Felwood

For days Kelebek ran north along the roads of Felwood. Eventually she veered west, looking for an opening in the mountains in hopes of finding a safe passage into Darkshore. She followed a rather putrid looking stream as she traveled westward, hoping that the water had at some point worked its slow magic on the stone, creating a sort of opening for her to travel through. Great haste while running down this unmade path was required, not necessarily for the sake of the inquiry that she must make of those in Darnassus, but for her own health. The waters that Kelebek found herself near smelled as if someone had poured the bowels of the Undercity into the veins of Felwood, somehow managing to magnify the stench a thousand fold in the process. It made her nauseous.

It only took her a day's journey to finally meet the mountain cliffs bordering the two lands, but the effort made that trip feel as if it had taken several haze-filled weeks. Finally though she had made it, made it to the edge of Felwood. What she arrived at was not at all what she had hoped for.

Kelebek took a tentative step towards the spot where the water seemed to - or at least once had - fallen over into Darkshore. She looked down. What she saw was disheartening: a several thousand foot drop was before her, at the bottom of which lay many jagged rocks. Much too far for her to jump and hope to land safely.

Dejectedly she slunk away from the steep drop, feeling dizzy and ill. She shifted back into her human form, hoping to ease the stress on her acute feral sense, but instead she was left feeling even more light-headed from her efforts. The fumes of the place were taking its toll on the little druid, and soon she found herself to be unconscious.

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She woke up to a wafting of the stagnant air, followed by a rather solid prod. Opening her sludge-covered eyes she saw what appeared to be a great, stony horned face peering at her. She was dazed, confused, and tried to get herself in a sitting position. She had no hopes of fleeing in her current state.

"Wha...who...who are you?" Kelebek asked of the great serpentine face that was in front of her. The winged beast replying in a low, rumbling voice.

"My name is Aeornoss, little one. I am a stone drake."

"A...a stone drake?! But...we...we're no where near the underland of Deepholm."

"That may be so, but there are stranger things in this land than a wandering stone drake. For instance, a druid who seems to have forgotten her wings." Aeornoss let out a rumbling chuckle that sounded as if two boulders were trying to mimic the music of a cricket's hind legs, albeit at a fraction of the speed.

"I am not a druid of the skies, dear stone drake. I am but a lion of the prairies, a cat of the shadows, a ghost in the forests."

"And what brings you to this putrid wasteland, little ghost?" Aeornoss' calm, yet inquiring stone face was still uncomfortably close to Kelebek's own.

"I am here on accord of a friend. Him and I have been trying to protect this lands from the demons that have taken residence here. We've been trying to heal the wounds of the wilds."

Aeornoss raised a stony eyebrow. Kelebek continued her explanation. "As you can see, our efforts have been fruitless. By day the vile waters grow even more putrid, by night the demons seem to spawn hoards anew. We are losing the battle and the war against the unnatural here. That is why I'm trying to travel to Darnassus, to seek aid from those who would hunt the demons and to hope that the city may be able to lend a few bodies who would be able to heal this land better than a couple of feral spirits."

Even this explanation was too much of a taxation on what little bit of energy that the druid had regain from her sleep-like state. With those last couple of words, Kelebek once again collapsed onto the ground into a laying position. She remained conscious, but just barely.

The stone drake smiled as only one made of stone could smile. "Your purpose is noble, little ghost..."

"Kelebek," she wheezed "my name...is Kelebek..."

"Very well, little Kelebek. Today is your lucky day, something you seem to be in short supply of at this moment." Aeornoss' face grew more serious. "I shall journey with you to Darnassus. Before we make such a journey though, we must get you to the land over yonder. Fresh air and proper rest are needed to get your strength up."

"Yes...please..." With a deep, ragged sigh Kelebek was once more in the realm of unconsciousness.

With a gravelly exhalation, Aeornoss thought to himself: Fleshlings. As fragile as a new born stone, yet to be cooled and solidified, yet as quick and determined as the swiftest of streams. This one's time is short of I do not interfere. I hope the earthen spirits forgive me. The Earth Mother shall not be claiming this one quite yet. He closed his eyes and slowly nodded his head, his mind made up. As gently as one could when having great jagged claws for hands, Aeornoss scooped up Kelebek and held her close to his large, rocky chest.

Aeornoss walked awkwardly over to the edge of the mountain side. "Time to go, little ghost." With a great push the stone drake launched them over the edge, allowing them to free fall for several hundred feet before finally opening up his large stone wings, gliding safely into the falling sunset of Darkshore.

Next Chapter: Darkshore - The Hunt

The Hut by the Lake

A young girl-child's voice, somewhere off in the distance.

"Kelebek...wake up Kelebek..."

"...Kiya?" Groggily Kelebek opened up her eyes. Squinting from the bright light that streamed through the little hut's door, she peered around the one room building hoping to catch a glimpse of the child who had woken her from her dreamless sleep.

Slowly her mind cleared as she began to wake up. Who is Kiya? she wondered. Kelebek sat up on her little cot and rubbed her temples as she searched her patchy memory as to who the girl was. Nothing. Always, nothing. With a sigh of frustration Kelebek got up from the make shift bed and walked to the little lake just outside of the hut's front door. The early afternoon's sun danced upon the little ripples of the lake, creating a dazzling effect that, while stunning, hurt the young druid's eyes.

She knelt down on the grassy shore of the water's edge and splashed a bit of the cool liquid onto her face. Rarely did she bother to gaze at her own reflection, but today she studied her features. Her wide mouth sported dry lips, the tattoos that ran vertically down her angular face seemed almost faded, her pale skin had an unhealthy tint to it. She looked tired and worn out.

Kelebek jumped when a low, gravely voice spoke. "Your answers don't lay within the weeds of that lake, child."

"Tal, you startled me." She took a shaky breath, trying to calm her over taxed nerves. "I figured that I'd try to take up shamanism. I hear that all they must do to find their answers is to ask the elements, not crawl about on all fours hunting for them like demons in the night."

Taloris Galesong chuckled quietly. "While Elune may make us sensitive to the tides and nature's beckons, we night elves are not adept at asking the elements for advice." His lined and wizened face grew serious with his next statement. "Did your trip to Winterspring yield any information?"

"No, it was just a goblin looking for a quick pinch of gold. The tip was false." Kelebek winced in pain as she stood up and faced Tal. "When I accused him of false information he began to yell about how I was attacking him. Everlook's bruisers were on me in a minute. I doubt I'll be welcome there again."

The old druid's face was a grim mask. "At least you have returned safely. How was the road back?" While Taloris may not have cared for many folk, for some reason he felt a bit responsible for the young orphaned druid. He couldn't stop Kelebek on her futile search for her long lost family. All he could do is help in what little ways he could while at trying to ensure that she was as safe as possible. She looked ragged, and it worried him greatly.

"I managed to stealth past that demon camp north of here without much problem. We may need to move on soon, they seem to be multiplying and that sludge is slowly making it's way towards this lake. I don't think you can protect Felwood much longer, Taloris."

With a heavy sigh Taloris said, "I've done just about all I could. I've done what I could to protect the woods of Felwood, but I cannot heal the wounds that these demons have created. I've never been gifted in the art of healing."

"Perhaps it's time we spoke with the priestesses of Darnassus. Maybe they can call out to the druids of restoration to heal these lands and round up a few Sentinels to finally put an end to the demon spawn."

"You may be right child, but I think I dislike the idea of walking into the city even more than you. Even the tranquility of Darnassus makes me uneasy."

"Then I will go."

"As you wish child. But please, keep out of trouble."

"I shall do my best, Elder. I'll be sure to ask for the aid of Felwood prior to inquiring about my family."

"I'd rather you would just seek help for the wilds and leave the trail to your past hidden."

Always, he thinks me to be a fool, Kelebek thought to herself. To Tal she simply said "You know I cannot do that."

"Then may luck and Elune be with you, child." With that the old druid turn away and shifted into his usual shaggy bear form. Kelebek watched him as he lumbered off into the woods.

The young druid groaned to herself as she rubbed her bruised muscles tenderly. Never a day's rest. Always searching for answers, always seeking help.What I wouldn't give for a quiet night under the stars... Kelebek sighed to herself and began to collect the few belongings she had. It was going to be a few weeks journey from the little hut that she shared with Taloris to the city of Darnassus. She was unsure of how long she would have to take residence there before she could convince the priestesses of the city to lend her and her mentor a hand with the demons. It would take even longer to carefully inquire about that event that happened oh so many years ago.

With her things packed Kelebek took one final look around the hut. Satisfied that she had left nothing of importance she once again walked outside into what was now evening beginning to settle on the lake. Such a beautiful sight, and yet she knew that if something wasn't done soon, that little lake would become yet another slime pool. She had to get moving.

"An ear to the ground and an eye to the sky. Elune grant us all safety."

With that she swung her pack onto her pack and shifted into her cat form. The orange sun gave way to a sickly green hue as she made haste to the city that held the area's last hope.

Next Chapter: Felwood