What once was (A World of Warcraft fanfiction)

The roots oh Hyjal

As Karn started to regain consciousness he looked around and saw bookshelf's toppled over and candle light stands on the ground. He then saw Usileth sitting up in the corner with their master looking after her. He then turned his attention to Karn and he called out to him. "Karn are you alright?" Their master asked. "Just a little shaken is all" Karn replied.

Karn looked around again and then something in the middle of the room caught his attention, something he couldn't believe he missed at first. A massive arm of wood and leaves was sticking up out of the ground. Karn was shocked to see this sight before him. His master walked over to him and told him what happened. "You started the spell off perfectly but you caught sucked into it and we couldn't stop you." He chuckled.

"I've never seen such a young druid summon, or atleast attempt, to summon such a massive tree-ent." His master said to him as he helped him up. "You would have succeeded to if you had your primal energies under control, but don't worry, well get them under control" his master said assuringly. Usileth walked over to Karn and stared into his eyes and Karn was scared he was going to get yelled at but instead she wrapped her arms around his massive neck and hugged him closely. "Please don't ever do that again." She said with a laugh.

A few hours later Karn was resting by the water under the tree when out of the corner of his eye he saw a cat. But this cat was different it had white stripes on both shoulders and two balls hanging from its neck tied to a strap of leather. The cat leapt at Karn and he instinctively raised his arms and caught the cat but when he set it down again it transformed into his fellow student Usileth. "Almost had you" she said teasingly. "You'll never get me by surprise with the way you sneak" he said retortingly, Usileth stuck hey tounge out at Karn.

"So what are you doing out here?" She asked. "Just thinking" he said. They both stared at the water and didn't say or move anything. But then Usileth broke the silence, "That was pretty great what you did in there today." She said. Karn just smiled and nodded. "Yeah it was wasnt it?" He said causing Usileth to push his shoulder. "I'm serious, your going to be a really great druid." She said.

"Thank you, your going to be a great druid to Usileth." Karn said. Usileth looked up at Karn and then steadily but slowly started to reach for one of his massive hands. Karn looked down at her and was hesitant at first but then reached out for her hand aswell. They held hands under the roots of the world tree almost all night.

The next few months Karn and Usileth spent their days training but also developing their relationship at night. For Karn Usileth was what a flagon of dwarven stout was to a dwarf, or a new tool to a gnome. Usileth felt the same for Karn and on a cool summer night Usileth grabbed Karn by the hand and lead him to her home just on the edge of the forest. Once they entered the cabin Usileth locked the doors and closed the windows. That night would be the happiest the two have ever been in their lives. But the animals weren't the only ones to hear them.

The next morning as Karn was waking up he could hear the footfall of atleast twelve iron clad druids approaching outside. Karn quickly woke up Usileth and they both dressed. As Karn stepped out side he was subdued by two of the elder druids. Usileth tried to free him but another guard stopped her. "What are you doing!? Stop this!" Usileth shouted, but she was silenced by Karns and her master.

"What are you doing?" She said to him. "You forget your place Usileth, he is a druid but he is also a tauren. This love is forbidden even here." He said. "Send him to finish his training in mulgore and keep her here." The last thing Karn remembers was Usileth shouting crying while reaching for him and then it all went black.

*One year later*

Karn awoke to the sound of drums beating and chanting going on outside of his tent. He got up and dressed before walking out of the tent flap. There he saw three other tauren dancing around a fire while four other tauren were beating on kodo skinned drums. It was then that the chief of the village walked up to Karn and told him what he would do tonight. "You'll be performing everything you've learned these past months and the elders will decide if you are worthy." The chief said.

Karn nodded and bowed his head as the chief adorned him with a feather head dress and a necklace of bones. Then Karn walked over to the circle as the dancers finished their dance the drums also stopped. Then one of the elders waved her hand signaled for Karn to begin. Karn began to channel the forces of nature through the fire and images of a bear and cat and then deer appeared. The elders watched with great interest.

Then Karn began to concentrate even harder and began to say the incantation and that was when a massive arm was seen in the fire. But then the arm started to move and a second one appeared and pulled the massive figure out of the firey ground to reveal the tree-ent that was almost summoned on that day. But then Karn lost his concentration as he thought about that day. The fire started to rage and roar and was getting out of hand.

But Karn regained his composure and with one arm brought the flames under control again. Then as quickly as it started he brought both arms down and stopped speaking. He looked up at the elders and they turned to eachother. Then the elder in the middle stood up and raised her staff. She announced, "On this night we welcome our brother Karn into our ranks!" She exclaimed.

Karn arose and every one around him started to cheer and the drums beat and the dancers danced. Then the chief walked over to Karn and put his arms around him, "Congratulations son." The chief said to him. "This note arrived here just before you started, it was from a night elf." The chief said. Karn grabbed the note and examined it. He then looked into his fathers eyes and smiled. "Just remember Karn there are plenty of worthy mates here in the village" the chief said as he looked at all the tauren Huntress's who would stare at Karn for some time before looking away. "But you must be happy. So go" the chief said. And with that Karn shapeshifted into a bird and flew away towards ashenvale.

As he approached fallen sky lake he saw a familiar night elf sitting on the edge of of the water. He quickly landed and ran up to her after transforming once again. She looked over at him and they both ran into eachothers arms and embraced eachother. They wasted no time exploring every inch of eachother in the pale moonlight. Then once again like so long ago they were truly happy that night.

In the morning when Karn awoke he heard rustling coming from the bushes behind the hill they were both on. Then he heard what sounded like a wounded animal quickly Karn rushed over to the bush and found a small squirrel who appeared to be half decayed from the neck down. Karn looked back at Usileth and yelled for her to run. But just as Karn said this a long rune blade pierced his heart. Then a cloaked figure stepped from behind him leaving the sword inside of him.

Usileth screamed and transformed into her flight form and flew away towards Hyjal. Karn was happy to see her go. Then one of the figures made a low guttural growl and moan to another cloaked figure who then walked over to Karn. Karn could see nothing but the frigid look of death in both of their eyes as one figure drew his sword from Karn and letting him fall to the ground. The last thing Karn saw was what appeared to be an angelic woman heading towards her and then it all went black and cold. "Yes.. fade from the light druid. You. Are. Myne."