*Reminder: Sit back from the screen! If you're just near sighted and need to lean close, wear your glasses or something, it's better for ya! Oh, and BTW, remember that this story is written in many different POVs, so don't be surprised if you're reading from the perspective of another character! It happens!

DISCLAIMER: This entire story is Copywrite. MINE. Got it? World of Warcraft, however, is NOT. Characters, also mine except those like Thrall and the NPCs and all.

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Of Humans and the Horde

Chapter 6: Bulls, Business, and Blasted Lands

"Wha-" I came to, with a fuzzy and warped vision, "Ah!" I sat up suddenly, raising both fists in a serious, quick-to-strike stance.

"Al," Kujajin looked down at me from his vantage point, sitting on a piece of debris to my left, "The fight's over."

"Wha-a-at?" I lowered my hands, disappointed, "Already? No wa-a-ay." I dragged the words out with a sigh. I just then noticed the dulling darkness, it must have been darn near dusk, "How long was I out for?"

"Long enough to miss the whole damn thing," Thrall said from the other side of me, standing, "Here, drink this." He leaned down and handed me some kind of elixir.

"I bet it's poisoned," I narrowed my eyes and tried to scoot away, unsuccessfully.

"Here," Votheilia knelt beside me and handed me her own healing potion, which I gratefully accepted.

"Hn." Thrall stood up straight again, and looked almost irritated, or if I didn't know better not to speak the words out loud, he looked almost betrayed, or hurt.

"Did we win?" I asked through bubbles.

"Yeah," Kujajin rested the helmet he had been holding on the rock beside him, even if he didn't sound too glad for his win.

"It's a victory," Thrall added, turning away to look at the path of destruction, "At the very least, I suppose."

I took the few seconds before I had finished downing the potion to glance around the yard. There was a lot of destruction, and a lot of weapons and armour pieces just strewn about. It was weird. I guess I really had missed it all. Wait a minute, this was only the entrance to the Undercity, the beginning! Had I been knocked out that soon? Ma-a-an, I really was lame.

"What are you still doing here, anyway?" Kujajin glared at the Orc before us.

"One way or another you three are my subordinates," He started, though the word sounded weird to us too, "And I take care of my men."

"And women," I corrected with three firm nods. Maybe three was too many, I don't know.

"Indeed." He muttered as he started to walk off, "And I just thought that you might want to, well, I don't know what I was thinking," He added to himself, "see that Human of yours again,"

"Wait," Kujajin jumped off the bit of debris and took a few steps after him, "You mean, you'll return her to us?"

"Not yet," Thrall corrected as he looked back at us, "I'll need your support with one final endeavour."

"What's that?" I spoke up, somewhat frustrated, "Scraping the sky barnacles off your private Zeppelin?"

"Alpine!" Votheilia smacked me on the back of the head, making me cringe and groan.

"That can be arranged," He glared over at me before continuing, "But no. Something more important than trivial grunt's work."

"Go on," I let him finish.

"I'm sure you've heard about it," He walked back, making some kind of peacock showing of the whole thing, knowing he had us in the palm of his hand, "The battling in Northrend."

"The Lich King?" Kujajin spoke up, somewhat shocked. I guess it was funny, that's where we were going in the first place when they interrupted us.

"Yes," He stopped pacing, looking over at Kujajin, "Now, I don't expect chumps like you three to stop him directly, but if you could back up some of my more experienced veterans up there, it would be greatly appreciated."

"And what, exactly, will you be doing while all your men are risking their lives up North?" Votheilia spoke up suddenly, and she sounded pretty resentful.

"You make it sound like I'm some ruthless dictator," Thrall sounded almost offended, "I will do my best to back up my men, I give my word, but there are specific obligations I must attend to here, as well."

"Fine. We're going." Kujajin said forcefully, deciding for the lot of us.

"Wonderful," Thrall nodded in approval, "You'll meet up there with a fellow by the name of Garrosh Hellscream," He told us, "He's not much of a strategist, but his brute force and diligence is something to be admired. Just," His words were of warning, "watch out for his temper. I can't even guarantee he'll watch out for you up there, given your past actions against the Horde."

"Understood," Votheilia nodded.

"Then I'll leave you with that," Thrall made to leave, but Kujajin pursued him.

"Wait," He stood before the Warchief with courage, "I want to see Nasrina."

"Is that her name?" Thrall asked with a sudden turn, leaning down to eye level with him. He seemed really interested in that, like he actually cared.

"...Yes," Kujajin was obviously hesitant, wondering if he should reveal her or not, but his tongue had already slipped, and it would be better not to act like it was a mistake and lose his dignity.

"Well," Thrall himself looked a little hesitant, but for an odd reason, "I don't know if you'll be particularly happy with seeing her."

"What do you mean?" Kujajin pushed on, "She's not dead, is she?"

"No, no," He waved his hands, "I am an Orc of my word. She's just... not exactly how you remember her, I suppose."

"I still want to see her," He continued, "To be sure she's still alive and well."

"I can guarantee she's still well," Thrall nodded surely, "I have my best man guarding her. But, if you're not satisfied with that, I guess I can let you see her. Once, and only for a moment. Supervised."

"Really?!" I jumped up excitedly, feeling that the elixir had taken effect.

Everyone was staring at me again. I didn't understand why they did that. I was quiet then, though. Votheilia stood beside me and gestured for me to sit back down or something. I shrugged nervously but did as she told, still feeling overjoyed at the thought of actually seeing Viola again. Er, Nasrina. I was still getting used to that myself.

"Yes," Thrall finally replied, though he wasn't particularly pleased.

"All right then," Kujajin finally relaxed a little bit.

"Pack up," Thrall nodded at Votheilia and me as well, "We're going to Orgrimmar."

"Orgrimmar?" I perked up, recognizing the name, "That's where she is?"

"Yes?" Thrall raised an eyebrow to me, like it was stupidly obvious.

"It's just a really lame place to hide a hostage, in the middle of the Horde's capital city." I started, I mean, it was a pretty flimsy idea.

"That's exactly why I put her there," He explained irritably, "So you'd think it was too obvious to check. It's called strategy."

"Point taken," I shook my hands. I really didn't get it, but whatever. I wasn't about to insult his pride, he'd probably make me carry him to Orgrimmar in bear form if I did.

"Plus, Orgrimmar has significant connotations to your little rag-tag team," Thrall went on ranting, "It's the place that Kujajin betrayed her in the first place." He looked over at my friend with those blaming eyes.

"Hey, now," Votheilia stood up for her brother.

"No," Kujajin raised his hand to stop her from going off at him, which she totally would have done, "He's right." For once, he didn't seem all that pissed.

"Well," Thrall crossed his arms, "Whenever you're ready, I'll be waiting by the Zeppelins."

"Got it." Kujajin dismissed him.

Thrall left, giving us one last half-assed wave before he went around the stone wall towards the Zeppelin towers. Kujajin scuffed and scowled, picking up his helmet and putting it back into his bag. If he had to walk out a door, I bet he would have slammed it. He was pretty steamed. I was too nervous to say anything, you know, with all the tension and stuff, but Votheilia spoke. She's a brave girl, when she needs to be.

"Kuj," She said, quietly at first, "You don't have to be so hard on yourself all the time, you did what you could..."

"I know," He looked down, as if he didn't believe either of them, and I felt that it was up to me again. I needed to cheer him up.

"Well," I said loudly, stretching over-enthusiastically, "Thrall only needs us for three quests, right? And we're done two already." I beamed, raising my pinky and index finger like devil horns, "Two outs," like baseball, "One more and we win."

"Hm," Kujajin smiled at me, "You're right."

"We all ready to go?" Votheilia asked as she picked up her bags and secured them to her person.

"I am," I raised my hand like a primary school student. She was pretty okay with it, and gave me a warm smile before ushering me along.

"Yeah," Kujajin tossed his backpack over his shoulder and began walking after Thrall.

"I hope it's not a long flight," I started as we walked through the stone doorway.

"Even if it is," Votheilia replied, doing her best to keep me in high spirits, "Just think: in-flight meal."

"You're right!" I clapped, grinning. Food was good and all, but I could think of something more exciting, "Wow, I can't wait to see Viol-erm, Nasrina," I babbled, "I wonder if she levelled? Or if she's got new armour? I wonder if she goes for Stamina and high-armour gear, or Agility, I mean either way-"

"What are you talking about, Al?" Kujajin looked over at me with a wondering expression.

"Never mind," I waved it off.

"There it is," Kujajin pointed a small distance away, on a slight hill, where two opposite towers faced each other, "We're going to the one on the right." I don't know how he knew that.

"Right. Right." I nodded as if I already knew, adjusting the uncomfortable tree which was still on my back. I really should get rid of the damn thing already. It's giving me more trouble than help.

We climbed that ridiculously tall tower, some of us with more ease than others. I mean, the stairs were puny. My hooves didn't even fit on the whole damn step, that's all. Plus, stairs always give me trouble. It's a curse, I swear. I mean, everyone always has stairs, why not a ramp? Plus, this many for a stinkin' tower? They could have just brought the Zeppelins closer to the ground to something, but no. Ridiculous. That's all I'm saying. Life is not made for the disabled, or the oversized.

"Hurry up Al," Votheilia's brother called down to me, "The Zeppelin isn't going to wait forever, you know."

"Shut your butt!" I barked, feeling the strain on my thighs. No, Taurens were not built for stairs, buck-o. No sir-ee.

"Just get your butt up here." He said, probably already at the boarding dock already. Darn it.

I hurried after him, dedicated to knock him one when I get there, but upon arrival I gave it a second thought and forgot the whole idea. The three of us boarded quickly, as the Zeppelin was leaving the port just then. I panted and sighed, relieved, as we stood on the other side, bound for Orgrimmar. At least Votheilia patted my back comfortingly, she was always good like that.

"Good, you made it," Thrall watched us as he leaned on the raining across from us. He must have been waiting a while, because his temper and quick-to-snap attitude had cooled off.

"Yeah," Kujajin shrugged him off and headed down to the cabins.

Thrall looked away, facing towards the wind. I didn't know what the heck he was thinking about and all, but I was at least glad this stupid flight wasn't going to be filled with arguments. Votheilia followed nervously behind me as I started after Kujajin. I still thought I'd be a good opportunity for some button-pushing vengeance.

"Yeah," I repeated him, making a rude gesture at Thrall.

"There's plenty of sky barnacles to scrape off this Zeppelin, if you're that keen on doing so," Thrall remarked, not even looking over at me. He had eyes on the back of his head or something, and I swore that only my grandma could do that. So she told me, anyway.

"Uh, no thanks, sir," I hurriedly acted innocent and rushed after Kujajin.

We arrived at the cabin. It was just like it had been when we boarded the ship for Kalimdor last time, with Vi—uh, Nasrina. Gotta remember that name. But yeah, anyway, it reminded me of that time. I remember that me and her had a really good conversation. Like a bonding thing. She was still so on guard at that time, it was weird to me, but at the same time it wasn't. Ah, I don't know. It was weird that she was so cut off from her friends like that, but I guess that's how her personality is with new people. Yeah, that makes more sense. I think she gets over it well enough anyway. Vo and I walked in, just as Kujajin was walking out. He pushed past us and muttered a quick few syllables.

"I need to have a word with Thrall," He said as he rushed past us. He totally just wanted some time alone, I could tell. What would he have to talk with Thrall about, anyway? Alone, nonetheless.

We were both silent, and I could tell from the look on Votheilia's face that she was as worried as I was. I shrugged, trying to return the favour and keep her spirits up as much as I could. I wasn't so good with girls, though. They thought I was kind of weird, or annoying, stuff like that.

"Fine, don't invite us or anything," I joked, shouting after him though I don't think he could hear me, nor was he listening if he could, "I want his autograph too, you know!"

"Al," Vo hit me gently and pushed me into the cabin, laughing lightly.

"But I'm scared of small spaces," I joked, turning around and pretending to struggle.

"I don't care," She laughed again and pushed harder, "I'm tired."

And with one shove, she pushed me a foot or two back. But with the force of that same shove, she stepped a step and tripped a trip over a slightly raised plank of wood and fell straight to her hands and knees. She landed rather gracelessly, but kept herself from face planting, so that was something. Couldn't have her breaking her cute little button nose. I'd have left a snout dent in the wood too, if it had been me. She was on her knees in front of me, about waist high on me. Oh boy. I was blushing. That's when I really took notice of it.

She's near my dick, she's near my dick, she's near my dick, she's near my dick, she's near my dick. She was dangerously close... to my dick. I gulped, sweating and nervous, I was at a loss of words and actions. I just stood there like a big dumb stiff. Stiff. Crap, I'm thinking about it again. Okay, calm down man. She was near my dick, that's all. Your pockets are near your dick too, and do they turn you on? No, they don't. Granted, they aren't attractive girls, so vulnerably poised, and so...

"I'm near your dick." She said, and I did a double take. Even a triple take.

"What?!" I asked, coming out of my haze as gracelessly as she fell.

"I said 'I nearly tripped'," She stuttered out nervously, "Wait, uh, no, um... I mean, I did trip. I didn't nearly trip, I fell right to the ground like a clumsy bimbo." She laughed nervously and shuffled a bit away.

We both knew what she said, and I almost couldn't help smiling like a dope when I helped her to her feet. She laughed it off and awkwardly pushed past me to get to her bed, which was the bottom bunk of the bunk bed. I assumed her and Kujajin would sleep on the bunk beds, and this time I wasn't going to try to hop on top. Um. Ah, darn it, get your head out of the gutter, Alpine. Didn't want to crush her, plus, I mean maybe it's a brother-sister thing, the bunk beds. I don't know.

"I wonder what Kujajin's talking to the Warchief about," She wondered as she put her bags on top of and next to her bed.

"I dunno," I replied in a sigh as I removed the tree from my back and leaned it on the wall, before sitting on my cot, "Must be important, though." Still, he probably just wanted to sulk somewhere on deck without us bothering him about it.

"Yeah," She said absently.

It was quiet for another few minutes. I looked out the porthole on the wall, about midway between us, and saw that the stars had begun coming out. Boy, days sure go by fast. It was just the same as that time, and again I watched the stars through the porthole like they weren't even real. Like this is the real world, and they were just a painting on a really long wall that the Zeppelin was flying past.

"I love watching the stars," I said suddenly, without realizing it.

"..." Votheilia was quiet for a minute, before following my gaze to the porthole, "Yeah." She agreed with a light smile.

I smiled, too. She wasn't looking, so she wouldn't know. I picked the small object out of the pouch on my side and felt it rather than looked at it. I had been working on it, carving it. I wanted to tell her, to show her, but it wasn't ready yet. Things like this, they take time. I fit my fingers over the grooves and the spout, the entire thing being almost the size of my hand. I traced it over and over, feeling what needed to be done. But I wouldn't do it tonight, not right here or now. I had plenty of time before Northrend.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"Ouch!" I woke up as quickly as I had fallen asleep, as the bag landed on my face, and I squirmed to get it off.

"Come on Al," Kujajin mocked me as he picked up his bag again and slug it over his shoulder, "We're always waiting on you."

"That's funny, 'cuz first it's 'Hey, Al, Amazing Al, can you please break down these prison cell bars, I'd be forever grateful,' and now," I went on, mostly joking. Not entirely, though, "you're all 'Hurry the hell up'," I snorted, "You're giving me a complex here."

"I'm just messing," Kujajin waved his hand until the subject fell. He adjusted his shoulder straps once more and started for the door, "But we're here."

"Finally," I jumped off of the cot and hurried after him, almost forgetting to grab my tree which I had left leaning against the doorway.

"I didn't hear you get back last night," Votheilia told Kujajin as we were climbing more of those gosh darned stairs to the deck.

"I watched the ocean for a bit," He said simply, "I wasn't gone that long, but when I got back the two of you were out like lights."

"I was tired after all those damn stairs," I said as I watched my feet stumble up the narrow steps, "You try having legs the size of tree trunks."

"Says the guy who slept through the Battle for the Undercity," Kujajin grinned at me.

"Hey," I pouted, it wasn't like it was a choice or anything.

"Cut it out you two," Votheilia grumbled, playing peacemaker again, "We've got bigger things to worry about," She looked back at us, "Like how we're gonna break out Nasrina."

"What?" Kujajin stopped.

"Well, come on," She started, "Wouldn't it be easier to just break her out of her confinement than to go all the way up to Northerend and hope they haven't killed her by the time we get back? If we even get back? I mean, it's pretty dangerous up there, and if we do come back, who knows how long we'll be fighting up there, anyway?" She certainly had her shit straightened out.

"I love this woman," I grinned, agreeing with the plan.

"Lets do a survey of the area before we make any sudden movements," Kujajin replied, and like-sister like-brother, "But I had already planned on doing just that."

"Ye-eh bo-o-oi!" I cheered before hurrying past them up the stairs.

Upon reaching the deck, I found Thrall waiting patiently by the edge of the ship. He gestured for us to follow, and we did, keeping our distance of course. He lead us down the Durotar Zeppelin tower and towards the city wall. I was excited, man was I ever. I hadn't been to Orgrimmar in... well, I don't even know how long. They had delicious breads, of all kinds. I was already drooling. Thrall crossed the road towards some kind of farmhouse, and the three of us looked at each other cautiously.

"You can wait here," Thrall said to us, "I'll go in and check security first. Then, I'll prepare an escort crew to safely take you through the city." I was about to ask, "You have made many enemies here."

"I understand," Kujajin nodded, allowing him to leave.

"Can we stop for bread when we get in?" I asked through my saliva.

"..." Thrall stared at me, then abruptly turned and left.

"Hey!" I called after him, but Kujajin and Votheilia both hit me with the backs of their hands. I pouted again, "More waiting around... not cool."

"He said he'll form an escort crew," Kujajin repeated, in thought, "That'll complicate things."

"But once we save Nasrina," Votheilia contributed, "We'll have one more fighter with us, right?"

"That's true," He nodded, "But we'll have to be careful not to alert the whole city, there's no way we can fight them all off."

"What are we going to do if Thrall is there with us?" She asked, "There's no way we can beat him."

"We'll think of something," He comforted her, "I mean, he can't stay with us the whole time, right? He's the Warchief, he's got other things to do." I hoped he was right about that, I mean, I'm sure this whole thing with Nasrina wasn't so important he had to just drop everything for it, right?

"You guys are thinking about this way too complicated-like!" I said suddenly, watching them look over at me, "We just need to find out where she is then come back and get her at night, when no one is watching us."

"That's not a bad idea," Kujajin nodded, and I was genuinely surprised that it had been a decent plan, "So long as they don't move her from where we find her."

"Got a point there," I looked down thoughtfully.

The three of us continued to plan for the next few minutes, and for some reason it felt like Thrall was gone for a really long time! I was beginning to get more nervous by the minutes, and I was sure that the others were just as on edge as I was. Either he was making us wait longer on purpose, or something was up. The time dragged on, and finally I decided to rest against a red Durotar rock. It was really warm. This whole place was nice and warm.

I almost fell asleep waiting. I really didn't like waiting, you know. It was really boring. I guess waiting around was okay if you had something to wait for, like us waiting to see Nasrina. Hey, I remembered her name! That's almost sad how I barely know her name. What a buffoon I am, she'd probably say the same thing. I frowned. Another reason I hated waiting was that it gave me too much time to think, which I don't think is very healthy. Not for me, anyway.

I yawned, feeling the real heat of the day beginning to set in, under the direct sun. Heat made anybody tired, I think. Especially me with all this fur. Tauren fur doesn't always come in handy like it does in the cold parts of the Eastern Kingdoms. I don't even have a good form for heat prevention, unless I have somewhere to swim, there was no pond or nothing for water form. Damn. Just as I was about to fall asleep again, like I hadn't slept enough already, when I heard that booming, commanding voice ring through my ears.

"Kujajin," Thrall stormed over to the guy, standing tall before him, "She's gone."

"Pardon me?" Kujajin stood straight, uncrossing his arms. This certainly was serious.

"My guard and her fled the city the night before last," He continued, though he made it sound like some kind of creepy eloping adventure or something, ridiculous, "There was a riot due to her presence. Somehow the word got out, and I think I know how..."

"What are you saying, Thrall," Kujajin growled angrily, we were all staring at him now, fuming.

"I'm saying," He wasn't the least bit intimidated, but sighed, "I don't know where she is."

"You're kidding!" I suddenly stood and shouted, surprising even myself, "You lost her, you lost her! That's the most sorry thing I've ever heard, under your guard, you lost her."

"She's with one of my most elite men," Thrall was not fazed by my outburst, "I'm sure she's safe. I just don't know where they're hiding out."

"So what's keeping us under your command, then?" Kujajin glared, almost smirking. That's true.

"The fact that, at my word, I could have her killed." Thrall frowned at us. He didn't seem too pleased with insubordination.

"I think that's reason enough," I nodded hurriedly, mostly at Kujajin to stop him from pressing Thrall into doing something rash.

"Well, what now?" Votheilia asked.

"You three go to Northrend and do what I told you to do," He glared at the lot of us, "I'll find the girl."

"And what if we refuse?" Kujajin cocked his head.

"You're in no position to do so," Thrall growled, "As long as she's in my control, the cards are in my hand."

"Damn," Kujajin cursed, knowing he was right. He looked up at the Orc with another hard glare, "Fine, you can have your way."

"There's a Zeppelin that can take you to Northrend," He told us as he began leaving, "Make certain you catch it. When I find her, I'll bring her to you and you'll be free to go," He paused and stared longer at us, "so long as you never mess with the Horde, or me again. I think you know what I'm capable of by now, I shouldn't have to do something like that again. I'm not saying you have to rejoin us, your free to make that decision on your own of course. But I do mind you taking my strategy and revealing it, I lost a lot of men that day."

"I don't think petty faction competition is our largest concern right now," Kujajin noted in obvious reference to the Northrend battles.

"Agreed," Thrall nodded readily enough, "Though I have a feeling even that will seem minuscule of a concern in juxtapose to what I feel will come next..."

"..." Kujajin watched him, wondering what he meant. I had stopped following the conversation already.

"Regardless," Thrall waved his remark away, "Be sure you stay alive up there," He looked at Votheilia, "And take a warm jacket." He nodded at her, and it struck me.

"Right." She nodded and he waved over his shoulder as he went towards the city again, not seeming too rushed. That was comforting at least, that he wasn't the least bit anxious about his loss.

"Was that a note of concern in his voice?" I asked anyone who was listening, "Maybe he does have a heart."

"However small and warped it may be." Kujajin finished, "Alpine," I perked up, "Follow him in prowl, tell me anything that he does or says that may give way to where he's going."

"R-right." I nodded and hurried after him, shifting into stealth form and looking inconspicuous. I was bad at that, though.

I followed him towards the city wall, the direction he was all but storming off into now that he was out of sight. It was odd, he looked real pissed. He almost knocked the gate guard clean off his feet when he slapped him on the shoulder, as he ordered the poor man around. I made sure to listen close.

"If any news comes by of their return or whereabouts," He told the guard, "Send word to me immediately. I can't stay here very long."

"B-but where will you be, sir?" He asked eagerly.

"I'm going to the Outlands, I got a message from Thrallmar about some commotion down there, and who knows," He paused to contemplate something, "That's where they just might be."

"Yes sir," He nodded with a stiff salute.

"And guard," Thrall looked back after he had passed the man, "Tell me if that Kharn'A'Lei fellow comes back, I'll need to have a word with him." He said through his teeth, obviously angry at whoever that guy was, for some reason.

"Y-yes sir!" He saluted again. I made to follow after him, but felt my stealth fade briefly, "Hey, who's there?" The guard asked, though Thrall was already out of earshot.

"Shit," I rushed back to the farm until my sprint ran out, shifting into travel form to get there faster. Not like he'd chase me, I just looked like any normal Tauren Druid from a distance, nothing that would be shut out of the city or attacked on sight.

"That was quick," Kujajin looked at me sceptically.

"The guard-he, he... saw me," I puffed through melodramatic wheezes. I wasn't even that tired.

"Well? Did you find out anything?" Votheilia asked with jittery hands.

"Yeah," I grinned with accomplishment, "He's going to the Outland." I thought for a second, "But why did you want to know?"

"Instead of going to Northrend," Kujajin explained for me, "Would you think it might be easier just to fight that one guard and rescue her ourselves?"

"You guys don't like playing by the rules very much, do you?" I asked, cocking my head.

"Runs in the family." Votheilia smiled, and Kujajin didn't deny it.

"Okay, so tell me then: how do we get there?" I asked hypothetically, "I've never been there before. You guys?"

I sighed, was I the only one that thought of anything? Boy, I lead this group. They'd be so lost without me. Two words: key-stone. Or was that one word?

"Well," Votheilia spoke up, "I haven't, or else I could teleport us there."

"I was there once," Kujajin spoke up, "We can get there through the Dark Portal, in the Blasted Lands in the Southern part of the Eastern Kingdoms."

"Ah man," I groaned, my feet already sore, "We gotta go all the way back to the other continent? We just got here!"

"How do you propose we get to the Blasted Lands anyway? And after that?" Votheilia asked sceptically, "What, should we catch another Zeppelin, spend a whole 'nother day flying South, find some Portal, somehow figure out where to go once we're in the Outlands, and find a way to rescue Nasrina? The Outland isn't exactly a small chunk of land, you know."

"Port us into Orgrimmar." Kujajin said simply.

"Port us int- what?" She asked, confused.

"If we time it right, we can get through just before Thrall, and then use him to find Nasrina." He nodded knowingly, "He's got to be using the portal to the Blasted Lands in the Valley of Spirits. And where, might I ask, is the end point of your portal to Orgrimmar."

"It drops us right in front of the portal trainer, yes..." She pondered, "and right next to the portal to the Blasted Lands!" She confirmed.

"Don't you think it'd be easiest to just follow him like that?" Kujajin grinned, putting his hands on his hips.

"My brother is a genius." She smiled at him, but I was still a little lost.

"So, wait, what are we doing?" I asked, I zoned out again there, I think.

"Porting through space and time," Kujajin said simply, "Thrice." He added.

"Oh, okay then." I pretended to understand it.

As Votheilia conjured up the portal, I stood lookout. We were sure we had timed it so we would get to the Valley of Spirits before Thrall goes through the portal to the Blasted Lands, that way, we won't be as much at risk. We could get there before him, hide ourselves, and watch were he goes from there. I felt real sneaky like, I bet this is what it's like to be a Rogue. The portal was made, but before we left Votheilia had one final question.

"Where do you think we should start looking once we get to the Outlands?" She asked, curious.

"The main hub of the entire damn place," Kujajin grinned, "Shattrath City."

"Does this mean we don't get any Orgrimmar bread?" I asked, disappointed.

-x0x-

Preview of Next Chapter:

"What, do you think the road's just gonna jump out of the dirt and attack us?" I raised an eyebrow sceptically. I joke when I'm irritated, remember.

"It's just a little too quiet right now," He said, almost absent from the conversation, it seemed. He did that a lot, acting like he wasn't paying attention. He was, I'm sure, but he didn't act it is all.

"All right," I crossed my arms, "So tell me, Woodsman," I looked uninterested, "Just what are we looking out for? Gnolls? Troggs? Bears? Or maybe giant bloodthirsty Ogres?"

"Could be," He continued to look around.

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard," I tossed my head to the side and scowled, "Since when do Ogres take the main roads? They aren't exactly the most civilized of creatures, are they? What, do you think they have a nice, road savvy stallion to pull their carriage back to their fucking castle, now?" That damn near killed me, thinking of them Ogres in their tuxedos and all.

"..." He was quiet, still on guard.

"Well they'd better hurry by, they don't want to be late for their ball, now do they? They don't want to keep the beautiful Ogre débutantes waiting, right?"

"Be quiet," He whispered roughly.

"Do you hear something?" I asked in a hush, leaning forward with interest.

"No," I relaxed a bit as he said that, "I just want you to be quiet." He smirked back at me.

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