Chapter 1 - Awakening: The Sickening Sound of Corruption

The sound of glass shattering brought Shelwind back to reality with such sudden clarity that it momentarily overwhelmed her senses.

The last thing she remembered was the terrible pain that had coursed through her body. Someone - Derwin, she dimly recalled his name was, their scout - had tried to call out a warning. But it had been too late, they were too close; Shelwind herself too slow to shield against the pulse of energy that burst from the old ruin. Two days ago. That is when they had set out, a string of events leading them to the Felwood in hopes of retrieving an ancient relic that could tip the scales for the kaldorei in their struggle to reclaim Ashenvale.

Her memories were put on hold as the paladin found herself capable of drawing detail from her surroundings. A stone chamber, yes, but the carved rock put her in mind of something primal, carved from the earth opposed to the open plan of an ancient night elven dwelling. They were no longer in the ruins or further in. Corruption saturated the room so tangibly that Shelwind could virtually taste its cloying presence.

She wrinkled her nose in disgust and then bit back a groan as stiff, aching bones reminded her distantly of the pain that had rendered her and her band unconscious. Cautiously she lifted her head and was rewarded, for the moment, with the sense that no one was aware of her awakening. She was not surprised to see she was in a cage, unarmed and clad only in the shift and leather pants she wore underneath her favored armor. Discreet movement of her hands and legs told her the latter were unbound, but the former were secured behind her back. As she tried to flex her arms, toned from years spent in training for swordplay, she found herself forced to close her eyes again as a wave of dizzying weakness descended on her. It was more than just the attack that had knocked her out. Something was keeping her weak, draining her, distancing her from her ability to call on the Light to break her bonds.

"N...no! Please! No more!" Shelwind's eyes snapped open again. Though her first glance had told her the room was empty - even the other cages lining the chamber, which did not bode well for her companions - there were several openings. One drew her attention, visible because of the harsh light of a fire or many torches reflected against the wall. It had been from that corridor the sound of breaking glass had come. And also, the rise of a woman's voice, pleading.

"Mesunide...," the paladin murmured as she recognized the voice of the young kaldorei hunter who had acted as their escort. What came as a surprise was the tone; fear. The begging. The courage Shelwind had observed over the past few days absent in the brief, terrified phrase. From the other room, Mesunide's voice rose again, this time addressing her captor in her native tongue, a language Shelwind knew only a few words of. The shock and anger were evident, but even the language barrier could not hide from the paladin how scared underneath the hunter was. Whatever was in that room... Shelwind shook her head. She would not find out by staying here. She could not help if she let herself be distracted by wondering. Time was precious.

She attempted to tune out the sounds drifting out of the other chamber, even when a guttural laugh cut off the sound of the other woman's voice. Whatever answer was given, spoken in the Darnassian tongue, did her no good. Figuring a way out of this cage would. Shelwind focused on that for a time. She discovered if she moved carefully, without any sudden movements, the weakness was bearable, though her joints protested the movement. She wondered how long she had been unconscious and shook that off, seeking instead to focus on standing.

It seemed to take an eternity. Each inch gained, braced against the side of the cage, was a singular victory but she had no time to celebrate. Finally, when she had gained her feet again, Shelwind permitted herself to take a brief rest. She leaned against the bars of the cage and tried to ease the burden on protesting muscles.

The paladin caught her breath as she realized the sounds from the next chamber had changed. So focused on her task, she hadn't noticed. Now she waited, tense and 
listened to the sounds, trying to determine if her plans for escape were about to be interrupted. She thought she heard a crackle that might have been the fire. But it 
was nearly drowned out by a steady series of grunts. Harsh, sharp sounds, with a low growl that seemed to come from something that didn't sound human or elven. The 
sound twisted Shelwind's stomach, though not so much as the sudden, dreadful thought. Why can't I hear Mesunide?

She listened more and realized she could hear the young hunter. Sounds and tones she had subconsciously blocked as their meaning became clear. The corruption of the underground prison seemed to press in on the paladin as she pieced together the reason such sounds were familiar. Too many inns with thin walls, gracing her ears with the sounds of others sharing in joys she had felt she had not had time for, then. Too busy, too dedicated. Not enough time for distractions from her duty.

The raw sounds of sex in the next room were all the more twisted by the throaty moans Shelwind heard Mesunide utter. If she had any doubt that it was another her kaldorei companion was simply being forced to watch, the hunter's voice managed to formulate words briefly and two were recognized by the captive's limited understanding of the night elf's native tongue.

"Yes... -- ...More!"

Had Shelwind been able, she would have raised her hand to her mouth in dismay. As it was, she could only stare at the fire-lit wall in horror. "Light save us... what is happening?" There was no answer, the least of reasons being the loud scream of ecstacy and the roar of Mesunide's unseen partner that occurred just then, signalling a condition Shelwind couldn't... wouldn't acknowledge.

She had to escape. To believe her belongings could be found, to rescue Mesunide and find the others. She refused to think that it might be too late. The Light would preserve. The mantra calmed Shelwind as she began to focus on thoughts of escape once more.

But before she could do more than glance at the cage that held her, Shelwind's attention was brought sharply to movement within the chamber. It seemed as if the darkness between the torches gave birth to a form, one it seemed reluctant to part with. Shadow surrounded the figure, though the rustle of cloth told Shelwind that what lay beneath was all too solid. Aside from that clue, she knew this figure, though she couldn't at first parse what she was seeing.

A friend. One of two unaccounted-for companions. One whom walked toward her cage as openly as any of her captors might. The shadows finally melted away, leaving the paladin looking into the wry smile and sharp blue eyes of her long-time friend.

"Sophia..."

The woman's smile grew wider. "Good day to you too, Shelwind."