Severity

Summary: Living in a world with chaos and death is tough, Annasta Vamoore is a normal teenage orphan girl with one thing on her mind survival. Taking care of her brothers is difficult and dangerous, so is surviving Azeroth. Anna and her brothers meet a carefree, cocky free-spirited Blood elf name Cyrus who claims to have not chosen a side. Little does Anna know Cyrus will lead her and her brothers down a road that none of them can turn back from. A dark past is revealed, enemies are made and a forbidden love is brewing.

Rated M for extreme violence, sex, language, attempted rape.

A/N: Please note I will not be following any LORE what's so ever. This story is entirely made-up and inaccurate, it is not meant to involve any Lore. Disclaimer: I owe nothing everything belongs to blizzard entertainment.

Chapter 1

Strangers.

The rain falls down in vicious sheets as we hike through the forest, desperate to reach town. I hear my little brother let out a tiny whimper and glance back to see him shivering and shaking as the cool rainwater splashes against his skin, causing it to break out in Goosebumps. He struggles to keep up with us and my older brother Reese's grey eyes glance over his shoulder at Kale and shoots him a parental look. We've been like this for 6 months now, on the road, trying our hardest to find some place to settle down and become a family again. It's just the three of us now, scarping for food, praying to find a job that at least paid well, but its not likely. The war that had raged the land for many generations had taken its toll on the world and if you weren't enlisted in either the Alliance army or the Horde army, you were nothing and it was hard to find jobs and quests out there for poor peasants like us..

I grew up in the Elwynn Forest in a tiny farmhouse south of Goldshire. My mother and father were farmers, traders. They were kind wonderful people that did not deserve the fate that they had received. Thinking about home brings tears to my eyes and the thought of going back breaks me into a million pieces. To see the ruins of our once tiny farm, to hear the screams of all the fallen villagers as they were being slaughtered. I didn't want to return to the Elwynn forest, but Reese insisted on it. It was unlikely anyone was going to help us.

Now-a-day People looked at us like roaches that needed to be sprayed. Three teenagers begging for food and gold, perhaps even clothing. I've tried my hardest to improve my skills become a better Mage, focus on using my born powers to help us get somewhere in life. Reese even suggested that he enlist in the Alliance army and send us the gold they pay him, after-all, he was one tough Warrior, and he protected us both from the dangerous creatures that we encountered on a daily basis.

The rain continued to fall harder and Kale gave another whimper. This was not the life a 12 year old should have. Reese glanced over his shoulder again and shot Kale another small pitiful look, like he wanted nothing more than to fill his brothers stomach, give him a comfortable bed to sleep in and dry clothes.

"Where's almost there buddy" Reese reassured Kale.

"I'm cold and tired, wet and famished" Kale complained.

"I know pal so am I" Reese says.

Kale's green eyes gazed in my direction as if I would be willing to give him the same sort of comfort as his big brother had, but honestly I was starting to lose hope, we have been at this for almost 6 months now, sticking to the Eastern Kingdom. Relief had hit us as we left the Swamps of Sorrow and entered Stranglethorn Vale. Booty bay was a 3 day walk which it seemed pointless to me to even head that way. Darkshire was the closest friendly town at a 2 and a half days walk, but if I knew my brother and I sure did He'd want to go as far south as possible hoping the neutral zone would have something in store for us

Reese stopped on the dirty path and examined the jungle before him. The humidity was suddenly very uncomfortable against our soaked clothes and if we didn't find an inn soon I would surely go mad. I was sticky hot, wet and aggravated.

"Booty bay is a 3 days walk" I comment.

"I know" Reese replies "Its a neutral zone down there which means we will be safe and maybe we can find something along the way."

I laugh without humor "You think those barbarians will be neutral?"

"They have to be its against the law to fight in booty bay. The goblins have reasonable prices down there too and lots of work"

I suddenly felt angry, irritated and sad all at the same time, without warning I slammed my backpack against the hard soil of the earth and placed my hand on my hip, peering up at my brother in anger.

"I'm so sick and tired of this, We go here, we go there, and its always the same, We don't have work, we don't have gold, we don't have a place to live and you know why?" My voice trails off and tears start to swell in my green eyes, I run a hand through my red hair, scoop my pack up from the ground, push past my brother and continued down the path towards Booty Bay forgetting the conversation ever took place.

My brothers voice stops me suddenly and I whip around to face him "I don't want this kind of life either. I would of stopped him and you know it. If I would of known what was going on I would of stopped him I miss him too Anna, and I miss mom and dad, I miss our home, but mom and dad are dead and he's gone and god knows you two were stuck like glue, he loved you"

"Stop it!" I scream at him, tears forming in my eyes.

My teeth dig into the skin of my bottom lip, tears continued to swell in my eyes, but my brother continued speaking and the more he spoke of the tragic event that happened 6 months ago, the more pissed I became. Heat began to swell in the palm of my hand, I looked down as fire began to form uncontrollably .

"Asper made his choice and his choices led us here, Anna, our brother betrayed us."

"It wasn't his fault." I holler tears now streaming down my face. My whole entire body began to heat up and it felt like any minute now I was going to explode. The fire in my palm grew in intensity, this always happened when I got emotional. It became hard for me to control my magic and mana. It takes a long time for someone who was born with Mage abilities to learn to control them, unlike other classes people were born into the mage was the hardest on to control and I was the unlucky one in the family to have developed such a complex class, my rank was low; a mere level 10 and since I had no mentor, no idea what the hell was going on with my magic, I decided not to use them.

"Stop Anna, I'm sorry, ok we will figure something out I promise." Reese took a step towards me and my anger grew. Images of my mother and father flashed into my mind, their piercing screams echoed through my head. images of our older brother Asper standing there with blood covering his large hands, his eyes no longer a cloudy grey color, but a misty shady light blue that could make anyone's skin crawl. There had been blood everyone on the floor, there had been death, fire and...I didn't want to think about the last part, because it still upset me. I could still feel the cold, rough, clammy flesh of the orc, smell his vile breath on my skin, the hysterical laughs still sent shivers down my spine. Nobody will ever touch me again.

"Anna I know I shouldn't of brought it up and I'm sorry." Reese took a step forward and I let the fire disappear into my palm. He was about to pull me into the hug when Kale let out a strangled cry and bolted down the path to hide behind me. The magic that flowed in my veins was back and Reese withdrew his long-sword ready to cut down the grinning figure that had startled us.

"Stay back friend or I'll kill you" Reese threatened the Elven man. He was tall, compared to my short ass, had to be at least 6'2 in height typical blood elf size. His skin was pale like most of them and seemed somewhat smooth, he was skinny I'm guessing 130 pounds with the most unusual jet-black hair I have ever seen and his eyes were just unusual, instead of the solid green that every blood elf in Azeroth had, his were a clear crystal blue color with an iris, pupil, every aspect of a human eye, if we weren't in a life or death situation right now Id take the time and admire him.

Reese's threats didn't seemed to phase him, he brought a red juicy looking apple to his lips and bit into it, enjoying its juicy refreshing contents. He continued to lean against the base of the tree with a bored expression now written across his face.

"What do you guys got in the bag?" He asks, his voice was deep and pleasant and the accent was typical for a blood elf. "Water? I 'm so thirsty the humidity out here is horrifying, been hunting for days now"

Reese did not break his defensive stance., his sword at the ready as the stranger moved from the tree onto the path and started to walk towards us. This elf sure had a lot of balls. Any normal Blood elf would of attacked a human on sight, killed them and took their shit, but he was really odd and his carefree attitude was pissing me off.

"Not a friendly bunch are ya?" He chuckled and moved closer. "We'll I really enjoyed the family quarrel the two of you just shared." He turned to me with a wicket grin "No tears next time ok sweetheart"

"Fuck off elf" I hissed, but he continued walking towards us with a shit eating grin. God I wanted nothing more than to punch him in the mouth and wipe that smirk from his face.

"That's far enough, come any closer and I'll charge" Reese threatened.

The elf placed his hands up in the air, both palms wide open, the grin never leaving his face. I didn't trust him and I wish my brother would hurry up and decide to charge already ,but he remained in a defensive stance.

"Who are you?" I asked venomously.

"Who are you?" He asked raising a brow.

"I asked you first" I growled.

He sighed, his grin finally fading replaced with annoyance "My name is Cyrus, I was quietly hunting big cats that like to linger around these parts until someone started screaming like a Banshee in heat and scared my target off. Now you owe me a tiger and I really want your bag."

"I don't owe you shit" I hiss.

"Wow my lady such a foul mouth indeed. Your argument was quite entertaining for me as well, Now since I lost my hunt I'll take your pack and we will call it even"

"I don't think so" Reese frowned "Be gone with you"

Cyrus faked a pout and started chuckling "You guys look pathetic, soaked, raggy clothes, and were you really going to kill me with a Long-sword?" He chuckles violently causing my brothers face to redden in anger. The elf yanked his pack from his large shoulders so it dangled at his side, my brother and I watched him dig through its contents and pull out a very sharp looking dagger. My brother raised the sword again, and I clutched my fist ready to start casting if it came down to it. The elf raised the weapon and threw it at my brothers feet, where the tip of the blade stuck perfectly in the dirt between his boots.

"Now that's a real weapon there. Although not for me. I got my baby's right here" He revealed two sharp looking daggers that were hanging from his belt.

"What is wrong with you? My brother frowned.

"What do you mean? What the hells wrong with you" Cyrus asked confused.

"Your a wild beast just like the rest of the Horde. All you do is kill and take" Reese spat.

Cyrus laughed loudly "Oh human, I could care less about you or your misfits. All I care about is my tiger, myself and I, and we'll you guys are pretty pathetic looking and I wouldn't mind helping the dirty and poor out. Even if they are human. My friend always says its nice to help the people out. You know what I think I think its nice to pick-pocket pricks"

"Are you neutral?" I ask.

"Damn right I am. This war is pointless, been going on when my granddaddy was young, it needs to end. The Horde has shunned me since I refuse to enlist, and I don't care, I got what I want and need. Let the worlds factions destroy each other, so then when everyone is dead the loot will be easier to grab."

I hated him instantly. My brother lowered his sword and placed it against his back ,bending down to pick up the dagger Cyrus had just given us. I had half a mind to yank it from my brothers hands and stab the elf's eye out with it. His cocky grin, the attitude, the charity work he threw at us, we didn't need his help and was better off without it.

"Where you guys headed?" Cyrus asks.

"Booty Bay" Reese answers.

Cyrus gave him a shit eating grin " Same here, I just got back from the Blasted Lands, nasty place, damn demons piss me off. I can escort you there, I know a couple Goblins that will be happy to help a bunch of dirty, helpless humans."

I roll my eyes and turn my attention to Kale who has been silent throughout this whole conversation. He seemed so small, terrified and helpless. Only mother had the capability to calm him down when he was upset.

"Watch your mouth, we are tougher than we look" Reese hissed.

"Right" Cyrus chuckles, picking at his long nails in a bored way "So shall we travel together my new dirty friends?"

"Anna? What do you think?" Reese asks coming up to me in a hushed tone.

"I think he'll turn on us the first chance he gets." I reply. "He's a Blood Elf Reese their Horde. Horde kill, kill and kill"

"Anna he gave us a dagger worth at lease 50 gold. He very well saved us from starvation."

"I don't like it Reese. He shows up out of nowhere like this. I don't trust him. I say we split and leave him in the past"

"Anna if worse comes to worse I'll kill him if he tries anything. I think he could really help us, He says he neutral, living in Booty Bay. If he wants to help us out of pity lets take it." Reese turns to Cyrus and rolls his eyes "Alright elf we will travel with you but I wont hesitate to slit your throat if you try to betray us"

"Pffftt Warriors don't stand a chance against the mighty rogue"

Reese rolled his eyes and it wasn't long before the four of began hiking through the hot jungle of Stranglethorn. I kept a good close eye on Cyrus the entire time, He had to be leading us into a trap or something, what he was doing just didn't feel right. Humans and Blood elves traveling peacefully together was so unheard of. Cyrus caught my eye a couple times and flashed me his shit eating grin, which in returned I scowled at him hatefully, rolled my eyes and continued hiking down the dirt path. The sun was so high in the sky indicating it was midday out and we weren't even halfway there.

My stomach growled painfully and the dry feeling in my throat and mouth were almost too much for me to handle. If we didn't eat and drink soon I would surely lose it, as if reading my thoughts Cyrus hiked up next to me holding out one of his red apples and a canteen full of water. I raised a brow up at him suspiciously.

"Im onto you" I sneer.

He laughed my attitude off "You are very untrusting of others aren't you."

"Your an elf" I point out.

"Yeah what's your point?" I remained silent and he took advantage of my silence "Listen, as I have stated before this war is pointless, I've lost so many friends, family. I don't want no part of these factions. I've seen too much death and destruction. I just don't give a fuck about the Horde ,The Alliance, The Legion, or The Scourge, let them kill each other."

I felt my heart leap from my chest as he brought up the scourge. My mind threating to take me back to places I wish to forget about. He sense my discomfort and shoots me a curious look. He opens his mouth to say something, the question about my brother on his tongue, he heard the fight Reese and I had only moments ago. Before he could ask I pushed ahead of him completely ignoring the lingering question at his lips. This certainly was going to be a long and annoying trip with this stranger and I wasn't going to let him out of my sight.

To be continued..