Vesperwind

The air in Stranglethorn is so sticky. So humid. Like breathing through a wet blanket. But the broth is hot and it smells good, rising up into the trees.

"Get your noodle soup here! "

The Horde commander said I could set up my noodle cart here. Right outside the palisade gates. During meal hours so the guards can buy bowls. He was nice about it. Pity, I think, but I'll take it. Need the silver.

I smile at a passing guard. He doesn't smile back.

"Yeah, I know it's too hot for soup! Thank you!"

I'm stranded. Been here days now. Burned through everything in Booty Bay, and now I've got Yak, this manifest, and half a broken emblem. That's it.

"Raptor flavor! Tiger! Crocolisk, crab, and jungle grass! All the flavors! "

The rations cost so much. Tariffs to cross anywhere. And Yak stops every ten minutes to graze. Every. Ten. Minutes. A trip that should take weeks will take months at his pace. I don't have months!

Because the void invasions are happening now. Not later. Now. I can't wait around for Yak to finish his third breakfast.

And the road north? The guards say it's Alliance territory. I'm Quel'dorei, but try explaining that to some jumpy human patrol who sees pointy ears and thinks Horde. I would probably end up in some jail! I don't have time for that.

I'm not making enough. Not even close. Not enough for a portal. Portals are hard. Big portals are harder. Yak is big. I am not leaving Yak.

So I'm stuck. With Yak. Who stops every ten minutes to graze.

I slump over the cart, head down, talking to the broth more than anyone.

"Hey... I really need that coin to feed my old godsdamn yak. Please, buy a delicious bowl of jungle grass ramen. So yum. I promise. "

Fast, light boots on the trail. They stop in front of me. I lift my head, and see a familiar face.

Tillie Pricklepaw waves at me. Vulpera. My friend. A conjurer who makes pearl earrings from beach finds, sells them wherever she travels. I wave back. Big smile. Can't help it.

“Tillie!” I drop my ladle into the broth and nearly knock the entire cart scrambling out from behind it. “Wow, what are you doing here?”

“We got your letter!” She laughs, gesturing to the jungle. “You really thought we’d leave you out here to get eaten by raptors?”

More boots on the trail and I look toward the gate to see others. Lots of others. A whole crowd of them standing in the jungle like a lost caravan.

Savadra marches up like she owns the place. Sin'dorei blood knight. My friend. She pulls me into a hug that nearly cracks my ribs and I laugh into her armor.

"You're an idiot," she says, but she's smiling. "A letter? You sent a letter?"

"I didn't know who else to write to!"

She steps back, hands on my shoulders, looking me over like she's checking for damage. "You look terrible."

I grin and shake my head.

She gestures behind her. "Brought help."

I look past her and see so many faces from the Lily. Friends.

I know most of these faces. But not all of them. Two I don't recognize. A Sin'dorei woman steps forward first, confident, hand already extended.

"Emberlite," she says. "Mage. I got your letter to the Lily. "

I shake her hand. Still confused.

"Breza suggested we could help," she continues. "Get you to Silvermoon."

Silvermoon. The word hits me like a warm drink on a cold night. That's north. Where I need to go!

Then the Vulpera beside her waves. Small, nervous energy, ears twitching.

"Jalid," he says. "Also a mage. Emberlite's... companion. " He glances at her, then back to me. "Breza spoke highly of you. Of both of you, I mean. All of you. The Velvet Lily. "

I look at them. Then at the rest of the crew. Then back at Emberlite and Jalid.

"You came all this way," I say. "For me?"

Emberlite shrugs like it's obvious.

"You asked for help," she says. "We're help."

(To be continued...)