No matter how much Eliana tried to rid herself of the image from the day before, of Illidan's retreating back as he left the Square in utter chaos behind him, she found that the memory persisted, the visual haunting her dreams.

It wasn't so much that she was afraid of him—at least, she didn't believe that was the case. It was more so that the display of such power, and his control over that power, left her awestruck. It was the first time she'd seen his talents at work and it differed so greatly from what Elune gifted her priestesses with, that she thought it might be the contrast that she feared.

But not Illidan himself. Never Illidan.

Like so many other times in her life when her emotions were turbulent, she found herself wandering through the forest with no particular purpose. Cytheas, had they still been speaking, would have reprimanded her at being so carefree with her own safety. She nearly smiled at the thought, until she remembered that they were no longer on good terms.

At that thought, her stomach clenched and she crossed her arms over her chest, her shoulders hunching up.

He had been there for her throughout her entire life. By this age, she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, of course, but things felt...empty without him. She no longer had someone to confide in and he wasn't around to tease her relentlessly—she never would have thought she'd miss that.

Most of all, she longed for the moments where they would sit beside each other in complete silence. Neither of them had to say anything; it was their presence alone that comforted one another. There was no one else, short of her father, that she shared that closeness with. That had been what she was most afraid of losing when he'd begun to court her. Sadly, it had ended up happening anyway.

As she wandered along the dirt path, she tilted her head upwards and let out a long sigh as she admired the moon's waxen glow as it filtered in through the trees. She'd been out in the forest for nearly two hours now and Tyrande was likely wondering where she'd wandered off to.

Since Eliana had confided in the older female about what had transpired between her and Cytheas, Tyrande had taken it upon herself to ensure that Eliana was never alone. She appreciated the kind thought, but being surrounded day in and day out was starting to wear on Eliana's nerves. Hoping to seek some solace from her fellow priestesses' pestering, she'd wandered out into the wilderness, looking forward to being surrounded by nature. Out here, the overwhelming smells of the city dissipated, leaving only the sharp scent of pines and bark, which had always relaxed her.

Eventually though, she realized she couldn't run away from her responsibilities for much longer and began to make her way back to the edge of the forest. When she was almost out of the thicket, she heard the sound of a branch snapping behind her and twirled around, her eyes darting back and forth. After her and Cytheas' sparring match some time ago, she'd bought a set of daggers for herself. When she reached for them, she realized that they still sat on her dresser, back in her room at the Temple.

Kicking herself for leaving unarmed—Cytheas really would have yelled at her then—she started to back up towards the clearing behind her when a sleek, black and silver Nightsaber crept out of the bushes, its tawny eyes trained solely on her. She froze in place, not wanting to set it off with any sudden movements. Though Nightsabers left you alone most of the time if you didn't antagonize them, if this Nightsaber was feral, she had little chance of survival against such a massive beast—especially with no weapon.

The Nightsaber tilted its head at Eliana before it slinked closer, causing her to lean back, her heart pounding in her chest with every step the creature took. When it stood just before her, it nuzzled her hand with its enormous snout, its prickly whiskers brushing against her arm. A shaky breath escaped from her as she tried to remain as still as possible.

It pushed its snout further into her palm and swiveled its gaze up to meet hers. A low, humming noise reached her ears and she raised her eyebrows.

Is it...purring?

Hesitantly, Eliana moved her hand around to the top of its snout and gently rubbed along the ridge. The purring grew louder and when the realization hit that this dangerous predator was currently melting at her touch, she let out a quiet chuckle.

It opened its eyes once more and stared intently into hers, causing a fleeting memory of a similar looking Nightsaber—the one she'd healed in the clearing all those weeks ago—to flash through her mind.

This time, she was the one to tilt her head as she whispered, "Is it really you? Have you been looking for me?"

The Nightsaber nuzzled her hand again and she knew with certainty that it was indeed the same one. Now that she was no longer fearful of it, she could tell that its aura was identical to the one she'd helped. Never would she have thought that it would return to find her again.

"If you'll behave, you can come with me back to Suramar. Would you like that?" she asked.

The sabercat lifted its head and stared past her to the clearing, which Eliana took as a yes. She took a few steps away, to ensure that the cat would follow her and when it trailed after her, she resumed a normal pace and strode out of the forest, the Nightsaber on her heels.

Once she stepped out of the shadow of the trees, the sound of paws pounding against dirt reached her ears, and with narrowed eyes she turned to face the commotion. She placed her hand in front of the Nightsaber's snout in warning and it halted as it glanced up at her. Mere seconds later, a herd of mounted soldiers rushed by, kicking up dust in their wake. Eliana turned away from the path, shielding her face with her forearm. Once they'd passed and the sound of their shouts had dissipated, she watched them fade into the distance as they headed towards Suramar.

What in all of Kalimdor is going on? she thought, before she felt the Nightsaber nudge her hand again. When she returned her gaze to it, it lowered its head and bared its back to her.

"Are you...are you allowing me to ride you?" Eliana asked, shocked that the cat would trust her with something so intimate so soon. It must have been more grateful for her help than she'd expected.

When it remained in that position, she wandered to its side, tentatively tracing her hands along its back to its flank, testing the waters. It didn't react to her touch and so she hoped that meant she'd been right in her assumption.

As gracefully as possible, so as not to jostle the cat too much, she wrapped her arms around its midsection and hoisted herself up, lifting her leg and swinging it over to the other side. Because it lived in the wild, it had no saddle and so she was forced to remain as low and tight to the cat's body as possible, lest she slide right off at high speed. Once she'd settled herself, she leaned down and whispered, "Can you follow them back to the city?"

The Nightsaber swung its hefty frame in the direction of Suramar and began to trot, slowly increasing its speed until they were racing back at nearly the same pace as the soldiers. Eliana gripped the fine strands of the cat's hair as tightly as possible without hurting it. Though the wind was blowing through her hair and she reveled in the feeling of riding once again, she had to admit that she was rather frightened at the possibility of falling off. She'd always had Cytheas to hang on to before and now, she could rely on only herself.

After a few minutes, with her legs and fingers stiff, they finally arrived at the entrance to the Main Square and the massive cat slowed its pace, wary of all of the elves milling about. She pulled just a bit on the hairs she'd been hanging onto and the cat came to an abrupt halt just inside the archway.

She tried to dismount but her knees were locked in place and she nearly fell onto the stone, her face flushing with embarrassment. "We need to get you a saddle, my friend," she stated as she glanced over to the Nightsaber.

The cat was hunched over, its shoulders tight and its head low as it gazed around the plaza, a quiet growl coming from deep in its throat. The Square was busier than usual today and every time an elf passed by, the cat would twitch away from it, its hackles raised in defense. As its stare flitted around the area, it eventually came to linger on the few other sabercats that were tied to the post nearby.

Eliana ran her hands along the cat's head and down along the planes of its shoulderblades. In a low voice she soothed, "Shh, it is alright. They will not hurt you. In fact, they barely even notice you. See? They think you are just like them." She pointed to the other sabercats nearby before continuing, "But you are special. You came and found me so that you could help me—no...We helped each other, did we not?"

As she spoke, the cat's tense posture loosened until it finally sat on its haunches, towering above her. It was no longer staring at the other sabercats and the slight growling from before had ceased. She patted its side affectionately and said, "See? It is not so bad after all, is it? I have to return to the Temple now, but I will be back momentarily. You will be alright waiting for me here, right?"

The cat made no motion to move and simply stared down at her in response. She backed away into the street slowly and when the Nightsaber remained in place, she turned away from it and walked briskly towards the Temple.

When she was nearly past the middle of the square, she spotted the strange creature who was still imprisoned within its cage. Its bushy eyebrows were low over its yellowing eyes, which were darting around as it observed its captors. The soldiers she'd seen earlier surrounded the cage and it looked as if they were preparing to move it. They'd maneuvered some of their mounts in front of the wagon that propped up the makeshift cell and many were pointing at the beast, while shouting commands at each other.

She caught a flash of navy hair out of the corner of her vision and her eyes jumped from soldier to soldier, subconsciously searching for who she thought she'd seen. Finally, her eyes fell on Cytheas's familiar form. He was standing off to the side of the cage with his arms crossed over his chest, staring up at the beast inside with ambivalence in his eyes. Another soldier was speaking to him and periodically throughout their conversation, Cytheas would nod.

Eliana stood there in the middle of the crowd, unable to look away from him. The planes of his face looked more gaunt than usual, deep circles darkening the space underneath his silver eyes, and she frowned at his haggard appearance. His face was normally soft and amiable and he smiled easily. This version of him looked harsher, angrier. It was like she didn't even recognize him.

Out of nowhere, he turned in her direction and their eyes met. When he realized who he was staring at, his expression tightened, and she could see that his jaw was clenched so hard that the muscle was twitching.

Not knowing what else to do, she smiled tentatively and lifted her hand in acknowledgement. He dropped his gaze and turned back to the soldier beside him, his mouth moving as he responded to his peer. Eliana's heart dropped into her stomach at his dismissal and a wave of guilt washed over her.

It is not my fault, it is not my fault...

Tears welled up in her eyes and she let out a dejected sigh before continuing on towards the Temple. With an unrelenting heaviness in her heart that refused to go away, she began to walk up the steps to the Temple when she heard murmuring coming from just beyond the other side of the stairs. She paused and tilted her head towards the sound. The voices sounded familiar, but they were speaking too quietly for her to pinpoint who it might have been or what they were saying.

Turning around and walking back down the stairs, she wandered over to the side of the Temple, her steps hesitant. Once she rounded the corner, she spotted Tyrande and Malfurion whispering to each other, their postures hunched. Tyrande kept glancing over Malfurion's shoulder and Malfurion was gesturing in the air with his hands, as if he were trying to convince her of something.

Tyrande's eyes flitted over to Eliana and she stopped talking, placing her hand on Malfurion's forearm. He turned around and when he spotted her, he straightened, causing Eliana to feel like a child who had seen her parents arguing.

"Sorry I...I did not mean to interrupt," she muttered.

Tyrande and Malfurion studied each other for a few seconds before Malfurion nodded and turned back to Eliana. "No, your timing is perfect actually. We were...come over here, closer," he beckoned.

She started, surprised at his request and ambled over to them. Malfurion gripped her upper arm and pulled her closer into their circle before whispering, "We have a plan."

"A plan? A plan for what?" Eliana inquired.

"We are going to help Broxigar," he stated.

Eliana raised a slender white eyebrow as she asked, "Who is...Brox..igar?"

At her question, Tyrande pointed towards the creature in the cage. "He is. We have spoken to him and I do not believe he poses a threat to our race."

"You cannot be certain of that, Tyrande. Is that not why Lord Ravencrest's soldiers are here?" Eliana reprimanded.

Tyrande's forehead creased as she tightened her brow. "Yes, but you and I both know that their methods are not...kind. Malfurion believes Brox is important to what is going on in the capital."

"The capital? I do not understand," Eliana replied.

Malfurion shook his head and held his hands out before saying, "We will explain everything later. But we could use your help, Eliana. We need to speak to Illidan."

"Illidan? What exactly is your plan?" Eliana asked incredulously.

"Let us get Illidan and we can explain it to the both of you. Come, we must make haste. They leave tomorrow," Malfurion commanded before walking away and gesturing for them to follow.

The trio raced through the square and as they passed the soldiers surrounding the cage, Eliana couldn't help herself from looking for Cytheas' familiar figure. He'd moved up to the front of the group and appeared to be instructing his peers as how to pull the wagon. When the three of them rushed past, his gaze flew up and met Eliana's, holding it until they passed underneath the archway that led into the residential area.

When she could no longer see him, she faced forward and stared at Malfurion's back instead. She shook herself to rid her thoughts of Cytheas and tried to concentrate on the task at hand.

What could Malfurion and Tyrande be planning to do? And why would we need Illidan's help? she pondered.

The grey bricks that made up the plaza's stonework faded into paved pathways as they reached the residential district. These homes were vastly different from Eliana's own, as they were closer to the center part of the city. Elves who were in higher positions in society called this district their home and their extravagant taste reflected in the facades of their houses. These had much cleaner lines and were more vibrant in color than Eliana's house, which was more naturalistic in style.

Malfurion came to a stop in front of a colossal tree with vivid amethyst-colored leaves which matched the rounded door that marked the entrance to the home. He stepped up to it and rapped on the wooden surface: three quick taps that echoed through the interior. A few seconds passed before the door swung inwards, revealing Illidan in more casual attire than Eliana had ever seen him in. His usual leather jerkin and pants had been switched for simple cotton pants and a linen shirt.

She blushed, embarrassed that she'd tagged along with people who were so much more familiar with him. It felt as if she were intruding on his private life and worried that they were no where near the level of intimacy that allowed for a house call.

Illidan raised an eyebrow at their unexpected appearance. "Brother? To what do I owe this surprise visit?"

"May we come in, Illidan? It is a matter of urgency," Malfurion said in response.

His twin shrugged and moved aside, pulling the door further open. "I suppose. When you put it that way, how can I refuse?"

Malfurion brushed past his brother and Tyrande and Eliana trailed after him, into what appeared to be the kitchen. Dishes were piled up in the sink and Illidan stroked his chin, his cheeks a shade darker than usual.

"I would have cleaned up but I did not know you were all coming by..." he mumbled as his eyes darted over to Eliana.

I knew it...she thought, her cheeks darkening as well.

"I am sorry to impose, Illidan," she said in a quiet voice, her fingers gripping the fabric of her skirt.

Tyrande chuckled as she said, "He is always like this, Eliana. Do not apologize."

Illidan rolled his eyes at Tyrande's teasing. "I am not normally this disorganized. I have just been too busy to clean."

Tyrande interjected with, "It seems as if you are always too busy to clean, Illidan."

To which he replied, "She jests. You are not imposing Eliana."

Malfurion piped up then, his arms crossed over his chest and an uncharacteristic scowl on his face. "Unfortunately, we do not have time for jokes. Illidan, we need your help."

Illidan narrowed his eyes at Malfurion and commented, "You are unusually serious today, brother. What is going on?"

With Malfurion steering the conversation back to the reason they'd showed up in the first place, the mood in the room turned far more serious. "We intend to help Broxigar, but we could use your help to do it," he explained.

"I am sorry, who?" Illidan asked.

Tyrande huffed impatiently and said, "The creature in the cage. You remember him, do you not Illidan?"

"Ah yes, the beast. Why are we helping him?" Illidan asked, his eyebrow raised.

"Because I believe he is an integral part of what is going on at the capital," Malfurion continued.

"The capital? What is happening at Zin-Azshari?" Illidan prompted.

"Yes, what indeed? This is where you left off on your explanation to me," Eliana piped up.

Malfurion faced Eliana. "There has been unrest at the capital. Rumors of Queen Azshara acting...different...have surfaced. From what Broxigar has told us, the timing of his appearance and the events at the capital are too close to be a coincidence."

"Why should we help the beast? I mean, what good will it do us?" Illidan demanded.

Tyrande looked over at Illidan with disappointment written all over her face. "He is to be taken to Black Rook Hold tomorrow, Illidan. I have the utmost respect for Lord Ravencrest and his men but...they are not known to be gentle in their interrogations. I fear for Brox's life, should he leave with them. We must help him."

Illidan's golden eyes remained locked on Tyrande's for a few silent moments. Eventually, he sighed and said, "Fine. I will help. What do you need me to do?"