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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | Hespyth, Iphindra, Kaladris, Qelida, Sarandis, Syreithe and Velrin continue their work with the new growth of trees, but afterward they learn of a deadly crime that has been committed. The accused has much to share with them about the past and present of Velrin's home forest of Felwood… that is, if he can be trusted. ~5500 words. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
The team begins to assemble at Whisperwind Grove.
Qelida leans against a giant pumpkin, arms folded.
Sarandis looks around at the Hallow's End decorations of the inn at Whiserwind grove with a faint furrow to her brow.
"Hello everyone." Velrin says.
"Hello," Sarandis says, her expression clearing. "How are everyone's saplings doing? Mine is growing well."
Luckily someone has explained Hallow's End to Hespyth already, so she is not currently having a psychotic break about the pumpkins and the candy and the strange behavior of random people.
[Kaladris]: "I think she is strong."
Iphindra comes out from behind the corner of the building, wearing a very obviously fake troll mask. "Booh!" she exclaims.
Sarandis flinches, even though the mask is super fake.
"Trick!" Hespyth says, pointing at Iphindra.
Qelida nods calmly to Iphindra.
Velrin giggles at Iphindra, "My sapling seems to be doing quite well."
[Kaladris]: "That mask!"
Hespyth claps excitedly for Velrin.
"Shall we head down to care for them more?" Sarandis asks, looking at a pyroblast cinnamon ball in her hand in puzzlement.
"Yes!" says Hespyth. "I would like to be far from candy."
"Trick.." Iphindra joins the group. "Oh, I- I forgot to say trick or treat!" she giggles. "Yes, let's take care of saplings!"
Syreithe lifts an eyebrow. "Candy?"
Sarandis hands the fireball candy back to the innkeeper and nods.
"All the people come to the candy," Hespyth explains to her sister, pointing behind them.
"It is popular with children," Sarandis nods. "Even my own daughter."
Syreithe blinks at Iphindra's mask.
"It is Hallow's End. I will explain later." Hespyth nods wisely. Hespyth learned about this about a half hour ago, so she is wise.
"Come then, Aegis." Qelida gestures them along.
The saplings are waiting. They coil their roots in what looks like a happy manner. “Grow… big…”
"Oh, I - " She slips into Darnassian. "I almost didn't recognize you, little sapling of mine." She kisses it.
Qelida nods solemnly to the saplings.
Syreithe grins at Hespyth.
Sarandis looks over the larger trees with approval.
"I'll h- help your treants grow too!" Iphindra smiles.
The light of intelligence has grown in the trees' eyes. When one next speaks, it is clearly audible and coherent, saying, "We're growing so much bigger… It's time to shine! Time to spread our leaves to the sun!"
Velrin blinks.
"Ohhhh," says Hespyth, admiring the speaking tree.
Hespyth's tree says, "Take us to the sun! The sun is far away, but its light comes to us. Its light makes us big and strong again. The light comes down the big branches to the little ones like ours."
Hespyth claps proudly!
"We can do that," Syreithe says.
Qelida glances up at the dark canopy.
Syreithe's tree pipes up, "Over there! The sun comes to us in the north! Take us with you, take us to dance!"
[Kaladris]: "We are going dancing? I can't argue with that!"
"The saplings are growing into treants." Velrin says with some surprise.
Hespyth dances in a little circle.
Syreithe smiles warmly. "Their childlike quality is endearing."
Hespyth giggles at Iphindra, then points to her. "Are you going to troll us all night?" she asks curiously.
"Indeed," Iphindra's treant says. "She has been wearing this mask for oh so long, now. I do enjoy her dryadlike wonder. I hope you do too. If not, I offer you sincerest apologies for your bleak outlook on life."
Iphindra giggles at her treant.
Hespyth dances a bit more, holding her treant's hands.
Sarandis looks around at the chatty trees, and then at Iphindra's mask. She tilts her head, and then shakes it.
Syreithe laughs softly, soaking up her sister's delight.
Hespyth appears to be trying to teach the treant how to do an extremely ancient Highborne style waltz. It is not working out great.
Velrin's sapling looks around the forest sadly. "There's so many other spirits still trapped in rotting bodies here…" says Velrin's sapling.
"I know…" Velrin responds.
Qelida's tree nods. "Do you see? The irontree stompers, in the north. They're sick with demon-stuff and icky with mold. Poor spirits inside them can't get out."
Hespyth nods sadly at Qelida's tree.
Sarandis’s tree claps branches happily. "You can help! Chop them down, and the spirits can get out. We'll put the spirits in us and we can all be happy together when we grow up. Will you help? Please?"
"To the north, then," Qelida says, gesturing to the north.
Hespyth follows, still holding a treant hand.
"Dancing in the sun," Sarandis says quietly. "Definitely not the hardest thing we've been asked to do here."
"Sometimes, work is not work," Hespyth says.
Qelida's sapling does a little twirl as it reaches a patch of sunlight.
"Yes," Sarandis says with a slight smile. "Sometimes it is a pleasure."
"I miss Kalecgos," Hespyth says suddenly.
"Miss him?" Sarandis asks, turning to Hespyth. "Has he gone somewhere?"
Qelida glances at Hespyth.
[Kaladris]: "I was going to ask."
"Well, he is not here," Hespyth says. Then she looks around, hopefully. "Is he?"
"I do not think so," Sarandis agrees. "Do you speak with him often?"
"I rode him," Hespyth says dreamily.
"Then it's just a question of time before you see him again!" Iphindra says encouragingly.
Sarandis's eyebrows riiiise.
Kaladris coughs.
Qelida touches the emerald dragon pendant she wears. It's not like they haven't all ridden dragons together before.
Syreithe lets out lamenting sighs, feeling Hespyth's sudden feeling of loss. "My sister has a special connection to the flows of magic. And thus, to the blue dragons."
[Hespyth]: "Also the most beautiful human in the world was there. A mage."
"Yes, I recall you speaking of it, the feeling when Malygos was lost, and…" Sarandis tilts her head. "The most beautiful human?"
Hespyth nods. "I don't remember her name. I wanted to be her friend, but I forgot to be…"
"The most beautiful human…" Iphindra tilts her head up, trying to remember who the most beautiful human she's seen is.
Velrin is struggling to think of who that might be. She doesn't really find humans attractive…
"I have not met many humans," Sarandis admits. "There were humans on the ship, where my daughter was rescued. They seemed very… salty."
"Oh, I did not taste her," Hespyth says thoughtfully.
"That was perhaps just the sea," Sarandis nods. "So yours may have been more arcane and less salt."
"Yes, she was very arcane," Hespyth agrees.
"I forgot to be her friend. She may be older now…" Hespyth ponders.
"Was this very long ago?" Sarandis asks. "You have only been out of Eldre'thalas for… perhaps a year…?"
"Oh?" says Hespyth with interest, as though Sarandis is telling her an entirely new story.
"Yes, it mustn't have been that long!" Iphindra says. "So she won't be that old, unless she was actually very old already…"
[Hespyth]: "No, she was young and beautiful. I have not yet understood humans and time." She ponders more.
"They age quickly, but not that quickly," Sarandis confirms.
Iphindra's mask is getting soggy as she breathes on it while running around. "Yes, they live longer than most other mammals. Even more than insects, too!"
Vel smirks at Iphindra's comment.
Qelida speaks little as she smashes holes in the rotting irontree stompers.
Syreithe looks to Hespyth with a small frown. "You have not told me of this."
Hespyth stares at Syreithe. "You did not know?"
"I can only feel your heart, falore," Syreithe says to Hespyth. "I do not hear your mind."
Hespyth seems to take a moment to absorb the idea that Syreithe no longer knows every single thing that happens to her.
"Cobalt Company asked for mages," Hespyth explains to her sister. "You are not a mage. So I only went. Also the human. We went with Kalecgos. Finding pieces of a thing."
[Hespyth]: "But it was a very bad thing, so I do not want to talk more about it. It is all over now."
"That sounds important," Sarandis says. "And if it was a bad thing, at least you were able to spend the time in good company."
[Hespyth]: "Oh yes, very yes."
Iphindra nods enthusiastically. Cobalt Company is good company!
"You did true meet Kalecgos?" Syreithe blinks in surprise. "I thought you did dream this, or feel him through magic." She sighs with a hint of sadness, peering over at Hespyth as if her sister were so much further away.
"I did meet him, true. He is so beautiful and strong and gentle and wise and beautiful." Hespyth goes starry eyed, gazing off into the middle distance.
"It is an amazing thing, to count a former dragon aspect among one's friends," Sarandis says in admiration.
"I hope he remembers me," Hespyth says wistfully.
"I cannot imagine anyone forgetting you," Sarandis says solemnly.
Iphindra nods. "Tha- that's what I was going to say!"
"You're a very kind person. I'm sure he will." Velrin smiles.
[Kaladris]: "I agree."
Hespyth's ears fold as she blushes.
Qelida nods solemnly.
Sarandis’s tree is delighted. "So happy! Can you hear us? We're so many friends now. Bigger and bigger, with room for each friend…"
Hespyth gazes in astonishment at the rapidly growing small army of ambulatory sapient trees.
Kaladris's tree raises its branches. "So warm and fresh and full of life. We love the sun, it makes us stronger. Soon now, very soon is the time of growing…"
Velrin lightens up at the trees’ optimism.
Qelida's tree looks on seriously. "Ahhh… thank you, little ones. We and others have tried so many times to grow in this forest, without success."
Qelida nods solemnly to her treant.
Iphindra giggles at the trees. They're just so cute!
Hespyth's tree nods sadly. "The Withered Protector that lurks in the north is the only ancient to have grown to maturity since the ruining of the forest, but his body is sick and his mind is mad."
Velrin's tree raises a calming branch. "Just as we gathered the spirits of the treants, we would save those that dwell in him rather than leave them behind. Defeat him, and let his spirits join us before we set our roots."
Iphindra stops giggling as the trees ask to kill another treant. She gets it, but that giggle was inappropriate for that situation.
"So we preserve the spirits of all, in new growth," Sarandis nods. "It is good that they continue into the future of the forest."
Iphi nods.
"Mmmm…" Hespyth says, eyes wide with wonder.
"We shall do this," Qelida says to the small grove of trees following them.
Hespyth falls into line behind Qelida like a well-trained happy puppy.
Ahead, the withered protector stalks, dark and angry.
"We are ready?" Sarandis asks, looking to Qelida for the order.
Velrin readies her weapons and nods.
Hespyth gathers arcane energy between her hands.
Syreithe adopts a stance, nodding firmly. "I am ready."
Iphi stares sadly at the withered protector with her paper troll eyes.
Qelida strikes her weapons together, catching a spark. She ignites the Withered Protector.
Hespyth lets fly a powerful arcane bolt once the mighty corrupted protector is distracted by tougher combatants.
Sarandis takes that as the signal, and she charges, moving with martial efficiency.
Iphi runs at the treants and slices at its giant arm with her spear.
Velrin waits a moment before leaping in to attack while the ancient is distracted.
Syreithe charges the giant treant, leaping upon its knee and running up its side. Vaulting to its back, she grips a branch there, and brings her fist down like a hammer on its neck with a loud battle cry!
The corrupted protector is no match for the team and their growing healthy trees. As it falls, its spirit flows out and into the new growth.
Syreithe's tree turns to her and says seriously, "All that is cut will regrow in time; the spirits endure. And yes… it is time."
"Time for what?" Qelida asks.
Qelida's tree answers. "It is time to say goodbye now. You have raised us from seedlings, brief though it was, but now we must rejoin the forest. Take us back to the hill you found us on. There we will set our roots, and grow in the shadow of the ancients."
Qelida nods solemnly. "We will bring you there."
Iphindra smiles at all the trees, wiping away tears. "I'll miss you all. I hope I'll see you in the Emerald Dream?"
Qelida stops at the edge of the lake to ask the water spirits to carry them across.
"I hope so!" Iphindra's tree says. "I love to dream."
"Me too! That's pretty new to me, too," Iphi giggles.
As the trees gather on the hill, a final one turns to give their farewell. "Someday we will spread our branches across a renewed forest, full of life and hope. Farewell. Have patience… and if you live long, you may see us again one day."
Sarandis bows her head forward in respect, one hand over her heart.
[Kaladris]: "One day. May Elune grant it."
"If you will be stationary, we can see you often," Qelida says in her usual common-sense tone.
Very true!
Syreithe places a hand upon her treant companion's forearm. "Goodbye."
Iphindra places her troll face against her treant's branch. "Thank you, my friend. I'll see you there!"
Velrin offers a silent prayer.
Hespyth also appears to be praying.
"Yes, this is the spot," says a treant. "Farewell…"
The protectors set their roots and go dormant, becoming completely still.
Qelida nods. "A new grove."
Hespyth opens one eye. "Are they… still alive?"
Sarandis's eyes look a little misty, but she nods. "They are alive. They are growing. As is this forest. It is not dead."
Iphi nods. "You do- don't see it as much, but they are. Trees just grow on the- their own time, so slowly we forget they live too."
"One day…" Velrin says with a catch in her breath, "One day things will be right again."
"One day," Sarandis agrees, resting a hand on her shoulder.
Hespyth moves a bit closer to Velrin, eyeing her sympathetically.
Vel reaches out for Hespyth's hand subconsciously.
Iphi smiles comfortingly at Velrin.
Hespyth gives Vel's hand a little squeeze, and holds onto it as long as she wishes.
Syreithe nods. "Maybe we come back in three hundred years and see the wood bloom again."
"And in the meantime, there may be more we can do," Sarandis says, straightening. "Shall we return?"
Vel sniffles and wipes her eyes, composing herself, "Yes. Let's."
"Indeed. Come, Aegis." Qelida beckons them on.
"It is so good, to help. After so long simply… waiting," Hespyth says softly.
Iphi smiles at Hespyth. "Right?"
Hespyth smiles back at her.
Sarandis pauses by Isural. "The trees are growing. The forest will be renewed in time."
Isural smiles. "We have tried every season… I should have known not to lose hope."
"Is there anything further we can do to help?" Sarandis asks.
"Yes," Qelida says. "We would help further."
"If you would help further, Selura has told me a terrible tale," Isural continues. "Someone is attacking the local druids… she can tell you more." Isural gestures over towards Huntress Selura.
"We are a shield," Syreithe says. "We will protect them."
"Hm. Helping druids," Iphindra politely nods.
Selura looks over the team. "You're the ones who helped run out the satyr a while back, aren't you? Well done."
Hespyth smiles shyly.
"We are Cobalt Aegis. You have a story for us?" Qelida asks.
"Let me get right to the point on our latest crisis. Since reclaiming Jadefire Run from the satyr, the Emerald Circle has sent many druids to begin the long task of cleansing the ruins. Last night, several of them were murdered…" she pauses dramatically, "…by a night elf."
Sarandis's expression hardens.
"What?" Syreithe is surprised.
Hespyth gasps.
Iphi tilts her head in incomprehension.
"The witnesses say it was a demon hunter, a crazed disciple of Illidan. A rare sight. No doubt he's gone mad with power just like his master," Selura says with a shrug.
Velrin's eyes go hard, "What?"
"A demon hunter?" Sarandis asks sharply. "Here?"
"You know the identity of this individual? You are certain they are to blame?" Qelida asks. "From the witnesses, yes?"
"Yes, I have eye witness reports," Selura confirms. "I'll pay top bounty for proof of this murderer's death. He's been spotted just off the road to the north, in a valley beneath Jadefire Run."
[Kaladris]: "We can do this."
"We must protect the druids," Sarandis nods.
The team heads out in search of the perpetrator.
"I thought that was only a problem out in Outland," Sarandis says, shaking her head.
"A demon hunter…" Velrin furrows her brow.
"How do we identify this person?" Qelida asks the others.
"There are signs," Sarandis says. "He will be wearing a blindfold, for one thing."
Hespyth also looks confused. But she's probably used to that.
"W- well, I don't know if there are many demon hunters in here…" Iphi shrugs a little.
Qelida glances at a white-haired kaldorei man wearing a blindfold in the distance. "Such as that one?"
"That… yes," Sarandis says, staring at him. "Definitely that one."
Qelida approaches confidently. "Hail."
The demon hunter turns to the assembled team and answers, "Hail. What is this? Come for my head?"
Hespyth gazes at his head.
"That depends. Is what they say true?" Velrin growls.
[Qelida]: "There are eyewitnesses claiming you have killed local druids. Do you deny this?"
"In a manner of speaking," Feronas says carelessly.
"What manner of speaking?" Sarandis asks, her voice cold.
"You think this is a game?" Velrin raises her voice and her weapons.
[Kaladris]: "A pretentious manner of speaking."
"Wh- why?" Iphi's ears droop.
"Explain," Qelida demands.
Syreithe calmly observes the man, holding her staff planted in the ground.
"If it is a game to you, then by all means, try me," Feronas says. "I don't have time to explain myself to every civilian who wanders my way."
"I intend to…" Vel attacks.
Feronas holds his own briefly, and then Velrin begins to overpower him. He calls, "Enough! Stay your hand! If you care at all for the truth, then at least let me explain."
"It is what we ask for first," Syreithe says, irritated.
"We as- asked you to explain yourself first!" Iphi says, shocked.
Syreithe gives Iphindra a firm nod. Samebrain.
"Velrin, hold," Qelida requests. "Yes. Explain yourself."
"He thought he was too above us," Hespyth says.
[Hespyth]: "She show him."
[Kaladris]: "You could have just explained without being such a ragbag."
"No, he could not," Hespyth says to Kaladris solemnly.
Feronas looks irritated, but he says, "I am Feronas Sindweller, and yes, I am a demon hunter. My kind has always been hated for what we do… despised outcasts, accused of corruption beyond redemption."
"You'd best make your point quickly before I put you down." Velrin threatens.
“I’m getting there,” Feronas snaps. "You all hate my kind, I'm sure, but if it was not for a demon hunter, these very woods would be the greatest stronghold of the Burning Legion on Azeroth. I speak of my master, Illidan Stormrage, the "Betrayer"."
Sarandis looks doubtful.
[Kaladris]: "Oh. Well now the disdain makes sense. Illidan? Really?"
"Ha! Illidan is the one who destroyed these woods! Make a joke like that again and your death won't be a quick one!" Velrin shouts.
"Explain druids. We do not care about your Illidan." Hespyth glares at him.
Feronas sighs. "Look, if you want the truth, you have to listen to me. I'll get there. But first a little history, because I bet you don't know it as well as you think."
Hespyth's eyeroll can be heard from space.
"Be calm," Syreithe says evenly. "I want to hear him."
"See for yourself. See what occurred here when Illidan was first freed, and the demonic forces of the dreadlord Tichondrius ruled this forest completely unopposed…" Feronas says, gesturing to the clearing. A vision shimmers into the space, within a fel-green sphere.
Now that there is some kind of arcane illusion going on and not just a lecture, Hespyth pays attention.
Iphi sits. It seems they'll be there for a little while.
Within the glowing illusory arena, a vision of Illidan facing Arthas appears.
"I am free after ten thousand years, yet still my own brother thinks I am a villain!” Illidan says. “I'll show him my true power! I'll show him that the demons have no hold over me!"
"Are you certain of that, demon hunter?" Arthas counters, walking toward him. "Are you certain your will is your own?"
"You reek of death, human. You'll regret approaching me," Illidan sneers.
"Come then. You'll find that we're evenly matched," Arthas taunts him.
They fight, until Illidan calls a halt. "We could go on fighting like this forever. What is it you truly want?"
Arthas answers, "The dreadlord who commands this undead army is called Tichondrius. He controls a powerful warlock artifact called the Skull of Gul'dan. It is responsible for corrupting these forests."
"And you wish for me to steal it. Why?" Illidan asks suspiciously.
"Let's just say that I have no love for Tichondrius, and the lord I serve would… benefit from the Legion's downfall," Arthas answers.
Syreithe frowns, peering at the visions. "I know of Illidan. Who is the human?"
"Is it the Li- Lich King?" Iphindra frowns worriedly.
Sarandis looks on, shivering. "That is… the Lich King?"
"But… that's wrong! By consuming the skull he unleashed its magic into this forest! Into my home!" Velrin goes on with tears in her eyes.
Hespyth moves to place a hand on Velrin's back.
Kaladris looks horrified.
Syreithe gives a slow nod of understanding.
Qelida looks at Velrin, then at the vision.
Feronas shakes his head. "Illidan went after the skull, but he had no desire to destroy this forest. I promise you that. Do you begin to understand that you may not know it all?"
Iphindra looks at Velrin, trying to know what she thinks about all of this, and if they should trust that demon hunter.
Velrin has tears streaming down the bottom of her mask and dripping on the ground, "You… you're lying…"
“There is more to the story?" Sarandis asks.
"Tell us more," Syreithe says to the demon hunter.
"Was the forest already destroyed when those two spoke?" Qelida asks, confused.
"Illidan spat on the legacy of my parents and destroyed my home… I spent each moment then on training… training so that I could KILL HIM!!!" Velrin screams.
"I have no reason to lie to you," Feronas says, in the face of Velrin’s rage. "Let me prepare visions to show you the rest, and then you'll understand. But.. I don't think you look ready to listen right now."
Sarandis looks worriedly from Velrin to Feronas.
Velrin growls and bares her fangs.
Hespyth looks at the same time nervous and as though she completely understands.
Syreithe steps closer to Velrin and Feronas…just in case. "Now we must be calm."
Vel's hands twitch, eager to spill blood.
Iphindra approaches Velrin, hoping to soothe her. "I… Do you w- want to leave here, for a moment?"
The group, at least, does not attempt to kill Feronas Sindweller. He relaxes slightly.
"The next, then," Feronas says, gesturing to the clearing. Another vision appears.
Illidan appears in the vision, looking towards the Skull of Gul’dan in the distance.
"And so my master set out to find the skull… risking his own life against an army of demons to find the source of corruption in Felwood," Feronas says, looking to Velrin. "Imagine if he had not! Imagine what these woods would look like if the Skull of Gul'dan had continued its work, undisturbed…”
Feronas continues, as the illusory Illidan begins his journey, “Yes, Illidan set out to find the Skull of Gul'dan. He fought through armies of demons to reach it, slaying them with the power that made him a hated outcast. See him in battle. Witness the one that fought the fiercest against the corruptors of Felwood, and struck at its source."
In the vision, Illidan cries, "That is where the skull of Gul'dan is being kept! These paltry demons will not prevent me from claiming it!"
He fights his way through wave after wave of demons, and finally holds the skull in his hands. "Now at least the demons will no longer corrupt the forests. But, if I claim this power as my own, I will become stronger than any of Archimonde's lieutenants."
"Yes…" Illidan says, smiling. "The power should be mine!"
Velrin's eyes burn a brilliant white as she watches the scene play out.
Illidan turns into a demon and yells, "Now I am complete!"
Qelida spits on the ground. "Fool."
"This… shows him in a good light?" Sarandis sounds doubtful.
Iphindra is back to sitting down, looking horrified at the visions. She's hiding her fear behind having a troll face.
Hespyth looks very, very confused.
"It shows he stopped the skull from hurting the forest." Syreithe arches an eyebrow at Feronas. "This is what you say, yes?"
"Yes, exactly! Yes, Illidan took the power of the Skull of Gul'dan for himself," Feronas admits. "But did he flee with it into the night? Did he use it for his own glory? No… his very first action was to use his new power to assault the dreadlord Tichondrius!
“That is the final thing I want to show you," Feronas says. "Witness his triumph. Witness how Illidan reclaimed Felwood from the demons… and the thanks he was given."
A final vision appears in front of the team. Now Illidan faces Tichondrius.
"What? Who are… you?" Tichondrius says.
"Let's see how confident you are against one of your own kind, dreadlord." Illidan says with confidence.
Velrin looks more beast than woman as the dreadlord comes into view. Her face twists into a snarl and veins bulge from her face in rage.
The two launch into battle, and then Illidan defeats Tichondrius.
Afterward, Malfurion and Tyrande appear.
"Foul demon! What have you done with my brother?" Malfurion cries.
"It is I, Malfurion. This is what I've become." Illidan tries to explain.
"No! Illidan, how could you?" Tyrande cries.
"The leader of the undead has been destroyed, and the forests will heal in time," Illidan tries to reassure them.
"At the cost of your soul? You are no brother of mine! Begone from this place, and never set foot in our lands again!" Malfurion rages.
"So be it… brother," Illidan says, and he turns away.
Hespyth's eyes are leaking profusely.
Syreithe winces deeply, watching the bond between the twins shatter beyond repair.
Qelida looks deeply unimpressed.
Sarandis watches all of this with something like horror and wonder mixed.
"Do you see now?" Feronas asks, turning to Velrin. "For doing what was needed to drive the demons from these lands, my master was banished."
[Kaladris]: "…That's what you think happened here?"
"Yes, that's what happened here," Feronas says firmly. "The skull was removed, and Tichondrius was defeated. The forest will heal."
"I- it was a pretty drastic way to drive the demons away…" Iphindra counterarguments.
"That last part was… not needed," Hespyth gently corrects, still crying.
Syreithe inhales deeply, considering what she has seen. "Illidan was foolish…but maybe a fool was needed."
[Kaladris]: "He should have asked for help."
Velrin is paralysed with a mixture of confusion and rage. She just stands there, limbs trembling with unbearable tension, like she might snap at any moment.
"None of this tells me whether or not you murdered several druids," Qelida says, glaring at Feronas.
Hespyth points at Qelida, then at the demon hunter.
Sarandis waits for some kind of answer that doesn't merit an immediate attack.
“In a manner of speaking, I said,” Feronas turns to Qelida. “These druids pick up the pieces, patting themselves on the back for scrubbing the remaining vestiges of the Legion's forces. But that is not why I killed them."
"Get to the point. Why, then?" Qelida asks.
"The answer is simple: They are not druids at all," Feronas says.
"What do you mean n- not druids?" Iphi says.
Velrin darts forward at blinding speed holding a blade to his throat, "You have ten seconds to convince me not to kill you."
"Speak simple," Syreithe sighs. "We do not come for poetry."
"One need not be a druid to provide assistance," Qelida says. "Unless you claim they were demons posing as druids."
"Exactly. Demons still roam the ruins, now hiding in plain sight in the guise of friendly caretakers," Feronas insists, straightening with the blade to his throat.
Hespyth looks lost - both in the sense of confused and, a bit shattered and unmoored.
"Demons cannot hide from me," Feronas says, proud still, even with the blade at his throat. "I know what I see. I can help you see it too, if you cannot. The demons hide their shapes."
"Druids… demons pretending as druids?" Hespyth whispers.
"You've j- just show us visions," Iphi shakes her head. "How do we know that, if we do see the druids are demons this isn't m- more illusions?"
Syreithe frowns at Velrin. "Stay. Breathe."
"If this is true, then you have not acted in error," Qelida says. "But you took so long getting to the point that you have lost much credibility."
"I needed you to understand," Feronas insists. "I do not seek to harm your woods. Nor did my master. This I promise."
Velrin holds firm but doesn't threaten him any further.
"Will you work with me, rather than against me?" Feronas asks. "We need not be friends to be allies, and we have the same enemies."
"I will kill demons," Hespyth says. "But I would not like to hear more of your words."
"If you have demons that need to be killed, then I'll kill them." Velrin says with a deadly calm, "But you'd do well to remember you are a demon too."
"You prove that the druids are demons," Syreithe says, "And we can ally for now."
Iphindra nods at the others. "Yes, if whatever you say is true, we'll help you…" Iphi pauses. "But if you're lying…" She stops the threat there. She won't be doing anything, personally, but people will, that's for sure.
Syreithe moves to Hespyth's side and leans into her, speaking in Darnassian: "Nothing could ever make me turn you away as Malfurion did to his brother. Nothing."
Hespyth cuddles her sister, seeming calmed somewhat by her words and nearness.
"I am not lying," Feronas says. "How about a truce? I will find a way to show you the demons. Then we will root them out together. It is… not in my nature to work with a team. But I will try to… compromise."
Velrin finally stands down, but the lethal look in her eyes remains.
"Very well," Qelida says. "We shall return to Whisperwind Grove and ask to see the bodies of the fallen druids. I wonder if the druid who sent us after you is a demon as well."
"Hmmm…" Iphindra looks in worry. "I hope not. He's within the village…"
"I wouldn't doubt it," Feronas says. "But I can't get into the Grove to check. They don't welcome me there."
"Yes, we can investigate in our own way," Sarandis says, looking to Qelida. "And then we see what is to be done."
Hespyth looks at Qelida as well, fully trusting.
Qelida nods. "We shall see, then, and I will be in contact." She looks at Velrin. "Is this resolution satisfactory?"
Velrin seems to still be too flooded by emotion to respond, but she is staying her blades.
Sarandis starts to reach toward her, then thinks better of it for now. "Velrin, we will get to the bottom of this. We will help."
"Yes," Hespyth echoes softly. "We will help."
Iphindra nods. "We'll st-study the situation! Maybe we can ask.. scryers?" She doesn't know how scrying works. "Maybe they'll be able to co- confirm something about this?"
"I will brew tea and meditate on this day," Syreithe says. "Any may join me." She says 'any', but her eyes fall specifically on Velrin.
Velrin snorts and vanishes in a puff of smoke. There is a strong rush of wind and the scattering of leaves from what could only be her sprinting away to be alone.
"She needs ti- time to find clarity in all this…" Iphi nods.
Qelida looks around. "Hm. Well. In that case, we are dismissed for today," Qelida says. "I shall head back to the grove and investigate."
"Maybe she will take you up on it," Sarandis says. "Maybe… we do not tell Selura everything? Just in case."
[Kaladris]: "That's a good idea."
Qelida nods to Sarandis.
When Syreithe sits down for her meditation later, she still sets out an extra cup for Velrin. Just in case.