Mixed Morality

Chapter 6

Zeikial paused at the doorstep and looked over the entrance of the home which his parents lived peacefully. He released a sigh of content as a nostalgic feeling rushed over him; it had been many years since last visiting. He stepped forward and knocked, waiting a moment before using his key open the door.
'You are always welcome home, my boy.' Zeikial briefly remembered his Mother saying while he was first helping them settle into their new home.
"Ma? Pa?" he called out to his parents as he closed the door of the Blood Elf house.

He summoned fire in his hand and sent it flying to one of the torches of the main room, illuminating most of the room. He ventured through the house searching for his parents but found no sign of them. He left them a note and headed out again after snatching a small snack from the refrigerator, putting the singular fire out on the way. He closed the door slowly and locked it before leaving the house. He turned and slid his hands into his pockets of his robes and strolled down the quiet street of Azshara.

It was a very peaceful area his parents chose to live, but not lonely. Despite the Goblins little inventions and tracks around the zone, it was a beautiful place and relatively close to the Horde's main city, Orgrimmar. He smiled to himself as he kicked through some dry brown leaves peacefully laying on the ground. He glanced around to the surrounding trees, I do miss autumn, but nothing beats the autumn of Azshara, Zeikial thought to himself. He froze, it finally occurred to him. He listened to the leaves sway in the wind, the occasional weak enough to break off and fall. The breeze brushed against his neck, and he got a cold chill down his spine. Why is no one here? He turned to look down the path he came, not a single soul.

He spun around and stared down the silent street for a long moment before brushing off the thought, assuming everyone had gone on holiday. He looked to the long waterfall coming out from Winterspring; a beautiful view for this side of Azshara. He walked to the edge of the land of Azshara; there was a deep cliffside, at the bottom were rocks and the ocean. He watched the waterfall as it flowed down graciously and crashed into the sea below, becoming one. He followed the waterfall up with his eyes; Winterspring was a considerable distance from sea level than Azshara was.

He noticed a ledge further along the top of the cliffs, seeming to be a lookout. He decided to go for a walk in Winterspring and come back later to check if his parents were home. He turned and created a portal beside him, the other side looked like a snowy path. He walked through, and the cold snap of the winter instantly hit him.
"Damn, I didn't prepare for winter in time," Zeikial mused to himself. He focused the warmth of fire to flow through his body, keeping him warm enough to avoid Frostbite.

He turned around and looked down to the street below. A few unique houses and a dirt road was enough for his parents and a few friends, not many people knew that little street existed. He turned back to the path leading into Winterspring and began following it. The track was short and opened up to a white forest of trees. He wandered through the trees, avoiding the massive canyon in the centre. His thoughts quickly became consumed by Glorria, remembering a lesson he had learned from Glorria.

"Focus your thoughts into summoning a fire in your hand," Zeikial started the lesson for fire. Glorria looked up at him with concerned eyes, "Won't it be hot?"
"Your own fire can not harm you," He smiled at the innocent child. She looked back down at her cupped hands and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath in and loosed it slowly. After a few moments, she dropped her arms and slouched, sighing in defeat. Zeikial gently grabbed her chin and pulled her face up, "You can not give up so quickly, it all takes time and practice."

He released her chin, and she looked around at the surroundings casually. She snapped her head back to him, "Are you sure we should be doing this in a forest?"
"This isn't a forest." He shook his head slowly.
"Surrounded by trees...?"
"What's wrong with the trees?"
"Well... couldn't they catch on fire?"
He stared a long moment at the child and thought to himself, 'this kid is clever, I didn't even think about that...' He looked at the trees, 'that's probably how I always get myself in hot messes...'

"Gēge...?" Glorria's voice suddenly brought Zeikial's attention to her.
"You're right!" He stood quickly and turned his torso. With the wave of a hand, he summoned a portal.
"Come on, then!" He began walking toward the portal-
"Gēge..." Glorria called to him, and he stopped and turned back to the Pandaren still sitting on the grass, "let's walk to a different location, I think it will be nice for a change."

Zeikial looked back to his portal then down at his stomach, 'Is she calling me lazy or fat?!'
"Gēge!" He turned back to the direction of the soft voice. She was now standing, holding out a hand to him. He smiled and closed his portal and took her hand. They began walking together toward a safer place to practice fire.

'The lesson? Stop getting distracted by my own thoughts...' Zeikial mused to himself again. He stopped and loosed a long sigh, "I don't know why I thought it was a good idea to leave her there, I still have so much to teach her..." He looked up to the clear sky, a few white clouds floating by.
"You're missing someone too?" an unexpected voice spoke from the other side of the tree Zeikial was standing near. Zeikial jumped out of his skin, almost falling back into the cold snow. He regained his balance and focused on the direction of the voice.

"Who's there?!" He called out to the voice, but he heard nothing back. He stalked around the tree slowly, hoping to see someone there. As he came around the tree, he saw a Worgen sitting at the roots of the tree, knees up to his chest and head drooped low. Zeikial kneeled in front of him, still keeping his distance in case the Worgen tried anything, "Are you alright?" There was a long silence before the Worgen lifted his head slightly, locking eyes with Zeikial.

Worgen's usually have a deadly glare in their eyes, but this one had soft green eyes; a look of despair deep in those eyes. Zeikial froze, not knowing how to react to this new situation, he has never faced a Worgen like this before.