The Sentinel Unit

A week later, in the morning, Tyrande stood silently for a long while in the square before the Temple of Elune, facing the rising sun.

"High Priest, Andy is here!" one of her priests interrupted Tyrande's reverie.

Tyrande nodded, still gazing at the sun.

Andy had received Tyrande's message the day before: they would leave Darnassus today and head to the Sentinel Unit's camp in Ashenvale. The letter announcing that Tyrande would be coming had arrived three days earlier.

Andy was still dressed as usual, his worn robe wrapped around him and the black Eaglehorn Bow slung across his back. Ever since Andy had unlocked the bow, it had glimmered with a dark sheen—even the bowstring. His quiver was packed with arrows, around fifty at a glance, all of which Andy had made himself over the past few days.

Andy came to Tyrande's side. The beautiful High Priest suddenly asked in a soft voice, "Andy, isn't the sunrise beautiful?"

Andy blinked, then nodded.

"Perhaps we won't be able to see it much longer." Tyrande gave a quiet laugh. "All right, we should be leaving."

Andy glanced at Tyrande. She seemed different today, though he didn't know if it was because she was leaving Darnassus.

Tyrande had taken off her priest's robes and changed into soft leather armor, with a fitted white tunic over it. She looked more spirited and heroic than usual.

"High Priest!" One of Tyrande's guards held out a long silver bow with feather-shaped decorations at both ends. Its silver string gleamed coldly.

Tyrande took the weapon she had kept in storage for many years and solemnly slung it across her back. Long ago, the Silverwing Bow had accompanied her through countless battles, becoming her closest companion. Now it shone beside Andy's dark, gleaming Eaglehorn Bow.

Two clear bird cries rang out above Andy's head. He looked up to see a blue and a white Hippogryph slowly descending.

The Hippogryphs' huge, sharp talons touched down steadily. They shook the feathers around their necks.

"Let's go, Andy," Tyrande called, leaping onto the white Hippogryph. It was her personal mount—the only one of its kind in the entire Elf Race.

Andy had just climbed onto his Hippogryph's back when he saw Hilar waving from a distance and running toward them.

"High Priest, I want to go too!" Hilar stopped in front of Tyrande, panting as he spoke.

Tyrande hesitated, then sighed. "Then sit in front and take Andy with you."

Hilar happily agreed and hopped onto the Hippogryph, taking the seat in front of Andy.

Andy shifted back a little. Once Hilar had settled in, he asked quietly, "Why did you come? You know what we're going to do."

Andy hadn't dared tell her that he was going with Tyrande to Ashenvale. If the orcs broke through the Endless Sea and landed on Kalimdor, it would become the front line of the war—quite possibly a place strewn with bodies and reduced to scorched earth. Those who stayed in Darnassus would have a chance to prepare. Whether they chose to fight or flee, they would be better off.

"Of course I know. It isn't just those Sentinel Unit grunts who protect our people!" Hilar said indignantly. "Besides, if you can go, why can't I? You used to wet your pants when I turned into a leopard!"

Andy blushed and protested, "Can't you stop bringing that up? I was just a little kid back then!"

"Let's go!" Tyrande called, patting the Hippogryph beneath her. Her mount was already attuned to her, its thoughts linked with its mistress's. It had become a divine-level mount.

The white Hippogryph cried out and shot skyward. Andy and Hilar's Hippogryph beat its wings and followed close behind.

Tyrande's Moon Guard did not accompany them; they had to help defend Darnassus. Malfurion still hadn't awakened. Tyrande didn't know what was wrong with him, but it was deeply unusual. No Elf had ever spent more than a week in the Emerald Dream.

The previous night, Tyrande had summoned Malfurion's deputy, Fandral, and explained everything to him. With her departure imminent, she was still worried about Darnassus, so she entrusted him with protecting the city and watching over the sleeping Malfurion.

Andy watched quietly from the side. When Fandral had taken over, Andy's lips twitched, but in the end he said nothing. Darnassus couldn't be left without anyone in charge. He could only do his best to prevent anything else from happening.

The two Hippogryphs fought their way through the strong winds high above. Tyrande released an owl to scout ahead; it was her battle companion.

Andy's black hair had grown somewhat long, and the wind streamed it behind him. He silently prayed that the orcs wouldn't come ashore too soon.

After lunch, Andona went early to the training ground at the camp and waited for his former leader, now the spiritual leader of the Elves, Tyrande. He knew her party wouldn't arrive so soon, but out of respect for her, he had come to wait.

Andona looked over the two rows of guards behind him. Their armor gleamed, and their weapons were sharp. Every Elf warrior looked alert and full of energy. Several senior officers stood behind him as well.

Andona, commander of the Elf Race's defenders and head of the Sentinel Unit, still looked hale and vigorous.

Andy's journey went smoothly. After flying for six hours straight, they finally reached the airspace above the Sentinel Unit's camp. The two Hippogryphs beat their wings and landed steadily in an open area of the training ground.

"High Priest!" The people gathered at the edge of the field knelt on one knee and placed a hand over their chests to welcome Tyrande.

"May the Moon be with you!" Tyrande crossed her hands over her chest and returned the salute.

Andona rose and stood to one side, gesturing with his right hand for her to proceed. Smiling, Tyrande walked past the guards and headed toward the tree-shaped fortress in the distance.

Andy followed behind Tyrande, taking in the famous unit's camp. A solemn atmosphere hung over the entire place, and the tree-shaped fortress in the distance looked especially imposing.

"Andona, has Larsen returned?" Tyrande sat in the commander's chair. Andy stood beside her, while Hilar stood on the other side.

"High Priest, he hasn't returned yet," Andona replied, standing up. "But I've already sent people to look for him."

Tyrande nodded. She trusted Andona very much. He was an effective commander, reliable in his work—a typical military talent.

"When he came back from Darnassus, did he report anything about the orcs?" Andy interjected.

Andona frowned at the interruption. He had noticed Andy and Hilar from the start and assumed the two young people were merely guards accompanying Tyrande.

Andona furrowed his brow as he considered the matter, then looked at Tyrande. If Andy was her guard, surely she would have reacted to his brazen interruption.

But Tyrande seemed to take it for granted and showed no reaction. So he wasn't a guard? Then who was he, to speak so casually in front of the High Priest?

Andona glanced at Tyrande again. She was quietly watching him, as if waiting for his answer.

After a brief pause, Andona said, "High Priest, Larsen didn't report anything about that beast when he returned. Oh, right—you call it an orc!"

Tyrande gave a soft laugh. Hearing Andona emphasize the words "High Priest," she exchanged a glance with Andy. It seemed Andona had gotten the wrong idea.