Prologue

The dark ground of the Broken Shore glistened green and red, as the fel of the Burning Legion mixed with the blood of the defenders of Azeroth. All around me, demons poured out of portals, slashing the life out of my allies, my friends. The stench of dark magic and death hung in the air like a persistent haze, soaking everything, seeping deep into our minds, poisoning us from the inside.

I plucked a few arrows from the corpses of demons littering the ground around me but they were not enough to replenish my empty quiver. Scanning the battlefield, I tried to find any familiar faces. "Romma!" I shouted, spotting my best friend standing on a cliff not far from me. Flames that poured from her hands consumed the body of a felstalker, an eerie yowl of pain marking its death. I ran towards her, Hati following me closely like a guardian angel. "Are you okay?" I asked, placing a hand on Romma's shoulder.

"I'm tired," she replied, wiping the sweat from her eyebrow, "but I'm alright." She sent more dancing flames towards a group of imps that ran in our direction, and two of my arrows flew, striking them all down in a team effort. "We are losing this war, Omellas," she growled, face sombre and eyes drowning in the dread she tried to hide. "This is a bloodbath."

"I know, I know!" I sent another arrow flying towards the face of a wretched demon, about to overcome an Alliance human. The human nodded briefly in my direction before running off to keep on fighting. "Have you seen them? Have you seen Sylvanas?"

"I saw her running over there a while ago." Her forehead creased, and her eyebrows furrowed while she pointed towards a cliff not too distant from where we stood. "Please, be careful, sister."

"You too, Romma." I took her big orcish hand in my small ones for a second, giving it a reassuring squeeze. My pale hands contrasted wildly with her bright green skin as I let them slide away.

It didn't take long for me to find out she had been right. A big infernal fell at Sylvanas' feet as I turned a corner, and her silvery blond hair flailed in the sudden rush of wind and dust. Our Warchief Vol'jin was also fighting close by, brandishing his curved sword to strike down enemy after enemy, all of them falling down at his feet without mercy.

Being with Sylvanas always gave me a sense of security, ever since our time in Quel'Thalas. Perpetually thirsty for the approval of our Ranger-General of Silvermoon, I worked hard to stand out since I was just a kid. The fond memories that remained of that time were muddled by the pain of losing my family to the Scourge. I shed countless tears for them, knowing that the guilt of my failure to protect them would follow me until my dying hour. But it was the news of her death to the blade of Arthas Menethil that almost broke me back then. What good was it to be a part of an elite ranger group if I couldn't protect anyone I loved?

Movement on the corner of my eye caught my attention. A felguard, all spikes and anger, approached Sylvanas from behind while she was momentarily distracted, focusing on Vol'jin, who was surrounded by enemies. I wanted to yell, make her turn around and face the approaching threat. Yet, deep down, I knew she wouldn't be able to listen to me. I was too far away. My voice wouldn't carry over the loud clattering of weapons and the explosions of spells. There were too many voices hanging in the air to understand anything specific.

I raced towards her, right hand flying to my quiver, pulling out the only arrow left. I released it as my feet moved as fast as possible, hitting the felguard right in his naked chest. His feet staggered but did not stop. My heart sank, the fear of losing her again flooding me, while my pet wolf sprinted towards him, snapping at his heels.

My one arrow flying past Sylvanas' head was enough to get her attention. She glanced at me and then to the felguard behind her, promptly nocking an arrow on her bow, and pulling the string backwards, aiming at the demonic soldier. It landed right next to mine. He tripped once again but continued to move forward, as if both arrows sticking out of his chest were merely tickling him. But Hati was doing his job. The felguard's leg armour was mangled, and his legs were bloodied. He walked slower now, with a limp. Hati sunk his teeth in one of his legs again, holding on lies fleas on a dog, and the demon tried to shake him off, buying me some time. Maybe there was hope after all.

Sylvanas took a step back, pulling a new arrow from her quiver while the felguard pulled back his sword arm, prepared to strike with all his might. "Sylvanas!" I screamed, close enough now to be of any use. But without ammunition, there was only one thing I could do. I stepped between her and the felguard, arms outstretched to shield her from the incoming attack as his shadow loomed over me.

Pain seared through my chest as if I was on fire. Everything went black for a second. My breath caught on my throat, blood pooled in my mouth as the sword ran through me until it came out on the other side.

I blinked a couple of times, yet everything remained stubbornly blurry while a shower of arrows fell on the bulky warrior of the Legion. As he fell backwards with a throaty groan, the sword was pulled back out of my chest, falling to the ground with a loud clang, ringing in my ears like the funeral tolling of a bell. I feared the blade had cut me in half on the way out.

My legs gave out, and my knees hit the ground hard, as hot blood poured out of the hole in my chest, soaking my armour, staining my hands a bright red colour. I looked down to my bloody body, barely feeling any pain at all anymore. I couldn't feel anything. Everything was numb, unreal. It was like watching it happen to someone else.

"Omellas!" Sylvanas' voice echoed, far, far away. Yet, she was right there with me, her face next to mine as her arms slowly lowered my body to the ground. Concern swelled in her eyes. It was comforting to think some of it might even be for me. Who knew this agony could be so sweet?

I tried to speak. There was so much I wanted to tell her. Memories streaming through my mind, coming down like a downpour. There was so much... So much I had to tell her. But I couldn't catch my breath. No sound came out when I opened my mouth, like a fish dying out of water. There was only the metallic taste of blood, and her crimson eyes staring down at me in the shadow of the Tomb of Sargeras.