Music: Path to Darkness  composed by Adrian von Ziegler

https://youtu.be/XD_IRiEQdtA

The dog-like beast, imprisoned within the summoning circle, paced back and forth, demented. It's head, consisting of mostly jawbone with two-inch-long serrated teeth, slavered drool laden with phosphorescent fel. And its almond-shaped eyes, fiery amber with vertical slits, oozed hate and an insatiable hunger for the kill.

Tiene, feeling a sense of hopelessness, watched as spines, like that of a giant porcupine, rattled and clacked around the beast's neck when it shook its head in rage and frustration. It snapped and growled at the slightest movement nearby or shadows which passed overhead.

The beast was about twice the size of Tiene and at least ten times stronger. Its muscles rippled as it slunk around the constricting space, emanating its sheer power and boundless stamina.

An imp would have been better; she mused as she looked with envy at the neighbouring circle. Another Sin'dorei had come to join the ranks of the Lord of Outland, but he was bigger and stronger than Tiene too - yet he got the imp!

"Good luck," she called over, a little bitter.

The elf looked insulted by the comment and glanced at Tiene's quarry. He grinned. "You will need more luck than me, I think," he said, half laughing. "You should have been smarter when summoning your demon."

She whimpered, a wry smile on her lips. You're not wrong there, she thought.

Footfalls from behind made her turn. Arcaena came to her side. The one-time night elf seemed to have softened towards Tiene. That, at least, was a relief. This trial she had to face was unnerving, and a little encouragement would not go amiss. For all Tiene had fought demons before, she had always been part of a group. She had never tackled the foul things alone before.

She glanced back at the blood elf with the imp. "Wish I had his demon," she muttered.

"Do you?" Arcaena smiled in the lop-sided way Tiene had seen her do before.

"Yes. This thing – " Tiene pointed to the felhunter. "- will best me for sure. I fear I have failed before I have even begun."

Arcaena circled Tiene and stood with her back to the blood elf who was now tormenting his imp. "We each summon a demon which represents our nature, our character and our strengths. Or, if you are unlucky..." she glanced over her shoulder to the male elf then back at Tiene again, "...your worst trait." She smirked.

Tiene wasn't sure whether to be relieved or dismayed by this, for she did not realise she had so much in common with a foul, slobbering felhunter.

Arcaena continued smiling as she explained further. "An imp is an easy option, and that speaks volumes of the elf's nature. He is sarcastic, thinks himself clever, even superior, but he will readily flee a fight with the lame excuse it is so he can fight demons another day."

She shifted behind Tiene, and the two of them observed as the elf fought the imp. Arcaena whispered into Tiene's ear. "He will not remain by your side in battle, but yes, he can provide good defence in the art of pyromancy. He will blast a few enemies and set others on fire, but he will be gone from the battleground before the smoke has cleared. That, Tiene, is not your nature."

Tiene suppressed a grin as the elf yelped when the imp scorched him. "With respect," she said, facing the demon hunter again. "You do not know me, Arcaena. How can you assume such a thing?"

The demon hunter resumed her original position to Tiene's left. "I know this by the demon you have summoned."

"What on Azeroth do I have in common with that thing?" Tiene pointed her dagger at the hound, and it responded with a vicious growl, saliva spraying from its mouth.

"I would say you have strived to be the best of your troop and worked hard towards being top of the tree in all that you do? The felhunter is also driven to be the best it can be, and so it is powerful. You used magic to cloak yourself rather than the traditional camouflage of a rogue. A Felhunter has highly attuned magical ability, maybe that too is a link."

Tiene shook her head. "No, that is the only magic I know. My brother, who was a warlock, taught me how to stealth that way."

Arcaena shrugged. "It nonetheless leaves a signature of its use on you. That is how my Lord saw you yesterday while you stalked the ramparts. He can sense magic from a long way off, and it is perhaps stronger in you than you realise."

Tiene mirrored the demon hunter with a shrug. Arcaena's explanation seemed highly unlikely, but she knew the mystical concealment was detectable by those attuned to the ways of magic. She had not realised it could be identified from such a long way off though.

The demon hunter continued her assessment of Tiene's compatibility to the felhunter. "You initially came here alone, probably to save your comrades from capture, but most likely because of your drive to be better than you currently are. That said, you fight well in a group and felhunters, being primarily pack-animals, have an abundance in strategy, skill and cunning. That is what your demon says about you, Tiene."

A shout of triumph came from the male blood elf. Tiene and Arcaena looked across as the elf stood over the body of the dead imp. The victor was a little singed and smoky from the imp's firebolts, but other than that seemed unhurt.

"You must eat its heart while it still beats," Arcaena shouted.

The Sin'dorei nodded and proceeded to cut open the imp's chest. Reaching in, he extracted a bloody, pumping mess. With one glance over at his spectators, the elf lifted the heart to his mouth and bit deep into the organ. He was gagging as he chewed, but he persevered and swallowed the first bite. He didn't look like he would be ordering that at an inn anytime soon.

Tiene turned away and thought of the pacing felhunter. If she managed to kill this beast, she would have to endure tasting a foul piece of flesh too. She fixated on the beast again. It was taking her a long time to pluck up the nerve to step into that space.

"What was his name?" Arcaena asked softly.

Tiene blinked and looked up at her. "Who?"

"Your husband."

Tiene inhaled sharply. It was a question she had not expected. "Camnath," she answered, her eyes misting at the mere mention of his name.

"He was handsome, no doubt?"

"Very." Camnath's image floated across Tiene's mind; he was smiling, and his green eyes were looking back at her lovingly. In a heartbeat, he vanished.

"I can tell you loved him very deeply. You are doing this for him, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"Then go in there and kill it, Tiene. Your love will give you the strength you need."

"I hope so."

"It will. I know this, for I felt the same when it was my time, though I was not yet married to the man I loved back then."

Tiene's brow furrowed. "You married after becoming a demon hunter?"

Arcaena smiled nodding. "I did, yes."

Tiene thought back to the other day and the way Illidan had held Arcaena. She looked towards the top of the temple. There, standing with arms folded, ponytail blowing in the wind and wings closed firmly, stood the Lord of Outland, surveying the rituals below. His gaze seemed fixed on where they stood. She turned and faced Arcaena again. "Illidan is your husband, isn't he?"

"Yes," the demon hunter smiled. "Clever girl."

"Not really, but I saw how he cajoled you and your response to him."

Arcaena chuckled.

Screams of agony came from the imp-killing elf. Tiene caught a glimpse of him writhing on the ground when Arcaena suddenly blocked her view. "Do it now, Tiene. Kill the beast. For Camnath."

Tiene turned and looked at the felhunter, and hoping Camnath's spirit could hear her, she whispered, "For you, my love."

She stepped into the circle, daggers drawn. The beast faced her with its eyes narrowing. The haunches shuddered as the predator readied to pounce at its prey.

Music: Ad Mortem, composed by Adrian von Ziegler

https://youtu.be/XGQn_mD30W0

Tiene crouched, anticipating the split second it would attack. As it lunged forward, she shadow-stepped, materialising behind it. Turning, she projected herself forward in a somersault, slicing the creature's back with her blades.

Its massive head reared as she passed over, and its spines whipped her legs. As she landed, she stumbled, rolling over in the dirt. She just had time to assess the wounds it had inflicted. Huge welts were already forming on her skin, and the stings intensified instantly.

A throaty growl made Tiene look up, and she saw the felhunter charging toward her. Quickly she moved into stealth and rolled out of its path. It skidded to a halt, bewildered by its quarry having vanished. Tiene smiled to herself.

The beast snapped at the air, frustrated, and the gigantic, misshapen head slowly turned. Its red stare fixed on Tiene's cowering figure. Deflated, she realised the beast could still sense her, whether, through sight or smell, she knew not, but her concealment did not fool it. Her legs were now burning, and she winced as she brought them under her to attempt to push herself up.

She was going to have to think of something fast or this beast was going to win. The pain from her wounds inflicted by the spines was bordering excruciating; this was unexpected. Initially, she questioned she would win, but she had not banked on such a quick defeat. She cried out, more from frustration than due to the pain.

The felhunter then sprang, it's leap insanely high. Tiene fell back on the dirt and prepared for the beast to land on her. Just before it made contact, she rammed the heels of her hands into the beast's chest praying her strike had enough momentum to do the job.

The creature flopped onto her, still as a rock - her prayer was answered.

The lacerations to her legs had weakened Tiene considerably, and now the weight of the beast was crushing her, sapping what little energy she had left. Distantly, she heard Arcaena shouting her name. She could not even answer; consciousness was wavering, her vision blurring.

Abruptly, the beast's weight lifted from her, and she gulped in air, her lungs straining. Her head flopped to the right and blinking, her vision began to clear. Illidan stood over her, holding the felhunter by its spiny mane. He cast the beast to the dirt, puffs of grey earth rising in whorls.

Arcaena was kneeling at Tiene's head, brushing Tiene's hair from her face and tapping her cheeks to ensure she was still conscious. Tiene looked up at the female demon hunter and managed a nod.

"You must finish it," Illidan said, drawing her attention to the stiff creature. "It still breathes."

With effort and a little help from Arcaena, Tiene staggered to her feet. Limping, she moved over to the paralysed body of the felhunter. Its eyes regarded her with intense hate, and something else - defeat. Tiene took a few deep breaths then gathering all the strength she had, she plunged her dagger into its throat, yanking it down towards the chest. Its blood and guts spilt onto the dry, cracked earth.

Arcaena eased Tiene back from the corpse, and they watched in silence as Illidan knelt and tore open the felhunter's chest. The dry crack of ribs being pulled apart echoed round the summoning circle followed by the squelch of soft, wet innards slopping out on the ground. The Lord of Outland thrust his hand into the beast's chest cavity and pulled out its heart. He handed it to Tiene.

The organ pulsed and leaked felblood, making Tiene gag. "Eat," Illidan ordered.

Shakily, Tiene took the heart and put it to her mouth. She fought a need to dry retch, the smell of the rotten organ was overwhelming.

"Eat before it stops beating," Illidan said, firm, impatient.

Closing her eyes, Tiene envisioned her beloved Camnath on their wedding day. His handsome face and beautiful smile reminded her why she was here and gave her the courage to do the necessary.

She bit deep into the pulsing flesh. It throbbed against her cheek, then a gut-wrenching pop and squelch sounded as she tore a chunk off. The texture and taste were alien, but she kept on chewing until it was mushy enough to swallow.

"More," Illidan said.

She did as instructed, the taste becoming almost bearable with each bite. When only the carotid and pulmonary arteries remained, she cast it away, exhausted.

The wounds from the creature's spines had inflicted a lot of damage, and the pain was constant. Tiene felt her energy dwindling as if swallowed by a vortex, making her weak, helpless. The lure of sleep was so inviting.

A pain jolted through her, a hundred times worse than that attributed by the spines. Her entire body shuddered, gripped in spasms; her fingers and toes flexing, nails digging into palms and bootsoles respectively.

She clasped her head as her body hunched into a foetal position. Something was coursing through her veins, taking over, replacing her natural life source. The fel - its poison spread, merciless, hungry, wanton. And it burned! Sweet Belore! How it burned!

Tiene threw herself back, her hair whipping over her shoulders and she pushed herself into a kneel. Her scream rose in the Temple grounds as the foul magic continued to ingest her.

Her eyes teared up as she stared at her hands; they were transforming into claws, the nails elongating, ripping through her fingertips.

She inhaled sharply and screamed again, louder, as her forehead cracked and split. Blood ran into her eyes. Maniacally, she wiped it away with the heels of her malformed hands. She felt two hard protrusions on her brow - horns. Her head split more as the points began pushing up; her entire skull feeling as though it was being pulled apart and reshaped with them.

The next scream to leave her mouth did not sound like her at all - it was more akin to the howl of a felhunter. She slumped forward again, tearing at her tunic, shredding it to get rid of the restricting leather.

Her vertebrae started cracking, and incisions ran down her back. Black needle-like spines forced their way through her flesh, writhing as they snaked their way out. And something else was striving to emerge.

Roaring, Tiene felt her skin rip, and more blood cascaded from her shoulders to the base of her spine. Her breathing was labouring, her throat raw from screaming, and she believed, without doubt, she was going to die from this horrific mutation.

A loud snap and a sound not unlike a standard unfurling reached her ears. Cool air suddenly stirred around her - a breeze running through her matted hair. Gasping, she glanced to her left to a shadow on the ground. Silhouetted in the dry, cracked earth was a horned, winged creature. Looking to her right, she saw the shadow again; it was her shadow.

The metamorphosis was almost complete, although the pain had not lessened. Again she screamed as liquid felfire continued to settle in all the new appendages and mutations.

Her body was racked, altered, demonised, and she could not take anymore. Tiene managed a woeful sob. Consciousness was slipping, darkness descending, and she could not resist its pull. She prayed Camnath would forgive her failing in this task.

The last thing she saw was the symbols of the summoning circle as her face hit the blood-drenched dirt.

Demons slashed and battered their way through city after city, town after town, village after village. Bodies of the inhabitants lay twisted and burned, some turning to ash as winds stirred and carried them over the scorched earth. And still more demons came - hundreds, thousands of them.

Tiene's eyes shot open as a mournful cry left her lips. The dreams were so real! Her eyes darted, taking in the strange surroundings. She was on a bunk in a large room, with some braziers providing a warm golden glow on the charcoal walls.

"Ah, you're awake," a wizened voice said to her left. She turned to see a hunched creature approaching her.

"Who are you?" Tiene asked, hoarse. "Where am I?"

The figure laughed lightly. "You need to rest more. Your trial has taken much from you."

Tiene did feel weak, but she had questions. "Answer me, please."

"All in good time. For now, you shall sleep, and Cerelron will work on you." The stooped individual waved his hand, and Tiene saw a demon hunter sit beside her bunk. He smiled at her then picked up a long, sharp needle.

Panicked, Tiene demanded to know what was going on, but the stooped figure and the demon hunter just hushed her, telling her to rest and all would become clear in due course.

Cerelron dipped the needle in a pot, then took hold of Tiene's right arm. She was about to protest when the other personage lay a hand upon her brow and whispered an incantation. Instantly, Tiene calmed, and once more darkness surrounded her.

Drifting in and out of wakefulness, Tiene caught glimpses of Cerelron still by her side. She managed to glance down at her arm and saw strange symbols etched on her skin. But, sleep always claimed her before she could ask why he was doing this to her.

The next time she opened her eyes, she felt considerably better. She eased herself up, so she was sitting on the bunk.

Everything was vague; there were just smoky images flitting across her mind; a circle, a beast, blood - her hands! Then she remembered. Nervously, she looked at her hands, expecting to see claws, gnarled and bent out of shape. They were - normal, almost - her skin looked greyer, a little leathery but nothing compared to what she had feared.

Then Tiene noticed the markings on her skin. It took a moment to remember this, but then the demon hunter's name came to mind - Cerelron, the one she had glimpses of now and again beside her bed, with a needle.

But why did she have these markings? She knew all others had them too, but for what purpose, she wondered. Nevertheless, she marvelled at the lines and swirls, on her arms -runic symbols, she assumed. She traced some on her arm, and shoulder - then she blanched. Lifting the sheet, she found the symbols extended to her breasts too. Maybe just as well I was unconscious, she thought, embarrassed and still confused.

Another memory flashed up. Tentatively Tiene raised her hands to her forehead. Her fingers touched rough, cylindrical horns and she withdrew her hands immediately, frightened but at the same time astonished.

Sliding her legs over the cot, she braced herself for any further revelations. Feet are the same; she noted as she pushed herself up and stepped away from the edge of the bed. Her bones ached, unsurprisingly, and instinctively she stretched and yawned.

Midway through her stretch, a loud snap jolted her, making her drop into a crouch. The air around her cooled noticeably, and the covers on the cot rippled.

Her eyes fixed upon the shadow on the wall behind her bunk. Stunned, she stared as unfurled wings folded closed against her body. She stood up and flexed muscles she didn't even know she had. In awe she watched as the demon-hide opened again, spanning across the bunk. "I survived!" she whispered. "I did it!"

A moment later, she knew not whether to be happy or troubled by the transformation. She had entered into this pact, knowing full well what could happen, but now it was physical, real, she did not know how to feel. And, she remembered there was still one more thing to endure. As such, she decided to explore and embrace some of the sights, if there were any worth noting.

Still weak, she moved carefully out of the chamber. It opened into an enormous hall with doors and stairways leading away from it at various intervals.

Strange looking individuals busied themselves around little tables and braziers. They looked vaguely like the blue-coloured warriors she had seen fighting the demons, days before, but these were more sunken in appearance and stature. One was vaguely familiar. He looked up as she stopped a few feet away.

"Hello," he said. His gait was awkward as if hindered by some deformity.

Tiene nodded a greeting.

"You are looking much better, I see."

"Yes," Tiene replied, studying his wizened features. "Who are you?"

"I am Akoth," he replied. "I am a shaman of the Ashtongue tribe, and I serve Akama, Elder of the Broken."

Tiene nodded. "I am Tiene Firefury, from Silvermoon City."

"Another Sin'dorei," Akoth said, matter-of-fact. "Many of your people have passed through here."

"So I have heard," Tiene replied. The Ashtongue seemed to be reluctant to converse any further so Tiene decided she should continue with her exploring. "I will go now, but I want to thank you for looking after me when I was recovering."

"It is what I do," Akoth said.

As Tiene turned to walk away, Akoth called behind her. "A word of warning, Tiene Firefury..."

She moved back, curious. "And that is?" Tiene asked, surprised by this turn of conversation.

"Know your friends from your enemies."

Tiene looked at him then at the other Ashtongue milling in the background. "I have been travelling that road of discovery all my life, Akoth. And I have also learned, not all is at it seems."

The Ashtongue took a moment, then offered a courteous bow before rejoining the other shaman.

There were, as expected, many demon hunters in the vicinity. Some were seasoned Illidari, engaged in conversations on strategy, tactical manoeuvres and weaponry. They barely noticed Tiene as she passed by. Others eyed her with mild indifference, displaying an arrogance which could only be borne from their experiences against the Burning Legion.

The halls were vast, and she knew not where she was going, so she needed to ask someone. "How do I get outside?"

One of the demon hunters grinned, his head bobbing as if looking her up and down then he pointed straight ahead. "Follow the passageway to the far right until the main stairwell. Go down the stairs, and you will see the courtyard."

"Thank you," Tiene replied. The demon hunter curtly nodded then resumed his conversation with colleagues.

With each step, she was starting to feel better, but she was hungry; ravenous. She only hoped there was something more palatable than felhunter heart on the menu.

Once outside, she inhaled deeply. The smell of sulphur stung her nostrils, but beyond that, the air was strangely welcoming.

Strolling onward, she saw more summoning circles, some were empty, waiting for their next volunteers. A couple of them were busy; a night elf in one and blood elf in the other, both fighting their demons valiantly.

No imps for these two, but one was an arachnid type creature, with the night elf deftly avoiding the web traps it shot at her. The blood elf fought a Terrorguard, an enormous cloven-hooved, winged demon with the strength of twenty men. The blood elf, a paladin, was doing exceptionally well in the fight. Soon both parties had succeeded in their battles.

"You are up!" Arcaena's voice startled her.

Tiene spun around. "Yes, and I am hungry."

The demon hunter smiled. "Of course you are. Come, I will show where you can get something to eat."

"Please say it is not demon steaks."

Arcaena laughed. Her laughter was beautiful, soft just like a night elf, not at all scary or unsettling. Tiene could not help but smile at the sound of it - memories of Auberdine crossed her mind again as she remembered the night elves' laughter during her time in the rogue headquarters.

Arcaena took Tiene to an array of stalls which offered various types of food. Tiene ate heartily, relishing the taste of hot boar meat in the rich gravy, which she greedily mopped up with chunks of thick bread.

Arcaena sat with her as she enjoyed her meal. "You realise there is one final stage to perform?" Tiene nodded but kept eating.

"You have recovered sufficiently from the initiation, so finish your meal, and we will have it done."

Tiene slowed. She had not expected it to be so soon. There were so many things she craved to see before it was time for the last part of the ritual. Realistically, of course, being stuck in Shadowmoon, a novice in training for the Illidari, and war raging around her, that was a chimerical notion.

The demon hunter seemed to read her thoughts. "You will be surprised by how much better your view of the world will be once this is over, Tiene."

Tiene wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and looked around, taking in what she could. Oddly, this part of the ritual she dreaded most, which seemed ridiculous in light of what she had already undergone. With a deep sigh, she turned back to Arcaena. "How is it done?"

"By your hand - or someone else's if you would prefer."

Tiene nodded; her decision made quickly. No-one else was going to do this for her.

Arcaena's hand reached for Tiene's. "It is not necessary to have eyes to see, Tiene. Eyes can deceive. There are many skills which can help you identify things better and clearer than by mere vision. As a demon hunter, these skills become heightened, honed and perfected. You will have a gift called spectral sight which will enable you to see things with unmatched clarity and also can detect demons concealed from normal vision."

It was mandatory, and there was no use in delaying the unavoidable. Tiene dropped her fork on her dish and stood up. "Let's get this over with then."

Arcaena rose and took a moment to look at Tiene. "You are a born fighter, and you can be even greater. I believe you will rise in my husband's ranks and achieve amazing things. Consider yourself as a butterfly, emerging from its chrysalis."

For a moment Tiene's heart hammered so loudly she was almost deafened by it. Arcaena's words were poignant, bittersweet.

And so, Tiene found herself standing in another rune-bound circle, near to those for summoning the demons.

Arcaena stood by, offering encouragement and support. "The markings on your skin restrain your demon. You will be able to utilise its abilities as you progress through training, but, it will always try to emerge the stronger of the two of you. You must control it every time. Fight to win your inner battle so you may succeed in the war against the Legion. Now, take your daggers."

Tiene unsheathed the weapons and held them firmly at her sides. She was breathing deeply, remembering the metaphor Arcaena gave her. Butterfly - chrysalis.

"Join us Tiene," the demon hunter said. "Be all you can be."

As she drove the blades in, Tiene forced herself not to scream. She twisted the steel twice then extracted them, brutal, her ruined eyes on the dagger tips. She felt the blood flowing over her cheeks.

Arcaena gently wrapped some runecloth around the open sockets. "You are Illidari, Tiene. Now we train you."

Thank you for reading. All comments, advice and suggestions are most welcome. Should you like this chapter, please be kind enough to vote, it would be most appreciated.