Under Arrest

Hulan smoothed down her dress and inspected her hair closely in the mirror, tidying away a few stray wisps.  She turned to her father, “Wha’ do ye think Pa?”
“Och, I think ye look lovely lass, pretty as a picture you are.”
Hulan snorted and tossed her head, “I’s no a fashion parade Imma goin’ ta, i’s an important interview.  I dinnae want ta look pretty, I want ta look smart an’ tidy!”
Thorden grinned at his daughter, “Well ye look tha’ too lassie.”
Hulan turned back to the mirror and fussed nervously with her hair.  “I do ‘ope it turns out all right.  This guild ‘as very ‘igh standards an’ I dunno that I’m gud enuf fer ’em.”
“Not gud enough fer ’em?!” Thordenn roared “Dinna be thinkin’ like that lassie!  Yer gud enough for any guild in Azeroth an’ dinna ye go sayin’ any different!”
Hulan caught her father’s eye in the mirror and grinned “Mebbe I shud send yesself up ta Ironforge, ye cud speak fer me an’ tell ’em how gud I am.  Then again, mebbe ye’d frighten tha poor wee bugger ‘alf ta death an’ they’d never let me in!”
Thorden smiled sheepishly, “Ye dinna need me ta speak fer ye lassie, yer quite capable o’ doin’ that fer yesself.  I dinna like ta ‘ear ye do yesself down though, yer as gud as anyone.”
Hulan picked up her cloak and draped it over her arm and crossed the room to hug her father.  “I know Pa.  Now wish me luck, I’m away up to Ironforge ta meet yon fella.  ‘E said aboot eight o’clock an’ I’d rather be there in plenty o’ time.”
Thorden hugged Hulan hard, “Good luck to ye lassie.  I ‘ope tha fella gi’s ye a fair hearin’.”
Hulan threw the cloak around her shoulders, “Imma sure ‘e will.  Like I said, they’re a gud bunch o’ people…I’ve never ‘eard a bad word aboot any o’ them.  Now dinna fash yesself, I’ll come straight back an’ tell ye all aboot it.”

Death and Rebirth

The noise and bustle of Stormwind faded as Hulan stared at the stark, black words that leaped out from the pale paper. Your Ma…fading fast…come home Thrusting the paper into her bag, Hulan turned and raced through Stormwind towards the Gryphon roost. Ignoring angry exclamations as she barged by slow-moving pedestrians Hulan ran like she’d never run before. Pushing to the front of the queue, yelling “Ironforge, I need ta get ta Ironforge”, she thrust a handful of gold coins at the startled gryphon master who pointed dumbly at a nearby beast. Vaulting on to it’s back, she kicked it hard spurring it into flight and soared up into the sky. She fretted all the way to Ironforge, muttering to herself “Let me get there in time” and occasionally grumbling at the Gryphon, “Come on yer mangy lump o’ fur an’ feathers, can ye no go any faster than this? I could walk there faster than ye can fly!”

Tales From the Past

Hulan and Borron sat in their “secret” place overlooking Elwynn Forest. The campfire Borron had made was dying down and he reluctantly removed his arm from around Hulan and stirred himself to build it up again. Hulan hugged her knees and followed him with her eyes, fiddling with the red ribbon tied around her wrist. Borron turned from the fire to see Hulan’s grin illuminated by the re-kindled flames.

Hulan’s Visit Home

Hulan dismounted and tethered her ram, Cloud, to a tree near to the little stone house. She adjusted her armour and grinned down at the white bear by her side. “Come on Blanche” she said quietly. The bear followed her and stood patiently while she knocked hard on the door. Thorden Stonefist opened the door, his eyes widening with surprise at the sight of his daughter.
“What are ye knockin’ at tha door like a stranger fer?” he asked.
Hulan stood to attention and saluted solemnly. “Hulan Stonefist, Defender o’ tha Shield Canton o’ Tha Keepers o’ tha Light….fully fledged hunter, reportin’ fer duty.”
Thorden’s face broke into a beaming smile and he opened his arms wide sweeping her up in a fierce hug, “Woohoo! Ye finished yer trainin’?!”
Hulan nodded, grinning broadly at him “Aye…I’ve finished me trainin’. O’course I still ‘ave a lot ta learn but tha formal trainin’s done, now it’s jes’ a matter o’ buildin’ up me experience.”

Blanche

“Aaaaaaaaagh!” Nulyn screamed as she slammed the door. Thorden came running, hammer in hand, to see his wife pale and trembling. “B-b-bear,” she stammed in response to his unspoken question.
“Move away fra’ th’door lassie,” said Thorden pulling her towards him. Nulyn watched, hands to her mouth, as Thorden adjusted his grip on the hammer, squared his shoulders and started to open the door. He peered round the edge of the door and, to his wife’s astonishment, burst out laughing. “Tha’s no a bear, it’s our wee lassie Hulan!”
Nulyn scowled and pulled Thorden away from the door and opened it wide. Indeed, there stood a sheepish looking Hulan and behind Hulan there was a large white bear.

Hulan’s Story

“I’m so sorry Pa”, whispered Hulan, her voice cracking as she struggled to hold back her tears. Thorden Stonefist looked into his daughter’s brimming eyes and felt a lump rise in his throat.
“Aw lassie”, he said reaching across the table to pat her hand “Ye cannae force yesel’ tae be somethin’ yer not. I know ye really wanted to be a Paladin but was it really fer the right reason?”
Hulan sighed, “Nay, I suppose not. I jes’ wanted ter make you and Ma proud of me an’ I wanted to serve the light like you both have.”