First Steps Beneath the Boughs of Shadowglen

The Road

The day began in Shadowglen, in the long gold light of late afternoon. I stopped where I stood, because the glen demanded it. The light came down through the branches in slow ribbons, and the whole place felt like a held breath. I felt Elune's attention on me, and I may have stood a bit straighter. I may also have rehearsed a dignified arrival for no one. No one saw it, which is the usual audience for my best work.

From there my path wound up into Aldrassil, the great tree itself, and back down to the glen again, and then up once more. By evening I had made the climb so many times that I think the tree and I are on first-name terms. Aldrassil, I said to it, warmly. It said nothing, which I took as modesty.

Battles

There was a great deal of thinning to do. In all I felled fourteen creatures of Teldrassil: seven Young Nightsabers, five Young Thistle Boars, one full-grown Thistle Boar, and a single Grellkin.

I take no pleasure in it. I said a small word to each as it fell, as a druid should. The Grellkin I said nothing to, because it was looking at me in a way I did not like.

Deeds

Conservator Ilthalaine greeted me with "Ah, the beauty of Shadowglen never ceases to delight my senses!" I could not have agreed more, and I was glad to have said nothing out loud that would have spoiled it. She asked me to thin the young nightsabers and thistle boars, because the spring rains were heavy and the beasts had grown too many for the glen to feed. When I returned she said I had "performed my duties well." I have decided to have that carved on something. She then asked for more of the same, this time against the mangy nightsabers and the thistle boars. That work is not finished.

In Aldrassil, Melithar Staghelm told me the forest spirits had whispered that the dryad Tarindrella had returned to Shadowglen. Her presence had not been felt in the forests of Kalimdor for years, and he was troubled. I found her, and she said Melithar was wise to send me, though I had "much to learn." She offered me one of her books for my education, since she understood my kind enjoys them. I do. She then set me a task about the Fel Moss that has corrupted the Gnarlpine, but I have not yet gathered it.

She also asked me to search the abandoned Gnarlpine homes for totems, and I brought them back to her. Their engravings told a terrible story: the Gnarlpine dreamed of being wiped out by some great shadow, and their fear turned to rage, and the shadow became their old elven friends. "To be aware of your own mind slipping away from you..." she said. I sat with that for a while. It is the saddest thing I have heard in a forest.

Conservator Ilthalaine also gave me a Verdant Sigil from our druid trainer, Mardant. I read it and brought it to him in Aldrassil. He said he would be my mentor and guide, and that I should return as often as I liked.

Last, Dirania Silvershine asked me to look for her friend Iverron, who had not come by today and is by now several hours late. He spends his time near the cave to the north, where there are spiders everywhere. I have not yet gone.

Growth

Mardant Strongoak taught me the Mark of the Wild. I felt it settle over me like warm moss. He spoke of the Emerald Dream, and how its call will one day take hold of me and I will sleep for many years and walk among the purest of forms. I nodded gravely. I was also thinking about supper, and I am sorry.

Somewhere between the climbing and the thinning, I felt a new strength rise in me, like sap in spring. My defense and my skill with the staff both sharpened. The moon was not yet up, but I am sure it noticed.

I also learned Skinning and Tanning, so I can now gather leather from slain beasts. Terunne Bearshaper in Aldrassil asked whether I cared to learn it, and I had already begun. I tried to look as though I had planned it.