Some encounters and some bad news...

"Raene!"

The Kaldorei rose in a single move, almost scared at the sound of the voice that seemed to come out of nowhere, brutally interfering in her meditation. Her wolf growled, and she put instinctively a protective hand on his head, to soothe him.

She recognized almost instantly the silhouette standing in front of her. Quite short for one of her people, that usually had massive, tall frames, slender and gracious in a pair of green woven pants and a white shirt, the blue hair ruffled and tangled, hands on her hips and a beaming smile on her face...

"Laan!"

They hugged enthusiastically. Although , like all Kaldorei Raene was secretive and unwilling to mix with the strangers, be them their own allies, she had found herself become very fond of the Draenei, and especially Laandra.

" I thought you weren't coming...", Raene said, after a while when they sat together on the porch in the Sentinel's headquarters. Laandra held the mug of water she had asked for in both hands, drinking greedily as she was trying to catch her breath. She gave her a half smile, her eyes suddenly darkening under the rush of memories.

"I was having some business in the Plaguelands of Lordaeron. But I guess I just needed a breath of fresh air. Your letter had me worried though. What's going on?"

Raene sighed.

"Sightings of worgen again. This time more ferocious than ever. I fear it's the taint of Felwood that's slowly spreading to our homeland..."

Laandra shrugged, something like an annoyed, frustrated expression spreading on her face.

"Apparently the worgen are only one of your problems, right now. There's a lot going on in Darkshore and Ashenvale of late, it seems. On my way here I bumped into sort of a shadowy cult at Master's Glaive. Then I got ambushed by some others near the ruins of Ordil'Aran. Humans and Forsaken. Barely made it out. The roads are not safe anymore."

"Are you injured?" Raene asked, worried, her gaze trailing over Laandra's clothes to see tell-tale signs of wounds. But Laandra shook her head, dismissing her concerns.

"No. Only some shallow cuts and a head ache."

"The news you bring is troublesome", Raene said, quietly, bowing her head. " I've been suspecting for months that there are some demonic cults that have hidden themselves in our forests to plot their schemes. The return of the Legion to this world, that is", she continued, suddenly in a violent tone. "Damn reckless users of magic and corruption!"

"I'm sorry"...she added, side glancing towards Laandra and drawing in a deep breath. "It's just that..."

"Magic IS dangerous and addictive", Laandra said, putting the mug aside and patting her arm. She had traveled enough in those last years to know at least, if not completely understand, the views of their allies. For herself, magic had been a tool, most of the time. Until recently, she mused, silently knowing that Eireannan had unwillingly changed that too. Knowing that, in that night, in Duskwood, near Addle's Stead, she had taken in not only his essence, but also a small fragment of the fel energy that was embedded in his blood. And she could feel it, she thought, with a shiver, slowly working its way into her own being.

The nether whisper.

Raene drew in another sharp breath and looked at her friend, rather impressed by her calm.

"We'll find a way to stop them", Laandra said, convincingly. "That's why I am here, no?"

"Yeah, Laan-I-saved-the-world-again-today", Raene half mocked her, smiling.

"And what is wrong with that?"

They both rose their heads in surprise to see Faldreas Goeth'Shael who had just approached the Sentinel's Headquarters. The druid was smiling too, as he greeted Laandra warmly, and then, from behind him, another figure emerged, this time a short, fragile looking human, that rushed into her arms.

Laandra had hardly the time to catch her before Daria's weight and sudden movement sent them both to the ground, despite her more massive frame.

Well, she didn't actually know they were on such friendly terms, but the simple memory of what Eireannan had told her about the young human's past and her traumas, made Laandra shiver, wrapping her arms around the girl's shoulders in a protective gesture.

"Well, now that everyone is here, maybe we can have dinner. I'm like a starving bear, Faldreas said in a funny, hope-filled tone and they all laughed at this.

The serious matters could wait for another evening, Laandra sighed to herself, as she turned her head, absently studying the sunset sky...