The Stormwind orphanage was always full of life, but during Noblegarden, the excitement was truly contagious. Beneluna smiled as she watched the children bouncing around, their eyes shining with anticipation.
Yet, Matron Shellene looked grim.
"Is everything alright?" Beneluna asked.
Shellene sighed and stopped swiping the floors. "The funds we've been getting this year are very low… I know it’s because King Anduin is not here… he always helped… but now… the kids still have warm beds to sleep in, but their toys are falling apart, the books they study are outdated, and, well… I would just love if this place had a little bit more color."
Beneluna sighed. She wished she could do more to help. A lot of her earnings from adventuring already went to the orphanage, but she knew the kids were growing fast—and needed more than just a warm bed. They needed new books, tools to create and dream with… color in their lives, like Shellene had said.
The thoughts were interrupted by the kids who yelled in awe when they saw her.
"Seraphyne, Caelum, Virellia, are you ready for some fun?" Beneluna called out, laughing as the kids came to hug her, their eyes filled with joy.
Today was special—she had promised to take them on an adventure to find the legendary Noblegarden Bunny, who was said to have hidden surprises all around the forests of Azsuna.
"Remember, the Noblegarden Bunny is very sneaky," Beneluna told them as they stood in the Wizard’s Sanctum near the portal to Dalaran. "It won’t just hop out and say hello, but if we pay close attention, we might find some clues!"
The children nodded seriously, their eyes filled with excitement and anticipation.
The forests of Azsuna were breathtaking—lush, vibrant, and filled with wildflowers and colorful butterflies. The air carried the sweet scent of blossoms, and the warm sunlight bathed the eager bunny hunters in a golden glow.
"Alright, kids! Stay close to me, but feel free to search for the bunny!" Beneluna said with a laugh as the children scattered, eagerly looking for clues.
Before long, excited voices filled the air:
"Beneluna, come look! I found a colorful feather!"
"There’s a giant footprint here! Maybe it belongs to the bunny?"
"Hey! This isn’t a bunny, but this sheep is smiling at me!"
Beneluna chuckled warmly, watching as the children ran from one discovery to the next.
She took a deep breath, reached into her satchel, and carefully pulled out a beautifully decorated large egg. Its surface shimmered with soft pastel colors, and inside, she knew, were little chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil.
With a quick glance to make sure no one was watching, she knelt down behind a mossy rock and tucked the egg carefully into the clover. Then, with a bright smile, she stood up and clapped her hands.
"Alright, everyone! I have a feeling the Noblegarden Bunny might have left us a surprise!"
"Beneluna, we found the Easter Bunny egg too!" one of the kids shouted.
To Beneluna’s horror, Caelum was holding a large blue egg, and the girls were clapping their hands in excitement. But she knew… that egg didn’t belong to the Noblegarden Bunny.
It belonged to no other than—
A piercing shriek filled the sky as an angry hippogryph descended, its massive claws outstretched and its eyes glowing with fury. Beneluna braced herself, planting her feet in the soft earth. The wind whipped her hair as the furious hippogryph swooped closer, its talons aimed straight at the nest.
"Drop the egg, Caelum!" she called over her shoulder, her voice firm but not unkind.
Caelum hesitated for just a heartbeat, then carefully lowered the egg back into the grass, his hands shaking. "I’m sorry!" he cried.
The hippogryph screeched and pulled up at the last second, circling low above them, its wings casting wide shadows over the group.
Beneluna raised both hands, palms open. “It’s alright now… we didn’t mean to take your egg. See? It’s safe, unharmed.”
The creature flapped its wings once—twice—then landed heavily beside the nest, glaring at them all with narrowed, intelligent eyes. It inspected the egg, nuzzled it with its beak… and then gave a short, sharp grunt.
Beneluna slowly let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
Then—without warning—the hippogryph let out a gentler cry and dropped something from its talons.
A single, glowing feather.
It fluttered through the air and landed at Beneluna’s feet.
"A gift…" she whispered in awe. "For protecting its young."
Behind her, the kids gasped in amazement.
“Does this mean we’re friends now?” asked the Draenei girl in a small voice.
Beneluna turned to them with a big smile. “I think… it does.”
Her gaze dropped to the glowing feather still nestled in the grass.
And then it clicked.
"Wait a minute…" she whispered, carefully picking up the feather. It shimmered in her hand like bottled starlight.
“Children! Grab the chocolate egg and those coins—we’re taking a very special trip!”
Soon, the group stood in the heart of Dalaran, the floating city gleaming with arcane light. The children gasped in awe at the magical streets, enchanted broomsticks sweeping by, and a gnome juggling flaming cupcakes.
Beneluna led them straight to Wonderworks, the famed toy shop bursting with wonder.
Inside, they were greeted by the shopkeeper, a cheerful gnome named Jepetto Joybuzz, with large pink hair and even larger pink moustaches. His eyes widened as Beneluna revealed the feather.
“Well tickle me with a murloc fin! A Moongleam Hippogryph Skyfeather?! These are priceless! Where in Azeroth did you— actually, don’t answer. I’ll pay handsomely for it, right now.”
Beneluna smiled. “We’ll take payment in joy, please.”
Jepetto looked at Beneluna and let out a hearty laugh. “Well then, you’ve come to the right place!”
The children zipped through the shop, giggling and grabbing everything from plush elekk dolls to enchanted storybooks that told themselves aloud. There were mini wind-up dragons, floating building blocks, and even a toy spell wand that created harmless sparkles.
Then came cozy blankets, stacks of new schoolbooks, colorful curtains, a whole shelf of fresh paints, and a magical record player that played lullabies.
Back at the orphanage…
Matron Shellene nearly fainted as the children returned, arms overflowing with gifts.
“By the Light… what happened??”
Beneluna set down a basket of fresh-baked muffins and gave her a hug. “Let’s just say Noblegarden came early… and it had wings.”