Shortest chapter ever. Please don't kill me ^^ Not after you read it either, although I'm expecting hate-mail ;D LoL

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By Winterveil Grandfather Winter had covered the Highlands with his white beard, to both amusement and distress for those in Hammerfall.

On the first day with snow the entire population of the camp, save some guards doing their duty, gathered behind Hammerfall for a snowballfight.

"Who say Horde no fun?" the Tauren Druid roared as he grabbed the back of Ba'ka's head, grinding the troll down into the snow.

Cassandra watched and laughed and delighted in seeing her tribe smiling and playing.

On the horizon, dark clouds lay as an ominous warning for things to come, but none of them had time to read signs, their world filled with the joy of the moment.

*

The clouds were closer the next morning, making Hetar comment on them as some of the tribe had an early stroll through the white landscape, trying to hunt down some raptors.

"Dem be dark, dem skyships."

Cassandra was skinning the first raptor they had killed, together with Mimisa and Ba'ka, when she looked up and frowned at the sky.

"Don' worry," Ba'ka told his mate. "Dem be far away."

"They do look ominous," Silvanya agreed.

The paladin had for once left her beloved warlock in the camp as Talandriel had a slight cold, as did Jah'ren. He had sniffled all night and when the hunting party left Cassandra had wrapped him in blankets and told him not to sulk and stay warm.

They were just about to attack the next raptor when Cassandra collapsed in the snow. Ba'ka was at her side immediately and caught the girl in his arms.

"Jah'ren," she told them through clenched teeth. "Something is wrong."

*

They were back at the camp within the hour, the snow slowing them down while the clouds threatened above.

It seemed peaceful and like everything was alright until they entered and saw Tor'gan sitting on the ground, something small laying in his arms and the doctor kneeling beside him. Silvanya screamed in rage as she saw it was Talandriel.

"What happen?" Hetar asked.

Cassandra leaned heavily on her arm and sounded like she had trouble breathing. Then her breath stopped in a sob as Tor'gan looked up, his head bloody on one side.

"Dey take Jah!" He let the doctor take the warlock from his arms and stumbled to his feet. "Dey take my neff'ju, Thrall's bastards!"

Ba'ka snarled, but managed to control himself enough to take care of the collapsed Cassandra before doing anything rash. As his mate roared in despair he picked up the body of the human and carried her inside after the doctor.

Hetar fell to her knees in the snow and howled. The rest of the tribe watched her with sorrow in their eyes, knowing very well how she adored her little brother.

Tor'gan explained how there had been a patrol coming in from the Highlands and among them had been a troll who recognized Jah'ren as the lost chieftain of the Sre'Kel. The leading officer had arrested the hunter, and when Talandriel and Tor'gan had fought them, they had been hurt. The Hammerfall guards looked away in shame as Hetar screamed at them, questioning the fact that they had not done anything to stop Thrall's people from taking her bother.

"Dey take all da wyverns and fly away wit Jah'ren," Tor'gan spat, ignoring the druid's orders to sit still while he was healed. "Dey take our Jah!"

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Sorry. But I have to end the story soon. Because this has been nagging me for weeks. It's just how the story goes.

Thank you for reading, and I will try to hurry the next chapter, in the meantime, don't die ^^