Chapter 7: Ambushed!

"Run!" Everstride yelled standing up all the way. I nodded and followed her deeper into the forest.

I heard the group on the path yell and take chase. I had never actually fought other Elves, but Arator told me all about them, and there was no way I was going to get caught. Arrows whizzed past us as we continued to flee deeper into the forest hoping to loose the group. I was startled by a yell. Looking over, I saw Everstride fall with an arrow through her the back of her thigh. On instinct, I ran over and grabbed hold of her.

"What the hell are you doing? Run!" she snapped pushing me away.

"And leave you for target practice how about no!" I barked grabbing hold of her again getting her to her feet

"How did you see that rogue anyway? I didn't even hear him!" Everstride yelled as the two of us started running again.

"I'm half human remember! We have a natural stealth detection that even High Elves lack!" I pointed out as I kept pushing her forward.

After a bit more running she spoke up again. "Hate to say it half-breed, but I don't think I'm getting away from this one. You need to run as fast as you can and leave me!" She suggested breathing heavy.

"No! I may not be a ranger yet, but I still follow their ways. You don't leave fellow Rangers behind. There's too few of us left to let one go to waste! " I replied as I continued to push her.

"Wait! You hear that up ahead?" She asked suddenly.

Listening, I could hear rushing water.

"If that's what I think it is we might have a chance, so keep running!" I replied as we came up to a clearing.

Low and behold, we were at the edge of a cliff where a waterfall on the other side filled the small fast current river below. I was brought back to reality when I heard Taela yell just before stumbling back towards the edge. Looking over, I was horrified to see an arrow in her stomach just below her ribcage.

"Everstride!" I yelled reaching over to grab her, but she fell back just out of my reach going over the Cliffside. "Taela!" I couldn't help but scream in terror as I ran to the edge in time to see her plummet into the water below.

"Don't think you're getting away that easily Valarisa!" a voice behind me yelled.

How did a Blood Elf know my name? I looked back at the group hoping to figure out who knew me. One of the rangers had a bow drawn while all but one of the others had started running in my direction. I didn't have time to think. I just looked forward leaping off the edge out of their reach down towards the water below.

Once I surfaced, a pain in my chest erupted. Looking down, I was shocked to see an arrow jammed into my left shoulder area. I began to panic slightly. I had never been injured like this before and had no clue how to treat it! I tried to swim, but the arrow made it difficult. Therefore, I tried my best to stay afloat in the river's fast current while I painfully yanked it out of my chest. Thankfully, it came out after one try, which let me swim a little easier so I could try to fight the current to the shore.

After much pushing, I finally pulled myself to the shoreline. I had barely any strength left, so I just fell down onto my stomach trying to focus on what was happening. I could feel the wound in my chest bleed onto the sand under me. What was I going to do? I didn't even have the strength to move anymore and I was alone! I had no idea where Everstride went or if she even survived the swim to shore. I just felt so weird like something was terribly wrong with me.

"Long time no see young Valarisa." Came that voice from earlier again.

I looked up to see one of the Elves from earlier with the two Rangers right behind him bows drawn ready to fire.

"I think you might have doused the arrows too well Severain. She looks like a little rag doll." The Elf stated pulling my wrist up then letting go sending it back onto the ground. That must have been why I felt wrong! The rangers had poisoned the arrows!

"My apologies sir." One of the rangers spoke up.

"Yes, and any closer to her heart you might have killed her. If I wanted her dead I would have done it myself. Take it easy next time!" He snapped.

"W-Who are you?" I managed to ask trying my hardest to focus on his face.

"Well who I am is not of importance right now Little Val," he stood up walking to the others, "make sure she has no weapons on her then take her! I'll meet you all at camp." He instructed.

The rangers nodded as he walked off.

"K-kill me already! Why toy with me?" I spoke up grasping onto the sand.

"Now Val, I wouldn't go through all this trouble if I wanted to kill you. I can't kill family after all." The Elf laughed leaving my line of sight.

What on Azeroth was going on?