Memoirs of a Horde Soldier

[Shixin]

Not three week later, Legionnaire Skyspyke of the Horde found himself lying flat on a healer's table in Thunder Bluff. The weeks had been spent finding crucial herbs and materials for what Skyspyke hoped against hope would be a new life; a second chance; a rebirth.nn"Easy, my friend," Vareth soothed. "You'll be on your feet soon enough." Skyspyke didn't know how Vareth did it, but the Ambassador-Priest could always tell when others were nervous, or afraid, or anxious. nnSkyspyke was all three.nnTauren Druids and some of the Elder Shaman, including Skyspyke's old friend Tal Spiritwalker, hustled about the spacious room, gathering their notes, materials, and thought for what was coming. If all went well, they would not only gain another formidable warrior to aid in the fight against the Scourge--they would be making history. This type of healing had never been tried before, or at least never recorded. For the first time, three different magical disciplines were sharing information and knowledge--and that inter-racial and -disciplinary cooperation would make all the difference.nnHopefully.nn"Allright now, my friend. There's no telling that the curse will give up without a fight. It will undoubtedly be painful... May I dull the pain for you by--?"nn"No," Skyspyke interjected. "I want to be conscious. I want to feel this curse being ripped from my body." He added softly, "I want to feel clean again."nnVareth smiled. He knew what the proud Orc warrior would choose, but he still wanted to give him the option. "Right then. Tal, would you please bring the bowl of reagents over here?" Skyspyke couldn't help but smile at the fact that Vareth was on a first-name basis with all of the Elders in the room after barely a night with them. Even with their friendly nature, the Elders of Thunder Bluff were more apt to stick to protocol. nn"If you are ready then, my friends," Vareth said to the surrounding Druids and Shaman. nn"And if you are ready, my friend."

[Shixin]

Skyspyke thought he had known pain.nnHe hadn't.nnThe broken, crippled Orc seizured so violently that even his legs, which hadn't worked in years, contracted into his chest. His voicebox refused to function; his eyes bulged, mouth wide open in a silent scream. The pressure of his strangled cry of agony was evident in the way that his neck veins bulged threateningly as if ready to pop at any moment. His orange eyes flashed a deep red and didn't change back. nnIt took the strength of two full-grown Tauren to hold him down and straighten out his convulsing body as Vareth finished the preliminary banishing of the curse.nn"Scalpel, please," Vareth instructed with the practiced calm of an experienced surgeon. "Making the first incision." The Blood Elf Priest made the inscision right above the Orc's heart. Dark blood began seeping out of the cut, but not for long. As Vareth said, "Elder, if you would," a senior Druid began chanting, sprikling some exotic reagent over the incision. The blood stopped seeping out of the cut and began to retreat into the Orc's body. It couldn't be seen, but the natural ebb and flow of the bloodstream itself was being regulated by this ancient and powerful Druid who understood such things. nn"And now we get to work."nnIt was slow, methodical work. The curse was so powerful, so twisted, and so entrenched in the Orc's system after four long years that his very heart needed to be purified in order to permanently banish the curse. Vareth expertly coordinated the healing power of nature, the spirits, and the Light to keep Skyspyke alive while his blackened heart was purified with Light.nnSkyspyke hadn't passed out; on the contrary he was still keenly aware of his surroundings. He was in a state of perpetual pain; the curse was engineered to kill the carrier should a serious threat to its existence present itself. He would have long since died from a lack of oxygen had the Shaman present not beseeched the Wind Spirits to help feed the Orc's paralyzed lungs. Instead of drawing new air in, Skyspyke's lungs were instead filled with air of its own accord; in other words, the very Wind itself was breathing for him.nnVareth had something of a struggle to overcome as well; the curse would not give up without a fight as he had predicted. The curse clung desperately to the Orc's heart and refused to let go. The Druids gasped as they saw new life and color grow on the Light-touched heart. But even they could see that the darkness was far from being completely banished. They watched in awe as the Priest fought a mental and magical battle with the curse, both to free the Orc and stay free from its taint.nnAfter some time (no one could recall how long the process had taken) Skyspyke's body relaxed completely and suddenly, a soft sigh of relief escaping his lips. There was a piercing scream as the curse was permanently banished from Skyspyke's system. But the work was far from over.

[Shixin]

Vareth wiped his brow and stepped back as he addressed the others present. "The curse has been removed, but our friend's body remains broken. The rest is up to you. ...Please excuse me a moment."nnTal Spiritwalker helped the Blood Elf to a seat. The Ambassador was clearly taxed. He looked frail, emaciated, and withered. It seemed his light had dimmed ever so slightly, but he carried himself in a manner that bespoke his faith; he would be recover in time.nnThe other Shaman and Druids at the table did not waste any time. With the curse removed, they could now focus on making Skyspyke's body work properly again.nnThe first step was to close the incision. The Druids directed the natural ebb and flow of Skyspyke's body--manipulating the very fabric of his body--causing it to replicate and heal at an astonishing (relatively speaking) rate. A Shaman sprinkled a small bit of Water where the cut had been and chanted a few words. The Water glowed and seeped into Skyspyke's body, removing all traces of the incision and invigorating the new tissue.nnNext came the arduous task of rebuilding the Orc's nearly non-existant muscle fibers and tissues. The Druids worked primarily in this regard. Their natural magics and reagents masterfully regrew the muscles, cartilege, fibers, tendons, and joints that would have otherwise remained puny and weak. This work was slow, taking a full two hours before the Archdruid present declared their work done.nnVareth hobbled over to the healer's table aided by Tal. Both gasped at the sight; Skyspyke, who had fallen unconscious when the curse had been banished from his body, lay bare-chested and immaculate before them. Bright green skin stretched tight across the formidable chest and arm muscles that the Druids had expertly shaped and re-grown. The Orc looked like a statue of some mythical demigod cut from the purest green steel imaginable. He literally looked indestructible, his strong jaw adding a nobility to his face that had never been there before. By all accounts, he was healthier, stronger, fairer, and more physically perfect than he had ever been in his entire life. He was the epitome of a Warrior, as if he had been born and bred for strength, prowess, speed, and agility.nn"By the Light, my friends... He is perfect!"nnThe Druids smiled, exhausted but pleased. They too look haggard and worn out after hours of intense concentration and exertion. "All praise be to the Earthmother," the Archdruid said sincerely. Even he, it seemed, couldn't believe the perfection of their handiwork.nnAfter another moment of admiration for the work of the Earthmother--who undoubtedly had a hand in this, the Ambassador thought--Vareth Sunstryker found himself again and invited Tal to add the finishing touch. Tal smiled and nodded, honored to be the one to finalize the healing process of his very close friend.nn"Spirits and Ancestors," he began, "Hear me, I pray..." Vareth watched as Elder Spiritwalker continued to beseech the Spirits. The curse had not only erased any trace of muscle and tendon, it had also severed the link between body and soul in such a way as to prevent them from ever growing back. The Druids had not restored that link; they had only rebuilt the body so that when the link was restored, Skyspyke would not have to start from scratch. Indeed, he thought, if the Druids hadn't rebuilt the Orc's body, not even restoring the link between body and soul could have stimulated what was left of it into growing back at all. The Druid's work was just as important as his own, or the Shamans'. nnTal's part in the healing process did not take long. The Sprits heeded his call immidiately, penetrating every brand-new fiber of the Orc's body. The trained eye could see the effects of the Spirit's work. There was a soft glow in the Orc's body that appeared, which in turn enhanced the color of Skyspyke's new body. It was as if the breath of life had added color and blessing to the work which had been preformed; as if this perfectly cut statue was brought to life by the Spirits themselves. nnThe Orc's heart beat its first pure beat in four years as his eyes opened suddenly. The entire world looked different--brighter. Still laying down, Skyspyke lost his breath for a moment as he took in the sight of his Tauren friends for what felt like the first time. There was a glow about them, a rugged natural beauty that he had never noticed. It was as if a light were emanating from them, but the light didn't cast a single shadow. The beads and ornaments that hung from their beards and clothing stood out like never before, accenting their magnificent forms. Particles of what he could only describe as spirit matter floated about them as if waiting for their call. It was overwhelming.nn"Welcome back, Skyspyke of the Horde," came a new and yet old, familiar voice. "I daresay it feels good to be back?" If the Tauren were glowing, then the Priest before him was simply beaming. Skyspyke's eyes had to adjust in order to look upon the face of what he thought to be a vision of someone he knew long ago... and then it came to him: Vareth! But what Light! Skyspyke sat up to get a better look when he realized that his stomach muscles got in the way of him getting up as he normally did.nn"What--?" he said as he looked at his abdomen. He caught himself when he heard himself speak--even his voice sounded different: greater, stronger, more vibrant!! it was all so overwhelming, so amazing, so exhilarating, so magnificent--he couldn't find words or thoughts or emotions to voice. He simply leapt up onto the table, arms stretched high overhead, head rocking back as a spectacular, awe-inspiring roar bellowed from his new and improved sound system. Everyone in the room was taken aback by the ferocity and power in his yell. No wonder he had single-handedly halted the entire Scourge advance. If the Undead had not known fear prior to hearing such a battle-cry, then they certainly did afterwards.nnAnd for a few precious moments, everyone present gloried in the beauty of the body, the miracle of life, and the sacred charge they had taken upon themselves to uphold it.

[Shixin]

***nnSkyspyke closed the memory, eyes watering but refusing to let it go any further. That was enough for one day. He slipped the Memerorb into his bags and continued onward.nnIt was the last memory that he would deposit for some time.nnnn______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________nnnSkyspyke was a good friend who found himself in the midst of a drama that should never have been thrust upon him. Whereever you are, my friend, I hope you are well.

[Myyah]

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