Diary of a Sentinal: Four

The Draenei had accepted me, had helped me, and had taught me many things, including how to use a crossbow. I took to the weapon quickly, realizing that it was more powerful than the bows of my people. Citrine had followed me all the way from Teldrassil to the Azuremist island where the strange race had fallen in their craft.

After spending a great deal of time with them, I got to know them and found them to be quite similar to the Kal'dorei. I felt at ease. When they came to me, asking for help, I readily agreed. It was when Achelus sent me out that I found my second companion. Achelus, the poor, unfortunate man, was part of a research team that had uncovered a terrible spider nest up in the hills. I had never seen spiders such as these, covered in spikes and screeching. They unnerved me more than most things did. He asked me to kill them, including their brood mother, Zarakh.

I did so, gladly, as they were dangerous to the refugees from the Exodar. Blood Watch would not be safe until they were destroyed. As I continued up into the hills, I finally found them. Another researcher from Achelus' team, Cornelius, was just outside the pass, desperate for help. He begged me to free any others from his team that may still be alive in the wrapped webbing found all along the path up into the hills. I agreed, hoping I'd find some alive. The spiders were terrible, twisted creatures, affected by the contamination of the island and the crystals from the Exodar. As I slew the large spiders, I moved further up the hill, surrounded by more and more webbing and dead and dying prey. Thankfully, I was able to find a few more survivors from the research team, but all I could do was free them and tell them to run. It was at the top of the hill that I finally faced off against Zarakh, the mother of them all. Poison from the spiders coursed through my body and Citrine's speed was off as she no doubt was also poisoned and in pain. It was a wonder we survived.

I had feared for my life before, during the wars, but I was never as unnerved or scared as I was then. These spiders, with their otherworldly screeching and skittering, were terrifying, even to one such as myself. It was possible their poison affected the mind as well. Shaking, doing my best to fight the venom, I layed a trap for the brood mother, stepped back, and fired. Enraged, the giant spider rushed, falling into my trap and, finally, succumbing to my attack.

What possessed me then, I do not know. Behind the giant spider were egg sacks. Most of them looked normal and a few were even hatching, showing much smaller, less dangerous versions of the colorful arachnids I had slain on the way to the top that no doubt would grow into the terrible monsters I had already killed. There were a few eggs, though, that looked different... larger, I thought, and darker. The researchers at the base might want to look at them, and now that Citrine and I had cleared a path, the going would be easier. I took several, placing them in my pack, hoping they'd not hatch soon.

The researchers were indeed pleased with my prizes and Achelus thanked me. With the researchers saved, I breathed a sigh of relief and continued aiding them. It was many mornings later, near dawn, as I was hunting near Blood Watch that something in my pack jumped. I dropped it swiftly and moved back, guessing what had happened. I had counted the eggs I had taken, and had thought all of them had been given to the researchers. Perhaps on my way down, I had brushed close to another eggsack and it had fallen in? Or perhaps I hadn't gotten rid of them all... regardless, I recognized the movement even when confined in my pack, and the screech that sounded a moment later confirmed my fear. One of the spiders was inside.

It managed to find it's way out, slowly, one black leg after another until it was free. I was surprised to see what appeared to be a much smaller Zarakh, the shiny, black and red exoskeleton covered in spikes and thorny growths. It moved as if confused and I immediately threw a bit of meat away from my bag, hoping it would follow and then run away into the forest. At first, I thought my plan had worked, as it charged after the fresh kill, quickly eating the red meat, but surprised me when it then turned and rushed back towards me, screeching. I backed up, away from my kill. The damn creature had associated me with food.

Still, as I sat watching the spider devour what was going to be my dinner, I thought about how terrifying he looked, how unnerving he was to even me. As often as I found myself in the middle of battlefields, I had to think that he'd be even worse against an enemy. He finished it off, and charged me again, but this time I was ready. I had dried meat rations in my bag and managed to slow him down long enough to feed him, finally sating his hunger.

I shall call you Obsidian, I had thought to myself, and watched gleefully as the great spider followed me tamely. It would be a few bites and trials later that he would completely controlled, but he has proven to be as potent in battle against my enemies as I could have wished. Now, his screech is almost welcome, as it warns me of prowling enemies, and his spitting web can snare fleeing targets long enough for me to come to the fight. His poison sacks were removed, for my saftey as well as others, but he is more than enough to defeat most.

Obsidian, my spider of death, my living snare. A true soldier.