The Return

The Temple of Elune lay in peaceful calm that morning. The priests' prayers drifted out through the windows, reaching every Darnassian resident kneeling devoutly around the temple.

Tyrande straightened her clothes and smoothed the slightly tousled lock of hair by her ear, restoring her fresh, graceful appearance. Today, she was to bless the devout Elves, so she couldn't afford to waste a moment.

But not everything was up to her. The instant she stepped out of the Temple of Elune, Tyrande nearly collided with someone who had suddenly burst in from outside. Instinctively, she was about to scold the intruder. How could anyone be so careless in such a solemn place as the Temple of Elune?

The words died on Tyrande's lips the moment she recognized the person before her. Her lovely face broke into a heartfelt smile.

"Oh, Malfurion!" Tyrande exclaimed softly. "My goodness, you're finally back!"

Malfurion looked up at Tyrande, his gentle eyes brimming with exhaustion. His clothes gave off a foul smell, and Tyrande, standing close by, wrinkled her nose. His whole body was filthy: his brown hair, his already-grown-out beard, even his eyebrows and hands were caked in grime. There seemed to be bloodstains on his clothes, but they were too old to make out clearly.

"Malfurion, what happened to you?" Tyrande hadn't expected him to return in such a state. Hadn't he said he was only going to find Lothar, the leader of Stormwind City?

"Ah, it's a long story!" Malfurion said as he headed into the Temple of Elune.

"Malfurion, could you change your clothes first?" Tyrande said softly. After all, this was the Temple of Elune, a place devoted to the gods.

"I'm sorry, Tyrande, but I don't think we have time to worry about such trivial things anymore!" Malfurion sighed. "I need to see Andy, right now! Send someone to find him, quickly!"

"But I still have to bless the people!" Tyrande said with a frown. "I'll be back soon!"

"Tyrande!" Malfurion called. "What I've learned is extraordinary. We can't waste any time!"

Tyrande studied Malfurion for a moment. He had never been this anxious before; he wouldn't even let her perform her customary blessings. Tyrande told Weiwei to explain things to the people outside, then sent a guard to find Andy at the hut where he lived.

"Malfurion, what exactly have you learned?" Tyrande asked, uneasy and impatient. "What has you so worried? And how did you end up like this?"

"Ah, ever since I went to the Eastern Kingdoms to find Lothar, everything I've seen along the way has completely overturned all my assumptions," Malfurion said quietly, sinking into his memories.

"First, I put the abandoned harbor at Darkshore back into use. Fortunately, there was still someone who knew the sea route to the Eastern Kingdoms. It took four days and nights at sea to reach them. But what awaited me was a vast stretch of scorched earth, abandoned villages, and withered forests. At first, I thought humans had once again gone to war against one another for their own gain—until I saw those monstrous Orcs! They were huge and incredibly strong. More importantly, they were an intelligent race. They knew how to wage war and make tools. The instant they saw me, they charged with their weapons raised. Those low-ranking Orc warriors couldn't do me much harm, but some of their chieftains were a real nuisance. I turned into a bird and flew to Stormwind City, but the city was gone, its walls completely collapsed. I flew north and finally saw human soldiers fighting the Orcs. From them, I learned that Lothar had gone to Lordaeron. I realized there was no need to seek him out: that little fellow Andy had been telling the truth. On my way back, I encountered the Orcs at sea. Their warships were enormous; even humans couldn't build ships that big in a short time. I used magic to capsize several of them, but a group of Orcish spellcasters intercepted me. They're called Shamans. I had no choice but to change course before I could make it back." Malfurion finished recounting his ordeal in one breath, then sighed repeatedly.

"High Priest, Andy isn't at his residence," the guard reported, running back.

"What?" Malfurion exclaimed. "How can he be gone?"

Tyrande calmed Malfurion and told the guard to take a few others and search again. Suddenly, she slapped her forehead. "Oh no! Could he have gone by himself?"

"Gone where by himself?"

"Not long after you left, a group of merchants was attacked by Furbolgs on the road leading into the city..." Tyrande briefly explained what had happened. "Andy must have gone on his own because I wouldn't let him go!"

"Could he really kill that Furbolg by himself?" Malfurion asked.

Tyrande shook her head. "That's exactly what worries me. Andy has been training under Nathas, but no one knows how strong he is now!"

"Ah, we can't wait any longer," Malfurion said. "Tyrande, I'm going to the Emerald Dream to find my teacher, Cenarius, and seek his guidance on how to defeat the Orcs. While I'm away, protecting the Elves will be up to you!"

Tyrande pressed her lips together. At last, she kissed Malfurion softly on the lips and said gently, "Be careful."

Andy glanced up at the gates of Darnassus and shook his head with a bitter smile. He clenched the two fangs in his hand. They belonged to Ursal! That really had been a close call. He'd misjudged Ursal's strength, and if his Eaglehorn Bow hadn't awakened when it did, he would have met his end.

"Andy, where have you been?" called the guard who had been looking for him when he spotted him.

"You were looking for me?" Andy asked quietly. The intense battle had left him weak, and the ache in his body reminded him just how exhausted he was.

"Lord Malfurion is back. He wants you to come to the Temple of Elune right away!" the guard said urgently.

Andy glanced at the guard in surprise. Malfurion was back and wanted to see him, which meant he must have confirmed the situation. But Andy wasn't eager to go. Mainly because it would be hard to explain how he knew so much about what was going on over there.

Andy steeled himself and entered the Temple of Elune. He didn't see Malfurion; only Tyrande was in the hall. Andy opened his palm and held the two fangs out to her. "Ursal's. He's dead. Everything else burned up—these two teeth are all that's left!"

"How are you? Were you hurt?" Tyrande came down and circled Andy as she asked.

"I'm all right, but Furbolgs corrupted by Fel are definitely tough to deal with." Andy made it sound effortless, but the state he was in made it clear that it hadn't been.

"Andy, Malfurion went to the Eastern Kingdoms and confirmed that everything you said was true!" Tyrande said. "The Orcs are already heading this way. I don't know how they found the route, but they'll be here in four or five days at the latest."

Andy sucked in a sharp breath. He'd known the Orcs would eventually attack, but he hadn't expected them to come so soon. Could they have already gained the upper hand in the war in the Eastern Kingdoms?

"So soon?" Andy exclaimed. "We need to prepare!"

Tyrande nodded. After a moment's silence, she said, "Andy, I'm planning to go to Ashenvale myself and set up a defensive line along Azshara's coast." She glanced at Andy. "You're coming with me, too."