World of Warcraft: Legends of the Valkyrie

by JKnight2025

These are my writings set in the Warcraft Universe. They span two heroes and several tales. This first one starts with a Night Elf Hunter and a Human Mage, thrown together in the battleground of Warsong Gulch. He's after a mad Tauren Shaman, she holds secrets from another age. Now they have to trust one another to survive.

1. Ballad of Warsong Gulch

The Ballad of Warsong Gulch

By Kristopher Rose

The day was a beautiful spring day in Azeroth, more importantly in the continent of Kalimdor on the western side of the world. Ashenvale and the Barrens were bright with sun and the natural music of nature around. The birds sang a song so beautiful it would make any who listened feel better instantly. The animals went about their daily lives unaware that their peaceful tranquility was about to be disturbed.

In the distance, slight at first, but building as it grew nearer was a slow rumble that became like thunder. Down the stretch of dirt road that served as the connecting point between Ashenvale and the Barrens, came war carts loaded to the tips with weapons and soldiers headed for one place, Warsong Gulch. From both places both carts traveled, night elf and orc alike to their confrontation, and their final destination. Along the carts marched the soldiers belonging to each army, joyful, boisterous, so unlike men and women marching to their deaths. Songs of valor and bravery called forth from them like anthems to life incarnate. Jokes and idle conversation were as commonplace as the dust between their boots.

It was truly a wondrous and awful sight, so many living people heading off to what could be their possible doom. Yet to each of them it was a price they were willing to pay for their race's survival. In the years since the defeat of the arch demon on Mount Hyjal, relations between the one time allies had disintegrated. The two races now found themselves fighting over the same resources at their borders. This is where Warsong gulch came in. It was the most hotly disputed of all the resource points, directly on the border of the Night Elf lands in Ashenvale and the Orc lands in the Barrens.

Nobody knows when the first battle began there over its rich resources, or who had started it. What was prudent now though was that it had begun, and battles upon battles had been waged, and many lives lost. To the occupants of the lands around it, a sad fact and sadder still there seemed to be no end. Yet even with this in the back of the minds of the sentients, they went about their daily lives. Druids and shamans practiced their learnings in the forests and savannahs, hunters hunted around it, and mages, warriors and rogues traveled the roads around Warsong Gulch. Life went on, as it should, as it will even after the inhabitants have made peace or gone. That though is for another time.

It is the figure stalking through the woods of Ashenvale, his prey hunted down in its emerald embraces. He had been here before, back when he had just started out in his trade. It was funny to think about it, but there was a time his prey he hunted now had been the most dangerous thing he could think of hunting. At the time his inexperience would have killed him hunting down this creature. Now it was a simple task, as he followed the tracks of the six legged beast. It was Venom Tongue, a arachnid that had grown to three times the normal level for spiders in this forest. That was quite a feat in itself, most of the spiders around here grew to one meter long. Venom Tongue was last measured at three meters, and it was a monster too. There were stories of it attacking travelers through the forest, abducting children to feed its young, even of it having supernatural powers. The hunter now tracking it had faced it before, and thought he had killed it. In fact he had nearly been killed himself by the monster, but not before he had killed it or so he thought. The message had reached him in the Deepwater Tavern in Menethil Harbor, all the way over in the Eastern Kingdoms of Azeroth. It had told him the Venom Tongue had made its way back. It had come from one of his old hunting instructors, one of many in his long journey to where he was at, she had told him of its return, knowing he would want to hunt down the beast himself.

He was Kelon the hunter and his prey was near, he could feel it. The tracks confirmed it, back to a cave he thought he had long given up. Inside would be Venom Tongue, hiding in the shadows. The last time he had been here, his leather armor, made by himself, barely protected him from the spider's razor sharp front mandibles. Now though he had harder mail armor, it had increased protection, but allowed him to still move with ease. It was not as agile as leather armor, but definitely worth the trade off, and this set was aptly named, "Beast Stalker." Countless dungeons around the Eastern Kingdoms of Azeroth had been plundered to find the materials for the full set. It was well worth it though, not only was it protective, it seemed to be made just for him. As if the armor had been especially suited for one who at one minute would be firing a bow, and the next drawing the two weapons at his side, ready for melee combat. Not to mention that the wolf's head-like helm was slightly intimidating.

Preparing he readjusted the straps on his equipment and gear, tightened his grip on the Gorewood Bow in his left hand, reaching back and knocking an arrow with his right. Luckily for him, Night Elves had excellent sight, in day and night. He whistled gently into the wind, and even though he did not see the nightsabre, he felt the cat's presence. With a whisper they disappeared into the cave. Kelon knew he could count on Xaon to watch his back, it was the nightsabre that had saved his life the first time Venom Tongue had been defeated. The cat had selflessly thrown itself onto the spider's bloody body as Kelon lay motionless, taking a direct strike from the spider's powerful legs. Xaon had been wounded even poisoned, which of course was another adventure Kelon had gone on to save his feline friend. Even before that the duo had been inseparable, but that had cemented their bond. Both could seemingly read each other's mind and even anticipate what was needed.

The cave was a small crevice in the mountainside, barely able for the Night Elf to stand straight up in, but as the path lead further in Kelon knew he'd come to a point where the inner chamber would open up, this would be Venom Tongue's lair. Funny thing, when he was last here, everything seemed to be much bigger, much longer, now he had made it from the entrance to the inner chamber in a matter of moments. Kelon hadn't expected a big fight, but this was seemingly too easy. Right in front of him was Venom Tongue, hissing at him, flaring its razor sharp mandibles.

Kelon wasted no movement, he beckoned Xaon to attack while he pulled back on his bow and let his arrow fly. Through the air like a darting hornet daring to reprise the arrow flew whistling all the way. Its jagged arrow head found its mark perfectly between the giant spider's eight eyes. Venom Tongue howled in pain, and scurried toward the hunter. The giant spider hit a snag as one of its legs was ripped backward unnaturally almost pulling the leg out of its socket. In pain the spider's attention was back to the cat that had snuck up behind it. Lashing out its legs propelled for the feline, the cat, an agile creature bounded back and forth as the spider kept up its frenzied attack. All the while Kelon kept shooting arrow after arrow. They struck with rapidity and fierceness as they landed into the abdomen, legs and even a couple penetrating the head of the creature. The battle was one sided, Kelon had thought it might go this way, but he had hoped the creature would be more of a challenge. In the next instant he was sorry he'd even thought it.

Within a matter of moments Venom Tongue had been subdued and lay dying in a puddle of its own blood. The spasms of its dying were like an electric jolt through its body, causing its limbs to move involuntary. Moving over to the creature, Kelon put his bow up, and unsheathed his two swords. Swift and compassionate he buried his blade deep within the spider's skull. The creature screamed one last primal screech into the night, and with it Kelon thought it finished. Till the scurrying sound of thousands of little feet entered his ears. Looking around he found his sight filling with many smaller spiders, as if a nest had been awoken. Then it came to him, as he shifted his gaze from one to another, that is what happened. This had been Venom Tongue's nest, and the creature he fought, must have been one of its children. The original had been a much stronger opponent, this one had seemed too fresh.

Still looking around he found the bones of an older kill, the bones of another spider, and from these bones the spiders came. The original Venom Tongue had been killed, which brought little relief to Kelon as its descendants descended down up on him. Whistling, he sent Xaon into the attack as he spun around in a deverish of motion. Slicing at the nearest spider he lopped off its front leg, he jumped over and buried the off hand blade into the head, killing it. Unable to react fast enough as another spider hurled itself at him, he dropped the blade and swiped at it with his main hand blade. This cut the spider down its middle, with that he picked up his other blade kicked another one back, and resheathed his swords. Drawing his bow he aimed at the nearest and picked his target, shooting it dead. Again and again he fired killing one by one, as they rampaged on towards him. He kept firing till they were too close to hit by bow and he switched back to his melee weapons. Like a spinning tornado of destruction he leapt into their midst hacking, slashing and stabbing each of them. Like all hunters he felt the call of the wild, was trained to react on instinct and cunning. To meld intelligence, wisdom and ferocity to form a primal fighting form. Kelon excelled at it now, he hadn't always, but he did now, losing himself into the instinctual combat, while still maintaining his sentience.

Anyone that had watched while he fought now would have sworn that he was more animal and beast then man. They would have been wrong, for he still had all the elements of him, but the fighting was violent and it was not pretty. In the end as the last spider lay dying and Xaon bounded up to Kelon with a spider still in his maw, the hunter resheathed his blades and sat down wearily. He wished now he had just been glad with easy victory, but he guessed he was still young enough to want a challenge, he was still young by night elf standards. It was as he sat that something poked him in the posterior, he reached down to pick it up, and came back with a webbed up weapon. It had the general shape of an axe, and felt well balanced in his hand. He started to wipe some of the webbing off, and saw the metal beneath it to still be unrusted and gleaming. He sat examining the newfound treasure for a few moments, with Xaon purring right beside him. Then suddenly he decided it was time to get back to Astranaar and let the sentinels know that Venom Tongue had been killed. Knowing he would need proof, he cut off the head of the creature. Then both Kelon and Xaon were leaving the cave lair and were soon on the road back to the town of Astranaar.

Along the way back, Kelon spotted three figures on sabremounts. The lead was on a wintersabre, while the other two were on shadowsabre mounts, these were larger versions of his pet the nightsabre Xaon. The lead was one of the famed sentinels of Darnassus, elite warriors that had protected the Night Elves since the burning Legions first defeat. Kelon on his own wintersabre mount, paid for with the spoils of at least two dungeons he had raided, prodded the big cat over to them. As he did so he could not help but chuckle at the idea of "Nightelves" during the daytime. Nightelves were what they were referred to by their allies in the Alliance. It did fit them though, so they kept the moniker, for at night and even in the shadows of the day, these elves could meld into the darkness all but disappearing.

All thoughts on that subject would have to wait though, he had arrived at the sentinels, "Greetings to you and Elune be praised on this fine evening.

"Indeed hunter it is a wonderful day," said the lead sentinel, "Have you come for the bounty on Venom Tongue?" She looked over him, noticing the bloody sack that held the trophies from Venom Tongue that proved he had been slain, again.

Replying with great courtesy, with the sentinel's most Nightelves were in awe of their reputation and history as defenders, "Venom Tongue has been taken care of, here is proof of his demise." Adding in as the Sentinel took a look over his proof, Kelon added in, "Along with the lair and all the baby Venom Tongues."

It was not every day you shocked a sentinel, usually anything you had to say, they either knew or had been prepared for. So when the lead responded it was with an almost awe-like quality, "There were more of him?"

"Yes, there was a whole nest, that is how he managed to come back after I defeated him," responded Kelon, basking the moment. "Now though we should not have anymore problems with Venom Tongue."

"Speaking of problems," The sentinel's mood went from bright to sour, "We are in need of help at the coming battle in Warsong Gulch, all who would volunteer would be appreciated."

Kelon thought about it, he had assisted in battles around Darnassus and Stormwind, even helped out with some trolls making their way to Darkshore. This was different though, this was a repetitive battle that was waged over and over in Warsong. When the Nightelves won, the horde redoubled their efforts, when the Nightelves lost, they did the same. It was as if this would go on forever, and there was never a shortage of people volunteering to keep it going. Kelon had the utmost respect for those that fought, some he had fought beside in other battles, but he liked his battles finite and over with, not ever to be fought again. Just this thought, was to show how young he truly was, and yet the simple wisdom of youth.

The sentinel could almost see the battle going on in him, even behind the wolf's head helm of his BeastStalker armor, "We really do need all the help we can get, and you Kelon have proven yourself to the people of Darnassus time and time again hunter."

Slightly taken aback he wondered aloud, "How do you know me sentinel?"

A bright smile answered him, "Whether you are aware, you are known to the High Priestess as a hero in the making. Bold, brave and selfless, she has heard stories of your exploits from your trainers and those that you have helped in your journeys, even the ones that come across the oceans from the Eastern Kingdoms." Seeing his skin darken a little, the nightelf version of a blush, she continued, "That and we were told to keep an eye out for a hunter in rare armor hunting Venom Tongue, by your trainer."

Settling himself Kelon managed to talk, "Well it is nice to be appreciated, but I just do what I think is right, no more no less, but why me?"

"Nothing more can be asked of you, and the reason we need you specifically, besides your hunting experience, is the presence of a shaman on the Horde's side, " seeing his interest pique, the sentinel explained further, "The shaman is a Tauren with a broken left horn, the warriors are calling him 'Broken Horn.' Apparently this is a name you coined."

It was all Kelon could do to control himself, "Yes, I know a 'Broken Horn,' if it is the same shaman, then I've run into him far too many times."

"We believe it is, and he is a superior warrior, able to take out our people before they can touch him," as the sentinel explained it became crystal clear to Kelon, they did need him, "but if reports are true, you have actually wounded him in a battle at The Western Plaguelands in the Eastern Kingdoms.."

There was no other consideration, he had to help, "I have, and I will head to the battle ground as soon as I can resupply." He looked at the sentinels, a great burden had been taken off their shoulders by recruiting him to the battle, but he wasn't doing it for the glory. His reasoning wasn't even revenge either, though the tauren had given him plenty. No, his reasoning was as theirs was, he had been the only one out of countless battles to even touch the tauren shaman. If that shaman was there, he had to take him out, he was the closest thing to evil Kelon had face besides the demons in Azshara.

"Then Elune be with you hunter Kelon," said the lead sentinel as she bid him on his way, "and we'll take your trophy, leaving your payment at the bank in Darnassus under your name."

"Very well, and Elune be with you as well sentinels," said Kelon as he rode off, already his mind back to his own thoughts. Thoughts that were not pleasant at all.

It had been months since he had last seen Broken Horn, just after he had completed his BeastStalker armor. After raiding Scholomance, aiding one of the spirits nearby in escaping from its prison there. His reward had been the location of Mirah's Song, the sword currently he used in his right hand, and the materials for his BeastStalker helm. After he'd recovered it, his group had left Scholomance, bright, jubilant, alive. Outside a passing chance of fate, a group of horde were riding up. In their midst was the Tauren known as Broken Horn. Even before both groups could react, he rode out as mad and insanely straight at Kelon's group.

Fast and furious the fighting had been, the horde joining in on the charge, but belatedly. They hadn't come to fight the Alliance members, so they weren't prepared when the shaman had ran to attack. This is what saved Kelon and his traveling friends. A few well place shots and the mounts beneath the oncoming horde fell out from under them. Soon the Horde were up, but the Alliance were right up at them fighting fiercely. In the end it came down to Kelon and Broken Horn, the rest were battered, bloodied and exhausted. Those two though kept at it in such a fierceness, and only stopped when Kelon's blade slipped into the chink of armor of Broken Horn. Blood had been drawn and the Tauren punched Kelon sending him over the bridge that connected Scholomance to the mainland, and straight into the water. By the time Kelon had made it out of the water, the Horde had gone, leaving his companions a mess. The mage had been able to open a portal to Ironforge where the dwarves had taken care of his group. He had fought Broken Horn, and he had escaped was all that Kelon could think of as he boarded the tram to Stormwind.

It may have been months ago, but to Kelon it was still fresh in his mind. The feelings were still there, anger, remorse, guilt. This time he would set it right, this time Broken Horn was not going to get away, come hell or high water he was dying in Warsong Gulch. It showed in every fiber of his being, in his eyes, his stride, he was determined to finally take the mad Tauren shaman down for once and for all.

Once back in the town of Astranaar, he went about gathering the resources he would need. Food for Xaon, arrows to replenish those that he had used fighting Venom Tongue, some rations for himself, and refilling his water canteen. He also picked up a cleaning kit for his new find. He found a seat in the local inn away from everyone, ordered a drink of honey, and began the restoration process on the new weapon. Outside he could see the next caravan leaving to Warsong was still tied up. He still had a little while before having to set out. His own mount had bounded into the forests, but that was typical of the big cat. As soon as he called it would be back in no time, he just hoped this time that it had finished its dinner. Though he may be used to seeing half eaten animals, it still was not something that one wanted to see anyway.

Around him the inn and the town went on with their daily lives. People came and went, ordered drinks or food, braggarts boasted, singing bards told the stories of long ago and recent heroes. Outside those that did not have to fight went about their lives, selling wares, buying them, farming their lands, even mining the hills for resources to sell for profit. Some were blacksmiths, herbalists, tailors or as Kelon and his father were, leatherworkers. Somewhere in his bank, Kelon had all the suits of armor that he had created, well those that were still functional, some others were unsalvageable. That is how he managed to make money when he wasn't of plundering old dungeons, he'd skin his kills, eating and using what he needed, and sell the pelts, or make leather armor pieces for people that needed it. His dragon scale was in very high demand by hunters that needed some good mail armor, but couldn't plunder dungeons yet.

While he waited he watched those around him, most of them were Night Elves, humans were also about but not as abundant, and dwarves and gnomes were a rarity around here. One struck him, a red haired human, she wore a black suit that made her look striking and alluring all at once. The cape on her back was wrapped around her as she sat at a table across the room from Kelon. He could see her drinking a tall mug of some spiced tea, the herbs in it were strong enough to reach his nose from even that far away. Kelon had seen red haired humans in his travel, even red haired dwarves, but this human woman had the most beautiful strands in his opinion. It was just like the dawn in the morning and the setting sun in the evening. He caught himself staring before she looked over. Shaking his head, clearing it of the thoughts inside, but yet her image remained. Oddly enough he smiled when it repopped into mind again, the image of her sitting there.

With a sigh he went back to what he had been doing, maybe after Warsong, if the human woman was still there, he'd go back and talk to her. Kelon had to kill Broken Horn first, that evil had to wiped away forever. Which brought him back to the weapon in his hand. The webbing, moss and other crud had been removed finally, showing a gleaming one handed axe. Kelon finished his drink and went outside and to the side of the inn. There he went through some simple exercises with the axe. It felt good in his hands, not too unbalanced for a chopping weapon, and seemed to be light as a feather. He twirled it about, setting it through even more motions. It was an exceptionally made weapon, probably very rare. Looking around Kelon judged that he had a few more moments before the caravan left.

When he found an expert blacksmith, another friend he'd made during his travels, he asked about the axe. Apparently his instincts hadn't been far off. The axe had been made by a weapon smith two hundred years ago, the maker had made multiple axes like this one. It was magical so no normal rust would ever dull the edge, and cleaning it would be simple since it was protected against staining. There was even an inscription on it saying, "May the one who wields this Bone Slicing Hatchet do so in the name of valor and righteousness." Looking over the axe he had to admit he was impressed with it, both in the lore he received and how it handled. Reaching behind his cape, he clipped it to his belt.

The crying of mounts was his indication that it was time to get moving, Kelon called out to his mount and soon the big cat was bounding up to him. He climbed up onto it and prodded it forward, after the moving caravan. They were off to Warsong, another set of people off to fight, Kelon couldn't have been anymore sad. As he looked around, he knew that a lot of them may not be making a return trip home. It had to stop now, he had to stop Broken Horn, and he would! Those around him couldn't read Kelon's thoughts, but they had to see the determination in him. It must have inspired them because a roaring marching song burst forth from the people around him, and Kelon could not help but smile as the masses joined into song with one another. Even in darkness light would prevail.

The size of the caravan was immense to the human traveler riding along with the Night Elves to Warsong Gulch. She was a mage, trained in Stormwind, a city far to the east from here, in the Eastern Kingdoms. Having been trained by all the mages in the high tower in the Mage's Quarter there, the mage had begun to travel the world learning the different magic secrets that could be found. Traveling from Menthil Harbor to Darkshore, she had taken the boat from Darkshore to Ruth'ledge Village, the base of the new World Tree. Atop this mammoth tree lies the City of Darnassus, and the center of the Night Elf territories. There atop this mighty tree the Night Elves went on with their daily lives, and where the Night Elves contained all their knowledge. Even if they had turned their backs on the arcane, there might have been something in those archives that could help further the mage's studies.

That was how she had ended up in this caravan here. Meeting with the High Priestess Tyrande Whisperwind and the Archdruid Fandral Staghorn, this red haired mage pleaded for access to the most secure vaults. The High Priestess though while pleasant to the mage, declined her request. The Arch Druid though, agreed if she would do seven trials for him. The trials were to collect relics, ancient documents, and several missions into horde territory. There were also some trials to help out several Night Elf officials in Astranaar. So far she had completed three of these trials. In Astranaar she had aided one of the officials there stop an attack of water elementals, then to stop the source of the attacks, a mad mage living on top of a mountain in the Barrens. Then there was mission to Stonelaton where she had come across a hunter on the same mission. Teaming up they had fought against the Harpies there, eventually bringing in the wisps of the forests to help cleansed what was known as The Charred Vale.

So it was with three of the seven trials completed, that the Archdruid sent her on the fourth mission to Warsong Gulch. In this place where battle seemed to rage nonstop, there was a horde holding on to an ancient Night Elf text. This text contained some of the most terrible of early Night Elf secrets long forgotten. These secrets predated the Sundering, and had been lost till recently. It was during one battle a Tauren Shaman, already feared by the fighters there, read aloud just one line of text. From the skies lightning rained down, decimating the Alliance lines. Luckily, though it had not killed many, just wounded and scattered the forces of the Alliance. The Archdruid and High Priestess were at a loss to explain it, though the High Priestess wondered if the text had been read right.

Hearing the story, the mage agreed that was probably the reason that more did not die. Even the texts she was able to read from the public libraries, were in Darnassian, and thus the mage had tried to learn the language. There were many inflections in the language that could change the meaning of a word depending on how it was used. Now the red haired mage, dressed in her standard regalia of Black Mageweave, was headed off to Warsong. Her name already spreading between those she had come to know in this brief time, though it wasn't her real name.

When she had started her mage training, her teachers had impounded into her the necessity of using monikers or pseudonyms. Thus she had adopted a name that reflected the sun red color of her locks. To those that knew her in this strange land, her name was Sunfire. This was her protection, the arcane was such a attention demanding and focus, that the use of another name allowed the mage some relative peace of mind. One can not control the elements if one can not control one's self. Thus this pseudonym helped control not others, but living up to the name one chose.

Since Sunfire practiced her arcane and fire magics regularly, the name fit. She was as warm as the sun in the morning to those she cared for, but to those who were her enemies the fire she produced was the same burning intensity of that same light bringer. Thus it was that this mage set off to use her skills for the benefit of Darnassus and continue her learnings of the arcane. Ahead of her stretched the caravan to the battleground, and as she looked upon she let her mind wander.

To her wandering eyes she noted many different races there with her on this long trek, a vast many in assorted armor from different makers. There was shining mail and plate, tough leather armor and of course with the priests and any mages the same as Sunfire, the vibrant robes and cloths that made up the only protection they carried. Traveling along they were like a cornucopia of colors in the spectrum of light. Earth tones abounded as much as the more eccentric colors from the farthest reaches of the Alliance Kingdoms. One in particular was a Night Elf man in golden armor she did not recognize, wearing a helm that looked like it was made in a wolf's visage. He seemed distant from his fellow riders, as if in his only little world. She wondered why he sat there riding on his mount not interacting much with the rest of the caravan. As she looked on though, it became apparent that thoughts of the past accomplishments were going to have to wait. The mounts were now being led through the forests to the Silverwing Outpost. There was no real path that had been cleared, rather with all the traffic of mounts carrying their burdens to their honor and glory, as well as they possible final acts.

To the two differently trained travelers in this caravan, time seemed to be moving at two different paces. To Sunfire, the mage, with all the foliage to distract her and prevent her from seeing where she was going, time seemed to crawl. Kelon, trained to fight, hunt and stalk in the forests, the travel to the Silver Outpost was moving to quickly. Never lost because of the foliage, and aware of where to look along the path for danger, he wished everything would slow down.

This was not to be granted to him on that day, and while everything had gone smoothly from Astraanar to the Silverwing Outpost, it was not over yet. From out of nowhere came and earthly scream of pure anger, hatred and malice. It came again, this time it seemed to be coming from the distance, carrying over the trees by the air from Warsong Gulch. This was not what the travelers were expecting. The Horde had attacked on the roads before, but never were the travelers greeted with such horrible screaming. It would have been different if the screams were those of the wounded, or even the dying. These were horrifying enough, enough to send any man or woman crawling for the nearest shelters. No, this scream made the flesh crawl, the hairs stand up on end, and enough to drain the blood from the face just from hearing it. Even worse was its intent, it welcomed you to your slaughter and doom, this scream was that of a mad man's. Or if Kelon's ears were right, a mad Tauren.

Thankfully the travelers did not have long to wait for their awe to be broken from what they just heard. Striding over to them was a Night Elf warrior in the plate that seemed to be made with her shape in mind, accentuating her figure while giving her the utmost protection. The males in attendance seemed to take notice, though if they knew her, they would have kept their eyes forward. Following the Warrior was a human Paladin in his almost full Judgment Armor, an extremely rare armor. It was still plate armor like all other armor warriors and paladins wore, but instead of plate pants, Judgment had a battle kilt that was worn with it. This provided protection due to the fact that in a fight, your enemy could not judge your next move by how your feet went. Then upon further inspection, the missing component, the helmet that gave the paladin a truly fearsome visage, was corded off along his waist.

"Eyes forward warriors of Elune," started the Night Elf Warrior. "My name is unimportant, but my rank is. You will address me as Field Marshal, Is that understood?!" Though she had a soft voice, at the end of that spiel it had lowered and octave, seemingly changing her whole demeanor. From around her came the replies of, "Yes Field Marshal," and "Yes Ma'am!"

She began again, "Now you are going to be stepping into Warsong Gulch," looking straight at Kelon she went on, "and some of you may think you are big stuff because of fancy armor or weapons. That means nothing in here."

Taking up where the Field Marshal stopped, the paladin continued, "You will be broken down into units and sent in. Those that have attained the highest rank will be given control of the individual units of people. You will follow our strategy of winning, but do have free reign to strategize your own about how to meet those goals."

The Field Marshal picked up again, "I am not going to kid you as to why we are here today. The horde has found something of great importance, and that has caused us some trouble recently. Along with that there is a new player in this game, a Tauren shaman. He has been a thorn in our side, and there is a bounty for anyone that brings me his head, but our number one priority is regaining whatever the horde has retrieved. The last bit of objectives and one of a more personal not for me. One of my warriors was wounded fighting the horde trying to get a fallen comrade. We believe that the wounded warrior is hiding out in Warsong moving from shadow to shadow, but the status of her comrade is uncertain. It is important we learn what happened to them, but only if you have a chance to do so. The other objectives are of a higher importance."

"Now attention! All Marshal and Knight-Captains front and center." Yelled the paladin after a brief moment of silence, allowing the Field Marshall's words to sink in. "Next up I want the Knight-Lieutenants to form up behind them. Finally I want the Knights, the rest of you will be broken up as we go. That is all! Find your unit commanders, and head in! Dismissed!"

Kelon looked from behind the Knight-Lieutenant serving as the next in line of command, Kelon held the rank of knight, so when he was called out he had followed orders. The Field Marshal was still giving him a serious look, but he tried not to let it bother him. Still an evil thought did occur to him, he let out a low barely audible whistle. The Field Marshal looked even more stern, till something brushed against her, looking down she saw a nightsaber pass by, and make its way to Kelon. The cat had surprised her, coming up behind her without alerting her. That was no small feat, she regularly helped in the hunt for mounts, so having keen ears for hearing padded feet was a must. Though she wanted to be mad, she had to give a nod to the hunter, apparently he had skills to go with the fancy golden armor.

Sunfire in the meantime was being herded with the rest of the noncoms, or non commissioned personnel, to their units. Though the Field Marshal had briefly touched on the main objective these warriors were going to be fighting for, she had not told them everything. The mage could understand the strategic value of it, especially keeping the troops from panicking. Still she knew what the Horde had found, and on a more personal level, she wanted to scream to all of her fellow fighters what it was, so that their sacrifices would not be in for naught. At least to give them an idea of what they fought for, but Sunfire decided to heed the Field Marshal's wisdom. She seemed to care about her fighters, even if she had been staring down the Night Elf in gold armor. Curiously enough, the golden armored fighter had been joined by a large cat with saber like teeth. A nightsaber, if she remembered the animals around here correctly. He was petting it and talking to it, treating it as if it was a friend or family member. Somehow seeing this made her smile. So much so that she almost didn't hear her unit designation, instead embarrassment bloomed as the golden clad hunter walked over to her.

He said so humbly and gentle it shocked her, "Miss, I believe you are with us, come with me if you will."

"I am sorry, I seemed to have been in another world," apologized Sunfire.

Kelon looked at her from behind his helmet and smiled, "Well in other worlds we are safe from the perils in this, just as long as we stay in this world when the time is right." The last part of that was said in such a friendly manner she couldn't help but feel good in his presence. "Come on now, I'm Kelon and my friend here is Xaon."

"I'm Sunfire, thanks for the kindness, I'm sure the other warriors would not be so kind in my lapse." Kelon's only response was a shrug of the shoulders.

Another response came a few moments later as they reformed with their unit, "Other warriors do not understand that a few pieces of sage advice go a lot further then scowls to turn new warriors into veterans." Another pause before he continued, "I like your name, I've been around enough mages to know that it's a pseudonym, but it's a nice name."

"Why thank you," but she had an inkling that there was more to it, "but what are you really trying to say Kelon?"

A deep sigh was let out, "It is not too late, you can still leave before the battle begins. You have much promise, I can see it in your eyes, but this is going to be a horrible battle. I don't want to see anyone hurt that can keep from it."

"And what about you? Why are you here then? Is it something where you are trying to prove yourself?"

"No, I have a mission here, I need to stop a great evil before it claims anymore," countered Kelon to all the accusing questions that had been just fired off.

"As do I," matter of factly said by the mage in front of him, "and this mission is just as melodramatically important."

"Melodrama," laughed the hunter, "Yeah that last statement was a little dramatic, well I know better than to argue with a stubborn mage. Here is what I can do for you. When we get in, keep your head down, there are going to be arrows, bullets and spells flying around. Once your eyes have adjusted to the flashes that is when you can strike, till then don't, you might hurt us, them or yourself."

"I'll keep that in mind," stated the mage, a little bemused by the whole exchange.

What she did not realize was that while they had talked, walking in their unit together, the unit had been moving to the entrance of Warsong inside the Silverwing Outpost. With a loud clang the lock on the door leading to the stronghold inside came open and the broad stone walls welcomed them in.

The set up took not to long at all. With the stronghold being used regularly, the only thing to do was make sure the armaments were reloaded and supplied. The next step was to find each person's designated area. There were to be people on the roof, that connected up to the outside tunnel. Just outside the tunnel would be sentries set up to keep watch. In the main room traps were set for any invaders, and in the next room that connected to the main, was another exit to the outside, this led down a path, which wound to the fence line. The room above that led from this outside room overlooked the main room. So any invaders that came in if they made it into the strong hold would face fire from anyone on the roof, and this room above, not to include the fighters waiting for them within. Another thing to consider was that in order to get anywhere near this main room they either had to go through the tunnel, where the sentries would call forth more fighters, or through the outside room and the path it connected to, with the same problem as the tunnel. The roof top fighters would still be a problem for anyone taking the outside room path. So it would seem the tunnel would be the best option if an attacking force came to bear, but because of how narrow the tunnel was, only three people could barely squeeze into it at once side by side, it created a bottleneck. This let the defenders fall back, and attack from the hall that led to the roof and from the main room hall itself, with no detriment to their mobility. The attacking force though, would be hindered in their movement, unable to attack the defenders till they made their way down the hall. To say it would be tough for any one to take the stronghold would be an understatement. The only problem for the alliance forces, the Horde stronghold across the way was built in an eerily similar manner. The same strengths that made this stronghold so impenetrable, made the horde stronghold the same way. All in all, this was going to be a very bloody battle.

A moment before chaos of pure perfection passes, the gently cool breeze of the wind, the wafting of glorious forest scents spread out among the coming fighters. The sun beamed down rays of light and warmth that filled everyone. For this one illuminating glorious moment all was at peace, but it was not meant to last. The feral scream that had greeted everyone when they had made their way to Warsong Gulch via the Silverwing Outpost, now returned once more.

To Kelon the past peace could have lasted a few more moments. From his place on the roof, he was in charge of coordinating the ranged attacks on the roof and balcony room across the way. From over there he saw the mage, Sunfire, nervously fidgeting with her gear. Checking her spell books and reciting spells from memory, anything to take her mind off what was going to come. Kelon could not help but think fondly of her, not only was she very beautiful, but she was handling herself very well for her first battle experience. Instead of needlessly going over everything, she was going over what she'd be using, making sure it was at hand, and then leaving it alone. Thinking about his first battle, Kelon realized he had been a mess. It was a wonder he had survived at all, but in his defense when the time had come to fight, he had fought brilliantly.

From across the way Kelon could spot the horde forces. A conglomerate of Orcs, Trolls, Taurens and some Undead. The Undead made up very little of the horde forces, which was alright by Kelon. He hated Undead almost as much as he disdained Trolls. The disdain he wished could be attributed to his dealings with Trolls. He had fought against plenty, but in truth every time he thought about why he disliked the trolls, he remembered the stories that the humans and dwarves told him of the trolls in the second war. That combined with a Troll mage and shaman that had tried to kill him during his first adventures, Kelon just simply couldn't stand the Trolls. Yet the unnaturalness of the Undead made even what he felt for the Trolls little in comparison.

Then it happened, as Kelon was doing his lookout, he spotted his nemesis. On top of the Horde stronghold he made out the figure of the Tauren shaman. Already the shaman had cast his lightning shield. This spell made it hard for a melee attack, any physical attack would send a jolt to the attacker, doing significant damage if not killing the attacker. Kelon knew he had a way to beat that, and he gripped his Gorewood Bow tighter in his left hand. Readjusting his weapon belt both swords were on his side, with the Bone Slicing Hatchet in back up on his right hip. The quiver on his back was tight, and would not move as he attacked. Kelon was ready for battle, and apparently so was the Horde.

From across the way, the Tauren Shaman, Broken Horn, signaled for the attack to begin by the horde. Streaming forth from the stronghold on their end the Horde force swept its way to the Silverwing Stronghold. Kelon let out a cry of alarm alerting his allies to the coming attack. Sunfire stiffened and bolted upright, mentally preparing her first spell. Meanwhile one of the units led by a Marshal rushed out to the meet the Horde force. They would be outnumbered three to one, but there was a reason for this, they were only to keep the Horde busy. From the side of the path leading to the outside room, another unit of Alliance Forces began its run down the path and to the left of the coming Horde. Using the trees as cover and the battle that was just starting to hide the noise of their armor, the Alliance forces made their way to the Horde Stronghold.

The Horde Stronghold was known as the Warsong Lumber Mill by the members of the Horde. Usually that is what the two armies fought over, were resources on the border between Night Elf and Orcish lands. What would usually happen is both sides would try to stop the other from being able to get to those resources. This battle if anyone besides Kelon and Sunfire realized, would be vastly different. Once the second Alliance Force had made it past the oncoming horde, the first Alliance force pulled back to the safety of the Stronghold, allowing Kelon the opportunity to fire arrows into the oncoming Horde.

True were his shots, finding their marks as the deadly missiles he let loose flew. Like angry hornets they rapidly shot through the air, a few were blocked by some Horde that managed to raise their shields. A couple found rogues that were trying to use the battle to sneak behind the Alliance forces. Those rogues fell spasming on the ground, unable to pull the arrows out, but could not continue on with the arrows sticking out of them. With the first Alliance Force back into the stronghold via the tunnel, they made their way to the main room to treat the wounded and regroup. Units popped out of the outside room and tunnel to give their brethren breathing room and keep the Horde off of them. The horde ranged fighters came behind their melee brothers taking damage from Kelon and his ranged fighters on top of the stronghold. They let loose with missiles and bullets of their own. Kelon called for some of his ranged people to duck, while those that remained standing kept firing. When the horde started targeting those that remained, Kelon called for them to duck, and the others to stand and fight. This kept up while they exchanged projectiles with the horde in savage fashion.

While the ranged fighters whether they were, mages, hunters, rogues using bows or guns, or even warriors doing the same, the melee force of the Horde had continued unhindered by the Alliance Ranged forces anymore. They met up with the forces at the tunnel. True enough to their training, they put up enough fight to keep the Horde busy while the alarm was sounded inside. Then they fell back, keeping the horde at bay as they bottlenecked into the tunnel. From inside the balcony room people and a couple of warriors from the roof ran down to the tunnel subjecting the Horde again to the ranged attacks. More fell to the raining arrows and crushing blows, till finally the Horde pulled back.

They had fought hard and well, in typical Horde style. It was not Horde style to just waste their troops which was what it seemed they had done on this push. Not only had they taken the tunnel route, bottlenecking their forces, but they had kept their ranged forces back for too long before bringing them into play. It seemed that the Tauren shaman had miscalculated, since he was leading the charge from Warsong Lumber Mill. Yet as the Horde pulled back to just outside his range with a bow or any gun, he noticed that even though they had lost some warriors, there were far more wounded, walking wounded. Another thing he noticed were that most of the wounded were Orcs and Trolls. Trolls were notorious for regenerating, and Orcs became more blood lusted with every bit of damage they took. This made them fight harder, faster and harder to kill. The Taurens that had been in the force, did not seem to have been at all harmed. That is when it occurred to Kelon, looking out seeing the second Alliance force fleeing from Warsong Lumber Mill, forcing their mounts as fast as they could push them, that it had been a trap.

Sure they had infiltrated the Warsong Lumber Mill, but the Alliance infiltration force had been beaten back, but not before blood lusted and totally regenerated forces were put between them and their stronghold. Alarm filled Kelon's mind and his eyes went wide behind his helmet's wolf's head. If something was not done they were going to be slaughtered, and if the Alliance were to ride out, it would take away from their defense. Normally this wouldn't concern, but of the two rogues he had hit, Kelon could not find any trace of them. A couple of well placed rogues, while certainly no match for the entire stronghold, could cause a lot of chaos and disruption before they were killed or escaped. Still he had to do something.

"Marshal!" he yelled down to the main room, "it's a trap, our forces are running into a full force that will decimate them if we don't help."

The Marshal was a dwarf warrior that had been distant the whole time preparations were made, but now a serious look came across his stern face, "You heard him boys and girls, ride out all of ya and save our boys out there."

Protesting Kelon yelled back, "Marshal with all due respect, we should leave a force behind inside to cover your backs, we still have two rogues unaccounted for in their forces."

"Darn Elf hunter, I can run an attack, now git out there and save our boys," barked back the dwarves warrior.

Kelon looked at his soldiers selected half to go down and assist with the rescue. Then looking over at Sunfire's position, he signaled her to stay put, but sent three of her fellow soldiers to also help out. He knew it was a trap, for goodness sakes he made traps for a living, and he'd killed many a dangerous creature using strategic traps. Looking out, he saw sure enough, that the Alliance infiltration force was besieged on two sides by the Horde that had attacked earlier. Mounts and soldiers fell as they were attacked, ranged forces pinned the fallen soldiers down, as they tried to crawl out from underneath their mounts.

A burst of sound, a horn blazed from behind, causing the Horde to just let up for a moment at the most, as the Alliance forces ran out after their fallen comrades. The ranged attackers that Kelon had sent gave respite to the attacking Alliance in the form of a wide berth as their arrows managed to fell some of the Horde, but made others jump to the side to keep from getting hit. The Horde warriors growled and a portion broke off to intercept the attacking Alliance. The way the battle was playing out, the Alliance would salvage a good portion of the infiltration force, making it back to the stronghold before anymore were lost and would be able to regroup. That was about to change.

The same shrieking scream that had welcomed them to Warsong, now resounded again. From Warsong Lumber Mill came the leader of the Horde forces in this battle. The mad Tauren shaman known as Broken Horn. On top an armored kodo, a massive beast that was so huge and lumbering they were know to crush things that they accidentally sat on. On the other had they were very durable as mounts and hard to kill. This particular kodo mount was even more protected due to the plate armor that the shaman had crafted to fit its massive form. Its broad sides were being protected, and even some of its legs were covered. This though did not send dread up the spine of those that saw it, or make Kelon curse under his breath. No, the shaman had done one better with the mount's armor. For its helmet, he had specially crafted a helm that protected its massive head, and from the helmet protruded Tauren horns. Making the mount very dangerous indeed, and the reason behind this became evident immediately.

Spurring his mount onward Broken Horn had it up to full gallop within moment crashing into the Alliance forces. Most of the forces were able to keep from getting impaled on the horns of the kodo's armor, but this also disrupted the fighting. The Horde forces were very quick to take the advantage, pressing hard against the Alliance forces. Trying to regroup the dwarf marshal ordered his men to regain the line. From Kelon's vantage he saw two unlucky souls not reform quick enough, they were the next target by the shaman as he ran them down on top his kodo. Sure enough these poor men were the first to be impaled.

From where they were impaled, if no further damage was caused they may survive, but would carry scars and possible impairment for the rest of their lives. Kelon had seen enough. Running down the path that led to the roof he motioned for the other roof fighters to stay up and try to give cover fire where they could. Through the tunnel he raced down to the outside, calling his Wintersaber he climbed aboard, racing towards the kodo and its rider. Along side him flew the deadly projectiles of both Alliance and Horde, arrows and bullets filled the skies, still he rode. Mindful to keep watch on his surroundings, it would not do for him to die trying to save these two men, by a bullet from his own allies. Not that he had to worry about that, his allies saw him riding through and they staggered their fire to let him through.

If any of them or any of the other soldiers had known about his past experiences with Broken Horn, they would have thought Kelon was pursuing his own personal vengeance goal. He would love to do nothing more than take the shaman out right now, but those two men would probably die during the course of the attack. Instead he called out to the Horde shaman. On Broken Horns face, what was visible underneath his Armor of Elements, another popular dungeon set, this one worked well with shamans, there was an insane smile of glee. The shaman saw him, and the smile broadened even wider. Once more the shaman spurred his mount toward the Night Elf hunter. Kelon had a plan, it was a dangerous plan, but he knew the shaman could not resist it. He too spurred his Wintersaber on to full gallop.

Now most would attempt to use the big cat's grace to get around and attack the shaman from the kodo's rear. The reasoning on this was that since the kodo was such a large and massive creature, it would create more force at full gallop, probably killing both riders and allowing the shaman to have a huge advantage in the fight. With the momentum from the mounts speed, he'd barely have to swing his mace and it would decapitate Kelon. Yet, Kelon had a plan.

Running straight at the kodo at full gallop on his mount, the hunter waited till the last possible moment. The same moment he could see the horrified looks on the two men still hanging from the horns on the kodo's armored head. Deftly pulling his bow from his back, knocking and arrow Kelon let loose a series of volleys. The volleys were not meant to hit the shaman, but keep him coming straight at him, not that the Tauren needed much prodding for that. Playing this game of chicken had worked to Kelon's benefit. Charging directly at him, Kelon reached into his belt retrieved a freezing trap and through it with all his might, pulling back on the reigns to his Wintersabre mount. The trap fell precisely where he had aimed it, right underneath the kodo, exploding in an ice blast that trapped the kodo instantly in its tracks, and throwing off its rider. Dismounting, Kelon fired two shots into nearby Horde that stood dumbfounded at their leader's untimely fall from his mount. Both Horde fell to the ground with arrows between their eyes.

Rushing over to the two men on the kodo's armored horns, he undid the strips that kept the helm to the kodo. Both men fell violently and suddenly to the ground. Helping both up, he made sure they were still alive, they were barely. Carrying them as much as he could, he laid them on the back of his mount. Then looking the cat straight in the eyes, bent his head down to it, "Take these brave souls back to the Stronghold." The Wintersaber looked at him, licked his face and ran off with its burden still intact. The Night Elf hunter knew that this was not the end of the battle for him. Instead as he had predicted, six riders were rushing straight at him. They had seen their leader fall so they were coming to get payback.

Taking aim the hunter fired off two quick shots, catching one of the riders in the chest, piercing his armor. Another rider it glanced off her armor, so she kept riding hard at him. With them getting close Kelon grabbed another freezing trap and threw it at him. This only stopped one, the female that his arrow had glanced off of. The other two had ridden apart, stopping it. They had learned from their leaders fall from his mount. He had only a moment longer and he fired off two more quick shots, both found their marks, but only one did any damage. The other was caught in the armor, and never found the flesh below. Pulling his blades he counted that only two had been stopped, four still remained, bearing down on him with full wrath in their eyes. A fire of hatred for what he had done, he had hurt the Tauren shaman that had insured their victory, or at least knocked him off his proud kodo. Looking at the pure malice in them, the poor Night Elf hunter only had one thought, "this is going to hurt." A single pinprick of light was the last thing that Kelon noticed.

Right before they were right on top of him, readying their weapons for what they considered a killing blow, though even outnumbered their first attack would not have had that effect, something extraordinary happened. From their saddles the Horde cavalry flew into the air, as if some invisible hand had cast them aside, up into the air, as one might do to rag dolls. Not sure what happened, Kelon seized upon his good fortune, dropping his two swords, pulling his bow back out, and firing a volley at the fallen warriors. More fell before his shots. The battle still waged on around him, but his mysterious partner's help had saved him from a lot of pain, if not his life. Turning he looked to see who had come to fight beside him.

There stood a smaller figure with sun red hair. The mage from earlier, Sunfire had come to help him. She stood there with a broad grin on her face, happy with what she had done. Picking back up his blades from the ground he dusted them off and put them back in their sheaths.

"Thank you for your help there," gratefully said the Night Elf hunter.

The human mage just gave a gentle nod, "I saw you race after those two wounded men, and your mount came back with them but not you. So I had to come!"

"Much appreciated, but come now, we're still in a battle," said Kelon as he noticed that the female warrior had freed herself from the frozen trap he had thrown, and one of the riders that had been thrown off was getting back up. The rider got their first, he was a shaman by the way he was dressed and the spells he was casting. The female warrior took note of Sunfire, probably judging to see which one she should attack.

The shaman reached Kelon first, trying to kill him with hard bulky swipes. Parrying the first with his right, he stabbed the shaman with his left blade. It was a good stab, but it glanced off the shaman's armor. A knowledge dawned on Kelon, twisting about parrying another series of blows, he jabbed his left handed blade into the ground, pulled the hatchet from his right hip, and smashed its face into the shamans helm. The blow was so powerful it split the helm into two and bit into the scalp of the shaman. Stunned the shaman looked at the hunter, and saw blood freely flowing like a river down his face. The female rider rushed up to catch the falling shaman, and in her arms, she growled at Kelon.

Looking at the fallen shaman and the female rider Kelon spoke to them with a gentleness and authority that belied how he truly felt, "Go! Take him back to Warsong. Do not attack me or my men and you will live. Now hurry!" Kelon wasn't sure she if she understood him, neither did Sunfire, the mage began to prepare a spell in case the female warrior was going to attack. Instead the warrior, maybe another shaman, carried the wounded shaman back to her mount and galloped off with him laid across the mount's back.

"That was very generous of you," commented the bewildered mage.

Explaining the best he could Kelon answered, "I didn't come here to keep a cycle of blood and hatred alive. I came to take care of that shaman, and stop him from hurting anyone else." Turning his attention back to the battle he resheathed his weapons and fired some shots into the Horde, taking two down that were pounding a gnomish warrior.

"You are right, we need to stop that shaman immediately," Sunfire countered as she took aim, unleashing a volley of arcane missiles at the nearest Horde target.

Shaking his head, Kelon took aim at another, letting loose with the deadly missile, "No, he can wait, we need to regroup and take stock of our situation."

Another Horde warrior rushed at Sunfire, she let loose a freezing spell, cementing him in place. "You don't understand the scroll he has been using to beat the Alliance forces here, I'm on a mission to retrieve it," she said as she set the Orc on fire with a fireball spell followed by a fireblast.

Kelon was about to ask what was so important, though he figured if she was after it, it meant something about the scroll was important, but a mad laughter cut that short. Looking behind them away from the brawl in front, they saw the Tauren shaman, Broken Horn, brushing himself off from his fall. His fur was tufted in places where the armor had not protected him from the fall. The wicked smile was still there, the insanity in his eyes was as strong as ever. Pulling a scroll from his belt the shaman quickly read an inscription on it. Before the hunter or mage could react a lightning bolt hit both squarely in the chest, throwing them so far back, they nearly landed in Warsong's entrance. Pain coursed through them both as the electrical charge made their pain centers and nerves light up with incredible pain. Yet both struggled to get back up, against the pain, against their racked bodies' defiant resistance.

Broken Horn, thinking that his foe had been vanquished turned his attention to the fight still going on. Reading the scroll again, he read slowly, making sure to read the entire inscription to the spell. The once sunny day was blocked by clouds as they moved in suddenly. The clouds blocking out the sun began to rumble with thunder, releasing rain from their midst. The water fell, mixing with the blood, forming pools on the ground or running of together to the nearest water source. Erupting from the clouds next were more intense forms of the lightning bolts that had hit Kelon and Sunfire. They streamed like forked tongues to the ground quicker than a serpent's strike. Those that did not hit Alliance or Horde fighters, hit the wet ground, causing electricity to bound up into the combatants on the ground.

Pain coursed through everyone on the field of battle, as the electricity sizzled through the combatants. This caused both sides to slow in battle or fall over in pain, except for the Orcs that had been blood lusted in the opening battle. They felt no pain, nothing except the burning desire to see their enemies destroyed before they passed on to the next world. They fought more savagely and harder the longer the spell went on. Where as the Alliance forces who fought valiantly, trying to push back the pain to fight back, were falling under the blows of the blood lusted Orcs.

Both Kelon and Sunfire had managed to make it back to their feet, just in time to see the shaman relentlessly applying the spell in his hands to utter decimate the Alliance forces, even as those on his side dropped from exposure to the lightning storm. This was utter madness! Broken Horn was willing to sacrifice his own people in order to win this battle! Kelon had seen enough, he did not have the bloodlust like the Orcs, but any being has the ability to see something so wrong that they have to act against their own survival instinct. They can act with a strength and ferocity unmatched, and looking back at Sunfire, the hunter had it in his eyes.

"Sunfire, cover me. Be prepared to stop the horde if they attack, and if I fall get back to the stronghold," commanded Kelon not out of superiority, but out of concern. "Get back there, prepare the defenses, make sure you take the marshal with you. Most of all, while I have Broken Horn busy, take the scroll."

With that the Night Elf hunter ran off after the Tauren shaman, leaving no room for debate about his plan. Whistling for his partner, he heard Xaon's greeting growl to let him know the cat was there. Sprinting up to the fastest he had ever run before he lunged at the Tauren, putting his full weight behind it. Aiming for the shaman's center of gravity, he knocked the shaman down. It felt like he had hit a wall, knocking a small portion of the air out his lungs, but barely phased the shaman. The Tauren had a hard time getting back up. Picking up the scroll Kelon rolled it up, quickly tying its string, then threw it to Sunfire. Just like the plan she caught it and went to catch up with the Alliance forces.

Thanks to Kelon's attack, the spell causing the storm had been stopped before anyone else had died from it, though a few had before he had gotten to Broken Horn. They started to retreat while the remaining Horde began to push forward, the blood lusted Orcs still wanting for more carnage. Kelon unsheathed his sword and the hatchet in his left hand, stalking over to the still prone Tauren. Raising his arm to deliver a fatal blow, Broken Horn kicked up and delivered a power kick from his hooved legs. The blow was absorbed by the armor Kelon wore, but it still threw him back, knocking the wind out of his lungs again.

Broken Horn started to laugh as he ran after his army, once again taking for granted that his power Tauren kick had dealt a fatal blow to Kelon. If he had stopped to really thing about it, every time they had fought, the hunter had taken blow after blow, never being vanquished and never giving up. No the Shaman thought that after such a display that the hunter was no match for him, especially with the scroll at his side. Yet when he grabbed for it from his belt, he noticed it was missing. Broken Horn let out a scream of frustration into the air. Then commanded the Horde to tear the Silverwing Stronghold apart looking for the missing scroll.

Sunfire had followed Kelon's orders without hesitation, she never hazarded a look back, though she had so desperately wanted to. If she had looked back, she would have seen him fly through the air, land hard on the ground, and she would have turned around. Instead she blinked back to the Marshal, and held off a troll mage as the Alliance forces fell back. Fireball, fireblast, frostbolt, arcane missiles, frost cone and arcane explosion were released as she and the remaining forces fought for their very lives. Around her men and women fell in the battle's intensity, some just wounded, others dead before they hit the ground. The tears she had been holding back since she had left Kelon were flowing freely now.

Never before had she come across such wanton destruction, a hard lesson in life was learned on this day, that war was not as glamorous as it appeared in the scrolls and history books. Instead it was the people that fought for their beliefs that were the extraordinary ones, not the battles, but those who stood against something as evil as what she saw on that day. She saw the evil of needless fighting, and the evil in those that instigated it. She made a vow to herself that those who fell today would never be forgotten, and that she would bring this lesson back with her from this place.

So lost in thought was she, that Sunfire never realized they were back in the stronghold. Soldiers went back to their posts, and defended the stronghold with renewed vigor. Yet the horde kept coming. They spilled in from every entrance, it was as if they had emptied out their entire stronghold to sack the Silverwing Stronghold. Regaining her position in the balcony room, found the remaining ranged forces scattered between there and the rooftop raining down destruction onto the horde. Joining in she added her magics to their bullets and arrows. Horde member after Horde member fell, but they kept on coming with more numbers. They started to overrun the forces below and work their way up to take care of the ranged fighters.

From what Sunfire could see, if the forces below couldn't hold them, the Stronghold would certainly fall, there were too few ranged fighters to take the place of the main forces as they fell. "That is not going to happen!" thought the mage and a brilliant fire red aura seemed to dawn on her. She was tired, worn out, sick of fighting, and most of all she had had enough of battle to last her a lifetime, but she was not going to lay down, she was not going to quit. They were going to pay dearly for every inch of stone wall they stole, and with that she began chanting bringing a great blizzard to the indoor area, the walls, floors everything began to be coated with ice. Ice fell onto the horde while the Alliance took shelter while the ice battered the horde, still more made their way into the stronghold.

Kelon did not know how long he had been lying on the ground, just that no matter how much he protested, his body would not allow him to get up. Eventually it gave into his demands, but his chest hurt severely where the Tauren's kick had landed. Lying next to him waiting for its master to revive had been his loyal companion and partner Xaon. The nightsaber was licking his face, and laying next to him to keep him warm. Kelon sorely brought his hand up to pet the big cat. Gently scratching behind the ears, just the way Xaon liked it. As soon as he was on his feet, everything he had missed while trying to catch his breath, came flooding to him. He could see the horde running into the Stronghold, wave after wave. He could hear the signs of battle, and could tell from the lightshow that mages were exchanging spells. His body may have been protesting but his spirit and his mind overrode his physical pain.

The Night Elf Hunter ran as fast as he could, in his training they had prepared him for prolonged fast sprinting, called it the Aspect of the Cheetah. So what would take a normal person several moments to run naturally, he was able to run in half that time. All that raced in his mind was making sure that Sunfire was ok and stopping Broken Horn. If he could do that, then he would personally lead the retreat back to Astranaar with the survivors. If that mad shaman had done anything to the mage he was going to blame himself forever, he should have kept her from coming. Yet he didn't really believe he could have stopped her anyway, she would have found a way. She seemed to be stubborn like that. As for Broken Horn, if he thought Kelon was out to stop him now, if anything happened to that mage, the hunter would never let the Tauren have a night's peace ever again till he was pleading for death.

As the hunter entered the Stronghold he hear the cries for assistance from everywhere. Running back up to the roof to find Sunfire and get a grip on the situation, he came across several Horde, most retreating. These he gave a quick slap of the sword to get them on their way, those following behind them that engaged him were quickly sliced with his sword or received a hatchet chop that fell them. On the roof he found more survivors fighting overwhelming odds as the Horde had made its way to the roof as well. Pulling out his bow, he sent shot after shot into the back of the Horde. Some turned but found themselves in the crossfire between him and the survivors they attacked. One ran right at him. Without putting the bow down, he spun, bringing it up in an uppercut blow that sent the Horde member twirling to the right and over the edge. The body fell, plummeting to the ground making a sick thud as it crashed against the stone floor.

The remaining survivors were able to fight off the Horde on the roof and went back to giving support to the survivors on the floor and balcony room. Scanning the room he found Sunfire delivering a blizzard spell onto the Horde attackers. A bright grin formed as he watched, but in horror he saw a warrior get past the guards in the balcony room and reach Sunfire. Before she could turn to face him, the warrior smacked her hard, and she fell from the balcony room and to the room below, knocking the wind out of her. The Night Elf hunter screamed, in his eyes welled the frustration and ire that had formed during this battle, threatening to overrun him. Without thinking Kelon jumped off the roof performing a mid air somersault. As the ground came rushing up to him, the hunter braced, landing in a crouching roll. His legs still felt like someone had taken a hammer to his knees, but he was able to get up and run. Targeting the Horde that had attacked Sunfire, Kelon released a deadly arrow that found the Horde's neck. Twisting about fully on instinct alone, he managed to catch a Tauren druid in the kneecap with his next shot, and an Undead priest between the shoulders with his shot after that. As the Horde got closer, Kelon switched back to his sword and hatchet. Just then the Horde fell back.

Looking around Kelon quickly checked on Sunfire. She was bruised, had a few minor wounds, but nothing was broken and nothing fatal had been delivered. She was breathing, if very shallow. Knowing she was alright, he looked around to find why the Horde was retreating, till he saw why. On Broken Horn's shoulders was the Marshal in charge of the victory here, the small dwarf bouncing against the Tauren's shoulder as he lay unconscious there. Everything in Kelon's being said to run after him, but looking around he saw bedraggled survivors with no will left to fight. They needed someone to regroup them, to prepare for the next battle, because there would be another. Just as soon as Broken Horn got out of the Dwarf marshal everything he needed. So Kelon fought against himself, put away his weapons and started to round up the survivors.

They were due to check in with the Field Marshal at any time, and what news he had for her was not going to go over well. The shaman was still there, most of their forces were either wounded or dead, and the marshal had been kidnapped. It also surprised him that he was now the highest non wounded officer in the Alliance ranks. So it fell to him to deliver the news to the Field Marshal. He was not looking forward to this.

Sunfire managed to pull herself up, not too much longer after the Horde had pulled back. Before that she had been aware of what was going on, but couldn't move. She had seen Kelon's dive from the roof, the spectacular landing and excellent aiming as he had taken out Horde after Horde. Especially as he had stood over her taunting the attackers to come test his mettle with blade and hatchet drawn. It filled her with a surprising warmth to see that out of the Night Elf hunter. He had been but a stranger today when they had met, now she would fight and bleed beside him till the end of her life. So it was she stood beside him as he gave the report to the Field Marshal about the situation.

Oddly enough the Field Marshal took everything without blinking, and even more surprisingly gave great compliments as to how the hunter had handled the situation. Especially as the reports from the survivors validated his own. She even offered him a fresh batch of soldiers as reinforcements. Kelon was to take command of them, and to take Temporary rank as Knight-Lieutenant. As the gates to the Silverwing Stronghold opened more troops marched into the battleground. One in particular was of interest. A druid in a kilt and Ironfeather Armor ran up to and hugged Kelon.

"Kelon, I had such a horrible vision while I was in the Emerald Dream. I saw you fighting for your life," started the druid then noticing the mage beside him, she embraced her too, "and you were there, protecting his back!"

Before Sunfire could ask, Kelon explained, "Welcome Sil, it is good to see you well too, this is Sunfire a fierce fighter and mage," then turning to Sunfire, "and this Sunfire, is my closest thing to an actual sister, Sil. She has gone down the druid path."

"A pleasure," said the mage. "So you traveled all this way because of a vision?" The mage's curiosity getting the better of her.

With a simple shrug, Sil answered, "Yeah, and I brought the toughest warriors in any of Azeroth, members of my Guild, the Outcasts of Azeroth." With that Three figures walked up behind her, a gnome warrior, a female Night Elf hunter, and a gnomish mage. "These fine people are Gabari, Nin, and Aluciel," introduced Sil. "And they are joining the fight today."

A boisterous laugh erupted from Kelon, "I owe you guys once more, when I get back, I hope you will allow me to join your ranks. As it is, I believe I have a battle to win, and you guys are welcome to join."

With that and the throngs of people heading in, the Silverwing Stronghold was once again well defended. The stretchers taking the wounded and dead soon had the place emptied of anyone but able bodied fighters. From there Kelon began to set up the defenses again. Like earlier he had Aluciel take charge of the ranged forces and set up on the roof. Nin was to take control of the any mages, warlock and druids they had, and use their abilities to the best outcome. Sil, Sunfire and Kelon were the setting up taking over strategy operatons, while Gabari prepared the ground forces for their coming battle. It wasn't long before once again the Alliance forces were battle ready.

Once they were, Kelon knew what he had to do, he had to rescue the Dwarf marshal. Not only was it strategically important, the Dwarf had intimate knowledge of the defenses of not just this stronghold, but those around Azeroth, like in the Arathi Basi, or Alterac Valley. It was also the right thing to do. Kelon did not believe in leaving anyone behind, especially in the clutches of Broken Horn. He also knew that the Horde would be reinforcing Warsong Lumber Mill during the lull. Broken Horn may have been mad, but he was not dumb. Which also meant that any more time would be give the Tauren shaman ample opportunity to pry the secrets from the dwarf.

So the plan was made. A three person team was going to lead a force into the Warsong Lumber Mill. The whole operation differed from previous, because the force would not go in, but rather set up traps that Aluciel and Kelon were making around strategic locations. These freezing, frost and explosive traps would cause chaos as the Horde followed the three infiltrators from Warsong Lumber Mill to Silverwing Stronghold. Hopefully they would have in tow a Dwarf, whether conscious or not. Plus there was one more surprise Kelon had the soldiers make while he was planning his raid.

With preparations made, the only thing to do was pick the two going with him on this possible suicide run. Sunfire immediately volunteered, with Sil being a close second. He started to argue, but remembered Sil would just follow him, and Sunfire wouldn't take no for an answer. The most unexpected was Xaon, the poor cat had been roughed up while helping him fight, yet here he was beside Kelon. The hunter tried to shoo him away, but the nightsaber stayed. Begrudgingly Kelon scratched the cat's ears and they were ready. Aluciel, Gabari and Nin were given their orders, and what to do if Kelon did not return.

The band of three set out on their mission, if they were successful this would end this battle, Broken Horn would be so enraged he'd send all he had after them. This time the Alliance would be ready for them. This time would be different, the only trick, was getting in without setting off the alarm. It was Sil that helped out here, prowling around in her cat form she had found a hole in the fence, and from there a blind spot in the Warsong Stronghold. Following her trail she left, Kelon guided Sunfire through the openings. Around them the heard the exclamations of the Orcs, the singing of the Trolls and they smelled the horrid odor of the Undead soldiers that had come to reinforce Warsong. Yet not a one caught their scent or saw them as they stalked up. Kelon didn't have to look for Xaon, he could sense the nightsaber around, taking its own way in. Eventually they came to the back of the fortress, where Kelon and Sil used their skill to have owls bring their ropes up to the top of Warsong. Climbing straight up, Kelon used one of the owls to look and make sure no Horde was looking as they bounded over the top to the roof.

Everything was going according to plan, once they were up, they found two horde acting as sentries, and quickly dispatched them. The others were catching up on sleep, and a movement of their weapons and using their cimbing ropes to bind the horde together foot to hand, took care of them. Now looking down, they saw that Broken horn had the Dwarf marshal and the missing Night Elf soldier tied together to a chair. Broken Horn was punching the dwarf, while an undead soldier brought in more torture implements. Around the room most of the horde were watching the outside, waiting for an attack to come from there. What they were not expecting would be for what was going to come next.

Signaling to Xaon, Kelon instructed the nightsaber to go attack the soldiers on the balcony. Then to Sil he gave the disruption of the guards near the outside room in Warsong that led to the path out of it. Sunfire would use her arcane explosion to keep the horde away, while Kelon used his bow to take out as many as he could after he landed. Then cut the binds to both prisoners. Hopefully they would be able to run, because if not, things were going to get a lot trickier. This was their plan, and he saw that his forces had set up the traps like they were supposed to. Now it was up to them, up to him, to make this work.

With one nod the word was given, Sil transformed into her cat form, Sunfire jumped off the roof and cast the light feather spell, that made her float down. Xaon began his attack by leaping from the roof to the balcony room, and Kelon repeated his earlier feat of jumping off the roof into a rolling crouch. The way they had jumped, both Kelon and Sunfire had landed at the same time. Both came up firing, Sunfire with her spells and Kelon with his bow. Six Horde fell within the first few moments. Sil and Xaon took out another four in the balcony and in the outside room. Broken Horn began to charge, but a quick arcane explosion sent him flying back. Just like the plan, Kelon pulled his knife from his belt, cut the binds and threw the injured Night Elf warrior onto his back. The Dwarf marshal he did not have to worry about. Already the Dwarf was up and picking up a weapon and was joining in the fight.

"Bout time ya got here!," smirked the Dwarf

Looking around Kelon called out, "Alright we are done here fall back!"

With that Xaon and Sil led the way out as Kelon sprinted out, as they came up to the path, he kept going straight. What happened next surprised the everyone but Kelon, as he once again jumped off the ledge between the path and catapult, falling not as far as from the roof, but far enough that he let out a grunt as he landed. Sunfire was right behind him as she blinked, a spell that teleported her forward by a small degree each time, and jumped after him. Sil and Xaon were next landing deftly, and Sil transformed into her Travel form, a catlike form that looked a lot like a cheetah, and she sprinted off to the Silverwing Stronghold. So far so good, the Horde that had followed were now setting off the traps. Explosions of fire and ice, trapped and threw Horde into the air. Sheets of ice made a great many fall flat on their backs, slamming their heads against the ground hard. Yet right behind them was Broken Horn, calling back his kodo, he spurred it to go after the fleeing alliance.

To Sunfire it was simply amazing that she was having to blink so much to keep up with Kelon. He had been sprinting hard for the past few moments, a lot longer than any warrior she had ever seen run before, and not only was he not tired or winded, but he was still carrying the injured Night Elf warrior on his shoulders. At least with Sil she had her animal forms, and Xaon was used to running this fast, or at least he showed no sign of being tired either. She on the other hand was completely winded, even with the blinking she was having a tough time keeping up with Kelon. That is when she noticed Broken Horn behind them, he was gaining rapidly on them, so she made a choice. She stopped running and let loose with all her magics.

Defiantly standing in the way of his kodo Broken Horn saw the human mage casting a fireball, which he dodged, and then the arcane missiles, of which a few hit him. Enraging the Tauren even more. Stopping his mount, he got off and began throwing his own shamanic spells at her. Dropping healing and fire totems, one to heal him, the other to attack her. He also sent out a frost wave and fire waves to counter her elemental spells. She almost didn't get the frost ward or fire ward up fast enough before the spells hit. She didn't give an inch though, and she kept casting spell after spell. Behind him Sunfire saw the rest of the Horde bearing down onto her. In some part of her, she was at peace, she still had the scroll, Kelon would come back and find it, take it to Darnassus where it belonged. Broken Horn would be defeated, if not tonight, then another, but his goal would be ruined here. So even as she was too tired to cast another spell, she pulled her sword from her sheath and attacked.

The shaman was gleefully sadistically happy as he swung his mace at her, and how the swings that she blocked nearly doubled the mage over. Broken Horn was going to crush her, he was going to crush all those who still lived with magic, and let magic prosper. It was an evil stain, and this one stunk of it, reeked in its use. He'd cleanse Azeroth of all magic, and from it he would repopulate it with only Taurens. The Night Elves had failed, the Humans were weak, as were the Dwarves, Gnomes, not to mention the Undead. The Orcs could stay, but as his thralls, and it would all start with this Human's death! Knocking her sword away, out of her hands, skittering across the ground, he raised his mace to deliver the fatal blow.

Only it never came, as he brought it down a black blur rammed right into him. It started as a shadow of a figure, and transformed into the black blur, as Sunfire looked it looked like a cat, a great big cat. It wasn't Xaon though, this cat didn't have saber like teeth. As the shaman and the cat got back up, the cat transformed back into the familiar now form of the druid Sil. Again the shaman raised to deliver another blow, but this time the blow was caught by two feathered hands, Sil had turned into a walking Moonkin, an owl/bear beast that walked on two legs and was able to use magic, especially natural magic. Sil and Broken Horn fought back and forth testing their strength to see who could overpower the other.

Sunfire on the other hand was just now getting back to her feet, and watching as the Horde came right at her. Using her spells she froze the first group and from the skies came a flame strike then a blizzard to take care of the Horde. She was till exhausted, and the spells were taking longer to cast, and harder to concentrate on. From the corner of her eye she saw three more jump at her, slashing and chopping at her with an assortment of weapons. She managed to get a mana shield up before the first strike, but it was only a matter of time before that fell. She would fight, but it was starting to feel like a lost cause again. This time Sil would die with her, and Kelon would be hurt by it. Though she didn't know it yet, she wasn't going to have to finish that thought path. Another black blur went by her followed by a golden one.

Kelon had made it into the stronghold, when he noticed that Sil and Sunfire were not behind him. Aluciel had pointed out to the battle ground, where a moonkin and mage fought the oncoming horde. Knowing full well that they could not survive like that, he called forth, "Units one and two, follow me and attack. Three and four lay down ranged fire. Five and Six prepare our little welcoming gifts for the guests!" With that once again he was running through Silverwing Stronghold, another acrobatic flip off the path and onto the ground below. Ahead of him was Xaon already targeting an oncoming Horde. Still running Kelon managed to fire off two arrows at the oncoming Horde, taking out the two he had marked. Behind him a mixed group of ranged and melee fighters collided with the attackers.

He was too late though, three Horde were attacking Sunfire, she was pinned to the ground, with one about to deliver the killing blow. From the bruises he could see that they had gotten a few hits in already. Enraged he plowed into them, drawing his weapons, laying into the Horde with a ferocity unmatched since he had fought Venom Tongue earlier. The three fell without any trouble, which left Kelon to drop to the ground, weapons forgotten by his side after he dropped them. He held the smaller form of Sunfire in his arms, she was still warm, but he could feel her shallow breathing. Tears started to well up in his eyes.

"My…hero…, " Sunfire tried to say.

Putting his gloved hand to her lips he said, "Don't speak, we'll get you help. We'll get a priest over here and have you healed up." Even as he said that he reached into his belt pulling out heavy rune cloth bandages. These were bandages that not only stopped bleeding, but had healing properties in them as well. He started bandaging up her wounds, while she still laid in his arms.

"Kel…." Sunfire was having a hard time talking, blood dribbled from her mouth, "Don't be…mad…You saved everyone again….take this scroll." She handed him the scroll she had taken from Broken Horn earlier. "To….Darnassus….and Kel…..my name…."

It was excruciating for her to talk, the hunter could tell, "Don't its ok."

"No….for you….its….Lynorra." With that she passed out in his arms. She still breathed, but it was becoming more shallow as time went on. The tears came, and he let loose a loud cry that was heard across Warsong Gulch. He wasn't going to leave her, he was going to stay with her and hold her till the end. Yet once again the mad Tauren shaman was going to hurt more people he cared about. While Kelon was holding Sunfire in his arms, the Tauren had managed to over power Sil and had thrown the druid across the way. It had so shocked Sil that she immediately returned to her normal druid form.

Kelon saw this and with a loud sigh, a broken heart he leapt up, putting the mage on the ground, and commanding Xaon to stay by her side. He took up his weapons, ready to take care of Broken Horn once and for all.

Before he could go after him, a female paladin rode up on her warhorse, "Knight, I'll take the mage back to the stronghold, you take care of that shaman." Picking her up, Kelon handed Sunfire over to the paladin.

"She needs immediate healing, she's dying," was all Kelon could manage to say.

"I'll take care of her." And sure enough as Kelon ran straight into Broken Horn, he heard the paladin perform a healing spell, and to his Night Elven ears he heard a gasp for breath that was even more healthy than the ones she had just been breathing in. That was all he needed.

Broken Horn was stalking over to Sil, attacking and she was dodging almost as quickly. Sooner or later though, the Tauren would get lucky. Kelon wasn't going to let him, he pulled his bow and launched three shots. The first went to the Tauren's feet, the second the leg chinks in the armor of the shaman, and the third sank into the back of the Tauren, first blood was Kelon's. That also had gotten the Tauren's attention, the mad shaman ran straight at him as a mad bull does. Kelon fired shot after shot into the oncoming Shaman, the arrows finding their mark. By the time Broken Horn had reached him, the Tauren's body was riddled with arrows. Yet still the mad shaman came at him, Kelon didn't care anymore, this madness ended this day. No other person was going to get hurt by him. So the final battle between them started.

Though riddled with arrows, Broken Horn fought just as ferociously, several times his swiping blows from his mace nearly decapitated Kelon. The hunter fought back just as ferociously, falling into the natural animal like fighting style he had adopted so long ago. They went round in round, like two gladiators fighting in an arena of sand and blood. Where one would slash or swipe, another would parry of block. Faster and faster the blows came. One managed to get past Kelon's guard, the blow nearly shattered his left arm, he could tell it was broken. Yet he did not give up his hatchet in that hand, fighting through the pain he brought it up and through Broken Horn's armor. The back hand he received for that blow sent him flying backwards, dropping his hatchet. The Tauren rushed at him, but was doing so much more slowly, the wound had been a serious one. Resheathing his right handed weapon Mirah's Song, he pick up the hatchet, and chopped a few more times through Broken Horn's armor, tearing it apart. Each time it was all he could do to evade the Tauren's return blows. Finally he didn't, the Tauren's blow belted him to the ground. Another blow sent him sprawling across the ground, blood taste was all in his mouth. Still he got back up, reattached the hatchet to his right hip, pulled Mirah's Song. He slashed up as the Tauren came up, twisted around and stabbed, right through the armor hole he had cut into the armor of Broken Horn. The Tauren in complete shock didn't respond, instead Kelon stabbed again and again, till the Tauren didn't move at all.

Kelon was about to finish him off, when he looked down at the Tauren and saw the dimming lights in those eyes. He watched the shaman drop, and he walked away. Whether Broken Horn lived and died was not his to decide anymore, he had stopped him, he had done exactly what he said he as going to do. The hunter walked off, his left arm hanging limp, exhausted and spent. Around him the Horde were meeting the defenses that he and the soldiers had put up. Those that were bottlenecked into the tunnel and the outside room, found themselves getting attacked from behind as soldiers from the roof rappelled down to their rear flanks. Surrounded it didn't take long for the Horde to be defeated, as they fought a battle on two lines. Without their leader to guide them, the Horde fell back to Warsong Lumber Mill. That was how Warsong Gulch ended that day, with the fall of the shaman that had plagued the Alliance for several weeks, the return of the wounded soldier back to the Night Elves, and the confiscation of the scroll that had so unevened the playing field.

Kelon last remembered meeting with the Field Marsal once again before he had been shipped to the wounded area to have his wounds healed. There he spent the next three days in and out of consciousness. While he was there, Sil, Gabari, and Aluciel came to see him before they had to leave. Sil had brought a package he had requested, and he gave her the payment for it, since she had to spend her own gold to purchase the item he had wanted. As soon as he was able to, he ambled down stiffly to where Sunfire was. Her wounds had been severe when she had been brought in, but thanks to his bandages and the paladins healing, she had lived long enough for the healers to fix her up. Now all they waited on was for her to recuperate.

When she woke the first thing she noticed was Kelon sitting by her bedside, out of his normal gold armor. Instaed he had a regular tunic and pants set on. His long Blue hair was unkempt and messy, probably from sleeping nearby to her bed for however long she was out of it. There were some stubble around his face, another sign of how long it had been. Sunfire also noticed the room seemed to be rocking, as if the were on the ocean.

"Welcome back to the world of the living, Sunfire," Kelon exclaimed.

"Its good to be back," the mage weakly said. "Where are we?"

"We are on a commandeered Goblin Zepplin headed for the Eastern Kingdoms," Kelon exclaimed. "We won at Warsong, one of the things left over was this Zepplin. So the Field Marshal fitted it out for us, and the brass back in IronForge would like us to deliver it to them."

"Well aren't we special now?" Teased Sunfire, then as an afterthought, "Did I really tell you my name, or was that just a dream?"

"Yes Lynorra you did," he also handed her the package, "here this is for you. It seems your regular outfit was pretty trashed in the fight." Sunfire opened it, revealing a new set of Frostweave cloth armor.

"Thank you!" she exclaimed as she hugged him despite the pain. "Now for my next trick, is to escape this sick bed."

"The healers say you will be fine by the time we reach Iron Forge, but it is nice to see you awake, I was worried about you."

"So that is it for us then, after we turn this termite trap in, we go our separate ways?"

Putting his hand on hers, Kelon comforted, "That is up to us, whether our paths stay along the same lines or if we go our separate ways. Though I would not mind it if you traveled with me and Xaon, and we explored this vast world together."

"It would be my honor."

"Great, than as the new day dawns, we'll head out to see what is beyond that horizon," wisely said hunter as the world of Azeroth saw the creation of a new set of heroes, with many more adventures ahead of them. Their adventure here would forever be known as the "Ballad of Warsong Gulch."