--

Rouille was situated back in the snow of Highmountain, watching her fire, when the Titan rose. Her mountain goat, Courage, was not one to live up to her own name. In panic, the creature bolted away into the night. Rouille stood between her animals and the giant-- as though that could possibly help-- and her own lip curled to match the Titan’s. "Kill us then, you fucking coward!" She shrieked to the heavens, her voice shaking with rage. "It only took you three fucking tries! We only beat you back for a thousand fucking years! Weak, stupid, cowardly shit!" 

--

"Ehli? EHLI!" 

The night elf child scrambled to her father. She buried her face in his chest as she started to sob. "Papa- Papa, what's happening?" She expected the poise, the ceaseless calm that followed her father. She expected him to scold her, to tell her to straighten up and act tough. She didn't expect to feel his tears drop in her hair. She didn't expect to feel him shake as he held her tighter than he ever had. She didn't expect him to be scared, too.

--

Enzle was a mess of tears. She had fallen to her knees in the middle of the tavern, pointing a shaky finger at the figure towering over the world. Her confused co-workers gathered around as the Titan’s sword descended towards the earth, and Enzle with it—the little goblin passed out from the panic, tumbling gently to the ground.

--

Nenkoka was on her knees as well, albeit for a different reason. She was wrapped around her tiny pig, whispering prayers directly into her Earthmother. "Forgive me of my wrongdoings," she murmured as she silently wept. "Everything I did, I did for you. I only pray I did what was right. I pray you will allow me to live on with you and with those I love.” Nenkoka was vaguely aware of the shouting and screaming occurring around her, and she raised her voice to speak to her tribe. “I am proud to die among you all today.”

--

The force of the sword’s impact threw Alexia back onto the stone floor of her Cathedral. She heard screaming, sobbing, and praying coming from her fellow acolytes. As Azeroth shook, she closed her eyes. I’m going to die surrounded by these pretentious shitheads.

Rouille shook her head, scarcely believing her eyes. The fallen Titan was dragged backwards, still reaching for his massive sword. She shielded her eyes, watching as he disappeared as suddenly as he arrived. She stood in the sudden stillness, her animals cowering inside her chest and behind her, when she suddenly became aware of what had just happened.

He did strike us. That will mean deaths. Panic. Meaningless loss of life.

If we were given a second chance, we might as well do our best with it.

With a whistle, Rouille snapped her animals back to reality as well. She swung herself onto Might, nudging the Tallstrider into a gallop. Someone back in Dalaran would know where she needed to go.

--

Nenkoka stumbled through the portal to Moonglade, covered in dirt and tears. Any other time, she would have been embarrassed to be around all of her old family, but none of that mattered to her right now.

The sword struck Cenarion Hold.

Nenkoka didn’t even have to say anything for her fellow druids led her gently to Ayashe. The minute Nen laid eyes on her mother, she knew the answer to the question that had been burning inside her head.

“Oh, ji agam, no! Not ji sahakanagi, please, no—“

Ayashe pulled her daughter into a tight hug, and the two women sobbed together over the death of Nenkoka’s father.

--

The Bearsong family all slept on the floor of their dining room together that night—nobody much wanted to be apart after what they had just witnessed. Erdras, her oldest brother, had been scheduled to leave for Silithus the next day. Their luck felt like a swollen balloon, so fragile that even mentioning it might cause it to pop.

Before they went to sleep, they lit candles to Elune in honor of those who had died to the Legion and the druids of the Cenarion Hold. They had sat in silent prayer for a long time, until a cloud passed over the moon and the only light came from the flickering candles around their town. As the family rose to prepare for bed, Ehlier’s father grabbed her shoulder, his eyes sparkling with tears. “Whatever you do, Ehli, you will make this family proud.”  

Ehli curled in a ball, watching the light of the candles on the other side of the room. It felt almost unfair, that she would be allowed to grow because of an act that ended so many lives.

--

Enzle wept as she sat on her bed, looking at her felhunter. “Look, ya know how much I love ya.” She whispered through her tears. “But I can’t… I can’t do this. Not afta seein’ exactly what th’ Legion did t’that Titan.”

She walked up to her felhunter—her puppy, as she always called him. Her tears flowed harder as she released him from her control, banishing him into the Twisting Nether. “You’ll have plenty’a friends t’play with an’ run with… it’ll be good for you. It’ll be good for us all.”

The felhunter howled, confused, as its physical body faded away. Enzle threw herself back onto her bed as she cried. It’s for the best, she thought, as if repeating it would make it more true.

--

Alexia threw her half-folded robes into a bag. Usually she would pack more carefully, but as of right now she just wanted to get herself away from Lightshock.

“Why would you leave now? After seeing the evil of the Fel? The world almost ended, and you know as well as I that only the Light could heal it—“

Lex slammed her bag shut, throwing on a traveling cloak and turning to her old mentor with a scowl. “Last night made me realize that this isn’t my true calling. If I’m given a second chance like that, I figure the Light or whatever would probably want me to seize it.”

She pushed past the priest, ignoring him completely as he howled after her. “But the Light should be everyone’s calling! What could call to you more than the Goodness and Justice in the world? What could you possibly—“

The heavy wooden door of the cathedral slammed shut, and a smile flickered across Alexia’s lips. I’m free, she thought, hurrying across Silvermoon.

Last night had been a turning point. The Void terrified Sargeras enough that he had turned against his own family. If it was powerful enough to scare a Titan, she couldn’t imagine anything more critical to understand.

“When the awkward, asexual goblin goes to a literal brothel...”

BASICS

► Name ➔   “Enzle Darkcoin!” ► Are you single ➔ “I don’t think anyone is every truly single! Although, I am a bit... alone, right now.” ► Are you happy ➔   “Of course! I mean... I think. A lot has happened recently, I guess. It’s been hard to deal with it all. And everyone is so angry, and there’s so much cruelty in the world... but I think when the world gets this bad, maybe all we can do is try to be happy!” ► Are you angry ➔  “A... a little. I don’t want to admit to it, but I am. I can’t believe everything that happened recently. People are so cruel. And the leaders who are supposed to protect us are too busy squabbling! But I don’t think anger will solve anything. I think anger’s what got us into this whole mess.” ► Are your parents still married ➔   “My mother died in the Cataclysm, and I still miss her so much. If she hadn’t died, though, they absolutely would be married. Dad still has pictures of her up all over his little apartment-- I was visiting recently, and it was like she never left. It was a little sad, but I hope one day I can have people in my life who love me that much. I’m so proud of them both for finding each other and holding on through everything.”

NINE FACTS

► Birth Place ➔ “Gadgetzan! It was quite a place to grow up, let me tell you.” ► Hair Color ➔ “It’s black, but there’s just the slightest touch of blue if the light hits it just right.” ► Eye Color ➔ “They’re a sorta orangey-red!” ► Birthday ➔ “February 16th. The love month!" ► Mood ➔ “Let’s say ‘hopeful.’ That’s what I try to be, at least.” ► Gender ➔ “I’m a girl!” ► Summer or winter ➔ “Oh, they’re both so special in their own way! In the summer, everything is alive. Everyone is out, trying to find a cool spot to rest, and it’s like the sun has put energy into every person-- like we’re all flowers! But in the winter, people nest. We all settle in, and we seek out the friends and family who put warmth into us. It’s cozy and peaceful. I like them both.” ► Morning or afternoon ➔ “Always mornings! It’s the one time you know you’ll have to yourself, watching the sun rise and preparing for the day. It’s the best time to prepare surprises!”

EIGHT THINGS ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE

► Are you in love ➔ “I don’t know if that’s... how I’m made? I love so much, but I don’t think I’ve ever been in love, and I don’t know if I want to be. That amount of commitment and passion for only one person sounds so draining!” ► Do you believe in love at first sight ➔ “I think it happens to some people, but it’s not the best way to love. Or, at least, it’s not my favorite way to love. Do you know those times when you’ve spent so long with someone you finally understand them, inside and out, and slowly you start to see beauty and love in everything they do and everything they are? That’s my favorite kind of love.” ► Who ended your last relationship ➔ “Well... it depends on what you mean by relationship. I recently cut a lot of ties, decided that I needed to start over and try something else. So I suppose it was me.” ► Have you ever broken someone’s heart ➔  “Oh, Light, I hope not!” ► Are you afraid of commitments ➔ “Of course not! Commitments are some of the most beautiful things.” ► Have you hugged someone within the last week? ➔ “I... I haven’t! I recently left home again, to find something good to do. I guess... I haven’t found it quite yet.” ► Have you ever had a secret admirer ➔ “Oh, I’m sure not.” ► Have you ever broken your own heart? ➔ “I... have. I don’t really want to talk about it.”

SIX CHOICES

► Love or lust ➔ “Love! If only because I don’t really understand lust.” ► Cats or Dogs ➔ “Oh, absolutely dogs. I wish I could be more like a dog.” ► A few best friends or many regular friends ➔ “Oh, I don’t want to choose! I want to have both. Both is perfect!’ ► Wild night out or romantic night in ➔ “I guess that romantic night in would be closest. Something... peaceful, and soft.” ► Day or night ➔ “Oh, day! There’s so much more to do in the day!”

FIVE HAVE YOU EVERS

► Been caught sneaking out ➔ “Oh, I wouldn’t ever want to be in a place where I had to!” ► Fallen down/up the stairs ➔ “Who hasn’t?” ► Wanted something/someone so badly it hurt? ➔ “...Yes. I want my... my dog back so much, but I know I can’t. And I want to feel safe again. And, more than anything, I want to feel like I belong somewhere again.” ► Wanted to disappear ➔ “Oh, let me tell you! Once, I was out with some co-workers, and they decided to go to a brothel. I mean, as long as everyone’s happy it’s okay, but it was not my cup of tea. Everyone kept talking to me, but in that way that meant I was missing something, and I so wished I could just fade away.”

FOUR PREFERENCES

► Smile or eyes ➔ “Oh, they’re both beautiful! But I’d have to say, smile. Smiles make everyone around you happy too!” ► Shorter or Taller ➔ “I don’t really understand the question. Everyone should be just as they are!” ► Intelligence or Attraction ➔  “Intelligence. Having someone who challenges you... it’s the best way to be.” ► Hook-up or Relationship ➔ “Relationship, I guess? Is there a third, ‘friendship’ option?”

FAMILY

► Do you and your family get along ➔ “Of course! My parents were always my soft place to land. Even with everything, we clung together.” ► Would you say you have a “messed up life” ➔ “I don’t think so! I’m proud of where I’ve been, and I see a good future. Right now is hard, but there’s room to grow!” ► Have you ever ran away from home ➔ “According to my mother, when I was about four years old, I begged her to get me a puppy. She said that we didn’t have time to give it the life it deserved, and apparently I stormed right out the doors. She swears it was exactly thirty seconds before I came back in, wailing and apologizing-- my father didn’t even have his shoes on all the way to chase after me!” ► Have you ever gotten kicked out ➔ “Of course not! Who would do that to their own child? That would be horrible.”

FRIENDS

► Do you secretly hate one of your friends ➔ “Of course not! I don’t even secretly hate my enemies. I... don’t think I have enemies, but if I did, I wouldn’t hate them! Maybe that Sargaras monster. I hate him.” ► Do you consider all of your friends good friends ➔ “Of course I do! If they weren’t good, why would we be friends? I don’t have many right now, though.” ► Who is your best friend ➔ “My father, hands down!” ► Who knows everything about you ➔ “My father again!”

Tagged by @actionjaxkol -- sorry to be SO slow, friend!

Enzle’s Journal: Part 1

“Well, these past couple of weeks have been quite a ride! After doing some thinking, what with the world almost ending + losing my best friend in the world, I decided it was high time to get out of the tavern + learn to help people. The world is falling apart around me, it just didn’t feel right to sit + act like everything’s okay.

I’m thinking of studying first aid, + maybe tea. I could go back to fel, but it all feels so dirty after Sargeras almost killed us all. I don’t think I have Priesthood in me, but I could do some salves or bandages. + there’s something healing about a good cup of tea. I liked serving, seeing people relax after a hard day with a good drink. With tea though, customers are much less likely to drink out of each other’s belly buttons, which is a plus.

For now, though, I think I need some time to wander. I’ve lost plenty these few weeks, + I need a break. Plus some friends. I’m sailing to Ratchet first. It’s time to go home.”