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The sounds of birds woke me up, chirping in the trees nearby, announcing the morning. Lazily I stretched myself out under the furs, curling up against Sadok again a moment, yawning wide. He was still asleep, as usual, snoring loudly. With a soft shake of my head, I crawled out from under the furs, my stomach rumbling. Time for some hunting. Cera greeted me with a nudge of her nose as I walked outside, clad in some simple leathers and holding my bow in my hand while fixing the straps of my quiver.
“No’ today, Cera. Ya be too loud wit’ ‘untin’. Ya stay wit’ Sadok.” I said while letting my hand run over the deep red crest of the direhorn, who let out a low, content grunt at the touch. Smiling, I made my way further into camp, nodding some greetings to the guards. The camp seemed quiet this early morning, most still sleeping or perhaps out as well. I knew I wasn’t supposed to go out far by myself, so I looked around, standing on the small hill next to camp.

Nagrand was beautiful, even with the looming threat of the Warsong so nearby. Green fields, hills and cliffsides, trees, a light breeze surrounding me and messing up my hair even more. It wasn’t cold, even though the light chill of the morning still hung in the air. Clefthooves stomped easily through the landscape, no fear for anything, their strength in their numbers and the fact they were just huge creatures. I wouldn’t bother trying to get one of those down on my own, it would be suicide.
Keeping my bow and an arrow in my hand, I made my way down the hill. Maybe a Talbuk… Though those were nasty too, had to be lucky to find one alone and not paying attention too much. Those horns could put a hole in me easily if I wasn’t careful. The wolfpacks running around were not safe to hunt either, I’d get the whole pack on my head.

As I silently moved from tree to tree, keeping to the shadows, I spotted a hill not far from the path, with windrocs swarming around something. I couldn’t see yet what it was, so I crept closer slowly in the high grass, my skincolor actually giving a good camouflage here. As I came closer I saw what had made the rocs coming here. An old clefthoof, slumped to the ground, the eyes unfocused and non-seeing. The rocs just waited here for it to die, an easy meal. Which in turn might give me an easy meal if I managed to get one of them down. I chose a high spot, downwind from the birds.
I knew that if I shot one, I’d have to be fast. The flock would probably fly up for a moment in shock, but they’d be back fast enough after seeing nothing more was happening. I knocked an arrow on my bow, crouching behind some grass on the hill, looking down.
Taking one of the fattest one in my sight, I aimed and let the arrow fly. A loud screech sounded, a flurry of feathers and the other rocs flew up in panic, making a hell of a noise. In the confusion I ran in, my bow back on the hill as not to hinder in my movements, a knife in my hand. Without hesitation I found the shot bird and slit it’s throat while it lay there dying, the arrow having gone straight into the chest. I grabbed the two large talons in my hand and quickly made my way back up the hill to my hiding spot in the high grass, dragging the heavy thing with me.

The other rocs didn’t follow, not wanting to leave their easy meal of dead clefthoof. Grinning wide, I started to pluck my prize, sticking some of the more long, pretty feathers into my belt.  I could make something out of those later. While I sat there, leaning my back against a rock, my eye fell on the group of windrocs in the distance. One was sitting on the ground, hopping closer to a tree nearby, before pecking at something and flying off again.

For a second I thought I saw something black flashing out, like a paw, and I could swear I heard  a low growl. I kept my eyes on it for a little while longer, but nothing else happened. My curiousity won it from my caution as I slowly started to make my way down to the tree, bow and arrow in my hand. Just to be sure.
As I got closer I could hear ragged breathing coming from a place deep into the shadows under the tree. I narrowed my eyes, trying to see what it was. I sniffed the air, but that didn’t give me much clues either. The scent was somehow familiar, but also strange, especially in these lands. I had smelled it before though, but where..?

Nothing happened as I came close to the bush, apart from a low growl sounding. A warning, I knew that very well. Carefully I poked one side of my bow into the bush. A black paw came flashing out, claws extended, swatting my bow away with an angry gesture and a loud growl. A striped paw… For a moment I just stood there, confused, before realizing what animal lay there, hidden under the bush. A tiger. I’d seen them before, in Talador when we passed with the tribe through it, on the border of Nagrand in the woods. Black, with bright red stripes. So alien to me, for I was used to the normal colors of orange and black felines.

But what was it doing here? No tigers lived in Nagrand to my knowledge. Had it been chased from the woods of Talador, seeking a new place to live? An outcast maybe. Curiously I picked up my bow again and made my way back to the Roc I’d shot, cutting off a leg piece with my knife, before walking back to the bush. I put the piece of meat in front of it, before stepping back again.
The growling was still there, but I could hear a sniffing as well, and as I waited patiently, a black and white muzzle poked out of the bush. Bright red eyes were fixated on me, looking unsure and cautious. I sat still, not moving, just keeping my form small. Not a threat. The eyes moved, looking at the bird leg now, before the paw came forwards again and with a quick movement pulled it into the bush. Sounds of tearing and crunching were heard and within minutes the now bloodcoated muzzle came poking through the leaves again, clearly looking for more.

I snickered softly, very carefully moving back up on the hill, just dragging the whole roc corpse with me, removing part of the feathers and cutting off another piece of meat. This time I laid it a little bit further from the bush, and the great cat slowly approached it. I got a good look at him then. He was stick thin, ribs clearly visible and a large wound was on his side, like a bite wound. Probably one of the wolfpacks that had gotten a hold of him, a strange animal in these lands, in their territory.
How long had he been hiding in that bush, without eating? Or maybe he’d seen the clefthoof corpse as well, but didn’t dare coming closer to it due to the rocs. With a soft sound, I pushed the meat a little closer to him so he could grab it, and very gently touched the side of his face with my finger. He pulled back right away again after grabbing the piece between his long teeth.

And so I spend hours sitting next to the bush, next to the tiger, slowly feeding him, even managing to have him drink some water. He didn’t trust me completely, but I was working on it, slowly. Maybe soon I could try something with that wound, see how bad it actually was, if he would let me touch it. Maybe…We’d see. I couldn’t just leave him there at least, not belonging in the wilds in Nagrand, having no place to go. And I’d had a tiger before that I missed dearly now…Maybe I could win this one over as well.

I’d try. I swore to myself I’d try.

This is an article I found on a LARP site, but it's actually also pretty good for us Ropleplayers to read. RP in a game might be a little less confronting at times because you're not really -doing- it, which on a larp of course is the case.
Still a good article to read over once, because in my past I've seen many cases of this happening in WoW as well, so it's really a thing to be aware of at least, in my opinion.

http://nordiclarp.org/2015/03/02/bleed-the-spillover-between-player-and-character/

A ray of sunlight shone through the open door of the hut, straight on my face. I blinked against the bright light, yawning wide as I turned around again, wrapping my arms a little tighter around the warm form that was lying beside me. Sadok turned his head however, his long beard now straight in my face and I grumbled softly as I pushed the thick hairs away a little while he just continued snoring like nothing was happening. With a grunt I decided it was time to get up anyway. Life started early here, and I’d learned it was actually quite amusing to help the Laughing Skull with their daily business here and there and while they didn’t show much appreciation at first, slowly they warmed up to me a little. At least, I liked to hope so.

Quietly I slipped from the furs, leaving Sadok to sleep a little longer. Loa knew he needed it. I made my way outside and the busy life of Broken Horn village greeted me. Sounds, smells, laughter around me, riders going out already to keep the ever present Iron Horde in check that was so nearby. I focused on myself first, washing myself in a barrel of water that was outside for that purpose. I shivered slightly as the water cleared my mind more. No dreams again tonight. Apparently Sreloks little ritual had been successful, for now at least. I slept better, without interruptions.

I moved back inside the hut to put some clothes on, looking down on Sadoks sleeping form a moment. He looked so calm, so peaceful when sleeping. Apart from the deafening snores he sometimes erupted into. A warm feeling spread through my stomach though as I looked at him. I could just sit here and watch him wake up slowly… No, I promised Bloodgrin to help her with the skinning today.

As I made my way to the Skulls skinning hut, I still got looks here and there from the locals. Some didn’t approve of me wearing a mask on my belt, some found it hilarious and some ignored me for it. My skin was green, I was an outsider and even though one of their own had approved me earning the mask, the Laughing Skull were very much a ‘see and then believe’ type of orcs. So I helped them with their daily things, every day again, to show them I could pull my weight just as much as their own and be a part of the tribe as well and help them out.

The smell of blood greeted me as I walked into the hut and Bloodgrin greeted me with the usual unsettling grin of her mask, painted red with blood. I didn’t know how her face looked like. Though that was with most Laughing skull, they never took their masks off.

“Morning, Biter. Come here.” Her voice greeted me. They’d taken on using the name they heard Rik’clar call me, and I’d somewhat gotten used to it by now. I made my way over to her and Bloodgrin snatched out a bloody hand to my face, grabbing my cheeks roughly as she brought her own face close. I grunted as I looked into her green eyes, visible through the mask. She looked at me with serious eyes a moment before she erupted into an odd snort-like laughter.
“So pretty green still. Why not wear the mask, eh?” She said, keeping a hold of my chin painfully tight. I snorted softly in answer and she let me go with a cackle.

“Fine, fine I won’t bring it up again. Touchy girl, I know. Now, do your job, we have a lot do to.” She said with an amused tone while turning away and throwing me a skinning knife while pointing me to one of the boar corpses the hunting party had brought in at night. I set to my job, happy to help.

A few hours later I was covered in blood and gore, my back hurting from sitting on my knees so long. Bloodgrin had given me some slabs of meat for my effort and I chewed on one of them as breakfast while I walked through the town. Suddenly a big form bumped into me and I nearly fell over, though a strong hand grabbed the front of my jerkin just in time and steadied me. A hoarse and rough laugh sounded and I looked up, straight into the dark eyes of one of the town warriors, Skullsplit. He nearly lifted me off my feet, still holding my shirt tight in his hand.

“The little biter should look where she walks. Little biters running into Skullsplit usually don’t live long.” His voice sounded heavy, hoarse and very deep while a rumbling laugh when through him which nearly shook me as well. I had to be careful with this one, I knew.

“Maybe Skullsplit s’oul’ learn no’ ta take up da w’ole pat’ den, ‘ardly a way aroun’ ya brutes.” I replied to him, my voice light though, a small grin on my face even though I had a bit trouble breathing with him holding me so tight, my toes barely touching the ground.
He responded in loud laughter before putting me on my feet again, his massive hand moving to pat me on the head. It felt more like a pounding, but I didn’t complain.

“Little biter always funny. Skullsplit not get why little biter would be with little green bald orc, instead of strong Laughing Skull. No match for biters. “ He said, while rolling his muscles. I had to keep myself from sighing deeply, keeping the playful grin on my face.

“Little biter prefers Orcs w’o dun squas’ ‘er into da groun’ at every pat, Skullsplit.”
He laughed loudly at this, his whole body shaking again before he replied with a low growl.
“Maybe Skullsplit challenge him then. Winner takes little biter. Fair, no?”

I shook my head, holding back a laugh myself now. I knew he was serious though.
“No, Skullsplit. No’ ‘appenin’. Ya wouldn’ be able ta ‘andle me. I mig’t bite off somet’in’ ya’d rat’er no’ lose.”
His hand moved to clap me on the shoulder, nearly throwing me off my feet while he growled his laugh again. “Tough luck then. You stay with little bald orc. And eat. Maybe little biter not be so little anymore then.” He growled, grabbing the piece of meat I had been eating from my hand, nearly stuffing it fully in my mouth. I grunted in annoyance and he walked away, looking incredibly pleased with himself.

And so the day went on. Teasings, dislikings for my green skin, but also some who accepted me no matter what skincolor I had. Some even tried rubbing me in with ash, giving me nearly the same skin color as themselves, then laugh themselves silly for their own ‘good ideas’.

As afternoon fell, I took a moment for myself, sitting on the cliff, my eyes looking at the ocean down below. I’d go look for Sadok soon, give him the food I’d earned today and show him the necklace one of the Laughing Skull children had made me, out of Iron Horde tusks. Sadok had said it before, this place was beautiful. He could see himself living here, building up a life and raising our cubs. Thinking of them, I felt a pang of hurt in my chest. The twins were still back in Wor’gol, safely under the care of one of the Frostwolves. We hadn’t dared taking them along into the poisonous jungle of Gorgrond… I missed them, with all my heart.
Looking out over the ocean and the village to my side, I could somewhat agree with Sadok though. This would be the perfect place to spend the rest of our lives. But we couldn’t. The tribe needed us as well, more than the Laughing Skull did, and I didn’t want to leave the pack. For now though, I’d enjoy my time here. And maybe one day we could come back.

An overripe fruit hit the back of my head with a loud splat, and a sour smell filled the air. With a snarl I looked behind me and just saw a few of the children running away, cackling with laughter. I grinned, shaking my head and knew my little break was over. I got up to my feet, running after them while making growling noises and snapping my teeth, while they shrieked and laughed.
In my heart, I was happy here. Maybe, one day…

In the darkness of the night, nothing much was visible. Guards had their watch fires, their torches, casting ominous moving shadows on the ground due to the flames, but furthermore everything was dark. One shape clad in a simple robe made its way past the edge of camp, sharing some words with one of the guards as it passed them. The guard nodded and called in some of his comrades, who followed the dark shape and accompanied it to a place on the cliffs, where they kept watch on it, but kept a respectful distance.

The figure moved silently on bare feet in the snow and the cold stone, apparently ignoring the cold, or it simply didn’t feel it. A small fire was lit, and the shape became more recognizable. Black hair framed her face and blue eyes looked determined as she continued her work, drawing markings on the black stone with a piece of white chalk. Her robe was thin, not very protective against the cold wind up on the cliffs, but she didn’t tremble, she didn’t falter. This was something she had to push through.

Rhonya spread out some items she’d brought along across the circle, surrounding the fire she’d made. A rock with a feather under it, her ritual bone dagger, a waterskin and some closed jars. She looked around the circle, nodding to herself in satisfaction as she took position next to the fire, in the middle of the circle. A low chanting started under her breath as she closed her eyes, rocking back and forth a little for a while.

After a short time she opened her eyes again and started to talk, the words loud and clear, carried on a little on the wind that whipped around her, making her robe move around her legs.
“Honored spirit of Air, I call on you tonight. I ask for your blessing, your wrath and your speed in this time of revenge, of war.”

Rhonya turned a little, picking up the feather, letting the wind carry it off. She spoke again, not waiting for a reaction, not even sure if the spirit heard her, or understood her. But she had to try.
“Honored spirit of Earth, I call on you tonight. I ask for your blessing, your strength and your stubbornness, to help the tribe in these times.”

Her form moved to one of the jars, letting the wind carry away what was inside, earth spilled down the side of the cliffs.

“Honored spirit of water, I call on you tonight. I ask for your blessing, your calm to do what is needed, your soothing touch, to help us in these times.”
Picking up the waterskin, she poured the water down as well, not waiting for an answer again. She just continued, her eyes determined and clear.

“But above all, I call on the spirit of Fire. Honored spirit, hear my plea. Hear my call for help. Fill me with your anger, your determination, burn away my worry and my fears, and help me achieve my goal tomorrow.” She stepped closer to the fire, picking up her ritual dagger, slashing it roughly across her bare lower arm. Rhonya didn’t even flinch, just let the steady stream of blood drip into the fire.

“I swear to you on my blood, on my honor to always respect your strength, your fury. Help me now, and I’ll be in your debt. This I swear as shaman, as orc, as Rhonya Steelheart, with all my being!”
For a few moments everything was silent as she stood there in her simple thin robe, the wind messing up her hair, her arm outstretched and bleeding above the fire. The only sound was the blood hissing as it met with the burning flames. All of a sudden though, the fire roared up, right in front of her face. Rhonya stood her ground, didn’t flinch, didn’t step back. She tilted her head, narrowing her eyes, facing the flames without any trace of fear.
A voice filled her. Not spoken out loud, but she could hear it anyway, resonating through her whole being, burning hot and sharp.

"Finally you’ve learned, little shaman. Finally you dared to speak to me completely, to reach out and embrace the anger and the fury. You’ve been your own blockade in this before, refusing to understand. I will help you. But your trust may never waver, or I might turn my attention elsewhere, little one… Hold your arm in the fire.”

Rhonya closed her eyes, inhaling deeply before she opened them again. She responded with a nod to the voice, looking straight into the flames again that roared so close to her, but didn’t hurt her. She moved her arm straight into the flames without any trace of hesitation without any trace of fear.

Pain burned on her arm and she couldn’t help but flinch, but she didn’t pull her arm away. The wound began to sizzle, the flesh nearly bubbling in the heat, as if it was melting away. As fast as the pain began, it stopped again, and when she pulled her arm back, only a long, red burn scar was what was left of the wound she had made.

“Let this be a reminder of our bond. One you made in blood, little shaman. I will hold you to it. Fury be on your side.”

Rhonya responded to the voice with clear words. “Gratitude, spirit. I won’t break my word.”
The fire in front of her roared up once more, surrounding her completely now for just a second. It didn’t hurt, it felt more like a warm embrace, a caress with a sharp edge, a teasing gesture. Within seconds the entire fire died, not even coals burning anymore, the fireplace as cold as if it had never even been lit.
Rhonya exhaled finally, allowing herself to relax a little, clenching one hand. She’d done it… she’d made good contact with at least one of the elements, one she could use to free her tribemembers the next day. To free her mate, her life, her heart. She wouldn’t disappoint him. Her anger was deep, her worries gone.

Rhonya would have her revenge.

The cell was dark, full of shadows and muffled sounds coming from outside, guards at the front, keeping an eye on their prisoner. Me. I couldn’t see much, no matter how hard I tried to stare at things or tried to move around. My mind was still foggy, like a deep mist that had taken residence inside of my head, making me slow and just not feeling like doing anything. I could feel the pain of my wrists, the raw iron shackles having opened up my flesh due to me moving so much before. It stung… But the pain couldn’t distract me from the pain in my heart.

My cheeks were still wet from tears spilled before. Unwanted tears, forced tears, embarrassing me now that I had actually cried in front of â€"him-. My head hung low, the collar and chain around my neck keeping me up however, making my breath raspy, my throat dry. I’d gotten no water, no food. My armor stripped, nothing to keep me warm apart from a thin layer of hay to sit on so I wouldn’t freeze to death. No one had visited me in the darkness, apart from one, earlier today.

Thinking back at it, the anger flared up in me again. Anger and guilt, embarrassment and most of all, hate. Hate for this orc, what he’d done to me. Therak would be dissapointed in me, I was sure of it. My body barely bore any marks of his visit, a blue eye was the only thing. My gaze fell back down to my knees, and the things lying beside them.
Dreadlocks, scattered over the floor, cut off and thrown aside by him earlier, as they’d been in the way for what he wanted to do. My head felt oddly light without them, but losing most of my hair was the least of my worries now.

I didn’t even know his name. I should’ve found out, somehow, so one day I could’ve taken my revenge on him. When he had first come in, I had thought it was Sadok. My mind had been playing tricks on me, my hope that he’d come for me, and maybe he had… But it had merely been a trick of the light glimmering over the skullmask he was wearing, one of the same masks Sadok sometimes wore. Of course it hadn’t been him, and I’d been stupid enough to already give him a sign of weakness in me, my hope crushed as he’d stepped forwards and started his interrogation.

He had explained to me that he was a Shadowmoon orc, following Ner’zhul, there to aid the Thunderlords with them becoming a full part of the Iron Horde. I had no idea why he was telling me this, it seemed weird for him to give me this information for free. Though now I knew, it was merely a threat of what was to come. He sounded proud of himself, eager and he seemed to really be enjoying himself with seeing my anger, my reactions… He told me my fate that would await me as prisoner, being sold off to one of the Thunderlord hunters, as slave. Trophy-mate.  My green skin made me even more special, he said. I reacted in anger, of course… But this only seemed to amuse him more.

Another way out for me, he began to speak about. Giving him what he needed…And if I did, he would set me free again. I didn’t believe him, of course. The next moment however… My head had exploded with a sudden pain, the last thing I saw was him clenching his hand. Things went dark, and when suddenly the pain stopped again, he was still sitting there, staring at me coolly. My vision was fuzzy and I tried to focus. Tried to remember the lessons Therak taught me. Lie to him… But don’t give in too fast. My mind was racing, trying to find a way out, when he asked me the first question.

What is the Red Blade?


Of course… I could’ve guessed he wanted information from me about the tribe. The reason they’d captured us, me and Gridish both, even though I had no idea where he was now, if he was even still alive. I resisted, gave him a snappy answer:
“If ya ain' guessed dat yet ya be truly an idiot.”

Wrong answer, of course. Soon again, the pain started once more, like my head was being crushed. I couldn’t see, light flashing in front of my eyes as I tried to move away, get away from this pain, from the needles driving into my head… and it stopped again. I felt something warm leaking down my wrists, my skin sliced open by the edges of the shackles. And so he continued, asking more… I didn’t give him anything. He responded with pain… I gave him a fake name of where the tribe came from, but even that only bought me more anguish, more of the same.

Suddenly he moved in front of me, my mind working slow as if all my thoughts had turned to mud. I could only stare at him as he grabbed my throat and told me with a smirk that he’d only been testing me, that we hadn’t even begun yet. That was the moment I started to get scared, especially as he suddenly started hacking away at my hair with a knife, holding me firm by my throat, half choking me.


No, why -ask- when you can -take-?

I had an opening there. Out of reaction when the pressure on my throat suddenly loosened a bit, I bit him. I felt his thin glove in my mouth, the skin underneath opening because of my tusks and teeth and he hit me in the face with a fist. My head whipped to the side, but to my satisfaction I’d ripped part of his flesh off with my teeth, the smell of blood strong in my nose. Though at that moment, everything went black.

I woke with a ringing noise in my ear as something hit my cheek, hard. I tried to cry out, but he’d stuffed something in my mouth, preventing me from speaking. I felt something else, and as I managed to focus my gaze again, I saw him sitting in front of me still, his hands reached out to my head, his fingernails digging painfully into my scalp now most the hair was out of the way.
The second he spoke about looking into my mind and I felt a sudden presence pushing on my head, I realized what he was doing. Mind magic. I panicked, tried to get him to let me go, struggled in the chains and tried to lean away, but it was no use. I wasn’t trained for this. I couldn’t resist this.

My memory of what happened next is still very vague. I remember flashes, his voice talking to me, asking me questions, holding my head still with his hands. Flashes of the tribe, even though I tried not to think about them, not wanting to give him anything. But he pressed on, the feeling of pressure getting stronger and I couldn’t stop it. I was powerless, and I knew it. Flashes of the rebellion, Trakmar, Sadok.. Bloodmark leading, faces of those I loved, things we’d done, moments of pain and depression for me, Sadok nearly dying…

And suddenly those were followed up by something new. His voice sounded, but I couldn’t focus on the words being said, only seeing those images in my mind. Sadok captured, being tortured, decapitated, my sons lying next to him, crying their little lungs out… The tribe, vanquished and gone, things burning.. and then myself, being sold off as some piece of meat in the Thunderlord camp.
By then I realized I was crying, tears coming down my face as I hung limp in the chains, ignoring everything else around me. This couldn’t have been real, even though the pain told me otherwise. Was this really what happened to the tribe? Had the Thunderlord struck back at them, only keeping some alive?

A fire burned in my chest as I managed to look up at him. Hate. Pure and deep loathing for this orc, who had dug himself deep into my mind and stolen my memories.  Sadness for the things I’d seen, hoping with all my heart that they were not true. Suddenly something cool had touched my cheek, and I focused on him again as he spoke, explaining his staff was filled with souls, and there was always more room for one more… Should I want the easy way out. He was giving me a choice, eternal death or a lifetime of slavery.

He’d removed the gag, and my voice was soft and raspy as I spoke.
“I'd rat'er... rat'er c'oose slavery.. over.. b-bein' any use ta ya..”
Then a slave you will be. The entirety of your life... without freedom, toiling for your new masters. Had been his answer, and he talked some more, just trying to humiliate me even further. After that, thankfully, he’d left.

I wasn’t broken. I wasn’t going to give up this easily, sitting in this cell, shackled to the wall like some wild beast. I might not have been able to resist the attack on my mind, but I still had my body. My claws, my teeth and my fire, burning in me. My hate. My will to get back to the others, who couldn’t be dead. I just had to keep telling myself this. Stay strong… Don’t cry, and fight back. I tried to call out, over the link, to my tribe, but I wasn’t sure any of the words were coming through, with the state I was in. I had to try and warn them somehow…
Mentally I pulled into myself, saving my strength, waiting for the next one who dared to come into my cell.

The air was humid, filled with steam that nearly took my sight away completely, so thick it was at this point. I had to walk carefully, the stones under my feet slippery and treacherous as I made my way over them. I’d taken my shoes off, the air around me was already warm enough, the stones under my feet a comfortable temperature, heated by the lava that ran a little further away into the steam of water with a hissing noise, heating it up. There was just enough light to see by, the molten rock glowing gently, casting shadows on the walls. I was alone here, for as far as I could see, so I slowly made my way to the edge of the water and dipped a bare toe into it. A light gasp escaped my mouth because of the hot water. It wasn’t uncomfortable though, but it took some getting used to.

Soon, clothing littered the floor, lying in a messy pile because I never bothered to put it down neatly. I looked down at myself with an annoyed grunt. All I saw were my breasts and my stomach, which had gotten huge by now, so huge I had to lean backwards all the time to prevent myself from toppling forwards. It made for very uncomfortable walking and running was a challenge on its own, especially in this snow. It annoyed me greatly, this stomach, this situation and the uncomfortable things that came along with it. Being stuck in camp really made me on edge, walking circles all day long through the huts and the buildings. I had set some traps here and there and caught some rabbits once in a while, but it just wasn’t the same. I wanted to go out, stretch my legs and go hunting and running in these new lands, testing out the snow and my surroundings.

Slowly I lowered my heavy self into the hot water, hiding the sight of that bulging stomach. The water came up to my neck once I found a comfortable ledge of rock to sit on and I leaned back against the edge, finally relaxing a little. I was sure M agrahra wouldn’t approve of me even being here alone, seeing it was a small walk away from camp. But I didn’t care, I’d face her and her staff later. I needed some alone time, some time to think about the things that happened that evening, because I didn’t understand any of it.
Sadok had helped me with a ritual, saying I could go out of the village, maybe find out more about my parents as we discussed long ago already. I wanted to know my heritage, my past and where I can from. My clan, so perhaps one day I could honor my parents in the right way. He’d explained I would only travel in spirit, so my body would remain with him. This frightened me. I’d never been close to spirits, to all this ritual stuff. I didn’t understand it, so I feared it. Curiosity won though from my fears and I accepted. I’d do the ritual, and if I found out something I didn’t know yet, all the better.

I could still hear the whispers in my mind, as if they were still around me in this cave. Maybe they were, but I knew they were only memories as I leaned my head back and soaked in the hot water, thinking about the words the ice elemental had spoken to me at the hut he had lead me to.

“One blade for breaking his heart.  One blade for tearing him apart. You know it keeps him strong. You know it'll do him wrong. Love over stone. Mind over matter. The things that you hold; can fall and be shattered.”

I remembered it vividly, the sight, the smells, the pain… The pain of seeing Sadok lying on the floor like that, cold, half frozen, pleading me not to do it. Not to do what…? I hadn’t understood, I wasn’t hurting him, I tried to aid him… But suddenly there was the knife, iron and harsh, in my hand, and somehow it had ended up in his chest even though I dropped it to the floor. Pulling it out was no use, it only dug in deeper at every tug, Sadok in pain, moaning and whimpering, dying, all that blood, all the pain…

I shook my head a little to get rid of the image as I doubled over a bit, the pain still there, in my chest. I hadn’t killed him, it wasn’t real, and I would never do it… Still, I couldn’t forget those empty staring eyes, looking at me in an accusing way. Why had the spirit shown me this? Was it a warning, a glimpse of the future? This was exactly one of the reasons I didn’t like them, always unclear, showing things I didn’t want to see, that hurt me.

With a sigh I lowered myself a little more into the hot water, until only the top of my face still stuck out above the surface, my nose and my eyes. I leaned my hands back to loosen up my dreadlocks from the ponytail they were in, letting them float out freely on the water, surrounding my head. Sadok had told me to not think about that part of the vision, about what the elemental had said. But it kept going through my mind anyway. Even more so than the thing I had found out at the end of the vision. A cave, paintings on the wall, moving and telling the story of my past…

I remember the images very well. The small drawn figures representing my parents, joining a large force of orcs, two armies fighting and then them splitting up from the rest. Why had they joined the fight at the portal? So many things were still unclear, answers I hadn’t gotten. They had moved to a place with trees, what I now understand to be the Vale. They had gotten a child, a third figure appearing on the wall… Me.

Beasts had killed them, but they had defended me until the end, making sure I had survived, even though I was left alone. It ended there, the movements, the images, just the one little figure standing between the trees. Laughter had suddenly surrounded me and as a bloody handprint on the wall had suddenly changed to a skull, the elemental spoke.

“There should be laughter after pain. There should be sunshine after rain. I can still hear their laughter. I can still hear their song. So many years after. So deep and so strong.”
Laughing Skull… I was a Laughing Skull.

It still had to sink in, the realization, the meaning… What â€"did- it mean? It didn’t change anything, not directly, at least. I still was who I was. I was still Kyrazha Throatrender, mate of Sadok Sharptongue and pregnant with our two sons. I was still the daughter of Qa’ajn, if not by blood at least in spirit and mind. But now I knew, and I didn’t really know what to do with this information…
A painful feeling in my stomach brought me back to the present, as I sat up more straight and put my hands around the bulge down below. I’d been having these pains on occasion now the past few days, they’d come and go away again. I’d probably have to inform Mag about them when I’d see her again too. Maybe it was nothing, but she’d told me I shouldn’t take any risks now anymore. So I wasn’t going to.

Just a few more weeks… A few more and then, I realized suddenly, these two Laughing Skull would be born, in a land where our clanmembers were not even green. Sadok had the Laughing Skull blood as well, and so we’d pass it on.
I relaxed into the water again, the painful feeling passed, and simply stared at the cavern wall, replaying the images in my mind again, trying to make sense out of them. Maybe I would never understand. Maybe I would… At least it had given me something to do. Something to think about, while I was stuck anyway.

Finally it was time. The march had begun, the armies gathered, the weapons sharpened, supplies strapped to the body or for some even on their riding mounts as they would try to take them through the battle. Everywhere were different expressions visible on faces. Angry faces, scared faces, determined faces… All so different, but they were all there together nonetheless. Standing on the ridge in front of the ominous red glowing portal, looking down. Battered, bleeding and tired, but the battle wasn’t over yet. Not by long. The hardest part was still to come.

Rhonya stood on the edge herself, looking to both her sides, at those standing close. The ones she loved, she cared about, all together going with her for this last stand. She wasn’t alone. She could do this, together with the rest, push though. Bloodmark started to move, towards the portal and everyone followed. Tauren, Elf, Pandaren even, all kind of races were with them, fighting on their side. The portal cast moving shadows on the ground, like flames dancing across the broken earth. The she-orc followed her bloodbrother, putting her fears aside and looked up at the portal. Rhonya had never liked the thing. Not when it was still green, and especially not now it was red. There was no telling what was on the other side. But she had to go. For herself, for her cubs, for the tribe. So she stepped on, along with her brothers and sisters of the tribe.

And so the weird feeling came over her as she stepped through the reddish magic, a somehow familiar feeling but also different. For a few moments she didn’t see anything, closing her eyes in reaction, until she opened them again as the feeling faded, and took in the scene in front of her. Chaos. Screams surrounded her, those dying or those wounded, and she had just a moment to prepare before the masses started to move. Rhonya moved along, not having much a choice. Strange magics were at work here, she could feel it, but it was unknown to her. The once familiar steps on the other side of the portal were not familiar at all anymore, brown orcs fighting everywhere with the forces they’d taken through the portals, dangerous looking machines whirring nearby, weapons clanging together in a dance of death…

She tried to stick to rest, ran along past the chaos, trying to follow Bloodmarks form, as suddenly the red portal behind them flickered and went out. She looked over her shoulder, and suddenly something crashed into her. She gasped for breath as she fell to the side, hard. Something glimmered above her and she was just in time to see a weapon coming down towards her. No time to react, she simply shut her eyes, but a heavy weight dropped on her a second later. Confused that she felt no pain, that she wasn’t dead, she looked up, seeing an orc lying on her. Brown skin, grey heavy armor, but he wasn’t moving. An arrow stuck from his neck, a crudely made thing with bright feathers and before Rhonya could see anything else she was jerked away from under the corpse by her arm.

“Steel’eart, no time ta lie aroun’ an’ sleep, now! Gotta move, come on!”

It took her a moment to realize it was Kyrazha who’d shot the orc, the enormous form of her direhorn right behind her, bodies scattered around, the horns bloody. A mighty beast indeed, in a situation like this. Kyrazha herself was covered in blood too, but for as far Rhonya could see it wasn’t all her own. Her armor was hanging in rags around her, some small cuts here and there, her face flushed with the bloodlust. The pregnant female looked more ferocious than ever, covered in warpaint and blood, the pregnancy making her shine, even now.

Together they moved through the chaos, Kyrazha steering Rhonya by her arm. Rhonya’s breathing came ragged, probably something messed up her ribs when she was pushed aside, and when she tried out to call the elements, confusion filled her head. This… She couldn’t work with this. Confused about the things she was hearing, she simply followed Kyrazha, though she had no idea where they were going. Where were the others? Where was Therak, Bloodmark..?

“Where is everyone else, Kyrazha?” She asked while they moved away from the portal now. Kyrazha turned her head, a serious expression on her face, but before she could answer the whole structure behind them simply blew up. The massive force threw them both off their feet, and a dark shadow moved over her, but she noticed it was just Cera protectively standing over them both, catching the worst of the blow for them. The outside armor of the beast protected her from the most small rocks that came flying their way by the force of the explosion. Kyrazha cursed something in an odd tongue and scrambled up to her feet, taking Rhonya’s hand in her own.

“Move, we gotta move! ‘Tis no’ safe ‘ere. I dunno w’ere dem ot’ers wen’, I los’ dem in da c’aos, bu’ I saw ya. W’y aint ya usin’ dem elements? Dey could’ve ‘elped ya, no?” The female spoke fast, the heavy accent slurring her words, but Rhonya could understand them.

“The elements are not responding as.. they usually do. I can’t make them out, I don’t understand them!” A slight panic came in Rhonya’s voice now as she realized she was actually completely helpless without her trusted elements, she had no weapons. Nothing to defend herself with. They moved again, quickly, towards some shouts about ships, passing some sort of jungle. Kyrazha moved fast and with precision, this type of area well known to her of course, even though it was a different, new, unknown land.

“We’ll worry abou’ dat later. Fo’ now we gotta focus on getting’ back to da res’. We be no’ safe alone out ‘ere.” She said, before starting to jog, Cera on her heels, moving pretty fast for an animal of her size. Rhonya was tugged along, her hand still held by the other she- orc. They didn’t encounter much others in the jungle, apparently somehow moving around most of the fighting, though Kyrazha kept her bow firm in hand. It felt like they walked there for hours, until Kyrazha noticed how hard Rhonya was breathing and stopped.

“We can’t res’.. I know. Ya sit on Cera. S’e carried ot’ers before, jus’ ‘old on tig’t.” she spoke with a determined voice, nodding, already moving to lift Rhonya up on the massive direhorn. Cera didn’t even seem to notice the extra weight as Rhonya clung on clumsily, and they continued moving, Kyrazha up front. After a while they finally reached the shouting at the docks and Kyrazha steered them right through the masses, the direhorn making others move aside the moment they saw her running towards them. Rhonya looked to see if she saw anyone familiar, but in the chaos of the masses she didn’t see any Red Blade tabard.

Once on the ship, Rhonya finally had some time to look at herself as Kyrazha helped her off Cera. Probably only her ribs were hurt… Her gaze moved, and fell on the savage female that was checking the direhorn for any wounds. “Are you alright, Kyrazha…? I mean..” Rhonya motioned with a hand to the females stomach. Kyrazha looked up and over her shoulder at the question, and just grinned wide.

“Never better. T’oug’.. Ta be ‘ones’, woul’ be better if da res’ were ‘ere. I los’ Sadok in da c’aos. Bu’ I t’ink  I saw ‘im las’ surrounded by da ot’ers so I ‘ope ‘e be fine.” She nodded at her own words, as if to convince herself. The female looked determined, but Rhonya could see a worry in her eyes, a worry she didn’t blame the she-orc for, because she felt it too. The ship suddenly started to move. Were there more ships? Was this the only one? It couldn’t be…

In the distance where first the portal was, now only rubble and dust filled the air, Rhonya could see it from their position on the ship as they started to sail. Tiredly she sat down against the railing, rubbing her eyes.

A movement jerked her awake. It took Rhonya a moment to realize the ship was suddenly moving a lot more than before, and quickly she opened her eyes. Another movement threw her over, and suddenl y she was clinging on to the rails as a crack like a cannonshot sounded and the whole structure heaved to the side. Rhonya’s hand slipped and she let go, before hitting the cold water with a splash and breath was knocked out of her. Did they crash? Frantically, Rhonya tried to swim away from the ship. She managed to reach the shore, shivering and freezing, stepping on.. snow. Of course it had to be snow, one of the things she hated most. Confused she peered around, the ship having sailed on a bit further after the initial first crash. So she was alone now, couldn’t see the ship anymore and she had no idea in which direction it had gone.

With a sigh Rhonya started to move, rubbing her arms against the cold. She couldn’t stand still or she’d go into hypothermia, and then she’d die all alone out here. Her gaze caught on something at that moment though and she noticed Cera standing a little further along the coast, nudging something on the ground. Quickly Rhonya made her way over, and found Kyrazha. Soaked, half her armor gone now, her lips a pale blue.

“Oh no, no! Don’t you dare…” Rhonya said as she kneeled down next to the female, turning her on her side quickly, checking her breathing. There was none. Cera let out a low huff through her nose, keeping a close eye on Rhonya, but she didn’t interfere as Rhonya turned the she-orc back on her back and pinched her nose. Without hesitating she brought her own mouth down on the females cold lips and breathed her own warm breath inside. This she continued for a few times.

“Come on, Kyrazha.. You’re stronger than this. You can’t give up now!” the words were nearly growled as she pressed her hands down on the females chest. Suddenly Kyrazha started to cough and splutter, spitting out a lot of salt water as she turned on her side with a groan, curling up. Rhonya breathed out in relief, but knew they were not safe yet. They were both soaked, alone on this frozen shore, with nothing to keep them warm.

“Come on… We need to walk. Keep ourselves warm, find a shelter, make a fire… And then we can focus on finding the others back, wherever they are…” she said softly, though Rhonya didn’t sound too secure of herself. Gently she helped Kyrazha to her feet, and supported her as they started to walk. As if a wonder, they found the females bow not too far away, and some of the arrows also scattered on the frozen beach. Gathering what they could, they set out together, Cera following them closely.

A few days later, Rhonya was sitting at their fire Kyrazha had managed to make and keep burning for the time. Rhonya felt useless, not having her powers, not able to do much apart from the most basic survival things. Compared to Kyrazha she was more a liability at the moment. The savage female seemed so sure of herself, with what she did and how, even though they had only found corpses along the road so far. Orcs, green orcs.. Grunts. Kyrazha had found a female corpse of about her own size and had salvaged of the armor what she could. It wasn’t the most warm outfit, but it was better than the scraps she was wearing before. Rhonya had taken one of the cloaks from the dead and murmered a soft prayer. She’d tried to burn the first corpse they’d come across, but the ground was too cold, and as they came across more and more orcs washed ashore, she gave up on the idea. Rhonya couldn’t burn them all, it would take her days, if not weeks and she didn’t have the means to do it.

They’d moved more inlands, through the snow, and made a crude shelter, like Therak once taught her. Night had fallen and now she was just sitting there with her fire, Cera laying nearby, sheltering them from the most of the harsh, cold wind. Kyrazha moved into the shelter, dragging some hares with her by the ears.

“At leas’ dere be some small game too. I t’oug’t I’d seen big t’in’s back in Na’ran’, bu’ some o’ dose animals walkin’ aroun’ ‘ere be ‘uge!” she said, grinning from ear to ear. Kyrazha had adapted to the situation a lot better than Rhonya had, taking things day by day, living in the moment, instead of worrying all the time. Or perhaps she did worry, but just didn’t show it. Rhonya couldn’t tell, she didn’t know Kyrazha that well. Her gaze was on the female as Kyrazha started to skin the hares and stick them on a sharpened stick, hanging them above the fire.

“So where do you actually think we are…? This isn’t like anything I’ve seen before in Outlands. Before we moved through the portal they found maps of.. Draenor, but I don’t remember snow in Outlands..” Rhonya spoke softly, maybe more to herself than to Kyrazha, though Kyrazha looked up from her work a second to reply.

“I dunno. I never saw w’ole o’ Outland eit’er. Be dere not’in’ in da annals ya keep about da worl’ o’ old?”
Rhonya frowned, not even noticing Kyrazha licking her knife clean of the hare blood. “There are, but… How can this be Draenor? It was destroyed… Though, the annals say of a frozen wasteland where Clan Redblade once used to live. Though I don’t understand how we could be there, if that’s really where we are.”

Kyrazha shook her head a moment. The shelter was filling with the delicious smell of roasted meat, fat dripping into the fire, making it sizzle. “Ya t’ink too muc’. We can worry abou’ dat later. Fo’ now we jus’ need ta make sure we fin’ da res’. Da link doesn’ seem ta work, jus’ like ya powers. Somet’in’ be very wron’ ‘ere, I feel it too.” Kyrazha put a hand on her chest a moment, before they just sat in silence until the meat was done. Slicing the tender meat, Kyrazha gave Rhonya her share.
“Eat. Ya need it. We gotta move on tomorrow again.”

Sighing, Rhonya nodded, slowly taking bites of the meat offered to her. Kyrazha was right, it was no use to worry too much now. For now they’d just have to survive. And Rhonya had promised to herself she’d look after Kyrazha a little too, for as much as she could, for the female still carried her two cubs. Her bloodbrothers sons. She’d get Kyrazha back to him, one way or another. If only they could find the tribe again…

Tomorrow was a new day, to continue their search. For now,they were safe in the shelter.

The ruins stretched from the river back up a grassy slope, the rocks crumbled and as time passed discolored by nature. Small rays of sunlight played over the rocks, for one showing their true colors again, markings painted amongst the yellow-ish color of the stone, long forgotten and abandoned. Small plants made their way through the cracks, reaching up towards the morning sun, drinking in the warmth and the light. Larger jungle plants surrounded the ruins and hid them from sight mainly, the place not being that big. Perhaps once the crumbled walls had been those surrounding an altar, for it was just a small place.

Something did move around the broken stones, a flash of orange and black twisting between the broken rocks before finding a comfortable spot on the wall in one of the early rays of sun peeking out over the trees. I had been keeping my eyes closely on the ruins because I knew he’d come here often, a resting place, almost not disturbed by the outside jungle. I shifted my weight a little as I continued to keep looking down, my lips curling into a small, fond smile as I watched the large tiger rest on the remains of the wall. Though when the thought came to me why exactly I’d come here, seeking him out, the smile disappeared again and I prepared myself . Tonight we’d prepare. Tonight we’d sail to our camp from which our assault would happen… And I couldn’t take him.

Gently I stepped down from my hiding place in one of the trees nearby, using my long nails and my toes to get myself down safely, knowing very well I couldn’t afford to fall with the pregnancy far on its way now. My stomach annoyed me, it brought me off balance and made me forced to walk with an almost ducklike waddle, much to the amusement of some of the other orcs. But I knew it was only temporarily and that in a few months I’d go back to my former shape and agility, with some work.

A ray of sunlight lit up my face as I moved close to the shape resting on the wall, squinting my eyes in reaction to the sudden light. A low growl sounded and I stopped moving, noticing his eyes on me. He was wide awake, but the growl hadn’t been a warning. It had been a welcome, a greeting from one respected being to another. A soft sound in the back of my throat served as my answer and I approached further, reaching with my hand to softly stroke the unique striped fur of the tiger.

“Good mornin’, Lian… See ya foun’ ya ol’ spot again, e’? Be a nice spot, at leas’…”

My words were soft and gentle and Lian rubbed his head against mine in a loving gesture. I made a soft purring sound and took a good look at him. It was getting more clear now Sadok kept pointing me on it, though perhaps I’d just been refusing to see it. He was getting old… His fur wasn’t as bright anymore as it once was, his shape still strong and impressive, but time had left their marks on the tiger. He probably felt my mood shifting, because he raised one massive paw and simply rested it around my back, in an almost humanoid kind of embrace. I put my arms around his neck, seeing I could reach it easily with him being positioned a bit higher on the wall, right in front of me.

“O’ Lian… I be sorry. We be leavin’ tonig’t, to a place ya can’t follow. Ya… will ‘ave ta stay ‘ere, alrig’t? In ya ‘ome.. Da place ya were born. Ya belon’ ‘ere, I dun’ wanna risk ya life. Ya go’a place ‘ere…”

My words were soft as I spoke them, and the tigers ears twitched a little as he listened to the sounds I made. Perhaps he understood the words, perhaps  he just listened to my tones. I’d always believed he could actually understand what I wanted, whether it came from my body language or from what I was actually saying. He let out a low rumble, licking one of the tears from my face with his raspy tongue. I hadn’t even noticed I’d begun to cry…

Long ago, in this same jungle, he’d been gifted to me. I remember it like it was yesterday, Qa’ajn coming to me with the small thing in his arms, a small bundle of fur and stripes, claws and teeth, setting him down next to me with a smile. I’d loved him from the first time I set my eyes on him. We played, we swam, we hunted and we slept together, cuddled up against each other against the cold of the night and rain, first me protecting his smaller body, and when he grew to be larger than I was, him protecting me in turn. We’d been inseparable.  Where I went, Lian went, even though we sometimes were away from one another for a short time, we always found each other again. I’d never had a bond like that with an animal, and it hurt me deeply to have to leave him here, now, many years later.

My eyes were set on him, taking in that unique pattern around his snout, his eyes, his ears… Putting it to memory, I pressed my face against his and simply let myself go as I almost never did in front of anyone. My shoulders started to shake, my form trembling and more tears started to run down, my chest actually feeling as if someone was pressing down on it, hard. I had trouble breathing for a while, but Lian just stayed with me, rubbing his head against my face, his paw resting heavy on the small of my back.

We sat like such for nearly an hour, silent apart from a sob from me once in a while, and the ever going low, comforting rumble coming from Lians chest. He was too precious to me to risk. I would let him live his last years in the jungle he came from, the jungle he knew. Even though it broke my heart.

Slowly I stood again, the sun shining down on my back now, higher up in the sky. It was time to go back… Time to prepare for the journey.

“I love ya, Lian… “

It was all I managed to say out loud, but I believed he understood me. He didn’t follow me, when I started to slip away, just watching after me with those bright orange eyes, until I disappeared between the foliage surrounding the ruins. I didn’t look over my shoulder, I just ran, ran the familiar way through the jungle I had to leave behind, the place I grew up with, the place I’d probably never see again.

I needed some time on my own… Time to get myself together, to prepare my mind. I couldn’t show weakness now. Sadok needed me to be strong. No.. I needed myself to be strong, to be able to face the upcoming dangers. Not only for Sadok. But also for myself, and the two small beings growing in my stomach. I had an extra risk, going through… But I wouldn’t be left behind.

I would push through. I had promised.

With a low painful growl the female lowered herself on the edge of the stone, close to the edges of the camp. It was night now, darkness surrounding her form and the sounds of the night creatures sounding all around her. Crickets, frogs, it was an orchestra of its own, something of beauty to behold in the greenish swamp. Everything was alive, everything was green with life and normally Rhonya would’ve marveled to be in a place like this. To watch things grow, swim in the swamp waters, hunt, connect with the Wild here just to see how it felt being a part of this place.
Not tonight. Tonight she was keeping herself awake with sheer willpower. The potion she’d gotten from that witchdoctor Jahzeem had helped her a bit in this, she felt more awake, more energized and able to keep her watch on the rocks she was sitting on. Her right hand moved to her bandaged side and she remembered what had happened…


Chaos.. Chaos all around her. Orcs, elves, Trolls, all their allies ran with them, protected them and helped them. In return the orcs did the same, but they were outnumbered. Bullets were flying everywhere around them, and Rhonya saw others getting hit here and there. A shadow passed over and she looked up, seeing one of the Rylak fly over, dropping even more grenades on the fleeing Banners, of which so many were already being dragged or carried, leaving a trail of blood on the already red ground. It didn’t look like the Iron Horde was going to give up any time soon… She grunted, they had to keep going. Her eyes moved over those around her. Trakmar right next to her as she tried to help carry him. Bleeding from several wounds, shrapnel and bullets, the huge Mag’har had taken quite the beating.

Krogon was walking on the other side of her. The old Orc tried his best to also carry his exiled tribemember with him, but blood was running down his own form, the red liquid mixing with the stains of red dust that stuck to everything here. He kept going though, pushing though, pushing himself to his limit, something that Rhonya admired at that moment.

Rargnasha was up front, yelling, trying to keep everyone together.

“We need to move, now!”

His deep and loud voice made it over the screams around them, the sounds of the rifles, the grenades. Hearing it and just being able to listen to his commands gave her hope, a purpose. She’d follow him and she’d be alright, as she had always done. He would lead them out safely, or at least die trying. They could say about her Chieftain what they wanted, but he cared for his tribe, for his orcs and she knew he would everything in his power to get the orcs and their allies out of there.

Rhonya saw it again as he called the shaman up front to take the mountain down. The first one to stand in front of her... was her brother, her Chieftain. Forming a protective wall of shields and even those without shield joined in to take the volley of bullets for their shaman. It hurt her deep, seeing them get hurt in front of her, taking injuries so they could focus their efforts on the spirits. Gashuks hand in her own gave her some comfort. She wasn’t alone in this. She had others at her side, calling with her, giving each other strength. Her focus wasn’t so much on Earth right there, but more on her fellow shaman, asking the spirits to hear them, to give them the energy to go on, to keep them strong and able to stand against the onslaught going on around them.

They listened…The spirits heard their plea and they answered, bringing down rocks onto the path, the trees falling, giving them the precious time needed to get back to Stonard.
Though, the moment before the blockade came down, Rhonya felt a pang of pain in her side and the warmth of something running down the side of her hip and leg. And that was where it had all gone black for her, the world fading, the last thing she saw was the familiar face of Grek’thar and of the female shaman who caught her form before it hit the ground.

She’d awoken in the inn, Grek’thar working on her wound, cauterizing it shut. Panic had gripped her, was everyone alive? Where was everyone? Not all of the tribe had been with them, she had to go outside, find them…

The same panic still filled her now, at that moment, sitting on the rocks at the edge of the town. Where was Therak? Sadok…Kogra? Sinami, Kyrazha, other wounded back in the keep… Did they make it out in time before the Iron Horde swept through the gates? Were they warned, or overrun? Captive, maybe escaped, alive, or… dead?

With a deep sigh she kneeled down, a groan of pain escaping her lips as this put pressure on the wound again, but she shook her head and put the pain aside. Her hands touched the ground, her fingers feeling the mossy earth, digging them in. She was exhausted. So tired... But she had to try.

“Spirits of the Wild, Spirits of life… Hear my plea. Guide those that are lost, those that are searching for their way. Guide them here, to us, into the arms of safety and rest. Please aid them, as you aided us yesterday. Give them a path, a chance to reach us. A sign we’re here, to help them in their search. This is all I ask… A chance.”

She closed her eyes, a single tear running over her cheek down her chin, dripping on the ground. Rhonya bit her lower lip, shaking her head, looking up again. This was no time to cry. This was a time to be strong, to show the others things would be alright. Morale was a powerful thing. The she-orc would stand her watch and wait for those she loved.
Her tribe, her family and their allies.

Sounds of the night surrounded me as I made my way down from camp, slipping my way over the ashy hills instead of using the front gate. My feet were bare; the rest of my body only clad in the simple loincloth and the loose leather tunic Sadok had gifted me that stretched out over my bulging belly. I was covered in ash, giving my skin a very greyish appearance and blending in with the background. Around me ash fluttered around in the sky, flashes of red sparks and lava falling, the ground treacherous with the hot, molten stuff, every step carrying a risk of its own as I made my way past the ruins that surrounded the camp.

The air was warm, suffocating even with the ash particles hanging heavy in the sky. This land was dead, the dead trees not finding any nutrition in the soil anymore, no water. This land was horrible, in my eyes. Almost no wildlife, no green, no wild, nothing... Just fire and ash. With a thud I landed heavily on my bare feet , threatening to lose my balance for a moment now my weight point had shifted, something I was still getting used to. I growled lowly as I put my hand on the ground to help me stay up, crouching down. My eyes scanned the surroundings, the low ruin walls keeping me from sight. I remained crouched for a few moments there before creeping up further towards the mountain.

Word had come. Word of brown skinned orcs passing our camp, but no one knew where they had come from, or gone, or even what their business here was. Rumors of the south had come as well, more brown skinned orcs… What were they doing here? Why did they pass us without attacking or if they were not hostile, without telling their business? I didn’t think I would find out tonight, but I could at least try to keep an eye on the mountain.

My hand tightened around my bow, an arrow ready as well. Last time I hunted I hadn’t gone alone… I’d gone with the Troll that would try and help Sadok, but it hadn’t been a hunt I’d really enjoyed, the place we’d gone to still hunting me in my dreams. The dampness, the darkness, the stale air and the bone chilling water we had to swim through still getting on my nerves. Not to mention the fact of being stuck there and having to fully depend on someone to make my way out again, it still angered me. He’d kept me safe, that much was true, but he’d also made fun of me, frustrated me and toyed with me, leaving me confused.

Slowly I made my way over the steep rocks closer to the bridge leading into the mountain, the structure looming over me in the darkness of the early morning. There was no movement here, nothing but the occasional bird flying over. I didn’t dare coming any closer, not wanting to risk myself too much. I’d promised Sadok I’d keep his sons safe, and I had no intention to do otherwise. These two were too important to me to risk them getting hurt. Or risk myself, for that matter.

I realized that whoever came in here, had either gone through or were somewhere inside the mountain, not planning on coming out this side of the mountain again anytime soon. A low snort exited my nose as I simply started to make my way back to camp. Nothing much to report, still no news on our situation. But it was all I could do without taking too much risk. I wasn’t a mindless scout. I knew the limits. Unlike some others who had only proven that just the evening before.

Suddenly something soft and furry pressed against my side and I turned in surprise, only to find Lians head there, announcing he was at my side. My hand moved through the orange and black striped fur as I kept walking, my feet kicking up clouds of even more ash as I followed the path back to camp. Back to the tribe, my home. Back to my mate, who knew all my secrets now. He’d been good to me, better than I could ever have expected of him. It was worth sticking with him, even though he had a knack of getting hurt every time. It was something I’d have to accept, just as much as he’d have to accept my flaws, my faults, my stubbornness. My hand moved back to my stomach as I moved into camp. These two would bind us, far more than any oath could ever do.

Fire and ash. My least favorite place so far where the tribe stayed. I took my spot again on the hill, covered in ash and soot, nearly looking like a statue myself. I hoped we would move again soon… but I wasn’t sure if I would prefer the places we would go over this one…

The air was getting warmer every hour we continued our sail across the sea, the sky slowly getting lighter again as sunrise announced itself, the stars slowly dissapearing from sight as I looked up at them, lying on my side. The deck moved under me in a steady rhythm on the waves, up and down, up and down… By now my stomach had gotten used to it, though in the beginning it had taken some time to get me used to the movements. I’d stayed down below, but the air was pressured there, it smelled and the feeling of unease was only worse down there. So I’d come up here, enjoying the fresh air.

Lian was asleep somewhere further on, he’d found a nice cuddle partner in Duba who’d spend some time playing with him on the deck before he’d just fallen asleep against the female. I didn’t mind much, he’d be fine on his own there. And I had something else to keep with me, to keep safe. My egg… It was wrapped safely in some furs, my arms around it.

The Troll had said to me it was a Direhorn egg. I didn’t have any clue what kind of animal that was, but the moment he gave it to me to hold, I had to have it. Direhorn or not, the egg was warm, had a comfortable weight to it and it just… felt right. Just when I’d first taken Lian in my arms, back when he was still a little tiger cub and looked at me with his big eyes, pawing at my face with a paw that looked way too big for his scrawny body. Sadok had made me a drawing of what a Direhorn sort of looked like, but I couldn’t really imagine it. It didn’t matter. Whatever would come out of it, I would take care of it and keep it with me, with Lian and Sadok and Igurg.

Most of the tribe was still sleeping, there wasn’t much movement on deck, so I just enjoyed the peace and calm and the warmth of the egg against my chest and stomach. My eyes slowly started to close, tiredness taking over. As soon as I was about to fall asleep though, something moved. Startled, I opened my eyes, looking down, blinking. Had I dreamt it? I waited anxiously, suddenly wide awake again. Would it happen again? What had it been? My stomach, which was swollen with twins, or had it been the egg?

I hadn’t felt anything move in my stomach before, the cubs probably too small yet to make any big inpact, but I’d felt my gravity shifting at least when my stomach started to show, I had trouble walking down slopes and stairs without losing my balance. I kept looking down, but nothing happened. Disappointed, I lowered my head on the deck again with a grunt. I couldn’t sleep anymore now… Should I tell Sadok, in the morning? Or would he just make a joke about it and laugh?  Softly I placed one hand on my stomach, the other arm still around the egg. Three things growing, three things yet to be born, to see first light, to sniff in the scent of the world around them, to feel touch and air and sunlight…

I didn’t know if I’d make a good mother. The thought had often crossed my mind, but it had no use worrying about it much, these two were coming and I’d just have to adapt. As I’ve always done, adapting to new surroundings, new customs, new family. With a deep sigh I closed my eyes again to try and get at least some sleep for a few hours, what was left of the night. I curled up around my egg, and didn’t even notice the near invisible crack that was now visible on the outside, but hidden by the fur.

One evening, a few days ago, the Orcs of the Red Blade gathered for a very special storytelling evening. All gathered around a campfire, little did they expect the things about to happen...

Sadok Sharptongue, Thur'ruk of the tribe, added some very special ingredient to the flames, making things come very much alive for the present orcs (And one Tauren). A bit too much alive, for some their taste...



In their minds, they were brought back to events of the past, guided by the Thur'ruks words while he told the story, they were suddenly in the midst of everything! Surprised, but ever vigilant, the Orcs adapted quickly to the odd visions that suddenly didn't seem so much like visions anymore. Within moments, they were figthing for their lives in the battle of mount Hyjal!




They faced undead, a Lich, a Pitlord, dragons...





Of course this was not without casualties. But seeing it was a vision, and not a true thing, the orcs were fine of course and able to put their fallen comrads back on their feet. Even though the feeling of dying might forever stick with them...
At the end they faced the might of Archimonde himself, reliving the past, and driving him back.



Of course, the orcs safely awoke around their campfire once more as the vision faded. But this would be a story that would stick with them forever. Because they lived it, stood together as true orcs of the Red Blade!

For the Blood of the Tribe!

Sounds of fighting filled the air, weapons clashing against one another, grunts of effort and the thumping of heavy feet running by. The screams of the wounded and the dying added to this weird orchestra of noise. The warzone was still busy, the crack in the middle of the land only adding to the scene, like the land itself was in torment as well, only enhanced by the fighting going on.
Blood dripped down on the broken ground, a sword coated in the near blackish fluid. A grunt, as the blade made its way once more through the soft flesh, a sigh and a moan as it retracted. The body of the Orc fell lifeless on the ground, the human holding the sword with a near sick grin on his face, looking down on his defeated enemy. With a cruel laugh, he lifted his foot, only to bring it down on the orcs lifeless face with a crunch.

The action would be his last, though he did not know this yet. An arrow came flying through the air with a sharp whistle, burying itself in the flesh of the humans’ side, the place where the armor was thin. The impact made him stumble, and that moment of hesitation was all that his attacker needed.
My hand grabbed the arrow, turning it cruelly in the wound. Screaming filled the air as the male dropped on his knees in agony, his vision unclear due to the pain. My greenish arms wrapped around his chest and started to drag him away, while in the meantime he dropped his sword. I grunted in effort as I dragged my price off the battlefield, feeling his body going limp in my arms. A sign the poison was doing its job.

I lowered him a distance away, covered behind a hill and some trees. His moans and noises of pain were drowned out by the mass of sounds around them, just one more wounded among many. My light brown eyes looked down on the smaller figure of the male, even though he was much broader than me in shape, especially in his armor. I’d been keeping an eye on this one, a particular cruel man with no honor for the fallen. I’d been too late to help the orc he just killed, but at least I could stop this one from killing any more of my kind. Others would take his place, sure, but every little bit helped… Or so I liked to think.

The smell of his blood filled the air, dripping richly out of the arrow wound in his side. The poison should stay in that area, just numbing him, unable to move, but still able to feel the pain. It was a poison I’d seen many of the Trolls use, though I was slowly running out of my supply. I’d always stolen it from their camps, not too sure on how to make it myself. But that was a worry for another day. My mind was completely on the human now as I grabbed my small skinning knife from my boot and pulled off his helmet. His face was sweaty, a rugged black beard coating his chin and angry eyes looking at me, full of hatred and pain. He spat some words in my face, but seeing I don’t know common, I couldn’t really make out what he was saying. I doubt it would’ve been a compliment anyway.

The knife sliced across his neck swiftly, not meant to kill, just to add some small wound, add to the fear, making him know he couldn’t do anything, he was at my mercy now. I couldn’t help myself from leaning in towards his neck, sniffing the rich scent of the blood, and sticking my tongue out to take a quick taste. My lips curled into a smirk as I also tasted a very faint hint of the poison, making my tongue tingle. Blood… It was something I’d been brought up with, but it made most others uncomfortable. So I kept my tasting in places unseen.  

As I started to work on getting his breastplate loose, the thought why I was doing this came up in the back of my mind. Groshnok had actually brought me on the idea, taking my mind off things with hunting humans… A little while later I had finally managed to take the armor piece off, and started to cut away the padding clothing underneath. The human was screaming at me now, but I didn’t pay any attention to him. This was my time, my fun, my distraction. With a smirk on my face I set to work…repaying the cruelness he had given to so many orcs the last few days.



A little while later I was sitting back at the small burrow of hides I’d build for myself, covered in blood, licking my dagger clean. For some reason I didn’t really feel any better. Actually, I only felt worse, sitting here alone, washing myself off a little, mostly undressed because everything was covered in slick, sticky blood by now. With a sigh I just wrapped an arm around my leg and buried my other hand in my hair, peering out ahead to the plains of the Barrens.

Where are you, Sadok? What made you leave so suddenly, without any notice apart from that damn small note on the kodo? Was the trust gone in me, that you would not dare give me at least â€"some- hint or word you’d be fine…? Or did someone make you write that note under force and took you away?

Those were the thoughts that filled my mind, for the last few days already. I’d asked around, searched, looked for any clues. Left Igurg with a nice Tauren lady who’d watch her for now, because she already started to ask where daddy was, and when he’d come back. I couldn’t tell her that I didn’t know, so soon after he’d promised her he would never leave her again. So it was best like this, especially because we were camped next to a warzone now… Not a place for a whelp if I couldn’t watch her the whole day. Not to mention that my own pregnancy was giving me enough issues already, even though my stomach didn’t display any hint of it yet.

I didn’t know what else to do. Should I go to Ogrimmar, see if anyone saw him, perhaps on a zeppelin somewhere? But that would mean I would have to leave the tribe to go search for my mate… And I wasn’t sure if they’d agree with such.

Growling in anger, I pulled on my hair, curling up on the furs in the burrow, looking at the empty spot of space I kept for him, in the hope he would return soon again to fill it up once more. It was weird, how much I had gotten used to him, so soon. How much I felt dependent on him, to cheer me up, to make me smile, to support me and just be his silly self. I missed his crooked smile, his laugh. His teasing personality, his big words. I could’ve coped with it if I knew he was at least save, if I knew where he was.

But I didn’t.

Sighing deeply, I just looked at the sky outside. The hunting didn’t help. And Sadok would probably slap me on my fingers for doing such dangerous things while carrying such a precious load. Not that he was here to tell me off...

Sadok, where are you…?

The cold wind found a way through my clothing as I sat on the protruding rock overlooking the snowy fields. It made me shiver, the cold taking place in my bones. I didn’t dare make a fire, not wanting to risk calling attention to myself high up here, with the undead wandering down below.  A soft growl was heard at my side, but it was a familiar growl. The orange with black striped furry head pressed itself against my cheek. 

“’Ello Lian… ‘Ad a nice ‘unt?” The tiger didn’t answer me, of course, apart from smearing his bloody muzzle against my cheek more, so I took that as a positive answer.

“At leas’ ya won’t judge me on me words, ‘mm? S’oul’ I apologize again, ya t’ink..? T’oug’… It was time someone put dis mirror in front of ‘im. We’ll see ‘ow stron’ ‘e truly is. Per’aps once ‘e’ll t’ank me fo’ it…” My fingers slid through the soft, orange fur as Lians deep rumbling sounded. A way of purring, though of course for such a big cat it sounded way more intimidating. He made himself comfortable against me, nice and warm. At least someone was here to keep me warm tonight.

Trakmar hadn’t understood me. Had tried to convince me Sadok was someone to be treated carefully, feeding his own lies, let him wallow in his self-pity. Was that truly the Orcish way? If so, I would honestly admit I understood even less of them than I thought.

I leaned back against the animal at my side, curling myself up against his shape, his warmth and the calming tremble of his chest as his purring continued. Trakmar could sleep alone tonight. I didn’t want to see him right now. Nor did I want to see Sadok, though I didn’t even know where he walked off to on his wolf last night. To be fair, I felt a pang of guilt in my chest at the thought of his face when I had said those things to him. His sudden quietness, not knowing what to say back to me.

But it had been unfair to keep continuing having him believe in those lies, the useless hope, the things he did not want to see. And to be fair, I was tired of being compared all the time to dead Orcs. First Keishara, Trakmars former mate… And now this Vashnarz, who I truly saw no similarities with apart from the things Sadok told me. But she hadn’t been like that at all, when I met her. So Sadok kept clinging to this old vision of a long gone female, a lie to himself.

I didn’t regret what I had done. Only regretted the fact he’d probably hate me now for the things I said, the truth. But someone had to do it… I would be the monster, if I had to. I was the oddball of the tribe anyway, the one not fitting in, the outsider, the Troll-Orc… They saw me more as Troll than a fellow orc, but I didn’t mind. It was true. The Trollish ways came much more natural to me. Made more sense to me even, at least it was more clear.

The wind picked up again, but now I was shielded from it by Lian. I hadn't been able to quickly find a more sheltered spot, these lands so full with enemies, things hiding around every corner that would try to kill me. My bow was within handreach, as well as my quiver of arrows, as always.
A deep sigh rumbled through Lians chest as I leaned against him. I moved my hand to scratch behind his ear with my claws and to my amusement he closed his eyes and the purring rose in volume. My own stomach added to the chore. I hadn’t eaten yet…Hunting would come in the morning. First, I’d focus on getting through this cold night.

Tomorrow was a new day.

Blood and gore splattered over the wall as a loud roar of anger brought dust coming down from the damp, dark cave system, the thing that had formerly been a head and body now an unrecognizable mess on the floor.
“Youu sssaay what?!” The voice was clearly angry, the spiderlike mandibles making his speech a combination of hisses and clicks as it spoke in the Nerubian tongue to those standing cowering in front of him, apart from the one who’s destroyed body was still sliding and dripping off the wall in pieces.

“B-but maaassterrr.. We couldn’tt heeeelp ittt. Ttheey weresss with too manyyyss!”
“I ssshaall have no exxcuuuses! You ussseeeless bunchss of idiotss! We nearly had that keeeep.. We neeeedsss that keeep! “ More rumbling, dust coming down from the rocks, some even fell down from cracks in the stone.
“Then we ssshaall get itsss, masssterrr.. You’ll sseeee.. We kill them allsss..”
The angry voice suddenly grew softer, almost dangerously sweet. “Noo, no.. I haave a bettterrr idea. Yessss, yess… Lureee them heresss inssstead! Thosssee greenssskins are foolsss, they will follooww..”
The small spiderlike creature bowed his upper body and head, bending the two most front of his thin legs, the shadow of his master putting him in near darkness as he loomed over the smaller creature.
“Itsss sshall be dooone, my massster.”



It had taken her some time to reach the tower, sitting on wolfback as Rhonya moved through the mess around the keep. There were still frequent attacks now and then, but this evening seemed particularly quiet. Everyone else was out scouting, but she had volunteered to stay behind. She never made a good scout anyway, and this gave her an excuse and some time to spend on her training. Seeing Rhonya wanted to keep it out of sight a little, she had decided the tower would be a good spot.
Kozgugore had adviced them not to go out alone, but she wasn’t alone. Not really… Softly she patted the wolf on it’s flank in a caring gesture and got a quiet grumble as thanks. Rhonya smiled, leading the animal through the dooropening in the tower before sliding off her back, looking up at the stairs.

“You stay here, Keren. I’ll be upstairs a while.” With those words she started her slow and careful walk up the stairs. Her ankle still bothered her, so it wasn’t going fast, but eventually after a while she made it up to the empty room in the watchtower. The female sat down, crossing her legs under her and took a small knife from her belt, making a small cut on her palm, some drops of the red blood dripping on the wood she was sitting on. Getting used to cutting herself, he’d called it. Well, that wasn’t so hard. The hard part, she’d figured, was actually manipulating the liquid, moving it to where she wanted it to go seeing it worked quite different than with natural water.

After a while of mostly failures and some small successes, something suddenly spooked her. A sound from outside, still vague, but she could clearly hear it. It was almost like some ticking, a skittering of something against stone. And it was coming closer…
Rhonya stood up quickly, peering down the only window in the tower. Her eyes grew wide at the sight of nearly twenty spider like nerubians climbing up the side of the tower, sticking to the rock. Without hesitating, Rhonya called out silently to her connection with the spirit of fire, pleading for its help. The familiar heat filled her, the rage and an amusement that urged her on to burn things, to feed the fire, let it free.. She obeyed and within moments fireballs started to rain down the tower, hitting some of the creatures directly. They fell off, burning, screaming.

Though for every one falling, another took its place. She was alone, and they were with too many. She’d never stand a chance.  Sounds coming from the stairs notified her Keren was trying to run up, but the steps were way too steep for the huge worg.
“No, Keren, stay down! Stay down!!”

She didn’t want the worg hurt, or worse, killed… Stepping back from the window, knowing she didn’t stand a chance, she noticed an odd shimmer starting to surround the walls. The rage started to fade, the inner heat disappearing even though she desperately tried to cling onto it. Something was disrupting her…
As a last resort, she tried the spirit link. Too late though, Rhonya couldn’t feel it anymore, whatever kind of magic these nerubians were using, they completely cut off her connection to anything.
“Damn! I can’t go anywhere..” She started to panic as the spiderlike creatures suddenly entered the window and started to corner her, ganging up on the female. The last thing she saw was a larger one entering the tower, before it spoke and flung something her way, knocking her over and making her drop her bag, spilling the contents of bandages, jars and prepared herbs over the tower floor. She felt herself falling… and then it all went black.



“Masssterr, we haaave one of ttheem. Ittt ssseeemss weak, but ittt throwsss wittth fiiire. Fiiire!”
The odd clicking voice answered, the large shadow moving as it turned towards the smaller nerubian.
“Goood… Ssssomeone ssspecial then. Now all we haave to do.. issss wait.”

((Seeing she's become pretty familiar for most of you orcs now, here a little insight in poor Daeyna's mind. Hope you enjoy reading it! ))

I remember it vividly, one of the memories that have always stuck with me even though some were now vague and distant, and others even gone, black holes in an already confused and chaotic mind. The sparks almost flew off the weapons as the saronite steel clashed on one another. The two swords parted, moved, and met again and again, the sound ringing through the dark and mostly empty graveyard. It was a dance of death, in multiple ways. I was standing there, to the side, Valeria close on the surface, watching and waiting. This was my moment, my brothers fighting had nothing to do with Valeria, they didn’t mean much to her, she never knew them well.

The tall and imposing figure of the Shadowpope was standing at my side, tense and ready to intervene, though it was useless to try. Unholy magic sparked through the air, making Dailors face even more pale than usual in the light reflecting on his white skin. As I looked back on the fighting, the dome shimmered around them. It protected them, but also meant their inevitable death. At least one of them would die this evening, it had been a promise and a curse, the dome would not lower until one of the bodies would be completely lifeless on the ground.

It wasn’t a normal fight between two warriors. They were my brothers, my trusted brothers. Grand Inquisitor, and Deathbringer. Two Deathknights in a dance of death, it was something special to behold, but also quite terrifying. The dome also protected those outside, but I could still feel and see the unholy death magics fill the air, see the damage they did to one another, the enormous strength that they both held. On the other side of the dome I could just see the forms of Solanna and Diederich, looking on as well. This is what it had ended into. The destruction of the Cult, the civil war between the two immensely powerful Priests, fought out between their Champions. Once, I’d been Dailors Champion. His guard, his shadow, his protector.. Until that one sermon. But that was a while ago already, and I was getting used to sharing my mind somewhat, even though Valeria and me didn’t always see eye to eye.

The fighting brought me back to the moment, the sounds of the weapons, the spells being woven. I didn’t know who I wanted to win. I had never wanted this fight at all.

Suddenly one of the two went down. I craned my neck with a loud crack to see who it was, and came to the conclusion that Dunderholm was done for. My closest one… But the youngest Deathknight of the two. Silence came down on the graveyard. A sadness filled me that I didn’t know I could still feel, in the normal bleak puddle of emotions that I could still call my own.  The dome disappeared, and the head of my beloved brother rolled several feet away, staring with empty eyes at the sky.

Drazhk wasn’t in a much better condition though. Almost crawling to keep himself up, he moved towards us, kneeling at Dailors feet and asking for his release. I yelled out, trying to stop him, but Dailor had promised compassion, so he gave it. The Shadowpope merely had to point a finger and a wave of immense Shadow magic blew my other brother apart as well. All was left was his blade. The blade where Dunderholms soul was now locked in, in torment.

While I left the rest to their bickering, I went in search of the blade. I found it resting against the stairs of the nearby crypt, and hovered my hands above it. I would not touch it. With everything I had in me, reaching for Valeria to help me, to the Shadow, for this justice, I managed to shatter the blade by overloading it.

“You’re free now, my brother, free to join the Shadow in the afterlife… Know the freedom I never had, I will not let you suffer…”




The wall in front of me was still the same. The same wall for days now, I knew the cracks and dirt stains by memory. Living still got the blessing of sleep, resting their head and mind for several hours and just forgetting everything.

I didn’t.

My eyes were always open, always seeing, always noticing things around me. I could not rest, I could not lose myself in blessed darkness, nor could I shut out the sounds around me. The shuffling of feet up and down the stairs, the breathing of my guards, the heartbeat in their chest. It was an ever present pounding in my ears, annoying me to no end. If I could, I would have just grabbed those green throats and squeezed until the life would disappear from their eyes and the pounding stopped, like a drum gone silent. But I couldn’t.

I couldn’t even turn properly, only having a spine and a set of hips to actually control my movements, seeing my neck was a bit of a sensitive spot now. Half of the skin there was also gone, blackened and burned. On my chest rested the amulet that I’d gotten, the amulet that Sedah had said would prevent anyone from entering my mind. I could feel it working, a dull, pressing feeling as I couldn’t reach out for my always present shadow anyway. Valeria was stirring, she could feel the changes just as I did, the hammering on the barrier in my mind stopped for now. Always she tried, to find cracks, weak spots in the magic wall that kept her out. Something to rip it apart from, everything would do.

Sedah… His ideas infuriated me, the nerve he had to decide such changes in my unlife, probably making things only worse if he really would press on with the idea. He wouldn’t listen though to me… Somehow he’d taken it upon himself to try and save me, protect me, though I still didn’t really understand why. He’d only known me for a little while now, never showing much interest in me back in the days of the Hand. So why was I suddenly so much to him? Was it really just compassion driving him, or a sense of justice?

I couldn’t figure it out, at least. All I knew is that I wanted to get out of that place. Away from these walls with their cracks, away from those thumping hearts, away from them all making fun of me and looking down on me.

I warned them every time. They never listened…

Night had fallen over the trees of the Eversong forest, making the twisted trees look rather ominous, a pale reflection of the colorful splendor they were in the daylight. Most of the Orcs were sleeping, apart from some that enjoyed roaming through the dark woods at night. Hidden under a hastily made shelter of leather, furs and blankets, a shape was sleeping. The shelter was very much out of sight, put up between bushes and in the shadow of one of the trees.  Anyone passing by would just think it were the shadows of the trees looming over the bushes.

Rhonya wasn’t wearing anything, merely covered by a thin blanket due to the weather in Eversong that was mostly pretty hot, and the fur covered hut kept the warmth in very well. Only Therak would find her there probably, since he always had a way of locating her if she didn’t come to the usual sleeping place they shared. She hadn’t felt like sleeping inside the building this night. Rargnasha had asked how she was doing, and of course she’d lied to him. But she felt nothing for being close to him at the moment, with his unfair accusations and threats.

For now she was sleeping quietly under her blanket, only her form betraying she wasn’t very comfortable though, almost as if she was dreaming or having a vision of something not entirely pleasant…

Rhonya saw herself standing in darkness, nothing around her. Now, this didn’t trouble her so much as the fact that it just felt wrong. Something was off here, but she hadn’t found out yet exactly what it was. Some urge told her to move, but when she took a step forwards her bare toes bumped into something soft. Frowning, she knelt down and tried feeling what it was, lying at her feet. Something wet and sticky stuck to her hands as she moved them over the object, and she could feel flesh as well, an arm… Armor clad the figure, but it was ripped and shred.

A frown appeared on Rhonya’s face as she muttered a soft word. In response a small fireball appeared in her hand and the light suddenly showed her what or who was actually in front of her, the flames illuminating the face. Light crept over the nose, the eyebrows, the open eyes, staring at nothing. Clapping a hand in front of her mouth, Rhonya reeled back from the body, holding in a scream as she tripped over something else while she tried to get away from the sigh she’d just witnessed. She landed painfully on her hands and back on the floor, her hands slipping over more wetness there. There was another body under her…

The light she’d been holding went out when she fell, so the room was in darkness once more. Still, she saw the face in her mind, the face of Therak, staring up at her, his face a twisted mask of pain and agony as blood covered him. Her form started to tremble and a soft whimper escaped her lips as she scrambled up from the second body she had fallen over, her naked skin now covered in red, sticky streaks. The light flamed up in her hand again as she looked below. This body was smaller… A scream filled her ears, and for a moment she was confused, until she realized she heard herself screaming. Panicking, she looked around, the flame in her hand growing slightly larger. Around her, in a spiraling circle, were bodies. Countless bodies, dead lumps of twisted limps. She recognized all of them though…

Behind her was Therak. His armor was shred to pieces, claw marks covering his skin as if some feral being had taken it’s anger out on him. His throat was ripped open, his mouth still hanging half open in an unsuccessful attempt to gasp for breath. Her mate… Her most beloved mate, who’d given her a daughter, who’d watched over her when she had gotten into trouble and set her on the right path again. The one who’d always stood by her and she could always talk to. Now dead, lying at her feet.
Nex to him were four small shapes, his arms almost wrapped around the small bodies. She didn’t want to see those, but the image burned into her mind anyway. Her children… It almost looked as if Therak had died defending them, half shielding them with his body, but they were lifeless anyway.

Frozen in place, she forced herself to look at the others, her eyes wide in terror.

At her feet were Grogona and Rargnasha, the form of her sister the one she’d tripped over. Her dreadlocks lay as snakes around her head, her face pale and bloodied. Her dagger was still in one hand, the other holding the hand of the male lying next to her. A hole was visible in the female’s stomach, ripped right through her tight leather armor and tabard. The sister that had chosen to love her before knowing of her past, and continued to do such when she found out about Rhonya anyway. The things they had shared, bloodbonds and even birthing at the same time…

Rargnasha was wearing his familiar plate outfit, and for a moment Rhonya couldn’t see any wounds on him, until she saw it. His throat was slit. Just one, deep line of red marked his green skin. It seemed a little silly to her somehow, that such a simple wound could fell such a strong and large male. His eyes were open in surprise, as if he had not seen the attack coming at all, and had just been speaking to Grogona while holding her hand. Around them, scattered, lay the tiny bodies of their own children, twisted shapes Rhonya couldn’t bare looking at longer. She’d never wanted this for her brother. Rhonya might have been mad at him, but this… not this, not losing him.

As she kept shifting her gaze, she recognized the other forms. Grek’thar, alone to the side, half of him hidden in shadows, some of his limbs twisted and broken. Horrible wounds covered him and the ground below him was red of blood.
Gridish, his lips blue and his skin very pale, as if he’d frozen to death somehow, his hand clenched around his staff. Niranoya at his side, the same blue lips and pale skin making her look almost like a ghost figure.
Caruk, his eyes empty, the usual shine gone from the now empty sockets. He almost could look as if he was sleeping, apart from the fact the undead don’t sleep.
Krogon lying nearby the form of Rargnasha, his sword in his hand, the other hand reaching out towards the form of his Chieftain, as if he’d been just too late to save the one he’d sworn to protect. The back of his skull was crushed, gone, the gore covering the ground below him.
Gashuk, the feathers of his splendorous shoulderpads covered in blood and gore, a faint green shimmer still around his body, smoke rising up from him. Burnmarks covered him, horrible, festering wounds and blackened limbs twisting under him, his face nearly not recognizable anymore.

The others were all there too. Trakmar on the edge, the body of his loyal companion next to him, half lying over him. Mokhtar, a smithing hammer in his hand. Groshnok, surrounded by bottles of whiskey, his head actually lying several feet away from his body. Kozgugore, more looking like a pile of fur with his armor and Shrewd curled up against him, almost looking like he was sleeping, apart from the fact his fur was slick with blood and his eyes stared lifeless at his just as dead master.
More and more bodies spread out across the ground. Shrika, Oguur, Nograx and Grulda lying in some sort of deadly embrace, Gruulg, Okurah, Karak, Sadok…

At that moment Rhonya couldn’t take it anymore, the sight of all of those she loved dead around her, gone, forever silent, their lights gone out like the flame of a candle, never burning again. The fire in her hand started to flicker and went out, covering the scene around her in darkness again. Trembling all over, she sank to her knees on the blood covered floor, her legs not able anymore to carry her weight. What had happened? Had she done this…? Had she all let them die around her, doing nothing? Was this a punishment of some sort, everyone leaving her, dying, leaving her alone once more..

Alone in the darkness, their blood on her hands…

A light breeze moved through the trees and the orange leaves, almost like a soft whisper if one would listen carefully. Two shapes moved under the large, twisted branches of the Eversong woods, quiet in their going but talking softly to each other as they went. One was male, a large and broad figure, actually seeming not to fit in the environment he was in, between the elegant and autumn colored trees. His skin was a green hue, his eyes a deep, vivid red, and as he laughed to something the female said to him, some birds took flight in surprise as reaction to the booming, deep sound of his voice.
The female was small in comparison to him, her head just reaching to his chest as she gently stepped over some fallen leaves on the ground. Long white hair flowed behind her, moving gently in the whispering winds that surrounded them as they moved, another sound now filling the air. Water streaming.

A waterfall came in sight of the two, and the female pointed towards a place near it, a rock jutting out, looming over the falling water rushing down below. Carefully Rhonya made her way across the slippery wet rocks to a dry place on the large, flat boulder. The male, Rargnasha, helped her step carefully in her long flowing robes, before climbing on the rock himself. He was clad in his armor, even though Rhonya still found it madness he went everywhere in the heavy garments.

“So what now, sister?” Rargnasha asked her in his deep voice, while settling on the rock. He peered over the edge down, it was a long way… Shifting his gaze towards the female who sat next to him, he smiled.

“Now? Well.. I warned you this might be boring for you. I am not sure how much will happen, if anything will happen.. and if it does, you might not even see it. But you wanted to come.” Her voice was soft, gently, though there was a teasing tone in it at the moment as she looked at the big green orc with her own blue eyes. Sitting next to him like that, with him in his huge armor, it looked like he could crush her easily if he’d want to, the she-orc looking pretty fragile in her robes.

Rhonya made herself comfortable on the rock, facing the water. Her bloodbrother nodded at her in answer, shifting a bit himself so he could sit comfortable in the heavy armor. It made a scraping noise against the rock as he moved.

“Even though we’re in Horde lands now, does not mean it’s safe to be out alone, sister. Especially not in meditation, when you can’t react quickly. And there is a Troll village nearby. I’ll stay here to watch over you, whether you like it or not. “ His tone didn’t leave any room for argument. He was the Chieftain, and used to be obeyed, even though his sister tried to test those limits once in a while. It kept him on edge, so it wasn’t that bad, but he would not let her know that, of course.

“Fine, fine…Don’t blame me though if you get bored. You could always go and take a swim or such, if you want to. Get some of that smell off.”

“You mean to say I stink?” Rargnasha’s eyebrow raised at this, before he lifted his arm and sniffed.

“You’ve been wearing that armor for a while now, can’t tell me you smell nice.” She said, in a playful tone, before looking a bit more serious and continuing.  “I’m happy you came though. Should something go wrong, at least you’ll be there. As long as you try not to disturb me too much.”
“I wouldn’t dare, sister.” He said, his words followed by a subtle nod and a smile as he reached out a plated gauntlet and patted the fragile female on her shoulder.  “You do what you need to do, I’ll be here. Good luck.”

“Thank you… I might need it.” She sighed softly, before turning her attention away from him. The wind was playing with her hair, blowing strands in front of her face on occasion, and soft spatters of water reached them sometimes from the stream rushing down beside them. She didn’t mind, the sound and the water was comforting to her. The place she belonged, the place she felt safe and whole, calm… The rushing water was almost like it took all her stress with it, her worries floating away from her on the waves and rushing streams, tumbling down to crash onto the rocks below, foaming in anger.

Water… It was such a double edged blade. But it was a blade that fit in her hand perfectly, like an extension of her own arm, a part of her. Calm and gentle, but at times harsh and unforgiving. She hadn’t come here for the water though, she had come for something else, the place only needed to calm her so she could focus.

Casting one last look on the male sitting beside her, she smiled and nodded.

“I suppose I’ll begin then…”

Rhonya had tried this several times before, but she had always been denied, ignored. She hoped it would be different this time. Reaching into the satchel she’d taken with her, she prepared the incense and lit it with a soft word, smoke twisting up from the dried herbs  to be taken by the wind. The smell filled her nose, making her relax more as she closed her eyes and began the familiar journey of meditation, pulling herself back into her own mind.

This time Rhonya did it slightly different though, instead of reaching for the elements inside herself, she reached out, feeling her surroundings and the things in them.  Presences in the woods, spirits around her.

Spirit of the Wild…I ask humbly for your attention. I know you have deemed me unworthy in the past to receive your word, your gifts. But I ask you to reconsider me this time. Changes have been made, wise spirit, demons have been exorcised, death has taken me and returned me. Spirit of the Wild, you granted me life again that day. I ask you now to also grand me your approval.

For a while it remained silent, apart from the water rushing at her side, birds chirping in the trees and the soft breathing of Rargnasha behind her. For a moment she thought she’d failed again, that the spirit she’d never been able to reach, would deny her once more… But then, everything suddenly went completely black. The sounds disappeared, silence pressing on her, darkness overwhelming her…

Rargnasha could see his sisters form starting to fall over, threatening to drop right off the rock down the waterfall. Swiftly he reached out for her limp form. “Rhonya..?” She didn’t respond, but when he checked her breathing and pulse it was stable. So with a sigh he simply laid her as comfortable as possible next to him on the rock, her head resting on his lap. He moved some strands of hair out of her face with a caring gesture. “Stay safe, sister..”

Light… There was light. A small speck of it, growing brighter. Lazy eyes blinked, lifting her head. It felt strange, her vision was different… But also this felt natural, the way it should be. Slowly she moved up to her legs, noticing she had four now. Long, muscled but slim legs, ending in four hooves firmly planted on the rich forest earth. Her vision was black and white, and she could see more than she used to, a wider vision. Ears moved front and back, sounds everywhere.
The tiniest movement of the mouse beneath the leaves at her hooves, the bird moving between the branches of the tree next to her. Suddenly she heard something nearby and she quickly turned, before a calm filled her as Rhonya saw the figure stepping out of the bushes. A magnificent stag approached her, and his smell was familiar to her. Her family, her herd. Great antlers crowned his head, a male in his prime, caring for his females in the woods. He stepped closer in elegant movements and nuzzled his nose against hers a moment, before pressing the side of his head against her neck. A sign of affection, she knew, and she returned the gesture.

The male moved away again, leaving her alone in the clearing once more and she started to follow him. It was as if she’d always been like this, the deer in the wood, living here. She spend some time foraging, before deciding to try and find her herd again, not feeling comfortable alone. However, before she could move far, a sound broke the silence and the bush beside her suddenly exploded in movement. All she saw was a flash of fur, before instinct took over and she jumped into the air, bolting, teeth snapping right next to her leg.

The cat didn’t give up that easily though. Fear filled her, and she ran, ran! Rhonya ran as fast as she could, not wanting those sharp teeth to reach her. Bolting through the trees, jumping agile over the branches and through bushes, she thought she’d make it. The fear drove her on, gave her adrenaline to keep going, stay alive, stay alive…

And then a pain filled her being, a pain in her hind leg as jaws closed around her calf, ripping the flesh and making her trip. The deer fell, stumbling and crushing down, the long thin legs not able to carry the weight anymore. The cat was on her in moments, taking the opportunity to put his claws in her stomach, ripping. Pain, pain.. it hurt so much! Panic filled her. This wasn’t supposed to happen, she should be safe with her herd! Long sharp teeth locked around her neck, and her airways blocked. Gasping, struggling, kicking out, she tried with her last strength… But it was no use. It was over, and she realized it as things went black again…

Blood filled her mouth. It tasted great, and her stomach rumbled in response to the rich scent that filled her nose. The great cat had finally managed to get a kill again. Rhonya felt great, alive, though very, very hungry. Eating had to wait though. Shaking her head a last time to make sure her prey was dead, she opened her jaws and let the deer head fall on the ground. Stretching, the huntress licked her lips before setting to the great task of dragging the deer corpse through the undergrowth of the woods.

In a while, Rhonya reached her destination. Soft mewling sounds greeted her and she dropped her prey close to one of the bushes, poking her head inside to check on her cubs. There were three of them, soft little fur balls which pressed their cold noses against her, begging, playing. One by one they came out of the bush, not yet looking like the great Lynxes they’d be one day if they survived for that long.  These three were her pride and joy, and she nuzzled every one of them in turn as they made their way towards the freshly killed corpse of the deer lying next to the bush.
The great feline laid herself down next to the deer and started working on opening the stomach. Warm, rich blood started to pour out, steaming in the morning air as she pulled out the softest parts of her kill for her cubs, who attacked the meat and organs hungrily, making soft growling noises as they fed.

They would live again another day, not starving today at least.

Suddenly her vision shifted once again, looking down on the scene of a lynx mother with her three cubs feeding on a freshly killed prey. This was to no interest of her though as she hopped along the branch she was sitting on. Spreading her tiny wings, Rhonya flew out, down below, soaring straight towards the cat to pluck some hairs straight out of the fur. The cat swatted an annoyed paw at the tiny bird, but she was too fast, and flew off with a strand of hairs between her beak. Flapping her wings, she took flight again, higher and higher, riding on the ever changing drafts of wind. The forest spread out below her, the trees tiny speckles on the ground.
This was her domain, the air, the wind bringing her where she needed to go. Rhonya made her way towards one particular tree and landed on the beginnings of a nest she was making, tucking the hairs between the twigs and leaves that made up the small nest. It wasn’t done yet, but she still had time to work on it. This was her focus now, the nest, food. A simple but rich life, repeating itself year after year.

The nest disappeared from her sight, and suddenly she was herself again, the orc female clad in robes. But Rhonya wasn’t on the rock with her brother yet, it was dark around her, nothing to see, nothing to hear. She could see her own hands, her body, but that was it. Confused, the female started to look around. Something was approaching… She could feel a presence, something far greater than her, looking at her, judging her.

Shaman.

Rhonya tilted her head at the single word, standing up more straight. The voice filled her with a feeling of life, death, and everything in between.

“Yes, honored spirit.” It was her only answer, since she wasn’t sure yet what to say exactly, or how to act to this spirit she didn’t know yet.

You have seen the way of things. Lived from being prey to hunter and onlooker. This is the way of life, of the wilds. Living, death, it is all a part of it, every creature playing a role of its own, no matter how small or big. Before, you were tainted. I sensed destruction in you, an evil.

Rhonya nodded, before suddenly the presence came closer, smothering her, threatening to overwhelm her. It filled her entire being, she felt herself being pushed away, disappearing, taken over.. Before it suddenly stopped and took distance again. Her body shuddered and she was panting.

There are still some traces. But the entities are gone. This pleases me… Tell me, Shaman, why would I deem you worthy enough? Why would I listen to you, help you in times of need?

Her tone was hesitant at first as she answered, but Rhonya raised her chin. “I do not think I need to answer this, great spirit. You’ve seen me, you know me. You know my bond with the other elements who’ve deemed me worthy.”

It was almost as if the presence laughed at her.

Cheeky. But yes, I know you better than you know yourself, probably. Very well, little shaman. I will keep an eye on you. You shall have to learn though, from scratch. To call for the gifts I offer, the animals that might help you. Learn their mind, their way. They will not do anything that goes against their nature, unless it is an emergency. Do not misuse these powers, shaman, or I will take them away again… and perhaps more too.

“I will not disappoint.” The female spoke as convincing as she could, before she felt herself being ripped away again, darkness coming one more…

Water rushing, birds chirping… Something was hurting her head, it was lying on something hard, cold… Rhonya opened her eyes, blinking confused a moment before she realized she was back on the rock at the waterfall. A hand moved off her head as she tilted it, and she looked straight in worried red eyes. A short moment those deep red eyes filled her with a fear before she recognized them as her brothers eyes and she relaxed.

His deep, rumbling voice filled her ears as he spoke softly.
“Sister, you’ve returned… Did it go well?”

“I…” she said, thinking on her words before sitting up completely. “I think so. It spoke to me, it made me see… Hrm.. It’s hard to explain right now. I think I need to think about it first…” The memories were overwhelming still, the things she’d seen, felt. Being one with the animals, knowing how they thought and felt…

Rargnasha nodded, understanding, though he still looked curiously at her.
“Then perhaps you can tell me later, when you’ve thought about it some more. I’m glad you’re back though.” He spoke while standing up and stretching himself out with a deep grunt, glad to finally be able to move his muscles again after sitting still for so long. “Are you able to move? All this sitting still and watching over you made me very hungry. I say we go and find ourselves something nice to eat.”

Rhonya nodded, accepting the hand he offered to help her stand up and got to her feet, carefully stepping off the rock again, Rargnasha following at her heels as she began the walk back to the spire they used as home for now.
“No deer, though… I’ve had enough of that for today. I’ll settle with some salad or such.”

Rargnasha looked at her as if she’d gone crazy, confused and took a step away from her in feigned fear. “Don’t tell me you’ve suddenly gone vegetarian on me. Think of all the bacon you’ll miss!”
The female laughed at those words, and shook her head, taking her brother firmly by the hand to keep him close. She still felt weak, and secretly she just used him to lean on a little.
“No, no, don’t worry. I just need to figure some things out, is all. I’ll be fine.”
“Good. Because I can’t have a vegetarian sister. It’s not natural.” He moved his other hand to mess up her hair and laughed his deep booming laugh as she responded by swatting his hand and grunting deeply.

“You know what’s not natural..? Your smell…”  She responded teasingly. And so they kept on walking and arguing the way back to the spire, Rhonya’s mind busy with the memories and thinking about what had happened. She’d have to work on this, as the spirit had said… She would.

Rhonya would show that she was worthy of it.

Green flashed across the sky, again and again the light brightened up Rhonya’s face, making it seem a very sickly green color. Shadowmoon Valley.. One of the least favorite places in the world for her. She could see a lot from her spot on the tower. An Arakkoa forest to the left, or better, what remained of it. The huts were smashed, broken and ruined. Only spirits filled that place now, their ominous presence felt even by the orc shaman sitting on the tower.

Below were the ever going battles with the infernals, raining down from the sky to smash down on the orc defenses of the town. They were not very durable, but their never ending numbers made them a problem still. Behind those she could see the pools, bubbles of greenish magma coming up the surface, breaking and creating lazy ripples that broke against the sides of the lakes. Creatures roamed around the pools, some even went into them, the heat and corruption not even bothering them anymore as they used the magma as some nice hot bath.

Again she moved her gaze, over the barren lands. Nothing grew here apart from the odd trees surrounding the Arakkoa camp. Nothing more could grow here… Even the air she breathed felt heavy in her lungs, she could almost taste the corruption in there with every breath. It made her uncomfortable. Though the worst part of this land was the silence.

There were a lot of sounds around her, guards moving and going about their business, fighting outside, the ever going flash and thunder raging across the sky. No, the silence that bothered her was inside her head. Before, the demons had always been there, an unwelcome presence but a presence nonetheless. In Shadowmoon they had always been closer to her, faint whispers filling the back of her mind, words of promises and power. Not that she had really listened to them, but somehow it had been comforting to know she hadn’t been alone.

For the elements were silent here. She could reach out to her well known spirits, the spirit of water normally aiding her so well. But they felt very far away, clouded. Not to mention they were sometimes actually just unwilling to answer her due to the place she was in. If she opened up for the elements in this land, the ones she didn’t know, all she got was a huge headache because of the corruption these elemental spirits had undergone. Rhonya couldn’t work with those, they suffered, they screamed and they were unable to aid her.

A soft sigh escaped her lips as she looked over the area again, her eyes falling on the huge volcano that was almost the center of this foul land. Green magma still came up from it. Gashuk had told her about that volcano… He told her it was the very place where the link with the elements was severed before Outlands became what it is now. Perhaps that was why her own spirits were so reluctant  to answer to her here…

Rhonya pushed herself to her feet, tired of looking at this land. She went down the tower, towards where her wolf was stabled with the other mounts of the tribe. Keren greeted her with a lazy wag of her tail and a lick over her face, which cheered her up a bit again.

“Let’s hope we won’t stay here for long, Keren…” She said softly, while feeding the wolf a piece of meat she’d picked up earlier. Not that the huge she-wolf would answer her, but it felt a bit less lonely still. She could speak to the others of the tribe, sure, but this place made her sad and angry, not the best company they could have.

“At least you’re always happy, are you not? As long as you’re fed and given attention to…” The wolf answered her with a low rumbling noise, more focused on the meat than on Rhonya. With a small smile the she-orc left the animal to her eating and moved on. It was time to go and prepare some herbs and potions… If she couldn’t heal with the spirits here, she’d have to find another way to keep her tribemembers up on their feet somehow.

With a heavy heart and heavy head, she set on her task in a lonely corner of the camp, surrounded by her silence and the noise of the land around her. Damn dark shamans… Rhonya just hoped they’d leave here soon… Leave the corruption behind again, the fel that was still alluring to her, even though the demons were gone. She still had the marks.. The marks of the rituals burned into her flesh. But she would resist, for her own sake and those around her. She had no other choice.

As morning came, a ray of sunlight shone through the open roof of the large building on the bundle of furs that was located on the ground against the wall. Something moved in there as the furs heated up, and in not too long a groan was heard as well as Rhonya poked her head out from under the thick layer. Her hair was messy, her eyes red and basically she looked like she had a horrible night.

Sitting up, something suddenly stung on her side and she gasped a little at the unexpected pain. What in spirits name had she been doing? Her vision was a little vague, until she blinked a few times and lifted her robe up her waist, looking at the source of the pain. A circle, burned into her flesh. No.. it was a ward. Wait..

Slowly the memories came back to her. They’d taken her there to the abandoned village, she remembered sitting in the middle of the circle, them warning her it would hurt, Rargnasha standing behind her, holding his axe.  For a moment it almost looked as if he was standing there in that heavy armor with his helmet on, to strike her down should things go wrong… Not that she would blame him, but the thought filled her with fear even more as they started the ritual. Memories became vague from there, apart from the fact she could feel the tattoo on her back reacting on the magic being used, but it wasn’t built for resisting that kind of fel magic, so it shut down.

The next memories were those of burning, a burning in her mind, but also on her skin. The ward breaking down, piece by piece in her head, until she had collapsed on the ground and things had gone silent, apart from the cackling in her head as something saw it’s chance to get out, to roam free once again in her mind before it just…disappeared.

The rest were flashes. She remembered Shrewd, for some reason, and someone large leaning over her, touching her side. Her fingers moved over the burnmark a moment.. Someone had put salve over it, she realized then. She also remembered talking, a male voice.. no, several. Though what was said, she didn't remember.  As her mind got more clear, she suddenly became aware of a pounding, a pain in the back of her mind. It confused her for a moment why on one side she felt so… Awake, so light, but on  the other side something was pressing down on her even heavier than before. 

Rhonya closed her eyes, putting her head on the ground once more as she pulled back into herself as she had done so many times before . It came really easy to her now, as she knew the place so well. The room in her mind that she had created there, the place she could pull back to if she wished too, the place also standing in connection with the elements, where she could visit them. However, the last past years, it had also been the place the demons were, warded. As she focused on the wall they were supposed to be, she couldn’t believe what she saw.

Of the usual four doors, only three were left. The fourth was just… a black smudge on the wall. Gone completely, nothing even left of it. The other three though still stood tall and as she moved closer to them, she began feeling really scared… They were there, on the other side of the wards. An anger shone out from the warded doors, an anger she could feel even on the other side, a pounding, them focusing on breaking through, pulling down the wards, more than they’d ever done before…
So they had managed in defeating the first. But the other three were only more angry now, and kept pounding, working on those wards. How long would they hold with this aggression?

Rhonya quickly pulled away, away from the room in her mind, and sat up under her furs again, one hand on the burn mark in her side. Defeat one… anger the three others. Had it been worth it? What if they broke out now…?