Gilneas's Fate

"Gilneas" echoed through the hall for a long time. "Gilneas," Varian muttered. "That city has already been destroyed, leaving nothing but ruins. How can you prove that you're from Gilneas? Even if you can prove it, why did you come alone? Where is King Genn? Was he killed in battle?" Alpha smiled. "Proving that I am Gilnean is simple, Your Majesty. Allow me to demonstrate." Alpha slowly rose to his feet and unfastened his cloak.

In the days that followed, Anduin could still clearly remember what he had witnessed that day. Black leather armor was revealed, its oval pauldrons marked with deep claw scratches. The rivets on his bracers had long since been worn smooth, and his fingerless deerskin gloves were stained dark red. Potion bottles hung from his equally black leather leggings, while muddy wolfskin boots covered his feet. Three-clawed markings adorned his orange tabard. Alpha—the Gilnean—grew larger, his body covered in blackish-gray fur. His feet burst through his boots, exposing claws, while his beastlike legs bent backward. His broad upper body stretched his once-fitting leather armor taut, outlining every muscle. His arms lengthened, yet remained powerfully muscled, and the nails on his hands grew long and sharp. A mane spreading from his face covered his neck. His human face had been replaced by a wolf's head. His erect ears twitched constantly, catching every sound around him. Sharp teeth interlocked in his jaws, and Anduin doubted his arm could withstand even one bite. His eyes remained pale blue, but they now held a far wilder gleam.

"Allow me to introduce myself again. I am Alpha Wolfclaw, a worgen from Gilneas. On behalf of King Genn Greymane, I offer my highest respect to the Alliance leader, King Varian Wrynn of Stormwind, and request that the worgen of Gilneas be permitted to join the Alliance." Alpha dropped to one knee again, but the shock he had brought was far from over.

After his initial astonishment, Varian sat back down, though none of his earlier languor remained. He stared at Alpha in thought. Once everyone had recovered, Varian spoke. "The people of Gilneas—or rather, the worgen. Where is your leader? Does Greymane intend to keep cowering behind that ridiculous Greymane Wall, living a life of self-deception? Well? Answer me, worgen!" Varian suddenly raised his voice as he berated Alpha.

The atmosphere immediately turned grave. Sally frowned and prepared to step forward, but Alpha shook his head at her. He raised his head and endured Varian's anger alone as he calmly said, "I know that Your Majesty harbors all manner of dissatisfaction, even hatred, toward our past actions. When the Alliance needed strength, we withdrew from it and nearly caused its destruction. For that, the gods have already delivered their wrath. Gilneas has suffered a devastating blow, and the worgen curse will follow us for the rest of our lives. For all our lives, we will struggle against our own reason and pay the price for our selfish desires." Alpha's entire body trembled as he continued, "King Greymane lost his child—our prince—in that battle. Had we not received the aid of the Night Elves, we might have long since lost our minds and become beasts. The king reflected on his actions and decided to join the Alliance once more, contributing our strength to it."

"Why should I believe you? Why should I believe Greymane, the man who shut his own people out and has now become a beast? Do you think I will let you stab me in the back again?" Varian stood, descended from the platform, and glared at Alpha with hostility, his right hand resting on his sword hilt.

Alpha suddenly rose and drew the dagger at his waist. The movement alarmed the surrounding guards. Every sword was drawn and aimed at Alpha, as though he would be torn apart the instant he moved. "We cannot ask for Your Majesty's forgiveness now, but we ask for an opportunity to prove that we can contribute our strength to the Alliance rather than stab it in the back. We can charge at the forefront for the Alliance and withstand every attack against it." With that, he viciously slashed his left palm with the dagger. He clenched his left hand into a fist, and blood dripped down, drop by drop. "Here, I, Alpha Wolfclaw, swear a blood oath to Elune—I will become the Alliance's blade and cut through every obstacle. Should I betray this oath, may I be devoured by the Void." Green light immediately flared, and the oath was sealed.

Sally rushed forward and began chanting. "Great Ganiir, I am your faithful follower. Lend me your power once again to heal the wounded—Rejuvenation!" Another green light surrounded Alpha, but this one was gentler, radiating healing energy. The deep wound, so deep that bone was visible, slowly closed at a rate visible to the naked eye.

Varian looked at Alpha before him and fell silent once more. Seeing his father's silence, Anduin stepped forward and said to Varian, "Father, give them another chance. The Holy Light bears witness to all of this. War cannot solve anything. Mentor Velen once prophesied that what we are fighting is not the creatures of Azeroth, but darkness from the cosmos. We need the support of every living being." Varian turned to look at Anduin, then glanced at the worgen still surrounded by soldiers. Slowly, he said, "I can give you this chance, but first I must determine whether you have the strength for it—whether your claws can tear through the obstacles in your way." After a pause, Varian continued, "To the west of Elwynn Forest lies a wilderness. Several strange incidents have occurred there. I order you to investigate that wilderness. I need an answer. When you are ready, find Captain Harlan. He will tell you the details. As for now, you may leave." With that, he left the hall with Anduin.

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Even after Sally walked out of Stormwind Keep, she still had not come to her senses. "Snap out of it, Captain Sally. If you don't, you're going to walk into a wall." Alpha waved his right hand, marked by faint scars, in front of Sally's face. Suddenly, Sally turned and threw her arms around Alpha. "Uh..." Alpha froze, unsure where to put his hands, leaving them hanging in the air. Looking down at Captain Sally against his chest, he could not help but smile bitterly. "Captain, if your admirers find out you're hugging me like this, they'll beat me to death. I'd still like to live a few more years."

In a blur, Sally was already standing several feet away, her face red. Alpha stared at Captain Sally in surprise, muttering inwardly, That was even faster than Blink. I hadn't even hugged her enough yet. But when he saw Sally's reddened eyes, he silently shut his mouth and lowered his head. "Do you know how dangerous that was just now? Do you know how much King Varian hates Gilneas? Do you know that if Anduin hadn't spoken up for you, you might not have left that hall alive? Do you know that?!" As she spoke, tears welled up in Sally's eyes. "Ah, Captain Sally, don't cry. I know I was wrong. Don't be like this. Do I look like someone who acts without absolute confidence? Trust me. I won't waste the life I fought so hard to obtain. Really." The moment Alpha saw Captain Sally crying, he hurriedly spoke, standing there helplessly without the slightest idea of what to do to make her stop.

Hearing that, Sally gradually stopped crying. She slowly raised her head and looked at the flustered young man before her, who had no idea what to do, then burst out laughing. To be honest, Alpha could never understand why the captain, who had been crying one moment ago, was laughing now. All he could think was that women were terrifying and should be avoided. "Let me see your hand. I don't know how effective that Rejuvenation was." As she spoke, she took Alpha's right hand and examined it. "My spell really is effective. By tomorrow morning, there probably won't even be a trace left." "Yes, yes, Captain Sally's Rejuvenation is incredibly powerful," his voice gradually faded away...

Back with the Wrynn father and son, who had already left the hall, Varian asked, "Do you truly believe what that Gilnean said? Even with the oath binding him, I still cannot trust him." "Why not? Because Gilneas once withdrew from the Alliance and ignored those who came seeking aid? I have always believed that King Genn still carries the Holy Light in his heart. I believe Mentor Velen would agree with me. Besides, I have a feeling that Alpha Wolfclaw will change the current situation." Anduin once again voiced what was in his heart. Varian looked at Anduin and said with satisfaction, "If he can seize this opportunity, I will give Gilneas fair treatment. But for now, I cannot change my opinion of Greymane." ...