World of Warcraft®

A few seagulls glided lazily over the surf of the small beach, the mid-afternoon sun shone brightly over the sand. A turquoise lagoon looked both inviting yet intimidating as its waters darkened to a midnight blue at its center. On each side of the beach, large rocky outcroppings rose as if created by some volcanic upheaval in the not too distant past. The peaceful surroundings were shattered in an instant. A thunderclap sounded as lightning spread in different directions. A bright violet flash covered the area, dispersing as quickly as it appeared. Through the lingering light a figure appeared to fall from the sky.

Yuuko’s already broken body hit the sand hard. The pain was too much to bear, darkness wrapped over her as she lost consciousness.

The chattering of her own teeth woke Yuuko to a dark landscape. Disorientation had caused her to lose all track of time. She knew she’d been robbed of many hours, how many, she couldn’t tell. Rising to her feet took a tremendous amount of willpower. She’d been beaten quite severely by her tormenter. Broken ribs, along with a fractured collarbone made breathing and simple movements excruciating. Each step she took reverberated through her, reminding that things were not well.

Yuuko slowly made her way to the end of the beach, placing her hand on the mountain of rock that was silhouetted against the night sky. The sea air was thick. She found an alcove that supplied adequate shelter, keeping the brisk breeze from the sea at bay. Not knowing where she was, she got as comfortable as she could and waited for daybreak.

The horror that filled Yuuko’s soul as sunrise revealed her location was immense. Although she could see the mainland in the expanse, it was far too distant to swim. Her body would need many weeks to mend; she could only peer longingly at the freedom. Trenetir had not banished her, he had imprisoned her. She used the walls of her rocky shelter to stand. The island was small; it did have a few recourses she could use. She noticed where rain water had pooled and driftwood littered the beach. She would be able to create a fire and use what she could to build a more livable area out of her makeshift home. Food wouldn’t be a problem as she could see the lagoon teaming with life. Anger washed over her as she made her way to the beach, she hadn’t made it but a few steps when her eyes caught something to the west, as ship. Excitement and joy overwhelmed her at its sight. She only needed to signal it. She stumbled several times, crying out as she did, but she made her way to the surf. Painfully she raised her arm to wave, but stopped.

Yuuko fell to her knees in dismay. The ship was anchored, purposefully just out of reach. The ship was the Autumn Songstress. The ship she had tried to take from Trenetir.

((Background can be found here: http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/14057706658#9 ))

*** Day 1 ***

Without much sleep, Yuuko began putting together things she needed. The first being a sling for her arm, as she needed to keep it as stationary as possible. Her ribs would heal overtime, but her collarbone if not kept immobile could take longer than she wished. She was able to find a bit of twine washed ashore, perhaps from shipwrecks of the past and constructed a makeshift sling. With that in place she went to the next order of business, a fire.

Finding flint on a beach was next to impossible. Most of the rocks were well weathered. Returning to the outcropping she found a few prospective rocks that may suffice, having been protected from the waves and wind. Giving them a few strikes and seeing sparks gave Yuuko some relief. She would have fire after all.

Yuuko then continued to build up her shelter. Although the alcove supplied decent accommodations it could use some improvements. With some effort she was able to drag driftwood and place the pieces in a pattern that allowed for a small entrance from the front. She then placed dried kelp over the top help shade her from the sun.

The kelp would also help in her diet as she knew it contained the vitamins that would curve the sickness that plagued those that stayed at sea for too long. Fresh water was ample from deep pools in the volcanic pitted outcropping. This also bothered Yuuko as she knew it would only be a matter of time before a storm would brew.

With her fire set, shelter finished and water supply found she then looked at what needed to be done next. Escape.

She scanned the beach and noted several large pieces of drift wood. A plan started to form in her mind to build a raft, but sleep was in order first. She was exhausted and she knew her body needed the rest. She also needed a way to disguise the raft from the peering eyes of those on the ship just on the horizon.

*** Day 2 ***

Considering her predicament, Yuuko slept peacefully. She awoke well rested but very sore. Adjusting her sling she ate a simple breakfast of fish wrapped in kelp she had cooked before bedding down the night before. She emerged from her shelter and peered to the west. The Songstress was still anchored, its purpose beyond her comprehension, perhaps Trenetir’s way of taunting her.

Turning her eyes away from the ship she went to the business of collecting the recourses available to her from the beach. Pulling driftwood across the sand was a slow process. She only had one arm to use, but the ribs on that side ached with every tug. Amongst taking several breaks she collected a nice assortment of wood. She was able to place five of the best, lengthwise parallel to each other. She was very satisfied at the size. A frown crossed her face as she peered from the wood to the sand. She needed something to lash them together.

Yuuko walked the length of the beach several times, picking up long snake like specimens that were greenish and had a bulbous head. This was bull whip kelp that had probably broken free from deeper water during a storm. There wasn’t much, but if she was lucky, what she had would be enough. She brought them to where she had her would be raft laid out, and set to work. With a sharpened rock she removed the bulbous head and set it aside. She could use that later for a container of sorts. The long stem she cut into along its length until she had two of equal length. She then knotted those together, giving her twice as much length. The lashing needed to be strong, but repetition of weaker material should work just fine. She repeated this process several times until she had enough length to attempt lashing the wood, but that would have to wait. The sun was just touching horizon and she still needed to eat. Finishing the lashing would have to wait until morning.

Trenetir waited. The jungle air was thick and his hair was matted to his head. "I hate this place." He muttered to himself, waiting, watching. He knew Tazjiin's patterns. The Troll was predictable, most people were when you got to know them.

He lurked, just out of sight from the main raod that ran the course of the region. Merchants, gnomes, humans, orcs, goblins... all sorts traversed the road. Some came for commerce, others for the neutrality of the goblins of Booty Bay. Others still, came for the fight of the arena. Trenetir smiled, musing to himself, Stranglethorn Valley was as varied as he was.

Finally the Troll he waited for crossed his path and Trenetir stepped from the shadows, " Tazjiin. I know that you want justice as much as I do... help me get that.."

*** Day 3 ***

Yuuko spent almost the entire day lashing the wood together. She was quite satisfied with her work. The raft appeared to be very sturdy and had ample room to hold her. There was a catch though. To conceal her work, she had built it close to the outcropping so peering eyes wouldn’t be able to see its construction. The raft was very heavy. Every attempt she made to move it, ended in excruciating pain. It had been uncomfortable enough to drag just one piece of driftwood across the sand, but now she had five.

The distance to the water was about twenty paces. On the plus side the sand was soft and easy to dig. She knew that if she dug under the raft she could slowly work it down the beach to the water. It would be a slow process but one manageable with her injuries. It was already late in the day, but she went ahead and made some progress. Satisfied that she would be able to move it she went back to her shelter. Sometime tomorrow the raft would be in the water.

The ruins of Zul'Gurub had already begun to bore him. He was still rather low-ranking in his new clan. Always a loner even with the strength of a clan behind him. Tazjiin was taking his weekly walk in Northern Stranglethorn as he always did to get a sense of the current happenings around his new home. It was a very pleasant walk until he was interrupted by an elf he really didn't have the patience for.

"Trenetir, you are the last person I'm interested in seeing in my new place of comfort. I'd rather not deal with whatever nonsense you're speaking of at this time."

He folded his arms and continued to walk past the elf. As if he owed anything to him. Justice? Justice for what? Nothing important stemmed from his mind...not in recent memory at least.

He expected worse from the Troll. Trenetir had come ready for a fight, knowing that Tazjiin had little to no patience for him. "It's not for me Troll, it's for Irilin."

Trenetir paused, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, letting his words sink in. "His murderer still walks free," a cruel smirk settled upon his lips. "As free as one can be on a deserted island off the coast of the Eastern Kingdoms, watched by my people on a boat just out of range."

He met the Troll's gaze and pulled out a small circular device with a silver button upon it. "She is there with no supplies, and no means of escape. This will take you there." He waited.

It had been a few days since Yuuko left the island. Her body was still sore, but the care she had received greatly quickened the healing process. She was able to move her left arm without too much discomfort and breathing was much more manageable as her ribs were starting to mend. Her assassin turned liberator would hopefully never see her again. She had told him she would meet him, but she had no desire to do so. His decision not kill her had come in her own desperation to cling to life. She had told him the truth. Well most of the truth, some things he just need not know and if he were to find out? She would probably have his wrath on her shoulders as well.

Trenetir was the real problem now. She smiled to herself, imagining the temper tantrum he would throw once he found out she lives and is free. Her thoughts then turned to the Autumn Songstress, visions of the captain entered her mind. The ordeal of taking that ship had turned into an obsession, but it was all she had right now. The promise to a dying captain that showed her that lives other than your own have meaning.

Yuuko stared out of the window of the small bedroom. Where better to hide then in the city of your enemy. Silvermoon City was her home too, she wouldn't be thrown out so easily. Under the cover of darkness she would conduct her business, if anything she learned to be much more cautious in her actions.

The streets were quiet save for a few guards that made their rounds. At this hour all the shops were deserted. There may have been a few stray folk that created shadows from the eerie lights, but they were too infrequent to cause alarm and helped so no undue attention was drawn to the darkly clothed woman. The woman walked slowly up to Mr. Moradinel's shop. She knew Trenetir well, he would have the shop well warded and not the type that shocked or alarmed. If she made a mistake, she would be killed. After all she had helped set up the security when it was her job.

The front door would be the easiest to enter, although still a challenge. Several heartbeats past before she compromised it. It was designed to keep the common criminal out, almost as a test. The rest was like a mouse trap. Valuable fabric was blatantly displayed enticing those who didn't suspect anything to approach. That was their folly. To breach the unseen barrier would be their end. It seemed almost as if Trenetir relished the idea of being robbed, just to see how many bodies littered the floor in the morning.

Yuuko shook her head at the fabrics, as she pulled a banner from her the bag on her back. She hung it with great care, making sure it would be the first thing seen upon entering the store. Taking a few steps back, she smiled at her work.

'Yuuko was here!!!'

(Written in sprinkled sand over glue)

She exited the same way she came in, minding to lock the door as she left.

Smoke billowed from the northern quarter of the Bazaar in Silvermoon City. While mages and citizens with buckets tried to put out the fire a lone Sin'Dorei stood far too close to the flames, his emerald eyes brightened by the flames.

In spite of heeds to get him to move, or to help put out the flames. He stood there, ash cascading down into his auburn hair, sparks jumping this way and that. If anyone bothered to look closely they would see his left hand was nearly completely black. But, no one did.

---

Trenetir stared at the sign in his tailoring shop. His head cocked from one side to the other and his gaze narrowed. The sand did not adhere to the glue as well as the designer intended. As a result, sand littered the otherwise pristine floor.

Sand.

Sand from a beach hundreds of miles away.

Sand.

She lived.

Betrayal? Was Taz dead? Can you be betrayed by someone you yourself betrayed? These thoughts roiled in his mind and he could not reconcile them. He let out a primal scream as the blood fire shot forth from his hand.

It didn't take much.

---

That eve at Lounge night, his ire had not yet subsided. Nor did it seem that it would - Adassos had refused him. The Autumn Songstress was moored just off the coast of Stranglethorn's Western Coast having left the island as scheduled. "She's yours." Trenetir said to Rhazin, handing him the ships deed.

In spite of his words, he did not return home that evening, and if he wasn't a man of his word... who was he?

Reagan sat in the Bazaar's tavern in Silvermoon City. Her eyes were locked with the man-elf sitting in front of her. He was pretty, but not really her type. His crimson hair was short and spiked, his face narrow, with a slightly large nose and pointy chin. She flashed a warm smile as her fingers slid up and down his hand, teasingly. A hand that was smooth to the touch, he was obviously someone who hired someone else to do his own handywork.

"Well darling, you know Armaya wants her money, and I'd hate to have to hurt you." Her charge simply laughed, obviously amused by Reagan's words. His hand turned over to grab her own and pull her across the table. " You don't scare me Bloodhawk. We've heard of your split with the Elf. You're nothing again, just like before." And with that he released her and stepped up from the table, smoothing his fancy white shirt down and leaving Reagan sitting there looking astounded and surprised. But her demeanor quickly changed, like someone turning on a new light. That charm went away and was replaced by a passion for her work. A small smile appeared on her lips as Reagan stood up from the table, her daggers already in her fingers. A few patrons of the tavern nearby quickly took their drinks and left, others either wanted to watch the show; or simply didn't care.

Her charge quickly went from looking sure of himself, to being anxious. "Blood--." But it was too late, one dagger was already in his chest, cutting off his words. Thrown from Reagan's hands and landing on the left side of his chest, she was very good with her weapons. Her charge grabbed the hilt, meaning to pull it out, but Reagan had already made her way to him. Her hand was on top off his, and her other pushed his shoulder, slamming him up against the wall, fingers grabbing her dagger's hilt and pulling it out, watching the blood flow out of the wound, down his chest. She did love blood, there was a reason she took her last name. There were a few screams from the taverns occupants who had decided to watch, but she ignored them. "I am, and have never been nothing. The Bloodhawk still flies quite well on her own, and you would do well to remember that." She slid her fingers over the wound, a deep one, but she missed - on purpose. Armaya wanted her money, and she wouldn't get it if her charge was dead. "The Lady of Modas requests your payment for the previous assistance Modas gave you." She reiterated the word "Modas" so listeners would know and he would get the point. "You'll live, and I'll take this," Her fingers moved to his change purse at his belt, cutting it loose with one of her daggers, "for compensation for my trouble." She stepped back and he fell down to the floor, his hand over his wound, blood still flowing.

Reagan turned her back on him and moved out of the tavern, into the Bazaar. She saw the smoke first, then heard the yells. She took off in a sprint, her daggers back on her belt. If it was the Alliance, there'd be more fighting; more screaming, more sounds of terror. She rounded around the Auction House and saw his shop in flames - then she spotted him, Trenetir. She almost went to him, wanted to console him. Instead she dug her nails into her own palm, snarling softly about the emotions in her. Her eyes went back to the flames as her arms crossed over her chest. Forcing herself to take in the fire, the shop. It pained her to see his shop in ruins. It pained her to see him so angry. Nevertheless, she took one last long glance at the shop, turned, and headed off towards Murder's Row. This was no longer her job and no longer her place - and now she needed a very large drink to remind herself of that.

Rounding the corner, Yuuko's eyes grew wide at the sight of the flames. After a few heartbeats a smile formed on her lips. This had turned out better then she could have imagined. The laugh escaped her lips before she could hold it back, she quickly composed herself.

Sighing deeply she turned and began walking away. Her smile quickly vanished as she thought what she might do. Her face paled as she whispered “He wouldn't.” She quickened her pace to leave the area at once.

The following notices appeared throughout Silvermoon City and its surrounding lands:

WANTED

Yuuko Raradien

For the following crimes:

Breaking and Entering


Attempted Burglary


Attempted Murder


Arson

WARNING: The suspect is armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about her whereabouts should report it to the city magistrate at once.

A bounty of 5000 gold for information that leads to her capture.

Yuuko set on the edge of her bed as she tightened the last remaining straps on her armor. She had slept peacefully even with the lingering sent of smoke that still remained from fire. She didn’t know the extent of the damage or what caused it. She rose to attach her mace on her belt when an insistent rap came from the door. Few knew she was here, perhaps it was the inn keeper, she hesitantly approach the door and spoke in a hushed tone “Who is it?”

A young male voice answered almost sounding adolescent “Miss. Raradien, it’s me Hailan, please let me in, it’s of the upmost importance that I speak with you”

Yuuko frowned as she opened the door, letting the sin’dorei in, she studied him briefly noting he appeared distraught, she spoke with a terse voice “What is it? You know that I wish not to be disturbed!”

Hailan didn’t speak he merely handed her a notice.

A dismayed expression crossed Yuuko’s face as she looked down at the parchment, she was greeted to a sketch of her face a long with a list of charges. Her legs felt week, in all her years of working the other side of the law she had never been singled out. She’d always worked in the shadows of her clients, cleaning their mistakes from a distance. Her eyes scanned the document, noting that it was authentic. She knew this was Trenetir’s work, but how he had pulled it off was beyond her.

Angrily she clenched her jaw, her gaze shifted to Hailan, who she was about to thank, but now stood posed with a crossbow aimed at her chest. Yuuko sighed heavily as she spoke “Really Hailan? Have you lost your mind? Put that down before you get yourself hurt”

Hailan shook his head “I’m sorry Miss Raradien, really I am, but I really could use that gold. You haven’t paid me since that incident with the ship. Gold is gold you used to tell me and right now, you're worth more than I could make in years” he motioned her to step to the door while keeping the weapon trained on her.

Yuuko closed her eyes briefly, she was saddened by this betrayal. Hailan had been at her side for many years. An expert at gathering information and had been her eyes and mouthpiece on several occasions. Now he used her own words against her. Slowly she turned to open the door, but feigned to the left, then dropped to the ground and rolled into her astonished captor. Her mace had instinctively found its way in her hand and made a dreadful noise as it connected with his head. Hailan fell like a sack of potatoes. Yuuko looked down at Hailan, he returned the gaze blinking slowly. His mouth still open in shock.

“Hailan, Hailan, Hailan” she spoke in a soft voice “You forgot the second part of what I said. Gold is only good if you are alive to spend it. Always make sure the reward outweighs the risk”

A genuine tear meandered down her cheek as she finished the job. This isn’t what she needed right now. Yuuko gathered what little she had and took anything valuable she could find from Hailan’s dead body. She left the rented room as is. No sense in trying to dispose the body as time was of the essence. She needed to be gone and out of sight.

Yuuko hurried down the inn stairs, she was met by the smiling innkeeper. Yuuko’s mace swung more out of habit then thought. The innkeeper’s smile was replaced with a look of horror that now would be forever the face she held as her body slumped to the ground. Yuuko’s heart sank, she didn’t want to have to do that, but her face was too easily remembered. Doing her own house cleaning sometimes was a necessity. If she could just keep things contained for a little longer she could work out an escape.

Looking around the room Yuuko spotted a guest cowering in the corner. She bowed her head as she hefted her mace and took a step toward him. The man threw a table in her path as he bolted for the door. She easily dodged the table and withdrew her shield from her back. The man had the door half way open when she reached him. Her mace hit his leg, cracking it like twig. His bellow caused half the people walking the streets to turn their heads. The man, his body half way out the door and Yuuko standing over him with a bloodied mace.

The words that exited Yuuko’s mouth were quite colorful as a hundred eyes looked at her. She jumped over the now crippled man and burst through the door. Swinging her mace she bellowed at the gawkers causing them to scatter in every direction in terror. Yuuko heard the approaching guards’ yells and bolted in the opposite direction. People scattered at the sound of her boots hitting the cobblestones.

Yuuko turned the first corner and ran into an alley, she waited, her heart pounded in her chest. The guard met her mace face first, falling silently with the help of Yuuko, who wasted no time donning her uniform.

After hiding the unconscious guard behind a few scattered crates, Yuuko, dressed as a guard burst out from the alley and yelled, “She’s scaling the west wall! We need to hurry!”

A few of the guards that were close at hand, searching the nearby shops nodded and began to run. Yuuko stopped a mounted pedestrian who gladly handed her the reigns to his hawkstrider. Yuuko mounted and shouted “I’ll go outside the wall just in case she makes it over!”

The guards at the front gate let Yuuko pass as she headed along the city wall. When she was out of sight, she turned the hawkstrider south, galloping full speed along the coast. She never looked back, her tear stricken face looking straight ahead as the weight of what she had just done began to overwhelm her.

Upon returning to the city that night, Trenetir slept well, which still surprised him. He awoke early the next morning careful not to wake Ada. There was work to be done. The city was at its best in the early hours. Shopkeepers, much like Trenetir, were opening their shops, preparing their wares for the long days to come.

Without thinking he found himself in front of the burned husk of his shop, already the foreman was there, seeing to the reconstruction. Trenetir clapped him on the shoulder, "Let me see the new plans." He said to Noriel the foreman.

Noriel handed the parchment to Trenetir, "The built in storage will be nice, and see here," he pointed to a spot on the blueprints, "New access through the scar. With armed men to bring goods straight in to the city from the new docks."

Trenetir smiled, "No customs, straight to the shop. Wonderful, you think of everything Noriel."

"Thank you ser for the compliment. Just doing my job that you pay me so well for."

Trenetir let out a chuckle and looked around the site, men and women were busy at work. One such worker bumped into Trenetir clumsily. "Sorry Ser!" Trenetir glared at the elf, "Noriel keep better eye on your men." He snapped, walking away from construction site.

---

The morning was young and there was work to do. He pulled out the piece of parchment placed in his pocket by the clumsy worker and read over it.

She fled the city.
Halian Flamesong
Marielle Sunstrider
Tyriet Dawnwatcher

With purpose he went to the bank to withdraw a substantial amount of money. Halian's widow was first. "Dreya, I know that this will not bring him back, but this will help you take care of your family and your expenses. Whatever you need, come to me directly."

The tears streamed down Dreya's face as she reached out to grip his hand with both of hers, still clutching the large purse of gold, "Ser Moradinel, you needn't do this."

Trenetir offered her a warm smile, "You're right... I needn't. But who are we if we cannot help others who are suffering?" He patted her hand, "As I said... if you need anything at all, come to my estate outside the city and I will see that it is handled."

He left the weeping widow, who was grateful for the gold, and being thought of in her time of loss.

And so it was with each of them, Marielle's husband and daughter, Tyriet's brother. Each were visited by a somber Trenetir who shared in their pain, who offered money, support, and aid, whatever they needed.

When he finally returned to the estate, it was with fresh bread, a lighter coin purse, and a smile.