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| - Quietly he stood on the hill watching the majestic creature slowly moving across the grove, gracefully stretching it's vast wings. One of the guardians of the Emerald Dream, the portal glimmering green and gold behind it. The dark robe he wore fluttered in the evening breeze and his hair blew about his face. His heart sank as the sounds of troops arriving shattered his peace. "Now would be a good time to leave old friend" He said softly. The dragon paid him no heed. All races of the alliance had come. Led by the gnome. The great diplomat. He respected Chingo, he had proved to be honest in his attempts to build relations between their two factions. He must have his reasons for doing this. Just as Kelu had his reason to hate him for doing it. Smiled to himself and looked down from the hill to the even ground at the bottom. They had set their campfire there and watched the dragon together. Rhynlan in awe of it. Kelu told him what little he knew of the guardians, what he had learned whilst researching the mysterious book Sagaris had given him. How they had not always been corupt. The moment seemed so long ago, Rhynlan had yet to enter the priesthood, they still had all the time in the world together. The gnome's shouts broke through his reverie. Rallying the fighters in preparation for battle. Scanning the mob he picked out faces he recognised. Amongst them were a handful of Sin'dorei. Most of them he knew. One unknown but familiar, a young fair haired boy standing with Strifeheart. There was something about him he couldn't quite put his finger on. A call to arms and the mob surged forward. The great dragon swatted at it's tiny attackers with it's tail and valiantly roared it's fury. Heaving it's lungs it's noxious breath filled the grove. Kelu fell to his knees as poisons reached him. He ignored them, when the dragon had stamped out the mob it would most likely turn on anything left living in the grove to vent it's fury. Kelu would wait his turn. Shouts and jeers rose up from the mob as they swarmed about the dragon. The evening had grown dark and the night sky was filled with flashes of light and shadows as spells were hurled at the beast. Fighters at it's feet and belly, hacking and stabbing at it. It was weakening. It's roars of fury now cries of distress. Kelu clasped the lock of golden hair and whispered his farewells to Rhylnan's dragon. And then it was over. No last push, no leap in to the skies to fly to safety, no curse to doom all who had come here. Just a great dead dragon, and a bloodthirsty mob. They rushed forward swarming over the corpse, picking at it taking their trophies, claiming their prizes. The gnome surrounded by his followers, shouts of a great victory, a brave show of force, happy cheers of a job well done. Truthfully the beast had never stood a chance against such a force. Moving forward he descended the hill and followed the path deeper in to the grove to where the crowd were celebrating. Silently he stood watching, unable to gather his thoughts. Strifeheart approached him, placing his hand upon his shoulder. "It had to be done Kelu" he said calmly. He was one of the few people who knew him. One of the few people who knew that this was no mere dragon to be slain. To Kelu the place was sacred. He nodded and Strifeheart turned back to his duty. Drawing his men away from the corpse. Slowly he circled the mob and stood on a small mound near where the dragon's head lay. Anger filled him as he watched as the the scavengers desecrated remains of this once wondrous creature. Northwall approached slowly. Kelu didn't look up at him. He had fought alongside the human more than once, defeating common foes of Azeroth. Northwall looked over the rogue as he stood there unmasked and robed with his face streaked with tears. Kelu didn't respond as Mrtin spoke. Stepping forward he knelt down before the dragon and quietly whispered a prayer. Scanning over the crowd as they cheered with their trophies he eyed the gnome. Their central hero, the leader of this rabble. Feeling his temper flare he quietly left the grove and called for his wolf to carry him home. At speed they entered Stranglethorn Vale, his blood still boiling in his veins. He drew Moro to a halt and jumped off her back. The jeering and shouting flashing through his mind, thoughts of what Rhynlan would have thought, how this would have distressed him. He paced up and down gripping his daggers tightly in his hands. The quiet voice in his mind that usually steadied him stayed silent. "To hell with it" He growled. Reaching for his pack on Moro's saddle he took out his armour and dressed. He unfolded the purple robe and cowl and put them on over the top. he did not want to be recognised as he went back in to the grove. Lowering his head he summoned the skeletal horse from the shadows. Moro whimpered and circled sensing things were not right. Lashing the reins hard he drove the horse to it's limits riding in fury back to the Twilight Grove. People were still leaving the grove as he arrived back. Happily carrying their prizes and chattering as the strolled down the hill. He blazed past them, racing on it to the grove itself. Horrified at the sight and pulled the horse to an abrupt halt. There was nothing left. Nothing that could recognised as the majestic creature that ones protected this place. Nothing but fragments of a corpse in a field of blood. Lashing the horse again he left, bearing down on the leaving mob not caring if they got under foot. By the time he reached the borders of Duskwood and Redridge Mountains he temper had settled in to a cool hatred. The gnome, the diplomat the leader of the disrespectful riffraff that had picked the corpse like carrion. The instigator of it all. Bringing the horse to a slow trot he crossed through Redridge to Elwyn Forest unchallenged. Steadily he made his way down the long road to Goldshire. Dead centre of the road in full view his horse steaming with shadowy vapours, the scent of death swirling around them. A couple of young guards approach the warily backed away as the caught the dim glowing eyes behind the veil glaring at them. His comms came to life. Nari. Asking how he was. He dismissed her with some general answer. But she kept at him. "Sir, where exactly are you" She demanded. Without thinking he told her. She kept talking but he lost her voice in the haze as his eyes fell on the small town. There were other sin'dorei here. Raiding and pillaging the town. This was not his business. Taking a wide arch around the town he rejoined the road further up and slowly rode the horse to the gates of Stormwind. He sat there watching the people going in and out of the gate. They stared at the purple hooded figure sitting astride his skeletal horse wreathed in shadows and mists paying no head to the guards at arms. The people gave him a wide berth. Patiently he sat waiting for a clearing in the throng. The moment came, a clear run through the gates and over the bridge to the city. Then a step in to the shadows and he would disappear in to the city. Rearing the horse up on to it's hind legs it screamed and lashed out with it's front hooves. Riding the reins hard he urged it forward tearing through the gates. The guards were on him, hacking at the horse. At full speed he dismissed it, sending it back to the shadows. Cloaking himself as his feet hit the ground he rolled forward and pressed himself in to a corner of the main entranceway to the city. Steadying himself he peered out unseen from where he sat. A movement in the shadows, a familiar presence. Her voice, at his side. He told Nari to leave. She reasoned with him, pleaded him not to go. He ignored her. He knew the consequences of what he was doing. One does not walk in to Ironforge and slay the Alliance diplomat without paying a price. Blinded by his anger and distress he pushed on at speed not waiting for her. Through the town to the tram. The journey under the ground sharpening his anger the clanging of metal, rushing of the gears, the brakes squealing bringing it to a halt. Off and out in to the city. Stopping by a mailbox he dropped in a note to Chingo, the headed to the house where they had previously met. Impatiently he waited pacing the room. Eventually his patience broke and he stormed to the door and bellowed the gnome's name. Northwall's voice finally responded. Demanding to know where he was hiding. Yelling back at him he told him Chingo would know where to find him. He stalked back in to the house and slipped in to the shadows. Voices filled the the room, several people filed in. The gnome in front. Kelu launched himself at the gnome in blind rage aiming at his throat. The gnome deftly dodged aside and Kelu over stepped his mark, backing up to make a second move he eyed the ready defenders around the room. Bracing himself he waited for the onslaught, waiting for his fight to be over. To his disapointment Northwall spoke over them. Reasoning, calm. The gnome was talking, insisting someone else was there. They looked to the corner of the room Kelu could not see, he leaned forward to see. Nari. She had followed him. Northwall was still talking, saying poor Kelu was not himself. Holding back the those that would slay him. In a fit of fury he hurled his dagger in Northwall's direction so it embedded itself in to the wall near him. He threw down his other daggers. He had to give her a chance to escape. The gnome started on his tirade ranting and lecturing. Demanding to know why he was being attacked by the Daggers. Kelu corrected him. This was personal, this was vengeance for the desecrated dragon. Northwall moved from Nari's side and spoke quietly to Chingo. The gnome's tirade continued and now included a platitude of acknowledgment for Kelu's dead wife. Wife? Kelu laughed cruelly and bitterly, his wife? Ironforge's guards called from outside the alarms of attack. The gnome eyed him suspiciously. "They're not mine." Kelu stated flatly. Perhaps they weren't but their target was the same. Bursting in to the room the other sin'dorei rogue attacked wildly. Drawing his fight to the corner where Nari stood. Instinctively on his feet ready to defend he watched as the Alliance fighters dropped him to the floor. Throwing his daggers back on the table he slumped down in to the chair. Northwall thrust a bottle of port in to his hand. He took it and held on to it. Not thinking to take a drink. More rambling from the gnome. more reasoning words from Northwall. They were free to leave. Nari slipped in to the shadows and quietly left. Kelu stood uncaring and walked from the house. He respected Northwall's decision to save his life. He just wasn't grateful for it.
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