Deviations in Writing

Night was falling upon the Ghostlands, the sky becoming a rich field of violets, streaked with crimson violence. It would have been a beautiful sight to behold, if not for Kelyna's chosen location to view it from. Standing no more than a hundred yards from Deatholme, the woman stared forward at the Scourge's domain with a look of intent on her stiff features. Along the length of the Dead Scar, Scourge shambled near-mindlessly upon the destruction rent by Prince Arthas and his minions; their destination the same as before: the ruins of Silvermoon. It was as though that single imprint had been left on their rotted minds. Invade the Sin'dorei, overwhelm the guards and provide ample distraction so that the Prince could get Kel'Thuzad's corpse to the Sunwell and resurrect the fallen one.

Even now, years after the event the Scourge continued down the beaten path. Some now turned toward Kelyna, recognizing her life as something that needed to be ended. Those that attempted to shuffle their way toward the mage found themselves torn apart by flame and arcane blasts.

She remembered the chaos Arthas had brought to their lands. Though she was but a child during the war, she deeply felt its effects in her formative years. As a mere girl, she watched as addictions to magic deepened by those around her; a cousin sank so far as to become one of the Wretched before Kelyna's eyes. Even as her particular talents emerged, pointing her along the path of the arcane, Kelyna understood that there were boundaries that had to be obeyed. She refused to lose herself, and insisted that she would be in charge of her art, rather than the other way around.

The war had devistated her family. Many died, and others were lost to either politics or addiction.

In the case of her husband, both. The man proved to be weaker willed than she had ever imagined. Yes, he'd been a convincing orator and found doors opening to him all over the city. He and Kelyna soon found themselves living in the magistrate section of the city; a place Kelyna soon grew distasteful of. Many times she'd found herself frequenting the Murder Row, thinking the people there were at least honest with themselves and those around them. In the Court of the Sun she experienced only backstabbing and vicious lies spread; not to mention opulent rooms dedicated simply for the feeding of their addictions. There were those who made sure Kelyna's husband was well entrenched in his vice, and they found a favorable ear and speaker for their message.

He could never face the fact that Kelyna left him and Silvermoon due to his own weakness. But deep within his heart, he was not surprised the day he came home and found her belongings missing. That had been months ago, and he'd only seen her once in that time: today.

Within days of the pact signed between Thrall's forces and the Sin'dorei, Kelyna had decided to put herself as far from Silvermoon as possible. She informed Quithas, her teacher, but not her own husband, and left for Orgrimmar immediately. Looking back on her flight to Orgimmar, Kelyna relived her feelings of dread during her childhood. She had little exposure before to the Forsaken, and their presense still rattled her. The orcs and trolls who filled Orgimmar unsettled her, but the tauren and their bond with the earth brought a feeling of peace to her. Why she didn't continue toward Thunderbluff was questionable, but it was in Orgrimmar she settled.

Returning to Silvermoon City was the last thing on her mind. It wasn't until Uthel'nay—her new teacher—asked her to deliver a letter of importance to Quithas that she'd even considered the trip.

All of this was boiling in her mind as she stood in the Dead Scar. The last few hours replaying in her mind. How her husband had found out that she was in Silvermoon, she wasn't sure. But he tracked her down before she could get to the translocation orb and make her way toward the Undercity. His grip was tight as he took hold of her arm, his eyes glistening with anger. The 'conversation' was largely one-sided, Kelyna having little she wished to say to her husband.

He reminded her that her place was at his side, that he had an image to keep. Who did she think she was? How could she simply abandon him like that, without a word? He worried, night and day, about her well-being!

The entire time Kelyna kept herself silent, and watched as the man went from pacing the room to sinking into a plush lounge. His voice went from raging to sullen, and his eyes began to lose focus. Without realizing it, Kelyna had allowed herself to be used by him, to be worked into a fury that caused her to radiate in arcane energy, which he was then using to feed his addiction. It took everything she had to keep from transforming him into a pig, but instead Kelyna rose from the chair he'd pushed her into and walked away from him for the second time in as many months.

Kelyna's path led her not toward the translocation orb, but rather outside of the city and into the Dead Scar. Scourge were decimated as they crossed her path, her mind focused upon her husband's words.

"You aren't the woman I married, Kelyna."

You killed her with your addiction.

"You are cold... feral, like a wolf hiding in my wife's skin."

Wolves are loyal, protective. I see nothing wrong in those traits.

"... bloodthirsty! Where did this merciless spirit come from?!"

From watching you, and all I love, tear their lives apart.

One thing was for sure in her mind, if those around her did not want to fight their way to an improved life, she would do it for them. She would sink into the feral instincts in her heart, accept the message that bloodshed was needed to bring the life back to the Sin'dorei, and join Thrall's forces. Both in Azeroth, but beyond the Dark Portal as well.