A Sudden Vacation

Basically World of Warcraft fanfiction. World of Warcraft belongs to Blizzard, not me, obviously.

CHAPTER ONE

 

 

 

 

She stared out into the bleak, dry valley that cradled the capital city of Durotar. She sniffed, turning her back to the anomaly the honored Orcs had created. The anomaly that would soon transfrom into a full-blown disaster. 

There was talk of a strange cult, preaching doom and salvation to all those that listened. The fabled Warchief, Thrall, was retiring and passing on his “crown” to the son of one of the most violent and bloodthirsty Orcs she had ever heard tell of. 

Grom Hellscream.

The Elf shook her head, her slanted green eyes revealing her utter disgust at the situation. She had thought Thrall to be intelligent, different from all of the other dimwitted brutes that ran the Horde. She supposed not. Had they even seen Garrosh? He looked so unnatural, with rust-colored skin and blood-red eyes. From the moment she laid eyes on him, the Elf had distrusted him. 

Candriss was suddenly pulled from her thoughts as her violet-feathered mount squawked, warning her of another’s approach. A gigantic kodo charged up to her, dull claws slapping hard against the ground. Atop the large, but gentle steed rode her only companion in this dreary city, a friendship most would stare in astonishment of. Candriss’s only comrade in this city was a Tauren. 

Tauren, the ancient bull-man race that drove most scientists mad. The bull-men had been around for so long, perhaps even longer than the elderly Nightelves. 

His face, usually grinning with a twinkle in his eyes whenever he visited her, now seemed like a mask of stone. The pointy-eared girl felt sudden dismay at the situation, knowing of his distrusting thoughts of the decision she was making. He only wanted her to be safe and happy, while this journey might mean the end of her. A bit dramatic, but true. She would be heading to the Sun Rock Retreat, a peaceful little valley situated in the Stonetalon Mountains. She had been there once before, and had found it most peaceful, though surrounded by vicious wildlife and terrain. 

Tazerok’s raised an eyebrow,  practically reading her mind. She might as well say what she wanted to say before she went.

“You don’t want me to go.” She stated quietly, for it could not be considered a question. She already knew the answer. 

“No.” His simple reply astonished her, but why should it? He had always been blunt, but truthful when speaking. She had never once seen him fluster over words, trying to cover up the hurtful truth with idiotic chivalries. 

“Why?” Her usually hard eyes seemed to soften a bit as she considered the consequences it would have upon their friendship. Since coming to the great continent Kalimdor, it had been hard for her to make friends. The races were so different from her own people! The Orcs still warlike and torn and the Tauren and Trolls still living in huts in the mud! There was a difference between the peaceful, bull-like people and the bloodthirsty Trolls. She would trust her life with a Tauren, but never a Troll. 

As for the Undead, well, that was a different, stranger, and most of all sadder story. 

The Undead were a combination of all races, mostly human and high-elven. Both of the capitals of the two races had been compromised by the Lich King’s horde of mindless zombies, almost all of the people slain or transformed. Luckily, a group of a few hundred of the mob had broken off under the leadership of former Highelf Sylvanas Windrunner. One would think the Undead would be happy to reunite with their lost brethren!

But no. The Forsaken, as they were often called, felt no attachment to their “kin” and often avoided the human and Bloodelven race as much as they could! Their usual warm, civilized hearts had turned cold and barbaric. Most not even recognizing  friends, some not even family members. 

Candriss cringed, her mind drifting back to that awful moment when her younger sister’s sickly yellow orbs had glanced at her as if she was just another stranger. No memory of her, just another face in the crowd.  Her own sister! She didn’t even look back! Perhaps her face had been covered. No, no. She remembered it clearly. Candriss had been wearing a scarlet red dress, the only one she owned. She had never felt comfortable in such fancy things. 

She had been heading to a festival Tazerok was dragging her to, the Winter solstice one, in fact! Her face clear of any skin dressings, but perhaps it had been her tresses! She had always kept her long golden-brown hair up in a ponytail, the locks usually getting in the way during combat. That night she had let the shining locks down past her shoulders, the wavy hair framing her face. Still, it wasn’t that different. Tazerok’s sudden reply jerked her back from her reminiscing. 

“Because it’s too dangerous,” Candriss was about to fire back a quick reply but Tazerok interjected. “Now listen here. First of all, there are the odd quakes that so often shake the planets, and the Stonetalon Mountains are already queer enough! Strange happenings occur up there regularly, and I don’t want you up there! These times are dangerous, and I’m not about to lose someone as important as you to something so trivial. I know you are fairly handy in combat, but I don’t want you to risk it. Just stay in Orgrimmar! It’s safer here. Or come with me to Thunderbluff. My family would gladly welcome you there!” Her nose wrinkled at the thought of Thunderbluff. The Tauren’s capital city, located in Mulgore, was very different from her own capital Quel’Thalas! Resting on large bluffs and only connected by rickety wooden and rope bridges, she had only dared cross them once. And she couldn’t stand Orgrimmar for one more minute! 

“Or at least Silvermoon!” Tazerok pleaded. “I’d even beg Undercity if it weren’t for that dreaded sister of your’s!” I shook my head, not wanting to go to either. Both brought back too many memories. It was the fresh and strengthening mountain air she longed for, and by God if she didn’t get it she might slay all in sight! 

“I have made my decision and you’d do well to keep that tongue of your’s in check!” Candriss snapped back. She suddenly realized how poisonous her words had been. 

He stiffened, his mouth falling into a grimace. He sat up straight in the saddle, only his eyes betraying how her words had hurt him. 

“Very well,” he replied icily. “I see that you have set your mind to it, and that I can’t stop you.” Tazerok’s eyes momentarily softened. “But be safe, Can,” The use of her nickname caused pangs of guilt to shoot through her. 

“Al diel shala, Tazerok.” Candriss replied quite formally. “Farewell, dearest An‘she.” Another bolt of guilt was sprung at her as he uttered their usual goodbye. Without another word, he turned his mount and rode off through the dusty streets. He didn’t even look back.

You don’t need him, Candriss. She told herself. He’s just worrying too much, like always. And with those thoughts repeating over and over in her head, she rode off as well heading toward the zeppelin docks. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER TWO

 

 

 

 

The soft and luminous balls of lights floated lazily around, seeming to have no purpose or direction. Endlessly the floated, no worries or cares, just senseless and pointless energy. 

These “balls of light” were otherwise known as wisps, the spirits of the deceased children of Elune. Not as carefree or happy as one would think. Some thought that they held secret knowledge, but they rarely ever spoke to the living. When they did, if ever, they only spoke to acolytes of the moon or to Cenarion’s students. This event hadn’t occurred in o’er a hundred years, that is it hadn’t been known of.