It took someone tapping him on the shoulder to realize the ship was ready to depart and the Officer of the Watch was waiting. He apologized gruffly before stepping across the gangway and onto the quarterdeck. The Officer validated paperwork strictly as a formality before allowing him on board. They were not strangers, by any stretch of the imagination. The trip had been long, and uneventful, with plenty of time for passengers and crew alike to become familiar. This was the last stretch,…

Xodius felt out of breath. The mana poisoning and treatment he had gone through still had lingering effects, but for the most part his recovery was well on track. Still, a long walk had a way of leaving him winded. This was worth it, though. Every last bit of it. He let out a slow breath and straightened up, eyes closed as the wind caught his fur and mane. He tried to remember everything that had led up to this point.

The fall of his home, Gilneas. The Curse that ravaged…

It is peculiar, the things you perceive to hear when you know you cannot. It reveals many things about a person. About themselves, more importantly. Passing looks, unheard comments, remarks, all of them I view as having a veil of distrust, that others still look upon me as though I am a remnant and reminder of something wicked in the world. It is understandable. I was once their enemy. Out of necessity I did commit acts atrocious in…

Xodius stepped onto the terrace, relying far too heavily on his staff to keep upright than he cared to think. He shook, he felt weak, and through it all, he felt as though somehow he had failed. He could not tell at what, but that was the sense that lingered. He had not been able to recover. The druids had to send him away. The mages in Dalaran had to rip his body apart and put it together again to cleanse the poisoning.

Powerless.

Drawing in a breath, he was…