BPB - Entangled (A Warcraft Story)

A Sudden Departure and a Not So Sudden Realisation

"I won't be seeing ya for a while."

Artion blinked in surprise and looked from the troll's hands to her face. The pair were crouched at the edge of the pond next to the briarthorn glade. She looked up from the vials she was rinsing in the water.

"Oh?"

"I'm going to Nighthaven." Nighthaven in Moonglade was a druid haven and home to the Cenarion Circle.

"Nighthaven... For how long?"

"I don't know." She looked back down and continued with the vials. "Kayaye has asked me to meet her."

"Kayaye." Artion thought back, "Your mentor?"

Zen'Kila nodded and shook water from the vials in her hands, dislodging a strand of hair as she did so. Artion watched the strand as he processed what she had said.

She had told him her mentor had left a week ago, and he had wondered why she had dismantled the sap catchers on the briarthorn bushes.

The growing realisation that he didn't want her to go was not unexpected. He had not initially found the sight or the sound of her pleasing, he had treated her as more of an amusing curiosity. However his perception of her had changed as time passed.

A troll, and member of the Hoard, who did not try to kill him, who spent her time collecting healing herbs and wandering in the forest, instead of cutting and burning and fighting, unless you count the times Artion purposely provoked her into a fight.

Zen'Kila was quick-witted and had sharp reflexes. She learnt quickly and had no expectations of him. They often lapsed into silent familiarity whilst in the forest and for Artion this was a relief from the demands of his life in Astranaar.

It had dawned on him several months past that he enjoyed the troll's company and the feeling had only grown along with his fondness for her.

Artion reached out and gently pushed the strand of hair back into place. Zen'Kila paused and glanced sideways at him, before continuing her task by slipping the clean vials into a pouch.

"Will you return here when you have answered her summons?"

"I don't know," Zen'Kila said hesitantly. "She may encourage me to go somewhere else."

She glanced in Artions direction but did not let her eyes rest on his face before looking back down as she slipped the last vial into the pouch and stood.

"When will you leave?" Artion wanted to say more, he wanted to object but he didn't.

"I leave tonight. I hope to see you again. But if I don't." Artions face fell. "Stay safe, Ahteyon. Try not to get caught in any entanglement spells."

Artion managed a small smile and Zen'Kila reached out and squeezed his hand, before quickly morphing form and disappearing into the forest without a backward glance.

"Stay safe, Kila." Artion said as his heart sank and he watched her go.

Nighthaven...

Artion began to wander in the direction of Astranaar as a thought came to him.

Nighthaven is a centre for both Horde and Alliance druids...

Artion smiled and quickened his pace.