” Senegos hissed, shifting in his pool angrily, but still too weak to show much more of his displeasure. “They couldn’t have chosen a more effective time to strike. My brood already suffers.” He sighed a long sigh, calming himself. “Stellagosa.” He tilted his head towards the elf. “Do me one last favour. Your younger brothers and sisters need your help. Go to Agapanthus. Help him.”

Stellagosa nodded, wiping away her own tears.

“Of course.” She hesitated a moment, before she threw her arms around Senegos’ huge muzzle, resting her head against it. “Farewell, grandfather.” She pulled away and quickly ran off, not looking back even as she shifted back into her drake form.

“See you soon, starlight.” Senegos murmured after her.

A brief silence settled, in which Draggka and Khadgar exchanged looks, unsure what to say next, if anything. Draggka decided to venture first.

“I...Senegos, I be sorry dat I couldn’t-” She began.

“It was not your fault.” The dragon interrupted her. “My child was beyond help if a ley crystal could not have roused him.” He shifted his head in Khadgar’s direction, as if sensing the mage opening his mouth to interject. “You are already doing enough to keep me alive. Do not take that burden on yourself either.”

Another long sigh, and Senegos addressed them both.

“There is no denying it. We need help. Since the fall of Deathwing, we dragons have lost nearly all of our power. To make matters worse, we can no longer bear eggs. My whelplings are the last of the last.”

Draggka’s ears dropped as far as they could go, and she met Khadgar’s equally alarmed look. Agapanthus had spoke the truth then; she just couldn’t believe it, didn’t want to believe it. That the dragons, once keepers of the many forces of Azeroth, creatures that she both feared and admired, and had won the trust of in Northrend...that they were essentially dying. One day they would be gone, only memories and bones remaining. The thought made her feel empty, and somewhat sick.

Khadgar himself looked paler than before, and completely flabbergasted.

“I...We didn’t know. Kalec, he...I know the blue dragonflight had disbanded, but he never said anything about this...” The mage spoke, sounding as empty as the hunter felt. Spike nuzzled into her hand for comfort, grounding her in the now.

“He would not have known at first.” Senegos explained. “At first, the odd egg wouldn’t hatch. Unfortunate, but not unusual. Then our clutches became smaller. And now there are no eggs at all. As you can imagine, we still have enemies, and so we are not likely to advertise it to others. Not even our friends.”

“Then why tell us?” Khadgar asked.

“Stellagosa told me that you saved her from the Burning Legion when she went to investigate their new...nest on the islands. And you are giving your power to keep me alive, and help my children. I would say you have earned our trust.” Another sigh. “Please, help defend my whelplands, and I will tell you everything I know of the Tidestone.”

“Indeed.” Khadgar nodded. “Whilst I am a little indisposed, Draggka can go in my stead, yes?" He smiled at her, eyes sparkling with magic and fondness. “I doubt she’d need my help anyway.”

Spike made a soft huffing snort, looking up at Draggka earnestly, and reminding her of their plan earlier.

“Are ya sure, Khadgar? Remember dat Cordana might still be huntin’ us...”

“I know.” The mage nodded. “But it’s a risk we must take. Besides, you have Spike. You will be just fine.” He smiled down at the raptor, who would have preened, had he real feathers that weren’t decorations he’d collected.

“Okay.” Draggka nodded. “Jus’, keep an eye out fer her.” She felt the need to reach out to Khadgar, but she stopped herself, not knowing whether to reveal their relationship to Senegos.

A smile pulled at the lips of the great dragon for the first time that day.

“You are kind small things,” he said. “Thank you. Whilst you are in the Repose, my brood will protect you from any and all that would harm you. This, I promise.” He turned his head. “Follow Stellagosa, up the road to the east. It will lead you to the whelplings. Please, help my flight as best as you can.”

“I will, I promise you dat.” Draggka holding her fist to her chest to swear it. “An’ tank you fer protecting Khadgar. I see ya later, Archmage.”

“Of course.” The wizard nodded, smiling. “Good hunting, and come back to us soon.”

Draggka bowed her head to them.

“Lok’tar.”

And with that, she turned and jogged out of the Repose.

Khadgar watched as Draggka left, trying not to let the inner doubts about his decision show up on his face. Any other time, he would have been certain that being under the protection of dragons would guarantee his safety.

But now, knowing that they were now unable to bear young and that Cordana was hunting him, empowered by the Legion, doubts started to creep in.

He remembered the times the Garona from the alternate Draenor had attempted to assassinate him with startling clarity. The first time he'd had warning, but the second time...the second time he’d only survived because Draggka had managed to chase the half-orc down in time and get him the antidote.

Cordana knew this, of course. Though they had not been close, she’d seen how Khadgar had protected himself from the first attempt by sealing himself in a thick block of ice. She’d seen that he could be caught off guard and almost killed. She’d seen how Draggka had fought, and that Spike’s vigilance could be circumvented.

That and she was a Warden too. She was truly a prize for the Legion, a horribly deadly threat to its enemies, and Khadgar was sure Maiev knew that when they had quarrelled. She blamed him for both exposing her bladesister to darkness, and also for handing the Legion a potent weapon. She needn’t have pressed the point; he still nursed the guilt now, despite his lover’s gentle assurances.

And now he worried that he’d painted a great big target on Draggka’s back. She was the Huntmaster of the Unseen Path and a champion of considerable rank, so she was already on the Legion’s naughty list, but if she was associated with him?

Khadgar chewed his lip. Cordana had been very private, and it was difficult to gauge her emotions through her helmet, so he’d never been able to tell if she’d had an inkling of his and Draggka’s budding relationship. The mage didn’t think so, as they’d never behaved as anything more than friends in front of her (the memory of her walking in just as he was going to confess his feelings for the troll still ruffled him even now), but...

“You are troubled.” Senegos’s deep, tired voice snapped the wizard from his thoughts.

“Oh, it’s nothing much.” Khadgar said, concentrating back on the magic he was funnelling into the dragon. “A lot of things on my mind, as you can understand.”

Senegos turned his head very slightly, one large blue eye meeting Khadgar’s. Though he was old and fatigued, the darkness in the dragon’s pupil seemed to threaten to swallow the archmage whole, and for the first time in quite a long time, Khadgar felt very young, and very inexperienced.

“I don’t know much about the affairs of small, mortal creatures such as yourselves, but I know a few things.” An exhale from Senegos’s nose tousled Khadgar’s hair. “You are close to the huntress. You worry about her.”

The young-old mage glanced down at his feet. There was no use denying it when it was so blatantly laid out in front of him.

“I...Yes.” He nodded. “We, we’re lovers. I care for her very deeply. And I promised her, earlier, that we would stay together, and face our challenges as a pair.” He sighed. “And yet, here I am. Sending her off again on her own. I don’t doubt her capabilities, but we are being hunted. By something - someone - who is sworn to the Legion, and incredibly dangerous. I fear I have left her alone to walk into the lion’s den.”

“And I have sent my granddaughter into such a place as well.” Senegos replied, shifting again. As his gaze briefly moved away, Khadgar felt he could breathe again. “It is a decision we wish we would never have to make. But it is what needs to be done.” He looked back to the mage. “I sensed you were close. More than mere companions on your travels, but I did not guess you were more than that.”

“It’s not something we wish to advertise.” Khadgar said quietly. “Trolls and humans share a bitter hatred, and the Alliance and Horde have only deepened it. At best, our bond would not be understood. At worst, I fear she would be cast out, or even hunted down for her attachment to me. So we keep our love a secret. Until a better time.”

The dragon made a deep humming noise (though it was more a rumble), and brief silence settled between the two.

“Your secrets are safe with us.” Senegos spoke. “And so are you. I may not be as strong as I once was, but whilst you are in my Repose, we will allow no harm to come to you.” The dragon’s eye seemed to unfocus, as if his gaze had shifted somewhere Khadgar could not follow. “And your companion too, if we are there to aid her. I am sorry we cannot offer more.”

A wry smile pulled at Khadgar’s lips.

“No, I understand. Thank you for trying, though. At least she has her raptor to protect her. She’s...more at an advantage than I am, at least.”

“She...” A pause. “You have brought me hope.” Senegos said quietly.

“Hope...?”

“Whatever happens to me...I feel that my whelps now have a chance to see another sunrise, because of the both of you.” A blink, and Senegos refocused on the archmage. “I feel certain she will help us.”

The smile across Khadgar’s face broadened, and he felt a spark of pride warm his chest.

“Yes, she will,” he said. “Draggka’s word is her bond, and if she has given her word to help you, you can be certain she will do everything in her power to do so. It is something I have experienced personally numerous times. And she is very, very good at coming out of difficult tasks alive.”

The dragon shifted his head more towards the wizard, interest gleaming in his eyes.

“We will be here a little while, and you sound like you have stories to tell about your companion.”

Khadgar noticed a whelpling flutter down beside him, as if wanting to listen in, bright golden eyes gleaming up at him. If its patriarch was not clinging to life and its other siblings weren’t relaying mana crystals to keep him there, Khadgar would have found the scene amusing.

“Well, I don’t really know too much about Draggka, but I met her in person first several months ago in the Blasted Lands...”

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