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Hypnorgasm
>> #373367
Posted on 2020-06-10 08:05:20
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Here is a long story that goes with this from the source link.

There was the sound of thunder outside, a flicker of light filled the Draenei's eyes, startling him from a sound sleep. He bolted upright, huddling his knees against his chest, droplets of rain pouring in. His vision was clouded, he found himself crawling on his hands and knees now, trying to find his way. His naked body a shadow against the wall, opening his mouth he made a noise he could not recognize and clapped a hand on his throat... another flash of lightning made his skin crawl.

Why was he afraid? He'd never feared thunder before... had he? He scrambled across the stone floor and careened with a wall with a dull slap before bouncing off and striking the stone floor again. “Rrrrr-what this is?” He spoke, his voice in an uttered growl. “No... no, I should have said “What is this?” why is it not coming out correctly?” He sat still, shivering from the cold outside finding its way in from overhead. He looked up and cocked his head at the opening far above, the moon was waxing full... it was shining brightly down into this little hole he found himself in. He chose to ignore it and scratched at an itch on his left arm. The scratching felt strange he'd not felt anything like that before on his skin.

Looking down, he saw a tiny patch emerge from his blue toned skin, which he scratched at. “Ahh... what this?” He asked himself, tugging on the patch now and realizing it was somehow bonded to his skin. He brought it close to his nose and sniffed it gently... “Odd I've never sniffed myself like that before, what am I? Some sort of animal?”

“Think Dugan... Think!” He urged himself in frustration. “Why Dugan not himself...?” He shook his head. “Why am I talking this way?” He thrust his face into his palms.

Suddenly, a brilliant flash of light filled his vision, a pair of bright yellow, glowing eyes obstructing his sight. “Why so frightened, my friend? I only wish to make you see more the wild side of life!” The voice rang through Dugan's ears, making the skin on them crawl, the vision was so powerful that he literally threw himself from his hands and skidded a few inches along the floor. Clutching his head, he screamed. “Why you doing this? WHY!?” He heard his voice roar in echoes across the room before getting to his feet and scrambling through the hall.

Everything moved around him as though it were moving in slow motion. Dugan's hands trailed along the crumbling rock wall as he stumbled and tripped down the corridor. His body was aching, his stomach twinged violently and he fell again to his hands and knees. Looking up, he could see the tunnel in front of him twisting and contorting in front of his very eyes. “No, no, no, you stop this! It isn't right!”

“But it is right, Dugan. Don't you remember?”

“Remember...” Dugan's fingers were changing before his very eyes, his skin becoming lighter... changing shades... “Must... remember...”

*

It had been two weeks at sea by the time Dugantu had arrived on Pandaria. If nothing else he'd always had a passion for the sea. The misty salt air across his face gave him more of an exhilaration than even the act of sex had ever done. He'd packed lightly for his trip, unlike many men and women who disembarked from the ship with carts of luggage, Dugan simply tossed a large white satchel over his shoulder and he was ready to move on. He'd been assigned to visit Pandaria to lend aid amongst the Alliance up in Kun-Lai Summit. Landing at the shores to the Jade Forest hadn't been in his exact travel plans, but this would be the closest their ships could safely land them. He sighed with exasperation, he knew it would be a long trek to the mountains, and in particular, he wasn't a fan of flying so that would be kept as a last resort.

The Draenei spotted a small caravan of passengers packing into a few wagons. Taking his satchel in hand he waved and jogged toward them. "Hello! Excuse me!" He called at the variety of men and women not paying much attention to his calls. "Excuse me, could I ask what I would need in order to hail a ride with you?"

"To lose about a hundred pounds." A human said, immediately followed by a chorus of laughter. "Sorry mate, we are quite full here. Perhaps one of the gryphon handlers can set you up with a trip to where you're going."

"I am going to Kun-Lai Summit." Dugan said, gritting his teeth to the insults hurled at him. "I do not care for air travel; perhaps you know when the next caravan will be through here?"

The man shrugged. "I dunno, they're pretty sporadic. Not really on a set schedule, one could be here to pick you up in... a couple hours?"

"Ahh! Thank you!" The Draenei bowed respectfully to the man. "And the fee for such a service?"

Just then, the first trailer of the caravan roared to life as its horse was kicked into motion by its rider's reins. "Sorry, I'm not really sure!" The man called to him. "Shouldn't be more than a couple gold though. Good luck!"

"And to you!" Dugan waved with a smile on his face.


By late afternoon, the smile was gone from the Draenei's face; he was almost alone now at the dock. A heavy rain storm had settled in on him and he was stuck in it while the remaining few humans and elves hid in tents that were far too little for him to fit in. He eyed the forest wearily for any sign of travelers, but had not seen any in several hours. He turned to a tent he had seated next to and knocked on the flap, a girl poked her head out.

"Hello, little one. Could you tell me when the next caravan is due to arrive?" He asked with the most sincere of smiles on his face.

"Caravan? What caravan?" She asked.

"Perhaps your mother or father could tell me?"

The girl shook her head. "Sorry! No caravans come through here on their own. Usually they're a string of travelers who decide to go together. The docks here don't have a taxi service outside of the gryphon flights."

"No--but... surely you are mistaken!"

The girl shrugged. "Nope, sorry. There are no caravans that leave here that I've ever seen. The ones who left before knew each other and decided to leave on their own."

Dugan felt his teeth clamp tight in his mouth and he closed his eyes to sigh out his frustration. "I... see..." He said softly. "Well, thank you. Do you perhaps know of someplace I can--" He stopped talking when he realized the girl had retreated back into her tent. "...dry off."

As night fell, sleep proved to be much more difficult than the Draenei who decided that spending the night in the forest was much more affordable than paying for a spot in a cramped tent. Several times he was awakened by the sound of a bird fluttering by, or a roaring from within the forest. Many whom he'd asked claimed that a race called the "Saurok" were responsible for the disturbances; but still the stubborn Draenei remained hard headed and rested his eyes at the bottom of a large tree trunk.

"Dugantu..." A voice cold on the wind roused Dugan from his sleep, and he realized that somehow he was waist deep in snow.

Bursting from the snow, Dugan realized that he wasn't cold. He looked back to the tree to find himself sitting there, sleeping soundly as he had been before. There was a shuffling in the snow behind him, and the paladin turned to see wolves playing through the white. As he turned back to look at himself again, he found that himself and the tree had vanished from sight, and he was looking at an empty bush.

"Dugantu..." The voice caused the Draenei to look again behind him.

Looming over Dugan was the figure of a creature he'd only heard about in stories; he had a pale gold complexion upon his massive naked form. Dugan felt his heart pounding as he stared at the creature from head to toe, he was unlike anything he'd heard of. His hair was a dark color his tusks wide apart under a soft stare of yellow eyes. Red markings covered his body, forming swirls and patterns all the way down, spiking off his loins where a dangling member drew his attention to it. He smiled gently, but Dugan knew his kind's nature and took a step back.

"Who... who are you?" The Draenei asked.

The Mogu shook his head. "You needn't fear me, I mean you no harm."

"Mm-hmm... sure." He said. "Why am I here?"

"Please, allow me to introduce myself. I am Maldrak." He said with a sweeping bow. "I've come to welcome you to Pandaria."

"Begone!" Dugan said, gesturing a shooing motion with his hands. "I've had enough of your trickery and I've known you for thirty seconds!"

"This isn't any sort of trickery. I'm not sure what you have heard of my kind, young Draenei... but I assure you, I am unlike my brothers in many ways." He stepped closer, his eyes illuminating in Dugan's vision, filling it with a brilliant gold color before he stumbled backwards. "I do not mean you harm, though you are right to fear me. I am a sight to behold."

"Hmmph. Modesty aside."

"Why be modest?" Dugan noticed that Maldrak had vanished from where he'd been standing and suddenly wrapped an arm around his shoulder from behind, tugging him into his body. "I come from a great lineage, we were but gods once."

"Gods do not die. And they do not parade around showing their power."

Maldrak smiled a bit. "You are right... which is why it is to you alone I share this time with." He smiled and caressed Dugan's cheek. "I live in Kun-Lai Summit, you should visit me, should you find yourself the time." Dugan couldn't help but feel a soft tingle slide down his skin at the Mogu's touch, but he slapped the male's hand away and growled.

"You will not trick me, creature!" He roared defiantly.

The Mogu smiled again and shook his head. "Then come to defeat me should you dare... and from then, you may know my true power." He faded slowly from sight. "See you then..."

Dugantu gasped with a start and bolted upright. He still found himself in the Jade Forest, though at this point in the morning, the sun was just reaching the horizon to the east, and a new day had begun.

As the morning wore on, Dugan continually slipped back into remembering that dream. He'd given the name "Maldrak" to several natives to the area, but none had heard of this creature. After a while he began to wonder if the stories of the Mogu and going several months without a partner were combining into one of the most attractive apparitions he'd ever encountered in a dream. He began to feel an overwhelming curiosity now, to investigate this Mogu's claims and find him. No, no... he knew he needed to put the encounter and the memory out of his mind. Even if this Mogu were real, he knew that they were a malevolent race, believing themselves to be superior to all others... but the curiosity remained. Leaving Dugan to wonder if that spell he felt in the dream really did begin to have some hold over him.

On the second night, Dugan rented a spot in one of the small tents, hoping that the rest indoors would put off the dreams from the night before. However as soon as Dugan closed his eyes, he sensed a change in his environment and a chill crawled up his spine again.

He bolted upright the moment he felt flakes of snow falling on his face, and immediately began shivering. Narrowing his eyes, they came into focus and he found himself near a cliff overlooking the Townlong Steepes, directly to the west of Kun-Lai Summit. He rubbed his shoulders, noticing that he was also still dressed down as he had been for bed. His breath curling off his lips with each exhale he rolled his eyes; this seemed far too real to be a dream.

“Maldrak!” He yelled angrily, hearing his voice echo along the range behind him before feeling a large hand clamp down on his shoulder.

“You seem angry, paladin.” The Mogu said with a smile upon his tusks. “Rest assured I mean you no harm.”

“And what makes you believe I am not the one to be doing the harming?”

Maldrak let out a bellowing laugh that rang through the hills and he clasped his hips almost doubling over from the chuckle. “Oh, my dear mortal. You are quite amusing; you cannot harm me anymore than I wish to do you harm.”

“This is my dream, and I will do what I will in it.” Dugan responded sternly.

An amused smile never left Maldrak's lips as he crouched down, placing his hands on his knees to meet the Draenei's height. “And who says this is a dream?”

Taken aback for a moment, Dugantu let out a roar and charged the golden Mogu who vanished into thin air, sending the paladin's fist into a wall of ice. There was a crumpling noise from under him and suddenly, the ground gave way sending the Draenei into the dark abyss. Striking the ground at a slope, Dugan felt himself slide effortlessly against the wall and across the floor his shirt shredding on impact, he was thankful for his thick skin as he skidded naked to a stop somewhere in the dark.

He looked up, Dugan had fallen a good distance from the hole he'd come through. He managed to find a sturdy path back to the wall, but found it was too slick to climb back up and out and the only direction he could see to go was pitch black beyond the slippery slope at the edge of the room. His body shivered uncontrollably; the temperature was intolerable even for him, and Dugan mentally made the choice that if he were going to die it wasn't going to be standing around doing nothing. He slowly made his way to the edge of the pitch black tunnel that descended down into nothing and pondered for a moment if he should continue downward. It seemed that choice was made for him though when his left hoof began slipping and he failed to recover, sending himself spilling down into the darkness, his back screaming along the smooth ice for a good two minutes before tumbling to a stop on the stone floor of an ancient cave. Standing to dust himself off, he realized this area of the cave was warmer and he pushed his way around a boulder that he'd fallen against.

The cavern beyond was almost majestic in its size. The walls extended up to an arched ceiling far overhead; at least two or three stories. Lanterns littered the ceiling, dangling down into the main area and providing small spots of warmth directly under them. Stone stairs, obviously cut through timely efforts led up to a large, smoothed marble stone throne at its center. Dugan gave a hushed expression in his language as he gauged the sheer magnitude of this cave before turning around and seeing Maldrak at the archway leading off to some adjoining room.

“Impressive, is it not?” He said unabashedly as he towered toward the Draenei. “It took me some time to get everything right.”

“You mean you did this?” Dugan asked.

“But of course.” Maldrak answered matter-of-factly. “I am not an ungracious host. When I have visitors I take pains to be sure that they are warm and comfortable. After all, the outside world is a harsh place. Is it not?”

“But this... this amount of work would have taken... hundreds of years to manufacture.”

Maldrak wobbled his head from left to right. “About that... yes.”

“You've been expecting company all this time?”

Before Dugan could react, the Mogu wrapped an arm around his shoulder and pulled him firmly against his body. “I suppose you could say that...” His fingers waved in front of the Draenei's face, and sparks illuminated before it. “You are so tense, Dugantu...” He said. “Your kind in particular is such a dutiful race; always so serious, and hardly time for any fun. You in particular are a particularly hard nut.”

Dugan watched the star-like lights flicker in front of him, somewhat entranced by them as he responded. “I... suppose so...”

The Mogu smiled a bit, pressing himself firmly against Dugan's body. “But I love your sense of pride, your... enthusiasm for life is overwhelming even.” He pressed a finger to Dugan's jaw and turned him to face his glowing golden eyes. He could feel the tension suddenly release across the Draenei's body, his smile widened which made Dugan smile in response. “Be at ease, Dugantu... you have the chance to become something more than what you are. And provide me some...” He cleared his throat. “Much needed amusement as well.”



“Nnn-ahh!” Dugan clasped his face with his hands, still reeling from the sudden injection of his memory. He fell back to the ground. “WHY?” He roared. “Why you do this to Dugan?!”

“It was my fault... two days was just not enough time to ease you into this...” Maldrak's voice was present though his form had not appeared in the twisting tunnels before Dugan's eyes. “I suppose you could call me impatient, but perfection takes time and you... you are far from perfect.”

“N-no! Dugan not... not...” He felt his mind go still, he felt his head throbbing. Those flashes of light just wouldn't go away he scrambled to his feet and felt himself uncontrollably hunch onto his hands as his back forced him to bend. “Not give up!” He yelled and ran down the corridor. He felt the cold slash of ice on his cheek he tumbled through the roots of long-dead plants that tangled through the hall as he whimpered and made his way toward the light. “Dugan ooking freely!” He roared as he exploded through the tangle of plants at the end of the hall before tumbling out into the snow.

It took several moments before he moved again, the cold of the snow now covering his body, but he didn't feel very cold. As he moved he brushed the snow from his shoulder and felt a pelt of fur. He looked down to see that his shoulder, his arm, even his hands were covered in it. He gasped and looked at his fingers which were already elongating and the bluish tint to his skin was already fading. It was happening so quickly that even putting his hands to his face he could feel his features distorted so much different than he could remember. In a blatant panic he let out a screeching scream as he threw himself forward off a cliff. He just wanted to end it, whatever this monster had done to him he didn't want any part of it.

Dugan grunted, feeling a hand clamp around his leg, arresting his plummet. He screeched again in defiance, but his mouth was covered and he was again pulled into the Mogu's dark home. “Next time... next time will be different...” Maldrak said as he clutched at the creature in his arms who was now clamped tightly against his hips. “Next time... he will not see... he will not remember... I must make it natural for him...” He felt the shifting Draenei in his arms, growing smaller and smaller from his natural height. “There there... once your memory has changed I will love you just as much. You will provide me much amusement...


“Come, Zandras! Easy target! Easy target!” Khorlai laughed as she swung across the large canopy with a vine. Her long dark hair intermittently catching the light from above sending streaks from root to end as she caught onto a branch and hung upside down.

Zandras Vellar stood on the ground, watching his younger sister leaping effortlessly among the trees. “Be careful there, sister. I would not want to be responsible for your falling to your death.

“You're not going to learn better control unless you try to hit a moving target!” His sister taunted as she dropped a few levels and grabbed the vine on the back swing, returning to her soaring across the open air again.

Zandras smiled lightly and flexed his fingers which immediately shimmered in auras of blue. He brought his arms into an arch and thrust his palms up into the air, sending a trail of white up toward his sister. She swung around the large branch of a tree that instantly turned white for a few seconds before shedding its new layer and returning to normal. “C'mon you chicken! Get me!” Khorlai giggled and flung herself onto the branches just above where he'd struck. Zandras cupped his hand and flung another shot into the air. The other elf leaped from the blast with an incredible distance. She caught the end of the branch of an adjoining tree and swung gingerly to perch upon it. Zandras spun on his heels and fired a volley of ice at her, she cartwheeled away from the initial blasts then hid behind the tree as the pellets struck, coming back around she hadn't expected the branch to still be slick and she lost her footing.

'Khori!” Zandras cried in shock as she fell from the high branches, but she simply clapped her hands together and became a large black cat, making the mage sigh in relief as she caught a branch and leapt off it like a diving board. The green lights flashed around her and she became a crow which fluttered around just above Zandras' head a few seconds before finally resting on his shoulder.

“You're getting so much better at that, Zandras.” She said through her beak. “You're really learning your magics well.”

“Well. I do like to consider myself a fast learner.” Zandras said with a smile. “But you nearly gave me a heart attack.”

“Oh, please. I've got more animals under my belt than a petting zoo, I'm fine.” She jumped from Zandras' shoulder and in a flash she was flipping to a landing on her feet before her brother. “You're the newbie when it comes to spell casting. Why did you give up being a hunter for it anyway? I thought that was your calling?”

“Conjuring up the elements and wielding them at my enemies? I've always seemed to have a better connection to power than sheer instinct.” He chuckled. “Besides, I couldn't even tame you, what makes you think I'd be any good with other animals?”

“Hey!” Khorlai slapped her brother playfully. “I'm pretty untamable.”

Just then, a young male passing by passed Khorlai a subtle greeting, to which she immediately smiled and began to straighten her hair out as she looked at him. Zandras passed a glance to the short-haired elf who immediately continued on his way, the mage turned to his sister with a smile on his face. “Except from Tokai Greene it seems.”

“Shhh! Not so loud!” She urged him, but it only furthered his amusement.

“Maybe I should invite him over for dinner and conveniently work up some excuse why I have to go.” He said louder.

“Zandras! Shush!”

Zandras grinned playfully. “Hey! Hey Tokai! Come here, my sister wants to ask you something!” He turned to see the boy steadily pacing away, trying to make his escape before he was captured by the shoulders and practically flung at Khori. “Well, I think I'll leave you two alone.” He said casually. “I need to go study a bit more. Dinner tonight will be salmon, if you're interested, Tokai.”

“Uh... th-thank you.” The male responded along with a scathing look from Zan's sister, which he ignored simply by turning around and walking in the other direction. He'd barely made it twenty steps before snickering and turning back to see the pair of them walking onward arm-in-arm.

“Mmmhmm... that looks pretty tamed to me.” He uttered to himself before turning to see a scout staring him in the face. “GYEEE!” He winced. “By Elune, do you people practice sneaking up on people or something?”

“Sorry.” She responded, pulling her cowl back and revealing a head of silver hair. Her face was young for wearing hair so lightly colored and Zan was surprised by the encounter. “I have an urgent report for Zandras Vellar, I assume you are he?” She said, pulling an envelope from her pouch and handing it to him.

“Well, ye-yes I suppose you've got the right one.” He said, pulling a pair of half-rim glasses from his pouch and placing them over his eyes as he opened the letter. “But I wouldn't think I was worthy of such an urgently regarded letter. He pulled the letter open and extracted the parchment from within.

“You were designated as the sole correspondent in the regard that Dugantu Forten had not arrived at his intended destination in Pandaria. While the urgency is possibly more important, our lady has directed me to inform you.”

“Dugan's missing?” Zandras' expression soured as he looked over the letter:


It is our sincerest regret to inform you that upon being called for service at the Kun-Lai Summit, Dugantu Forten has not reported in; he has not been seen in two months, last being reported at the landing site in the Jade Forest. A thorough sweep of the forest has provided no clue as to his wherabouts. It was his explicit instruction that you be informed as his designated next of kin that he be deemed lost in service.

Again, our sincerest regrets


Zandras frowned and folded the paper, removing his glasses, then using his hand to crease it before placing them into his vest pocket. The scout looked at him awkwardly. “It is odd that a Draenei soldier would have directed you his next of kin though.”

“Hmm? Oh... yes, well. My family took him in some years ago and he's become sort of a brother to me and Khori my sister. Tell me, when will the party leave to look for him?”

The scout shook her head. “I'm sorry if you don't understand Zandras; the search parties have not found him, we simply wish to inform you of his disappearance and convey our sympathies. You do not need to--”

“Nonsense.” He said sharply. “Dugantu is very important to me; to both of us. And I will not stand idly by while a meager search party is sent into the wilderness to find him without me.”

The scout cracked half a smirk. “I'd had a feeling you'd say something like that. We have arranged a group bound for the harbor to come by tomorrow at sun up. If you are still interested in joining our “meager” search parties, have your arrangements made by then.”

Dusk had fallen by the time Zandras heard his sister approaching their home; he was seated in the darkened room, looking over the letter again and again, he couldn't help but wonder exactly what could have happened to Dugan? He wondered as Khorlai came into the hut with Tokai holding her hand, she emitted a loud giggle that she stifled immediately upon seeing her brother in the dim room. “What's going on?” She asked, her voice suddenly falling a bit more serious.

“Khori, do you mind if we speak alone for a moment?” Zan asked, nodding toward Tokai who took the hint immediately.

“Perhaps dinner tomorrow night?” The guest asked.

Khori smiled and nodded at him. “Of course, that sounds like a wonderful idea.”

As Tokai left, Zandras smiled softly at his sister. “Looks like you two have really hit it off.”

“What is it?” Khorlai seated herself across from Zan. “Sitting here in the dark instead of making a meal isn't like you. The last time you did that was when you received word that our parents were killed... someone hasn't been killed, have they?”

Zan sighed and brushed his sister's cheek lovingly. “No... not that I know of. But Dugantu's gone missing on the Pandaria lines. I've volunteered to join the search for him, I'll be leaving tomorrow morning.”

“But that's—I don't know...” Khori stammered, unsure of how to respond. “Can I come too?”

Zan cracked another soft smile and shook his head. “No, sister. You've got responsibilities here. Plus I can't worry about you while trying to find Dugan; if anything were to happen to you...”

“I can take care of myself.” She said stubbornly.

“I know you can, but--”

“Then I want to go with you, sign me up! Enlist me! I want to find out what happened to--”

“KHORI!” Zan's stubborn streak finally starting to show as he bashed his hands on the table, making her silent immediately. “Do as I ask, just once. Please. I need to know that you're safe, that I don't have to worry about you. Please. Take Tokai out on the date you promised him and know that I won't come back without him.”

“But... what if you don't find him?”

Zan could see the sadness in her eyes, he'd worked himself up for hours trying to find the best way to tell her his plans, but hadn't expected her to come back at him with such a tough question. “I will.” He answered assuringly. “Now, let's see about getting something to eat, shall we?”

The evening passed somewhat uneventfully, after eating, Khorlai sat beside the hearth and read while Zan sat in their father's old chair by the window; he cracked it a bit and pulled out a long pipe to smoke. He closed his eyes as the wind passed through the opening and brushed across his face, tufting his short beard back a bit as he rocked. His large ears listening to the whistles on the night air. It was on nights like these that he appreciated the forest, the sights, the smells, the sounds of the wild calling to him as he rested comfortably within his home.

“Zan?” Khori asked softly at some point, causing the mage to open his eyes and look at her, seated with her book in her lap. “Do you think about mother and father?”

“Sometimes.” Zandras admitted, letting a spout of smoke escape his nostrils as he sat up. “But they died a long time ago, when we were children. Hell, I didn't think you'd be able to remember them we were so young.”

“Well... I don't really remember them much. Shapes mostly.” She admitted. “And the smell of lilies.”

Zan smiled. “Our mother was a gardener. She always smelled like flowers; especially the tiger lily. They were probably her favorite. Every night when father would come home the smell of flowers would litter the house.” He snickered a bit. “I remember him complaining that some day he'd like to come home and just smell the dinner on the table. He didn't really like the smell all the time.”

“Father took trips a lot.” Khori nodded. “He always came back with the scent of sweat and ale.”

“He did fly to Ironforge on a regular basis.” Zan nodded. “I guess going from a place like that to a place like this can drive your senses a little over the edge.”

“Did they tell us stories?”

“Some of the best stories.” Zan chuckled a bit and sat back, suddenly jerking forward as the hint of movement outside the window caught him off guard. Khori woke suddenly and sat upright. “What is it? What's going on?”

Seeing nothing in the portal, Zandras breathed a long sigh. “Nothing... just thought I saw something.”



“Such and interesting creature...” A voice whispered to Zandras as he lay trying to sleep, a cool chill crawling down his back as something loomed over him. Zan could feel something over him running two large hands up the center of his back, sending shivers down his spine. But he couldn't move, he couldn't react, he couldn't even see who it was that haunted his sleep. “Such strength of will, such untapped energy...”

Zan felt his world fade away and he woke lying on the cold stone floor of a dark cave. He turned over to see that nothing was behind him, but he remained without a stitch of clothing. Snow fell lightly around him, but as the elf placed a hand out, he realized he couldn't feel it touching him, it wasn't cold. He realized he was dreaming.

He heard a choking sob coming from a corner of the cave that turned his attention. A shadow that had made its own separate imprint from the dark wall resembled the form of a large Draenei. “Why... why...?” He whispered to himself again and again until Zan recognized the voice.

“Dugan?” Zan's voice failed to echo, like in a normal cave as he slinked closer toward the darkened corner. “Dugan? Is that you?”

“Why... why do you pick him?” He sobbed inconsolably. “I will not have him come here, I will not allow him to reach the summit... I will not let him fall through like you let me...”

“Now, now... his magic is strong, I need one of strong magical blood, you know this.” The voice said, seemingly unaware of Zan's presence.

“Dugan, who are you talking to? Please, answer me!”

The Draenei's eyes turned toward Zan, the white glow illuminating the darkness around a sullen, angry face. “I... I won't let you... he's mine...”

There was a sudden drop, Zandras felt himself falling into a blanket of darkness. He grabbed around for something, anything to catch to slow his fall, though he felt panicked, he remained calm for the drop and threw his hands out to his side, casting a powerful arcane spell to illuminate the hollow shaft he was falling through. Suddenly he hit the ground; he didn't smash into it like he'd expected from a fall of such a great height, but he landed in a kneeling position, his fist striking the ground and sending out an earth-shattering web of light that instantly filled the room with its brightness. It lasted for but a moment before the elf found himself sealed in the darkness again and he felt exhausted from the expense of the spell. He looked up from his crouched position to see a pair of golden eyes illuminating the darkness now, much higher in height than Dugan was.

“Most impressive.” He said, the sound of clapping coming from his direction, but concealed by the dark. “You have a mass of power welling up within you, Zandras... I knew I could count on you.”

“Who are you? What are you doing to Dugan?”

“Dugantu is... in my care.” The voice responded. “But you may discover him again, should you ever go to Kun-Lai Summit. If you find me, I may reveal his wherabouts and turn him over to you... provided that by the time you discover him you find that you still want to.”

“Come out and show yourself! Let me see who you are!” Zan swiped his hands into the darkness, feeling nothing as the golden orbits vanished and replaced themselves again with the sullen shadow of the Draenei. “Dugantu!” He cried as the form turned to look at him and suddenly lunged at the elf, screeching like an ape as a smaller new form attacked him.

“Dugan!” Zandras bolted upright in his bed, still feeling the flutter of the sheet as it fell down around his hips. He sighed and rubbed his sweated brow before noticing Khorlai standing in the doorway.

“Your entourage will be here soon.” She said, eyeing her brother. “Thought you ought to know.”

“Thanks... Khori.” Zan responded softly. “I'll be down in a few moments.”

“You should try sleeping with your clothes on.” Khori joked as she turned from the door and started out into the hall. “Maybe it'll help you sleep a little better.”

***
The tauren slapped his elbow firmly onto the wooden table before Ta'Chak Gravebiterr who slung himself into the seat in a defiant roar as he slapped his hand into the palm of the bull who snorted angrily. Their steadfast contest didn't drown out their surroundings still as they began their wrestling contest. Chak's bicep bulged up to practically the size of a boulder as his opponent's rose to comparably the same and the pair leaned into their pull with equal force, causing a bit of strain to the both of them. Ta'Chak never backed down from a challenge, he was the pride of his Warchief's army, a warrior who knew no limits, or admitted to them to say the least. The bull across from him had a pelt of almost pure black with white surroundings on his eyes and a diamond-shaped pattern between his eyes that almost broke into a cross form as his brow wrinkled down and he dug his hooves in. The massive orc didn't know his challenger's name, or even how he had gotten into this match; the fifth in a row, and the most stubborn of the lot so far. But he knew that he couldn't lose, his inner rage built up in his chest, leaving room to do little more than roar at him. The bull growled and snorted back, the ring that wrapped between his nostrils flapped almost laughably with each breath as their only hold out now was to wear the other one down enough to be victorious. The bull's teeth were white enough to show through the grimace in the dull lighting of the Pandaria tavern they'd found themselves in. Almost too rowdy for the peaceful people of the village, they'd practically had to bar the doors to keep the children from coming in and being injured by their play.

Chak felt the tauren's grip loosen slightly, he was trying to conserve his stamina, but in fact it gave the orc the edge. Digging his feet against the ground of the hut he let out a powerful burst of strength and the bull's determined roar turned into a pained cry as his arm suddenly found itself on the table; broken at the elbow and hand. Orcs behind Chak bellowed in delight at the victory and supplied him with flasks of drink, but the orc's eyes fell on the barkeep by the door, his eyes had narrowed and his arms were crossed, it took a few moments before the warrior returned to celebrating raucously with his brothers.

“You killed today in the name of our warchief, brother!” One of Chak's party said celebratorally clasping his hands on the warrior's shoulder and knocking their foreheads together. Ta'Chak could smell the alcohol heavily on his breath and laughed. “Many alliance heads fell under your axe! You are truly an orc of the Horde!”

“No, brother. I will truly be an orc of the Horde when our Warchief acknowledges me, when we have defeated every enemy on this land, I am simply an orc.”

“Pah! Rubbish!” Another orc chimed in. “You are the bloodiest bastard this side of the Durotan desert! We are proud to serve with you, Ta'Chak Gravebiterr! Let us drink to you, the proud leader of our accompaniment!”

“For the Horde!” The group and Ta'Chak cheered at once.

Some point during the celebrations, Ta'Chak noticed the tauren he'd defeated had disappeared from his seat, and seeing that his vision was already distorted from enough ale to kill an Elekk, he tore himself from the group and stepped outside for some fresh air.

“Even with the door closed, your celebrations echo through the night.” A voice caused Ta'Chak to turn and see the bar tender from earlier standing at the column holding up the bar's front entry awning. He turned a cold eye to the orc, who winced visibly at the frank gesture. “Your Horde is as unrelenting as the Sha that infests this land.”

“What business is it of yours?” Chak answered angrily as he seated himself on the step several feet from the bear. “We were victorious today, we celebrate.”

“Celebrating for my people is a feast, ale, maybe some fireworks. But this... this... is an orgy of mass proportions.”

Chak raised an eyebrow and looked back behind him at the door, a steady screaming of sound coming from it suddenly began to rack at his nerves. Getting up and passing a glance at the panda he pulled open the tavern door and let out a mighty roar into the room. The roar calmed and most had gone to quiet on the inside. “Tomorrow, we fight more! Get some rest, brothers and we will celebrate again our victory!” There was a rousing cheer before everything fell quiet within, he slammed the door and looked at the panda, quite pleased with himself.

“Impressive.” The barkeep admitted. “But that man's arm you broke tonight will not be able to lift a weapon tomorrow, or for several months it seems.”

“He will lift a weapon.” The orc growled. “Because that is who we are.”

“Really? Such blind anger, such a proud lineage, such a warrior's prowess. It is no wonder the Sha have not eaten you alive.”

Chak glared at the man and approached him. “Listen once, and listen well.” He growled. “I do not care about your opinions of us, or of your peoples' best interest. I was sent here I was appointed by our chief to drive the Alliance from your lands by any means necessary, and if that means to spill blood, then let there be a flood.” He stomped off toward the dark road, leaving the panda behind to watch after him.

“So fierce and determined, young orc...” He said, his eyes flickering with a color of gold, a wry grin crossing his face. “Such a passion must be turned in another direction... shouldn't they?”

The following morning was clear and bright, not a cloud in the skies over the Horde's air base, which had been “requisitioned” and reformed from the Alliance's use. All day, flights from Goblin planes, drop off supplies from air ships came into the base and left just as quickly, everyone was hustling to get to where they needed to go, half of them weren't watching where they were going and consequently bumped into Ta'Chak as he and a friend Grell made their way toward the flight controller office.

“Ah don' see why ya got dis urge ta relocate, Ta'Chak.” Grell said with an exhasperated sigh. “Ya be a mighty'n proud warrior, surely da Warchief will reco'nize dis soon?”

“I will always be a warrior, proud of who I am and what I can do for my Horde, Grell. But why settle for just being a master of the land?”

“But'cha be settin' yer sights high, mon.” The troll answered. “Ya sure yah not settin' dem too high?”

“Shut it.” Chak growled defiantly as he approached the goblin who didn't look up from the figures he was running through his computer. “Ta'Chak Gravebiterr reporting in.” He said officially saluting the goblin. “I wonder if you've gotten my papers for permission to change assignments from the Warchief.”

The goblin slipped an envelope from another letter pile without looking up from his machinery and slapped it down. “That's fifty copper for the transmit and receipt of your orders.” He said automatically and Ta'Chak placed a single gold coin down.

“Keep the change.” He said pleasantly, earning a smirk from the goblin.

“Whatever ya say chief.” He answered before biting the coin and pocketing it.

Ta'Chak ripped open the envelope and read it. “Loktar, Ta'Chak Gravebiterr. We have received word that you have requested a change of assignment to air ship pilot. Your flight scores submitted by the Bilgewater Cartel were most impressive; however we must... DENY your... REQUEST?!?” He roared angrily, his hands clutching firmly at the paper. “Our Warchief has decided to move our armies in another direction less costly to our venture and has determined that travel to Pandaria by boat would be deemed less of a risk? HOW DARE HE!?!” He roared and pulled the page cleanly apart before crumpling it together again and throwing it to the ground. “How dare they deny this? I have worked my green backside off insuring that Alliance falls under my axe and I'm denied because they're threat is too great?! What in the name of Thrall is this?!” He stormed over and literally threw the panel aside the goblin was working on, he shrieked and cowered before the massive orc.

“Ay! Ay! Calm down, Ta'Chak!” Grell shouted, putting a hand on Chak's shoulder and receiving a blunt fist to the face as a result, sending him flying back several feet and putting everyone else at a stand still.

He stood for a few moments, inhaling and exhaling deeply to try and come down from his rage before abruptly sticking his hand out toward the goblin with his palm up. He jolted and cringed. “I believe you owe me ninety-nine silver, fifty copper.” He spoke in an absurdly forced calm. The goblin immediately complied and after dropping the money into his pouch, the orc walked over to the troll, slowly regaining his composure and offered him a hand. “I'm... very sorry about that.” He said softly.

Walking along the coast hadn't cooled Grell's heated anger with the orc as he pressed a cold piece of meat over his eye. “Ya gotta control 'dat tempa'yours, Ta'Chak. He sneered.

“I... I know I just... I guess I wear my temper on my skin.” He chuckled softly. “I just enter these fits I can't control, and touching me is the last thing I'd recommend. But still, it wasn't fair for me to do that to you. Do you forgive me?”

“Ta'Chak, dat is de stupidest excuse I heard since a head shrinker told me dat me gran'mudder wanted her head shrunk to lengthen de extensions of her hair. I mus' be stupid and crazy ta even consider acceptin' your apology!” He paused at the shocked stare Ta'Chak was giving him, then cracked a smile. But den again I was never de brightest bulb.”

“Thank you.”

“So what'cha got a battle ta lead today den?”

Ta'Chak shook his head. “No, I left the charge of the company to another today. I was expecting a change in jobs anyway.”

“Why ya wanna be a pilot anyway?” Grell asked. “Grell feel safer knowin' both feet is on da ground. Ya?”

Chak shrugged indifferently. “I've just always wanted to fly, ever since my first trip on a zeppelin as a boy. I've read and learned everything about planes, air ships, even dragon mounts... but I doubt I'd be able to ride one of those things.” He sighed. “Soaring above the clouds, diving down to the surface of the ocean and gliding along it, spinning, twisting, turning in the air.” He gestured by physically turning around. “Only to be shot down today by the one man I truly respect.”

“Hey! Hey! Hey! Mister Gravebiter! Ta'Chak Gravebiter!” The goblin from the air strip was running toward them waving a slip of paper in the air. “Got a new mission sent to ya from the Warchief himself!”

“What?” The warrior pulled the slip from the goblin's hand as Grell calmly slipped him a few coins for his trouble. As he ran off, Ta'Chak read the note. “Your Warchief provides you a new assignment; a draenei paladin has gone missing in the vacinity of the Jade Forest. There is rumor that he tried to make his way to his destination within the Kun-Lai Summit. Your orders are to find him alive if possible and detain him for information of his mission. If he resists, give the Alliance reason to cower before the Horde's might. Lok'tar Ogar, warrior. The eyes of your Warchief are upon you and may grant you the boon of your transfer, should you succeed in this mission.” The orc's smile lifted the anger that had been upon his face earlier and he was grinning wildly. “Our Warchief has sought me for this task. Of all his army...”

“I dunno, 'ee seems a bit eager ta getcha off da radar, frankly.” Grell said, examining the pamphlet. “You sure ya gonna do dis, Ta'Chak?”

“Why not? Kun-Lai is a fairly close region, I could be there in a few hours. A Draenei paladin's not exactly hard to find either. Just look for the octopus wielding the light, right?”

“Err... yah...” Grell said hesitantly. “Well good luck 'den. Ah keep your ale warm for ya.”

“You aren't coming with?”

Grell shook his head. “Got enough of a deat' wish bein' here as it is. I ain't foolish enough to go addin' dis to the palette.” He smiled in his jovial naturedness. “But'chu have a good time, mon. You need a stress reliever met'inks.”

“Right. I'm going to see if I can't find something to fly out there this afternoon.” He said as he turned and jogged back toward the air field, leaving the troll standing there. He hadn't noticed Grell's eyes illuminate to a strange gold color, but he chuckled just the same.

“Ya be doin' dat, mon.” He said, his voice changing, becoming deeper. “Come to me Ta'Chak, and I will show you what it truly means to fly.” There was a brief pause as the gold flickered from the troll's eyes and the presence left him, he placed a hand on his head, confused at what had just happened... what he was needed for had been done. Ta'Chak was on his way to meet his destiny.

****

Zandras leaned over the side of the ship, groaning a bit as he felt it pitch and reel back, then lean forward, threatening to fall into the ocean itself. He groaned in spite of having gotten rid of his lunch earlier, his stomach not wanting to give up the ghost. He knew how much Dugan loved the ocean air, the man was a sailor at heart after all, but the Kaldorei were not meant for water, and unlike the other passengers of the ship who had probably a lifetime of experience at sea, Zan had never been much for it. He made a choking sound and heaved dryly over the edge. Nothing coming from his throat but the taste of bile now.

“Not much of a seaman?” The scout who had organized the mission startled him. He'd managed to wrest the name Nidell from her at the start of their journey, and she had been leaning over him ever since.

“Gee, is it that obvious?” Zan responded sarcasticically.

She chuckled under her breath as she sat upon the railing. “When I was little, my mother and father owned their own ship, we sailed anywhere and everywhere in Azeroth. I suppose you grow used to it.”

“I grew up in the forest. An ocean of trees... not of water.”

“Here.” She said, handing him a small box. “Crackers, they may help your aches, we've only got a few hours left to sail before we reach Pandaria, you may as well try to make them pleasant.”

Zan took the box and sighed sardonically. “Thanks.” He said. “But at the moment I don't think my stomach could keep anything down.”

“You'd be surprised.” Nidell said with a smirk. “We have a meeting in the cabin in a few minutes to discuss our search perimeters and plans.” She looked askance at him. “You may not follow them, but I still ask that you attend. In the even that Dugantu has been found or may still be in the Jade Forest when we get there, I don't want you go rushing headlong to Kun-Lai to find him. Do you understand?”

Zan gave a half-attempt at a salute. “Yes ma'am.” He said.

As Nidell hopped down and walked off, Zan turned his attention toward the south where the ship was heading. A chill ran down his spine as he thought of the creature in his dream. Those glowing gold eyes... somehow they told him to move onward, bade him to challenge them. And more than anything, he knew that where he was going, he would have to face those eyes again... the sensation set his skin crawling. But with fear? With anticipation? He had no idea what awaited him there... but he would face it.

The meeting below deck was more or less typical of any Alliance operation. Zandras ate his box of crackers by the handful, pleasantly surprised with how it soothed his sea-stricken stomach. They examined all possibilities of where he was to where he could have wandered on foot. They suggested had he taken a flight he would be in Kun-Lai by then, but Zan knew Dugan better than that; he hated to fly. Assuming he hadn't panicked while riding the back of a gryphon, he would have crash landed it in some camp between his starting point and his destination, which would have been reported hours ago.

The chills continued to plague Zan even below the decks as he ran his hand along his shoulder, he found the room inconsolably colder than it should have been, earning a few stares from Nidell as she performed the meeting, by the time they were all dismissed, she followed the elf from the hold and stopped him as he stepped onto the deck.

“Zandras, what is wrong with you?” She asked. “You were practically shivering during that entire meeting.”

“It was cold down there, I'd much rather be up here.” Zandras argued.

“Oh, really? Because a good deal of us found it stifling down there and couldn't wait to get out of there. You offered no input on our strategy, and basically sat there stuffing your face with crackers the entire time.”

“Maybe because I don't plan to follow your strategy!” Zandras snapped, taking Nidell aback. “I plan to travel straight to Kun-Lai and--”

“And what?” The elf snapped back. “Hope to find him with a dousing rod and a prayer to Elune? The point of a strategic plan to this is to improve chances of finding him, and you going on some wayward journey of looking under every rock in Pandaria will only hurt them.”

“It's not a wayward journey.” Zandras said. “I don't know how to explain it, but I know Dugan is in Kun-Lai... in some cave on the western summit.”

“How? How do you know this?”

“As I said, I can't explain it.”

Nidell sighed in frustration. “What is this? Some dream? Some vision quest? Because any insight into your mind would be greatly appreciated by now.”

“It was a dream.” Zan answered. “It... was a strange dream but I had one specifically of Dugan being held in the summit.”

“By whom? For what purpose? Zandras, you speak as a man who has had a nightmare of a dear friend. Nothing more, why do you pursue this?”

Zandras growled in spite of himself. “I don't KNOW!” He roared, slamming his fist onto the ship's railing. “All I know is that I feel drawn to it, drawn to that place, and you won't convince me not to go.” He tried to lift his hand and realized that it was stuck, looking down he noticed that his outburst had caused a sudden expulsion of ice from his fist, which crawled along the side of the ship and poured down into the wood under him, effectively trapping him against the wood. He flexed his hand and the spell dispersed suddenly; he looked up into the shocked expression on Nidell's face, which then calmed quietly.

“Then what do you plan to do if this... presence really exists?”

Zan sighed and closed his eyes. “I don't really know... but I will save him.”

Nidell nodded softly. “If it's this important to you, if your visions really are from something on that island, I have to stress to you, let us work together. Help us with our initial searches and maybe I will be able to convince those organizing the search to travel to the summit to search for him.”

There was a long pause, Zandras knew he wouldn't be able to get Nidell, nor anyone for that matter to believe his story. Every time he blinked he could feel those golden eyes staring at him, filling him with some radiant warmth that averted the cold he felt with them open. “I suppose you're right...” Zan admitted softly. “I will cooperate with you on this, Nidell, but I want to help Dugan more than anything else, you understand that, don't you?”

Nidell's stern glare softened suddenly. “Of course I do.” She said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I also want to make sure you get out of there alive. Pandaria is a dangerous place at times.”

Zandras nodded. “I understand. Thank you.”

“We will be coming into port in a few hours, Zandras. Perhaps you should get some sleep.” She suggested.

Zandras shook his head. “I'm fine, I think I've had enough rest on this trip. Besides I'm too wired to sleep even if I wanted.”

Nidell nodded softly and moved away. “Very well, I will see you in a bit then, I need some rest myself.”

Zan's expression faded as he watched her walk away. “I haven't been sleeping well lately anyway...” He said to himself. “Everytime I do... I see it again.” The imagery of the creature with golden eyes flashed through the elf's mind, causing him to wince and place a hand on his forehead. Whatever this meant; whoever this was, was getting stronger as he drew closer to the new continent.



Ta'Chak could feel himself aloft; the sharp chilled wind flapping his beard against his throat as the night sky cast above him sent a radiant silvery glow across the snow covered land far below. He could feel his muscles propelling himself through the air, but looked at his hands and saw his own hands silhouetted against the ground below. Closing his eyes, he could hear the wind whistling past his ears, he allowed his mind to soothe his body, and it felt like he was simply gliding.

“Is this your dream Ta'Chak?” A voice rang through the orc's ears, but he didn't seem to notice or to acknowledge it. “Is it your dream to fly?” He heard as an acknowledgement almost inaudibly passed his lips. “We are gathering at the summit of Kun-Lai's tallest peak... if you come, you may be greatly rewarded... but there is another; you must view him as an enemy... I must test his resolve, his strength... and yours. Do you hear me calling to you Ta'Chak?”

“I... hear you...” He said, barely above a mumble. He found himself unable or unwilling to open his eyes. “Who... are you?” He asked.

“You shall know soon enough... when your mind is full of rage, it becomes clouded. I seek to find you a clearer path, Ta'Chak... I want to make you mine.”

“I will not be taken...” He growled softly.

There was a chuckle, so light that it seemed to skip on the air. “You don't seem to have any idea what little choice you have...” Suddenly a pair of hands found their way to the orc's torso, wrapping firmly around his waist and filling him with a sudden spout of warmth filling him that made his eyes open suddenly.

Ta'Chak tumbled out of his bed roll in a sudden shock of panic and looked around immediately to find what had touched him. But nothing but the sounds of planes taking off and goblins outside shouting at one another filled the air. He placed hand on his chest, feeling his heart pounding like he had been in a furious battle. It took some time before he regained his bearings and reached for his clothes. “An enemy attack? Somehow... invading my mind?” He pondered for several minutes as he dressed. “What could this mean?”

Standing up, he pulled the flap aside to leave the tent. He had been delayed long enough by the Goblins running the air strip. He was on a mission, and if his Draenei were responsible... He peered at the distant peak of Kun-Lai Summit, his hand grabbing firmly onto the tent's fabric. So help him the light wouldn't be able to protect him from an orc's axe to the face.
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