12-28-2011, 02:23 PM (This post was last modified: 12-29-2011, 06:47 PM by Yandere.)
Warning; Gore, Cuss-words.
Read at your own risk.
Spoiler:
Spoiler:
"Disgusting wretches."
Those were the things that ran through Mave's head as she took the boat from Ratchet towards Booty Bay, the rough sea remaining a shaky trip. The male Kaldorei and female Human which she had seen earlier in Ratchet, when she was restocking had tempted was layed hidden within. Her pride. The talk with the velnerable Kaldorei which showed full scorn towards the two only fuelled her determination.
"Younglings. The impurities must be removed."
She muttered as the ship layed anchor within the port of Booty Bay, a whore-ridden town full of slaves and dirty trade. Just as Ratchet. Mave stepped out of the boat, heading for the next guard questioning them if they had seen such a pair. And indeed.
Her assumption had confirmed, they used -one- gryphon towards Stormwind. Now it was time, the hunt was on. The zealous exile had found a track, even if she was about two hours past the pair. A gryphon was taken to Stormwind, whisperings of treachery and heresy going through her mind as she flew over the entirety of Stranglethorn and Duskwood.
Trudging through the evening streets of Stormwind after she landed, the occasional beggar and drunk peasent spared a snarl she continued her fanatic search. She ran atop the rooftops, hoping to spot them at any point in the city. And indeed, she was of success.
-Dwarven- ale. That was what the male Kaldorei and his companion drank. Yet another treachery, Mave was wondering why he hasn't shrinked already and lost his Elven features. Patience was now asked for as she observed the inn they were located within, resting upon the rooftops, the full moon shining upon her.
"Night Warrior. The distance of the old ways and the behaviour of the young ones has grown to an inacceptable level. Guide my blade as I release their bound spirits, in hope that their future life bring back the glory of the Kaldorei."
Mave halted for a few moments, a hatred and determination-filled scowl written upon her features as her silvery orbs observe the White Lady in her entire beauty.
"I serve."
She ended her prayer, settling her gaze upon the inn again. It was night. Just perfect for the nocturnal hunter. The exile saw them leave the inn, arm in arm. A distasteful snarl escaped her as she followed them, observing each and every of their movements from above.
A house in the forest. Away from the defias, away from the roads.
"Easy prey."
Mave localised her target and returned back to Stormwind, swiftly gathering her bow and two broadhead arrows. This was no play anymore.
The illuminating moon was piercing through the few gaps of the treetops of Elwynn's forest. Other than that, it was the perfect darkness. Her silvery gaze pierced through it, experience of fighting within the shadows of Ashenvale had sharpened her sight even further.
"It was time."
Her thoughts were ridden by fanatical whispers, the purity of her race had to be preserved, the Kaldorei could return to their former glory.
If the heretics would be wiped out.
A bow with a fresh sinew, an arrow at steady as she approached the house. There was noone nearby, her Elven senses could hear the slightest sound which would disrupt her doing. But there was noone.
"Goddess. May their previous lifes be forgotten, for they have brought naught but shame to our people. May new generations arise from the ashes of our scorched pride and power. May they return us back to our former glory."
A silent prayer. The house was locked. But even that was hinder for the zealot. Knocking at the door, the most common and unsuspicious way, even at this hour.
The door opened. A splint.
"Who?"
The figure of a female Human asked, her front exposed.
"The goddess' will."
A cold answer. The bow spanned the second as the door opened even slightly, the footsteps from inside could be heard easily. An arrow was released, flinging towards the proper direction. The female's throat, just above her sternal, impaled by the force of the powerful bow and her strength. The simple thud of a body could be heard, a moment of peaceful silence following afterwards.
Arteries, skin and flesh were pierced easily, resulting in a painful death. The female was thrown back by the force, squirming on the ground as she bled out within seconds. Not the tiny chain which held the door in place could stop Mave, bringing her fist down upon it, snapped a link.
"Grant them mercy. Take them in your embrace. Perhaps then they will learn. Your will is my doing, I swore vengeance and wrath. And I shall bring it upon these unlearning children."
It was a chant. A chant ringing from Mave as she entered the house, closing the door behind herself. The male Kaldorei didn't realise what happened, the shock was written upon his features as his gaze locked upon the massive female Kaldorei, chanting and scowling as a demon would.
"Kath..-"
"May she grant you eternal peace and mercy. For I, will not."
The second arrow was drawn, but not spanned within the bow. Mave stepped forward, bringing her foot down upon the female's ankle with a crushing stomp, snapping it. Kath, the female was still alive within this time, gargling sounds coming from her. Of no avail, no screams but disturbing noises could be heard from the Human's throat.
Lunging forward, Mave used the arrowhead as a dagger of sort, it seems neither of them were skilled warriors. Barely any resistance was shown from the male Kaldorei as the the broadhead dug into his chest. Blood spluttering from the gash before Mave pushed onward, smashing the rather small male into the wall as she used the additional force, bringing the arrowhead deeper into his body, forcing it past the ribs, eventually ending in the heart.
"I serve."
Were her words as the lifeless figure of the male Kaldorei slumped within two seconds, dead. Pushing herself away from the corpse, she observed once more. A peaceful expression resting upon her features for mere moments.
Shalis narrowed her eyes, the hood upon her head lowered as she stalked the jungles of Stranglethorn. For the last day she found her prey... And soon, the time to act came. Barely dressed in nothing but to hide her essentials, the elderly archer hid within the trees and shadows at night, barely noticeable to even some of the sharpest eyes in Azeroth. She rustled a branch.
"Who's there?"
That was the voice of her prey. By the way she walked, a sentinel... Filth. Shalis snarled at the thought of one of her race's warriors falling to such filth... Earlier, she saw this woman openly selling her body within the tavern of the filthy hole known as Booty Bay.
Silently, Shalis drew back the string of her bow. A perfect shot. She looked to her prey as soon the world blackened leaving only her, and the target. Her two fingers released the poisoned arrow, and with the form of dexterity only true Elven archers could have... The grazed by the prey's neck, leaving a gash to allow the poison to seep in. Slowly, the woman donned in simple cloth found herself wobbling and falling to the ground, above her a shadow with a pair of glowing silver eyes looming.
It took hours for the prey to awaken... But finally, it did. A pair of silver eyes opening with a tiered and exhausted glance. It tried to move, but it couldn't... Its body was in chains, and the poison was still within her blood.
"W-where..."
And soon, came it's reply. From the shadows, the form of the robed Elf came out. Silvery orbs, tainted with wrath, look down to the bound Elf. The ancient woman spoke.
"You have tainted the name of our people. You were once a daughter of Elune, and her soldier. But now you are a whore. Filth. A disgrace to our race. This terrible treason must be paid with blood."
The prey's eyes opened lightly as it looked at the robed woman with disbelief in its voice.
"Sh-Shalis? By Elune, what are you doing?! It's me! Vulza! We used to serve together!"
Shalis' eyes narrowed on her prey, sliding back her hood to reveal the runic scars and patterns that adorned the lower side of her face and cheeks. She drew from her hip a curved silver dagger.
"Sinner. Disgusting filth. You should be ashamed of what you've become."
The prey, known as Vulza looked to Shalis with frantic desperation and thrashed in futile panic against her restraints, her breathing accelerating and tears welling in her eyes.
"You can't do this to me! I'm a Kaldorei like you! A sist-."
Vulza's desperate pleads were cut short by Shalis diving the knife into her throat, sending only a bloodied gargle to be heard in the silence of the darkness. Shalis whispered silently to Vulza's ear quietly as she carved the knife deeper without remorse, sending more blood down the captive woman's body.
"Good bye, my old friend..."
A few good minutes afterwards, Shalis found herself sitting in front of a large campfire. Another Kaldorei approaching her, a male. He smiled and asked if he may join, and Shalis allowed him this... Little did the male see into the fire,
Snap. A twig broke underneath Mave's feet as she continued her relentless hunt. She had seen her prey talk about leaving the town of Ratchet earlier, a vile, disgusting place. A tauren. Her prey was seeing a tauren, yet another heretic which had no place upon this world. Preparations were made.
Snap. The hunter was sitting upon a branch, unmoving and silent. Only her silvery hues could be seen from her, albeit even that was a hard task, the leaves giving a cover. The silence was interrupted as her prey triggered the trap, a large stone coming flung towards the woman's leg.
Snap. A horrific sound as the bone was shattered underneath the force of the stone, the ankle twisted as the 'Kaldorei' hit the floor, an agonised wail escaping her lungs in realisation of what just happened. Writhing on the floor, one hand extended towards the leg in an attempting to judge the damage. Her prey was clad in an outfit of wool, fully covered, yet unprotective. The hand slid along her leg, her own hand as she felt the fractured bone poking at her skin. No open fracture, but just before such a bloody displayed.
Snap. A bough broke as the hunter moved her hand to brush aside the leaves, observing her squirming and screaming prey. Snarling, the hunter moved from her position, descending on the ground with a drawn dagger and a vial filled with a slightly glowing liquid, a moonwell's water. The scowl of Mave only deepened as she closed in to the woman, a terrified expression upon the prey's features as the silvery orbs closed in, a silent snicker interrupting the screaming. Silence. The pain-ridden woman on the floor turned her own silvery gaze towards the Exile, ceasing the wailing for the moment being.
"S-Sister...?"
"You have brought shame upon the name of our people. Once, you were a Kaldorei, devout and dutyful. Now you are nothing but filth. May your scum-ridden soul be accepted by Elune's embrace, may She cleanse you from the taint."
"N-No! Let me expl-.."
Snap. A foot was brought upon the woman's ribcage, denting two of the rips inwards, letting them pierce the lung. The woman was grasping for air as it was forcefully pressed out of her lungs, a splutter escaping her mouth, coughing blood.
"Silence. I will not allow that you speak our ancient tongue. You are allowed nothing but a path to redemption. I shall be your guide."
Gurgling noises could be heard from the woman as she struggled for her life. The edges of the younger Kaldorei's watery before tears ran down the woman's cheek, in pain and hopelessness. Mave knelt down before the woman, cutting the front of her tunic open. Soon, the blade slid along the younger Kaldorei's chest, not even markings were adorning her face. Blood seeped from the carvings which had been cut into the heretic's chest. Religious symbols and lines were driven into her chest, sliced in with a dagger, now dripping with crimson.
"Goddess. May this heretic's soul find redemption within your grasp. She shall be no longer upon the world, for sinners will not taint the name of your children."
Plop. The cork of the vial was opened, the prey had given up the struggle, near dead from the bloodloss and the agony which was brought upon her body. Mave slid her hands out of the gloves, cupping a few drips of the precious water within them before she smeared the liquid into the wounds, the crimson mixing with the faint shimmer of the water.
"Eluria, former student of mine, when I was within the Sentinels has tainted our people. I, Teneria Frostbloom hereby deliver her to you, goddess. May your children be pure, may the heretic's wretched presence upon this world be annihilated."
Slid. The dagger's blade trailed along the prey's throat, giving her the final rest. Very soon later, a fire was amassed, Mave sitting in front of it, peacefully. The vile stench of scorched flesh lingering in the air. A squirmed hand resting in the fire, burning to ashes.
With silent steps, Shalis graced at the front walls of Darnassus. People eyed her white robes and the silver crescent moon with a gem she wore on her neck, the sign of her service. No one suspected a thing. She walked to the temple of Elune with her head bowed, the hood upon her head hiding her tiered sickly visage.
"Good day, sister."
One of the priestess said to Shalis, smiling kindly to the obviously elderly Elf who had to walk with a cane. She even offered Shalis aid in reaching the central moonwell to pray, and Shalis happily accepted the aid. In truth, she was tiered. She wasn't the young woman she was... She had no idea how long she had left to live. A few years? A few weeks? She was unaware. But she knew as so long as she revered to the one true godess, that her spirit will not falter even at the end of her days.
"Thank you, priestess. I can take it from here."
Shalis chuckled oldly to the priestess as she walked away. Silently, the elderly Elf got to her knees and bowed her head to the grand statue, feeling the cleansing light of the moon reflecting down upon her. She was on judgement, and watched by Elune. As she closed her eyes though...
Fire.
All she could see was the burning inferno raging on all around her calm patch of land. She saw the filth she must purge, and the terrible visions of the corruption... The whores... The sinners... They all must be purged.
Her eyes snapped open with a startle as she was awoke, beaded in sweat. Around her were a few young women, all priests by the look of the robes they wore. With a relieved sigh, they looked to the awaking Shalis as she slowly sat up.
"Oh, thank Elune you're alright!"
One of the younger women said.
"I... What happened?"
Shalis asked with deepening furrowed brows. Slowly, a hand traced up to her throbbing forehead as she felt at it... Warm liquid... Blood. She removed her fingers to look at the red spots with narrowing suspicious eyes.
"You just blacked out there, sister. Fell forward and hit your head against the stone..."
One of the priestesses said as she wiped a cool wet towel against Shalis' head, removing the dry and wet blood alike.
"I apologize... My old age must be getting to me..."
She said in a context none of them would understand. Silently, Shalis stood up and leaned heavily on her cane. Her body ached. Her legs felt like stone. Yet, she refused the help offered. She wobbled out of the temple, letting out a hacking cough into her fist. By Elune, she was getting older... But there was so work needed to be done. She knew what she needed.
A successor.
"Mave..."
She spoke to herself as she departed to the darkness of the wilderness.
A truly rare state of mind for Mave, weeks and days had she been hunting these sinners, the filth which stained the name of the Kaldorei. Now, she was lying there on a small hill within Ratchet, clad in her leather armour, her weapons nearby but not on her body. Staring up into the sky, without a scowl but rather a serene expression.
"So they have finally tracked me down..."
Whispering, she spoke to herself. Her silvery gaze seemed to observe the stars, a calm smile curving her lips upwards.
"Do you hear that, Ayenda? Soon my presence on this world will fade and I will join you in Elune's grasp, friend..." A pause followed, continuing her speaking after a few seconds, her voice fitted her expression, much different to her usual crude tone. "Father...And all those whom I have served with, through the wars and milennia of duty, in due time I shall slip away from this world..."
Lingering in the past, she was. Letting the encounter which occured earlier the day, with the Warden play again in her head, a quiet chuckle escaping her. She knew this day was coming, Ayenda was a Warden on her own, a good friend until she passed.
"Dignity..." The silvery orbs of hers gazed towards the White Lady which was illuminating the pitchblack night, her expression remaining in the calm state it was. "We were taught to be fearless, death is always at hand and now, I...the hunter is being hunted." Slowly, she pushed herself up, only to drop down on her knee, kneeling in reverence before Mother Moon.
"Goddess. I have carried out what was required of me, my mistakes in the past, my sins which led to my exile had to be repayed. I remained devout and have accepted my fate, even before today's occurence."
Tears. They began to gather at the edges of Mave's silvery mirrors before they broke themselves loose, running down her scar-ridden features.
"Grant me strength that I may still bring some of your former children, those who have stepped away from the true path, back to you, back to the path of redemption."
A pause followed, her right hand moved upwards to her throat, grasping the crescent necklace which was hung around it. The smile which was resting upon her face seemed almost blissful, and so were the tears.
"Thank you."
She whispered almost inaudibly, lying herself down again to continue her observation of the night. The encounter had seemed to give her peace, she knew it was going to happen. Just not when.
01-06-2012, 04:17 PM (This post was last modified: 01-06-2012, 07:52 PM by Yandere.)
Spoiler:
I'd read it without music, personally. But eh.
Spoiler:
Peace. It is just as a fine thread, tug a little too harsh at it, and it will rip.
Mave was staring into the sky, her eyes trailing along the various stars before her gaze finally caught glimpse upon the White Lady. She thought she had found peace, peace within her decision that she would finally ascend into Elune's embrace, her physical existence upon this world soon coming to an end. The expression upon her face showed nothing but an inner struggle, regret and grief nagging at her very being.
She was wrong. When she wished her goodbyes to the one's she still held dear, one person in particular, her student, Mava. A realisation came upon her mind, soon after she had finished their talk. Doubt grew in her soul at her current task, the zealot she had once been was doubting herself, a pityful thought to her! But it was not. Nothing but doubt was dragging at her, then. She still thought her task was correct, her existence on this world forsaken. Shalis Silentshot, the person who she had met, weeks ago in Ratchet to make her vow, a promise of wrath upon the 'sinners'. Their talk did not aid Mave, she left no hints that she doubted their task, but those were brooding up within her, regret, doubt and fear.
Finally, they had gained a grasp on her. From that very moment, she could no longer find reason within her previous decisions. Restless nights followed after this, of sleep could not be thought of. Her very mind was plagued with these emotions, how could she swear such a vow? To the goddess of peace? She watched over every being, not just the Kaldorei, and even if they were meeting other races, who was she to judge? They could've remained loyal to the Kaldorei, assisting their cause still instead of forcing their spirit onto the path of redemption. She doubted each and every action she had taken in the past days, no longer was she believing to be performing a sacred task, no longer was she believing the goddess looked down upon her with a gentle smile, no longer was there any justification for her previous doings. There was only she, she who was to blame. Herself, she found no reason, no justification.
"G-Goddess." A quiet whisper in the night ringed through Ratchet, her own voice broken from the feelings which had boiled up. "Grant me answers, grant me answers to my questions. Help me find myself, your pathetic devotee pleads for your voice, your guidance." The silence which was resting upon the city was disturbing this evening, one could usually hear Ratchet from a distance, but this night seemed particularly silent. She paused for moments before continuing her prayer. "Grant me strength and allowance to redeem myself after these horrible deeds, goddess, I-" Her voice grew desperate, slightly louder, tears forming in her eyes as she continued, clenching her eyelids together, as the liquid escaped her eyes, trickling her scar-ridden cheeks. "I plead for redemption, grant me peace! Yet another chance to prove my old worth, goddess!" The last words were shouted out into the night, if the Warden which was hunting her nearby, they could've probably been heard easily.
Her prayer had begun laying on the ground, she was standing as she shouted into the darkness, her silvery mirrors reflecting the illuminating light of the moon as it was shining down upon her. The tears ran freely down her face, no eyelids kept them back anymore. Trembling, she stood there, her head lowering as no pleads of her received an answer, her gaze staring at the ground below, her entire body effectively shaking in fear.
"A-Am I abandoned? Has the goddess given up upon watching over me? Why, why?!" Rambles were whispered to herself, her expression a deep frown full of sorrow and fear as her fists clenched, her knuckles whitening. "I mustn't die. Elune won't accept me in her grasp, where will I end?! How shall I watch over Mava, my student? I-I cannot stay in this town, but the Ward-." She silenced herself, the biting pain and the despair which were controlling her cut her flow of words. "I must...redeem myself, I must talk to her." She whispered into the night, shooting a glance upwards the cliffs of Ratchet, trying to get a glimpse of the Warden, of no avail. Sleep awaited her, plagued by fear, she laid herself down in an attempt to grasp rest. Perhaps with success, although one could easily tell it was not a pleasent one.
Shaydana has her head hanging about, limp. Her eyes blink themselves several times before slowly opening up, a grumble escaping her as she sets her gaze on the ground. Wincing, she attempts to move, of no avail as she was shackled firmly to the wall, her fel-green gaze trailing ahead as she looks towards Shalis' feet, her head raising slightly. "...Who?" She utters out quietly, her voice hoarse due to the exhaustion which hit her. She glances towards her left, frowning heavily at the mutilated
bodies around her, her eyes widden as she sets her fel-green mirrors upon Shalis again, fear written on her expression.
Shalis is by every term, a weak frail old woman. She leans heavily on a cane as she slowly limps towards Shaydana, speaking in a terrifyingly steeled and hateful, though unrelenting voice. "Shaydana Bloodveil. You have been found guilty of the highest of crimes to the eyes of Elune." She says as she draws a syringe, suddenly jabbing it forward into Shaydana's hand, starting to inject the sickening black goo into the Sin'dorei woman. "Crimes of which there is no repent. No redemption. Your cruelty has returned to you today ten fold. Does the filth have anything it wishes to say to it's defense?"
Shaydana blinks her eyes at the siringe is jabbed into herself, albeit it was not enough to make her scream in pain. She coughs hoarsely as her gaze set upon the woman, her eyes narrowing. "Wh-" She staggers out, lowering her head in further exhaustion, leaving her entire body limp as the goo is injected into her. "Who are you?!" She shouts at the woman, her eyes darting around the area, her expression becoming more terrified, her eyes widdening even further at the syringe.
Shalis slides back her hood, revealing the face toned in fury and loathing. "For the cruelty you showed to the children of the stars, you will be punished." She draws slowly a curved silver dagger, her gaze still dead and steeled with the unrelenting deterimantion of a mad-woman.
Shaydana sets her gaze upon the dagger, naturally she would attempt to flee, the shackles rattling as her body attempts to move, of no avail. Visibly, she began trembling with each passing moment, the feeling of having no control over one's actions and the general circumstances nagging at her very being as she struggles with her thoughs. "N-No! I'm being nice!" She yells out of desperation, attempting to persuade her way out of this, with lies.
Shalis sets a weak hand on Shaydana's pony-tail and yanks on it, soon cutting off the strand of hair. "Each act will be met with punishment. You have sinned, Shaydana Bloodveil. And Elune is your judge. She has found you, guilty."
Shaydana winces ever so slightly as her hair was yanked at. She blinks as the tail was cut off, but that would be the least of her worries for the moment being. Her gaze locks onto the woman's face, staring at her with desperation written on her features, her eyes dry, however. The trembling became worse as the knife was drawn, perhaps letting the shackles cause a permament rattle, if this was possible.
Shalis tossed the hair back, soon grabbing one of Shaydana's ears roughly and stretching it. "For the deafness you have shown to Elune's pleads and wisdom." Without warning, the dagger begins cutting into flesh to remove the ear.
Shaydana clenches her eyes together tightly as the dagger cut away at her ear. A bloodcurdling scream escapes her as she attempts to jerk her head away, assumingly of no away. "L-Leave me! I-I have done nothing! Silvermoon's wrath shall consume you!"
Shalis soon cuts off the ear with a spurt of violant blood against the dagger and the wall, tossing the ear aside carelessly. "For the hands you raised upon Elune's children." The knife soon presses against Shaydana's shackled fingers, starting to dig into the purpose of cutting off all her fingers but the thumb.
With each finger, horrified and agonised screams escape the woman as she could do nothing but watch. Her eyes remain clenched together as tears began to build within them, gathering at the edges of her shut eyes before running down her cheeks. "S-Somebody get this madwoman off me!" She pleads for aid, yelling through the woods of Ashenvale, her intact ear stiffened up to uttermost-alert.
Shalis soon moves to repeat the proccess on her other hand. "Your pleads are of too late, Elune has averted her gaze from you, vile monstrosity."
Shaydana did not groan in pain, not moan. Screams were all that could be heard from her presence, shackled to the wall. Her eyes open themselves slowly as she sets her gaze upon Shalis, even her heard trembling in fear as the blood runs down her scalp, dripping onto the floor, from her mutilated fingers. "L-Leave it!" She repeats, the exhaustion in her voice still audible, easily.
Shalis walks over in front of Shaydana, glaring deeply into her eyes with wrath. "And for the blindness you have shown to the right path, averting into darkness." She sheathes the bloodied, still dripping dagger, as she pulls out a smaller one with a straight sharp tip, alligning it with Shaydana's left eye.
Shaydana naturally shuts her eyelids. Of no avail, soon the eyelid and the eye itself are pierced by the blade. A higher pitched, heavily bloodcurdling cry escapes her. The blood running down her eyesocket and cheeks, tears mixed within this liquid. She cursed in Thalassian, occasionally as this continued, her body no longer trembling, not having the energy for doing such.
Shalis twists the dagger as it impales into the eye, shallow
enough to prevent killing Shaydana as she soon yanks the blade out, in attempts to bring the eyeball out with it. "Does it hurt, filth?"
Shaydana turns her remaining eye to look at the eyeball which was impaled upon the knife, the fel-green hue no longer visible, having lost its glow. "W-What do you think you blasted lunatic?!" Huffs escape her, exhausting ones.
Shalis slowly pauses. She just drops the dagger as her eyes fade lightly... Her gaze turns confused, and her brow furrow as if trying to remember anything. Wordlessly, she slides her hood back up and takes her cane, taking the keys to Shaydana's shackles and simply unbinding the woman. The old voice returns to the woman in a confused mumble. "Why am I here again..." She mumbles in deep thought as she simply leaves with heavy wobbles and limps, leaning on her cane.
Shaydana blinks her remaining eye as she gazes after the
woman. She decides to remain silent, gritting her teeth against another, audibly enough. Her gaze trails to her mutilated fingers before gathering herself, making her way into safer lands, in hope for safety.
Off by the forests of Ashenvale, Shalis sat near a lake... She does't recall how she got there... She just idly ran a finger along the smooth surface of the water. A wandering sentinel paused by the woman and eyed her slowly.
"Sister, are you alright?"
The Sentinel asked. Shalis turned her head back to the other woman with a tiered glance. She spoke in her elderly voice.
"I think I would like to return to Darnassus now..."
The sentinel complied, leading Shalis away from the lake...
Where a torn out bleeding eyeball was waiting on the grass.
Disclaimer; Gore. And worse topics. Read at your own risk.
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Spoiler:
It was early morning in the town of Gadgetzan, Teneria decided to remain near this filthy town for the moment being. Earlier, she had ordered the forging of a new armour with the money the Warden had given her. Her expression did not change as she ate, ridden by the hint of terror and a near perpetual frown, no longer she could find joy in the taste of jerky. Occasionally, she sniffed her food, only to be confronted with a confirmation that the loss of her sense of smelling was not temporarily.
She finished her meal, headging out of town to make way towards her tent, which she had established in the hills, the flickering of the fire visible from a distance. As she walked, her gaze was locked upon the last stars in the morning-sky before they eventually were devoured by the bright of the sun. Her mind was set upon her task at hand, yet she could not deny thoughts which revolved around her student, Mava. Had she received her letter? Was she fine? Had Teneria's "death" struck her? Many, many more questions tugged at her mind before she slipped away in the embrace of sleep, or atleast in the attempt to gain some peaceful hours...
As if.
Ashenvale, with a massive headache, Teneria awoke from something which seemed to be unconsciousness, Yet, she was tied to a log which was lodged in to the earth, still in the attire of a Sentinel, those were the old times... Slowly, her silvery gaze trailed around the camp before a shriek startled her, the pleadings for help hearable and quite close, in fact. The voice...familiar, very familiar. Her mind became clearer, slowly as she spotted the one she calls 'child', Mava. Naked, writhing on the floor and surrounded by several orcs. Teneria froze that moment as she gained a glance upon the display which was ahead of her, very soon, she would kick against the log and ties which bound her, attempting to free herself, her mind ridden with nothing but rage as she sought to aid the one which was being...ravished.
Enraged shouts in Darnassian and wailing were echoing through the orcish camp as the progress continued, minutes seemed like hours, fighting the ropes relentlessly, combating her inability to aid. More than half an hour passed, it seemed endless. Still, she was fighting her boundaries, an infite struggle.
Slowly, they came to a halt and dragged the younger Kaldorei closer towards the experienced Sentinel which seemed to have fallen in a rage-fit. Teneria's gaze fell upon the agonised Mava, her body almost seeming limp, as if she had given up the struggle against the orcs. One of them...gathered a crude knife, Mava and Teneria were metres away from another, two orcs holding the other Kaldorei in a standing position, a cruel grin written upon their lips as they watched the raging Sentinel. Her throat began to burn from the shouting which escaped her, silencing herself for the moment being.
Then, the orc drove the blade crudely along the younger Kaldorei's body, they had decided to torture her. Yet again, it seemed as Teneria froze for that moment, desperation, fear and a hint of pure disgust written upon her features as she eyed the process. Silently, she mumbled prayers towards Elune, pleading her for aid as she watched the orcs and her 'child' in horror. Struggling against the ropes, she whispered out desperate words, clinging to what faith she had.
Blood. That is what was running down Mava's body, her flesh cut open, yet not dead from what she had endured. Her expression seemed blank, her silvery orbs locked upon Teneria's gaze, vacant, there was nearly nothing which was coming from her, but quiet pleadings directed at her mentor, desperate calls for ceasing of what she had to endure. Shallow breathes were drawn inbetween her whispering, clinging to life.
An enraged orcish shout echoed through the camp, the three orcs immediately seeming to flee, Mava's body hitting the ground as their grip loosened on her, a puddle of blood had created by her feet, weakly, she attempted to crawl through her own blood, towards Teneria's feet before an amoured, orcish foot was set between the two. An overseer. He shook his head dismissively, eyeing the squirming woman on the ground before drawing his axe. Teneria's gaze fell upon his axe, yet again, she froze in terror as it came rushing down towards Mava's neck.
The sound of a throat clearing caught Shalis' attention.
Spoiler:
Shalis sat in silence near the young sapling, at the edge of Teldrassil, near a waterfall that led off the massive tree. Her eyes fixated on the small plant. For the last hour of her waiting she had contemplated and though, meditated on her actions. "So you came." She said in Darnassian, her voice hollow and blank.
"You were expecting me to come..." The Warden soon replied.
"I figured you would choose to." Shalis offered a reply of her own.
"It's true... I would rather to not attack you, Shalis..." The Warden said, a small hint of hope to her voice? Shalis was uncertain.
"If you do not, he dies. And so do the other heretics of our race." Shalis said, the flicker of hope being shunned away.
"You call them heretics but you ignore the most important thing... If they are happy, shouldn't they be allowed to be in peace? Elune does not encourage us to murder and kill because of twisted beliefs... You are merely using her as an excuse... "The Warden paused to breath. "If anything, you are the heretic here."
Shalis shrugged gently. "I'll be honest with you, Faeliel. I've long lost track of that. I think it is more likely that Elune does not approve of my ways." She draws her hood back, silver hair flickering in the pale light. "Our race dwindles and dies." The elderly elf paused for a moment to sigh in thought. "As do I. I don't want to die like them…" She whispered soundlessly.
"And you think that more killing will fix anything, Shalis...?" The Warden asked.
"It will set an example. But I am an old woman, Faeliel. With very few years to live left. I doubt I would stay around far enough to see if my efforts bore any fruits, now would I"
"No fruits will bear from your actions, Shalis... Nothing will come from your 'examples'. Only further resistance... Stop murdering our kind. Don't we have enough trouble with Tyrande already ...?"The Warden insisted.
Shalis simply gently shrugged. "Perhaps Tyrande was not as bad as we persumed she was. Perhaps she saw justifacation to her actions. Perhaps I am a simple delusional maniac. It's funny, though, isn't it?" She looks over to the sapling with a hollow gaze.
Faeliel walked closer to Shalis, her eyes narrowing. "That demon did not but cause misfortune. He may have led the Orcs out of our forests but we'd have done that ourselves, without his... Taint... Then look at what his actions done. To us, to the Sin'dorei, to everyone... Even to our leader Maiev. Weren't for Tyrande, and him, we'd still have the Watchers and we'd have less demons running free...". She slides a clawed gauntlet out of her cloak.
Shalis stayed perfectly still, eyes closing and a peaceful breath exhaling from her throat. "One can not be sure. Could you say you would have acted differently, Warden?" She opens an eye almost lazily. "I'm not sure anymore. Perhaps Elune has averted her gaze from me... Perhaps it is simply old age. I can not tell for sure." A hand gently strokes over the sapling in a gentle caring manner. "I buried him here. He always loved the water."
"Maybe I would... But I'm not one to regret the past, sorry... Him, who?" The Warden asked.
"Oh, no one. Carry on." She says as if nothing important was said. And why should she? The Warden had not a clue of her mate.
"Surrender, Shalis... Give yourself in to the Sentinels. If you do so, I will allow you to live your remaining time in peace..." Faeliel said, perhaps seeing hope for her old friend.
"After the Sentinels will hear of what I've done? What do you think will become of me? A prisoner, or yet another beheaded corpse?" Shalis said with a bitter chuckle. She knew that either way she was condemned to death.
"You should be aware of the repercutions of your crimes before having done them, Shalis..." The Warden said once more.
"I'm more than aware of them. So why do you give me over to the Sentinels?"
"Because this is their duty, not mine anymore... I'm not a warden anymore, Shalis. I'm a simple Kaldorei. One that will die all the same, like the mortals..."
Shalis shrugged gently once more. "I give you a choice, Faeliel. My days of retribution are long gone... I am far too old to do those right anymore. If you leave me alive, I will simply pause. I will take a peaceful life, tending to the temple of the Godess. But on the other hand..." A small smile spreads to her lips. One of tieredness, and perhaps an even loss of senses. "That would mean my crimes would go unpunished." She paused to breath. "Can you live knowing that you've done that, Faeliel? Letting me go?"
"That I cannot let happen, Shalis..." The Warden's frown grew deeper. "Elune knows how many Kaldorei you murdered on cold blood because of your... Obsession... Your egoistical desire... It stings my tongue to call you by the name. You are no more the proud Shalis I once knew..." Faeliel gave Shalis the coldest look she had in stock. "You are just a murderer...".
Shalis laughed gently. A sound of... Relief, to her voice. "I know. And yet you take pause at killing me. It's funny how a whole life time of service goes to ashes because of a few single actions. Like a flame and the bark of a tree. It all goes to ashes." Her gaze secretly drifts to the sapling, the thoughts of her mate arising to her head.
"If I murder you, without giving an option, I will be no more different than you..." Faeliel glanced back at the hills. "Come with me. I will take you to the Sentinels... They will judge you for your crimes.".
Shalis kept her gentle smile. "And why would they believe you? A half senile old woman without weapons upon her body. You might have been a Warden, but I have lived long myself as well, Faeliel. They would find -nothing-. I made sure of that.
.."
"You have become something despicable..." The Warden said, the loathing showing in her voice.
"I have taken a path neccesary. For the fate of our people." Shalis replied solemnly.
"Stop using the name of our people in vain... What you did was solely for your selfish beliefs, Shalis." Faeliel threw a small bag of seeds in front of Shalis. "Eat them...".
Shalis huffed lightly. "I refuse to die a death by poison. A monster you call me, and perhaps that is right. But are not monsters what we tell our children to educate them?"
"Perhaps, some of them will never know, thanks to you." Faeliel draws out her moonsword and holds the hilt with both hands. She readies it behind Shalis' head, aligning it with her neck. "Your last words...?".
Shalis simply lowered her head to the floor and closed her eyes, praying. "Elune, hear the prayer of your lost child. Forgive my sins and the sins of my past." Her memories withdrew back to her parents, those who taught her all she knew. "Know that all I have done I have done in belief of you." Her thoughts drifted to the beautiful forests of the Kaldorei people. "May my own actions relate to me and none else, for your strength is my own." She remembered her first kiss with her mate, the leaves swirling around the two Elves. "May the young glorify your name, and may their actions be just and true." She remembered the birth of her daughter, and how she grew to a woman. "Forgive me. For I am finally free." Shalis' lips curled to a soft sad smile. "I will always love you..." She said to her mate. To her daughter. To Saena. To everyone she ever cared for.
A single lone tear dropped to the ground.
No sound echoed through the forests, as if the birds themselves have listend. Perhaps in mourn, but perhaps in the feel of vindicative justice. However, the silence was slowly shed for the sound of a trembling, practically weeping voice behind the warden. Not too far off from the hill she stood on.
Faeliel sighed and swiped her weapon to one side, cleaning the blood from it. With a blink, she transported herself to where she is to where the weeping voice was coming from.
The source wasn't quite hidden. A trembling woman in white robes, silver white hair, and purple markings on her face, clenching to hands over her mouth. The young woman was obviously horrified by her pale visage and the stream of tears on her cheek.
A sobbing whimper escaped her throat as her eyes remained locked on the decapitated form. "...M...Mother..." She manages to creak out of her throat, her body shivering visibly.
Faeliel just stared at the woman, placing her weapon behind her back once more, giving Shalis' body a brief glance.
The shaking woman soon fell to her knees, holding back her sobs with the pair of dainty elegant hands, obviously those of a priestess, covering her mouth. "No... No..." She whispers out, head shaking in disbelief.
Faeliel simply stared, a soft frown painted on her forehead. "Are you aware of what she did...?"
The woman just lowered her head, eyes clenching. She rocked back and forth in trauma, her sobs soon bursting as she fell to her hands and knees in tears. She directed no anger to Faeliel.
Faeliel sighed. She tries to move behind the woman and place a hand upon her shoulder. "Be strong... She would have wanted that. Shalis..." She glanced over to the headless corpse. A shell... Not Shalis...
The woman moved Faeliel's hand with a weak smack, obviously not being one of physical strength. She simply stayed there, leaning against the tree and hugging her knees. "Leave me..." She sobbed to Faeliel. "I need to bury her..."
"Very well..." Faeliel vanished again, her form appearing on the other side of the shore, where her saber waited.
The priestess slowly moved to the dead corpse of her mother, beginning to tend as best she can to the headless corpse. Praying.
And praying.
Oh ye', of evil most found.
For you are as cruel as winter's bite.
And as harsh as the cold dead ground.
For you are the vile poison in each rite.
The evil found.
Within us all.
