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| Details |
| Author: | inkie |
| Summary: | Blue Squad learns to meditate, despite Lorewalker Cho's help. Anduin behaves badly and SI:7 once again fails the day. We learn why Atley is so pink and hairless, that Erixa walks like a mogu, and about a mysterious place called the Vale of Eternal Blossoms. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Atley marches out of the Paw'don Inn. He squints out into the downpour. "Rains here." he growls.
Shine squints upward and nods. It sure does. "On the southern coast," he observes.
Atley grunts and side-eyes the tanuki. "That a new one, or the one I met?"
Shine glances down at the fat tanuki beside him. He stares at it for a moment. "It's the same one," he says grimly, and tries to encourage it gently away from him with the side of his boot.
The tanuki is not encouraged in that direction. It gazes hopefully up at Shine.
Befound glares out at the rain as Oranna tugs her braid into place. "Oh, it's just a wee bit of rain, lass, it's nothing," she mutters as she gives the signal for the snow leopard to follow.
Befound does. Begrudgingly.
Atley turns to nod at Oranna before he eyes Befound. "Hullo', terror."
The tanuki eyes Befound too, and huddles closer to Shine's boot. Don't try it, cat. It has a person of its own.
Oranna waves hello, and then bends down to observe the tanuki. "Oh, you've got yerself an attachment, aye?"
Shine nods to Oranna, and then to Befound. He looks at the tanuki and back up at Oranna. "Aye," he says. "Apparently. It'll leave when we leave the village."
Erixa comes trotting down the stairs from the kite master, pausing to smell a pink flowering plant before she wanders over to where the others wait.
Bran ambles over, attempting to untangle his beard.
Atley nods slowly to Erixa and Brannagen as rain water pitter-patters off of his armor.
Oranna waves hello to Bran and Erixa, just like she waves to the king of Stormwind.
Befound yaws big, BIIIIG teeth, and licks at a paw. All she needs is an order, Oranna.
"Ye're not eatin' his pet, lass, leave off," Oranna mutters to Befound.
"It's not my pet," Shine informs Befound. He pauses. "… but don't eat it, aye."
Erixa waves back cheerfully. "Eat… your tanuki?"
"Does… the tanuki know that?" Oranna asks, eyeing the tanuki.
"Doesn't seem to," Atley says.
Bran rummages in his bag for his journal, then squints up at the rain and changes his mind, leaving it where it is.
"It's not mine," Shine repeats. His tanuki looks hopefully up at him. It's definitely his.
Oranna's faces says that his tanuki is definitely his. She says out loud, "Ah…sure. Aye. Right."
Atley clears his throat. "We're making for the Dreamer's Pavillion today. See if Lorewalker Cho's concotion's ready."
"Woo hoo!" says Bran in response to the plan.
Shine nods to Atley.
Atley whistles for Hal'vyr and climbs aboard. "Let's ride."
Atley rides into Dreamer's Pavilion and pulls Hal'vyr to a stop. He spots Lorewalker Cho and grunts, swinging a leg over the saddle.
Lorewalker Cho is waiting expectantly in the courtyard. He breaks into a broad smile at Blue Squad’s arrival. “My friends, welcome back! Your Dream Brew is ready.”
Bran rubs his hands together eagerly.
Atley marches up to Lorewalker Cho and gives a short bow, looking over to the brew. "All sorted then, is it."
"All sorted!" Lorewalker Cho beams at Atley, his eyes doing Bran-like crescents.
Bran does crescents back at him.
"I am excited to see what they will learn from it," Erixa says, smiling.
Oranna seems nervous and deeply skeptical but she peers over at the brew like she's trying real hard to not doubt that this will work.
“Now,” the Lorewalker says, “this time, you must embrace your visions from a state of inner focus. Follow me to my pagoda, and I will help you to achieve the inner calm we pandaren value so much. Your troubled mind may present you with many distractions, but you must learn to stay centered!”
Bran nods sagely.
"It is probably good to find inner calm in this place," Erixa nods.
Atley nods. "Very well." He steps aside and looks to the pagoda.
The Lorewalker leads them across the courtyard to the little open-sided pagoda, and sets the cauldron of Dream Brew on a small table within. “Now, who will be partaking of the brew? Even if you are not, you may wish to practice finding your harmony, for the sake of your journeys in this land.”
"I'll do et!" Bran says excitedly.
Shine nods at Bran and lifts his hand.
"I will," Atley says.
Oranna flushes and looks down at the ground, drawing a little circle with one foot. "Right, harmony… I should… do that."
"I will seek inner calm, and will watch over those who drink brew," Erixa says firmly.
"Oh, aye, probably good ta have a few on watch, in case things go strangely." Bran nods.
"I'll be on watch, aye, that's… watching," Oranna says.
Erixa smiles at Oranna encouragingly.
“Those of you who are drinking the Dream Brew, come and have some before you sit. It will take some time and focus before it has an effect. Then all of you, get comfortable.” Cho gestures to some cushions on the ground.
Bran heads over to the bubbling purple pot, eyes bright with anticipation.
Atley reaches for the ladle, scooping up some of the bubbling, purple mixture. He takes a long, controlled sip.
"So I can have some noew?" Bran asks, like a child who has earned dessert.
"You may!" Lorewalker Cho nods firmly.
Atley offers the ladle to Bran as he smacks his lips.
Bran helps himself, then has a seat next to Oranna, his apparently designated watcher.
Shine waits behind Bran for his turn, and helps himself as well. Then he moves to settle on a cushion with the others.
Oranna does not look like getting comfortable or finding harmony is going to be an easy ask for the hunter, but she's trying. Visibly.
Bran gently pats Oranna.
Atley takes a seat, armor clanking together as he settles onto the ground.
“Now,” says Lorewalker Cho. “Close your eyes.” His voice is low and soothing. “Picture in your mind a spark of light. As you breathe in, it grows brighter; as you breathe out, it fades. It does not go out; what is at its heart cannot be extinguished. The brightening and dimming is a natural cycle, like your breath. Focus on your breath, and see the spark. Hold the spark at the center of your mind, and observe its cycle as you breathe.”
Bran closes his eyes. He looks like he's used to this sort of thing. He goes surprisingly still, for such a fidgety guy.
Shine closes his eye and sits unsurprisingly still, his breathing slow.
Atley takes a moment to remove his helmet, setting it aside, before he glares and closes his eyes. He inhales and exhales in slow, controlled bursts. He is less still than Bran or Shine, but he's still pretty immobile.
Oranna gives it a shot, but you can see her face asking questions as she goes. Why doesn't the spark go out? Why is it at the center? How's it connected to breathing? "Just… breathing," she mutters.
Erixa remains standing, but she closes her eyes and lets her breathing slow.
“Do not succumb to distraction!” The Lorewalker claps his hands together loudly beside Bran’s ear.
Bran twitches slightly, then goes still again.
Oranna startles, and succumbs to distraction. Oh no.
Atley’s brow knits upon the clap, but he keeps his eyes closed.
Shine's eyebrow twitches but he doesn't open his eye.
Erixa does not react to the clap or the words. She is a calm lake.
“You must focus on the spark. Patience is a pandaren virtue!” Lorewalker Cho pokes Dane sharply with a stick.
It's a shame Bran did not have his eyes open to see that.
Atley sets his jaw, glare tightening. One eye briefly opens but he lets out a breath and refocuses.
Shine does not respond at all to the stick-poke. He was not the one poked.
“Good, very good. I see you are not easily distracted.” The Lorewalker drags a gong out from the side of the room. He waits for a beat, and then strikes it with a crash. “We pandaren value calm under any circumstance.”
Bran jumps at that. I mean come ON, pandaren. He keeps his eyes closed, though, at least.
Atley inhales slowly and keeps focusing on his spark, perhaps too intensely, but his eyes remain closed.
Shine's eyebrow jumps again, and then his breathing deepens as he focuses once more.
Erixa is possibly somewhere else in her mind. She doesn't even flinch
Oranna stares at Lorewalker Cho incredulously. What's next? A full body tackle?? But she keeps her lips shut.
Bran actually Fades slightly.
Befound takes a nap.
A familiar tanuki attempts to climb into Shine's lap. Shine does open his eye at that. After a moment he sighs silently and resigns himself. He closes his eye and returns to inner calm. The tanuki curls up smugly.
Oranna nods knowingly.
“Look at you! A picture of serenity. I knew I liked you.” For those who drank the Dream Brew, the Lorewalker’s voice is beginning to fade. “Do you feel it? A perfect stillness of the soul! Your consciousness expands. Concentrate! Open the eye of your mind — ”
Oranna glances at Shine. Er.
Bran goes very, very still. He's still slightly Faded.
Atley grits his teeth and lets out another long, slow breath.
The dreamers’ awareness seems to lift above and away from their bodies and hang overhead; for a moment, they are neutral observers gazing down on themselves and their friends. Then they are pulled abruptly away.
Their vision soars over the walls of the compound and skims the top of the great bamboo forest, racing northeast. Pearlfin Village appears below and then vanishes behind them as they fly. A road comes into view.
Two hozen hunters are chasing a familiar blond figure up the road!
Atley's closed eyes shiver, and his rugged features lose some tension.
Back in the real world, Bran's breathing has gone so slow and shallow he almost seems not to be breathing at all.
Oranna resist the urge to poke at Bran through sheer force of will.
Run, slicky! yells one of the hozen in the vision. I dook up yer like for breakfast! Its comrade hoots derisively.
As the fleeing figure approaches a crossroads, two more hozen appear — these from ahead of him. He is cornered.
He hesitates for only a moment. I am Anduin Wrynn! he cries, Prince of Stormwind! I won’t die here. Not like this!
He casts a shadowy spell that stuns one of the hozen; a [Psychic Scream] sends the rest fleeing, and Anduin takes off running.
Atley finds himself leaning forward, closed eyes narrowing with attentiveness.
Anduin flees up a cliffside trail. At the top, where it spreads into an open clearing, a male and female pandaren kneel in meditation. As Anduin appears, they look up, startled — and a moment later, when the hozen appear behind him, they spring to their feet. As Anduin casts [Power Word: Shield] around himself, the male pandaren takes a mighty leap into the midst of the hozen and sends two reeling with a flying kick. The female pandaren takes up a fighting stance protectively before Anduin.
The vision fades.
Bran's eyes fly open. His pupils have almost swallowed up the turquoise of his eyes. "Anduin!" he says.
Oranna scrambles up to her feet. "So ye… ye saw something? A place?"
Erixa's eyes are open, and she is watching the three dreamers. "Bran, names. But you saw something helpful?"
"I dunno where exactly, but — " Bran looks to Atley.
Atley's eyes snap open. He pushes himself up. "We saw the Prince," Atley declares, tugging his helmet on with urgency. "It was real."
Shine lifts the tanuki from his lap and gets to his feet.
“Oh, my!” says Lorewalker Cho’s voice as reality once again coalesces around them. “I can see that a new urgency has hardened your resolve. I suppose my work here is done!”
Slowly, Bran's pupils return to their normal size.
"I've been callin' him 'Ian,' to not uh… because of the secrecy of… thengs," Oranna explains (?).
Erixa glances from Atley to Bran. "No more secrecy, then?"
Bran looks to Cho. "Ye mustn't tell anyone wot we said, aye?"
Lorewalker Cho pretends tranquilly not to have heard anything. "What?"
Bran chuckles. "I thenk our secret is safe with hem."
Atley looks to Lorewalker Cho and studies him for a moment. "We're in your debt."
The Lorewalker bows.
"Let's ride. We may not have much time," Atley says.
Oranna pokes at Bran. "Are ye all right?"
"Ian, is it? I had a cousin Ian. Well a second cousin — aye, I'm good!!"
Oranna nods with relief. Befound wakes from her nap.
Erixa hops on Rye and obediently follows Atley.
"Everyone's got a cousin 'Ian,' aye. That's why that name, ye know. Jus' a regular ol'… Ian," Oranna says.
"Aye, an' he's a Stormwind Ian after all," Bran says gravely.
"Maybe we find Ian then, and then no need for hiding anything," Erixa says, as they ride.
"We'll maintain our secrecy. I ought not to have spoke aloud before Cho, but Bran's right. He can be trusted," Atley growls as they ride.
"I hope it wasn't too alarmin' for ye, Boomer. Did I drool?" Bran looks back over his shoulder as they go.
"No, ye just uh, seemed ta not be breathin' really fer a bit there," Oranna answers to Bran. "And if ye were sparking breathing…"
The tanuki wobbles along after them as fast as tiny legs can take it. Shine, looking back, relents. He reins Khamsin in and drops down just long enough to swipe the little animal up like a football and get back into the saddle, then rides after the others.
"I wish the rain would stop so I could take some notes without spoilin' me journal," Bran grumbles.
In the clearing the dreamers beheld in their vision, a male and female pandaren and Anduin Wrynn, Prince of Stormwind, are gathered around a campfire. Anduin and the female pandaren look up sharply at Blue Squad’s arrival.
Anduin’s eyes widen and he gets to his feet. “Cobalt Company? What are you doing here? How did you find me?”
"My Prence!!" Bran's eyes fill with tears and he rushes over, then remembers and drops to one knee.
Oranna waves hello.
Atley smoothly dismounts, scissor kicking his legs. He takes a knee in the mud and removes his helmet, rain be damned. "Your Royal Highness. We've been looking all over for you. A local aided us."
"Ian…duin!" Erixa says with surprise and delight. She bows. "It is wonderful you are safe."
Anduin nods solemnly to the group. He glances at the two pandaren with him. "Locals… aided me, as well."
Befound looks on with napping envy at Ren Whitepaw.
Atley slowly stands and turns to the Whitepaws. He bows lowly. "We owe you a debt. We saw you save the life of the Prince."
"I dinna ken if ye remember me," Bran says softly. "From the Cathedral bomb conspiracy. But I'm here ta help." Bran looks up at him solemnly.
"And me, I was there once, before your father returned," Erixa says, smiling, and doesn't mention Onyxia.
"Of course I do, Mr. Stillwall," Anduin says. "And Erixa, and Sir Atley.”
Bran seems to decide if the tall guy can stand, so can he. He's practically kneeling by default, right?
Atley takes a step towards Anduin. "Highness. We've been dispatched to collect you. It's time to come home."
"Your father will be so relieved," Erixa nods. "He is so worried."
"Wait," says Anduin. "My friends and I have been lying low since a run-in with some hozen a couple of days ago." He casts a sorrowful look at the male pandaren, who lies prone on a mat. “The old man had no reason to help me, yet risked his life to save my own. Before the fever took hold, he spoke of the healing waters in the cave just down the hill. It is dangerous, but I will do anything to help my friend. Will you come with me to retrieve the waters?” Anduin looks plaintively at the group.
"A couple of days ago? So…" Oranna looks over at her dream juice companions.
Atley nods slowly, noting the time difference along with Oranna before he looks back to Prince Anduin. "Of course, Highness."
Shine shrugs at Oranna. He does not know how vision-stuff works.
"It must have have been dream of past," Erixa murmurs to Oranna.
Bran looks down at his clothes, and at the prince's, and back at his own.
"Righ'. Well, if this fever's been at him fer a few days, then Bran might not be able ta… Water, right. Okay," Oranna says.
"I think if we can heal one who helped our person, we should," Erixa says, looking to Atley.
“Wait,” croaks the old pandaren on the mat. “The spirits… the cavedwellers… howl in agony. Trapped… in this world. They cannot move… to the next. I… will go mad. Listening. Please… put them to rest.”
Atley inclines his head to the old pandaren. "We'll see to it. Rest, and recover your strength." He looks to Erixa and nods once, tugging his helmet on.
The female pandaren rises to her feet. “Please, strangers — ” She looks at Anduin and back to the others. “Friends? My father has dedicated his life to studying the Vale of Eternal Blossoms. The Vale is a mythical place, sealed after the Pandaren Revolution twelve thousand years ago. We know so little about it! My father followed a trail of clues to the cave here, seeking an ancient poem known as the Song of the Vale, but he is in no condition to retrieve it. It is guarded by some sort of ancestor spirit.
“If you are venturing into the cave, will you try to find it? It would mean everything to him.”
Atley frowns in thought and looks to Bran at 'ancient poem.' "We'll recover it, Miss."
"Fascinatin'!" Bran says. "We must talk more o' this later! Dinna fash, we'll find et."
The female pandaren nods with relief. She will not fash.
Oranna will fash for you all.
"Pandaria itself is so mythical to us, we had not even poems," Erixa says, glancing to Bran and back. "A myth within a myth, for us."
Atley grunts.
"We will all learn, then," says the female pandaren to Erixa, and sits down beside her father again.
Between escorting his beloved prince and possibly discovering a myth within a myth, Bran looks like he is about to explode from happiness. If there's an anti-sha, prepare for a horde of them to appear.
"I'll take point, Highness," Atley says to Anduin, drawing Thunderfury and his shield.
They venture into the cave, through which plaintive spirits drift. At the group’s intrusion, the spirits turn hollow, hungry eyes on them and attack. Blue Squad fends them off.
“Be at peace,” murmurs Anduin, and a glimmer of Light banishes the lingering shadows of a spirit’s remains.
“The light… returns…” whispers a fading voice.
Atley nods slowly.
Anduin bends to collect some of the clear water from a basin into a flask.
Bran hovers near the prince protectively, but he never gazes directly at him, his eyes distant and thoughtful.
“Be cleansed, spirit,” says Anduin, a glow of Light briefly warms the cave.
“Thank you, stranger,” whispers a ghostly voice. “Use… the waters… well. They are priceless… beyond compare.”
"Oh, they're… jinyu spirits," Oranna says as one appears.
"We've been searching for you for some time. We're grateful to find you in good health, Highness." Atley says.
"I am grateful to be in good health," says Anduin wryly. "Thanks to my friends."
Atley grunts. "Grateful for them, too."
"Taylor is recovering, too," Erixa adds, because surely Anduin is worried. "We rescued him from hozen."
"Oh, thank the Light," Anduin says to Erixa. He was totally worried.
"Ye can always count on Cobalt Company, Yer Highness," Bran assures him.
Erixa smiles at Anduin, happy to bring good news.
Oranna doesn't say that a whole lot of other people aren't recovering because they're, uh, dead.
“Shadows, begone!” commands Anduin.
“We protect… the waters,” sighs a faintly echoing voice. “From greed. From… darkness.”
Atley squints at the ethereal voices, but says nothing.
Erixa glances around at the faint voice. "I wish we could explain this is no greed or darkness we want water for."
Atley grunts and glances around, taking in the architecture with an air of wariness.
"If they're healin' waters… why would someone be usin' them fer dark purposes? Or is it because they can do somethin' else?" Oranna wonders.
"It is an odd thing to say," Erixa nods. "Nefarious… healing?"
"I warrant there's a way to abuse all kinds of power, for those who've got a mind to do so," Atley mutters.
"Aye, most powers can be twisted," Bran says. "The naaru themselves can be turned ta creatures o' the void, aye?"
"I wonder who did it then, that they know ta expect it," Oranna says.
A vast darkness unfolds itself from the shadowed pool in the final chamber, and the towering black fog of the ancestor spirit looms over them.
"Oh…" says Anduin faintly.
"Somethin' wrong?" Oranna asks Anduin.
Shine fades from sight.
"Wot's tha'?" Bran sketches the vast darkness.
Atley takes in the towering black fog. "Put this one to rest."
Erixa moves in with Atley to put the shade to rest.
“Perhaps this one will know something about the poem,” says Anduin, and steps forward. “Be cleansed, spirit!”
As a veil of Light settles over the ashes of the spirit’s remains, a ghostly pandaren sage fades into view. “Finally!” he sighs, echoing. “To be free from the grip of that darkness. The light! The blessed, beautiful light!”
Erixa gasps.
Atley knits his brow as a ghostly pandaren appears. He stays glued to the Prince's side.
Bran beams at Anduin with crescent-eyes.
“What happened to you, master?” asks Anduin.
“A thousand lifetimes ago, I brought the waters here,” the ghost tells them. “A gift to the Pearlfin for ancient deeds. We guarded the waters. Too dangerous, too powerful to fall into the wrong hands. But the darkness came. It seeped from the ground itself! Slowly, it infected us. Suffocated us! Even after our mortal flesh had rotted away, it leeched hope from our souls. It was unending!”
"Ach," Bran says sympathetically.
Oranna looks horrified.
“What was this darkness that corrupted you?” asks Anduin.
“I shudder at the thought,” whispers the sage’s voice. “An ancient evil. An enemy of Pandaria. I dare not speak its name. But the Song of the Vale hangs on the wall. Take it. I hear the celestials calling me….”
The spirit fades.
"Be at peace," Atley mutters.
Erixa looks horrified. "That poor man."
"Er, did he mean the sha? We already know tha' name," Bran ponders.
"Well that's downright horrifyin'," Oranna says out loud.
Anduin stares at the place where the spirit vanished, then turns to stare at the scroll on the wall.
Bran also looks at the wall.
Atley’s gaze shifts to Shine. "Climb up that wall and untie that, will you?"
Shine nods and heads to the scroll.
"If sha, then… that is more than we knew it did," Erixa says, glancing to where he was. "Harming after death."
"Let's get hands with this." Atley puts his weapons away and gently takes the bottom of the scroll.
Shine scrambles up some rocky outcroppings in the cave wall and unties the ancient knots that hang the scroll.
Oranna squints at the scroll like she's trying to see if it's got sha infestation.
"Let me, let me!" Bran says urgently.
Atley scoffs with amusement and approval, stepping back to let Bran take the scroll.
Bran carefully rolls it up and takes it, eyes sparkling.
"Seems our work here's finished, Highness. Let's return to your mates," Atley says.
"Yes," sighs Anduin. He nods at Atley.
Bran absolutely exudes happiness.
Oranna exudes fashing.
They head back to the pandaren camp.
The old pandaren lifts his head weakly from the mat. “The howls… they have faded. Thank you… friends. The spirits… rest peacefully.”
His daughter waits somberly. “Did you find the scroll?”
"We got et!" Bran holds it up.
“Oh!” the male pandaren tries to sit up, but collapses again weakly. “It is… the poem! Did you… read it? What did you learn?”
Atley inclines his head to the old pandaren before he looks to Lina. "We did, Miss." He gestures to Bran.
Bran carefully unrolls it and clears his throat, then reads it in a dwarven accent.
"There es a valley where dreamers sleep,
Where flowers bloom an' willows weep,
Where loamy errth sprengs life anew,
An' waters sparkle, clear an' blue,
Where every hearth brengs peaceful ease,
An' beauty sengs on every breeze.
Here the sacred pools spreng pure
Here seek any who desire cure
Holy, nature, powers divine,
Turn death ta life, death ta life!"
The old man smiles beatifically and his eyes drift closed.
Bran holds out the scroll dreamy-eyed toward the woman.
Erixa listens to Bran with respectful attention. At the conclusion of the poem, she says quietly, "Sounds a beautiful place."
“This Vale of Eternal Blossoms sounds more and more intriguing,” Anduin murmurs. “I may just have to see it myself.”
Atley looks to Prince Anduin, gaze sharp. "In time, Highness."
"Death ta life…" Oranna repeats, the worry line between her brows intensifying.
“We retrieved some of the waters,” Anduin tells the old man’s daughter gravely, and offers his flask out.
The woman accepts it with a small, sorrowful smile. “They will abate his fever for a time, but I fear they will be no permanent cure. Still, you have granted him some time and ease, and brought more peace to his soul than the waters alone could give. Thank you.” She kneels beside her father to offer him a drink from the healing flask.
"Resurrection is a good thing," Erixa says to Oranna. "True resurrection."
"Aye, but… ye don't think it might be a bad sign of things that can go wrong tha' a whole lot of souls just got trapped in a half-life ghost haunting from some…dark power tha' got into there?" Oranna says. "Death ta life… with the sha? What if that means they get ta be immortal?"
Bran gently pats Oranna.
"I hope the powers did not infect this Vale," Erixa says, frowning slightly. "I do not think the intent of the poem is to refer to sha."
"No, no' the poem, but what we jus' saw. I mean, if ye can have the waters… and ye've got the sha, what happens?" Oranna asks.
"We'll sort et all out, Boomer, dinna fash," Bran says soothingly.
Oranna tries not to fash.
Atley remains focused on Anduin. He's not staring. Okay, he's kind of staring. "We’ll see to this business of the Vale once things've been squared away. We must return you to your father, the King."
Lina Whitepaw looks up from offering the sacred waters to her father.
“I am sorry,” says Anduin, “but I cannot go back just yet. I’m going to search for the Vale. I must find the Sacred Pools and study their healing powers.”
"Yes, no fashing," Erixa agrees to Oranna, and then she looks to Anduin and seems to suddenly be fashing.
Atley sets his jaw and slowly removes his helmet. He clears his throat. "Anduin… It's time, lad. The Alliance needs you safe."
"Lad — Yer Highness — do ye nae thenk…?" Bran frowns.
Ren Whitepaw climbs unsteadily to his feet, supported by his daughter.
“There y’are!” cries a familiar voice, and Sully McLeary comes up the path followed by Amber Kearnen. “Prince Anduin, we’ve come to take ye home. Come along, now.”
Bran stares disapprovingly at Sully.
“I’m sorry,” says Anduin, genuine regret in his tone, “but I won’t.” Faint shadow seems to gather at his fingertips as he makes a gentle gesture at Sully. “I’m sure you understand my reasons.”
“Eh?” Sully blinks, his expression clouding, and then he nods gravely. “Oh, aye. A’course, Your Highness, yer absolutely right. Ye must do as ye need to. You’re free ta go as ye please.”
Amber turns to stare at Sully.
Now Bran stares disapprovingly at Anduin.
"Is he allowed ta do that?" Oranna asks, looking from Anduin to Sully and back.
“Come on,” Prince Anduin tells his pandaren friends. “Let’s go.” He casts a single look back at Cobalt Company, shaking his head once, and then he and the his comrades take off down the road.
“Sully!” snaps Amber. “What are you thinking? We’re just going to let him go?”
Erixa is definitely fashing now.
“Eh?” Sully shakes his head and blinks again. “What? What happened?”
"Somethin' bad," Oranna says.
“You idiot,” sighs Amber. “He mind controlled you! And now he’s gone!”
Bran mumbles something about only being surprised that Sully had a mind to control.
“He WOT?” Sully’s eyes bug out. “I… I can’t believe he’d do that ta me!”
"… I can believe. He is willful. Like his father. That is the way of Wrynns," Atley growls.
“I hope you’re ready to explain yourself to Admiral Taylor,” says Amber. “I’ll go after him. You get word to Pearlfin.” She nods curtly at Sully and at Blue Squad, and jogs off after Anduin and his companions.
Atley looks to Amber and gives a firm nod with a short exhale.
"He left," Erixa says in disbelief.
Shine stares after Amber.
"Ach. I wonder if Brann taught him that one. Er, Brann Brann. Bronzebeard Brann," Oranna clarifies.
"We spent weeks looking for him," Erixa says, as if somehow this will change the result.
"Well I'll say thes fer the lad… he's a truly dedicated healer. I'm a bet concerned hoew easily he decides ta use mind control though," Bran says.
Atley slowly shakes his head, absolutely fuming. "Amber'll keep eyes on him. As far as we're concerned, his presence and status in this land is still of top secret importance."
"Ian it is again," Oranna says, shaking her head. "Great."
Bran sighs.
"Ian," Erixa says with a sigh. "We make new saying. It is like herding Ians."
Oranna laughs at Erixa, and then sighs heavily.
"I suppose it couldna've been tha' easy, aye?" Bran rubs at his forehead.
"At least he has bodyguards," Erixa points out. "And they are local guides too."
"I'm startin' ta understand hoew me ma felt," Bran mumbles.
Shine stands silently by, looking grim. Even the tanuki at his heel looks a little disapproving.
"Cheeky little bugger!" grouses Sully. He looks at Cobalt with an air of embarrassment. "Er. I s'pose we should report to the Admiral."
Atley tugs his helmet on and nods at Sully, still working his jaw. "Aye. Let's report to Admiral Taylor." He grinds his teeth for a moment before turning back to the squad. "As for the darkness that infected this water… We've faced down forces of the Burning Legion. We defeated the Scourge. We've slain Old Gods. We will meet this evil, and vanquish it."
Erixa looks at Atley speculatively. "I am not sure if vanquishing is the way. That is not the way the pandaren have done. But we will see."
Befound licks at a paw. Mmm. Fish people village.
"We'll deal with it," Atley clarifies sternly.
Atley dismounts and marches up to Admiral Taylor, cracking off a sharp salute.
Shine, too, salutes Admiral Taylor crisply.
Erixa follows suit, saluting.
Oranna rubs at her head, frowning.
"So there's good news an' bad news!" Bran says cheerily, saluting.
Bran looks at Atley to deliver both.
"Ah," says Taylor, and eyes Bran and then Atley warily.
"The Prince is alive, in good health, and in good Company. But he cast a mind control spell and … fled." Atley says, through gritted teeth. "We've an SI:7 Agent on his trail."
"Pair of pandaren with him," Shine offers. He doesn't sound especially glad about it, though.
Admiral Taylor stares for a moment. “He… WHAT?”
The Admiral drags a weary hand down his face. “Well,” he says at last, grimly. “At least we know he’s alive, and has some local guides. Hopefully our agent will catch up quickly.
“Meanwhile, Elder Lusshan has been looking for you. You should go see what he needs.” Admiral Taylor nods toward the somber jinyu.
Atley inhales slowly and just nods once. He looks from Admiral Taylor to Elder Lusshan. "Right away, sir."
"… half a mind to send the damned marines after him," mutters Taylor as they walk away.
"I thenk he's in good hands," Bran says, "but he is behavin' very… childish-like."
"He is child," Erixa mutters.
"I suppose," Bran grumbles.
"And willful. Like his father," Atley observes.
"Unless… he's got somethin' else in him that's makin' him think and behave badly," Oranna fashes.
Atley looks to Oranna and shakes his head. "It's all him. I know it."
"Maybe it is not sha, just wrynn," Erixa whisper with a wry grin.
Oranna nods, but she's doubtin'.
Atley approaches Elder Lusshan and bows. "Elder."
“My friends.” Elder Lusshan bows to the group. “Lorewalker Cho came through here not long ago. He was seeking you. He has asked that I send you north to the village of Dawn’s Blossom to meet with him. For what, he did not say. Speak to Kitemaster Ut-Nam. He will be happy to send you there.”
Atley nods slowly. "Dawn's Blossom. We'll make for it." He gives a short bow in farewell.
Bran perks up slightly at the mention of his new best friend, Lorewalker Cho.
"Oh ah… well since we've… right." Oranna frowns, rubbing at her head again.
"Our mission, kind of success?" Erixa suggests. "We did find Ian."
Bran sighs.
Atley lowers voice as they march. "It is irritating. But the Prince is capable. He does have good companions. Remember that stabilizing this land, learning more about it, is part of our greater mission."
Shine and his tanuki exchange skeptical looks.
"I have faith in him and his ability,” says Atley. “For now, we must focus on wot' we can do."
"Aye. There are bigger problems here than one wayward child." Bran nods.
Atley nods at Bran and leans down to appreciatively pat his shoulder a single time.
"Aye… what we can do," Oranna says.
Bran smiles. Receiving rather than giving pats for once!
"Wayward prince," Shine observes, but the amendment doesn't sound like disagreement exactly.
"Let's make for this village. See wot' needs doing." Atley says.
Atley approaches Ut-Nam. "We seek passage to Dawn's Blossom."
"Yes, friends. Kites are ready." Ut-Nam bows to them.
"Woo hoo," Bran says, more subdued than usual.
Atley bows in kind and climbs aboard, discreetly glancing back at Oranna.
Oranna tugs her braid nervously, running a hand over the still damp strands. "Kites??"
Ut-Nam beams at Oranna. Yeah! Kites! They're awesome!
Erixa cautiously climbs aboard a kite. She relaxes when it doesn't break beneath her.
Sitting on a kite and having it magically take off does seem to cheer Bran up a bit.
Oranna clings to her kite, eyes squeezed closed, trying to think non-doubty thoughts. Befound paddles through the air beneath. Wheeee.
Atley steps off of the kite. After inspecting his comrades he looks around at Dawn's Blossom, a brow lifted. "This'll be it, then — "
“Ah!” Lorewalker Cho hurries over to them, beaming. “You made it! Fantastic!”
Atley turns and marches over to Lorewalker Cho, bowing. "Lorewalker. You called?"
Oranna is a little pale and green as she hurries after Dane on much shorter legs.
Bran smiles when he sees cubs gathering around the Lorewalker.
“Your deeds have sparked a long-forgotten memory I have of an ancient prophecy,” Cho tells them. “I must investigate it. In order to do so, I will need jade. I have instructed Toya to gather as much as he can find and give it to you when he is done. Bring it to me and we will begin deciphering the ancient ‘Emperor’s Omen.’
“While he gathers the jade, feel free to explore! You may find the villagers are in need of people of your caliber.” The Lorewalker beams.
Bran makes a funny face at a curious cub who is eavesdropping.
"Every town is just as pretty!" Erixa says, looking around. "Just as pretty as Paw'don."
"Jade," Atley repeats thoughtfully. "Very well. We'll get it to you."
The group of curious pandaren cubs crowds around them now as Lorewalker Cho hurries away. “The strangers are here!” one says loudly.
“They dress funny,” another cub observes to her friend.
Atley lifts an arm and peers underneath him at a nearly Oranna-sized pandaren child. "Oi. Hullo' there."
“Why are you so pink and hairless?” the cub asks Atley.
Oranna glances over at Dane.
Atley scoffs with amusement. "Born that way."
"Why are you black an' white an' cute as a button?" Bran counters.
The cub blinks speechlessly at Bran.
"Well not… all that way. He wasn't… the beard… human babies don't have beards, aye?" Oranna asks.
Atley shakes his head at Oranna. He looks to the squad. "Let's have a look about, then."
“I’m almost as tall as you!” a cub observes smugly to Bran and Oranna.
Erixa grins at the children.
“You walk like a mogu!” a cub informs Erixa.
“Are you a mogu?” his friend demands.
"She's a draenei, wee one," Bran says. "An' a very bonny one."
Oranna looks over at Erixa's legs. "Like a mogu?"
The cub nods dubiously at Bran. "I like her horns," he decides.
"I am no mogu," Erixa agrees, and smiles at Bran. "I am friend. Mogu legs bend so? I have seen no mogu."
Bran looks like he might be wondering if mogu are super hot.
“Why are you so thin?” asks a cub.
“How big is your family?” asks another.
“Did you see the big wall in the east?” a third asks.
Shine fades from sight quietly.
Oranna looks off to the north. "The big wall?"
Ately knits his brow. "Wot' wall?"
"We have not, but maybe we will! What is behind wall?" Erixa asks.
“You there!” calls a grizzled pandaren seated at a table by a noodle stand. He has two big bowls in front of him. “You’re the helpful strangers, yes?”
Bran eyes the noodles.
"Uh," Oranna says helpfully.
"Does help get us noodles?" Bran asks.
Atley spots the grizzled pandaren and marches through the crowd of children. "Aye. We are. Cobalt Company."
The pandaren nods and waves a hand. “West of here is the Silkwood Road. It has fallen into shadow, and the spiders there have turned to an evil and gluttonous path. I would face the villainous things myself, but someone must defend… this noodle shop.” He draws one of his bowls closer. “From… dangers. Go, heroes, and conquer the beasts! Should you succeed, perhaps I shall regale you with some of my epic tales of heroism.
“Also I will pay you.”
Atley's eyes go half-lidded. "We'll see to the spiders."
The pandaren nods. He is already bent over a bowl, slurping noodles noisily.
Oranna looks out to the west. What, sometimes she has to get it right, just by pure statistical chance.
Atley looks back at the squad. "Let's clear the road, then."
"Aye, ser!" says Bran.
"Spiders seem to cause always problems when they are too big," Erixa muses as they head out.
Atley grunts. "And unchecked."
Oranna shrugs. Spiders don't bother her. "Aye, any system can get a wee bit upset."
Atley points. "That silk could be put to good use. Keep an eye out for it."
"Good fer packin' wounds," Oranna agrees.
"This one does seem wee bit upset," Erixa nods, loking at the spiderwebs all over the trees. "This is not usual, at least, elsewhere on Azeroth."
Atley shakes his head. "Must've come down from the mountains."
Shine appears abruptly from stealth and hisses as he swats at a spider crawling inside his collar. Another falls off his shoulder, and the tanuki happily pounces and gobbles it up.
Atley scoffs with amusement and glances over at the tanuki. "Beast has its uses."
"I do wonder about this 'wall'," Erixa muses. "Maybe Vale on other side?"
Atley grunts. "Aye. They said the east? I've not seen it yet. A few great bridges, p'raps."
Bran has been quietly taking notes for a bit; he doesn't seem to need to look directly at the group to follow them.
"Aye, well, walls can do both keep somethin' out and somethin' in," Oranna observes. "I wonder which one this wall's doin'."
Atley doubletakes a small family of silverhorns. He points Thunderfury vaguely at them. "That's good eating."
Befound gives Dane a Feline Look of Agreement.
Shine swears invisibly. It is possible more spiders are involved.
"Alright, then?" Atley says in Shine's direction.
Shine grunts in response.
Bran looks up from his journal at Oranna. "I'd assume a wall is keepin' somethin' in," he says, "as I've seen nothin' out here ta warrant that kind of protection."
Oranna lightly swats a spider off her pauldron.
Atley nods.
Bran sketches a spider that's crawling on his robe.
"We must be cautious, then, if we go beyond it," Erixa says, glancing to the east.
"I warrant our paths will take us there, in time," Atley says, squinting around the Silkwood. He stomps through the many-eyed face of another spider and reaches down to gather silk.
Oranna brushes off some webs from her armor, unconcerned by it.
Atley grabs a spider the size of a plate that crawled over his helmet's front. He crushes it in his palm and tosses the corpse aside. "That'll do, then."
Erixa tidies the cobwebs off her armor as the team moves back into Dawn's Blossom.
Bran looks tranquilly around Dawn's Blossom when they return.
Atley slows to a stop and dismounts, marching up to Tzu the Ironbelly. "We've got the road sorted."
Tzu the Ironbelly sits back from a third bowl and eyes the group. "Such noble heroes. You remind me of younger, less good-looking versions of myself."
Atley grunts, unimpressed.
Erixa chuckles.
Oranna makes a face. "Uh. Ye were… hairless?"
Erixa chuckles again, "And blue."
"Right then, you lot. On me." Atley says.
Oranna follows Dane away from the older, better looking version of herself apparently.
"A busy day. Take heart. We know the Prince is safe. We've still things to do in this land that require us being sharp." Atley says. "Dismissed. We accomplished a good deal."
"I will stay sharp," Erixa nods firmly.
Befound yawns widely to show off her exemplary sharp teeth.
"I'm gonna make some sketches," Bran says happily.
"I'm going to have a walk about here. Take in the village." Atley says, idly glancing around.
"I will come with?" Erixa offers. "It is our third village."
Atley grunts at Erixa. "Please."
"'Tis larger than Paw'don, innit'?" Atley asks Erixa, idly.
"The inn is bigger," Erixa nods. "May be easier to get rooms here. More central, too."
Atley grunts. "I may pass word to Alliance High Command that we ought to centralize here. Still. Portal's in Paw'don." Atley rubs his stomach and looks to the bar. "I'm hungry."
Erixa considers what's cooking on the grill. "That looks like… fish?"
"Care for a bite while we walk about?" Atley asks Erixa, pointing behind Peiji Goldendraft. "I'll have two spikes of that chicken, there."
"Yes, I would like snack," Erixa nods, examining the shelves behind Peiji. "Dried peaches, for me."
Atley slides some coins across the counter and receives Skewered Peanut Chicken. He takes a bite as he turns and keeps exploring.
Erixa does the same, and walks away with a little bundle of peach slices wrapped in paper.
Atley grunts and retracts his head in surprise at the flavor. He waves one of the skewers safely in Erixa's direction. "That's good bloody eating."
"Food is so good here," Erixa says in agreement, popping a slice of peach in her mouth. "No wonder pandaren like to be so round," she grins.
Atley scoffs with amusement. "Indeed. They've a great deal of muscle under that fat." He leans forward against the railing and nods. "Fine view of the valley. Let's see if we can find a greater one."
Erixa shields her hand. "That tower, there? If in Eastern Kingdoms, I would say is mage tower."
Atley leans forward to peer at the indicated tower from under the pines of the nearby tree. "Good eye. Let's make for it."
A fat tanuki has been bobbling along behind Erixa and Atley this whole time.
"Ah, is that same one?" Erix asks, peering at it. "You are missing your Shine, little tanuki."
Atley doubletakes the fat tanuki. "Ought to try the Peanut Chicken skewers fore we bugger off," Atley tells the shadow.
Shine materializes. "Don't think I'm going to lose it at this point," he mutters.
Atley grunts. "No, I don't think you will."
Erixa laughs. "He smells you, then." She offers Shine a slice of peach. Is she trying to encourage him to stay visible, like the tanuki?
Shine accepts the slice of peach. He tears it in half and drops half on the ground. The tanuki gobbles it up. Shine eats his own piece.
Atley spots a stable master and marches over to examine a saddled Albino Riding Crine. "Has the look of a hawkstrider."
Hong the Kindly smiles, kindly.
"Handsomer birds," Shine observes of the crane. "Never cared for hawkstriders."
Atley grunts. "Too fragile."
Erixa's smile flickers briefly. "Elves may be pleased with it. Mr. Shine, we were going to go to highest point, see the land."
"Aye," agrees Shine with Erixa.
"My people are very heavy, so elekks," Erixa says. "The kite did not break, though. And Rye is a tough horse."
"Rye?" Atley asks.
"Yes, Rye," Erixa nods. "It is short for Righteous. A virtue."
Atley nods slowly. "Aye. F'course. Fine name for a vindicator's steed."
Atley pokes his head into a shop. Lai the Spellpaw waves but remains wordless.
"Villages all have the look of a festival," Shine notes. "Just… all the time."
"Maybe they are in festival, all the time," Erixa suggests. "They say they must be merry, to avoid sha."
Atley grunts. "Paw'don's got a Mayor. I warrant this place does, too, but have you noticed? No lordships. No fiefs. Seems to be a scattering of villages."
Shine nods thoughtfully.
"No military," Erixa adds. "Dangerous, if Horde."
"They truly are a free folk…" Atley lowers his voice, tongue running back and forth against his bottom lip. "Horde'll see that as a weakness."
Shine nods at Atley. "Aye. Unready."
"We will have to protect them, if they cannot protect themselves," Erixa says, looking out over the countryside. "But as friends, if we can."
Shine nods again.
Atley lets out a breath as he looks over the valley. "The Mists may have allowed this sort of governance, but no longer." He looks over at them. "I'd see these pandaren join the Alliance, but not one village at a time. I'd see someone, one of their own unite them, and bring them into our fold. A Thoradin. A Velen."
Erixa hesitates. "I do not know if that is what they would want. Whoever leads them, it will have to be theirs, not a thing we decide."
"They used to have an emperor," Shine says. "… at some point."
Atley grunts. "Indeed," he says to them both. "We can't force it upon them, any more than we could've forced the Kalu'ak to step into kingdoms. Still. I don't want to see this land wartorn."
"They are… in crossfire," Erixa says, watching a starling wing by. "It is a dangerous place for them to be."
Shine nods. "Better to pick a side, throw their resources behind it."
Atley nods slowly a few times, resting a fist on the railing. It slowly slackens, and his hand goes palm down. "You lot did well, today."
Shine surveys the distant hills in silence.
"You too, sir," Erixa says.
"I'm making for Admiral Taylor and Paw'don. Watch yourselves," Atley says in farewell.
"Aye." Shine nods. "Back for me as well."
Atley grunts and marches down the stairs.
"I will see you back in Paw'don," Erixa raises a hand in farewell.