Impossibilities

My thoughts took an even darker undertone as we neared the camp, which was bustling far more than usual for such a late hour. No doubt a result of most of our division running back in cowardice. I realized I had left Galaton free to feed off of my simmering dark thoughts and quickly banished him away before he could get too excited. An excited Voidlord was the last thing I needed to bring into the platoon with so much panic going on.

Lipsy was waiting, anxiously twisting and wringing her hands, at the entrance to the compound when she spotted us as we made our way to the front gate. She looked surprised, more so than perhaps she should have been, but nevertheless took a few steps forward.

"Is it dead?" She asked, her voice squeaking. "Did you guys kill it?"

I couldn't fathom the nerve of this girl, and for a moment, I imagined kicking her shin or wrapping my fingers around her neck. How dare she ask such a thing, when she and everyone else had left their post and abandoned Copper and I to save their own hides. Despite Goblins generally being known for only what we're paid to do, this was an honor thing. They showed true cowardice, and it had taken its toll.

But before I could even open my mouth to give the girl a piece of my mind, Copper brushed past her roughly, sending her off balance and tumbling to her backside.

"Yes, no thanks to you." Copper spat, continuing his path without so much as a backward glance. Satisfied with this, I quickly chased after Copper, my anger slowly simmering to allow the logic to pull through.

"Hey..." I said, keeping pace with him as he walked. I didn't want to leave Copper with him being in such a foul mood. It wouldn't end well for some poor soul who tried to mess with him. "I don't think she meant any harm by it... She was just scared." I paused, hating myself for defending her. She and the others basically left us to die. But I could understand. If only infinitesimally. "No one has ever really encountered something like that. Only so much training can prepare you for... for something so sick." Copper sighed heavily, and his shoulders slumped forward.

"Regardless, Tristee." He replied wearily. "They still ran in the face of duty. All of Everlook could have been destroyed. Many lives were at stake. It's our duty as the first line of defense to protect what we can. It's low to break that honor code just to save your own skin."

I couldn't find it in myself to disagree with him. What good was your word if when the time finally came to test your valor, and you were found to be a true coward, going back on your word and your vows. I shook my head, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I understand how you feel, Copper." I said in as soothing a voice as I could muster. He tensed up and I could almost feel the rage pulsing from his very being.

"Do you though?" He accused me, whipping around to face me, his eyes burning with anger. I recoiled in shock. "Have you lost family to the scourge? A mother? A brother? Have you watched your own flesh and blood try to kill you and your comrades again and again? Have you had to watch the breath leave your best friend as you realize the true horror that the Lich King brings?" I couldn't respond, the dark feeling that had been consuming me for weeks suddenly returning, with more force. It was suffocating. I could feel a paralyzing fear making its way through my body. I managed to take a step back and my hand fell uselessly to my side, my eyes wide as I studied Copper.

His eyes were angry, and yet so sad as well. He was grieving and he didn't know how to release his anger. I understood it. I decided to wait to reply until he had calmed down. It would do no good to attempt to talk him down while he was like this.

Copper sighed and his whole body seemed to slump in helplessness, his brow furrowed as if in deep thought. He looked up at me apologetically.

"I'm sorry Tris." He said, scratching the back of his neck. "That was... uncalled for. You didn't deserve that anger. It's not for you... Its for that monster..." He groaned, clutching his cloak tighter around his shoulders.

"I just... I never thought, I never thought it would be him? Ya know?" He sniffed, and I relaxed, pulling him into an embrace. Not truly my forte, but I could tell he needed it. "He was so strong... and brave... Braver than I was. I didn't have it in me to answer the call for more troops to head to the Plaguelands. But he did. He knew it would be tough. He knew there were risks but he still... He still went. I envied his bravery." I released Copper, and he seemed to be slightly better, his eyes still rimmed red.

I nodded in understanding. It was a scary thing, to see someone no longer have control of themselves, to kill in the name of a man who wanted nothing more than the destruction of all of Azeroth. I deliberated momentarily, then asked, " If you want... I can go talk to Commander Dos?" Copper looked at me questioningly but I shook my head, smiling slightly.

"I'll let him know what happened. You need time to... to yourself." I said, trying to be sensitive. I knew he truly did need time to himself. He needed the grieving period. Talking to Commander Dos would likely make things a little worse. Copper nodded appreciately, giving me a small salute before disappearing back towards his rack. I stood for a moment before going in the opposite direction towards the commander tent.

Commander Dos was a tall, muscular Goblin with dark pine colored skin. His head was bald and he'd grown his beard out enough to reveal that he had once had a full head of ebony hair. His eyes were a striking blood red color, and could almost pierce anyone who looked into them. He'd been Commander for a long time, and it was obvious why. His battle scars weren't the only indicator. His whole demeanor commanded respect. He had seen many things, and he had done many too. Despite this, he was still relatively young, only 27 years. Seven years Xaedrienne and Crysanthemum's senior.

I approached his tent leisurely. Commander Dos and I always got along pretty well, and him being in charge of my particular unit was even better. But as I came closer, I could hear other voices in his tent, and I realized he was not alone. Sneaking closely as I could without notice, I began to listen in halfway through the conversation.

"How many are accounted for?" I heard Commander Dos ask, his voice strained. A gruff noise was heard before what I assumed to be a troll replied.

"Sixteh-Fah from each ah da factions, mon." She said. I moved outside the entrance flap to the tent to see a toll female troll, male Tauren and a silent Night Elf standing around the table where I knew a map of Kalimdor to be. "But dat be on'y a small portion. Both sides 'ave many more missin' an not accounted fah." I heard Dos groan and saw his hand shift some papers around.

"What about possible... turns?" He asked. The Tauren stepped closer to his desk.

"Around forty." He responded, rummaging around a small sack that was attached to his belt. "Not to mention twenty from everlook alone that have gone missing and are unaccounted for. These all could have been turned, or have been confirmed turns already." I heard Dos groan again, his frustration evident in his tone.

"This is a disaster. At the rate this is all going, we're going to cause widespread panic." He said. The Night elf ambassador stepped forward, his yellow eyes narrowing.

"This knowledge should only be given out on a need to know basis to prevent an outbreak of panic." He said, his voice low and soothing. I felt my stomach drop low. Something wasn't right. Keeping secrets from citizens was sketchy enough, but full spread panic?

"Are there any in particular that we need to be... aware of? So to speak?" Dos asked. I could hear him now pacing around, a nervous habit of his. The Tauren produced two parchments, one small and one long, and handed them to the Commander.

"These are the current lists. I've reviewed them myself, they are accurate." He told Dos, pointing to the smaller of the lists.

"Those ones are the ones you should really be worried about. I highly suggest you get familiar with their faces. You'll need all of your commanding officers and highest security details to know those four."

"Why?" Dos asked, his face paler than I think I'd ever seen it. "Why are these four so special? Aren't all Death Knights relatively dangerous?"

"In a manner of speaking." The Night Elf replied, crossing his arms thoughtfully. "They all carry the whisper of death in their ears. But those four... Those four in particular are far more dangerous than all the rest." I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I contemplated this. Copper and I had just witnessed such a show of power. I wondered if Lypson was on the list that Dos held in his hand. Lypson and Dos had been good friends years ago, both Warriors, and had undergone training together before ultimately seperating to continue their work on seperate paths.

"In short mon, dey destroyed entire batallions. Each ah dem." The troll cut in. " De've killed thousands. Dah blood on dere hands is enough tah be a warnin' of whats tah come wit dah Lich King's rise." My heart nearly stopped in my chest. An entire battalion? Just one Death Knight? There was no way. There had to be a mistake. I could even fathom that many people dying in one sitting. Not all at once.

"They're lethal, cold blooded, and dangerous." The Tauren added for emphasis. "If anyone should encounter them... Its been directed not to engage, but to retreat and report immediately to the next higher command." I could see Dos's face now, scrunched in thought. He looked as though this information had punched him in the gut. I knew it was time for me to make my presense known, so I stepped away from the tent and cleared my throat, delibrately making my footsteps loud.

The tent flap opened and Commander Dos stepped out, looking surprised to see me.

"Tristee? Is there something I can help you with?" I hesitated, unable to remember for a moment why I had come in the first place, my mind still reeling from what I'd overheard. The three visitors were peaking out of the tent, scrutinizing me as I stood there akwardly.

"I, um..."I stammered, wracking my brain out of its stupor. "Copper and I... we just got back from the forrest entrance. A Scourge Behemoth and Death Knight were attempting to pass through towards Everlook. Copper and I took them down." I sounded more egotistical than perhaps was necessary, but I didn't like the looks the ambassadors were throwing my way, and I wanted to make it clear that I could handle myself. Dos looked very surprised and I could tell that wasn't what he was expecting to hear.

"So wait... you two, took down the Behemoth and a Death Knight... where was the rest of your division?" I recoiled, worried about the backlash this would cause for the others. Deciding to be kind, I merely replied that they had come back to warn the camp. Commander Dos seemed to see right through me, but chose not to call me out on my lie, instead seeming to think about something.

"Did you..." He paused, seeming to think about what he was going to ask. "Did you recognize the Death Knight, Tristee?" I had known he was going to want that information, but I wasn't prepared for the feeling in my chest when I pictured Lypson, his face decayed and emotionless. I knew my face betrayed me and I sighed heavily.

"Lypson Fritzbang." I replied, hanging my head low. I didn't look up as I added. "He killed Fritz Steelwedge." Dos groaned and I looked up to see him massaging his forhead.

"Oh no..." He said under his breath. "How is Copper doing?" I didn't answer for a moment, unable to justify putting out Coppers business.

"I think he will be... eventually." I settled for instead. I looked at the Commander honestly. "Right now though... I doubt he's even close to being alright." Dos nodded in understanding, the expression on his face unchanging.

" Very well." He replied. "You and Copper are relieved for the night. I'll locate someone from your division to take the remainder of your shifts. Will you do me a favor and notify Copper, please?" I nodded, saluting carefully and taking a step back.

"Will do sir." I turned and walked briskly away, ignoring the obvious staring that I was receiving from our guests. I felt less than satisfied and was still feeling sick to my stomach, the feeling of dread not fully leaving me.

I walked toward Coppers tent, which was illuminated with a soft lantern. His rackmate was snoring, half off his cot, while Copper was sitting crosslegged on the ground, his stature brooding.

"Hey, Copper." I called into the tent. Copper started, looking up at me and quickly scrambling up to leave the tent.

"What is it?" He asked, his voice sounding hoarse. I struggled to keep the pity off my face.

"Hey um, Commander Dos said you and I are relieved of duty for the night." I said. "You can go home... Maybe spend some time with your family? I don't know, I don't want to tell you what to do or anything-" Copper hugged me and held my shoulders to get a good look at my face.

"Thank you, Tris." He said. "I really appreciate it." He quickly rummaged around the tent, grabbing his belongings and throwing them into a bag, placing it on his back. He waved and hurried on towards Everlook. I watched him go and went to my tent to follow suit.

Once I arrived at my house, I trudged, suddenly exsausted into bed, and layed facedown into the sheets, drifting into a lulled sleep.

...

Hello Everyone! Here's a little bit of a longer chapter! I hope its pretty good and it's really starting to get into the story now! Enjoy!