Ferdruk was never one who favored charging into battle like a roaring barbarian. He enjoyed the slow act of systematically disabling the enemy; like pulling out the wings of a fly and watch it wither in agony. But seeing that most of the Horde military bands preferred charging in and frowned against unnecessary torture, he decided it was to his best interest to leave and form his own band of mercenaries, where his words were the law. He scanned his recently hired guerrillas as they waited above a hidden cliff. To his left was a troll named Trajin. He was a large purple troll with blue markings around his lean body. His tusks were short and splintered and he had a large scar than ran down from his right cheek down to his lips. Ferdruk didn't know him very well, but from what he has heard, the troll was a psychopath. Stories followed that he was causing too much ethical issues at Tol Barad because he kept cutting the toes of the Alliance prisoners. So the commanders kicked him out of the army and sent him to South shore, where hardly any Alliance remained. To the Orc leader a twisted troll like him was exactly who he wanted; someone with morals as demented as his and wouldn't question him when limbs started to fly. To his right was a Tauren named Churikie. The Tauren was largely built, like most of his kin. His body was covered in a dark brown coat of fur. Over the top he wore a pair of chained greaves and a thick iron breastplate. Churikie was a warrior who was looking for work in a tavern. Ferdruk asked for an extra set of hands for his warband and he volunteered himself. The Tauren was an out-spoken fool. He was loud, and proud to of it. Normally a bulking clown like him would have died long ago in a ditch most likely due to the chance of offending the wrong person, but lucky for him, he was rather skilled with his greatsword, and no one was brave or skilled enough to shut him up.

Next to Churikie was a small orc called Shurag. He was stationed in Tauren mill before he deserted and became a freelancer. An old veteran, the orc compensate his lack of size with his tremendously accurate bowshot. If ordered to hit an organ, the old orc could skewer someone without breaking a sweat. The four soldiers of Horde lay in silence above the campfire below. Ferdruk had made a count several minutes ago; two Human, a Dwarf and a Night Elf. The humans looked weak, but the Dwarf and Elf carried themselves with battle experience. They reported five, so where is the fifth?

Ferdruk has been hearing reports of a band of Alliance individuals heading through Arathi Highlands. Normally he wouldn't use so much effort to chase them down, but someone was paying handsomely to for the individual who killed one particular Human. Apparently a group of mercenaries had already tried to take the reward, but ended up having themselves slaughtered.

Amateurs, that's what you get for stealing my bounty.

Ferdruk had followed the group for two days now. Unlike the dead bandits, he was careful; not rushing ahead, waiting and advancing just out of detection. He would love to just charge in and bash those Alliance's head in, but he knew he was facing some skilled enemies and doing that would just leave him dead.

A movement came into view. Ferdruk lowered himself and tried to see who it was through the bushes; it was a Human female. She sat down next to the Dwarf and Elf, and the paladin target was talking to her. Ferdruk smiled, that makes five. He lifted his hand to signal his soldiers. His fellow mercenaries tensed; their weapons ready in hand.

Revy watched the Horde intently as they appeared into the light of the campfire. The center Orc carried a hand-axe in both each hand. His leather armor was thick, with reinforced plates on his shoulders. The Tauren warrior to his left was a hulking giant. He carried a large mace over his shoulder; and a great-sword on his back. The Troll spun his spear through the chunky digits on his hand, his eyes showing a savage need to slaughter. The smaller Orc's face was stern. He held his bow by his side, but had an arrow in hand, ready for combat.

Together they looked intimidating. And Revy knew they outnumbered her group in both size and skill. She turned to check on Vikare, who now had scurried back near Maris and Theylandu and made a defensive circle near the river. She turned to her right; Grimwin already had his gun cocked, and his pet Argo next to him.

"We won't be able to face them like this Grimwin," she hurried as the mercenaries edged closer.

"What do you suggest lass?" Grimwin's face was dead serious, his finger unmoving just above the trigger.

Revy glanced at Vikare. He had no idea what he got himself into, no idea that his family probably sent him out to die. She then scanned Maris, who was tense and nervous. I can't just let those two innocent people die.

"Take Vikare and Maris and head north, there should be an Alliance camp there. I'll stay behind and hold them off as long as I can" Revy announced slowly at her Dwarven companion.

"What? Are you drunk lass?" Grimwin bellowed.

The pain of the arrow was beginning to rush through her body, "If we all run they would just chase us down with ease. If we fight, it will put Vikare in dangers way. They will no doubt use the fact we need to protect him to their advantage. We can't win if we have to constantly watch over Vikare, and maybe Maris as well. She winced at the pain, "I'll cover you while you cross the river. Once you are clear, hide your tracks, in case they chase after you."

Grimwin looked at the woman with distress, "You are mad, they will cut you down in seconds!"

Revy glanced down at the dwarf and gave a weak smile. "I'll be fine, they look like standard skirmishers, nothing I haven't faced before; just a day at work." And with that she motioned him to move on.

Vikare watched as Grimwin exchanged some words with Revy . He couldn't hear the conversation, but could tell from the dwarf's face that it wasn't good. Finally Grimwin spun and raced towards them. He saw him giving a nod to Theylandu, who seemed to have understood the meaning. Turning to him, the Elf spoke comfortingly to Vikare as he began to push him into motion "Time to go noble. Hold your cousin close; we have a long run ahead."

"What? What about Revlise?" Vikare yelled as he frantically struggled against the Elf.

"She is going to do her job, which is to protect you. You should make sure her effort was not made in vain." Theylandu answered as he dragged the paladin behind him.

"Let her be lad, this is what she think is right." Grimwin added to ease the paladin. Next to Vikare, Maris looked at him with alarm now realizing the decision they had made.

"No! We can't just leave her, she will be slaughtered!" Vikare's struggle renewed, but Grimwin came to help Theylandu grab hold of him, and together jumped into the river.

Ferdruk watched as the four men retreated into the river with mild irritation. He tracked them for two weeks days straight and when he confronts them they decide leave a woman behind to fight and run like cowards. He has put too much effort into this just to let that paladin slip away.

"Shurag, go bring that dwarf down, we can't be letting him drag our prize away." The orcish leader ordered.

Shurag, nodded, and notched the arrow on his bow and took aim. With a flick of his finger, the arrow sped towards Grimwin. But before the projectile even managed to make its way close to the river, Revy had dashed in front of its path. Tensing her body, she caught the arrow with her body. It landed several inches from the where original one hit her body. Revy staggered back a few steps, and then steadied her eyes and glared at the archer defiantly.

"Hmm, tough little bitch isn't she?" The Trajin remarked while licking his pierced lips.

"More like dumb. She thinks she can hold four of us with that wounded body of hers. Let's bash some intelligence into that brain." Churikie snorted as he bounced his mace on his shoulder.

Ferdruk glanced across the river at the escaping four; they were already to the other side. If he didn't chase them now, they will surely become more difficult to track in darkness of night. Additionally, now that they know he was following them, the Alliance group would most likely take extra precautions to not be seen. Needing to make a decision now, he turned to the Tauren to his right, "Go take care of the girl. Shurag, barrage that group with your bow, Trajin go after them on foot."

Shurag smirked as he pulled out several arrows from his quiver and notched it onto his bow, ready to fire. Trajin complained at Ferdruk about always being the one that have to get wet in his troll language, but he jogged towards the river nonetheless.

The pain in Revy's left shoulder was becoming unbearable. But it was a small sacrifice to pay to protect her companions. She eyed the horde securely as the leader barked something incoherent in orcish. Then the archer started to aim his bow while the troll moved towards the river to her left. Ahead of her, a large hunk of Tauren hair and muscles walked towards her.

Despite her battle experiences, having a Tauren advancing towards still unsettled her a little, more so now considering her wounded shoulder has disabled major movements in her left arm. Revy doubt she could hold her shield in her state.

This isn't going to be good. I can't let that archer or the troll get to them.

Dropping to a kneeling position Revy stabilized her breathing. Closing her eyes she replayed a visual plan in her mind, then flashed her dark orbs at the Tauren and charged foward. Not expecting the woman to charge at him, Churikie did not have time to react. In a second Revy was within blades reach and jumped to him. He managed to bring the shaft of his mace down before him just in time to block a swipe from the Human. However, as if predicting his hasty defense, the woman recovered quickly. Rolling in midaid Revy landed her feet on the shaft of the mace. Pushing herself off the metal rod she changed direction and began to charge at the archer. Churikie fell on the ground from the momentum of the female's bounce. Lifting his head up he saw Shurag caught unexpectantly by the Human warrior. The veteran tried desperately to parry her flurry of thrusts with his bow, but eventually a strike went through unchecked. Shurag's eyes widened as the blade pierced his chest. He dropped his bow and fell onto the ground, and bled to death moments later.

Revy didn't have the luxury of time to watch the life in the old orc's eyes fad into darkness. Landing on the ground next to Shurag she quickly spun around and faced the troll in the distance. Trajin has just reached the shore and began to weave his way into the river. Feeling spent from exerting a majority of her energy in producing those swift charges, she resorted to running as fast as she could towards Trajin. But before she could reach the troll Churikie stepped into Revy's vision; his mace already slamming down towards her.

Gasping, Revy quickly leaped from the blow as the mace landed into the ground, producing an explosion of dirt. Landing roughly on her left shoulder Revy let out a small cry of pain. Before she could recover, a giant hoof hovered above her. Revy rolled right as the hoof stomped down, followed by another great smash from the mace. Revy tumbled and dove repeatedly underneath the giant Tauren, unable to find a break in his relentless assault. Eventually she managed to go through his thick legs and climb up his back. Lifting her blade high she stabbed down at Churikie's back once she found a footing on his thick mane. The large mace-wielder roared in pain, and tried to jiggle the woman off. Revy lost her balance for a moment, but recovered and hugged at Churikie's back, trying not to be dislodged. Once the shaking had stopped she pulled her blade out and lifted it for another strike, but a giant hand grappled her right arm and flung her over and across the campsite, almost dislocating her right shoulder in the process. Revy crashed onto the ground and rolled several times before stopping. She gasped in agony as the manoeuvre snapped the two arrows and pushed the imbedded splinters deeper into her wound. Lifting herself weakly she glanced at the river. She had been thrown in the complete opposite direction she had wanted to go. The river now sat behind the colossal Tauren, whose face was now showing signs of pain.

Then from the distance a gunshot sounded. Trajin cried out and suddenly disappeared under the water. The commotion caused everyone ashore to turn and look. Grimwin had managed to release a shot just as they made it onto shore. Trajin vanished under the water for a minute, and then emerged with a loud cry. The bullet had punched past the side of his head, leaving a gaping wound, but it was not fatal. However it did give the crucial spacing Grimwin had wanted from the troll to make their escape. Picking up a tired Vikare and Maris with Theylandu, the four raced into the darkness.

Ferdruk growled in annoyance. Even if Trajin continued, he wouldn't have been able to catch them with a bleeding wound on his head. So they really did escape, just my luck. He lifted his hand to whistle at the troll, who upon hearing the call, turned his soaking body around and limped back to shore.

Ferdruk focused his attention at the collapsed female before him, who now showed a look of relief on her worn face. This bitch cost him his reward, and he planned to use her to vent his frustration.

"Churikie, you can toy with her, but I want her alive and in one piece when I've finished mending Trajin up, got it?" the large Tauren grunted in acknowledgement and advanced towards the wounded human.