[i]The early morning fog that had settled upon the Island of the Watchers had slowly burned away from the intense midday sun that shined down. Now, a clear blue sky above could be seen as a gentle refreshing ocean breeze blew across the land.[/i]

Solares Embersong's quarters overlooked the strongholds courtyard where a large elaborate fountain dedicated to the Goddess Elune stood. The fountain's waters ran over the edges of decorated marble bowls that the figure of Elune held in each of her hands. The falling water would form into a stream at the base of the statute and head in the direction of either north, east, south or west. These streams would then travel through the lavishly lush gardens that made up most the large court yard.

One day had passed since Solares's Moonhawks had delivered the messages to the heroes of Azeroth that she had handpicked for this critical mission. In that short period of time, a feeling of unease had crept over her due to their continued absence. The Moonhwaks had returned a few hours after she had sent them away, the small compartments that had been attached to their left legs were now missing, meaning that the letters had most likely been delivered. 

This thought had made its way into Solares's mind as she sat at her wooden desk, looking out the window that had a fantastic view of the courtyard below and the Broken Islands in the not so far distance. Suddenly, a knock came at the doorframe of her quarters that abruptly broke her train of thought, pulling her back into reality. Quickly Glancing over her left shoulder, her medium length dark blue hair swayed slightly from the sudden movement. The woman who stood in the doorway was Nesalla Moonshadow, a fellow Warden and friend of Solares who excelled in marksmanship and other forms of long ranged combat. 

Upon her slim female Night elven face, she was emotionless, though her eyes told a different story. Without waiting to be invited into Solares's quarters, she entered and shut the door behind her firmly. With every step she took, her heavily plated Warden armor made a metallic sound as she moved across the floor before stopping only a mere few feet away from Solares. With her right hand, she removed her plated helmet to let her own dark green hair flow. A moment of silence followed while Solares crossed her arms over her chest and peered at Nesalla with a look of expectation across her face. 

[color=ed1c24]"Afternoon Solares, excuse me for my interruption but I knew you would want to hear of what my squad and I found on our last reconnaissance duty around the island."[/color] Solares merely waved Nesalla on while she reached into a bag around her shoulder, then produced a large black metallic looking shard that she placed upon the desk in front of Solares. 

When Solares approached the object, it seemed to be activated from her presence, giving off a fine black smoke that only traveled a foot into the air before vanishing into nothing. The two of them inspected the object silently with a grave curiosity and worry that seemed to fill the room itself. [color=ed1c24]"This is from the Legion alright, but I have no idea what it is, no one knows what it is, not even khadgar himself."[/color] said Nesalla who took a step back from the desk it laid upon. 

[color=00aeef]"So you thought you would bring it here and show it to me? What if it drains the soul or life of those who stand near it, what if it's a lure for demons from the Legion? it could even possibly explode and wipe out the whole Stronghold or Island."[/color] While Solares spoke, the black shard seemed to pulse a dark crimson red before the pulse ended and the crimson light from within remained a steady, solid glow that could illuminate the room by itself. 

Both Wardens were now watching it closely and had backed up a couple of feet to observe the change from within. [color=00aeef]"Did you ask the Illidari what it was?"[/color] asked Solares in a much more normal sounding tone to her own. Nesalla shook her head back and forth a couple times while saying, [color=ed1c24]"I did not."[/color] Solares looked at her unamused before slowly walking back over to the shard and pulling out a large amount of black cloth that appeared to be enchanted before wrapping it around the shard and placing it inside of a metal box that she also kept inside of the lower part of her desk. 

[color=00aeef]"Once the heroes we have called for arrive, we will explain the situation at hand then swiftly make for the Illidari to see if they know anything about this shard. For now, all we can do is wait and hope it's not having an active negative effect upon us."[/color]Solares narrowed her eyes slightly, not out of irritation but out of thought.

Nesalla nodded her head in agreement and took the metal box from Solares, keeping it under her left arm. The two of them had left the large room before heading through the massive Stronghold and making their way down into its storage area where the shard was safely and securely placed.

[color=ed1c24]"Could be worse, the object could be in the hands of the Legion."[/color] said Nesalla, her tone much more light hearted that it had been when she first greeted Solares. [color=00aeef]"Who knows if it even belongs to the Legion, it could be an object of the old gods, an ancient artifact of civilizations long gone, no way to really tell for now."[/color] Solares and Nesalla stopped in the courtyard and took a seat upon a stone bench overlooking the stream that ran to the east and the main entrance to the Stronghold. If anyone new or old would enter, the two helmet-less Wardens could easily be spotted, conversing to each other over the shard Nesalla had discovered. 

[Hider= Music for opening IC post][Youtube]https://youtu.be/wd42VzlNJD4[/youtube][/Hider]