Aspect of the Wolf

Author Notes: I know many of you are against the amnesia route – but I am doing this for a reason, and it's a good storyline. It's not permeant, only temporary. The plot that I have left out that will be revealed in later chapters that led to the amnesia. Again, for those of you who don't know the lore behind the antagonist in this part of the story, you can look up the antagonist as I already named the person. Again, the reasons behind the amnesia will be revealed and are only temporary. The unknown human in this chapter is, in fact, Harry or Valerian now with amnesia. Don't worry; it will be a few chapters of him not remembering anything. The reason will be explained later.

Chapter 12: The Straggler from the Sea

Year 34 of the Fourth Age (Since the Dark Portal Opens and the Conflict between Humans and Orcs Began)

Eastern Kingdoms – Durotar {Horde Territory}

"Move, ya lazy beast!" shouted the orc caravan driver who urges the Kodo beast forward that was carrying a large amount of luggage and two gladiator elves. "the boss wants to reach Orgimmar by Nightfall."

"Har," said the second Orc who was walking beside the carriage. "I'd have more chance o' winning a thousand gold at Dire Maul! The broken cartwheel slowed us down, Rokul."

"It's the way Rehgar's luck been running lately, eh?" said Rokul in annoyance. "Bloodeye dyin' like that, and only two elves left to do that fighting? The other gladiators'll have 'em for breakfast."

"Rehgar's finished. I'm going to look for another job in Dire Maul before –" Spiketooth stated before he paused and noticed something on the shore. "What's that?" Spiketooth said pointing to the wreckage on the beach with several wooden debris and crates.

"Nothing, rubble washed in by the tide. Everyone knows Bladefist Bay's great sea midden heap," said Rokul.

"That's no ship wreckage!" said Spiketooth as he watches the object hidden by the setting sun's glare. "It moved!"

A crocolisk suddenly leaped out of the water and quickly sank it's not the figure's left.

"Tough luck," said Rokul. "That crocolisk has found his dinner, and he's fresh meat!"

The human quickly grabs wooden debris and swings it at the crocolisk head, aiming for its eye and scored a hit forcing the crocolisk to let go as loud cry in annoyance. The figure stands up and in rags revealed to be a human with long black hair and was standing tall over the crocolisk as backs away and lets out a hiss at the human.

"That was a nice move! Twenty silver on the human!" said Rokul.

"Yer on," said Spiketooth eagerly.

Both orcs watch the fight as the human was fighting off a hungry crocolisk.

"What's the holdup Spiketooth?" said another orc as he walks forward. Wearing wolf skin pelts with several armor plates, the wolf head was a war helm for the orc. Reghar the Shaman stood before them with a two blade Bearclaw on his right hand. "I'm not paying you to gawk at the scenery! Get a move on! We'll reach Orgimmar I few have to travel all night. I need a third gladiator –"

"Sorry boss," said Spiketooth. "There is this unharmed human fighting a crocolisk right now!"

"What?" said Rehgar as he turns to see the human smack the crocolisk in the head again with the wooden debris as the debris breaks apart.

"Hah!" said Spiketooth. "Stick is broken, your man is finished, Rokul!"

"Is he?" said Reghar as he watches the human fight for survival. Regard watches as the human moves near the tail of the crocolisk to avoid the jaws, but the crocolisk quickly spins towards the human and succeeds in grabbing his foot with its jaws and promptly pulls the human under the water.

Rehgar raises his right hand as his hand was glowing blue. The crocolisk body emerged as the human pops out of the water breathing fresh air. He quickly climbs out of the water and falls to his hands and knees on the shore taking in deep gasps.

"Now I see," said Reghar as he approaches the human. He walks over the crocolisk and pulls out a dagger in the crocolisk throat. You used a dagger to stab the crocolisk in the belly, forcing its own weight to pierce its own heart. You're a remarkable fighter and losing you would be a waste. Who are you, human?" asks Rehgar.

"I," began the human but he paused as he looks at his hands. "I don't know."

"Good," said Rehgar with a grin. "That makes everything easier!"

Rehgar quickly cast a sleeping spell on the human that promptly puts him to sleep as he falls to the ground asleep.

"Shackle the human and throw him in with the elves," said Rehgar.

"Do not forget the treaty between the Horde and the Alliance, Rehgar," said a male Night Elf with large antlers on his forehead. "You are playing with fire grabbing and enslaving a free human –"

"Free?" repeated Rehgar with a grin at his most experience gladiator. "You mean this army deserter I've captured. Until he can prove otherwise, pinkskin belongs to me! He'll be taking Bloodeye's place in the arena and will fight along with you and the she-elf."

"You are playing a dangerous game Rehgar," said Broll Bearmantle. "The peace summit is upon us in three moons time. Do you wish to risk an all-out war with the Alliance now?"

Rehgar said nothing and merely ignore Broll. "Grab the crocolisk; it will be our dinner tonight. No point in wasting a good kill, boys."

The orcs under Rehgar quickly comply and grab the crocolisk.

The human wakes up and stirs slowly from his head pounding inside his skull.

"Welcome back stranger," said a young female voice. "In case you can't remember – it's because you can't remember."

"What?" said the human as he pulls himself upright.

"You have amnesia, human. Must have taken a blow to your head. Unless you're faking it?" said Broll.

"No," said the human as he sits upright and looks at his two new companions. "I really don't remember anything." The humans look at them and could see the male was a Night Elf, a druid by the looks of things with his long antlers. Night Elves who followed both the Goddess Elune and nature. A Night Elf with antlers was a sign they would be very powerful druids. The she-elf was young, unlike the Night Elf whose ears were pointed backward, her ears were pointed upwards as she was wearing a raggy version of a Blood Elf outfit. There were leggings with some shin guards, but it revealed her legs to be very sexual and beautiful. She had long blond hair with green eyes that showed hints of the new Sunwell's corruptions. The most amazement thing about her was how young she was. She barely looks like she was sixteen years old. The human stares and notice she was wearing a special corset cloth that made her breast look huge.

"At least your body remembers how to fight, so not all is lost," said Broll. "That's what landed you in here with us. Still be thankful that you're alive.

"I suppose," said the human.

"I'm Broll Bearmantle; a night elf Druid of Darnassus," said Broll as he introduces himself.

"I'm Valeera Sanguinar, no relations to anyone or any side," said Valeerabitterly. "We're on our way to Orgimmar, capital of the Horde and home of the Orcs to be trained as Gladiators. Broll is one already, supposedly."

"I've been owned by Rehgar for awhile. I trained with Bloodeye in the months before his passing," said Broll.

"Bloodeye?" said the Human in confusion.

"You really must have hit your head really hard. Everyone knows the Orc gladiator Bloodeye. He's had a five-year undefeated streak and was the Grand Champion last year in singles combat! I won numerous victories beside him," said Broll.

"Big surprise with the Great Bloodeye as your partner," snaps Valeera. "I bet your proud aren't you, of how well you serve your Horde master?"

"I fight to live Valeera, while you blood elves are willing traitors –" snaps Broll.

"You're to be a gladiator?" said the human as he looks at Valeera. "You're just a child!"

"I am not a child!" snaps Valeera in a loud voice. It was clearly being addressed and treated as a child was something Valeera hated. "I'm young for an elf, but my people age differently than you humans do. I was a child when bandits killed my family – but I've been on my own ever since my parents were murdered and I did all right. Even survived the Scourge. Everything was going fine for me until I tried to appropriate a shaman's talisman and tripped an alarm. I injured several guards before they captured me and tossed me inside an orc prison. Worse luck – I was a day away from escaping when I was sold to Rehgar."

"I'm not surprised," said Broll angrily. "Luck cannot abide Blood Elves. They're scheming cowards, turncoats by nature. They can't be trusted."

"We can be trusted, Broll," snaps Valeera. "To fight as we choose with all our powers of mind and body. To know our friends from our enemies, and to avenge all slights against us. You can place your trust in that!" snarls Valeera.

The human was listening and half wonder if Bloodeye died merely because he didn't want to listen to the two elves bicker and argue back and forth any longer.

Morning arrived, and they finally made it to Orgimmar where they were immediately taken to the slave pens that reside in the Valley of Honor. Rehgar had a name for himself already and was able to book a suitable cell for them. The human looks around and could see more than just orcs walking the city, there was also Darkspear Trolls and Ogres.

"Inside all of you," said Rehgar. "You all know why you're here! As yet, the Blood Elf and human are fighters by instincts and by inclination – but your inner fire – like Broll's rages out of control. I will teach you how to channel that fire and to control your fury. To use your assets to fight as individuals and as a team. So far, only Broll has been blooded in the arena, but when we leave for Dire Maul, you will be gladiators. In three weeks, you will compete for the championship at Dire Maul. You will fight your best, and you will win, or you will die."

They all sat down and laid down; the beds weren't the best to lie in, but after resting in the carriage with no padding, it was a slight improvement.

A couple of hours later, Rehgar returns and takes them to the training area where Valeera and Broll started to spar. Valeera quickly makes a jab at Broll for his druid weapon, and he suddenly changes into a bear and attempts to maul her for her insult. Valeera realizing the dangers jumps away and tries to get to the higher ground against the bear. Valeera swings her two swords at Broll as his bear attempted to hurt Valeera.

"I have to admit Rehgar," said the arena master. "I don't like your chances. Your two elves look like they would rather tear each other apart. The only problem is what is going on with pink skin? Is he just going to stand there brooding?"

"Apparently he refuses to fight for the amusement of others," said Rehgar.

"A flick of the lash might improve his attitude," said the arena master.

The arena master whips his whip at the human and the human didn't move as the whip came bearing down upon him. Valeera and Broll turn to watch to see what the human would do and to their amazement, he didn't even flinch as the whip hits the ground beside him. He just stood there unphased by the attack by the arena master. The arena master cracks his whip back again and swings at the human. The human this time, catches the end of the whip without even looking at the whip.

"Put away your whip," said Rehgar. The arena master looks at him in confusion. "some guests is intruding on my gladiators."

A goblin with an eyepatch over his right eye walks in leading a team of three individuals into the training arena. A Tauren, a Darkspear Troll, and a Forsaken Undead.

The human said nothing on the intrusion and instead just continued to lean against the wall brooding.

Rehgar seeing enough and knowing there wasn't going to be much progress, sent the trio back their cage to rest for the trials of tomorrow. Three weeks couldn't pass any quicker.

"What can Rehgar be thinking? Trying to turn us into a team? A human who refuses to fight –" said Broll.

" – and two elves who rather fight each other," said the human.

"He chose us the way he picked his champion Bloodeye, Broll," said Valeera. "He said as much during Bloodeye's funeral. Each of us, in some way, reminds Rehgar of himself. My quickness of mind and body. Broll's barely harnessed battle fury. Croc-bait well-honed skills and –"

"My amnesia," said croc-bait.

"I was going to say your intellect," said Valeera. "You have a strong insight in fighting, that was shown when you took on a crocolisk with no weapons and when you were at a disadvantage. Truth be told, I don't think you were hit on the head or you have amnesia. I can sense a type of magic lingering on you."

"You'd recognize that aura, wouldn't you?" said Broll.

"Just what is that suppose to mean, Broll?" snaps Valeera. "I'll I'm saying is that croc-bait posses tremendous amounts of magic, but there is another type of magic lingering on him that isn't is own. I think this magic is preventing croc-bait from remembering who he is and where he comes from."

"If that is the case, then I might be able to help," said Broll as he stands up. "Druids and Shaman's share similar arts in magic. I learn this meditative technique from Rehgar when he was teaching me to clear my own mind; with the right mix of herbs in the fire, you should be able to see some parts of your pasts – now breathe into the fire."

Croc-bait does so and immediately see himself standing in a graveyard with snow falling all around him. He was alone and wearing black robes standing over two graves. Something about these graves was familiar, and it pulled him to read the names upon the tombstones.

"Hey! Antler-head! I'm talking to you!" snaps Valeera.

Croc-bait begins to cough as he tried to regain his focus.

Valeera and Broll were once again going at one another, and this time they look like they were going to rip each other apart. They were shouting at each and arguing about events of the past that both of their leaders were at fault. Valeera blamed the Night Elves druids for sleeping for thousands of years and leaving their families behind. Broll pointed out the Blood Elves defection from the Alliance and join the sworn enemies of the Alliance. Broll defended the Druids who walked the Emerald Dread, and Valeera pointed out that the Alliance Grand Marshall Garithos used and betrayed her people forcing them to join the Horde to survive. The two were arguing and shouting at one another, and finally, Broll lost control.

He quickly charges at Valeera and rams her in the gut before slamming her into the cage metal bars. Valeera was caught off guard by this sudden attack she was unable to brace herself from the impact. Blood began to trickle from her mouth as Broll change into a bear again and attempted to maul her and with no other space to escape from, Valeera was trapped and soon would face death by her own teammate.

Croc-bait quickly reacted manages to turn Broll into a harmless sheep and quickly pulls Valeera out of harm's way.

Broll changes back into his usual self and stands there towering over both of them.

"Enough!" shouted Croc-bait as he ends the little scuffle. "You need to find and accept your own faults before you tell others of theres! That is enough for one night, we're going to get some rest and Valeera, you're sleeping with me. I'm not letting you do something stupid while we sleep," said Croc-bait that left no room for argument.

Valeera said nothing as she tries not to wince from the pain of the brief scuffle as Croc-bait place his hands on her stomach. Valeera immediately began to feel the pain subsiding as her body begins to heal.

Croc-bait lies in the small bed, and Valeera quickly climbs in bed with him and places her hand on his chest. Valeera could feel his heart beating and couldn't admit that there was something about this human that was different from the others.

Valeera mind went back to Broll and what he did to her. Valeera wasn't going to let this slide and let him get away with injuring her and nearly killing her. They have argued ever since Rehgar purposes her from the orcs, and have had many arguments – never able to get along; this was the first time Broll openly attacked her when they were in a cage. Broll didn't know the circumstances of her people or what caused them to join the Horde. The Night Elves never had to deal with the Scourge that nearly purges their people into extinction. When Grand Marshall Garithos anti-human actions almost caused her people to be killed off, her people had to make a choice to survive.

The next morning Valeera was feeling much better thanks to Croc-bait's healing magic. Still, the anger and humiliation she suffered wouldn't go unpunished, and Vereesa who was walking behind Broll smiles as she slowly starts to siphon off his magical energy.

The moment they had to enter the training grounds, Croc-Bait suddenly pushes to the ground as a blade nearly takes her head off. Valeera looks up and could see the trio from yesterday standing over them; fully armed and ready for a fight.

"Well, pinkskin can fight after all," said the Tauren.

"Time to make our journey as Champion of Dire Maul that much easier – " said the Troll as several blades suddenly fly past them and a loud thud was heard. The troll and undead look back to see the Tauren on the ground dead with several dark crystal swords in his chest.

"What?" said the Forsaken.

They look forward to seeing the human was gone and suddenly felt blades pressing against their throat.

"You really wish to fight me?" said Croc-bait.

Rehgar and Sparkeye were watching as Sparkeye couldn't believe his Tauren warrior was taken down so quickly.

Valeera rushes in to join; as Valeera came in the troll knocks the blade away from his throat and grabs his spear and rushes at her.

"The fool!" said Broll. "Croc-Bait had them, and she only made it worse."

Broll attempted to charge forward but fell to his knees and found himself unable to change let alone feel any magic.

Valeera pulls out her two long knives and prepares to fight as she parries the long spear. The undead quickly picks up the Tauren's war hammer, and swings at croc-bait who disappears before the war hammer could hit him. The undead charges at Valeera who was dodging the Darkspear troll's attack.

Valeera looks back at Broll and wonders why he wasn't coming in to assist her but saw him on the ground doubling over as if he was weak without any energy. Valeera suddenly realized what she had done and pause at the relation of what she had done.

Valeera saw the undead with the war hammer and couldn't move after realizing the damage she inverted caused to her own teammates. She took the brunt of the attack in her stomach and falls to the ground. Valeera watches as the Darkspear troll thrust his spear as he prepares to stab her with its end in her.

The trolls head flies off his head as croc-bait holding a long single edge sword in a magnificent design in his one hand. Only croc-bait wasn't wearing his rags, but a new style of armor. It was pure black with hints of a dark red color in between its gaps. The brigandine armor had several plates on the body with shoulder pads. He was also wearing long arm sleeves with a cloth strapping tied on his biceps. On his hands were two leather gauntlets and was wearing to leather greaves. His sword was also unique as it was a black straight edge sword that was emitting a dark aura.

"What happened to you croc-bait?" said Valeera.

The undead turns to croc-bait, but a single swing from his sword causes the undead to turn to dust.

Everyone was watching in pure shock at the unexpected outcome. Croc-bait was far more powerful than they could expect.

"That's not possible!" shouted Sparkeye in disbelief st he quick destruction of his well put together team.

"Pay up," said Rehgar as he stood there observing Croc-bait. Sparkeye does so and walks away unsure what to do with his losses. He gives Rehgar the eighty silver as promised.

"Who are you?" said Valeera as stares at croc-bait. His skills were unreal. The crocolisk never stood a chance in the first place.

Croc-bait raises his left hand, and Valeera once again could feel herself getting healed.

"Rehgar, you said these weak-hearted louts would give me a fight!" said an orc as he stands above Broll who was in his weakened state and unable to stand. "This loser's too weak to even stand! I'll kill him first and make it a mercy killing!"

"Broll!" said Valeera. "You can't – it's my fault!"

The blade master ignores Valeera's pleases but it was pointless as Broll vanishes as the Blade Master's blades hit the ground before they could slice through Broll. Everyone was confused by this sudden action when croc-bait suddenly appeared by the Orc Blademaster. Before anyone could stop what happen, Croc-Bait swings his sword down, and black energy was released from the sword. The entire area felt like it was split in half; even though nothing has happened.

"What was that?" said Valeera out loud.

Everything had turn black and red, and a white line appeared that cut the Orc Blade Master in half along with the arena itself. It only looked for a second, but it had to be real. The Orc Blademaster paused as he stood there, then the arena began to collapse in a loud bang. The building started to crumble as it's debris fell to the ground with dust rising in the air as tall as the mountains that covered Orgimmar.

The Orc Blademaster showed no scars, but he fell to the ground on his back clearly dead.

Croc-bait's sword was showing signs of a black aura.

'What is with his power? That's clearly his own magic; the mana is incredible! I've never seen or heard of magic like this before. What was that attacked he used?! It's not Fel Magic or Arcane! It's a type of magic I've never seen or heard before,' thought Valeera who watch Croc-bait save them not once but perhaps three times.

"Thank you!" said Valeera as she hugs croc-bait. "It's my fault I – "

"Siphon his magic on his way towards the arena," said Croc-Bait. Valeera falls silent knowing that she had been caught long before the fight had even gotten started. "I understand you are upset about last night, but you need to learn who really your enemies are and not the ones that stand with you."

Valeera looked at Croc-bait and knew he was a far wiser and powerful than any of them realized.

"Where's Broll?" said Vereesa.

"Over here," said Broll who was beside Rehgar who was healing him with his shaman magic.

Valeera walks over and couldn't help admire Croc-bait's skills.

"I wish croc-bait could remember who taught him to fight like that! I would ask his instructors for lessons. Broll and I are lucky when he stepped in when he did, or we both would have been finished before we could defend ourselves," said Valeera. "Why did you do it? Set the Blademaster on us when we just faced Sparkeye's team?"

"You need to learn to expected the unexpected," said Rehgar.

"It's a lesson the Arena's blademaster could have used," said Broll.

"Hyku miscalculated, and he underestimated Croc-bait's strength and didn't believe he was a threat until it was too late. I fought in the Third War," said Rehgar. "Enemies can come at you from all sides, and you need to learn how to adapt in fighting at all corners. You have to learn to trust your teammates, and only takes risks when necessary."

"By the time any of us realized what happen, Croc-bait has him already defeated," said Broll.

"I'm sorry, Broll," said Valeera knowing that Broll's current situation was her fault. "I was angry for what you did to me last night, and I just wanted to get even –"

"Rehgar should have considered energy-thieving ways of the Blood Elves when before he put you on our team!" snaps Broll.

"Let it rest," said Croc-bait and walks over and begins to heal Valeera. "you cannot blame her for wanting to get some payback after breaking her ribs last night. Broll, despite what her people have done, she's done nothing to warrant such hostility. All she's done is fight for her survival, and I respect her for that. You also need to learn to control your anger and rage and not take it on our your teammates."

Broll falls silent as he stares at Croc-bait.

Rehgar was looking at Croc-bait as well.

'Amazing,' thought Rehgar. 'Broll has always had anger issues, more than I have ever seen from any night elf. It's hard to calm him down once he lets his anger get the best of him. Even Bloodeye and myself had trouble controlling Broll. Yet Croc-Bait did so with ease and in simple words. He's a leader – a natural born leader. There is this charisma that surrounds him that makes you listen and obey him.'

"I'm sorry Broll," said Valeera.

"I apologize too," said Broll. "I'll try to control my temper and not pass judgment on you for what your people have done."

"I wish your shamanic healing spells could restore my memory, Rehgar," said Croc-bait.

"Your body remembers how to fight, nothing else matters," said Rehgar.

An hour later, after they got healed, Rehgar takes his three gladiators to the zeppelin that was run by the neutral Goblin Cartel. The Goblin cartels were officially neutral in the conflict between the Horde and the Alliance. It was a treaty that both the Alliance and the Horde had to respect as both sides knew the Goblin cartels could alter the course of power to whichever faction they joined.

Croc-bait immediately walks towards the stern of the zeppelin and just stares out to the horizon.

Valeera and Broll sit down eyeing their strange comrade from the corner of their eyes.

"Croc-bait is without a doubt a great fighter," said Valeera. "There is something strange about him as well like he's never once smiled."

"What does he have to smile about?" said Broll. "You'd be odd too if you didn't know who you were and forced to fight for your life in amusement of others. The only thing you could hope for is if your current situation is better than your past life."

The Zeppelin takes off heading towards Dire Maul. Broll looks at Croc-Bait and immediately he sees a shadow emerge from Croc-bait and it looks menacing. The shadow made Broll feel very frightened.

"Are you sure your team is up to this Rehgar?" said the Goblin Captain Gizzgear.

Captain Gizzgear was an old friend to Rehgar and has had many travels with Rehgar on his quests and missions.

"I'm sure, I know it's not a promising look Captain Gizzgear, but it's perhaps the best team I've ever put together. Croc-bait is the key for me to win at the Dire Maul. Still, if things don't improve with the elves, I might consider making a trade to improve my chances," said Rehgar.

Meanwhile in Stormwind

"Attacked? What you mean attacked?" said King Varian said to the naval officer who was kneeled before him in the throne room. They just received a report that the three ships they sent to Theramore were destroyed just outside Theramore.

"The Brotherhood attack and destroyed the ships sent to Theramore. Many of the ships crews were killed while others were captured. Some are missing. Lady Jaina Proudmoore ships search the area for survivors and found only a few survivors. The Naga apparently killed many of the survivors," said the naval officer.

"What of the one known as Lo'Gosh?" asks Varian at once.

"He's missing. We don't have any reports on his whereabouts or status," said the naval officer.

Varian nods his head and turns to Master Shaw who stood there.

"This isn't good," said Grand Admiral Jes-Tereth as she stood in the throne room. She was a Kul Tiras who remain with the Alliance. "It's not like the Brotherhood to openly attack three Alliance Warships."

"Lo'Gosh is missing," said a General. "Perhaps he's not as great as we thought."

"We don't know what happen so we can't say anything about him now can we!" snaps Grand Admiral Jes-Tereth.

"I think it wise we keep this quiet for now," said Master Shaw. "You remember how vigilante Lady Windrunner was about being separated from Lo'Gosh. She only agreed because her people are still members of the Alliance as she is and still had to obey orders. Once she founds out Lo'Gosh is missing and possibly dead, we don't know how she'll react."

Vereesa Windrunner protested about being sent to Ironforge in dealing with the Dark Dwarves was very loud it was almost unheard of to see her protest so vehemently. She wanted to head to Theramore with Lo'Gosh and help secure the borders in Theramore. The moment she heard that Lo'Gosh was declared either missing or dead, they weren't sure on how she would react especially with her being promoted as Ranger-General of the High Elves and the Silver Covenant. Vereesa Windrunner was the unofficial leader of the High Elves remnants.

"I agree," said Varian. "Launch an investigation and try to find some clues to his whereabouts. I also want to know who led the attack against our warship and I want to know what the Brotherhood was after!"

Everyone moves forward to carry out their orders with Katrana Prestor walks out the room with a smile on her face.


Author Notes: This chapter was fun to write as the story still Surrounds Harry. I know some people hate the amnesia route, but those can be fun to write as it leads a bit of mystery of what is going on especially when you know the main character but what caused his amnesia. Please like and reveal, this won't last long it will be over in about three or four chapters.