Nobody

Author: Riatcha

(Timeline for when the Draenei arrived on Azeroth is pushed back a few more years than current WoW lore)

Carrying the leather satchel in one hand he strode down the hallway briskly, passing cells with a variety of occupants within he did not stop until he reached his destination.  Quickly and quietly he unlocked the door opening it wide and stepping inside.  He looked only at the one he had come for, ignoring the others in the tiny cell, he took the young girl by one arm.

"Come with me," he pulled her from the cell.  She did not resist him in any way.  He sighed watching her sadly for a moment; this was what happened to of those that the Forsaken held captive.  But he refused to be a part of this any longer, he had once been a paladin and a warrior for the light and of justice.  His own life forever lost to him now.  That did not mean he could not do his best to ensure his young charge never had the chance to make one for herself.  He guided her past the huge abominations guarding the entrance and a number of his fellow Forsaken, none of whom questioned him or attempted to stop him.  After walking for a few minutes more they finally reached the surface near the edge of what had once been a human village.  Here he turned to the young girl, holding out a satchel to her.  She shaded her eyes against the natural light that he knew she had not seen in years, squinting her eyes even though it was not that bright.



"Take this, there is food and water.  Do not eat it all at once, your journey may take a few days.  Head north, you will find Kaldorei and Draenei there they will help you," he told her.  She just looked back at him silently.  He let out a heavy sigh, pushing the satchel into her hands.  When he spoke again his voice was more gentle.

"I know you don't understand much of what I'm saying.  Walk that way," he pointed northwards.  She took the pack from him and nodded once.

"Yes," her voice was slightly hoarse from lack of speaking.

"Do not stop for any Forsaken.  Get away from this hell, go somewhere you can be free to choose and never look back," he told her.  The look of complete incomprehension at his words made him sigh again and he gave her a gentle push in the direction he had pointed.

"Go," he watched her take a few stumbling steps away, she looked back at him once, her forehead furrowed in slight confusion, not quite understanding what was happening.

"Go," he said once more.  She faced forward again and after a moment started walking again, picking up her pace the further she moved away from him.  He watched her until she had faded from his sight.  For the first time in many years he smiled.


*************


She did not know how long she had been walking, the sun had risen and set several times already.  The food that Koren had packed in the satchel for her had run out yesterday just after the sun had started to rise.  She was hungry, but that was something she was very much accustomed to.  The water to was running low.  That coupled with the inevitable weakness that was the result of the darkness running through her body did not bode well; not that she really understood that.

The land she had reached two days ago was cleaner and she had passed a village yesterday evening that she had been to apprehensive to approach, but she had seen strange people from her spot hiding behind the trees.  Bright colored hair and long pointed ears, much as her own ears were.  She had watched them for a while before moving on.  She still walked in the direction Koren had told her to.  She did not know how far she was meant to go.

She stopped to take a rest and a small drink of the remaining water.  After some time she heard it; the sounds of fighting and shouting voices.  She crept closer, trying to stay hidden amongst the trees and bushes and watched for a long moment.  Even though she was behind them she could recognise the Sindorei easily, she frowned heavily, a race she hated just as much if not more than the Forsaken.  And they were obviously attacking people.  That was when she saw him; he rose head and shoulders above the others, shouting something in vaguely familiar language.  But it was not that which forced a sound of surprise from her mouth, but the way he looked.  He looked so much like her father had and it startled her at first.  She gripped the small dagger she had found in the satchel Koren had given her tightly in her small fist, a low snarl coming from deep in her throat as she dropped the satchel and water on the ground.  She launched herself from her hiding spot to fall on the back of one of the Sindorei, her free hand grasping at his long red hair and yanked his head back as she thrust the dagger into his throat, ripping at him and pulling the knife free before his body had even stopped spasming then charged at another; this time a blonde haired female who although surprised managed to pull her shield up in front of her body to try and protect herself.  Not that it helped her much, the girl was ferocious, letting out an almost guttural cry stabbing at any unprotected skin of the Sindorei.  The woman did eventually die, but by the time she did the girl had moved on.  Still screeching that horrible scream of hers, stabbing wildly at any of the Sindorei she could get to.  The Draenei they had been attacking fell on them with the trained precision that soldiers have in battle.  Within moments the remaining Sindorei started to retreat quickly.

She was low to the ground, the now very bloody dagger still clenched in her hand.
There you will find one of our lost children or perhaps she will find you, Maraad.
Maraad remembered Velen's voice as he spoke those exact words to the Vindicator, a hint of knowing and slight humour in the old prophet's eyes.  Was this her?

He approached her carefully.  She reacted much as he thought she would, spinning around and bringing the dagger at him.  It stopped inches away from him, before she pulled it back.  His own eyes wandered over her dark, sooty black, naked form.  Horns started to curve down from the sides of her forehead, shattered and broken at some point in the past.  What looked like a chewed upon and still crusted in dried blood tail.  And she was small and thin, an adolescent most likely, but it was hard to even try to guess at her exact age.  She stared at him as he crouched down in front of her, he could see the fear in her eyes, but there was something else also.  She reached one slightly shaky hand towards his face.  Then her hand froze between them.  He gave a single encouraging nod, but otherwise didn't move or say anything.  She touched his face with gentle fingers, frowning a little as she did so.  Her mouth worked for a moment, as if trying to form a long forgotten word.  When she finally did speak he had to try and keep the surprise off his face.

"Papa...?"  Was all she said.  She seemed confused by something as she shook her head, staring at him again.