"Oh bloody hell", a tall man cursed before stretching. The paladin felt every bone in his back pop and crackle. He was no priest and picking herbs was something, Crowley wasn't used too since the day he was just a kid on the farm. The dirty blonde haired knight returned to his squatted position before removing a few more leaves.

"For heaven's sake… You damned elf… Trying to give me a heart attack out here in these woods?" Crowley stood and turned on his heels to face a wall of forests behind him. Slowly Asthan's presence came to light.

Thick fingers swiftly put the leaves away in a red pouch before his hands rubbed together to clean them from the extra foliage that had stuck to the digits. Asthan and Crowley never once smiled to each other nor did they act like old friends because they weren't. Instead they'd greet each other like the knights they were and clasped each other's right forearm.

Of all the humans, Crowley was one of the few that reached Asthan's height and build. His semi long blonde bangs were brushed back but the back was short like the elf's. The men didn't care for their armor to pull on the long individual strands; it was just painfully annoying. Though Asthan often donned his hair with gel to keep it somewhat spikey, Crowley just merely brushed his back.

Other few differences the men had were that Asthan carried a powerful blade on his left hip but could easily duel wield while the paladin carried a heavy two handed blade on his person and couldn't fight with two blades but Crowley's strikes were nothing to laugh at. When that man was truly angry, the blood elf watched him nearly cut a small forest in half just because it stood behind their common enemy.

Another difference was Asthan's pointed elven features were handsome and some women, to his dismay, would call beautiful with a distinct jaw while he slightly envied Crowley's angular masculine jaw. It was almost square but defined. The deathknight had watched many women of both alliance and horde swoon over him. Often the blue eyed human would ignore them. The paladin would often talk about it while drunk.

The elf remembered clearly why Crowley dismissed those that tried to sit with him. It was because he carried a deep scar that horizontally reached from one cheek to the other and it crossed over the bridge of his nose. It laid a mere inch under his eyes. He saw his face a damaged goods so the women must have been lying. He didn't like them but honestly Asthan believed the knight had been out in the fields to long. Fear of letting one's guard down was a phobia they all faced. Hiding behind a mere scar was petty but because of the real reason, in the elf's eyes, he wasn't going to call him out on it.

"Asthan… You ok? You seem to be spacing out", the paladin questioned.

The elf shook his head and let go of the man's forearm. "Just seeing your ugly mug brought back a few things that I have to think about later."

The paladin nodded and took a step backward. "Have you seen our camp", the blonde asked while resting his hand on the golden hilt of his own blade.

"I have. I gave the twins a couple of potions. They were in bad shape. I also saw the bundle of blankets surrounded by a living tree and green grass. Care to explain a bit more?"

The two knights decided to take a seat on a couple of fallen logs to carry their discussion further. They sat across each other at a small distance. Crowley hunched over, resting his elbows on his knees while Asthan sat up slightly higher, leaning on one arm that he draped over his thigh.

"So, the boys… They good? What happened? They were in spitting form when I left." Ocean tinted orbs met a pair of glowing fairy fire eyes. Crowley had been one of the few that could meet the elf's frozen gaze. The eerie light didn't bother the man like it did to so many others.

"They said they ran into an odd abomination about a day after you left. They are ok but Hawkins needs a priest or a paladin to look him over. I was surprised he could even move, let alone be alive." There was no need to go into detail about the state he found them in. The concern expression on the human's face was enough already.

"That bloody monster…", Crowley cursed after his appearance had manifested into pure hatred. Despite his discipline, the knight couldn't hide his feelings. "It's a new creation. Unlike the normal abominations that has three arms and a towering stature with not much intelligence; this one has four. It carries a magical blade as well as the normal hooks and special made cleaver. It also is extremely fast, high intelligence, and worst yet… something moving around inside its gut. Usually the bastards creating them really don't care about the intestines but this one will protect whatever's in there. Much like a pregnant woman, if you ask me."

Crowley paused a moment to let out a sigh of disdain. "I got close to cutting it open but the damn thing threw its arm in the way and nearly getting it severed. Its thick skin split at the cut but I couldn't even break the bone. Which I find also odd."

The deathknight couldn't even fathom such a beast. It seemed this was a prototype of some sort which made it extremely dangerous. A new weapon but apparently had a weakness. It would be information both the horde and alliance would need to know and Asthan knew just the right person to tell but that would be for later.

"What happened to the others…? I heard fifteen of you were wiped out easily but what of the other half?" The elf couldn't lose his concentration despite the dreadful news.

Crowley scoffed. "I'd say ask that bastard Roland but honestly he also wasn't too much at fault either. Just needs to learn to have a backbone if I don't rip it out first…", the paladin nearly spat.

Asthan watched the knight give a heavy sigh before shaking his head and lowering it. Glowing blue hues gazed upon the human as his thick fingers traveled through his dark blonde hair.

"The men were told to escort a magistrate to this area for a quick observation. One Baron Gordon Westmarch wanted to see for himself and came with Magistrate Whimton. I'd have to say…", there was a brief pause in the man's words before he continued. "Personally, I'd like to have given a good beating to the both of them." Crowley gave a heavy sigh. "I had to protect the boys and the other men from Whimton. The Baron himself even had to put his word in."

"Whoa… Hold on… Are you saying what I think you're insinuating?" Asthan's brows pinched together at the slight confusion.

Crowley meekly nodded. "He liked the 'company' of strong, young men. I did everything I could to keep the twins away from him. Especially since he was throwing his title and weight around as the magistrate and corning the others to do… not so graceful acts."

Asthan didn't know what to think or even how to react. He had a few men make a pass at him but considering his size and strength, it was easy to say no thank you without any trouble; but to go to the extent that one of the best paladins that he knew to get so angry about it, was an entirely different level and definitely not something he'd expect. "That doesn't answer my question though", the elf brought up again.

Crowley huffed. "When the company was split, the nobles ordered Roland to take them back. They didn't want just one or two, they wanted everyone. This included the twins and myself. Problem was someone needed to stay behind and keep that monster distracted for the mages to open a portal that led back to the chapel." The man took a heavy sigh.

"I naturally volunteered, the twins followed in suit. I didn't think much of it until that monster wedged himself between the group and us just as they were departing. A single swing of the hook on the chain killed a good portion of the men, including the mage. It was if he was actually aiming for the portal user on purpose. Like I said before, the thing has intelligence. This scattered the survivors and when we regrouped, Roland was ordered to leave with the nobles as well as the four men that he could find. By then we had the young woman with us but the two heads didn't care about her wellbeing. They only wanted to leave. So, long story short, I'm charged with disobeying a direct order when I get back. To make any of it worth it, the woman has to survive. Then no matter what, I can go into that situation with a clear mind."

Asthan knew the penalty for disobeying a direct order while in combat. If found guilty, it would be the end to Crowley's life. This wasn't like the stories where the hero gets saved at the last minute but rather the reality was bleak and with no way out. The paladin didn't even have the option to even be a deserter. His fate was sealed and all because of a woman he injured. The man's pride wouldn't have allowed the woman to perish in the hands of the undead and the twins probably tagged along to do what they thought, was the right thing.

The elf let out a heavy, dreaded sigh. "You're on a suicide mission then…", his baritone voice echoed from his thin lips. His eyes watched the knight scoff and look away. "Is this selfish guilt for hurting the woman or are you genuinely putting everything into it to protect the three back at camp?"

Heated blue orbs shot back as the paladin in silver armor stood abruptly. His eyes staring down the elf in black. "You're one to talk about selfishness", he spat in defense.

Asthan knew exactly what the man was gabbing about and in his eyes, was a bit of a low blow if this was compared to a fight. The blood elf stood quickly to his feet and met the gaze. Their noses merely an inch away from touching. They were so close, they could feel the warm breath on each of their cheeks. "You're right… I am selfish. I'm nearly immortal yet I still won't join your ranks or raise a finger to help your cause. So, I know exactly what I'm talking about and my question still stands."

As if upon instinct the two shot their left hands forward to stop the other from drawing their sword. Despite having the ability to wield two weapons, Asthan would only go to draw the one on his hip. The other was still mounted to the side of his saddle back at camp.

A loud clank from each of their gauntlets settling on each of the other's sword echoed and the men realized their petty argument was over nothing and something much more sinister was on its way.

"Listen… Asthan… Look I'm sorry I jumped at you. Just been under a lot of stress, these last few days…", the man spoke with dignity in his voice as he withdrew his hand.

"I understand", the elf acknowledged. "I spoke too harshly myself", he continued as the knight drew back his hand and placed it on his own hilt.

Thunderous foot steps began quickening towards their direction. "As a real apology… Don't die on me", the ravened haired deathknight growled as he lowered himself before unsheathing his blade.

"I won't die before this bastard, at least", Crowley promised as he took a few sideway strides away from the elf.

"As a paladin, a knight, and a prideful bastard… You better keep your word", Asthan finally spoke as the echoing cry of the abonimation entered the undead forest surrounding the two .