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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | The first week of the war against the denizens of the Firelands. ~5700 words |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Monday
Anareline waits in the Sanctuary of Malorne, and she looks around to see who will come to join the fight today.
Velrin is waiting at the steps of the shrine sharpening her crescent.
Atley marches up to Anareline, helmet tucked under his arm. "This where the fight is?" he growls inquiringly, and mostly rhetorically.
Mordecai is speaking quietly with Dorda'en Nightweaver, but he glances over when he hears a familiar voice. "Excuse me," he says politely.
Caspis stands by Anareline's side, still and silent, but radiating an aura of tense, barely-suppressed rage.
"It is," Anareline confirms. She raises a hand in greeting to Velrin and Mordecai, and with her other hand she gently touches Caspis's arm. "I take it you have all heard what has happened?"
Atley grunts and sets his jaw. He turns to nod at Mordecai, and Velrin.
"I have. The Twilight's Hammer will pay for their crimes." Velrin says gravely.
Caspis just lets out a deep, barely audible growl.
Atley looks to Anareline and faintly inclines his head. "I'm at your command."
"This is all Ragnaros and his elemental minions so far. I have as yet seen no sign of the cultists. The war into the Firelands has begun, and they're counterattacking." Anareline says, gesturing at the fires dotting the landscape.
"It's good to see you all," Mordecai says quietly. "Thank you for coming."
Atley nods briefly before he glances over his shoulder at the, once-again, smoldering valley.
"No, thank you. It means much to see you helping protect the forest." Velrin nods to both Mordecai and Dane.
Caspis continues to stand like a statue of a bird-elf man. An angry bird-elf man.
Mordecai smiles faintly at Velrin. "Mt. Hyjal means a lot to me."
Dane shifts his gaze from Anareline to the resting Arch Druid. "Means a great deal to the world as well," Atley says, adding on to Mordecai's sentiment.
"Indeed, it is good to see that our people do not stand alone," Anareline nods to the two humans. "Fandral Staghelm is involved as well, with a new 'druid' order," Anareline says, her gaze darkening. "His daughter-in-law has seriously injured Arch Druid Runetotem."
Caspis visibly twitches when Anareline says Fandral's name, as though he has just barely resisted the urge to attack the nearest moving object.
"Our first order for today is to weaken the offensive pushing out of Mt. Hyjal, at Sethria's Roost. Additional forces will assist us there," Ana says.
Atley tugs on his helmet.
Caspis becomes a stormcrow. An angry stormcrow.
"Matoclaw has said that today is for Goldrinn, as well," Ana explains. "Mordecai, I trust you remember your howl. Everyone else, we are to attune to the wolf. Howl over the enemies you have defeated."
Mordecai mounts up on a brown-and-white hippogryph. Almond trills, taking to the sky.
Mordecai nods. "I-I remember." Will he be good at it? He'll try.
Atley grunts after a moment.
The team that accompanies the Cobalts is comprised of a number of druids, as well as Norsala from the Earthen Ring, Gwen Armstead of Gilneas, Fleet Master Seahorn from Booty Bay, the blood elf paladin Tarenar Sunstrike, and Zen'kiki an odd troll.
Earthmender Norsala says: The Earthen Ring stands behind you.
Fleet Master Seahorn says: Ahoy there, captain.
Gwen Armstead says: You need help with some fires? Very well, let's get down to business.
Zen'Kiki says: Here come Zen'Kiki!
Tarenar Sunstrike says: Hah! I was expecting a challenge.
Atley nods faintly at the familiar faces.
"To arms!" Ana calls.
The battle begins, and the team fights pyrelords and giants.
Caspis, contrary to his usual habits, is not healing today. He shifts into moonkin form and hurls offensive spells at the enemies.
Earthmender Norsala says: Leave Azeroth be!
A Seething Pyrelord, an absolutely huge armored elemental, pulls up a molten shield around itself.
Atley narrows his eyes and takes up Anareline's right flank.
The Seething Pyrelord’s shield does not save it for long.
Fleet Master Seahorn says: I am… a tauren… of the SEA!
Fleet Master Seahorn says: Yarrr!
"The wrappings on the giants… Nightweaver said to collect those if we can. They're fire resistant and will make good bandages," Ana advises.
Gwen Armstead says: What's a little fire in the face of five heroes of the Alliance?
Atley grunts and looks over the body of a Fiery Behemoth. "That's no ordinary slag. They've elementium in them."
Caspis looms. Strangely brooding, ominous moonkin.
"Elementium," Ana repeats, staring at the body. "Well, we will not let them break through to Ashenvale."
Mordecai rolls up the fire resistant cloth.
Atley grunts.
Zen'Kiki says: De Cenarion Circle gonna getcha, mon!
Zen'Kiki says: Dis is no problem for a mighty druid like Zen'Kiki.
"That should hold the line," Anareline says. "Let's thin the forces closer to the Sanctuary."
"Right," Atley growls in agreement.
As they leave, the additional forces disperse.
Tarenar Sunstrike says: What, are we done already?
Earthmender Norsala says: Always know that you have allies in Deepholm, if you be needin' us.
Gwen Armstead says: I wouldn't mind fighting with you again sometime. Farewell!
Mordecai takes a deep breath and does his best wolf 'awooooo' over the body of a fallen Charred Flamewalker.
Atley peers with faint, silent confusion but keeps it to himself.
Ana nods approval. "That is improving. Auralind will likely have more tips, but I expect Goldrinn hears your intent."
Atley nods slowly at that, gaining more understanding.
Anareline howls over another flame naga corpse.
Mordecai smiles faintly.
"It is good to see so many of the gods returning in our hour of need." Velrin notes.
Caspis attempts a howl, and the fury is there, but it ends up sounding more like the rough cry of a bird of prey.
Atley grunts at Velrin. "Light knows we need them."
"Oh, that is part of the news I should have led with," Anareline says to Velrin and Dane. "Malorne is resurrected. Not all my news is bad."
Velrin smiles a bit.
"Malorne…" Atley begins, peering at her through the slit in his helmet. "The father of Cenarius?"
Caspis nods. Then turns back into a stormcrow
Atley grunts. "How?"
Mordecai smiles brightly. This is not news to him. He saw a giant stag shoot a laser yesterday.
"Indeed," Anareline says. "Stormrage resurrected him with a powerful ritual, in time to turn the tide against the forces out of the Firelands."
Stormcrow-Caspis lets out a cry of triumph!
Atley thinks that over for a moment before he grunts.
"Now, Goldrinn will be with us as we lure out a Fire Lieutenant," Anareline says with confidence. She howls at the fire portal.
Atley narrows his eyes at the portal and raises his shield, taking a readied stance.
Mordecai still takes a solid step back and begins to Shield the others.
Caspis becomes a moonkin.
Caspis unleashes BEES! at the monster that emerges from the portal.
Anareline fights by Dane and Velrin's side in melee combat.
Thunderfury crackles as Atley jumps in to fight alongside Anareline at her behest.
Mordecai looks quietly relieved when everyone exits the fight with the same amount of hair they went into it with.
Velrin swings Rul'Serrar like it's an extension of her own body.
Caspis is moving and fighting in sync with the others, showing greater than usual focus and awareness of the present, but he is quiet, even for him.
"Well done," Ana says with a nod. "We will return to the Sanctuary to leave the bandages, and then it is into the breach."
"Aye, ma'am." Atley says as he takes to the sky.
"You too," Mordecai says. "Um, I mean, well done, too."
Atley idly glances up at the towering form of Cenarius as they arrive and gives a faint nod.
Mordecai passes off his fire-resistant bandages to Dorda'en. "Ande'thoras ethil."
"Thank you, young healer," Dorda'en answers. "These will be helpful for Hamuul and others. We must change his bandages often."
Atley glances over and gives a grim nod.
"You're welcome. We're headed through the portal. Would you like me to take any supplies over?" Mordecai checks.
Dorda'en collects a box to hand to Mordecai. "Here. They are always in need of healing supplies for those who fall on the field."
"Through the portal," Anareline nods towards it.
Atley narrows his eyes and ushers Thoras through, before his gaze widens once they step through and into the Firelands.
Velrin's eyes go wide at the sight of the Firelands, "Such desolation… This is even more shocking than Blackrock Mountain…"
Mordecai leaves Almond on the slightly safer side of the portal.
Atley glares at the burning landscape and nods slowly. Thunderfury crackles even louder, perhaps eager to make up for ten thousand years of revenge.
"Yes," Anareline says, looking out over the battlefield. "Our usual orders are… simply to fight, for one thing. Also, Mordecai and Caspis, heal any of the fallen you see. And Caspis, if you can cultivate growth… things do grow, even here."
Caspis hesitates, but nods.
Mordecai follows behind the others, carrying his box of supplies, which he passes off to Rayne Feathersong. "Delivery, ma'am. You've been making the salves, right?"
"Yes," Rayne says, reaching out to take them with appreciation. She hands back a packet of salves. "For those who cannot call the Light, to assist the injured in the field."
Commander Jarod Shadowsong says: We must hold out a little longer, just until reinforcements arrive.
Once everyone is prepared to enter battle, Caspis shifts back into moonkin form.
Atley positions himself in front of Malfurion's Breach, annihilating the occasional elemental that breaks through the lines.
Mordecai smiles. "Thank you. Sir Dane, Anareline, you might want to take some of these." He goes to distribute the salves.
"Is everyone ready to go into the field of battle?" Anareline smiles briefly at Mordecai as she takes the salves.
Atley shifts his gaze to Mordecai and grunts, accepting a few of the salves, placing them on carriers in his belt. He looks to Anareline and raises the Lion Horn of Stormwind with a nod.
"To battle!" Ana cries.
Atley charges out onto the field after her, and raises his helmet just enough to sound the Lion Horn over the front. BOOOOOOOOOM!
"Tor ilisar thera'nal!" Velrin cries back.
Mordecai moves smoothly through the chaos. "Shield." Oh no, he has to say that all the damn time.
After a lava worm is slain, Ana steps aside to salve a fallen druid.
Wounded Hyjal Defender says: Their attacks are relentless. Thank you for your help.
Mordecai waits for coverage from the front line before he slips out to heal a fallen druid and help her back to her feet.
Wounded Hyjal Defender says: I'm in your debt, priest.
Caspis causes huge, lashing vines to grow up out of the ground.
With the forces healed and refreshed, and the fire elementals pushed back, Cobalt retreats to the area around the cave.
Mordecai helps more druids to the triage area and then settles in to work.
Atley marches around handing out salves the injured. "Here you are," he mutters.
Caspis turns back into his elven form, dressed in his usual severe-looking Cenarion Circle regalia with the birdlike mask.
Ana looks at those who have returned to the camp so far. "Perhaps we could speak with Stormrage. I have some curiosity about this seed he has planted."
Atley follows Anareline into Malfurion's Breach and removes his helmet, revealing hair slick with sweat from the burning conditions outside. "On you," he says to Anareline.
Caspis inclines his head solemnly in agreement.
"Stormrage," Anareline says, relaxing only fractionally away from the front, in the cave. "Can you tell us what we're building here?"
"Shan'do," Caspis says quietly in greeting, his voice a barely-audible deep rumble.
Atley bows low to Malfurion Stormrage, and mutters a quick, non-interruptive, "My lord," in greeting.
"We are building a permanent outpost here in the Firelands," he explains to the four of them. "Even if Ragnaros is defeated, another may take his place."
Atley grunts.
Caspis steps aside to give Velrin more room.
Velrin bows deeply to Malfurion.
"We cannot allow what happened in the Burning Steppes and Mount Hyjal to threaten our world again," Stormrage affirms. "To that end, we will grow the "Sentinel Tree"."
Caspis turns his attention to the Archdruid, listening intently.
Atley squints in thought.
"What does that mean, exactly, a Sentinel Tree?" Anareline asks.
"It is a tree with roots in Azeroth, but a protective canopy growing here in this terrible realm," Stormrage explains. "Today, it is only just taking root, but it will grow."
Caspis nods.
Atley glances up at the roots overhead.
"Then, under its shelter, we will permanently station a group of druids to maintain an eternal vigil over this desolate world," Stormrage concludes.
Anareline glances at Caspis. Not him, please.
Atley grunts his support.
Caspis's gaze remains fixed on Malfurion. It's hard to read his expression to know if he would be willing, because of his love for Malfurion, or unwilling, because of his love for Anareline.
"It is an amazing thing, a tree growing between two realms," Ana says, looking at the roots in thought.
"A vigil over the plane of fire… Would the Earthen Ring be aiding in this too, Shan'do Stormrage?" Velrin asks.
Caspis looks to Velrin at her question and makes a thoughtful sound.
"I hope so," Stormrage says, his brows lowering in thought. "The shamans have had success against Al'Akir in Uldum, but our work here in Hyjal so far has relied on the Circle."
Atley politely clears his throat. "Forgive me, my lord Malfurion, will the Sentinel Tree be literally rooted in Azeroth? Or spiritually? I see here that these roots have taken a hold."
Caspis thoughtfully strokes his neatly-trimmed dark beard; aside from his mouth, it's the only part of his face clearly visible.
"They run beneath the ground as well," Malfurion explains. "They will be rooted literally in Azeroth."
Atley nods once.
"Shall we return to the Sanctuary?" Anareline suggests. "The front appears to be under control."
Caspis inclines his head toward Anareline.
Atley grunts.
"We will succeed, love," Ana says, resting a hand on his arm. "And Runetotem will heal."
Caspis makes a soft sound.
"Justice will be done," Atley adds.
"I will follow you, Shan'do." Vel addresses Ana this time.
Caspis nods solemnly to Atley.
Anareline looks at Vel, Atley, and then Caspis, and an odd regretful expression comes over her face. "I seem to be a soldier again."
Caspis lays a hand on Anareline's arm.
"S'wot your people need," Atley growls sympathetically. "And wot' the world needs."
"But I swore…" Ana closes her eyes for a moment. "It doesn't matter. I will not betray you. Any of you."
Atley frowns with faint confusion but half-nods.
Caspis leans his head against Anareline's briefly.
Atley looks to Anareline. "I'll deliver a report of happenings here to Stormwind."
Velrin offers a reassuring smile to Ana.
Ana smiles back at Velrin, with a touch of uncertainty.
Caspis nods.
"I appreciate it," Ana nods. "The more support the Alliance gives, the better it will bind our peoples together."
Atley bows to Malfurion in farewell, salutes Anareline and turns to Velrin. "Warrant I'll be seeing you about here, then."
"Of course." Velrin smirks and offers her hand to Dane.
Atley returns it with a firm handshake before he tugs his helmet on and marches off.
Caspis follows close behind Anareline.
Tuesday
Celaven murmurs a prayer to Elune, letting fortitude settle on his 7th Legion teammates.
Zath broods and awaits orders.
Sintha comes striding up the stairs of the shrine in her dark scouting leathers, slapping her gloves idly with one hand against her other palm. She blows a stray wisp of hair out of her face and surveys the camp.
Zath salutes.
Celaven salutes as well. "The war seems to have settled in here. They're holding the lines here, as well as in the Firelands," Celaven says with a glance towards the south. "I do hope we prevent things from spilling over into Ashenvale."
"I've heard no reports that Sgt. Saion is burning the place down, at least," Zath says dryly.
"Burning down Ashenvale?" Celaven's eyebrows raise. "The Horde encampments, I hope."
"One hopes," Zath says just as dryly.
"You've met Saion, Evensong, haven't you?" Sintha arches a brow and blows irritably at the stray wisp of hair again. She looks over her shoulder.
"Do you require a hairpin, Master Sergeant?" Zath says, in a very helpful and respectful tone.
"Gosh, what a kind offer. I broke my last one picking the lock on your diary." Sintha smiles back like the girl from the gif.
Zath's eyes narrow almost imperceptibly. Almost. But then he… actually hands her a hair pin.
"The reports are those elementals are spilling onto the ridge above Ashenvale again, so we're going to go see — oh." Sintha blinks at the hairpin. She accepts it and holds it carefully between her fingers like she's not sure what to do with it. "We're going to go see how dire the situation is and whether we can subtract a little of the dire."
Sintha carefully slides the hairpin into the side of her hair at random. It is now in her hair, doing nothing.
"I am all for subtracting direness," Celaven says with a smooth smile.
"Yes Ma'am!" Zath says with a crisp salute. So crisp. Like iceberg lettuce that has been cooling on an actual iceberg.
"Brilliant." Sintha flashes Celaven a smile and tugs her gloves on, flexing her fingers and checking the knives at her hips.
Zath's demon is not out. Not in front of all the elves.
Celaven checks the lay of his long hair, and gestures for his gryphon.
"Off we pop, then, lads." She heads for a white gryphon in blue and gold barding.
Zath's gryphon is black. Extra black. None more black.
Celaven's is white. Snowy white. Holy white.
Sintha's is just normal whitish white like a normal white gryphon.
"This way," Sintha says, narrowing her eyes at an elemental raging in a cleft near the mountain pass.
Zath summons Bizpep. Everyone hates Bizpep, but there is no denying Bizpep's skill at frying things.
Celaven glances neutrally at the little imp, and reluctantly shields it.
In a break between combats, Celaven takes out a handkerchief and carefully dabs sweat from his face. "The Firelands are certainly a challenge in the sense of one's complexion."
As usual, once he starts hurling felfire around, Zath shifts into a sleek black wolf-man with a silver goatee. Same basic eyes.
Sintha nods solemnly at Celaven. "Tyrrell's as well," she observes.
Celaven does not show any hesitation or reluctance at shielding the wolf-man.
"How droll," says Zath. Growls, really.
"The heat must be even worse with all the fur," Celaven says sympathetically.
"Droll is one of my seventeen middle names," Sintha informs him. "Gosh, I hate these stone !@#$%^&s. They're hell on knives."
Zath's slightly luminous blue eyes narrow at Celaven's comment.
"I think these snaky ones would be incredibly tedious at parties, don't you?" Sintha observes, squinting at a Flamewaker. "They look like they'd want to explain everything to you."
Zath makes a strange snorting sound that is difficult to interpret in this form.
Celaven chuckles. "Do human noblemen often look similar to your eyes?"
"Oh, all human noblemen look exactly alike," Sintha agrees. "The egos get in the way of the faces, you see."
Sadly, Zath does not have eyebrows in this form, or he would raise one.
"I would say a select few stand out," Celaven says with a faint smile. "Kaldorei, of course, do not have noblemen."
"The Highborne may beg to differ," Zath notes.
"The Highborne will have to admit that they have relinquished their claim to nobility when they sundered the world," Celaven says mildly.
"Will they? A Stormwind nobleman would never admit any such thing." Sintha raises her brows.
Zath growls softly as it begins to rain.
"I will certainly not recognize a claim to nobility from a Kaldorei Highborne," Celaven says with a shrug. "So in a sense, I suppose it does not matter whether they would admit it or not."
Sintha flashes a white smile at Celaven.
"That is not to say I would treat them poorly," Celaven smiles back. "Unless they find being treated as an equal distasteful."
"Many people do," Zath observes.
Sintha tips her chin at Zath in agreement.
Zath shifts back into "human" form as they return to the shrine, and dismisses the imp.
"Then I suppose they will complain ineffectually," Celaven says with a shrug.
Sintha surveys the forest around the shrine and then glances at Zath again. "As we've seen to the lot on the ridge, after we report to the healer, we'll cross the portal to the Firelands. Get Tyrrell out of the rain." She smiles sweetly.
"Delightful," Tyrrell says.
Celaven passes through the portal, and sighs at the hot, dry air. "One day, I wonder if it might rain in here. I suppose that is an opposing element."
Sintha adjusts her hairpin and looks around the charred encampment. She removes the hairpin from the random location and uses it properly now to pin her hair back from her face. "What a lovely day in the Firelands, gosh."
"At least it doesn't seem to be any worse?" Zath offers.
"The same as most every day," Celaven says, surveying the battlefield. "A one hundred percent chance of lava."
Sintha narrows her eyes at the fiery morass below. "It does not, you're right, but they do seem to have a giants problem at the moment."
Zath's snort is easier to recognize in this form as amusement at Celaven's comment.
"Should we address that problem?" Celaven considers a Molten Behemoth critically.
Zath shifts form again and unleashes felfire, which strangely enough, does seem to hurt the fire guys.
"My poor knives," sighs Sintha, and heads for the approaching behemoth.
Celaven pauses every so often to cast healing moonlight at fallen combatants.
"I am very tired of things trying to punt me," Sintha observes with exasperation.
It's possible the large black wolfman is grinning for some reason.
"At least you are quick on your feet," Celaven observes.
Sintha smiles archly at Celaven as though he has said something slightly naughty. Which, to be clear, he has not.
Zath seems unruffled by the incredible chaos unfolding around them. There might be a slight scent of burnt dog hair lingering about him, though.
There might be a faint scent of burnt hair lingering around Celaven too, and every once in a while he reaches back to smooth it and winces.
Zath calls down a rain of fire, which is sort of hard to tell from the… whole situation around here.
Celaven eventually pulls back to the frontlines, sipping a bottle of water.
"Well done, both of you," Zath says reflexively in his exhaustion, momentarily forgetting that it isn't his job to give out praise anymore.
"Oh, gosh, well done to you as well, sergeant," says Sintha benevolently.
"This does not seem like a battle that will be won in a day," Celaven observes.
Zath is still in wolf form, so it's impossible to tell if he reddens slightly under his fur.
"May we return to Hyjal for now," Celaven asks politely. "Despite the rain, I prefer the climate there."
Zath looks to Sintha.
"Honestly the rain would be much easier on the complexion," Sintha agrees. She smiles warmly at Zath. "For some of us."
"I'll be fine," says Zath between gritted teeth, and changes back to human form.
Wednesday
Anareline steps over to Caspis, unselfconsciously reaching over to embrace him in greeting.
Caspis folds his arms around her and stays that way for a moment, then places a kiss on the top of her hair and draws back.
Anareline smiles up at him softly for a moment, and then her war expression settles over her face. "Are you ready to face the Firelands again?"
"As ready as it is possible to be," he says solemnly.
"Today we assist Tortolla," Anareline says seriously. "Before we pass through the portal. Some of Tortolla's children need help returning to the water."
Caspis nods solemnly.
Anareline heads up to a ridge over the lake, and relocates turtles into the water below.
"It is a shame these creatures are also falling victim to the fire elementals," Ana says, moving in to attack one.
"We saved this mountain," Caspis says, his voice suddenly rough. "Cobalt Company. And now it burns again."
"And so we will save it again," Ana nods. "History moves in circles, though usually not quite so quickly."
"An ancient gave his life. Aessina turned back time for us, made the forests green and growing again. She said we would not be given another chance." Caspis's hands shake slightly as they grip his staff.
"Then we will take this chance, and we will protect this land," Ana says firmly. "And I will be who I need to be."
Caspis seems to calm somewhat, his hands steadier.
"The Ancients are on our side, love," Ana says, more gently. "We will not fall."
Ana considers the fire portal as they pass, and says, "I think we should strengthen the front at the south, first, and then through the portal."
"As you wish," Caspis says softly.
Stormcrow-Caspis lets out a loud sharp cry as he glides through the smoky air.
Ana dives into the fight against the Pyrelords and the Behemoths.
Cas backs her up, but not with his usual healing. He shifts into moonkin form and hurls arcane and nature spells at the enemies in perfect balance.
As they fight, Ana says, "I meant to tell you, I am sorry."
"For what, my love?"
"You trusted me to watch Leyara. I did, but…" Ana sighs. "There was an attack on Maestra's Post, and then on Astranaar. And by the time I returned, she was gone."
"You are only one woman, for all your might and intelligence," he says.
"I try to be more, sometimes," Ana says. "It seems the world may need more… through the portal?"
They head into the Firelands.
"I am not angry at you," he adds. With just the slightest emphasis on 'you', perhaps?
"I misjudged, later," Ana adds. "I thought we might talk her down. I did not expect the power she wields now."
"No one could have foreseen this," he says. Again, just the faintest emphasis, on 'this'.
Ana looks out over the battlefield. "I see them, in with the elementals. Druids of the Flame." She snarls.
He snarls as well.
"I have my targets," Ana says, drawing her sword.
"Destroy them," says Caspis.
Ana charges in, targeting the druids specifically.
Cas looks ready to burst into flame himself, so furiously does he smite them with sun and moon.
Staghelm's magically-amplified voice rings out over the battlefield, crying "There is one true path. The path of flame!"
Caspis ROARS.
Ana howls. She's had practice recently.
Caspis calls down a storm to buffet and drown firekin as they stream through a portal.
A night-elven wisp circles slowly, sealing the gate.
Ana holds the defense as they retreat back to the Sentinel Tree.
"I think we've done what we can for today," Ana says, surveying the fiery land. "Back to the Sanctuary?"
"As you wish."
Friday
A moody stormcrow is perched on a wagon at the Sanctuary of Malorne, watching people gather to take their turn at the front.
Anareline moves around the Sanctuary, speaking quietly to the leaders gathered there.
The stormcrow's beady gaze tracks Anareline's movements.
Mordecai stands up, making his way over to Anareline.
Caspis preens under a wing.
Anareline glances to the stormcrow, and then to Mordecai. "Are you prepared to join the fight again? I've heard there's no howling today."
"Supplies are in good shape today," Mordecai says, fidgeting. "I'm ready."
Ralaea stalks over to Anareline and Mordecai. Her bag is stuffed with roots.
Ana nods approval at her. "They'll have plenty of water. Now it is time to fight. And… to rescue bear cubs." Ana reaches up a hand towards the crow, and says, "Ready, love?"
The stormcrow flies over to perch on some boxes nearer to Anareline.
"Hello, Rae." Mordecai looks up. "Oh! Caspis, hello."
Caspis remains a stormcrow, rudely. He perches on Anareline's shoulder. It's a good thing she has large pauldrons.
Mordecai whistles for his hippogryph.
"First, we head to the southern front, to keep them from spilling over off the mountain," Ana says. Ana does not seem terribly concerned that her shalan is a bird. She's got strong shoulders.
Caspis seems content to play the part of the night elf warrior's animal companion today.
"What, like falling?" Ralaea asks.
"If only," Ana says. "I suspect they would survive, and burn the forests."
The stormcrow hovers over the fight, swooping down periodically to rend foes with beak or talons.
The seething pyrelords look like they might even survive falling off a mountain. They float, after all.
Ana shows no hesitation in fighting the Pyrelords and Behemoths.
Ralaea glances at The Leaper beside her, growing increasingly uncomfortable.
Caspis shifts randomly into moonkin form and starts hurling spells instead.
Ana nods appreciatively at Choluna, who aids her.
Ana grits her teeth. "They're throwing fiery boulders down at our forests."
The moonkin bellows.
The behemoth dies. Ana says, "I'll have to trust the Sentinels will see to the damage."
Mordecai bites his lip.
"Now, the bears," Ana says. "They climb up trees, and cannot recall how to climb down."
Caspis's moonkin form is strangely menacing, its antlers and eyes and shaggy feathers looking a bit fiercer than some of the friendly moonkin one may have met. His feathers are dark and crowlike.
"Relatable," Ralaea says. "I used to do that, too."
Mordecai lands near the bear trampoline and frowns at the core hounds stalking around nearby.
Caspis, normally a compassionate healer type, seems to have no interest in the welfare of the cubs, and focuses on casting offensive spells at nearby enemies.
Ana's brow furrows slightly as she looks at the menacing moonkin. She glances over to Rae. "Did you? Then you must understand their feelings well."
Mordecai does his best to calm down the baby bears.
The nearby glowering black moonkin is probably not helping them.
"I think we have gotten most of them down," Ana says, surveying the trees. "To the breach in the Firelands?"
"Anareline," Mordecai says, and points down towards a portal that a molten spider is emerging from.
Ana nods acknowledgement and charges the spider.
"Gross," Ralaea mutters.
The spider spits poison on Anareline as she attacks.
Caspis hurls alternating arcane and nature spells at the beast, and doesn't even seem to notice that his shalan is poisoned.
Mordecai frowns. "Caspis," he calls, keeping Anareline healed. "Poison."
Caspis shifts out of moonkin form and cures the poison, but snarls strangely, and shifts right back afterward.
Ana shivers, glancing back at Caspis, and then continues the fight.
Mordecai exhales, relieved.
The shaggy black moonkin bellows in triumph as the creature starts to fall.
Ana turns to Ralaea, "If this is a form they take, I suspect there may be many more fire spiders in our future."
"That was more like a fire nerubian, right?" Ralaea asks. "Am I the only one seeing that?"
Mordecai looks at the body of the creature as it crumbles into ash and frowns.
"A fire nerubian," Anareline repeats. "Troubling. Most of their kind were undead. Maybe some found their way into the elemental plane?" Speaking of finding their way into the elemental plane, Ana flies for the portal.
"Not sure how you just find your way into an elemental plane, but I guess the Company's done it a few times now, so why not nerubians," Ralaea says.
Ana leaves her gryphon outside.
Mordecai enters the portal on foot as well, pulling his hat down over his eyebrows.
"From what I have heard of deepholm, mushrooms and… mushroom creatures? made their way into the realm somehow," Ana says. "So there is precedence."
Ralaea follows the others, squeezing root water over herself as they emerge in the Firelands.
Mordecai moves behind the front line and starts up a Prayer of Healing.
Caspis looms.
Ana surveys the battlefield. "The enemy has molten behemoths against us today. And we'll need to help the wisps close some of those portals. Beyond that, you all know what to do."
"Hit things, don't catch on fire…" Ralaea nods.
"Precisely," Ana nods.
Ana charges in, lest it get any ideas about stomping a moonkin.
A Prophet of the Flame calls out, "Witness the majesty of flame!"
Caspis summons a storm to drown the firekin that swarm from a portal.
Mordecai keeps the others shielded as the wisp orbits a portal.
After the portal is closed, Ana gestures for the team to retreat.
As soon as they are back to safety, Caspis shifts back to stormcrow form, circling above the group.
"Let's get you back," Mordecai says to a fallen tauren that he heals, and motions for her to follow them back to the front line.
Ralaea gets hit by a thrown boulder during the retreat, but Mordecai's shield absorbs most of the impact, and she avoids harm.
Ana stays near the stormcrow, and watches the two humans make their way back.
Ana takes a breath, and says, "Is everyone safe and well?"
Mordecai hurries back to relative safety and once again takes up a spot behind the front lines. He begins another Prayer of Healing.
The stormcrow settles on Ana's shoulder in answer.
"Not on fire, check," Ralaea says.
"I think that is our time on the front for now," Ana says. "We can continue to support from behind the lines, until next we are needed."
Caspis preens under his wing.
"Then I'm going home to work on more ways to deflect flames," Ralaea says.
"Given our current situation, that is a good use of your time," Ana agrees. "I will work on flameproofing as well."
Mordecai nods absently to Anareline. Most of his focus is on healing and shielding the druids who are holding the line.