Chapter 32 - The battle goes on

Those past few weeks had been quite the hardship for Felrus Plaguefang.

It all began with the constant attacks by the Warsong while they were still set at the base of the Stonetalon peaks. The first few days, the attacks were harmless enough - nothing but harassment from a bunch of crazy, warmongering orcs - but things really changed when the rest of the Horde arrived, and with the aid of new allies, the trolls. With their full might, the camps of the Human Expedition were unable to hold out and they fell, one by one.

Lady Jaina had given the order to retreat not long after that, ordering them to move to and reinforce the bases at the mountain peaks. The orcs gave chase. Not many days after that, they launched a new attack... And this time with even more new allies. It appeared they made some sort of deal with the native Tauren from Thunderbluff, but the mighty bovine creatures were now fighting alongside the Horde's young warchief, Thrall. And on top of that, they even managed to capture and tame some of the native creatures of the mountains - huge bat-like beasts named 'wyverns' - which allowed them to go toe to toe with the dwarven griffon riders and their storm hammers. Once more, the Human Expedition tasted defeat.

Just as all hope seemed lost, Lady Jaina had declared she and the other mages had sensed something. It would appear that deep within the caves that went far into the mountains, there was some sort of energy source beckoning her. She had declared that they could utilize this energy to fight off the Horde once and for all. With no choice left, and as their bases were attacked and destroyed behind them, the members of the Human Expedition were forced to flee into the caves after their young leader.

None of that, however, could compare to the loss of his younger brother.

The news had come from the only survivor of the group who had foolishly decided to stay back and engage Grommash's group during that first day of battle. A gnome engineer by the name of Sticks Hardbones had claimed that, just as death was about to take him, he had been saved by a scruffy-looking young human with dark hair and daggers that looked like fangs. He had been discovered unconscious under the body of a dead orc while the members of the Gilneas Brigade were searching for survivors. Apparently, he was so small, he was completely hidden until the orc warrior's body was lifted over to reveal the tiny man. It was a day later when he shared his news with Felrus, who was desperate to hear news from Dalrus, who had gone missing ever since that battle - even from the other spies and scouts in their camp.

"Gosh, I was scared out of my wits! I had never been in a battle like that before." The gnome had personally told Felrus when he was visiting the medical bay. "I thought I was gonna die, I really did! Then there was that Hellscream fellow... Boy, how could anyone look at him and still move, I wouldn't know! If it weren't for my Automated Robotic Avian Walker Mark IV's self-defensive and maneuvering protocols, I'd have been sliced in half a dozen times over!"

Felrus had absolutely no idea what those words even meant, but he had nodded in understanding nonetheless. "I... See. And that's when you saw my brother?"

Sticks had taken a deep sigh, then lowered his head in shame. "Yes, that's right... My Automated Robotic Avian Walker Mark IV was damaged, you see, and I fell over... I was about to say my prayers when suddenly, someone grabbed me from behind, and began to carry me under their arm. It was so fast, I could barely see anything... Next thing I knew, we were both in the air. I remember that very clearly, and I swear I'll never forget what happened next to the end of my days." The little man's hands curled into little fists, and Felrus could see those huge round eyes grow wet as the gnome tried to hold back his tears. "It's burned into my mind, like a picture... I saw that boy. Oh, goodness, I'll never forget him... The same human boy who came to my workshop the other day, who was so nice and so curious about my works... I'm sure it was him. He had scruffy black hair, and all his clothes were dark, too... And he had those weapons with him, looking like a beast's fangs. The last thing I saw was Grom Hellscream grabbing him by the back of his tunic. After that, the sky fell over my head, and I passed out." The gnome then sobbed uncontrollably and covered his face with his hands. "Oh, curse this meek body of mine! Curse my cowardice! If only I had been more brave, or maybe if I had made a few more adjustments to my Automated Robotic Avian Walker Mark IV... It's all my fault! He gave his life to save mine!"

Felrus himself was struggling very hard to hold back his tears. The only thing that kept him going... His only ray of hope... Was that Dalrus' body had never been found. Felrus knew his brother well. If there ever was someone capable of escaping the grasp of Grommash Hellscream and living to tell the tale... It would be Dalrus. Ever since they were children, his younger brother would always pull off tricks like that - especially to escape his duties. Felrus would often hear his brother was missing or running away from their uncle or his tutors. More amazing than the lengths they would go to keep watch over Dalrus and ensure he wouldn't sneak off again were the measures the boy would take to circumvent them. Once, their father had hired a personal bodyguard to keep constant watch over Dalrus during the boy's every waking hour. It had taken an entire day for them to find the poor man bound and gagged within the broom closet, while Dalrus showed up only three days later announcing he was no longer allowed inside Gilneas' bakery, or anywhere near the baker's daughter.

After their defeat at the hands of the horde, Felrus' hope of seeing his brother again began to wane. Several days' after his disappearance, captain Lyafra had made an official statement that Dalrus was Missing in Action.

That hit Felrus like a blow to his gut. He had personally volunteered to join any teams dedicated to searching for him or other prisoners at the hands of the orcs. Rescue missions, however, were out of the question, considering it was all they could do to hold their own against the relentless attacks from both the main orcish horde and the Warsong clan.

When the news that they would be abandoning the bases at the mountain foot in favor of the ones at the peaks came, Felrus was among the few who protested and said they should hold their position until the end. Alas, it was to no effect. Their hold on the passage to Stonetalon was compromised, and their best option was to retreat to the peaks and fortify their defenses there, where the dwarves and gnomes would ensure they had aerial superiority.

Then the news came that the Warsong was on the move elsewhere while Thrall and the rest of the Horde gave chase. This gave some hope to the members of the Human Expedition... One that was short lived. Not long after that, reports that the leader of the tauren was seen alongside Thrall made everyone wary again. And when the Horde launched another attack, it was a complete surprise to see them coming from above, riding the savage wyverns. With their only advantage crushed, they had no choice but to follow Jaina's lead into those caves... And still, there was no sign of his brother.

And then... There was the worgen bite.

Felrus had done his best to hide it, but only a blind fool wouldn't notice the thick patch of snow-white fur that was surrounding his shoulder, no matter how much time Felrus spent shearing himself with a razor every night. It would just grow up again in a matter of hours. Not just that... But even his body overall felt... Different. For one, he was absolutely certain he had grown at least two inches. All his clothes felt small for him, and even his armor had to be changed for a bigger one. And he could swear his senses were sharper somehow. Every morning when he woke up, he could smell the scent of the soldiers' breakfast being cooked all the way from their barracks. Every time a person spoke to him, he could immediately tell what the last thing they ate was. At night, his vision was far sharper, and every night, no matter how dark it was, he could see as if the sky was a full moon with no clouds. And he was absolutely certain his teeth felt bigger in his mouth. HIs most noticeable physical change, however, was the thick white beard that had grown over his entire chin and jawline, with a mustache already threatening to break through his upper lip.

Another useful aspect of his changes were the fact that, with his increased size and strength, regular one handed weapons had become far too small and light for him. He now carried a thick two handed sword strapped to his back, one he could easily wield with a single arm.

He was very reluctant to explain these symptoms to the healers, as they might fear the lad was cursed, or something along those lines. Instead, he had simply showed them the vial with the last few drops the healer back in Gilneas had given him, and asked if they could somehow produce more, saying it was for his burn scar. The Brigade's chemists had only managed to use those leftover drops to produce a bit more of his medicine, which was already dangerously close to running out.

Worst of all those symptoms, however, were those strange... Urges he felt. Whenever he felt angry, Felrus had the instinctive urge to bare his teeth and snarl at them. When he fought, he had to make a constant, conscious effort to stop himself from biting his foes like a beast. He found himself with a new taste for red meat... And the rarer it was, the better.

Deep within his mind... He already had a very good idea of what this all meant, and what was happening to him. He refused to give in, however. He refused to accept and allow this... Whatever it was to consume him. He had a duty to perform. He had people to protect.

He had his brother to find.

And so, like everyone else, he had followed Lady Jaina into the caves within the mountains in search for this strange energy source that appeared to be their last hope in this foreign, desolate land. He did not hesitate to join the frontlines as they advanced through what appeared to be ancient ruins dug and sculpted inside of the mountain itself. As they advanced, they ran into all sorts of nightmares and challenges. Spiders the size of horses that spat venom that could melt a man within his armor, magical revenants that unleashed terrible spells against them, deadly traps that claimed more than one unaware soldier's life, undead warriors eager to defend this domain even in death... And to make things worse, their scouts warned them that the orcs and the tauren were following them, even inside that dark, hostile place.

"Are they bent on annihilating us to the last man?" One of his fellow soldiers was speaking as they advanced through those dark corridors, the only sources of light being the occasional rivers of fire and a magical orb of light that Lady Jaina had summoned to help them see. "Light, help me... I don't want to die. I didn't come to this place to die!"

"We are not going to die, get a bloody hold of yourself you half wit!" Felrus snapped, his eyes suddenly turning into vertical slits as his lips peeled back and showed off his sharp canine fangs, which had grown at least twice their normal size. Too late, he realized his error, then turned his face away in shame. Fortunately for him, the soldier was so surprised he fumbled back and fell against the other one right next to him, making both collapse against the floor.

This made the entire company stop their advance, then shift their attention to the disturbance at their front. With his heart drumming in his chest, Felrus stood up straight as their captain turned around to scream at them. "What in the Light's name is the meaning of this!? We have enough troubles without you fools tripping over one another!"

"S-sir!" The scared soldier said, getting up and lifting his helm's visor to show the face of a man almost twice Felrus' age. "This gilnean dog just snarled at me, threatened to rip my guts out, he did!"

"Be quiet!" The captain snapped, then turned to face Felrus. Maybe unbeknownst to his accuser, Felrus had actually worked quite a reputation among the troops. He was always the first to volunteer to battle at the front, and would often cover longer shifts during watch than anyone else. His prowess in battle was nothing to bat an eye at either, considering he would always emerge covered in blood and none of it being his own. This had earned him the little nickname of 'The Blood Knight'. He wasn't particularly fond of the title, but he figured it was better than having people trashing him just for the fact he was Gilnean... Like this man was. "Plaguefang." The captain said. "What say you in your defense?"

Felrus took in a deep breath, then lifted his visor as well, his bright blue eyes staring into his captain's through the holes in his helmer. "Sir. I believe morale is low, and we are all very much on edge here. I apologize for snapping at my fellow soldier like that. It was a lapse in discipline from my part. I will accept whatever punishment you seem fit."

It was then that Lady Jaina herself showed up, her left palm high in the air and holding the magical orb that was their main source of light. "What seems to be the problem, captain? Are we under attack?"

The captain shook his head, then turned to meet their leader. "No, madam. The shadows are playing tricks on the soldier's eyes, and they appear to be a little on edge. Nothing we need to concern ourselves with. I'm certain after this huge waste of our time, they will have remembered to maintain their discipline and their wits about them." The captain's eyes glared in Felrus' direction, then at the whimpering soldier who stood still like a statue. His face looked like he was on the verge of tears.

To this, the young mage woman turned to face the soldiers, a sorrowful look on her face. "I'm sorry we must endure such terrible hardships, but I promise you... Safety is up ahead. We need only press on a little further."

Suddenly, the whimpering soldier stepped forward and spoke: "You've been saying that for days now! Look where we are! Fumbling through dark caves with orcs at our heels and monsters at every turn! You've brought us all to our deaths, is what you did!"

"Silence this fool!" The captain shouted, to which Felrus and the other soldier immediately grabbed the man by his arms and brought him down in an immobilizing hold. The man was now thrashing and screaming: "I don't want to die here! I didn't run from Lordaeron only to meet my end in a dark cave with nobody to mourn me!"

Low chatter and murmurs were going through the ranks of the Human Expedition now. People were beginning to grow restless. Felrus felt his worry rise. This could very well be the spark to ignite the barrel of tension this group was becoming.

It was that moment that a high pitched, yet male voice spoke out: "So what would you have us do, then? Should we turn back and run? Is that what you suggest?"

Everyone looked around for the source of those words. Felrus had a pretty good idea who it was, but it was difficult to believe. "You damn right! Hightail out of this place and look for someplace else to live in, away from all this damned fighting!" The soldier under him still managed to speak, even as Felrus pressed his armored shoulder against the man's back.

"Well, friend, I don't know about you, but I didn't come here to flee! I came here because, like everyone else, I believed in something!" Slowly, people began to part, and there, standing up on his ridiculous mechanical bird mount, was the gnome Sticks Hardbones. "I believed in Lady Jaina when she said here we'd find the only way to defend our homes! We all did. I have a family back in the Eastern Kingdoms, people I want to keep safe, and that's why I came! And ever since coming to this place... I have seen bad things!" The gnome then pressed something on his robotic bird mount, and suddenly his seat was elevated, making him stand even taller than most people there.

"I have seen people, good people, getting hurt and dying. One even died to save me! So what would their deaths mean if we decided to run now? What would happen then? All the pain, all the hardships we have already been through would have been for nothing! And if we just run now, then all the things we have left to defend will also get hurt. And I don't want that to happen, friend! So if you want to run, you go and run on your own! Because I'm not! I'm moving forward! Because I believe that is the only way left to go without giving up all hope!"

Everyone was silent when the gnome's speech was over. He himself looked very embarrassed to be having so much attention focused on him, and quickly attempted to lower his seat once more. "I-I mean, t-that is, ah... If, you know, if everyone thinks the same way..."

"No, you're right, little one." The one who spoke was none other than Halford Wyrmbane, the paladin warrior who acted as second in command for the Expedition. The man trotted forward, mounted on a tall warhorse, wearing his signature blue and golden armor with details resembling a dragon's claws and scales. "That was very well said. We all have a reason to fight. A reason to keep moving forward. Even during these dark, trying times... This is when our resolve must be stronger than ever. We must always move forward, without fear, without hesitation. The Light is with us, brothers and sisters. Our salvation lies ahead, while death stands in our way." And with that, the paladin unsheathed his sword and held it high above his head. "I say, do not fear the unknown! We stand together, as one! We, who belong to different kingdoms, different species, are now all together facing our greatest threat since the first invasion of the Horde! And together, we shall conquer the darkness once more! For the Alliance!"

Many people mimicked Wyrmbane's cheer. Felrus himself realized he was smiling. Lady Jaina was a capable person, to be sure, having led everyone this far already... But men like Halford Wyrbane were the kind of people who kept the soldiers together in crises like these. The paladin was a true beacon of hope. Maybe one day, the young mage would reach that point as well.

The paladin tugged on the reins of his horse and assumed the lead. "I shall take the front for now, captain, if you can forgive me wrestling command from your hands for a while now."

The captain simply gave the paladin a salute. "It is an honour to serve under you, commander. Lead, and we shall follow."

Wyrmbane nodded, then looked down at the man restrained by Felrus and the other soldier. "And what about you, soldier? Is your resolve faltering?"

The man lowered his head in shame. "M'lord, I... I'm sorry, sir. I was just so scared, I... Please, forgive me. I promise I won't trip over like this again. I got a wife and a daughter and... Light help me, I just want to see them again..."

"Don't forget you are also fighting for them." Felrus suddenly cut in. "They are waiting for you. And they are counting on you to keep them safe."

"Well said, young Plaguefang." Wyrmbane praised. "Well, soldier? Will you take up arms once more and help defend your family?"

The man was now crying, thick tears running down his wrinkled cheeks. "Aye, sir! I swear, I won't let a single nasty orc touch them!" With that, the paladin nodded towards Felrus and his companion. The two released the soldier and stood up, forming a phalanx around Wyrmbane and his warhorse. "Forward, then!" And with that, marching resumed for the troops.

The challenges were not lacking. They came across pitfall traps, ambushes by the undead or the monstrous spiders, or even physical barriers like walls of flame or magical bridges that required certain artifacts to be unlocked. Lives were lost, but nonetheless, they persevered, refusing to give up hope. And then, eventually, they reached that wide cavernous area, with a river of fire to one side, and a passage straight ahead of them.

They had barely stepped into that area when once again their resolve was put to the test... This time when over a dozen skeleton warriors and archers rose from the ground to face them, and from the passageway they intended to cross came forward a gigantic suit of armor with nothing inside, moving on its own towards them.

Felrus raised his shield and pulled his great sword from his back, as did his fellow soldiers unsheathe their blades. The mages in the backline already began to chant their spells as Wyrbane shouted: "For the Light!" And with a rallying shout, they advanced to meet those monstrosities.

The skeletal soldiers were clad in extremely old armor almost entirely devoured by rust. Their weapons, however, seemed to be just as sharp as the day they were forged. One skeleton warrior attempted to slash at Felrus, however, having a weapon with far greater reach, his strike hit first. His massive sword hit the skeleton at its shoulder, where it served the purpose of a mace more so than a sword, and the brittle old bones were completely crushed by the impact. Felrus continued to bring his weapon down until it got stuck halfway down across the skeleton's rusty old chestplate.

A second undead soldier approached Felrus. This time, the warrior had to lift his shield to block the blow, his weapon momentarily trapped inside the fallen skeleton before him. With a mighty grunt, Felrus took a heavy step forward and slammed his shield against the second skeleton's chest, which sent the creature flying a respectable distance away from him, where it laid helpless on the ground long enough for another one of the soldiers to dispatch it before it could recover. Felrus took advantage of that moment to firmly plant his booted foot against the skeleton he had just defeated and pulled his sword free from it's ribcage. That moment, he heard someone shout: "It's too strong! Our spells are having no effect!"

Felrus looked up. The metal golem was advancing towards the Human Expedition members who were gathered near the tunnel entrance where they had come through. He saw magical bolts of gleaming arcane power, frozen spears of pure ice and glowing, searing orbs of flame being launched towards the golem, only to burst against it's armored chest or shatter all over it's armor to little effect other than slowing down its advance.

"The spellcasters need us! Soldiers, defend them! Stop that creature!" Wyrmbane shouted from somewhere ahead. Felrus saw the paladin still on top of his horse, trampling across the battlefield and swinging his holy sword against the undead, his other hand raised high above his head and emanating a golden, warm glow that enveloped his body. The skeletal archers on the other end of the cave were steadily shooting their arrows at the paladin, but their projecticles appeared to be bouncing off harmlessly that divine barrier he had unleashed. "Defend our backline! If we lose Lady Jaina, it is all over!"

Without hesitation, Felrus rushed back to where the main group was along with two more soldiers who weren't busy engaged with the skeletal soldiers. Standing side by side with them, he raised his shield and braced himself, sword in hand above his head. "Don't falter now!" He shouted, watching the metal golem approach them.

The creature really was enormous. He figured even an ogre could wear that armor comfortably. Its helmet had a visor shaped like a T with huge, cruel-looking horns sticking out from the sides. From what he could see, the insides of that helm were completely empty. Spells continued to bounce off its body, and even arrows and spears were having little more effect. "We must strike at a weak point!" He heard Lady Jaina shout behind him, to which a second nameless mage replied: "But where? It's entire body is an enchanted suit of armor!"

Felrus had no time to think. That moment, the metal golem had reached him and his group. It lifted one gigantic hand above its head, then, with surprising speed for a being of that size and weight, the golem brought it's fist down like a meteor against Felrus and his fellow soldiers.

A few weeks ago, a blow like that would have spelled the warrior's end. Thanks to his sharpened reflexes, however, Felrus was just a fraction of a second faster than that hammer-like arm. Letting go of his weapon and shield, he took a leap backwards. The golem's fist slammed the ground with such force, all three soldiers were sent flying, with Felrus landing heavily on his back. A bit disoriented, he lifted his head in time to see the golem lift its hand once more, but this time it was readying its other arm to punch Felrus right where he lay. His shield had been flattened like a pancake by the previous attack, so he had no doubts what would happen if he was hit by another blow. 'I can't die like this... Dalrus...' He frantically looked around for anything he could use to defend himself. His sword was laying a few steps away from him, out of reach. The mages were still attempting to conjure up a spell powerful enough to destroy the golem. Felrus didn't know much about magic, but he remembered that one of its most basic lessons was that the more powerful the spell, the longer it would take to conjure it successfully.

There was no one who could save him now.

'Brother... I hope you are OK, wherever you are. Forgive me for failing you...' Felrus closed his eyes, and readied himself for his death.

Just as he did, however, he caught a glimpse of something, an instant before darkness took over his vision. It looked like a shadow materializing in the air behind the metal golem. The next moment, he heard something... Like the sound of blades slicing through metal. He then heard something very big and very heavy fall against the floor not too far from where he was, and a second later, something even bigger collapsed as well.

Felrus opened his eyes.

Right before him was an outstretched hand, clad in a dark leather glove, offering itself to help him up once again. Attached to that hand was a thin arm belonging to a teenager boy fresh out of his blooming. That arm was connected to a somewhat short body, wearing a dark tunic covered in tears and cuts, and over that, a black leather jacket. From the waist down, his savior wore a thick belt, from which was hanging a very familiar looking weapon... Although it also looked radically different from before, sporting details Felrus didn't remember being there, on top of looking big enough to pass for a short sword now. Below the waist, he wore trousers that were also covered in cuts and tears, giving the appearance that its wearer had been out in the wild on his own for a very long time. He also wore fine-looking leather boots, similar to the ones Felrus himself possessed, being a gift from his father.

He looked up at his savior's face.

His hair was scruffier than ever now, black as the night and hanging around his face like thorns. His bright blue eyes were staring straight into Felrus', and he was sporting that same cocky grin he always did, as if somehow he was one step ahead of everyone else in the room. Then, Felrus heard this scruffy, arrogant looking boy with his hand outstretched for him speak:

"Hey, Fel. Need a hand?"