Who is Lio?

Die for them? Kill for them?

Would you walk through fire?

If you had the power to change their fate.. would you? Could you?

I have that power and I was a fool to believe I could.

But I tried..

I had to..

Thousands upon thousands of attempts..

I fucking tried..

To save her.

I knew Roma, but not in the traditional sense, I knew her because we were destined to meet, destined to grow close, destined for so much...

And no matter what happened, no matter how careful I was, no matter how soon or late I came into her life... she was destined to die.

Her first death we were merely friends.

Her second.. something more.

Each death felt like someone punched a hole through my chest.. but each time I went back.. instead of that hole filling.. all I did was make it wider. Every attempt to save her life made the wound worse, I should have been trying to heal and instead I was packing the wound in broken shards of my own grief.

I was selfish.. but in that selfishness I lived lifetimes with her.

It's never easy, losing someone, whether you have them for a day or a lifetime, that loss is never something you simply get over. It becomes something you learn to live with. It's a constant struggle, a pain that never really heals but one day that pain, while it still hurts, becomes like an old friend. It's a reminder of the love you shared, of the good times and the bad.

It will always hurt, she's gone but not forgotten, she lives on in me, living the life she kept trying to get me to live.

It had started as a feeling..

It felt as though his hand was cramping, as if he'd spent days using just his hand, it ached and every movement was a mixture of pain and strain. He couldn't understand why it was happening and the more he tried to ignore it, the more the pain demanded his attention.

Lio gathered his things, his aching hand making everything more difficult, causing him to drop items he'd sworn he had a grip on. One such item, the journal he was found with, fell to the floor and lay open. The dracthyr's hand paused a few inches from the journal as the pages suddenly began to flip rapidly until it lay open on the first page, words penning themselves to the page as he picked it up.

If you can see this then it means you are nearing the point of no return, a point that will change your life forever. No matter what you think you know, what you think you are capable of, you will fail. Failure is inevitable, get that through your head now, accept it, understand it. The only way to avoid failure is to do something that will go against everything you believe in.

I can go into a long winded explanation of the how and why.. but I don't know how close you are to that moment and unfortunately we don't have the time for it. So in short: Do nothing.

More will be revealed in time,

Lio

He nearly dropped the journal then and there, and again when one of the smaller nerubians appeared beside him, tugging on his cloak. "I take it my flyer is ready?"

The little one nodded and pointed across the platform of the Weaver's Lair. "I won't keep them waiting."

When he didn't immediately move the little nerubian grabbed his cloak and started moving in the direction of the flyer, but Lio's weight kept the poor thing stuck in place, it's many legs skittering at high speed but going nowhere.

"I'm coming, I'm coming.." He started to move, only walking immediately became awkward as the nerubian refused to release his cloak.

Other larger nerubians were now watching, their many eyes focused on the little one dragging Lio. The dracthyr caught their looks and merely opted to give them a shrug as he odd-waddled behind the pint sized nerubian.

As he reached the launch point the flyers were using the little nerubian finally released him, gesturing rather impatiently between Lio and the flyer. "I get it, I'm sorry, I'm going.. see?"

He quickly climbed onto its back and before he could look back to wave farewell to his irritable little companion, the flyer took off. The dracthyr held on as best he could, trying to remember the route it took as it bobbed, swayed, and dived around the many obstacles, between web-bombs and stalactites and nerubian structures. He was just beginning to wonder where he was being taken when it suddenly banked hard to the right and into a dive.

They landed safely, thankfully, but his feet only just touched the ground before his flyer was off. "Oh.. suppose I'll find my own way back?" He resisted the urge to give the flyer the finger, not that the damned thing would understand the gesture.

A pair of torches marked a path ahead, voices ahead told him he was where he needed to be. The camp itself wasn't much, a few simple shelters had been built but not nearly enough to house the number of people here. He recognized the robes of many of the people here, survivors of Dalaran, many of them huddled together in hushed conversations. As Lio moved among them he could hear them discussing their impending departure and when he managed to speak to a few that were sitting around one of the strange fiery plants he learned some of the survivors had already reached Hallowfall. Perhaps the rescue attempts weren't all in vain like they had appeared.

The other topic that seemed to have these survivors worried was how ineffective their attempts at any form of portal or teleportation has been met with failure, as if something was disrupting their connection to the leylines. When Lio pressed for more information he was met with scrutiny, one survivor even commenting that the dracthyr wouldn't understand, but an older man, his robes nearly in tatters and a stained bandage over one of his eyes said it wasn't as if they were cut off completely, but that any attempts at such magic had been unstable. He went on to explain that portals and teleportation was a very precise magic and even the slightest problem could be catastrophic to the caster. Lio thanked the older man, making a mental note to relay this information to the others as soon as he could, though he hadn't seen any of the Sunshields show a hint of magical ability or arcane prowess.

An Arathi, using his shield like a cane to hold himself upright beckoned the dracthyr. "Haven't seen you around here, are you from Hallowfall? Or the Wall?"

"I came from both actually.. I was part of a rescue attempt that went to Siegehold." When the Arathi perked up, Lio felt a pang of guilt at sparking a hope he would have to crush. "It was unsuccessful.. as far as I know there were no survivors. I was sent here from..."

He paused, uncertain how this information would be taken. Friendly nerubians? Well.. friendly-ish. "Deeper within.. we'd heard there were survivors here and hoped perhaps our own people might be among them. Unfortunately, I don't see a familiar face.. at least not to me as I only just joined these people recently."

Another sweep of the camp with his eyes confirmed, no crimson scales, no hint of her laughter, or a whiff of her scent. Roma wasn't among them.

"There were more here." The Arathi cleared his throat. "But they were taken in the night, dragged to the catacombs below. We sent fighters but.. we have little hope for their return."

Catacombs.. the dracthyr nodded. Given what he'd experienced so far, it was safe to assume no one would be returning. But he had to know, had to see for himself. "Thank you.. get some rest now."

He took only a step away when the Arathi grabbed his arm, "If you plan to go.. I wish to join you." A few of the other nearby Arathi pushed to their feet.

Lio smiled, placing his hand over the injured man's. "These people need you here, all of you. There's no telling how long it will take to get them all out of here."

The Arathi looked to the survivors, his stare lingering for some time on his own people.

"If I find them.. I will honor them." The dracthyr thought back to his time at the Wall, a specific moment coming to mind. "I will collect their tinderboxes and return them to you if I find them."

Silence stretched between them as the Arathi stared at Lio. "I.." He swallowed. "Thank you."

Leaving the survivors and their guardians back at the camp, the dracthyr made his way to the catacombs. It didn't take him long to know he was heading in the right direction, the stench of death and something else, something that threatened to empty the contents of his stomach assaulted his senses. Lio didn't think twice, immediately assuming his true form as soon as the entrance was in sight. He wasn't going to take any chances.

The dracthyr heard it before he saw it, a soft chittering sound followed by the leathery flap of wings, a flyer darted out from the mouth of the catacomb directly at him. He twisted as it drew near, his tail whipping around in a wide arc and catching the flyer right down the middle. The screech of the winged nerubian as it was split in two resulted in the sound of several leathery wings flapping from within and they began to pour from the entrance towards Lio who drew in a deep breath and exhaled in a volcanic blast. What little remained of those caught in his attack splattered into smoldering puddles and clumps on the ground around him.

"Bloody hell.." He let out a hacking cough, the last remnants of his breath swirling out in embers and ash. "Way to make an entrance, mate.."

Inside the catacombs was exactly as he expected more of the winged nerubians but many of them were either already dead or barely clinging to life. The deeper he went the harder it was becoming to breathe, spores filled the air and many of the bodies, both humanoid and nerubian, were covered in growths. Those that lived were granted a swift death, what little remained of their bodies couldn't be saved and whatever infected them shouldn't leave this place. The path split but the dracthyr's eyes could see that the other path was caved in so he continued down the other, still seeing no sign of Romassi or the Arathi until he came to a dead end.

Strewn along the ground were dead fungal abominations and flyers and across from the bodies at the back of the tunnel lay the Arathi, from the looks of it they'd fought to the last man but even he succumbed to his wounds. Lio cursed under his breath and stepped through the bodies of their enemies, checking each of the Arathi in turn for their tinderboxes. Once collected and tucked away the dracthyr drew in a deep breath, feeling his chest and throat expand as the intense heat began to build within him, he held it for a moment, a silent prayer sent to whoever would hear his thoughts before he exhaled and began backing out of the catacomb. Burn it all, all of it, cleanse it, leave nothing to grow and fester, leave nothing to chance, nothing escapes, nothing survives.

Once back at the entrance he let out the last of his volcanic breath and watched everything burn briefly before summoning a surge of energy in a blast to seal it. He stood there for some time, his mind a storm of torment at his failure to find Roma. What if he never found her? What then? It had been his only purpose since the moment he'd lost her. He resigned to wallowing in his own guilt later, he needed to report back after a quick stop at the camp.

I opened my eyes, I could tell I was still asleep, but I was somehow in full control. It took me a moment to realize I was somewhere within the dream, a gift of the green flight. Darkness surrounded me save for the faint emerald hue that illuminated what little I could see.

"What are you even doing, you moron.." Came a voice I hadn't heard in some time.

My voice caught in my throat, I could barely breathe. "Roma..?"

"Who else?" I couldn't make out the details, but even in the darkness a shadow of her could just barely be made out. "We've barely known each other a week or two and you're down here risking your life for me? You sweet, impossible, idiot of a whelp."

I couldn't help but smile, "I can't let you have all the fun.."

Her own smile, though lost in the shadows, was clear as day in my mind.

"Can you tell me where you are? Anything that can help me find you?"

Her shadow shook its head, "It's just cold here, and dark, I can't move. Everything is quiet, has been for a while."

I watched her shadow, the way it moved, twitched, motions much too quick, or painfully slow, it was unnatural. "Is this the dream.. or a dream.." The thought had been on the tip of my tongue, but tumbled forth before I could stop myself.

"Does it matter?" Her shadow laughed. "You're a fool to come for me, you have to know that. I was just an ember in the flame of your life."

The darkness crept in, I could feel myself stirring from this dream state. "It matters to me.. I don't know why.. I can't explain it.. maybe it's instinct. I can't just do nothing."

"You could die here.. and for what? For me? Why.." Her shadow was fading, slipping away, I could feel the last tethers to this moment severing.

"I don't know what else to do." The words burst from me as her shadow laughed once more, light hearted, the same laugh I'd once heard in a tavern that felt like a lifetime away.

"Well just because you don't know what to do.. doesn't mean you should die for me.." The shadow shook its head. "Don't die for me.. live for you."

I reached for her, my hand grasping at nothing as I realized I was awake. Back at the camp. Curses left me in hissed whispers and breathy sighs. Was that real? Did it matter?

Stretch my legs, get moving, it was early, the others were asleep, I could see the cartographer huddled in a blanket by one of the fiery plants these strange people used for warmth. He was asleep, one of the Arathi medics still hovering over him. The Arathi people that were still awake looked at me like I was some sort of oddity, I couldn't blame them, an elf one moment, a dragon the next.. it still was a shock even to me. I made my way through the camp, heading towards the main path that brought us here. Nothing was stopping me from just continuing on, nothing was really holding me to these people.

That shadows words echoing in my mind, what was I doing here? Why was I risking my life for someone I barely knew, with people I barely knew. It made no sense.. and yet it made perfect sense. Something in me, something deep, deep in the vast abyss of my memory was telling me not to question it, that this was who I was. I was a guardian, a protector... I could feel it, I knew it. How I knew this didn't matter but it was why I was down here in the dark risking everything for someone that was just a whisper on the wind with people I just met. Something else within me tried to fight it but was quickly silenced.

Don't die for me.. live for you..

Finding them in that moment could have been fate, if one believed in such things. To feel as I felt, ready to give up, ready to walk away, only to happen to overhear what I heard. They were in the same boat as I was, losing someone dear, searching for a way. A contact in Mereldar and plan to delve deeper into the unknown.

I felt a fire in me that had just been mere embers that very morning, and though I doubt I will be privy to their entire plan or even get to meet this contact with them, I already knew I would fight through the deepest depths and the vilest void to see this through.

I walked along in silence for the most part once the caravan began to move, my mind racing at the possibilities this chance encounter could bring. The older human among them appeared to be their leader, I could feel the authority radiating from him, the power, the Light. I'd felt that power before, during my short time in Stormwind before I left, I'd been drawn to it. The Cathedral nearly hummed with it when I entered, my curiosity getting the better of me, and found myself arriving in the middle of a sermon. What was said meant little to me, but what was felt was something I'd never forget. I felt that same feeling here and now as I walked beside the old man.

We spoke a little as Mereldar loomed in the distance, small talk mostly, nothing to write home about. The others that followed the older man were interesting, an elven man, a half-elven woman, and another elven woman. I'd overheard the elven man was named Luthen and the half-elf introduced herself as Aelin, I never got the other elf's name. But how they interacted with each other was more like one would see among family. Perhaps they were all related and I didn't know, or more likely they'd spent so long together that this was just how they became.

Another man was introduced, well more like he made a bellowing introduction. Quite large in form and stature, but not in a way that felt intimidating, his oafish shouts and words made me see him more like a tamed bear than wild beast. I could very well be wrong in my first impressions of the man, and as the others knew him he seemed harmless. I let my thoughts return to the storm that had been held at bay in my mind, raging between what must be done and what lie ahead, the conversation around me became little more than a dull hum.

I never thought this chance encounter would lead to anything more than the next step, that these people would be anything other than a means to an end. I had no way of knowing that this was the beginning of something that would lead me down the path I find myself on today, or that these strangers would one day become something more.

Relearning what I am was.. strange. Roma was a blessing during this time, I wouldn't have been ready otherwise for what was to come. To this day I still wonder if I could have done anything differently.

Roma was still asleep as I watched the sun rise, my mind so cluttered with everything I'd learned recently that I couldn't settle and chose to simply keep watch. Ever since that day we met I've been through a whirlwind of history and what I was capable of.

The sun was just above the horizon when Roma stirred. "Mm.. you were supposed to wake me to take watch.."

"I know.. I couldn't sleep, didn't see the point." Roma sighed, I could feel her hand take hold of my tail and give it a tug. "What's it look like down there."

Mereldar was not far, we were close enough that we could see more and more people arriving each day. "Crowded, but I think most of the forces have gathered, won't be long now."

Since our meeting in the tavern Alliance and Horde forces had continued to gather in preparation of what was to come and help bolster the town's defenses against the Nerubians. They'd push to the next camp by midday at my best guess.

"Anything happen last night?" Roma released my tail, scooting to the edge of the cliff with me.

"Something.. it was hard to make out, but whatever it was didn't last long. It's been quiet." This was an understatement but she didn't need to know the details. Though something was happening in Mereldar, that part was the truth, but we'd had a visit of some flyers in the night. I'd drawn them away, using my draconic gifts to make short work of them and dispose of the carcasses, I didn't want her to worry.

Roma nodded as she pushed herself to her feet, stretching and groaning. "I never thought I'd say this.. but I miss the itchy bed from The Empire's Edge." She folded her wings back, staring down at the town. "We should go, looks like they're gathering to advance."

"The camp isn't far, well, not for us.. we'll be able to speak to whoever is in charge there before they are flooded with soldiers." My wings unhooked from my neck. "No showing off, let's just get there in one piece."

I couldn't see it, but I could feel the eyeroll from her. "You're just jealous that I'm a better flyer than you." Her club of a tail-end came up and thudded against my shoulder, nearly knocking me off balance.

"Yeah, yeah.. just stay close, we don't know what we're going to find. And.. I'd certainly hope you were a better flyer, considering I just learned I had wings not that long ago." Pushing off the ground felt odd in those first days, even though I could do it, flinging myself into the air was a feeling I don't think I'd ever get used to, not that I didn't enjoy it.

Once we were in the air it was effortless, but it was still strange, this should be new to me, frightening, but it felt so natural and so freeing. The rush of the wind, the thrill of the speed, the feeling was.. I couldn't put it into words. Roma was ahead of me, showing off, naturally. Diving, twisting, shooting up only to come to a full stop right in front of me, forcing me to dive to avoid crashing, I could hear her laughter as she joined me once more.

"Cute!" I roared over the wind. "Maybe next time I won't get out of the way!"

"HAH!" She flew ahead of me, looking back, her tongue poked out between her teeth.

I never learned if she could hear me in this moment, I remember shouting, I remember trying to warn her, but she didn't even slow down.

"ROMA!!! LOOK OUT!!" She was still looking back at me, laughing now, my arms flailing and pointing, trying to get her to pay attention. "FLYERS!!!!"

She disappeared in a swarm, I could see her flames, hear her roars, her pain. I felt the power surging within me, nearly exploding out of me as I let loose a barrage of energy into the swarm causing them to scatter. "ROMA!!"

She was falling, limp. I dove after her, the swarm was closing in again, with another surge of energy I swiped the air around me with my claws, scattering the swarm again as several were ripped apart by frostfire streaks cutting through them. She was still limp, the ground was rapidly approaching.

Wings tucked, arms forward, I raced towards her, hoping against all hope that I would reach her in time.. I just managed to hook my arms under her and opened my wings to pull up at the last moment, but our combined weight made it difficult, we were still going to crash. I tried to slow us down, holding her close while I beat my wings. "Come on.. come on.. Shit!"

We hit the ground hard, tumbling together, but the damage was much less than it would have been. She was alive, but barely, she was bleeding from several wounds in her neck and torso, her wings were nearly torn to shreds. I could hear shouts in the distance, but I couldn't make out the words, all I could focus on was her ragged breaths struggling for the air that being choked by the blood in her throat.

Flames formed in my hands, as I pressed them to each of her wounds in turn, trying to cauterize them and begin healing, I was still new at this, so I didn't know how effective my efforts were, but she was moving now. I tried to call upon everything within me, the gifts of the flights fumbling through my unpracticed guidance. As I worked I could hear armor, more shouts, fighting but nothing could pull me out of this moment as she finally took a deep breath that didn't seem to pain her. She was breathing.. but still not moving, I didn't know if she'd make it but given the sounds around me, we were near enough to the camp, someone more skilled could take over.

"Soldier, get that wounded one to the medical tent!" I tried to fight down the urge to lash out at the young man who'd come to help Roma, but I still tensed, ready to strike before a hand was placed on my shoulder. "Don't worry, they'll get her the help she needs."

An older man, graying hair and beard a tangled mess, he looked like he'd just crawled out of bed. "More are coming, are you hurt?" "I'll live.." I let the young man take her, though he struggled and eventually another came to help him carry Roma into the camp.

"Good enough." He helped me to my feet, and I could finally see what was happening. There was a swarm in the air and nearly a dozen Nerubian coming up the road. "Reinforcements are coming but we have to hold until they arrive. Can you fight?"

"I can."

He nodded and went back to his men who were forming up, archers readying arrows in their back line. "READY!! AIM!! RELEASE!!"

Arrows ripped through the swarm, and some of the Nerubians on the ground fell, as the archers drew from their quivers to ready another volley.

I was about to take to the skies when I felt the ground beneath my feet begin to shake.

Shouts came from the camp.. "RELEASE!! GET BACK TO CAMP!!"

I was in the air without a moment's hesitation, whipping back and forth across the camp as I searched for what their medical tent looked like. I saw someone scramble out of one of the collapsing tents, they didn't look like a soldier, their robes were stained with blood. I landed beside him. "What happened? Was my friend in there?" The man blinked slowly, mouth moving but no words came out. I am not proud of this moment, but I backhanded him perhaps harder than I should have. "SPEAK!"

"Red one.. y-yes.. the ground beneath us shifted, I barely made it out before it opened. It.. it took them.. all of them.. eyes.. that's all I saw, so many eyes.." I left him to his ramblings as I rushed to the tent, ripping through the fabric with my claws only to find that the hole was sealed. The fighting was growing close but all I could see was the dirt, all I could feel was my claws digging through it, all I could hear was my heart hammering in my chest. Someone came to try to pull me away.. but I shrugged them off.

The fighting slowly came to an end, the medical tent was moved, but I stayed, still digging, still hoping, still begging for a sign. Reinforcements arrived, but either someone told them to leave me be, or no one wished to approach me. I didn't leave that hole for some time, when I didn't need to sleep or eat.. I dug, and I kept digging until my arms gave out.

The crystal turns, night becomes day, a brief respite.

I've reached Mereldar in Hallowfall, the fight with the Nerubians and followers of some dark master brought me here. I took the time to restock my supplies, sharpen my blades, and grab a drink at the local tavern. Those like me, those from the surface, are scattered about the town here. Some merely seeking to aid the people here, others searching for lost loved ones from Dalaran or the various battles that have ensued since arriving on the Isle. I am an outsider on both fronts, no one lost, no skin in the fight, merely here because the surface held no answers for me.

The Empire's Edge is packed as I take a seat with my mug of something the Innkeeper called Blessed Brew. All that mattered to me was that it was cold and the drink would muddy and blur some of the images in my head from the battles that brought me here. One of the servers brings me another mug, setting it on the table before I've finished the last gulp of the first. I can feel a warmth begin to spread as I gulp down the second mug and finally relax against the back of my chair. My eyes wander as my thoughts return to my completely blank slate. I still don't know who I am, though given my ears I assume I am some sort of elf, I've seen others like me but no one looked at me as though they knew me so I didn't bother them with my problems. I sigh, just about ready to get up and explore the town when another elf sits at the table next to me.

"Hi there!" She was quite cheerful given the grim path it took to get here. "I haven't seen many of us down here, I'm Romassi, but everyone just calls me Roma. What's your name?"

I contemplated just walking away, but the way she said us piqued my interest. "Lio, just Lio." I force a smile that seemed to appease Roma as she smiled back.

"Boy my wings are tired, having to fight those flyers so they stopped swarming the fighters on the ground nearly wiped me out. Is that any good?" She pointed at my mug.

I was a little confused by her words, I remembered seeing odd creatures, something of a mix of dragon and humanoid, flying about the skies and battling the winged Nerubians. But she neither looked like one, nor did she have wings. Perhaps she took a particularly nasty bump on the head. I was just about to start inspecting her for any head injuries when she spoke up again.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" She raised a brow, tilting her head as her hair parted from the shift to reveal a broken horn at her hairline. "Are you well?"

I stared, I admit it, not in a creepy way, but in a way that Roma apparently found funny as she started to laugh.

"You know, not that I am complaining, but compared to most of our kind your visage is somewhat plain. Beautiful in its own way, don't get me wrong. But plain. No horns, hardly any jewelry, no scales. It's like you said I want to be pretty but boring and instead your look became pretty boring." She continued to laugh.

"I'm sorry.. what? Visage? What are you on about?" I couldn't quite wrap my mind around what she was saying, was she calling me boring? Ugly? Dull? I don't think I've heard those words used to describe me. Before I could dig through my head to decipher her meaning two things happened all at once. Where a lovely elven woman with a broken horn, and laugh that was beginning to irk me, sat one of those humanoid dragons now did, their wings folded beneath their neck like a leathery, scaley cloak. And I fell out of my seat.

Nearly the whole tavern turned their attention to us, some craning their necks around those at their table to get a look at what was happening, but I seemed to be the only person shocked by her sudden shift in appearance.

"I.. you.. wha-.. huh?" I swore I knew how to speak, honest, but the words just tumbled out of my mouth and they weren't the ones I wished to use.

Roma chuckled and shook her head, her crimson scales catching the lamplight in an almost mesmerizing way. "What's wrong with you, Lio? You act like you've never seen this before."

"I haven't." Well look at that, chose the words, spoke the words, and they were the right words!

Roma appeared confused, though it was harder to tell with this face than the elven one she had only moments ago. "Surely this is some kind of joke?" From my place on the floor I could see her tail twitching, the spiked, club-like end rolling back and forth behind her seat. "You.. haven't? I.. aren't you.. I mean you have to be, aren't you? I can't be wrong. Aren't you?"

"Aren't I.. what?" I may as well get off the floor now, this conversation felt like it was taking a serious turn and me getting up might stop people from staring.

"One of us?" She leaned forward, glowing golden eyes searching for something in my own.

"You mean.. can I turn into something like that in the blink of an eye? No. Just an elf, sorry to disappoint. Nearly a month ago I woke up on some ship during a storm, crew said they found me in a wreck. All I had with me was a satchel and a book, Lio was written on the inside cover so I took it as my name." I looked over to the innkeeper and gave them an apologetic look for the scene I'd caused and tossed a few coins onto the table. "Anyways.. this has been fun, but I should get going. Best of luck with.. well.. whatever you're doing." I didn't spare her another glance, the look she'd given me stirred something dormant inside me and I didn't like it, it made my skin crawl. I'd barely made it out of the door, one foot on the path when I felt hands wrap around my arms and hoist me up. Only.. the up just kept going..

"Stop squirming! I don't want to lose my grip!" Roma shouted through the rushing winds as she flew higher and higher.

"ARE YOU INSANE!?" The ground was rapidly getting further away and all I could think about was the soldiers I'd seen being dropped by the flying Nerubians exploding against the ground like sack of meat and bones. "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!?"

"Just proving a point!" She yelled hovering in place.

"And what point is that?!"

"This!" And she let me go.

Looking back this was sheer insanity, not knowing who or what I was, no proof beyond whatever crackpot idea she had in her head about me. Was she hoping an instinct that had yet to surface in my entire fight down here would suddenly come? All I knew for certain in that moment was that I was about to die and there was nothing I could do about it but hope she came to her senses before I hit the ground like some sort of nightmare water balloon.

"FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!" I tried to flatten out in vain, hoping to slow my rapid descent to no avail. "FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU- "

Something stirred once more, this time stronger, I felt it reach into my very core and rip away the shackles of fear. It was instantaneous, one second I was falling to my certain death and the next I was leveling out and just missing the rooftops before banking left and coming back around towards the tavern. I could see her crimson form at the entrance, wings spread, arms pumping in the air. She looked happy. Did she not know I was coming? Did she not sense the approaching danger?

I crashed into her, slamming her to the ground, my momentum sliding us both several yards and nearly a foot deeper into the ground. "I should kill you!"

Black and silver scaled hands with curled black talons closed around her throat and through her struggles for air she managed to squeak out. "See... I.. told.. ya..."

I let out a growl of frustration as I released her, staring at these odd hands and arms that moved when I moved them. Standing up and inspecting myself further, I found that these scales covered my entire body, wings curled in, hooking together under my neck, something dragged behind me as I continued to examine every inch I could see, bringing my attention to my tail. MY TAIL! I HAD A TAIL! AND WINGS! I was one of those.. one of those THINGS! Unlike Roma's tail, my own was like a long and bladed spearhead that carved furrows into the dirt and clanked against the cobbled path as I turned.

Consider the shock I must have experienced, one moment thinking I was an elf, one moment thinking I was about to die, and the next.. I am something else, something entirely different that I'd believed myself to be all this time. I wasn't an elf, no, like Roma I was a Dracthyr, and the form I'd thought was just me was merely a visage. Take that in for a moment. Good? Great.. let's get back to it.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"

Again, remember.. this was a shock to me, okay?

"Calm down! You can't tell me you didn't know this was who you really are, Lio." Roma chuckled as she got to her feet. "I've never heard of any of our kind not knowing." She gave me a once over. "Though the visage is starting to make more sense.. wow." Roma recoiled as she took in my form.

"I.. didn't.. know.. and you.. you.. y- ARGH!!!" I tackled her again. "WHAT IF YOU WERE WRONG!!?"

"HEY! KNOCK IT OFF!" The clank of armor and the song of drawn steel snapped me out of it as the guards approached.

I didn't wait to face the guards, I thought about being away from here and pushed off the ground suddenly finding myself hurling through the skies with Mereldar disappearing behind me.

"HEY! Wait for me!" Roma had followed me. "Come on! Let's touch down there!" She soared beside me, pointing to a nearby cliff overlooking the water.

I wanted to tell her no and fly away from her but I figured she'd just keep following me so I turned and began circling the cliff, slowing myself down before attempting a landing. I will admit, not my most graceful landing, but I did land on my feet, sort of, and Roma landed beside me a moment later.

"You really didn't know?" She asked, concern, the same expression she had at the tavern etched her scaled face.

"No. I didn't." I searched within, trying to find a way to turn back. I was about to give up when Roma placed a hand on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry.. I thought you were pulling my tail." She paused briefly before continuing. "Focus on the image in your mind, hold it there, and push it towards the front of your mind. Do you have it?"

I nodded, struggling to keep my thoughts on the face I'd seen in the mirror so many times before today. I felt the stirring, only instead of breaking free, this felt more like bundling up..

"There you go.. not so hard, right?" She clapped me on the shoulder. "Of all the things you thought you were.. I bet this was the furthest from your mind."

I couldn't help but smile as I opened my eyes, seeing she'd returned to her visage as well. "This wasn't even a consideration."

My story doesn't start in the beginning like most tales, it starts in the middle. I awoke with a start.. My head was killing me, I remember that much, like it was trying to split itself in two. I tried to move but immediately felt myself being pushed back down. "Easy there, friend, easy.. you've been floatin' about at sea for who knows how long before we found you. You need rest, I'll send someone in a bit to see if you can stomach some broth, but for now.. rest." I tried to protest, tried to open my eyes, but all I managed was a weak groan before I was thrust into dreams of raging storms, shouting voices, and a deep ache.. as if I'd lost something very dear to me. I don't know how much time passed before I woke, my eyes refused to open and I didn't have the energy to force them. "Ah.. you're movin', that's good. Don't strain too much. Here.." A hand cupped the back of my head and tilted it forward, something warm and hard touched by bottom lip and a smell that sent my mouth watering assaulted my senses. "Easy, take sips." The first spoonful of whatever this liquid was slid past my tongue and down my throat, I could feel the warmth slowly begin to spread through me as the spoon touch my lips again. "That's it, not too fast, no tellin' if your stomach will hold this or not and if you start throwin' up, I'll start throwin' up and we'll be a right mess." I managed to open my eyes just a slit, though they threatened to close while I tried to focus on who was helping me, and I could just make out the blurry shape of what appeared to be a man, he was wearing a stained apron but I couldn't make out much more with how much he was swaying. It took me a moment to realize I was swaying to..

"Where.. am.. I?" I managed to ask. "Hard to say with this storm but I'd wager we're about a day or two away from Stormwind if the wind keeps in our favor. You're aboard The Saint, trade ship, we were on our way back from the isles when we came across a shipwreck. There were bodies everywhere but yours was the only one stirrin'. Whatever happened out there.. you were the only survivor." Another spoonful was eased into my mouth and my arms began to shake as I tried to sit up. "Stormwind?" The word felt strange on my tongue. "What is that?"

There was a long stretch of silence, my eyes finally obeyed the command I kept stressing in my mind to open and I could finally see the man's face clearly. He was a man of many years, hard years, much of it spent in the sun. To best describe it looking back, he was like a saddlebag with eyes, his skin was so leathery. "What is Stormwind? It's home, lad. Least for me, maybe you as well, you got them pointy ears. Your kind has taken a likin' to the city as well, too short for the other elves, no offense, them other ones are taller'in.. well.. they're tall and you ain't. S'why I figure you're one of them that's taken to Stormwind."

"I see.." My hands reached up to grip my head as it felt like it was trying to prise itself open once more. "Easy, lad.. glad you were able to drink some broth but you ain't leavin' this bed tonight, but we can probably remove that bandage come mornin', it ain't been bleedin'." I could feel the wraps around my head as I clutched it, trying desperately to keep it in one piece. The pain became a dull throb and I began to relax as the man helped me lay back. "Thank you.. ah.. what's your name?" "Benny, I'm The Saint's cook. And you are?" Benny was pulling the blanket up to my shoulders as my head settled on the pillow.

"The name's.. ah.." I should know this, shouldn't I? It felt like my name was right there but as soon as I tried to say it the name slipped away.

"Not surprisin' given what you been through, lad, you had some things with you while you were floatin', I'll make sure someone brings them by before you wake. Rest now..."

I was too tired to fight him on this and slipped back into stormy dreams and shouting voices, flashes of clouds, lightning, and swelling waves. I woke once in a cold sweat to find a tin cup of water by the bed that choked down before trying to go back to sleep. The next few days aren't much to tell, the cook was right though and we'd end up at the harbor within a day's time. My things that the crew of The Saint found with me was just a satchel that held a book filled with blank pages and a name written inside the cover.. Lio. I don't know if that is really my name, but it was easy to remember and as I have no memory of just who I am it served a purpose. I had nothing else to go on but for some reason I didn't seem too bothered by it. I began to realize that I didn't really care who I was.. I felt no burning desire to find out, and for reasons I can't explain, that realization felt like a weight had finally been shed from my shoulders.

In the months that followed my arrival I'd learned much more about this place called Stormwind, and I can honestly say that I don't know if I like it. I know, I know, but hear me out.. everything feels so crowded and enclosed, buildings and homes crushed up beside each other, markets so packed there's barely room to move without stepping on someone or bumping into a merchant bent on nabbing every coin they can. Then there's the canals, the smell, oh the smell.. I won't get into it. But then there's Old Town. At first.. same as the rest of the city just a bit poor. But there's women who wear barely a bit of cloth that are quite friendly.. so long as you have some coin.