Ripples of Shadow
Chapter 5 - The Lines Are Drawn

Dro'gath rested casually, his arms folded behind his head as he sprawled among a bed of golden leaves. His immense size belied his acuteness to nature. He could feel life pulsing in this place, and he could feel abruptly where it ended. The Dead Scar lay off to the west, and there was...a void. It's as if nature halted its grasp on the land on each side of that scar. Dro sighed. It saddened him that any being, even a lich like Ner'zhul could devastate the land in such a way. His massive yellow hand gripped the haft of the axe lying beside him.

Dro'gath tilted his head to admire his weapon. The handle of the axe was roughly five feet in length, and carved from solid red wood. The twin half-moon blades added another foot and were enchanted to never rust nor dull. It had served him well in the past, and it would again soon enough. His thoughts strayed to Kaihlyn, and their meeting earlier this morning with the two elven sisters. Dro unconsciously stroked the haft of the axe. Tasilyna, the hunter intrigued him. At one point, she had pulled him off to the side, speaking low so the others wouldn't eavesdrop.

"I apologize for separating you from your friend Dro'gath, but there is a matter of which I'd like to discuss." Dro'gath nodded his head as he gazed down at the elf hunter who stood just shy of his shoulders. She smiled, and mirth truly touched her mouth. "I am well aware of your ability to sense nature. I felt it in you as soon as we met, and because of this I know I can trust you. The resonance of nature does not dwell strongly in those with a dark heart, and it dwells immensely strong in you." Tasilyna took a breath before continuing. "I oft travel with a pack of wolves across the lands of Azeroth, they are...my friends. Well, it seems I've run into a dilemma. I cannot bring them to board the vessel that my sister and I are taking this afternoon to Northrend, there is simply not enough room. So, as it is I require a favor of you. If you could somehow secure them passage to Northrend, I would be indebted."

"I see." Dro'gath paused, stroking his black beard with one hand. "And how would you have me accomplish this?"

"Your companion over there has many... gifts," Tasilyna glanced in Kaihlyn's direction "And I would assume she would devise a way, if you would only make her see it as important." The elf focused intently on Dro's face for a moment, her emerald eyes blazing.

"I will do what I can to see them safely to Northrend." Tasilyna stood there after Dro spoke, studying his face. She was beautiful...for an elf. His cheeks grew crimson with the thought.

"There is much honor in you Mok'Nathal, thank you. Tonight, reach out your mind and search for Dancer. Describe yourself, and she will come to you. I have already spoken with her, she will be expecting you." With that, Tasilyna smiled again, bright white flashing behind her full red lips.

Dro removed his hand from the axe laying to his right, and rolled to his left. He had positioned himself lying just on the bank of a pond, and now he gazed down into the mirror-like water. He looked deep into his own eyes, which were glittering black pearls reflecting off the water's surface. He took a good long look at himself. His long black hair was graying at the temples, and a braided beard now hung to his waist. His black eyes were set deep in a pale yellow face. Dro flexed his muscular back and shoulders as he stared into the water, and culminated an image of himself in his mind. He reached out... with that image in his mind he sought a particular wolf, supposedly still in the area. Dancer, are you out there?

Yes Bear with Two Moons, I hear you. The voice inside Dro'gath's head was soft, and calm yet held constant alertness. The images the wolves used to speak were sometimes hard to interpret. An image came back of himself, a massive yellow bear-like creature with twin crescent moons set upon a long shaft which he carried. It must have resembled his axe to them. It occurred to him that also must have been how Tasilyna described him to Dancer. Brother Mok'Nathal, my sister; Soaring Eagle, spoke to me of you. We wait nearby until tomorrow. Will you find a way for me to meet her in the north? The question lingered in his mind as he thought of a way to respond.

I have not arranged a way yet, but rest assured, I will see your pack safely to Northrend. Images traded back and forth between the two of them for some time before they agreed to meet in the morning. Dro'gath cut his mental link with the wolf and turned his attention back to the water.

The stillness of the water reflected his own peace of mind. Speaking with the other denizens of nature always seemed to calm him. Dro reached out and touched a single fingertip to the water's surface. His image became blurred as ripples spread across the water. He frowned. Just as his own touch radiated ripples in the pond, so did Arthas' touch radiate ripples of shadow across the land...

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