In the beginning all was black. The world, her entire being spun in this void and it was good. A peaceful slumber without thought, without sense and only the immutable emptiness. There was bliss in this, but it was not to be.

"Wake up, " a soft voice, malleable with concern, whispered through her mind, "Tasharin, wake up"

It siphoned through the haze that clouded her mind as a gradual awareness of her surroundings filtered through. They were delicate touches on her senses, the acrid smoke of a magical fire, a flickering haze of purple light and the feeling of a hand gentle shaking her shoulder. She blinked the world into focus, to find the concerned face of Megalon peering down at her. With that a tumultous rush of sensation flooded her body, the aches and pains of her bruised limbs a painful mark of what had occured. Which was? Her mind could not yet comprehend where she was.

Shards of purple crystal stood around her, showing a sky that had been burned from blue to a pinkish haze. Smoke curled lazily around them and the sputtering magic of outlets and capacitors left an acrid stench to the air. The breeze upon her skin was cool, a balm against the harsh frame of the pod that had enclosed her in their landfal. Landfal. This must be Azeroth then. She strained against Megalon, trying to sit up.

"No," he said, "Relax. Your pod missed the landing site and took a rather rough tumble down a hillside. You're still a bit bruised"

She shook her head, "No, I'm alright. Help me up."

His tentacles twitched in agitation, the concern evident in his face, but with sure hands guided her upright. From this vantage point the true extent of the damage was evident. What must have been a peaceful forest was torn and shredded by the wreckage of their crash landing. Escape pods had carved wide furrows in the lands and the dirt still steamed in the cool night time air. She could hear the groans of agony and caught snatches of Draenic conversation as the survivors coordinated their work. Off in the distance larger crystal shards, in places with the smooth metallic superstructure still attached to it were embedded in the landscape. She could see soft light spilling from them and within that the shadows of her fellow travellers as they moved about. With Megalon's aid she scrambled out of her pod. It was a testimony to the construction facilities of the Exodar that it had survived the impact with this planet. Even so, it would never grace the starfields again.

"We made it?" she asked, "And what of the Exodar?"

He gestured over his shoulder, "Somewhere over there, a few clicks to the West. They are organizing scouting parties to head in that direction - once we've established some form of base camp. And yes, we made it although not many were as fortunate."

She nodded as she felt deep within herself, to bring forth the blessing of Naaru. A blue white light played over her forehead, a sigil of promise that suffused her body with Naaru's strength. It's purity shot through her limbs, banishing her pains as she gasped in surprise. The strength, it felt like liquid fire in her veins, no, it was molten. Touched in some way by the latent magic of this land. This was not how it was before, the gentle communion with Naaru. She turned her lit gaze on Megalon.

"How?"

He shook his head, "I do not know, Tasharin. Some of our sages are investigating. There is magic in this land, magic untouched by the Legion and it's affecting some of us. No, it's affecting all of us. You should speak to Proenitus, he will know more."

"Up there," he gestured up the hill as she followed his tear filled gaze, "There are more pods that landed. I'm gathering what survivors I can find and directing them to Proenitus. There are so many. So many."

Tasharin embraced her taller friend, feeling the soft sobbing as his tentacles draped over her shoulder and gentle patted her back. There was warmth in this embrace, a sharing of their ancient lineage and sorrow over their lost companions. A few moments passed while she comforted Megalon, until she could no longer feel the soft sobbing deep within his chest. As they disentangled, she could see a new resolve in his eyes. Even if there was no happiness, he would save who he could. And she'd see her brother smile once more, that she vowed.

"Remember," he said, "Seek out Proenitus. He will know more of what has happened."

As Tasharin half turned to leave, she found herself turning back to him. "Megalon," she started as her hand began tracing an unfamiliar gesture, "Peace of the Earth, Fire, Water and Air be upon you."

His tentacles quivered for a moment, then he nodded and set off. She watched him go, before heading down the hill herself towards Proenitus.