(12) A new life

Weeks passed, and then months. As the world recoiled from the impact of the War of the Ancients and began to rebuild, Rhia began to recover under the guidance of a small group of sandfury exiles. The young elf learned over time who they were, what they did to be exiled and how they all became a group. Zenthul was their leader, a witchdoctor who practiced medical arts and focused on healing. His exile had been due to a misunderstanding with the tribal chieftain over something petty, yet the leader showed little mercy in exiling him. Another troll, a woman with a darker tone of skin, was his wife Zonraja. She was a warrior, wielding a pair of savage curved scimitars as weapons, yet despite her initial savagery she proved to show much kindness, and treated Rhia with much respect and honour. Her exile had come from dutifully following her husband when he had been banished. The third was a younger troll, much paler, with short tusks and even shorter white hair called Vulzal. He proved to be the sneaky and hunter type, often being the one that would provide food from the sea or from the sands (neither tasting good, to Rhia's eyes, but she was grateful). While he did not openly greet Rhia with kindness or respect, he did nor show her any scorn either, instead treating her as an equal stranger. His exile, to hear him tell it, was from caught sleeping with another trolls wife, yet the others would say it was from gambling debts of a kind. The final troll had a more grey tone of skin, with long, chipped tusks, a youthful yet slightly worn face and vibrant red hair styled up in to a mohawk. His exile had come from studying magic thought to be forbidden by troll society. His name was Venjo, and he treated Rhia with the most kindness and respect.

The four had found each other over time, and in the months prior to the catacalysm as they called it, had headed further westwards through Kalimdor and southwards towards the shore line. They had made their little huts, and had established a small life for themselves when she had shown up, almost dead and drowned from the sea. They were of a mixed opinion at first with what to do with me, with some wanting me dead as I was an enemy. Yet Zenthul and Venjo pleaded for Rhia's life, hoping that she would prove to be a friend and ally rather than an enemy. Slowly the others agreed, and they worked on saving Rhia's life.

For the next few months, she further recovered. Rhia learnt that the teachings of her people about the trolls held little to no truth. They proved not to be mindless savages, but just more primal beings, capable of showing more care than most of her own kind. She learnt that they were resourceful as well, holding the land and nature in high regard. Vulzal had dutifully began to teach her about the different plants within the desert, how to sneak and hunt, what was safe to eat and what wasn't. Zonraja, one day after catching Rhia sharpening the rust off of her blade while lost in sad memories, had offered to and begun to start improving Rhia's wild technique of fighting in to something more refined. Sometimes, Rhia found herself talking a lot about religion with Zenthul, and she learnt that at the core of things there was little difference between the loa and Elune. Zenthul also displayed an interest in Rhia's apparent lack of faith in her own godess, yet Rhia did not feel comfortable with such a topic yet. Lastly, Venjo could be relied upon to make Rhia less unhappy, and rarely even smile.

All in all, Rhia began to learn about the world, and she began to make friends.

Her previous garb, her elven chain now rusted and worn down, had been replaced with something much lighter and more suitable for the desert climate. Light cloth bindings loosely wound their way around her chest and shoulders, leaving her stomach exposed. A light hood covered her head from the sun to avoid burning. Meanwhile her lower body was covered in a loose cloth skirt and leather shorts, while after a few days of confusion where Rhia was complaining of burnt feet after loosing her boots, she began to wear some quickly fashioned leather sandals.

For a long while during all this, Rhia began to feel at peace. She had been given a second chance at life, and now could live in peace and not in war. The memories of all she had lost pained her greatly; and often she relived the war and the slaughter in her sleep, yet she knew she would and could eventually move on. Her hatred still boiled in anger within her as well, but with no more demons, it was partially quenched. She knew she could live the life of an exile now, or she could follow the rumors that the others had heard of.

Apparently, some of her people had survived. Leading under Jarod Shadowsong, Tyrande Whisperwind and Malfurion Stormrage, they had begun to settle among the northern forests around and on Mount Hyjal. There, they had forsaken their arcane ways, and had begun to try and live a life at one with nature. It sounded idealistic, wishful and almost ridiculous that such a thing could be pulled off, yet Rhia was willing to give the rumors a potential possibility some time. For now though, she was ready to content herself to a life among her new troll friends.