Nyx

As Howling walked among the courtyard of Undercity he thought about his past life, his present self and everything he had done, not sure what was in store for the future.

"So this is where you are wandering about." a stern yet soothing voice said, echoing from the arches of Undercity itself. Standing between the stone walls was a female blood elf. Golden blonde hair with a smirk as sly as a puma, she walked confidently towards the towering tauren, touching his arm with a wide smirk.

"Been quite a while, no, Nias EarthBlood?"She grinned as the name rolled off of her tongue, watching his dead blue eyes.

Howling stood still, feeling the Elf grasp his muscle with familiarity. He felt somewhat relieved and at the same time angered towards her. He pulled his arm away from her, turning his back to the female in a stride, standing a solitary arms length away from her. A harsh wind coursed over his body from the north as he stayed still, thinking.

"A long time. Indeed," he finally remarked in a soft tone, one he had rarely used around others, save Lah.

The female smiled a wicked smile, her deep emerald eyes softening as she took a few steps towards the Death knight until her chest touched his back, snaking her arms around his torso in a tight embrace, her hair rippling over his back in golden locks as she hugged him.

"Why are you not with your guild? More importantly, how have you been, Nias?" the Elf said as her head rested against the low of the taurens back.

Howling did not answer for some time, simply letting the female embrace him as only one other had in his undeath. After a few moments had passed he placed a massive hand over the blood elf's almost in a holding fashion over his waist.

"Please do not call me that anymore. Howling is my name now." He nodded to himself as he stepped away and broke the hug, turning to face the Elf, still holding her hands in his huge one.

"I am not with them, leading is not in my blood, you always had the spark." Howling said to the Elf, stepping out of the embrace with a snort. Howling smiled slightly as he felt the Blood Elf's aura wash over him once more, her stride stepping in front of him, smirking as she reached a hand out and placed it upon his snout giving it a loving rub. The tauren simply lowered his head in allowing the gentle pat to continue, remarkable was the gentleness he had shown to this female.

The Elf smiled as Howling accepted the gesture of her hand as a horse accepts a loving pat on its muzzle.

"Very well then Ni..Howling. Where are you going then? You have not been around as of late to say the least."

The massive tauren simply shook his head, letting the cold wind stream through his mane. Calling his Steed from the nether in an instant he swung himself up to the saddle, giving the elf a distant look as he gripped the reigns.

"I'm going to see Father, perhaps learn from his tomes, I was never the pupil you were Silmeria, he always liked you more.." Howling remarked.

"Now now.. Sometimes its not so easy to be the teachers pet.."Silmeria smiled a wickedly sweet lustful smile at her brother. "You know how bad girls get." she mocked at Howling, stroking her already flowing hair in the wind.

"Besides I would think you'd be grateful at least you remember your real mother. I never had that. Only Fathers love and care." Silmeria absently placed her hand upon the collar of mana wrapped about her neck, invisible to all but her, pulsing a deep crimson and black, never tight, never loose.

Howling paused a moment, thinking about the dream of his mother, remembering the pain that he felt as the dream blade pierced his old wound. He turned to Silmeria, with a wave and a nod he rode out of Undercity towards the Eastern Plaguelands. As he rode he thought about the collar, he could see it now, he clearly remembered not being able to when he was alive. This meant Father still could talk to her as he slept and she him..

"Nastiarh..Father."


(((Its feeling like I had been writing this forever. I had it open on my browser for a LONG time lol)))

Edit: Finishing up 2nd half of this. Should be be up semi soon.))

Part II "Home Coming"

As Howling rode into and through the Western Plaguelands he let many thoughts course over his undead mind. mainly about his family, as unusual as it was. A forsaken raising a blood elf and a tauren and then a scourge. His life as a tauren was full of new beginnings always full of new sparks to learn from even if the lessons had been darker than the normal fare. he always expected a lesson each day, he was taught not through book or lecture, but through doing. His father had always told him wisdom came from experience and not from books.

Howling entered the Eastern Plaguelands as the quote coursed over his mind. Darrowshire had always been empty besides the weak specters and ghouls, always it had been his fathers secret base of operations, all of his tomes, regents and experiments had been stored here along with his own personal resting quarters. If he was still around this would be the place.Dismounting swiftly, Howling traced his large hand over the rocks behind the crumbling houses, searching for the deeply engraved runes only he and his family could read and see. Upon finding the dark red glow faintly emanating about his hand, smiling to himself as the rocks slowly turn translucent showing the enchanted illusion door.

Stepping into the damp cavern he could already hear the sounds of rushing water, flooding his own mind with flashbacks of having a bath with his family, the warmth of the natural hot springs that bubbled forth, the relaxation, the memories. As he reached the bottom he could admire the waterfall that gushed water over the underground cavern cliffs, the bottom of the falls serving as fathers main room.

"Father! Are you here?!" he yelled, hearing his echo go out across the darkened cavern.

There was no reply, casting his vision down on the eroded path as he took generous strides, looking for any light within the dark catacombs.

"Why are you yelling." A hauntingly voice echo'd from his right side a flicker of green and gold light pouring from a seemingly floating candle. As the light began to erupt upon the surroundings a forsaken appeared in the basking glow, his eyes deep emerald green the robe he wore was clean and pressed in black and red runes decorating the outer hem.

Howling squinted in both anger and lack of sight, laying his eyes upon the familar forsaken he grinned.

"Father." Howling said quietly, walking over to the undead and kneeling before him sighing in relief knowing he was still up and kicking.

The forsaken smirked as he thought of who this could be, who calls him father, looking the taurens body over noticing several scars along his arms and neck, nodding in recognition.

"Nias. Your much different than last I had seen you...You seem to be more undead than tauren now."he laughed, placing a clawed hand upon the large black tauren, coaxing him to his hooves.

"Come inside. I have been sleeping a long time.."

The forsaken known as Nastiarh Shadowflare led his son into a carved out cave beside the waterfall, more of the strange glowing light filled this room, many bookshelves lined the walls, all stuffed with runed tomes, journals and texts gathered from his long history. Nastiarh sat at his favorite desk, it was cluttered with quills and parchments, many of which were looking to be detailing different spells and ancient magics, most of them scribbled in dark red ink. Howling looked at his father still brimming with mana and vigor even though he lay dormant here.

"So I assume your not messing around with all that Earthmother garbage anymore? and more interestingly you smell as if you have a blood elf scent on you, don't tell me you found a mate now that your undead!" The forsaken gave him a wicked smile.

Howling snorted, sitting down upon a chair next to the coffin where his father slept. He pulled some blonde locks from his mane and held them up to his father.

"May I put these with Zehl's?" He snorted looking to the painting above where Nastiarh sat, a portrait of his family, Nastiarh, Zehl, Nais, Silmeria and Nastrik. Nastiarh stood up and made his way to Howlings side, taking the locks from him and examining them, looking at the mana strewn into them.

"These belong to your mate?"He inquired taking them back to his desk and placing them upon a blank parchment, taking a quill from the holder and pressing the sharp tip into his arm, causing blackened blood to coat it before scribbling a few dozen runes on the blank sheet. As he does so his blood begins to give off mana, forming a spell and Asarelah's picture forms from the strands.

"Very pretty....Your not with her anymore?"Inquiring as he put the parchment into a book stashed away in his desk. Walking slowly to his son and laying into his coffin.

"Anything else you needed then Nias?"

The tauren snorted and nodded, removing his runed weapons, placing Thunderfury against his fathers desk, the handle touching the edge of the painting.

"I'm done.. No need for me to walk among them any longer.." He snorted, walking out of the small cave and sitting at the base of the falls, slowly becoming tired and burdened by the odd smoke coming from the cavern walls, making his senses slow, drowsy from the effect, his eyes pleading to be shut and sleep..

"No.. longer.."


"Azris corsaia inetervalia....Labyrinth of Nightmares.."

As Nastiarh permiated the caverns with his mana, causing a cloud of black mana, to billow out and around every nook of the cave up until the entrance, he thought of his son, trapped in the sleeping slumber of his spell. Nastiarh had created this spell to keep unwanted guests from stealing his tomes while he slept, it would force them to sleep in an eternal nightmare in which they could not be woken until he cut the focus off himself.

((Very short. sorry this took so long I am very lazy ;P ))

The Oracle firmly closes the door to Asarelah's room, and motions for one of the House to stand watch.

"She is lost in an overwhelming grief that I have not the skill to mend. Make sure none disturb her, and pray that her mind heals while she sleeps, and that she return to us, as the Asarelah that we know and love."

A voice from the shadows utters a terse "I'll stand watch."

Tsaphaan, the Elven Rogue lurks in the shadows, eyes blazing a bluish green to briefly mark his presence.

Svalina turned to Theotaz as he arrived nearly hurling herself at him. "Were have you been? Do you have any idea whats been happening?"

Theo held up his hads "Whoa gal.. slow down, I just got in.. Now what be dis news?"

Svalina stared up at Theotaz "Are you compleatly blind? Its Asarelah and Howling..."

Theo pointed to the chairs.."I said DOWN GIRL! Now what about Asarelah, I was just with her just an hour ago.."

Svalina took a seat.. "She left him."

Theotaz's eyes widened in shock.."Oh dis not be good.."

"Theo they need some one to keep an eye on her .. does the mighty Death Knight think he can spare a few days for guard duty, huh, well can he?"

Theo sighed.. "I'm on ma way gal.. she be my friend too."

Theotaz headed out of the house and made for the flightmaster.. there would be time to sort things out later..

Jeriden Dawnbringer drew his mare to a walk, patting her neck gently. "That's a girl, Flamebane," he whispered, dismounting while raking a hand through his gold-silver hair. His deep, royal-blue orbs glanced around the scene as he stood straight as an arrow in his gleaming plate mail, before calmly walking towards the door to Asarelah's home.

He heard the request, at some distance, for someone to stand watch. He had heard his friend's voice, if terse, announce that he would do so.

Jeriden knew he had time upon his hands to do so, and that even if he were needed elsewhere, answering this call would take priority.

He said nothing, only nodding in greeting in general to the shadows nearby, and slowly drew his weapon off his back and let the sword rest point-first in the soft ground, his hand kneeding the pommel as he slipped the shield into a readied position for his left hand.

He managed a smile, at last saying, "I too, will stand watch. She shall remain undisturbed, as long as she needs."

The paladin's aura shifted to afford him better protection, as he weaved his defensive magic about him before charging his sword with holiness. He shifted his gaze about, remaining alert to his chosen task.

As time and events passed on throughout Howling stirred, attempting to wake from the cursed prison. This Nightmare spell of sleep. As of late Nastiarh could feel his spell weakening. This spell from ancient magics long lost always kept his family sleeping when he desired. This is the ending, and at this very moment, Silmeria the awakened sister had dropped to her knee's, feeling her head throb in pain.

"Take her to our place." Nastrik's voice echo'd inside Silmeria's head.

"Nastrik!? Where are you?!" She looked all around the inn, a few Dalaran mages looking at her oddly as she held her head, rising slowly to her feet, instantly feeling the urge to do as Nastriks words had echo'd in her mind.

"Take her with you."
"Please sister.."
"Hurry!"

Silmeria heard the voices of her family members, Father..Howling..Nastrik. Each one hurt her mind, nearly unbearable pain, it reminded her of the whispers from C'thun. being near the old god had caused her great pain as he whispered into her mind madness and suffering.

"I'm GOING STOP DOING THAT!" she said out loud uncaring that none of them were in plain sight, she assumed they were near her fathers scrying crystal. First she had to find her.

After exiting the inn Silmeria saw her, standing at the mailbox as always, of couse they did not say how to bring her there. Smiling somewhat through the pain Silmeria had drove up and parked her bike beside the blood elf, opening the sidecar and moving to her front, grabbing both her arms and shoving her into the tiny seat.

"H..HEY!! Sil..OoFF!" the elf commonly called Lah blurted out as Silmeria took off for the Undercity portal. As they rushed through it Lah cut off at something about a battlemaster being angry. Upon exiting the other side Silmeria shot Asarelah a dirty and stern look.

"Oh yea? You want your Beloved "Battlemaster" to save you? What a sad excuse for a woman! Hah!" Silmeria taunted the female.

"He is not my Beloved! He never touched me!" Lah snapped back at her.

Silmeria laughed almost sinisterly, with a slight echo of a Deathknight, as they rode into the Eastern Plaguelands, only stopping at the front of DarrowShire a brief moment.

"Why did we stop?" Lah asked with a confused look.

Silmeria smiled and stared at the entrance to the family crypt, she could see it, but not sense any of her family near it at all.

Silmeria dispacted the vehicle and led Lah over to the front of the cave. The illusionary wall dispelling as she approached it.

"Now what..." She thought, "I know you wanted me to come here, why? Why are none of you here?"

"Well? Now what?" Asarelah asked impatiently, unruffling her gown as she stood there, her eyes widening as she noticed Silmeria in front of her, grasping her head, as if trying to smash her skull with her own hands.

"Silmeria? Whats wrong?!" She asked in horror as she saw Silmeria start coughing up blood as she held her head.

Inside Silmeria's head she heard the voices again, each echo becoming more and more painful as they spoke.

"Your turn is over Daughter.."

"st..op.."

"Suimin..I'll always be here for you, Howling its time to wake up!"

"STOP IT!"

Asarelah watched vividly as Silmeria's form started to shimmer, her aura becoming visible a bright Warm Pink, violently changing to an Earthly Orange, to a Horrible Purple, and finally to a Cold Blue. The Orange she had seen before, it was the shape of a tauren, with lightning wrapped about him, the purple never seen before it gave her horrible chill of death. Blue.. was a familiar color, warm but stern, it was another tauren.. Howling.

Silmeria struggled with herself and the flux'ing aura's about her own body grinding her teeth in pain, Howling's aura outlining her body.

"Lah..Come, sleep..." Howlings voice echo'd , the phantasm aura reaching out to her.

Lah winced, wanting to go but afraid at the same time. Silmeria digging her nails into her face, causing wounds to spring up over her cheeks, blood running down her neck. Inside her mind the struggle was already happening. Howling was trying to take control.

Stop it Brother! You wanted to sleep!! You have nothing left here!" with that statement Silmeria stopped all tourturous activites, feeling the pain slip away, realizing Lah was here. She was wrong.

At that moment Silmeria's frame was engulfed in a black and red mana, flowing outward, fogging the area around the two elves.

A coughing hack came from the darkness, Lah could here what sounded like a Lich of those in Naxxaramas.

"Apologies, you must be Asarelah.." a forsaken stepped close to Lah, inspecting her from head to toe.

"Wh..Who are you? Where is Silmeria? Was that Howling?!" Lah stammered, pulling away slowly in her confused state.

"Howling, Silmeria, Nastrik. They are all right here." the forsaken touched his chest. Watching the elf's eyes widen in fear.

"That doesn't make sense... Explain yourself!" Lah snapped at him.

Nastiarh smiled and as he explained himself a warlock, inside his mind's eye he could watch his proverbaly children sleeping inside thier respective soul shards. Sleeping.

"Ever since I had fought and killed people, monsters, for the shards necessary for casting my demonic spells I would occasionally come across some that were indeed to strong to use for normal use. Silmeria, I found her an orphan of 120 and when I was to put her down for being such her spirit was so great that it overtook my body for a moment or two. Ever since then I have decided to sleep, and let these beings be in control. Each walking their own path.. Even now I can hear them.." the warlock pointed to his head, tapping it with a talon.

"Whoever is in control, they will take this body, and with their immense spiritual power form it to who they were before they died." He explained with a sigh.

"Will you let Howling out please.." Asarelah asked softly.

The forsaken smirked and nodded, "That was my plan.. He has been calling for you quite fervently lately, even when I first started to sleep I called for you..."

Lah saw Howlings form overtake the undead's, and smiled as his body took its place, opening his eyes and reaching for her, smiling himself as he noticed his ring hanging from a chain on her neck. Sweeping her up in his arms he took a step towards the cave, to sleep with his mate.


"Azris corsaia inetervalia...."


(Sorry this is pre-emptive I was saving it for the 20th, but sooner than later is almost always better!)