Finally got around to getting screenshots. Only problem is...these aren't the ones that I took originally. My computer is still messed up and won't load Google Chrome at all. It just says "Google won't respond", stupid thing. I'll get is sorted eventually. So, there's a lack of screenies, but I managed to grab the two that actually mattered. Disclaimer out the way, it's time to get on with it! This will be written from Krysteena's point of view, not mind. Just something to bear in mind when someone reads this.
This is Shiren, when he was alive that is. Shiren, my sweet little porcupine, was slain in cold blood by my own Warchief. He only wished to protect me, and it cost him his life.
I met Shiren when I first began my adventure in Pandaria. The sweet guy was just staring at me with big eyes, almost begging to join me. How could I say no? Shiren proved himself to me early on. He would fight with all he had, no matter if it was a mogu or a butterfly. His little growls, chirps kept the enemy at bay while I took them down from afar. Yes, he struggled to keep them off me at times, but otherwise he was a valiant protector. Shiren means "man slayer" in my tongue, for he was more than eager to shed alliance blood, as one druid found out. Never underestimate the porcupine. Shiren became irreplaceable and he got on wonderfully with many of my pets, which is always a plus.
When we caught wind of Garrosh coming to Pandaria, we knew it'd be the right thing to do to go see him personally. Of course, he was rather chuffed at seeing someone who could kill on command, but he didn't like Shiren. Probably because he'd stepped on him once or twice during the building of domination point. That wasn't Shirens fault, as he told me through our bond. The big bear-man-pig should've watched where he put his feet, apparently. I knew Shiren. He liked to sleep in awkward places. After all, I'd often caught him sleeping in my back pack, or in the stables by my Yak, and had stepped on him a few times.
We watched as Garrosh twisted. As he became even more violent than before. Even more bloodthirsty. We'd keep our distance, but sometimes we'd be summoned by him. He'd want us to kill something, scout somewhere or find someone. We did so, without hesitation. When Vol'Jin was nearly killed, we swore the blood oath with him. He actually used Shiren's quills to induce the blood that'd link us, as brothers. Later, Shiren asked why he'd called my his brother, when I was clearly female. I just brushed it off as him being delirious. We knew he'd be okay, Vol'Jin. He was strong enough.
Shiren and I, we'd balance our days out. Some days, we'd be at domination point and he long with the day to day tasks there. Other days, although they were few and far between, we'd be with Vol'Jin, telling him everything. He was weak, but was strong enough to listen, and although he couldn't do anything to Garrosh, he knew I could. He told me, us, to keep close to him. Watch him. Shiren was more than eager to, for he told me he felt like a rogue. Vol'Jin had laughed at that, as I told him what Shiren had said.
Vol'Jin wasn't getting stronger, but Garrosh was. One day, we got a message. The divine bell was ours. He wished to show all what It could do. So, in typical fashion, Shiren and I went with him. The air was tense, when we got there. Something was wrong, and my little companion shuffled behind me, as if afraid. A few soothing words later sorted that out.
The Sha isn't something to be messed with. Garrosh lost many warriors that day, by my hand and Shiren's quill, and Ishi also fell. That fat Orc had had it coming for him, there was no denying it. As we waited for more to happen, Shiren looked up at me. He wasn't afraid. Once again, he stood before me and was ready to defend. I smiled at him, not knowing it'd be my last smile I shared with him.
Anduin was here. He tried to stop Garrosh, and Shiren was right with him. When Garrosh was about to charge the weakened Prince, he leapt forward, straight for the Warchief. I tried to call him back, using all my training on the masters call to utter one, harsh command towards him. It fell on deaf ears. Shiren bit at the leg of the Orc, and Garrosh was oddly calm as he regarded Shiren with a blank expression. I would've raced forward, had I not been frozen in fear. The Warchief turned to me as he snatched up Shiren, lifting him clean off the ground. I heard myself scream at him, to put Shiren down. I heard Anduin begin to chant something, as if wishing to help Shiren too. I ran towards the Warchief. What I was doing was crazy. I knew it was. I'd get myself killed. That didn't stop me.
Alas, we were too slow. With a smirk, Garrosh squeezed as hard as he could. Even from a little way away, I heard little bones snap and shatter. I felt the loss immediately. It was like loosing part of myself. Shiren fell to the ground then, body limp. Garrosh, knowing I'd be helpless now, charged for Anduin. I didn't hear it when the divine bell was struck. I didn't feel any pain as bits and pieces of it acted like bullets upon my armour. I didn't hear Anduin fall to the ground, lifeless. I didn't hear, feel or see anything other than Shiren's body. He was gone. My little companion was gone. I'd tried so hard to defend him and I'd failed. I could've done so much more, and I knew it. I could've kept him away. Made him stay with Vol'Jin. Anything. I shouldn't have brought him with me. Yet, it was too late. His spirit was too weak, and I knew I couldn't leave Shiren. Sluggishly, I picked up his limp body and prepared to begin the burial ritual of all hunters once a companion dies. I'd take him to his favourite place, where we would sit and watch the sun set over the Jade Forest. The little clearing outside the cave where Vol'Jin was attacked. It had a mini lake there, and he'd liked to swim in it.
My grief consumed me, I'll admit it. I'd hoped I'd be one of those hunters who never loss a companion. Who would never feel the pain it would endow upon them. Shiren was gone, and there was no bringing him back. As me and Lark, my azure cloud serpent, laid him to rest, the last of the suns rays caught our grave for him, as if it too wanted to say goodbye. Lark lowered himself to the ground, breathing a small jet of flame upon the stone. There it'd burn, unable to be put out, to represent Shiren's unwillingness to back down. However, here was when something extraordinary happened.
The flame grew. It didn't shrink, as I thought it would. The sun didn't leave the patch of dirt that Shiren rested under. They both mingled, becoming unbelievably bright. I had to shield my eyes, and after what seemed like an eternity, I could finally being myself to lower my arm from my face. The sight wasn't anything I'd ever thought possible.
There, as if alive, stood Shiren. He was larger, and there was something off about him. His body was almost transparent, but as I reached forward, he was solid. He was completely red, but his eyes still burned bright with the desire to protect. With the desire to love. Looking at Lark, who was just as confused as I was, it dawned upon me. What had happened was rare, but not unheard of. If a hunters companion love was strong enough, not even death could separate them. The companion would return to life as a spirit beast, ready to protect as they had once done so eagerly in life.
Shiren had returned to me once again, and there was no chance in Azeroth was I ever letting him go again.
Just had a death in the family so little busy with the wake and funeral. Will post a roll as soon as I can. 
☆ 
But anyway, once I forced myself to remember how to get in the Deadmines, it was an easy jaunt to where the monkies are chained.
