Disclaimer: All ideas, other than my own for the story, belong to Blizzard.

So a random update for you all. Mostly because I have some extra time right now on the weekend, and don't feel like doing homework. As well, I knew this would be a shorter chapter. I hope to be updating more regularly, and the chapters should be getting longer. Enjoy! I apologize for grammar errors that might of escaped me.

Chapter Six:
Relaxation

Azalea took a deep breath of air, as she gazed over her shoulder. She feet planted to the wooden pier, but her eyes and mind were elsewhere. The gray skies, and dark clouds looming overhead. Darkened silhouettes of distant hills, lost and hidden under the fog that always loomed. She felt tiny droplets touch against her cheeks, cold against her lips. It was starting to lightly mist. Her lips curved into a smile.

She loved Auberdine. The dark, cool, rainy weather; was so different from back home. Yes, she loved to soak in the sun, but she couldn't felt but love the quiet atmosphere. It was relaxing. She locked her fingers together, eyes still glancing across the shadowy sea.

Azalea brought her pale hands to her mouth, her skin vibrant in the dim climate. She breathed on them, warming her chilled fingers. Relaxing was something she needed for all the chaos in the past short while.

Her gray eyes peered to the corner of her eyes. She caught a quick glimpse of Kenni, who seemed sidetracked with something on the ship. She smiled to herself, and paced quickly but quietly down the pier.

She leaned down, and jumped over the edge, landing on the soft sand. It cushioned her fall, but she felt her body weave as her sank further than she expected. A soft yelp escaped her lips. She felt back against a pole holding up the pier, sinking into the shadows. She looked up, and listened. Still safe, she concluded, and jogged off down the sandy beach, staying close to the forests edge for cover.

Her smile grew as she dashed across the sand. It had been a long time since she had been here, and as she ran, sweet memories flooded her mind. Nothing had changed, and she prayed nothing ever would.

Azalea laughed, jumping over a crab, her feet slashing against the rising tide. She spun around on the foot in a circle, before running again. Her hair brushed roughly against her face, it was cold, and clumped together from the mist. It clung to her face desperately. She felt her lungs starting to ache, from breathing in the cold air. She huffed, stopping for a brief moment, watching her breath appear in the shape of a moving fog. She rubbed her hands together, trying to warm them.

“Need to get some gloves while I'm here..." she spoke to herself. She passed a quick glance back to the city that was a mere blur of colors lost in the fog. She wasn't too worried about Kenni scolding her for disappearing. If the Captain had been commanded by Lord Avenn to guard her, then Kenni would know about Azalea's habit of disappearing to explore.

She got it from her mother, or so her father said. Whenever she and Jackson got in trouble for wondering to far, Wynn would scold them, but praise them. Their mother at times would escape from the court, and father would spend hours searching for her. Father, would inform them of the secret places their mother took, and it seemed he was egging on their adventures. Azalea frowned, well he did until the Horde started to venture further themselves. They had to be safe guarded then.

She closed her eyes, listening to the wind whistle through her ears. It brushed heavy strains of her hair across her eyes. Her arms crossed against her chest, she stared to shake while standing there. Soon she would run back to warm up, but now, she wanted a moment of relaxation to herself.

“You shouldn’t be here all by your lonesome, Princess.”

Azalea jumped, eyes snapped open. Her focus turned from the rolling sea to the forest behind her. Through her clumped strains of hair, she saw Dannell standing there, a pleasant smile on his face. He stood at the edge of the forest. His blonde hair and deep crimson attire brilliant in the gray scenery.

“Dannell!” she exclaimed. She bit her lip, flushed upon realizing how ecstatic her tone of voice sounded.. His face brightened up. The one thing she wanted to avoid. “What are you doing here?!” she remarked snidely.

“You remembered my name!”

“Why are you here?!” she repeated, hands on her hips.

Dannell frowned, crossing his arms. Garret, who strode out of the forest behind him, rubbed his head against his thigh, purring contently. Dannell rubbed his head, and smiled softly at Azalea, who seemed flustered. Whether it was because of his sudden appearance, or the fact Garrett was loving on him, she didn't know. “I came to check on you of course. That’s my job as your protector!” he briskly skipped to her.

“And I told you I didn’t need one.” she spun around, hiding her aggression.

Dannell laughed, turning her around to face him. Azalea glared, head butting him in the face. She broke free of his grasp, and threw a fast punch at him. Dannell dodged, grabbing her forearm and twisted it slowly. behind her back. He wrapped his other arm around her torso, holding her firmly against him.

“Please let me.” He whispered in her ear, losing his grasp. She broke free, and tripped backwards. He laughed, shaking his head, arms folding against his firm chest. She glared frustratingly at him, pale cheeks red hot with embarrassment and anger. Her eyes didn't waver off him as she mumbled a string of profanity under her breath.

“Here, let me—“ Dannell started, but his words were cut off as he flew back against the ground. The silhouette of a dark, monstrous cat lingered over him, growling threateningly. Dannell pushed the beast off, but it quickly jumped back on him, pinning him down. A powerful paw dug deep into his shoulder, Dannell couldn't move under his power.

“Dannell!” Azalea shouted, jumping to her feet. Before she took reach the animal to try and help him, Kenni was already there in a instance, appearing out of nowhere. She threw her arms around the back of the cat, pulling at him.

“Don't attack him! He's an ally!” Kenni warned. The cat turned to her, yellow eyes gleaming. Kenni glared, her gaze obviously more threatening. The yellow eyes turned back to Dannell, who weakly smiled. The cat seemed to sigh, and jumped away from the blood elf. Dannell rolled over, complaining about his shoulder.

“Thank you.” Kenni whispered, as the cat state there, disgruntled. Azalea watched as it stood on its hind legs, and morphed into the shape of a night elf. A smile glowed, watching as the man's humanoid features started to take shape. The man returned her the same smile.

“Avenn!” Azalea cried, rushing up, arms out stretched for him. He caught her in time, spinning her around in a circle, laughing pleasantly. “I missed you!” she nestled her head into his chest.

He patted her head. His golden eyes meet with Kenni, who had started to glare at him. He frowned, and turned the other way. “I missed you to my little Princess.” he sighed. “And of course you seem to have gotten yourself in trouble.” he shot a glare at Dannell who slowly waved back, nervous.

“Lord Avenn,” Kenni addressed, taking a place next to Dannell. “Must you be so rash?”

“He's a blood elf. I think I was in the right mind.”

“He's the one I told you about!”

Avenn shrugged, arms tightened around Azalea protectively. “Then tell him he shouldn't touch the Princess, or next time I'll take off that girly face of his.”

Dannell huffed, taking insult. Avenn stood very well over a foot taller than he did. A strong, solid, muscular build that was rather intimidating. His features were much stronger than his own. The night elf's eyes were sharp, and deadly. Yet as he looked at Azalea, they were soft. But when his gaze turned to Kenni, he seemed frightened. Dannell passed a quick glance to Kenni, he couldn't really blame Avenn for that.

Avenn spun Azalea out of his arms, she laughed as she circled away. “Come now, let's get you to Darnassus. The ship should nearly be ready.” he turned back to Kenni. “Is he coming with us?”

“You're suppose to meet with him.”

Avenn's forbidding gaze settled on Dannell, who still seemed nervous from the surprise attack. “Make him swim his way over there.”