Avera stood with blood dribbling down her face. Her friends stood close as they all calmed themselves from battle. The orcs were down. No more stood to face them.

"Well that was fun." Khelgar announced this with a huge grin on his face. You would think the dwarf was grown from a fighter garden.

"It always is for you." Neeshka snaps as her blades twirl. Tiefling tempers are not always the best but this time her words are in jest.

"I will never get the taste of orc from my mouth." Elanee complained. She had just changed back from wolf form and was making weird, icky faces sticking her tongue out.

"Better be washing your mouth out good, tree-hugger." The druid aimed a slap at the dwarf who backed out of range quickly and easily.

"Well, I certainly like it from back here. I'm not sure if I could stomach all that blood and … well, Avera you have some gross stuff on your head." The gnome was new to the group and was not quite sure how to take them yet.

She wiped off her hair with a rag and tried not to think of all the gore that would have to be washed off soon. They were in a cave at the end of a tunnel. It had been two days since leaving Old Owl Well on this excursion which was only supposed to be a delivery mission. It would have been simple enough to bring the emissary back but no. Orcs had to kidnap him and upset the balance of things. Damned orcs.

"Are we going out now?" Grobnar took a liking to the group and Avera had no idea why. They had slept through his story when they first met but it seemed that the gnome thought they were just resting their eyes.

"I think that this should be the door out." She took a deep breath and opened the door to sunlight. Bright, soothing sunlight. Tunnels never bothered her but sunlight was a nice touch when it had been pouring rain as they entered the caves. Then again a good shower would wash the gore off nicely.

They walked out into the light and followed the trail to a stream where they did a quick clean up. It certainly felt good to get somewhat clean.

"How do you always get so much bloodier, and messier, than us?" Khelgar asked while removing a piece of intestine from the back of Avera's head.

"Maybe it is because she is shorter and the blood and guts fall downwards."

She glanced at the gnome, "You are probably right."

They continued on quietly. This was not good due to them being such a lively and boisterous group. They enjoyed joking around and Avera encouraged them to have fun. But they had been on the trail of the emissary for days with hardly any time to rest. There was no time to actually sleep except for once when Avera got fed up and tacked a dead orc to a door to keep others at bay. They were also fed up with these orcs and aggravated by the fake emissary that had been placed in the Bonegnasher caves. Avera had to kill that dung beetle of a human. Good thing Neeshka was there to point out her distrust of the man.

Now they were going to have to search the land over for the Eyegouger caves. If that wasn't enough then knowing there would be a lot more opposition in these caves gave them a sense of dread and excitement all at once. Not to mention that the real emissary was likely dead. Great. If they had to drag a body all the way to the Old Owl Well encampment then the group would not be happy at all. At least Avera knew how to make a stretcher that any of them could drag. Her father had taught her how to do it so she could carry more supplies into and out of the bush.

They were about to turn a corner when Elanee chirped at Avera. The hobbit stopped and made a different birdsong back. She then peeked around the corner and turned back to the group with a grin.

"What do ya know. More orcs." She had to smile as Khelgar whipped out his axe.

They walked around the corner slowly to assess the group. It looked like they were waiting for something but that didn't matter. They would die and maybe the group could have lunch after a quick wash after it was all done. She was so looking forward to more dry, stale bread and meat strips.

So there they went again. Khelgar and Avera in front hitting them hard. Neeshka bringing herself to the side and sneak attacking as much as possible. Elanee zipping in and out of range as a dire badger and Grobnar hanging behind it all throwing spells to mix up and disturb the enemy. The best spell he could cast had been his bark skin spell. It really helped to limit their personal damage.

It didn't take long until the orc force lay upon the ground. No movement from any of them. Not surprising considering the damage they took. It was especially hard to get back up from Khelgar's newly acquired fire axe and her fire mace.

"Well it looks like we caught them by surprise for once."

She had to grin at the dwarf until sounds of rumbling and two bands of orcs streamed down the hills towards them. Before they could get to the orcs, humans pelted into the fray and started cutting them down.

"Hey those are our orcs!" Khelgar yelled as they closed the distance.

Then they were into it again. Cut, slash, rip and tear. Avera was into it over her head. Not like there was any other way for a hobbit to get into it. She hardly noticed the last orc as she tore in low. Someone else hit it high and between the two of them they were able to hit it into a nice twirl as it fell. Avera always enjoyed seeing them go down in a swirling dance like that.

Everyone stood waiting for the heat of battle to end. Avera could hear rough breathing from all around her. As she hooked her mace to her belt she looked at her feet but could not see the normal sight of Khelgar's torn boots. Right, she promised to either make or buy him a new set. So what was there? Armored boots and a type she had never seen before. That was when she realized that she was not with her little group anymore.

Avera slowly looked up and into the brightest ice blue eyes she had ever seen. It felt like drowning and she knew that a little gasp escaped her lips as she stumbled backwards over a rock. A hand swung out to grab hers and pull the hobbit back but their eyes never left the other's. She put her other hand upon his and blinked.

"Are you alright, my lady."

That voice. She had heard that dry, sultry voice in her dreams. Avera's skin tingled as she nodded and watched this man slowly assess her. His regard made it hard to think, those bright blue eyes taking in everything. He seemed … well … amused. Then his hands left Avera's but he gave the tips of her fingers a slight squeeze as he turned and returned to his troops.