Shaw heard the wind, heard a sound so faint and tiny yet as thunderous as a storm in the depths of his soul. It was the sound of flowers, grass, and trees growing.
First came the plants around him, then those farther away, and finally the entire forest.
Cenarius also extended his consciousness, taking Shawn with him as he wandered through the forest. Such personal instruction was exceedingly rare, a privilege reserved for the beings Cenarius favored most.
Even Tyrande had never received such treatment. Before this, only Malfurion and Illidan had.
Shawn gradually came to understand the way of nature.
All things grew, withered, and flourished again. Life and death moved in cycles. This was the way of nature.
Almost unconsciously, Shawn extended his left hand, and a wisp of nature's essence lingered around his fingertips.
Cenarius smiled. Malfurion looked somewhat surprised, Illidan's jaw nearly dropped, and ripples of emotion stirred in Tyrande's beautiful eyes.
Shawn had already sensed the power of nature on his very first day. That was an extraordinary achievement.
When Cenarius's consciousness receded and vanished like an ebbing tide, Shawn finally came to, slowly opening his eyes.
"Very good, young Night Elf, clever mage, newly awakened Druid." Cenarius was generous with his praise. "Though you had help from that power of nature, from Goldrinn's aura, and from me, reaching this point in so little time proves one thing: you truly have a deep affinity for nature."
Shawn smiled.
He loved nature, loved trees and plants. That truly was part of his nature. To him, nature's importance was second only to knowledge and truth.
Cenarius said, "What you must do next is follow the method I taught you to sense nature and observe its living beings. Trees, leopards, ravens, seals, moonkin, stags, Dire Bears, boars... Of