Due to the urgency of the situation, Vorta Moon-Scar gave the envoy group members only three days to recuperate. Under the joint spellcasting of the Highborne mages, the group of nearly a hundred individuals vanished one after another within teleportation arrays shimmering with blue-purple arcane light.
Andreas was among the crowd seeing them off. The final look Shandris cast his way gave him a heavy sense of responsibility.
Tyrande... is it?
To be honest, if judged by the established impressions from future generations, Andreas' opinion of Tyrande wasn't particularly good.
This High Priestess, who could be said to hold absolute power in the future, was clear-headed enough regarding major crises that threatened the world, but she often acted irrationally regarding certain details.
The most typical example was when she pushed away the Nightborne—who had proactively shown goodwill—with a mocking tone, forcing the survivors of Suramar to join the Horde through the introduction of their Blood Elf kin.
Furthermore, to rescue Illidan from the barrow dens, she impulsively attacked and killed the Watchers under Maiev's command, forging a conflict with Maiev that would prove nearly impossible to resolve.
However, after his conversation with Fandral, Andreas had cleared his mind of a particular thought.
Forcing fixed impressions of the future onto historical figures of the present was a typical case of personal bias at work.
Perhaps the "Grandma Tyrande" of today hasn't yet been altered by the influence of holding absolute power for many years, and is still a maiden priestess as pure as snow?
Since it was confirmed that he would join the strike team to rescue Tyrande, Andreas did not stay long at the central camp where Jarod was stationed.
During his few days at the camp, Andreas spent most of his time learning Druidic spells from Fandral. Relying on the physical memory left in his body from his predecessor, he indeed quickly mastered the spellcasting tricks that his brain had forgotten.
Among these was one of the Druid's signature spells—Shapeshifting.
The Druidic sect of this era was still in its infancy and had not yet formed a structured system of specializations; even the Cenarion Circle had not yet been established.
However, many Druids already had a special fondness for the wonders of shapeshifting, which allowed them to transform into various beast forms. These individuals were the foundation and prototype of the Feral Druids who would specialize in shapeshifting combat in the future.
Although Andreas could have reached the frontline military camp directly via the Highborne mages' teleportation, he decided to fly the distance himself to familiarize himself with the newly mastered shapeshifting ability.
Yes, fly.
Feral Druids could be further subdivided into several factions, such as the Druids of the Claw who specialized in ferocious animals like lions, tigers, and panthers; Guardian Druids who specialized in the thick-skinned bear form; and Druids of the Talon who specialized in flight forms.
Andreas had not yet decided which direction he wanted to specialize in for the future. After all, his mutated power form was very strange and differed greatly from traditional Druids.
According to Fandral, Andreas' predecessor was skilled in the Claw specialization's feline form, but the current Andreas had an instinctive aversion to using a long-tailed body to fight for extended periods.
During their interactions over the past few days, Fandral had discovered Andreas' mutated natural energy.
Compared to the more rigid Malfurion, the younger Fandral was more accepting of new things, though he couldn't say for sure whether this mutation was good or bad.
The only thing he could confirm was that the forms Andreas shifted into, powered by mutated natural energy, were significantly different from before.
...
Looking down at the ground from the air, one could clearly see that with the capital Zin-Azshari—or rather, the Well of Eternity—as the center, the Fel corruption was spreading across the land step by step.
The surroundings of the Well of Eternity, once shaded by green trees, were now devoid of any vegetation. The center of the swirling well water continued to vomit demons, and the surrounding earth had become parched and cracked, clearly stripped of the life-giving vitality that soil should possess.
A large number of Felbats and Doomguards patrolled the skies above the Well of Eternity. With the Burning Legion's defensive strength, a breakthrough from the air was essentially impossible.
In contrast, not far outside the eastern gate of Zin-Azshari, a large number of birds with various feather patterns patrolled vigilantly above a dense forest, interspersed with a few massive two-headed Chimeras.
Chimeras, like Faerie Dragons and Dryads, were known as allies of nature. Under Cenarius' call, they had gathered from all parts of Kalimdor, playing a significant role in the Night Elves' advancing front lines.
At the center of these avian forces, a half-human, half-bird creature draped in snow-white feathers hovered in mid-air, gently flapping her wings.
This peculiar creature possessed the beautiful features of a female Night Elf, and most of her body appeared no different from one.
However, her hands had sharp talons, a pair of snow-white wings extended from her upper arms, and her slender legs transitioned into bird-like claws from the calves down.
A large raptor, its body covered in gradient black-brown feathers, was approaching the area where the birds were gathered.
This large bird was about one meter in total length, with a wingspan exceeding two meters when fully extended in flight.
The most striking feature was the feathers on its nape; they were a very special and rare lanceolate shape that shimmered like brilliant gold under the sunlight, contrasting completely with the feather colors on the rest of its body.
The sudden approach of an unfamiliar raptor naturally drew the attention of the flock. Even the peculiar half-human, half-bird creature turned her gaze, a look of curiosity flashing in her vibrant eyes.
"Oh? A Druid? This form is quite interesting."
With a gentle scan of her glowing eyes, the peculiar creature saw through the other party's identity.
This raptor was not a real bird, but a flight form transformed by a Druid.
However, ordinary Druids mostly transformed into common owls or crows; only Feral Druids specializing in raptor forms would transform into eagles or vultures.
Andreas didn't know if Azeroth had the specific raptor he had transformed into—a Golden Eagle.
After approaching the group of agitated birds, Andreas flapped his wings and hovered in mid-air, his sharp eagle eyes fixed on the half-human, half-bird woman.
A Harpy? No, her eyes lack the fierce cruelty of a Harpy. Could she be...
Although their appearances were similar, the temperament of the bird-woman before him was entirely different from a Harpy. One could feel an aura of peace and tranquility emanating from her, to the point where even as a Golden Eagle transformed by a Druid, he felt an instinctive urge to draw closer to her.
Under her curious and friendly gaze, the Golden Eagle nodded to her politely.
"Respected Mother of All Birds, Messenger of Elune—Lady Aviana. Druid Andreas Moonshadow sends his greetings."