“They are the cubs of your mounts.”<br/><br/>The words were joyous yet perplexing to the druid. If these were the cubs of his and Aelena’s mounts, why were they so young? What had happened to Tantum and his mate? Releasing Aelena’s hand, he knelt low to the ground, even proceeded to lay upon it. Naturally, seeing the druid’s movement, the cubs lunged now upon Iylldrraen, finding a new ‘victim’. He was stoic though, as unmoving and inattentive as the snow he laid upon now. Oh, they were a determined bunch, nipping and scratching and pouncing, but Iylldrraen would not be moved. Instead he dug his hands and fingers deep within the earth, burrowing down past his knuckles. He then closed his eyes, growing numb to the frigid climate, to the nips, scratches, and thumps of the cubs, even to the penetrating gaze of Rivern.<br/><br/>At first, all that traveled through the druid’s digits was the chill of Winterspring, and the tremors of the playing cubs. Then, gradually, he touched deeper into the land: he could feel the tremors of his heart beating into the snow, and later still he could feel the heartbeat of Aelena, even of Rivern. Quickly now he felt even the trainers from so far away. Iylldrraen was connecting to the land, was touching it’s most tender spots, feeling the life resonating deep within.<br/><br/>A few more moments passed and suddenly the druid groaned, he growled, hands clenching into the snow, crunching it painfully inside his fists. His body began to tremble. It was as though he was entering his feral form without shifting. There was pain. So much pain. Agonizing and paralyzing. Iylldrraen began to whimper, tears welling and running down his face. He wanted to pull away, but couldn’t. He felt himself so close to the source. It was…an intrusion. A violation. Disrespectful. An intrusion that was devouring the land slowly. Iylldrraen began to mutter incoherently and thrash about. The cubs began to back away. Rivern lunged. He gripped his brethren in a fierce bear hug and jerked him from the ground, holding him tight. Iylldrraen thrashed and roared, his body heaving. Rivern turned and pinned his druid brother to the ground until he calmed. Rivern began to whisper to Iylldrraen, slowly rising, allowing the druid to rise to a sitting position.<br/><br/>Panting and heaving, avoiding the eyes of Aelena, more from shame than anything else, he hoarsely whispered, “Who orphaned these cubs, Rivern?”<br/><br/>Rivern stood for several long moments, eyes locked with Iylldrraens’. Finally, being that he knew this druid too well, and knew that he would not rest after what he’d just experienced, he acquiesced. “It was a small division of the Steamwheedle Cartel.”<br/><br/>Rage, hate, and fury filled the druid’s eyes, body, and soul as he sprung to his feet, veins swelling in his arms, body growing rigid and tense, heaving heavily. “Where?”, came the question, or rather, demand.<br/><br/>Rivern stood, unmoving, staring at Iylldrraen. “Be still, Iylldrraen Ironhide.” The words were strong and stern. “ I will not withhold yours and Aelena’s purpose for being here. Come.” Without waiting he turned on the tips of his feet, practically dancing ahead of them, patting his thighs, beckoning the cubs to follow.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>