warforged | sometimes you can't make it

Who: Alexstrasza, Krasus/Korialstrasz, and the Redsworn
What: Successful retreat into the Ruby Sanctum
Where: Ruby Sanctum
When: After a long, grueling battle near the borders of Suramar
Warnings: Please PM the mods if any warnings are needed

[The Ruby Sanctum is a flurry of activity. This becomes clear within two seconds of stepping through the portal. The wounded are guided over to a grassy clearing surrounded by saplings and adolescent trees, bade to lay down and receive healing from other dragonkin. Some of the trees are years old, while a few look to have shot up recently. If you watch, vines engulf one fallen warrior; the body sinks into the ground, and a tiny sapling appears in its place.

Despite the war going on outside, the sanctum is less of a cavern and more like a self-contained dimension. Ample sunlight drifts down through scarlet leaves, which are occasionally home to the crimson scales of a whelpling. There is life everywhere: insects on twigs, birds chirping overhead, flowers at your feet. Dragon eggs lay nestled in the nooks and crannies offered by the tranquil forest. There is a decently-sized spring filled with fresh, pure water, as well as some small rocky outcroppings to sleep in. It's warm and comfortable enough to rest out in the open, too.

The cloaked and ever-mysterious Krasus stands watching the dispersing redsworn, his back against the massive oak in the center of the sanctum.

Occasionally, one may glimpse a beautiful red-haired woman with copper skin winding through the copse.]

[ooc: Mingle log for redsworn!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"She really did! Pounce was the best caretaker a troll could ask for."

Nepeta didn't seem aware that Alexstrasza was at all nervous about her, simply smiling giddily at the memory of her mother-figure. Certainly in her mind there was no reason for concern.

She shrugged at the question. "Well, of course I do, but we all have to move on sometime. You can't stay a wriggler furever. I just hope she'd be purroud of me."

That, however, was about as far into that subject as she was willing to delve with a stranger. Time to change the topic, and maybe get some questions answered. "So... can you tell me why we were brought here? I mean... I could tell you could use some help against those... monsters, but I don't think any of us could take a whole army on. I'm not really sure what we can do to help."

The question of why she should help went unasked because she'd already answered it for herself. Those monstrosities rampaging through her afterlife as they seemed to be right before she was whisked away if she remembered correctly, was something she didn't really want to consider.

A troll? The face she makes at the name can't be mistaken for anything other than disgust. There are trolls who wander the world outside of the sanctums and they are identical to her. If she knew of them, she might not actually admit that sort of thing freely.

Fortunately for the Dragon Queen, she starts asking questions to take her mind off of the topic.

"Your own world is in danger from the Burning Legion. Hopefully the experience you gain here in aiding us will help aid you in your own battle, but do not think we will abandon you so quick. Once we have vanquished the beasts here, my children will aid you in restoring peace from world to world. It is your potential and your potential alone that will contribute to this battle."

She didn't miss the look that twisted Alexstrasza's features into something a lot less pretty for a moment. Evidently the woman had something against trolls... which to be fair, was kind of understandable, even if Alternian trolls and Azerothian ones have little in common.

Aside from being conquest-loving imperialists, anyway, but that only really applied to the leaders.

Still, it was more important to talk about the current situation than to find out what that was all about. "Okay, so those monsters are called the Burning Legion... how do we fight them? I mean, I was able to take down some of the weaker ones when we were helping the dragons get to safety, but some of the ones I saw looked way beyond anything I could handle. I'm not a bad fighter, and I've taken on things much larger than me befur, but that thing with the huge weapon and four legs seemed stronger than almost anything I've fought befur."

Almost, because she doubted anything came close to the Black King. But she'd had all the others there with her when they took him on, and even together that had been a narrow victory. Taking on something like a Pit Lord alone was something she wanted to avoid if possible.

"It is a battle we both cannot face alone, but with the other's help, there remains a possibility we can succeed in driving back their forces."

What a cliche answer, but it doesn't seem to be fake coming from her. The hope the dragonsworn have given her are what compel her to believe that they alone can help resolve all of their problems.

"For now it is a matter of studying our opponents. Knowing what their weaknesses are will help aid you in combat against them. There is much to learn about them after all."

"That's true... you have to study any purrey fur a while befur you pounce if you plan to take it down."

The metaphor is remarkably predatory in nature, but it works for her. Her concern is starting to shift into a more thoughtful attitude.

"But befur I start figuring them out, I think I have to purractice my own powers. These things you dragons gave me are amazing, but they won't help much if I can't use them right."

"Oh?"

Alexstrasza herself isn't all that familiar with the chances that occurred within her champions as they arrived in Azeroth so she gives a thoughtful pause to think it over.

"Once you have gained enough confidence, you could learn more by practicing against them."

"I intend to!"

Her grin returns, a bit feral this time, her pointed teeth showing.

"Once I figure this all out I should be able to do at least something. Is our goal just to hunt down and destroy all the demons we can find then?"

"It is one of the many goals we will have lined out for everyone." Including her children. "For now, we only wish for you to improve on your strength so that harm never comes to you."

Hopefully she is able to do that much.

Oddly, Nepeta deflates at Alexstrasza's second statement, drooping a bit and looking almost depressed.

"I don't think that's really possible. Even the strongest can get hurt or die. Not that I'm not going to try!" She hastens to add that last part. "I'll fight as hard as I can. Just... I don't think we should hope fur the impossible."

Her words sadden her, but they are the truth. Who is she to deny the inevitable reality that they will end up hurt?

"Even if you end up hurt, we will take care of you."

"Thank you." Her smile returns a bit at that, though a bit less vibrant than before. "It's not really myself I'm worried about, but... well I guess the people I am worried about aren't here with me, so it's kind of silly, isn't it?"

She laughs weakly at herself and rubs the back of her head. "Um... so is it just us here, then? Are others going to be coming maybe?"

sometimes you can't make it

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