Rhiga's Tome of Thoughts

[Shargla]

Rhiga's
Tome of Thoughts


[ Wiki: Rhiga Ragemaul ]

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[Prologue]

Rhiga stirred in her nightmares. Once again she couldn't sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, the nightmares would come. The past the present the unknown future. The nightmares were always the same: Her story.


[Chapter 1, Prief History]


[Part 1, The Early Days]

Rhiga was merely 8 years old when her parents took her to the Orphanage of a nearest village. Her memories of her parents are still to this day hazy. She remembers her mother's warm arms and the calming scent of her hair, a smell of herbs she can't quite recognize. Her mother's sweet voice as she sung a lullaby of her favourite, the 'Moon's Journey''. She remembers a faint memory of her father's itchy beard and the roughness of the skin of his hands. His deep voice like thunder. She remembers her mother's screams of pain as she gave birth to Rhiga's brother, Marvok. Her father's great joy as the cub was discovered a male. Rhiga stood there on the doorway of the hut and remembers her happiness. Finally she had a brother to play with. But the joy did not last for long as the two were separated into different orphanages. No one ever told her why her parents did this or what happened to them. Only thing that was left of what could have been a joyfull family life, was a pendant: The left half of a wolf's head.

The year in the orphanage was not joy for Rhiga. She was shunned by other cubs because she was shy and mostly kept to herself. Slowly she distanced herself from others completely, only accompanied by her own thoughts. Thoughts that would soon turn sinister. Rhiga repeatedly ended up in trouble towards the end of her time in the orphanage. She did small things. Mixed rotten meat to the stew, broke other cub's toys.. She had fits of anger and would easily hurt others around her. Once she cracked another cub's kneecap with a wooden sword after she was instulted during a playfull spar. The boy called her a loner... Hah. What did he knew. She was never alone. She had the voices to keep her company. The matrons were worried. Rhiga spent many days alone in a locked hut because the matrons were desperate. They couldn't tame her and couldn't keep her around the other cubs.

After a year of misfortune and almost constant bursts of anger and rage, two visitors arrived to the Orphanage. Ragai Fiercetusk and Gramok Felhowl were their names. Rhiga was locked in her hut, watching from the peekholes on the walls as the armoured couple arrived, riding on large, scarred warbears. She looked at them in awe. Ragai was a large, muscular female orc, armoured to the tusks with battered mail and leathers. She carried several weapons on her person: couple of daggers, two swords, an axe, throwing weapons and a bow. Her armour was decorated with several kinds of trophies. She smoked a pipe and walked to talk with the matrons that greeted her cheerfully. Gramok looked very different. He looked smaller and slender than your average male orc. He wore a black hood and was clad in dark leathers with runes around them. Two runed daggers were hanging on his belt, one on each side. There seemed to be tied leather straps with throwing knives hanging from them all over him. He had less trophies than Ragai, only one medium sized demon skull adorned with feathers was atattched over his left shoulder. He stood there next to Ragai and the matrons, scanning the area. He looked towards the hut where Rhiga was locked in. She flinched and backed off to the corner. Rhiga couldn't see the orc's eyes but it still gave her cold chills. Suddenly the door would open and the matron asked Rhiga to come out.

She walked outside and squinted lightly, the sun was so bright. She looked at Ragai and Gramok that were standing infront of her and quickly turned her gaze to the ground. They went on and inspected her by the Matron's approval. They checked her muscles, hair, feet, hands and teeth, quite roughly. Rhiga felt like a goat in a marketplace. Finally Gramok took a big glance into her eyes. Rhiga loooked directly at him, trying to find the eyes of this orc but could not see anything, only shadows. For a moment she thought she saw a green flash inside the hood. Must have been just her imagination. Gramok stared into her eyes for a long time and then let her go. He nodded at Ragai who went on to speak with the Matron. The conversation was a blur to Rhiga but in the end the Matron told Rhiga to gather her things, she had new parents.

[Shargla]

Third night of the sixth moon. Year of Rebellion. Location: Somewhere in Ashenvale
__________________________________________________________

Cut. A dash of glinting, almost black blood seeped from the wound. A whisper of demonic seeped from the she-orc's lips as she drew bloody runes into the tree's bark with her finger.

''Blood for blood. Servant to master. Master to servant. Blessing and a curse. Thy will be done. By thy unholy name which shall not be spoken, thy will be done. Thy will be done.''

A sly smirk appeared on the she-orc's face, the fangs glinting in the shimmering light that pierced through the treetops. Cut. Shriek. Silence. The eyes of the night elven female opened wide and the spark of life left them. The she-orc sinked her fangs into the elf's neck and ripped it open, devoured the flesh like a hungry beast. She raised her bloodied face towards the sky and let out a mighty roar.

For a blink of an eye she was engulfed by shadows and the next blink they were gone. She fell to her knees and cackled maniacly, her face towards the sky. The madness in her eyes suddenly disappeared and the grin dropped. Her gaze wandered for a moment before it locked into the night elf that was ripped to pieces, severed limbs scattered around the carcass. She panted, her pulse rose. She looked at her bloodied hands and started to shake. She stared at the hands and opened her mouth as to scream but nothing came out.

What was that?

The orc looked around her, someone said something. She could not see anyone. A whisper from the other direction. She looked there, no one. Whispers everywhere. She turned around, desperately looking for the source of the voice but could not see anyone. No. Not now. Not here. Not again. Not again!

She hold her hands to the sides of her head and closed her eyes, twisted her mouth into a painfull wince. Her head felt like it would exblode. She let out a paniced shriek and sprinted into a run. She ran through the forest like something was after her. She would not look back but keep her panic filled gaze ahead of her and run. Stumble. She did not notice that root, she could not see clearly since it all was hazy. Her vision betrayed her when the panic seeped through her brain. It was always so, this was not the first time. She crawled forward in all four untill she got to her feet and ran. Her feet started to hurt. No, not now. She panted heavily and kept running. She ran all the way to the shore, no one had seen her yet. At least she thought so. She had no time to look around.

The she-orc ran into the water and collapsed from exhaustion. She panted heavily and the panic still veiled her vision. She tore her armour off, everything had to go. Everything. She let the waves wash the cloths to the shore as she sat there naked and stared at her hands. Wash. Wash. Get the blood away. She cried in desperation as she rubbed her red hands but the blood didn't seem to wash off. She rushed deeper to the waters and let herself sink under the surface, still rubbing herself in panic. The water was cold but it burned her. Her skin felt like it was on fire and something crawled under it. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth into a scream. Gasp. Water seeped into her lungs. The she-orc paniced as the water suffocated her and she had to get to the surface. She forced herself to the shore, crawling on all fours and coughing up water. Water and blood.

She collapsed to the ground and rolled on her back, her breathing calmed down as she stared into the sky and her vision slowly became clearer. Her face turned blank, she blocked out all the emotions from her visage but under that she was a mess. A yelp. The she-orc looked to the side and grunted as a small wolf pup becan to lick her face. Its tail was wagging from side to side. The she-orc had no powers to resist this. Not now. She let go and lifted her hand to pet the side of the wolf's head. The pup rubbed its muzzle against her hand and licked it. She raised her brow and a faint smile rose to her lips.

The pup curled up next to the she-orc and placed its head on her shoulder. She let out a deep sigh and got up to gather her armour.

''Come on, pup... Lets go home...''

The cub wagged its tail as the she-orc dressed up. The she-orc picked up a stick from the ground and tossed it towards the keep. She smiled faintly as the cub rushed after it and would return to her side, holding the stick proudly. The two walked back to the Zoram'gar keep.

An eye glinted in the shadows, staring at the she-orc. The figure came a bit forward and bloodied, dirty fangs would be seen for a prief moment and words escaped its lips.

''Blood for blood.. Thy will be done... Thy will be done...''

The whisper was followed with a manic, yet silent enough cackle and the figure disappeared back into the shadows.

[Shargla]

Location: Somewhere in Ashenvale

Rhiga's eyes widened open as she woke up and she gasped for breath, panting heavily. She was sweating. She looked around to see where she was but her vision was still hazy. Her hands ran through the ground around her, twigs, leaves and grass was all she could feel. She was still in the forest.

The she-orc rubbed her eyes and slowly her vision became clearer. But her mind was still a blur. All she could remember was how the male questioned her. ''Is this your doing? What have you done Rhiga?'' Why did he have to follow her? He shouldn't have seen the place. And the corpse. He didn't need to be part of this. She tried to run away but the orc had taken hold of her arm and she stabbed him. The cold steel of her ritual dagger pierced right through his armour and the blood danced around the wound. She looked at what she had done and paniced. Self defence. Yes. It was self defence. A subcontious reaction.

But she ran. She dropped the dagger and ran. She had to hide. The spilt blood caused the male's rage flow right through him and if she had not run, she would not be alive now. Luckily for her, she had become a master in hiding over the years. She hold her head and panted quietly as she watched the angered male trying to find her, screaming out for her. But he gave up.

Rhiga looked at her bloodied hands and groaned. She hit her fist against the tree in anger and roared. Why did he have to get mixed to this!? She did not want to harm the orc. She never wanted. She was a mess. For the past week her memory was a blur and she wandered around in constant anxiety and panic, waiting to make her collapse. It was only a matter of time before something would happen. But she did not want this to happen. Not him. Anyone else but him.

The she-orc hold her head. She glanced to the side and blinked her eyes. The wolf pup was curled up next to her, sleeping. Rhiga felt something. A sudden tide of warmness went through her. What was this feeling? It was familiar. She had felt like this once before, but it was a very long time ago. So long ago she couldn't even remember the cause of the feeling.

The she-orc's ears perked. She looked around the forest as she felt something. A presence. She was not alone. She stood up and the wolf pup woke up too. It looked up at her, confused. Rhiga peered around the forest and lowered her hood. She closed her eyes and let the wind caress her face. She took a deep breath of air and smiled. Yes... Yes.. This was it. How long it had been now? Years. She remembered now.

Rhiga opened her eyes and looked down at the little wolf pup. She smiled and the pup wagged its tail. The pup felt it too. Something that had been sleeping for years had finally awaken once more.

The pup let out a light yelp and followed as Rhiga rushed off to the forest, running like the wind. She let out a joyfull laugh as she ran, eventually disappearing into the shadows.

[Shargla]

[[ !! WARNING !! ]] Contains angst, gore and references to adultery. Proceed reading with your own regard. Or skip to youtube to watch kitten videos. Elves were harmed while writing this story.

Location: Ashenvale, Silverwing

Rhiga yawned and stretched. She rubbed her eyes a bit to clear her vision from the haze of sleep and stared blankly at the view of treetops and the faint glint of morning sun piercing through the leaves. She was sleeping in the forest and it was a very early morning. It was the first time in months she had slept fairly well and only seen a few nigthmares.

The forest was quiet. Rhiga sat up and stretched out, revealing her agile form to the forest as her cloak slipped down. Her skin was scarred and the black runes still decorated her form around her ankles, wrists and neck. They were like shackles to her. Shackles of past that would never let her forget. The demon was far gone but the voices persisted.

She admired the view of the forest for a moment and turned her gaze to the side. The male-orc was still sleeping soundly. Rhiga lied down on her side and looked at the orc. She ran her fingers gently across his hair and slowly moved down to his cheek and stroked his beard. The she-orc smiled sadly and sighed. It was a good talk. It was a good night. She wanted to stay there, lie back down next to him and just stay till he woke up. Listen to his breathing and press her skin against his for just a moment more. She liked the orc. She really did. He broke her heart but she always kept that little piece of hope. Maybe she could be happy someday, in far future. Maybe with him, maybe with another.


Rhiga sighed and stood up. She gathered her clothes that were lying here and there, tossed carelesly aside. It was just a moment and she was fully dressed. She grabbed her bag from the ground and let her eyes rest on the male-orcs sleeping features one last time. Maybe she should leave a note. Something to show she would have wanted to stay. A token. Something. Anything. Rhiga frowned lightly and reached to her letter satchel to pick a piece of parchment and coal. She folded the piece, set it where she had slept and placed a small rock over it so the wind wouldn't carry the piece away.


The she-orc walked through the forest with heavy steps, hanging her head lightly. She couldn't stay. That's how it always was. Get it done and get away. She had isolated and encased her heart into cold, hard stone after the final blow from Bloodhowl. It was cruel. True, she had reached out to him at first because she wanted to use him to achieve her goals, but she found a friend in him and fell in love. Only to be tossed off the cliff into a cold water and slapped to death with a rotten trout, figuratively speaking. She broke the rules.

The she-orc had rules. Never get close to anyone. Never reveal your true self. Never trust anyone. She had followed these rules every day since her adoptive parents taught them to her. They molded her into a killer, a mercenary, an assassin, an actress. Rhiga Ragemaul... Was it even her real name? She wasn't sure anymore. When you fool others all the time, you slowly start to forget your true self too. It had allready went so far it had altered her mind. She had multiple personalities, anxiety, paranoia... the list goes on.


Rhiga stood near a shady cliff and lowered her hood. She closed her eyes and let the wind caress her face. The Wilds spoke to her. Should she answer? Maybe it could change her into her former glory. But was she worth her weapon anymore. Time would tell. A rustle. Rhiga turned around and raised her brow. No one. She sniffed the air and sighed. Of course... How could have she forgotten.

She walked closer to the tree with carvings on it and reached her hand infront of it. The camouflage charm wore off and revealed a tied up, naked night elf.  It looked like frozen but it was very well alive. Bloodmagic. The elf was unable to move, talk or even bleed. It's eyes were glazed but the fear, horror and pain glowed through them. It had stayed in this condition for a while. Rhiga looked at the elf's state and snorted amusedly. Its teeth had been carved out with a knife by force, it's tongue cut out and stuffed to the throath. The teeth were still in Rhiga's bag, she'd use them later. Rhiga had made a hole in the elf's throath and ripped the vocal cords out. The cut out tongue was jammed to the hole, flapping outside the throath as the elf breathed. The skin on the elf's right arm had been peeled off and runes were carved on the flesh.

Rhiga stood there infront of the elf and smirked.

''Oh... How could I have forgotten you here for a few days... Delicious l-little e-elf... d-delicious... b-beautifull l-little thing... l-lets play t-then...''

Rhiga took her dagger and towered over the elf, letting her shadow fall over her as she stared at the she-orc in horror, the eyes pleading to be killed. But the orc was not done... Not in a very long time. Rhiga's face twisted into a maniac grin and a low cackle echoed through the cliff as her madness took hold of her again.

[Shargla]

Location: Ashenvale

The she-orc opened her eyes and stared into the darkness. Her mechanical eye was gone and instead there glowed an eerie green globe in her right eyesocket. She peered through the darkness and tried to see but there was nothing. She tried to scream but no one answered. It was cold, the chill went through her spine and as she tried to rub her arms for warmth she realized she had no armour.

A sudden glint of light was seen and flames bursted from the darkness. The flames were clear blue and emmitted a cold, eerie glow. The she-orc took a step into the light, exposing her natural and vulnerable form to the darkness around her. This was the dream she always had, every night since she had her Om'riggor. Yet this time it seemed different. The fire was usually warm and in various colours of amber, but now it glowed sinisterly blue and gave out no warmth of reassurance.

She stared into the fire, awaiting for the images she'd saw yet again. There was always a story the fire would tell. But this time it revealed nothing. A sudden wave of warmth flow through her feet. She glanced down and saw her feet covered in a pool of dark blood. Her eyes widened as she discovered the blood's source was between her legs. A cold chill went through her spine as she entered a state of panic, trying desperatelly to cover herself and make the bleeding stop. She screamed as a sudden pain hit her, over and over again. She looked around, screaming for help but it was silent. The voices weren't there. They did not answer her anymore since the price was paid. Blood was released by blood. The sacrificial was done and the life was taken in exchange for hers.

Forms of shadow appeared around her and the fire. She breathed and shivered in panic. The horror she saw as the empty husks of shadowy figures of all she had ever killed appearing before her eyes as the fire's glow extended. They had no face, like their features had been carved off. But the she-orc remembered. She recognized every single one of the figures. Her parents, her brother, her dearest friends and the love that once was there but ended with her own blade. Everything she had ever killed.

The pain hit her again. She screamed and the blood began to rise and cover her, it began to swallow and drown her. She tried to scream and the pain got too overwhelming for her as she slowly gave in and drowned.

------

Rhiga gasped as her eyes flew open and she stared at the roof of Silverwing Refugee. She took a look around her, everyone was sleeping soundly. She needed to get away. Now. Before anyone noticed. It took a great effort from her to get up and sneak away from the camp unnoticed. At least she thought she wasn't seen. And she ran again to her hideout. She wasn't in a state to run and it took a great effort from her to not collapse before her destination.

The she-orc arrived to the cliff and collapsed, panting heavily. She glanced blankly at the view of the morning lake, the fire had faded from her and she could only feel remorse. Tears started running down her cheeks but her face did nto flinch. The cub could have been her first born. She told herself over and over again that she was not ready to be a mother, she'd be a horrbile mother. This was a right choise. A bastard cub. Whose cub it would have been, no one would know anymore.

She went through it all in her head again. The poison tasted horrible but she swallowed it by force. The faint feeling of regret went through her but it was allready too late. The pain went through her whole body, hitting her over and over again as she collapsed to the ground and hold the cloak tighter around her to cover her shame from the halfblood and the male orc.

Blood. So much blood. The pain and bloodloss made her faint. Rhiga snapped out of her thoughts and peered towards the spot. The foliage still carried the stains of dried blood on it and on the center there was a bit darker spot. Rhiga heard herself whisper in her haze.

''Burn it... Ask the voices to leave me alone for a while.. Let them have it.. As a sacrifice..''

The halfblood proceeded with her request. The voices were silent. But who knows for how long.

''I'm sorry...'' She whispered to the male orc.

''No you're not. Not yet.'' He answered coldly.

The guilt and remorse burned the she-orc. The flame turned cold and the silence was painfull.

[Shargla]

Location: Satyrnaar, Ashenvale

''No... Please stop... I'll do anything...''

Rhiga stared blankly and wanted to utter the words, but it would have just made things worse. She wanted to cry but there were no tears left anymore. Only thing she could do now is watch in shame. One of the satyrs hold her head and forced her to watch as two others mutilated and violated Goru in most vile ways. She felt powerless. She could do nothing. The satyrs had enabled her powers. She could not cast, she had no power left to fight. She could do nothing but watch. Watch... see... no tears. Just shame and remorse. They were just playthings now.

Two nights ago she went on alone to scout Satyrnaar. She wanted to find Goru and find out how to save her. The climb to the mountains edge over Satyrnaar was easy, she managed to sneak past the scouting parties unnoticed. Rhiga took her position over the mountain and placed a fel infused aura around her to make it more harder for the satyrs to track her down. She changed her mechanical eye to the eerie glowing one she kept in a jar and focused. She let her vision fly over Satyrnaar and detect any energies there might be. Hundreds of satyrs, thousands, yet no sign of Goru. But the scouting party had found her location and managed to sneak up on her. She didn't go down without a fight, though. Rhiga managed to take down one of the three satyrs before they managed to knock her out and drag into the camp.

Two nights. Two nights of endless torture. She was beaten, exhausted. Her body was full of cuts and bruises. The satyrs did what they wanted, when they wanted and how they wanted. For the first night she cried. She tried to bargain for the satyrs to let Goru go. It was no use. Instead Goru and Rhiga were forced to watch as the other was violated, over and over again. They were broken. Their minds, spirits and bodies were broken. No tears, just shame. The satyrs had carved their mark on her chest and planted a demon seed into her. She felt the corruption slowly take over her. Just like before. Only this time, it advanced faster and was allready taking over her mind. Once again she'd be lost in darkness.

No tears... shame... acceptance.

''I love you.'' Was the last thought she had before she fell unconsious of exhaustion.

[Shargla]

Location: Aszhara. Revolution's Beginning

_____________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

Night had fallen over Azshara and it was heavily raining. Rhiga was sitting alone by a cliffside near the entrance to the tunnels. Her leather armour was soaking wet and the faint smell of Felweed surrounded her as the fire in her long pipe grew brighter and then fainted into the darkness.

The she-orc stared hollowly into the darkness, even the red glow of her mechanical eye's iris was more faint than usual. Her loneliness and longing for her past life had recently overwhelmed her. The letters she had received bear offerings of wealth, excitement and even the cold embrace of death. She took a few offers and she must admit, it was who she was, the merciless blade of the darkness, always living on the edge. This war had no benefit for her. She cared little for who'd win the war, she'd survive nonetheless. The tribe however. She cared little for them. Krez'Urgesh was gone and she was alone with her thoughts. She wanted to leave with him but it wasn't that simple. She wasn't a mindless fool. Never take direct action.

Rhiga's eye scanned the scenery. She had Goru and Troxigar to hold her back as well. Cursed feelings! She had not spoken to her mate directly and when she finally spoke to her, she saw it. The corruption, the power within Goru's cub. Rhiga felt pity. Goru did not need this. The satyrs had left a large scar on her spirit and this only made it worse. She could help but her way to help would be something that many would frown upon. Perhaps she'd accept her offer despite this. Rhiga smirked slyly. This would benefit them both greatly but Goru would never know how. The undead and now this... It was going better than she had expected. All according to the plan...

The she-orc's eye peered to the side. She smirked lightly and spoke in a low tone. ''Hello old friend... So you finally came back...''

For a plain eye there was nothing but darkness. The she-orc put the pipe back on her lips and took a deep breath before slowly blowing the smoke out through her nostrils. Rhiga's mouth turned into a sinister grin and her worn fangs gleamed in the faint light from her pipe's fire.

[Shargla]

Location: Ashenvale

The forest was dark and strangely quiet this night. In a leafy bush there gleamed only a faint red glow as the she-orc stared at the lone night elven hut. She was completely still, waiting like a beast stalking for prey. A train of thoughts went through her mind. She had revealed everything to the male orc. No, she had shown him everything. Her past deeds she weren't so proud of. The look of shock on his face as he realized the meaning of the visions.  ''Necromancy...''  The orc proceeded to ask her questions. Why? How? Did she still do it? And she answered with truth for the first time in her life.

The gift she was born with had been sleeping for years but her adoptive parents had awaken the gift and trained it further, allowing it to grow. The voices the she-orc heard in her ears spoke to her, told her what to do, when to do it. They forced her mind and she would fall into the darkness, only to wake up to horrific sights. It always made her panic at first but it took not long for her to take joyment of her acts. ''Why not walk a new path? Why not change?'' Rhiga snorted. It was too late for that. The spirits forsake her long time ago, her spirit and blood had turned black and the corruption had gone too far. So far she had to make her rituals regularly to keep her sane. The corruption of her blood had transferred to the cub as well. The she orc was worried if it was even worth giving birth to the cub, maybe the cub would die before the labor, what would the cub end up being in the end... How would Krez'Urgesh react to it...

A voice. The she-orc snapped out of her thoughts and looked back at the hut. Tall, night elven male with long white hair walked towards the hut and went inside. Rhiga grunted and leaped forward from the bush, then ran towards the hut. Her feet were light and barely made more sound than a soft wind on leaves. She hunched near a window and peered in. The hut was simple and only had a bed, a cupboard and a few smaller tables in it. The night elf was sitting on the floor and seemed to be reading a tome. Rhiga smirked. ''Too easy...'' She climbed through the window and pulled out her dagger as she slowly crawled towards the elf that had his back turned to Rhiga.

''Why are you here orc...?'' The Night Elf spoke orcish with a deep voice and turned its head lightly to peer at Rhiga over his shoulder.

Rhiga blinked her eye and grunted. She leaped at the night elf, aiming to sink her dagger to its neck. The night elf smirked and rolled to the side, taking hold of his staff and swung it to Rhiga's side. She winced but got quickly back to her feet. ''Don't resist elf and this will be over faster and, I promise you, less painfully.''  The night elf laughed. ''Oh you poor creature. You think I'll just throw my life away without a fight? Then you better think again...'' Rhiga growled and leaped at the elf who swung her staff at Rhiga. She blocked it with her arm, wincing at the pain and swung her dagger downwards at the elf's chest, making a cut. The elf winced and it gave Rhiga just enough time to toss the staff aside and take a hold of the elf's throat. She pushed him against the wall, rage in her eye. ''Just for that, I'll make this more enjoyable for me. You'll be a fine sacrifice...'' The elf struggled and kicked Rhiga's stomach, pushing her away. She growled and swung her dagger again, this time it sinked to the elf's chest. The elf let out a gasp. Rhiga smirked and pulled her dagger back, letting the elf fall to the floor. He looked at Rhiga with pleading eyes. ''No... I have... too much still to do.. Why...?''

The she-orc stared at the elf, her face gave away no compassion. ''Karedal Starveil.'' The elf's eyes widened in disbelief. ''My... my brother... why... why would he... no...'' Rhiga grabbed the elf from his shoulder and tossed him to the middle of the hut. ''I care little of who or why. I do this for my own goals. And now.. I'm just getting started.'' Rhiga smirked and made a light cut to her palm. She placed the tip of the dagger against the elf's forehead and pushed it slightly in. As she began to chant, the elf's eyes widened in horror at the sudden realization of what was going to happen. He tried to scream but it was allready too late as he felt his blood burning in his veins and his body stiffen.

The chanting continued for hours before Rhiga stepped out of the hut and placed the severed and mutilated head of the elf by the doorway. She stared at it coldly for a few moments and licked her bloodied lips. The she-orc snorted and picked her bloodied fangs that still had pieces of meat sticked to them and walked away from the hut, disappearing into the forest as silently as she had arrived.

[Shargla]

Location: Orgrimmar

The night in Orgrimmar was relatively peaceful. Braziers and torches cast their warm glow over the Valley of Honour as grunts patrolled around it. The gates reaching to inner city were tightly watched, on both sides. The she-orc let her eye loom over the valley as she was sitting lazily on a branch of one of the valley's trees. She picked her fangs idly with the sharp end of her dagger as her mind wandered.

The past few weeks had been mentally rough for her. Though on Rhiga's case she was more angry and frustrated than depressed or sad. She grunted as she went through in her head what had happened. Relationships. Bah. She had lost a good friend and a mate in one night. Though she was not relieved from her bond on Goru's side, Rhiga doubted the relationship between them even existed anymore. She snorted lightly. Hmh. Guess that was it. Though she predicted it. She was a lone wolf. Pretending anything else would be denying yourself. The whole thing was over and it was time for her to change back to her bitter old self.

Rhiga smirked lightly and reached for her pipe. She stuffed some leaves in it and lit them up, smoking casually.

''And so the river runs forth...'' She whispered to herself and snorted.

The she-orc reaches to her bag and rummaged through it awhile before she pulled out a crystal orb that fit perfectly in her hand. She stared at it with a light frown.

''...and the cycle repeats itself...''

She stared at it a few moments more, clenching her fingers around it before she let out a sigh and put the crystal away. There was no point in using it. She was still with the tribe and he was most likely far gone. She should have left with Krez'Urgesh but he told her not to follow him. She would have been treated as a deserter, maybe even exiled for leaving now. Rhiga snorted. The orcs probably wouldn't even have noticed she was gone. They hadn't noticed her temporary leaves till now either. But as bitter and cold as Rhiga was, she had that special soft spot for Krez'Urgesh. He had that certain presence that made her feel all... Bah... She couldn't find a word for it.

Rhiga sighed and looked at the walls separating the inner city from the Valley. Who knows where he was right now. Rhiga hadn't heard a word from him but knowing Krez'Urgesh, he might not be too far. Rhiga flinched lightly and snapped out of her thoughts as a small black bird landed on her leg. She grunted and reached to untie the small carrier on its back and open it up. A note slipped out of the carrier and she rolled it out. She grunted as she read it through before grumbling it in her hand and engulfing it shadowy fires, leaving only a handful of ashes to be picked up by the wind. The she-orc swung herself down from the tree and stretched out.

''Better get it done then...''

She smirked as she took her dagger and swung it around in her hand before she proceeded to walk to the dungeons leading to Azshara.

[Shargla]

Location: Orgrimmar

Rhiga stirred in her sleep. Her dreams were nightmares the black blood in her veins caused. She opened her eye and grunted lightly before she sat up, letting her furs slip down and reveal her scarred form to the warm morning light. The she-orc glanced to the side and grunted. The pile of furs moved slowly up and down with the male-orc's breathing.

''For fel's sake Rhiga, get a grip...'' she cursed quietly under her breath and rubbed her face in frustration.

Rhiga catched a faint glint in the corner of her eye. She frowned lightly as she looked at her left wrist. One of the tattooed runes around it glow faintly green.

''Shit...''

The she orc grunted and got up to collect her clothing that was carelessly scattered around the two orcs. She seemed to be in a rush as she strapped her worn leathers back on and gathered her hair up on a ponytail. She tossed her bag over her shoulder and gave the sleeping male a quick glance before shaking her head and grunting.

''The fel was I thinking...''

Rhiga sneaked away and grabbed her wolf from the pens before riding out to Azshara and eventually disappearing into the forests of Ashenvale. And so the hunt began.

[Shargla]

Location: Orgrimmar

The warm morning light hit Rhiga's eye through the leaves of the tree she slept under. She grunted and rubbed the dried tears off the corner of her eye, before glancing around. The male orc was sleeping soundly next to her like the past few nights. Ugh... Fel damn... Something about that orc repulsed her but at the same time she felt like... accepting her fate really. The she-orc's words hit her true and still rang in her ears.

''You're just a whore who males use and walk away.''

A sudden wave of bitterness washed through Rhiga as it turned into sadness. Sigh. Even though Bloodrender apologized to her for her words, she was still in the right, why deny that. Rhiga knew very well how she had turned out but no one really knew how it truly was. In truth her black heart had gotten lonely and longing. Bloodhowl had let her taste the bittersweet ale of what others would call 'love' and then ripped it away from her. She had a faint taste of it before, a long time before the tribe, in Northrend. She had taken a hit for a rogue Dragonmaw merc and tracked him down to the snowy plains of Storm Peaks.

The memories were vivid in the she-orc's mind like the morning sun painting the walls of Orgrimmar with warm colours of fire. Ironfang. Ironfang was his name. A true match for her own skills. The fight they had lasted for hours untill eventually both of them collapsed to the snow in exhaustion.

''You... you are good...'' Ironfang grunted between his gasps for breath and spitting out blood.

''I.. rarely admit this... but so... are you... I'm... Korgra... Shadoweye...'' Rhiga spat out blood and smirked with a bloody grin to the male orc.

''Grot'harg Ironfang... Shadoweye...? Aye... I've heard of you... Probably... all in the business have... You live up to your.. name...'' The male orc got up and brushed the snow off him before he slumped down by the campfire that still was burning. Rhiga followed and slumped down on the other side of the fire. She untied her flagon and took a long, thirsty gulp from it.

Hours passed, days. Days turned to weeks and then to moons. Two moons they spent time together and got to know eachother. They got close and roamed the Storm Peaks together, hunting and occasionally fighting off the mercs that were now sent after both their heads. Rhiga felt relaxed around Ironfang. She felt relieved and relaxed to know someone knew how she felt. Something only another merc can relate to. They got close, too close. Both knew it but never said it. It was the merc life, an unspoken rule. Never reveal your feelings and never open your heart. Never show weakness.

How long it was... Three months till the last blow came. They had let their guard down and the assassins got the element of surprise on their side. The battle lasted for hours but eventually the attackers fell to the snow, painting it red. But so did Ironfang fall. Rhiga would have used her blood magic to save him but that was not the way. You fall in battle, it is how it is. She would not take his honour from him.

''Korgra... Take care of... my drake... Make sure she gets to roam.. the skies... And take... my head... Take it back... Do what you came here to do... Finish it... for your own sake...''

Ironfang reached his hand to Rhiga's cheek and for a moment their eyes met. Neither spoke the words. They both knew. Rhiga nod and as the life faded from Ironfang's eyes and his body went limp and cold, she held him close. She held him for what seemed to be hours before she laid him down on the snow and cut his head off. As she stood there staring as his headless body slowly turned to ash in the pyre of bright flame, she could not hold it any longer and let out a roar that echoed through the snowy plains and mountains. The roar was filled with grief and sorrow and rage. The pain of unspoken words and loss dressed into a gown of a simple roar.


A single tear escaped to Rhiga's cheek and she wiped it off with a shaking hand. She turned her gaze to the side and looked at the male-orc sleeping there soundly, unaware of the grief that brew inside Rhiga's mind. Sigh. His skin was dark like Ironfang's. Rhiga lifted his furs and moved close, pressing her skin against his. She pressed her ear against his chest and listened to his heart beat. It was not Ironfang's. But in her mind it was always his.


[[Reference music for good measure: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNWVfg_q55M ]]

[Shargla]

Location: Ratchet, Northern Barrens.

The she-orc sat on the roof's edge of the inn and yawned. She looked around the view of Ratchet and grunted. The orc was nowhere to be seen yet. She had been waiting a few hours now and let it be said, she was growing nervous. The plan the orc presented to her sounded good but the mention of a corrupted artifact was something she wasn't entirely sure about. She'd at least give it a go. Rhiga peered down and noticed the male-orc limp to the inn.

''About time...'' Rhiga grunted and climbed over the roof's edge and swung herself to the ground and looked around. She looked at the male orc and gave him a nod in greeting.

''Hi there handsome...'' The she orc smirked slyly and prepared her pipe before lighting it up. Idle chit chat commenced as the male orc told some of his clan members were to join in. It didn't took long before they arrived. A pandaren, a mender if things went horribly wrong. A female elf skilled in shadow arts to controll the stone artifact and a troll to keep up wards for good measure.

The lot moved to the shores away from the town. Rhiga and the elf stayed behind while the troll and the pandaren went off to hunt for some blood for the ritual, eventually returning with a human. Rhiga stripped most of her armour off and prepared herself while the troll used the human's blood to create wards around her. The elf handed her the stone and told her to hold on to it no matter what would happen. The she-orc grew nervous as she held the stone tightly between her palms and tried to focus. The plain looking stone begin to pulse and she could feel a pressure in her veins as her corruption slowly began to seep into the stone.

The female elf yelled instructions to Rhiga as she dwelled more into her mind and to the root of her corruption. And then the pain hit. Her blood started to boil and it felt like the life itself was drawn from her. Her hands clutched around the stone as if she was unable to let go as she fell to the ground and twitched in pain.

''TAKE IT OFF YOU BITCH!! IT BURNS!!'' She screamed in eredun but the elf got knocked to the ground by Rhiga's violent spasms and hit her head to the point she went unconscious. The troll leaped forward and placed a bloody hand over the cut he made on her forehead and began to chant for Oondasta's aid. Rhiga froze up and her eye turned black as if she was posessed. The troll attempted to aid her with his blood but mixing up with Rhiga's blood caused him to fall to the ground in great pain.

Rhiga twitched a moment and then suddenly went limp. Her grip from the stone loosened and the stone rolled to the ground. Her face was pale and she looked drained. As if it wasn't enough, the pandaren attempted to mend her with Light... LIGHT! Rhiga was not aware that the pandaren was a Light wielding priest! Though she was unconscious, she still felt the Light burn her skin and pierce right through her very spirit.

''Stop it!  STOP IT! You'll kill her!'' The male orc screamed to the pandaren before he ordered him to take care of the two others instead of Rhiga. Stonepaw prayed the spirits of water to heed his call as he attempted to mend what the Light had damaged. It seemed to take a great toll on him but he managed to help Rhiga at least a little. A loud screech was heard from the sky as a great Frostwyrm circled the group and landed by them. Blackblade gave the group a stern stare. ''This ends -NOW-.'' Rhiga felt his presence even when unconscious, so great their link was and her spirit was desperately clinging on to it. The stone had drawn Rhiga's life energy to the point it even drained Caruk as well and he was not one bit happy about it. He picked Rhiga up and flew her back to Orgrimmar to heal.

But did all this save the cub?

[Shargla]

Location: Sholazar Basin, Northrend

Rhiga flinched and groaned lightly, as the morning light hit her eye. Her body was sore and bruised and she herself was exhausted but she wasn't much of a sleeper. Her skin was nearly glued to the other orc and she rolled away from him, lifting the furs lightly so she could slip away without waking him up. The she-orc stood up and yawned, the morning light warmed up against her bruised flesh as she ruffled her hair and walked over to the water, moving in. She washed away the night from her skin and grunted lightly as the clear water ached in her wounds and bruises.

She turned her gaze towards the mountainside and the tall peak. The drake was resting too, its silhuette not hovering around the well guarded nest. Today they would take the climb and Doomhowl would get to test his worth against the mighty beast that once soared the skies with Ironfang. The drake was wild and savage in its nature even when tamed, Rhiga wondered if the drake would recognize her or the bones of its former master at all. They'd have to try and see. And if Doomhowl should fail and fall to his certain death... Well, what a shame.

The she-orc smirked at the thought as she walked out from the water and shook the water off her like a wolf. She gathered her leathers from around the camp and grunted as she looked at them, violently torn to shreds. She looked over at the sleeping orc and muttered angrily under her breath as she reached for her bag and picked up some leather string and sharp needles. As she became to patch up her armour with skill and confidence that years of practice had brought her, her mind wandered.

Exile, exile, exile. She whispered under her breath a few times. Sure she was pissed and greatly disappointed. She should have guessed that someone would bring her name up to Chieftain. Who it was though... Of all the orcs who knew, it was either Goru or Troxigar. Rhiga snorted. Must have been Goru. She snarled lightly and cut the leather string with her fangs before she attached a new patch of leather and started sewing it up stitch by stitch. Hrmh. She'd get her personal revenge to Goru when the time was right, but the plan needed to be thought out carefully to every detail. Meanwhile she had better things to do. The exile suited her fine. She had allready planned to see a friend to pay a debt and she had matters with her that he would find most interesting. Rhiga smirked. You gain some you lose some.

Rhiga inspected the patched up leathers and grunted before she tied them around her form. She picked up her blades and swung them around in her hands before she took a deep breath of air and walked off to the forest. It was time to hunt.

She flashed a grin. Chieftain had won the first battle but the war had just begun. And Rhiga enjoyed the war.

[Shargla]

Location: Blasted Lands

A shadow of a she-orc moved quickly along the red hills of Blasted Lands. She was clad in nothing but simple leathers to protect her evergrowing stomach and private parts. Blood painted runes skittered on her scarred skin and the tattooed runes around her ankles, wrists and neck glow dimly green. Her feet were light as she moved along the red sands like an agile feline and climbed on top of a small hill. She grunted and rubbed her stomach. Damn pup, stop kicking. The stomach was a hindrance to her at this point, six months had allready passed and the pup was making itself acknowledged with furious kicks. A sniff of air, her ears twitched and her eyes were searching along the plains untill they spotted her prey, a lone Terrorfiend patrolling along the plains. A vicious grin rose to the she-orcs lips as she slowly took hold of her dagger and made a clean cut to her right hand's palm, the black and thick blood seeped out from the wound as she uttered a chant in dark tongue. She leaped over the edge and slide down the hillside, rushing towards the demon.

The demon sniffed the air and growled, turning to greet Rhiga with a swinging of its fist. She narrowly leaped to the side and slit a shallow cut to the demon's side before she paused behind it and sank her feet firmly on the ground. The demon let out a wince and turned to Rhiga, its eyes flaming with rage.

''You dare challenge me, mortal?!'' The demon spoke in Eredun.

Rhiga sniffed the blood on her blade and grinned. She answered the demon with its foul language. ''Well what does it look like felbag... You can either just die and make this easy or I'll have to do this the hard way. What say you?''

The demon let out an angered growl and swung its claws towards her, sending out a wave of fel fire to engulf her. Rhiga snorted and held her bleeding hand towards the wave and as the wave collided with her hand, the wave devided and a faintly glowing red shield could be seen for a blink of an eye. She leaped towards the demon, swinging her hand and as her tongue spoke the words of shadow a shadowy bolt emitted from her hand and flew towards the demon, burning a hole to its wing.

The battle lasted for a good while, their strength slowly fading as Rhiga stared at the demon, panting heavily, her body filled with cuts, bruises and burn marks. Luckily the demon had also had its share: its wings were torn and flesh burned and full of cuts from her blade.

''I told you, demon... you can just give in and make this easy...'' Rhiga panted and wiped the blood and sweat off her forehead. She winced as her pup yet again made a few kicks.

The demon grunted and noticed her wince, sending a bolt of fel flame at her. Rhiga blinked as her focus had faltered and the bolt hit her to her chest, leaving charred mark as she fell on her back, groaning in pain.

''No... You will be the one to fall, mortal. And so will your child.'' The demon laughed.

Rhiga let out a devilish grin as she lay on the ground, her fingers drawing bloody runes on the ground. ''Enough games... Time to finish this...''

Rhiga crawled up to her knees and hold her bleeding hands towards the demon. She chanted with shadowy words and the demon froze. It fell to the ground, growling in pain.

''What....! What is this..! This power... is not yours, mortal..!'' The demon groaned in pain as its figure rippled and a shadow was slowly torn from its flesh despite its struggles.

Rhiga's eye turned black. ''Aye... It is not.. And you'll join the rest of your kin. You.. will.. be.. mine!'' Rhiga let out a growl as she clenched her fingers violently and twisted her bleeding hands as if pulling on the shadow. The demon roared in pain and collapsed to the ground as the last strings of shadow left it. Rhiga arched her back violently as the shadowy strings wrapped around her bleeding hands and seemed to seep in through the cuts. When the last bit of the shadows was devoured, she slumped to the ground tiredly, coughing up black blood, her tattoos glowing bright green. She grabbed her dagger and crawled back to her feed, her head hanging as her blood flow down her neck and chest. She walked slowly limping towards the empty, soulless husk of the demon and cut its head off. She smeared the demon's blood all over her face and body and held the severed head up high as she let out a mighty and loud roar.

''FOR THE BLOOD WOLF CLAN!''