Hunger Pains

The woman shot out of bed, covered in sweat. Her sheets were soaked all the way to the frame of the little makeshift cot she was sleeping in. The simple linen T-shirt she had worn, drenched, and her mind in a rush from that dream... that horrible dream. 

All the mirrors turned down, the images in them getting stranger and stranger, it had become better not to look anymore, instead tucking them away to no longer be seen. In the corner of the room her lab work sat quietly, untouched after what one could imagine was barely a quarter night's rest. A stack of empty tuna cans, and various other rations was piled up in the corner, the flies already picking up on the smell. She would have to take it all out in the morning. 

But she could not shake that dream, those images which had flashed through her head, of her skin just starting to melt away, to fall off and on to the ground. Exposed bones and muscle rancid with rot and decay as if her body was simply melting there. 

She quickly checked herself over before walking towards the little sink. Turning on the water she splashed her face and closed her eyes not wishing to look at the attached mirror. Taking a deep breath she shook her head "Only a dream Alnarra, only a dream". Her heart raced and her mind ached for answers, but none had come to her. The research she had performed turned up little and her mind was starting to grow at it's whits end

At every corner she saw them, those forsaken abominations the butchers of her people now walking as ally to her and her kin. She wondered how the Draenei did it, how they managed to stomach standing shoulder to shoulder with the green skinned monsters who had committed such atrocities on their people. How each day they seemed to manage to bite their tongue and work hand in hand with the very same people that only years earlier would have driven an axe into their skulls without question. 

Now she was left with these anxiety's, a camp filled with the very same soldiers that only earlier that year may very well have been at the burning of Teldrassil itself, to have been there as her people burned to death without hope of salvation, trapped in a funeral pyre that could only be rectified by the goddess herself. Was one of them going to ambush her, to come and finish the job that had been started? How many more Kaldorei were left to give their blood? How many more of her brothers and sisters would have to lay down their lives to protect this world? 

And then there was that terrible hunger, which nothing seemed to quench. Even dropping out of her Saberon form did little to quench the gnawing sensation. She had eaten entirely through all the supplies she had brought with her, and the rations being passed around at camp were hardly enough to keep her stomach quiet. She had started taking little gnomish weight loss and hunger suppressants in hopes of calming the sounds of her belly. 

Whining softly she rubbed at her face, and where there was still sweat the druidess tried to brush it away. Looking back at the sheets she sighed and started trying to undress the bed only to be reminded of that dream, of holding her ear in her hands as it fallen away from her head like little more then the skin of a doll dripping down in a hot fire. 

The memory caused an instant revulsion and almost sickining sensation, causing her to retch for a moment before catching herself. She did not know what sort of horrors were afoot here, assuming only that this was the last wrathful lashes of the last of the old gods, hoping perhaps it would be the last horror inflicted upon this land. Maybe if they could just bear this little bit more there could be peace

Section 28 Report - A197G [3] - $216

 TOP SECRET // LIMITED DISTRIBUTION 

Classified By: Mikuza Nightblade
Reason: 1.4(a) 
Downgrade to: Confidential on 10472.06.12
Declassify on: 10572.06.12 

Alnarra K'Shinar Stargrove

• Height: 6'8" 
• Weight: 230lbs
• Eyes: Silver 
• Birthdate: 08.08.4600PS
• Spouse: Elynxdria Stargrove K'shinar (U) : Living 
• Spouse: Veraldan Stargrove (U):  Deceased 

Test Subject Information

Subject was chosen as mother had participated in Operation Rebirth (CS). Subject was subjected to a large swath of events intended to trigger latent anger and emotional trauma. When subject failed to respond in a timely manner, subject's children we reassigned to Forward Camp "Alpha 2" during the war of the shifting sands. Alpha 2 location was provided to Silithid as a target. The death of subject's children result in intended effects (TS //LIMDIS) 

Subject began employment with Section 28 in an attempt to avenge the death of children in 997.03.25PS (C) Subject was willing to engage in a number of covert activities to assess combat capabilities and mental fortitude.

Subject had worked with Section 28 until the death of spouse (Veraldan Stargrove) on  28.01.25 (C//FGI). Spouse was terminated by the group known as "Twilight's Hammmer" (C//FGI). Following spouses termination Alnarra Stargrove Terminated involvement with Section 28. 

Subject was integrated into Section 28 Leadership structure on 32.05.23 (TS//LIMDIS) following legion invasion. Subject's druidic abilities and physical form were enhanced and training with use of Nightborne Temporal manipulation and Fae Magic illusions were used to ensure subject's combat readiness (TS//LIMDIS)

Modifications (TS//LIMDIS) 

• Subject's eyes were enhanced with Sprite Darter essence to provide subject with access to a series of illusionary and anti arcane abilities. Subject was taught to make use of occular adjustments in order to dispel arcane illusions, weaken arcane magics, and otherwise enrapture opponents in a Fae Magic Illusionn. 
• Note: Large Scale Illusions proved strenous on the subject as well as long term use of the abilities. Subject was noted to have several instances in which strain on the occular abilities resulted in shattered blood vessels in the eye which required repair.
• Subject already possessed mastery of Ironwood, and as such was simply given combat training on how to better use Ironwood for defensive and offensive purposes. Abilities include rapid weapons crafting, summoning of Ironwood Treants and then layering them with Fae magic in order to allow a Mirror Image style combat. 
  
• Subject also possessed significant knowledge of the use and manipulation and intertwining of her blood with ironwood to be delivered as a weapon to attack opponents organs at a cellular level.
• Subject was provided with mastery over an experimental form, hence forth known as a "Saberon" form. Form was based upon druidic experimentation with a variation of the Goldrinn based Worgen form. It was thought that the use of Ashamane as the spirit would result in a more tempered feral spirit. Results are promising but subject lacks adequate combat potential. There were no signs enhanced aggression as a result of taking this form. 
• Subject's lungs were enhanced with shamanistic magic to allow for extended ability to engage in underwater activities. 
• Subject was taught to make use of Faerie fire for damaging and Anti Arcane combat. A variety of techniques were passed along to the subject so that she could use these abilities offensively rather then simply as a method for revealing enemy forces. 

Other

Following the events that resulted in the 4th war, it was of the opinion of the Priestess council that subject be released from her leadership role within Section 28. Section 28 continues to monitor subject for any improvements or otherwise valuable information which can be gathered. (C) 

Subject appears to have become the subject of a number of bounties as a result of their work in the events leading up to the fourth war (C // FGI). 

Top Secret / For Limited Distribution 

Dear Diary

The druidess eyes began to grow heavy, her head bobbing as she tried to stay up and focused. To her side were a collection of the samples she had managed to collect from the island. A two headed butterfly that seemed to be in the middle of a metamorphosis. In another vial a sample of an individual who appear to have been consumed by spores of a rather invasive and now named fungi, the White Veil. 

She had in another set of tubes, vomit, blood, skin samples, and saliva of an individual who had been in direct contact with the fungus and survived. Her lab equipment? A temporal repeat field of a much smaller scale then what Section 28 had used for training. She had stolen it before she had been forced to abdicate her position and it served as a treasured piece of equipment. The ability to perform a near endless number of experiments on a specimen and then simply reset the temporal stasis chamber so the sample was never destroyed proved beyond invaluable. 

Her notebook had hundreds of small scribbles, various measurements taken with Gnomish, Draenei and even her own people's tools. From natural magic to close examination at a near microscopic level (or as best to microscopic as her gnomish eye enhancer 50000 could get). She had exposed each and every sample to all manner of substance and material in order to get a better handle on just what it was she was dealing with. 

Still the temporal anomalies in the cave were what bothered her most. She had collected a number of fragments, yet none seemed to show the tell tell signs of temporal magics at work which would indicate they were the source of the issue. Rubbing at her forehead, how many hours had it been? 72? 96? Since she had last slept? She was starting to lose count and her irritability at the meeting the night prior only seemed to drive that point home. 

Sighing some she looked over at the 20 or so cans of empty Gnomish Wing Drink that lay scattered across the floor. In a way it brought her a little excitement, she hadn't gotten this much into her research since her wife had come down with the Silver Sickness; however, she knew that family nor friend approved of her approaches to research. 

Looking over at a clock she gave a little frown and the purple fur coated woman went to stand, her tail dragging along the ground as she looked around her small makeshift lab for a place to lay down and call it a night. Grabbing a few pillows a nice cot seemed to do the job and she rolled into it staring at the ceiling and letting her mind wonder. 

The screaming of her loved ones that had come when she shifted to her feline form rushed back to her in this moment of quiet and she began to try and take deep breaths to block it out. Shaking her head she sighed "Not real...not real... just an illusion" the feline's snout burying in a nearby pillow as she then covered her ears with her paws. 

She could not shake the feeling that this was more then a simple fungal growth issue, the tactical part of her mind jumping to the wish she had operatives to deploy and gather more information. Without Section 28's array of resources she was left with only friends and family, and goddess knew that was growing few and far between. 

The Storm Glaive had fallen into financial insolvency, and she and her wife had been forced to relocate to a small apartment in Booty bay which had left them strained for money. Alnarra had hoped that perhaps this little adventure might net some coin, but with each passing day it seemed to be more an effort in futility to not spend what little she had remaining in savings. 

There was an interesting Worgen fellow down in Booty Bay which had offered her the possibility of coin in exchange for help with a bounty, perhaps she would take him up on it. There was also a kind Goblin woman she had met while examining the mines. Goblins were always the type to know how to find a good deal, perhaps she might have some ideas on ways to make coin. Rubbing at her forehead she shook her head a bit 

Araane was out here, that was a curious happenstance. She hadn't seen the druidess in just as many years now. In fact the last time Alnarra recalled seeing her ursine friend was at the Tournament of Ages nearly two years ago. It gave her a warm smile to think of sparring with the woman verbally and perhaps physically once again. She wanted to show off the strength of this Saberon form and could think of no one better to demonstrate that to then head of the Devilclaw. 

Regardless, now, now she needed sleep and for that it would take more then simply clearing her mind. Reaching into her satchel she pulled out some pills and popped them into her mouth. It wasn't an eloquent solution, but it would do the job of knocking her out, which she needed at the moment.