#elyena

"Of course, just a moment." The archdruid stood and walked over to the couch where Serena was reading with Myleena and Aiteus leaning into her sides, the twins fast asleep. Their words were little more than murmurs, and he was on his way back after a quick kiss.

"Girls, is there something wrong?" Asha asked with concern as the trio reached the treeline of the nearby forest outside.

"I wouldn't say 'wrong', it's just..." Kiela started, but growled helplessly as words failed her to properly describe the feeling.

"We are restless. It's not unbearable, we can even put it out of our mind and ignore it for a time, but... it's like an itch we cannot scratch." Elyena added, she was always better with putting her emotions into words.

Asharin outright frowned, he didn't feel anything of the sort, but both of his elder daughters did, so he accepted it at face value.

"Do you have any ideas or guesses..." He started, but sensing the approach of another presence made him pause. It was familiar, and soon enough a figure crested the hill.

"Lyna! It's been a while, old friend." He greeted her warmly as the image of the average kaldorei woman shimmered, replaced by the preferred visage of Lynesera, the green dragon.

Kiela and Elyena said their own greetings, both taking notice of Lyna's peculiar expression when she looked at the pair. If their father picked upon it, he didn't show any reaction.

"Indeed. As much as I like your and your family's company, I still have my share of responsibility for keeping the Emerald Dream safe." The green dragon hugged him with a chuckle, but her expression grew serious. "The reason I actually came is to say goodbye, for now. The Dragon Isles are calling us home, and the dragonflights answered it. Most of them are already there. I know you still don't like spending time in there, so I thought relaying the news in person would be best."

Asharin's eyebrows shot up, but the audible gasps of his daughters were more important than his surprise.

"Can it... is it possible, that we feel that call as well?" Kiela finally asked, the sisters' gaze locked on Lyna.

The green dragon laughed. "Quite so. You know that your mother Alarastrasza was my best friend, of course her children would feel it. Moreso, if we are using mortal relationships, your grandmother is the Dragon Queen herself. I have no doubt."

"But... how would we even get there? We are not full dragons, we cannot simply fly over." Elyena voiced her own concerns. "Could you take us with you?"

Lynesera smiled, if a bit sadly. "I wish I could, but you know the state my wings are in, little ones. My clutchsister was kind enough to offer to bring me along, and is already waiting for my return. But there's another way." She paused, looking at Asharin for permission to continue.

Unease filled the archdruid, but he simply nodded.

"Nothing is easy, and the same goes for our return. A group of proto-dragons and their allies call themselves the Primalists, and they are stirring up trouble. I don't know all the details, but the Aspects already agreed to ask for the aid of the mortal races. One of the expeditions will set sail from Stormwind in... I think around two weeks' time. If you want to come, that is your best chance."

"I've heard of troubles regarding elementals at different locations, but the Circle didn't request my participation, so I didn't investigate further." Asha sighed before looking at his daughters. It was obvious they wanted to go, but deferred to his decision. The incident in Revendreth still echoed in their minds even if more than three years have passed since. He wanted to protect them, to know they were safe... but they were adults and could decide on their own.

"Kiela, Elyena, you are grown-ups, it's time you make these choices for yourselves, I won't stand in your way... though I dare to bet I know the outcome." Asharin smiled, opening his arms as Kiela and Elyena tackled him with cries of joy. "I take it you're going." He chuckled, cupping their cheeks before facing his friend. "Lyna, can I ask you to help these two troublemakers out a little after they arrive?"

The green dragon laughed again with a nod. "I would have done that even if you didn't ask, but I truly have to go now. Safe travels, and we shall meet again on the Dragon Isles." She inclined her head to the family before returning the way she came.

"Ann'da, thank you!" Kiela and Elyena muttered and held him tight.

"Now, now... You two better go and start your preparations for the trip. Just don't forget, no sneaking out without saying goodbyes. You don't want to upset the twins, do you?" He teased, laughing at their mortified faces.

"And even when you're there, never forget that we're just a letter away... and who knows, I might join you briefly at a later date."

Looking at their excited expressions, Asharin couldn't help smiling. Even if they were adults, they were still his children... but everyone had their own path. Supporting them was the least he could do.

"I'm proud of you both... and I'm sure your mother would feel the same."

Kiela and Elyena teared up at that, sharing another hug.

A -probably- young night elf with deep crimson hair was sitting in a chair beside the bed to her left, she was in a deep sleep.

“Thank the Light you’re awake.” The relieved voice coming from her right made Sam turn, something she instantly regretted at the pain in her side.

“Easy there, Sam.” Arabella reached out with her remaining hand and squeezed the worgen’s. “You are hurt, take it slowly.” The guard didn’t look much better, but her stump was in clean wrappings, and the leg she was dragging behind was propped up on an extra chair, dressed in bandages and splinted.

“Ara, where are we? What happened with the retreat? I remember the ghouls and the geists, but...” The worgen clenched her teeth at the dull throbbing of her right eye as the memories resurfaced.

...

Sam managed to knock Arabella out of harm’s way, only to feel a stinging pain by her right eye, then her sight there vanished. Wetness spread over her cheek and she nearly passed out. One hand clutching her ruined eye, she lashed out with her cleaver and the geist fell back in multiple pieces.

With a howl of pain, she slashed wildly at any undead coming within the reach of her blade as she stood protectively over Ara until someone -hopefully- could help her off the ground once the attack was beaten back. She even found a precious moment to spare to tear a piece of cloth from her cloak and bound it over the eye.

Things finally started to look up for the ragtag group. It was the moment she bisected another ghoul that something heavy slammed into Samantha’s chest, and a fresh wave of agony erupted from her side. The worgen was yanked off her feet even before she could collapse from the pain. She could barely make out the hook of an abomination with her fading vision before everything went black.

...

“The abomination... How am I still alive?” Sam asked, pulling back the sheets to find another batch of bandages around her abdomen.

“I can tell you that, so long as you keep your voice down a bit. I could hear it down there. It’s a miracle my sister is still asleep, and I’d have less friendly words for you if you woke her.” A new voice announced as another young kaldorei woman entered, this one had ivory white hair and was sporting an eyepatch.

Sam didn’t like her tone one bit, but only nodded.

“You were lucky we were in the city for family business and decided to check the overall situation ourselves to give a more detailed report once we went back home. My younger sister Elyena is a healer” she nodded towards the sleeping one “so she stayed behind to help tending to the wounded in Stormwind and later in Goldshire, while I pushed ahead to see the frontlines.” She paused before making her voice even lower.

“I ran into your group just as you were hooked like a fish. I’m a pyromancer, and once I made a bonfire from that abomination, the rest were taken care quickly enough so we could tend to the wounded. Sorry for some of the scarring by the way, I had to partly close the wound or you’d have bled to death before we got to Goldshire.” She didn’t sound sorry at all.

“Elyena was doing her best to mend that wound and keep you alive for what remained of that day and through the night, even as we carried the wounded back to the city. That’s how you ended up here, this is one of the buildings vacated for the injured.”

“Wait, if she healed me, why do I hurt all over, and why didn’t she heal Ara’s leg too once she was done with me?” Sam interrupted, her one good eye gleaming in anger that Arabella was left untended.

“You ungrateful little-!” The fire mage hissed, crossing her arms to keep herself from hitting Samantha.

“It was my choice, Sam!” The guard quickly interjected, squeezing the worgen’s hand. “Why waste the time and energy of a healer needlessly? Even if my leg was mended, I would still be unfit for duty. And Kiela is right. If not for her sister... I don’t even want to think about that.” She squeezed Sam’s hand harder and looked down, but the worgen could catch the tears welling in her eyes.

“As for your... complaints, you weren’t the first person Elyena healed yesterday, she was pretty much exhausted by the time we got back with you. She took care of the life-threatening injury you had and hastened the recovery process of the rest but she was already past her limit.” The night elf added, her voice little more than a hiss.

Samantha’s stomach churned with guilt at making Ara cry and at demeaning the efforts of the one who saved her sorry ass. She wished to swallow back the words said in anger, but it was too late for that. The best she could do was trying to make amends.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to... didn’t mean to be ungrateful.” The worgen muttered, unable to meet Kiela’s eye.

The pyromancer slowly exhaled and nodded. “Apology accepted. It was also a bit unreasonable of me to get that angry since Elyena acted based on her own decisions. Stubbornness runs in the family I guess. Still, it would be better if I get her to a proper bed of her own until she wakes.” Kiela looked at her sister’s sleeping form and opened the door before actually lifting Elyena into her arms with barely a grunt.

“Oh right, one last thing. The leader of your unit, Alderen or something, wanted you to know you’re also counted as medically unfit for duty as of now. ‘Adjust and heal, leave the rest to us.’ His very words. I suggest you take it to heart, both of you... and maybe try to look for a safe way out of the city soon and go somewhere more secure, if that’s possible.” With that, she walked out of the room, the other night elf in a sleep so deep she didn’t wake even as she was carried away.

...

Samantha and Arabella were still looking at the door minutes after the pair’s departure, mulling over Kiela’s last words of advice.

“We will need to know more to have a clearer picture, but she is right in one thing. We need to rest first.” Ara broke the silence, clutching the worgen’s hand tight.

“Yeah... a nap sounds nice. Only a short one this time. And a good night kiss too.” Samantha replied, a small smile on her face.