After that night Garrosh left her alone until a week before they left for Northrend. Every time they had passed each other on the streets he would glance at her, then brush his fingertips along the back of her hand and continued to where he was going as she turned to watch him leave, wondering every time at why he did that. And within weeks the Horde had moved into Northrend and Palette was sent to Warsong since she had been put under Garrosh's platoon during the Battle for Undercity. She was also glad that Agmor, Groiko, and Kru'Gen were placed there as well.
Her human tongue was getting better only she had a very think accent, having always spoken the more animal like sounds of the tauren tongue and the harsh dialect of the orcish tongue. At least if she was held in a room with a human she would be able to follow at times.
And she found she fucking hated the cold with vengeance. Since being here, she has had to wear an ungodly amount of cloths and SHOES! If she could, she would have ditched them, but she wasn't going to risk frostbite. She has never felt this isolated from Earthmother, knowing that the other taurens that were here were feeling it as well.
"This frozen place will be the death of me." Palette stated as they made their way into Warsong after doing a patrol.
"Dis troll agrees wit ya. Da tropic be for me." Groiko replied shivering even under layers of wool.
"It is not that bad. You two are just pussies when it comes to the cold." Agmor said grinned earning a scowl from Groiko.
"Yeah and your point is? I like warmth not this blasted freezing shit." Palette continued to complain. "Oh look ice, the sky has icy, and look over there to the side more ice. No green grass or brown earth or any animal sounds."
"Give it up Agmor, she'll just make you gag and choke on the amount of her bitching she's doing." Kru'Gen stated pointedly looking at Palette when he said this. "Not our fault Groiko and I have don't your thick hide, you damn orcs!" Palette scowled but then grinned getting the other three to grin with her since it was playful bantering of friends.
"Come on, we be wantin ta warm up." Groiko said as they headed to the mess hall to see if their was any hot drinks out.
When they had sat down a figure Palette hadn't seen in almost a month, since leaving Orgrimmar, stepped into the hall. She stood up waving her arms. "Duleald! Over here!" at her shout he turned to her and smiled making his way over. "Did you just call a blood elf over?" Agmor growled out glaring at the male heading there way.
"Unlike other elves, he is actually civil with other races, Agmor. At least be a little nice." Palette sighed knowing what might happen as Agmor glanced her way. "No promises." at least the orcess warned her of a possible out come.
She went around the table to give Duleald a greeting by gripping his arm. "Palette, I see your wounds are almost healed and that the stitches have come out awhile ago now." he stated as he studied them seeing that the scabs were nearly gone leave a slightly reddish look to them. "I hate them."
Kru'Gen and Agmor groaned at this having told the druid that the scars on her face gave her a unique look that would help her stand out. "Those are good scars to have."
"I don't care, I hate them. Never before have I thought about what I looked like till now thanks to them." Palette almost snarled her words out at them and Groiko glance to the orcs of the group. "Dis a losin battle ya know dis mon."
"So…care to introduce me?" Duleald asked nervously glancing between Palette and the orc having seen there out burst. "I am Duleald Redstrider."
"Groiko Tuskmaul, dis be Agmor and Kru'Gen Strongfang." Groiko said making them.
"Well it is a pleasure to meet Palette's good friends." he replied politely smiling a little at the group.
"Not much pleasure for me." Agmor muttered making him lose his smile and pout with shoulders drooping. Having seen this Groiko burst out laughing. "Dat was good mon! Ya look like ya a kicked puppy!" then she turned her eyes to Palette who was trying to snuffle her laugh but she shoulders shook. "Where ya find and pick dis puppy up from?"
"We met on the way to Orgrimmar for my first trip. At the time, I didn't care about him much because he kept getting my body language wrong since I was in deer form pulling the cart and couldn't talk." giving the elf an annoyed look at remembering that particular day. "Then wet met again, he was the one taking care of me after the Undercity battle. He is a priest."
"So. My opinion for you and your people wont change." Agmor gruffed standing up and leaving. "I'm heading to the barracks to get some sleep." Groiko shook her head before turning to Duleald. "Agmor will warm up ta ya mon, just give her time."
"Did my people do something towards her?" he asked.
"No, she just doesn't care for the blood elves in general." Kru'Gen answered him. "To her, there pompous asshole pussies."
"Right, I agree." Duleald said gaining the orc and troll's attention. "Not to say my people aren't all bad, its just we care for only our own as a race as I have come to notice and wouldn't care what could happen to the other races. As a priest, I cant ignore someone in need and have learned that other races could benefit us."
"Da lost puppy has my vote mon." Groiko said glancing at Palette as they grinned. "Vote? What vote? And stop calling me puppy!" the elf asked becoming confused as Kru'Gen gave a shrug. "Eh, I don't care what happens to the elf. He's the one going to be putting up with Agmor the most. I guess he has my vote also." he said lazily getting an unamused look from said elf.
"Ignore them, welcome to the group." Palette said patted him on the shoulder grinning as he gave then a blank look. "I see I have no say in this, do I?"
"No, ya don't Puppy." Groiko replied. "Dis be yar new people." all he could do was sigh but gave a friendly smile at finding friends to be around with even though the troll deemed he had to have a nickname. One he is sure is to haunt him till his deathbed.
Shifting forms as she and another tauren touched ground from their flight of patrol running through Warsong in search of Garrosh as they headed to the war room. "OVERLORD!" they shouted earning the attention of all those they passed. "OVERLORD!" barging into the room they startled the council that was speaking. "What is the meaning of this?!" Garrosh asked angered by the interruption.
"Overlord Hellscream, we come with news." the druid said taking in several breaths as Palette did the same since they had flown as fast as their bodies could handle to get back here to Warsong. "There is an army of undead heading straight for Warsong."
"From what we could see they outnumber us badly." Palette stated going over to the table, stopping besides Garrosh since it was the only open space, that held the map of Northrend and pointed to the spot they had last seen the scourge. "We last saw them here. A good three to four days trek from us since the cold weather has no effect on them." then she moved her finger along the paper to a spot. "From what I saw they will be heading here and be going under a canyon with a decent set of icy walls that we could use to take out some of the scourge, lessoning some of their numerous force. That is about a good day to a day and a half trek there."
Saurfang nodded at the druids sound plan. "How high up are the walls?"
"A good fifteen to eighteen feet. High enough that any who is a long distance range fighter and magic user can be safe from their retaliation." Palette replied then turned to her fellow druid. "Tayen Hazefeather was the one that spotted the advancing scourge."
"Go, take a rest and be ready to head out soon. The two of you did well today having been able to warn us with time to plan." Saurfang ordered as he went to think of plans for this battle taking into account of the one Palette informed them of.
Palette turned to leave with Tayen and as she did she decided to graze her fingertips over the bare skin of his elbow. She didn't look back to see what he did and continued to exit the room. Within hours they were back in the cold weather making their way towards the scourge army. Spread out in the air, the seven druids scouted from the air making sure the scourge was staying on course from what Palette had first seen. The army hadn't made that big of a distances since they had last seen having to wade through deep snow, but they were advancing.
A cawing call came from afar to her right and she glanced at its direction and had to check herself before losing her rhythm of flapping her wings when she spotted the form of a large bone frost wyrm heading there way with slow lazy flaps as the other druids came together. In alarm, she screeched sending one druid to inform Garrosh of this new enemy while the others flew in a semi-circle eyeing the wyrm.
They looked to each other trying to convey a way to battle this enemy since they were the only ones with wings. The wyrm's form was getting closer with each flap and they still didn't know what to do. Palette gave an enraged screech and charged towards the wyrm with the others following after seconds later giving out their own war cry. The wyrm roared and Palette could feel it vibrate her bones within her body from the concussive force it sent as she charged it, diving and rolling around to distract it and at times claw at it with her talons. Finding a spot just behind the wyrm's head she maneuvered around before diving towards it. Shifting into her bear form she dug her claws into the rotting flesh and tore into it.
She heard another druid land next to her, finding it was Tayen, and together they worked through the flesh to the tendons that held its bony body together. It thrashed it head trying to throw them off but the four other druids continued to gain the wyrms attention with their hit and run tactics. There were times Palette was almost taken off when a bony clawed hand came close to swiping her. Soon it gave a screech when they tore the last few tendons before the glowing blue the was held inside of the wyrm grew dim then out. For a moment, they were held in air before gravity caught them and they began to fall. Looking towards the druid with her she gave a roar shifting to let her wings get air and lift from the falling carcass as Tayen followed.
Once both druids reach their brethren they celebrated by peaking at each other playfully for a few seconds. Once done they headed back towards the Horde as they were probably reaching the canon to set the trap up. It had taken them another few hours to reach the party and land. Garrosh and Saurfang made there way towards them having heard the news of the wyrm only an hour ago. They were greeted with the group of druid shouting into the air with first up in celebration at fighting a large foe.
"What is the update on the wyrm?" Saurfang asked getting their attention.
"Dat wyrm be dead!" Lanro stated getting those that heard of their victory a shout. "Palette and Tayen took on da wyrm tearing da rotting flesh ta sever its head mon!"
"The others help to keep it distracted while we worked on it." Palette said putting in their part of the work as she laid a hand on Lanro's shoulder. "Without them Tayen and I wouldn't have even gotten to the bone without getting hit with a claw."
"It is a victory, but a small one compared to what we will be facing. Thanks to you were do not have a wyrm do deal with." Saurfang stated as they grew serous to this fact. "We are nearly to the canyon." with that the war party made there way to the canyon and began to set up the traps.
Palette and Tayen ran over to the two senior druids looking excited from there idea that they both helped improve on. Both were taurens and near around fifty in age but still able to fight. "We may have an idea that could be used to take out some more of the army before they reach the canyon." Tayen started earning a nod from one.
"How many fire mages do we have?" Palette asked. "And how many of them that know fireball, cinderstorm or blast wave?"
The two thought about it. "I know of three, Nilyen?" he asked the other one. "Three as well, but I do not know many mages. Why do you ask young druids?"
"We have eight druids with flight form, excluding the two of you. In these forms we're large enough to hold a least one a person and possibly a goblin for a good amount of time flying." Palette replied then looked to Tayen as she finished. "What if we flew those that knew those spells to burn maybe half the army to cut them down a size?"
The two tauren watched them then turned to each other without a word. Nilyen nodded his head before they turned back to Tayen and Palette. "Your plan is sound. Let Hellscream know of this, Palette. Tayen, go find the mages and let them know to find those that know these spells and head to the Overlord's tent" both druids nodded and headed to their destinations.
"Garrosh!" Palette call out before opening the tent flap to enter and found him alone. "The druids that have flight are going to take the mages that know the more destructive fire spells to try and take out more of the undead, hopefully getting those around them to catch fire as well before they get to the canyon." he looked at her having listened to her plan for the two classes. "The senior druids told me to inform you of these last minute plans and that the mages and druids going to go through with it, will be meeting here. Do you want me to gather Saurfang?"
"Yes, he will need to be hear this as well." he stated and with that she turned to find Saurfang. It took a half hour before those that would be going, were ready. "Okay, we know they are but a day or a little more from the canyon so we need to take out as much of them as we can before they reach." Palette said to the group not realizing that she was taking command. "Who here will lead the party?"
Most glanced between themselves before looking to Palette. "What 'bout ya leadin us?" Lanro asked gaining a shake from Palette. "No, out all of us I have the least experience. Tayen or even you, Lanro, would be a better choice."
"Ya were ta one ta charge da wyrm when we couldn't figure a way ta fight it before it became ta late ta do anythin and the first ta land ta attack it like ya did." Lanro stated with other druids nodded in agreement. "We don't have that much more experience dan ya. Dis is our first being in da war as well."
Palette looked around the table and closed her eyes. "Then I would be honored to be the one to lead the party, but I would like Tayen to be the second in command if I am taken out."
"Why me?" Tayen asked surprised by this. "Because without your thought of carrying boulders to hit them with, I would not have thought to help improve it with the use of mage magic." she turned to the mages. "Do you know who you will be pairing up with?" they nodded. "Then within five minutes we will be heading out, make sure your mana stores are full because we will need every once you have."
All left but Saurfang and Palette. "For someone young you are gaining trust with those older than you." Saurfang stated watching the druid. Palette gave a nervous laugh. "I don't think I'm ready to have them look at me for guidance. What if I make a mistake and get them all killed?! I know I cant be like this in front of them, but I'm scared. I've always looked to my brother for his guidance or my mother."
"Leadership is a hard path to take, but as long as you keep those that are under your order in mind you should do good. This is only a small step to take, but a step that will later prove worth to you and others." Saurfang replied as Palette breathed deep breaths to get herself in the mind set of battle. "Go."
Palette turned to the old warrior. "Thank you, Saurfang." she said before leaving and bumping into Garrosh seconds later. "Be safe." he stated making her looked at him not seeing any emotions in his eyes. "I wont need it."
Her reply gave him a small grin as he moved passed her. "Then make sure you don't." she turned to watch him before heading towards the group of mages and druids in owl form. "Alright, lets get this done with. Remember, take out as much of those bastards as you can and don't let them hit you!" she stated before shifting herself and letting a male troll, by the name of Xan, on her back. With wings out she gave a cry and flew into the sky with other cries answering hers.
By the hour they were upon the scourge and with war screeches sounding they dived towards the army to fly overhead as the mages began blasting fire at every turn and one mage conjuring several meteors. Palette cried out in pain as an arrow hit her left wing almost throwing Xan off of her and in her right leg. Xan looked at the wing and then pulled the arrow out causing Palette to plummet to the ground before being able to regain balance and soar up high into the sky. Giving a cry to the others, they retreated to land several miles ahead of the army with Palette hitting snowy ground hard throwing the troll off and rolling around, hearing a snap of wing bone, before coming to a stop. She couldn't lift her head. She felt so tired and weak from blood lose that her visions was beginning to spot.
She knew the others had came around her prone form and slightly felt the pull and pain of the second arrow, but that was all. Hearing those around her were a buzz and very muffled. All she could think as she lay there in the white snow as it became red was what would have happened if she just accepted to hunt with him before her mind went blank.
Weebooz of Guest: Thank you so much!
Tally (guest): See i thought so too but no matter what i did to the last chapter it kept going to that ending. sigh. I just dont have a clue on how Garrosh will work to prove himself. i am stumped on him cause i want to stay cannon with him but i dont see it happening.
And i want to give a thank you to Poseidon93 for the follow!
Read & review please!
PS. I will give you a spoiler someone from alliance will be showing up at the end of the next chapter!
