The conversations around the fire ceased the moment Varok appeared, and when Gylledra stepped out from behind him, there were a myriad of reactions ranging from relief to surprise. She wasn't sure what to expect, knowing only that there was a small company of orcs and three tauren waiting for them. Off to the left there was a strangled yelp followed by clattering wood as Nasorya dropped her armful of kindling. She emitted another incoherent sound then hurled herself at Gylledra, crushing her in a hug that nearly cut off her air supply.

"I was so afraid! I have never been so worried!" She cried in Shalassian.

"Nas…Nas, I cannot breathe." Gylledra gasped and was released at once.

"You look…fine…as though you weren't about to die!" She exclaimed, on the verge of going to pieces. "I was left alone with strangers without knowing if I would ever see you again."

"That must have been a very terrifying one entire day without my company. It would have shattered anyone I suppose." Gylledra shook her head but smiled.

"It was TWO! Don't mock me!" Nasorya pouted. "It could have gone very badly."

"There is no point dwelling on what might have been when what is, is much better." She hugged her upset, but relieved friend who then did go to pieces, sobbing onto her shoulder. Gylledra looked up at Varok who wore a rare smile. "I will be along shortly, I imagine you are hungry."

"If there's anything you need…" He started.

"Your stomach was talking more than you were on the way up." She gave him a pointed look. Go away. He got the message, his stomach growling in response. With a smile curling one side of his mouth upward he gave a nod and shuffled off toward sustenance.

"I am not leaving you with strangers, Nasorya." Gylledra sighed, her attention back on the matter at hand. Nasorya stepped back, wiping at her wet cheeks, giving her head a shake as she pulled herself together.

"You were down there for two days. Everyone else seemed fine with it. Though…there was a fair amount of speculation." She glanced at the orcs and tauren at the fire where Varok now sat, inhaling a large bowl of probably stew.

"I'm sure there was, and they'd better hope he doesn't hear about it." Gylledra watched the old orc; a tauren, who could only be Baine Bloodhoof, was talking with him and judging by the various gestures that were vaguely aimed in the direction of the cave, she could guess the conversation topic.

"What did happen down there?"

"A good deal of magic, considering that the arcane dependence is gone, but I wasn't conscious to witness it." She smirked. "I woke up a little while ago in the water with Varok, we…talked, he told me where we are and why, then we got dressed and here I am."

"You paused, why did you pause?" The violet eyes narrowed at her.

"Pause? I didn't pause…"

"Oh, come on, Gyll, you're the only one pretending there is nothing! You've been denying and denying and just…you don't have to." Nasorya pleaded. Gylledra sighed heavily. "You've told me nothing since we met the orcs. I want to see your face light up, I want to see what you look like when you're happy." Tears brimmed in Nasorya's eyes again and Gylledra was taken completely aback. The words had struck her like a blow, and for a long moment she didn't know how to reply, or even how to process the fact that in all her years, all the people she had met, even the ones she had genuinely enjoyed the company of…she never let herself truly experience joy. The more she thought about it, the more she realized she didn't believe she deserved it. She had never kept anything from Nasorya before, but these private things, they were more intimate than she knew what to do with.

"I…alright, um…" Gylledra cleared her throat a little and Nasorya bit her lower lip, eagerly awaiting the story. They sat on a felled tree out of earshot from the fire, but in line of sight of Varok. "Well, it…"

"It? There's an it?" Nasorya whispered excitedly.

"Nas." Gylledra gave her a level look.

"Sorry. I'll be quiet."

"Something nearly happened the night we were drinking on the ship." She started again. "And I suppose, considering that we were undressed, something nearly happened in the cave" Her cheeks felt hotter, suddenly. "But it didn't."

"Oh, pish. I don't care what nearly happened." Nasorya gave an exasperated sigh.

"There is…something…between us that I don't fully understand it. It isn't anything I've dealt with before…" Gylledra fiddled idly with a twig sticking out of the log. "On the ship, I tried, very poorly, to seduce him, I suppose. Well, I goaded him really, and ended up flat on my back on the table, but his self-control is infuriatingly…well-managed."

"That would have definitely made for a good story." Nasorya nodded.

"Well, unlike you, I do not intend to give you a blow by blow retelling of whatever experiences I may have."

"Aw, why not?"

"Because…because it is…personal." Gylledra blustered.

"It is less personal when I talk about my own…adventures?" Nasorya crossed her arms and Gylledra suspected she was somehow being baited but didn't know how.

"No…I don't know…it is different." She sighed. There was a wicked twinkle in those violet eyes and she knew whatever the bait was, she'd taken it.

"Different because you love him."

"Don't be ridiculous, Nas." Gylledra retorted far too quickly.

"Ha…well, it'll do you some good."

"Or destroy me utterly."

"No, I don't think so." Nasorya nudged her. "So you were really naked together down there and nothing?" Gylledra couldn't keep the smile from her face, nor could she stop herself from glancing up again to where Varok sat consuming probably his third bowl of stew. He paused mid-shovel when he noticed her looking. She stuck her tongue out and he shook his head, amusement alight in his eyes.

"I didn't say nothing…"

"You haven't said anything!" Nasorya huffed and Gylledra chuckled quietly. "For the love of…DID HE KISS YOU AT LEAST?!" Gylledra was grateful on one hand that Nasorya was shouting in Shalassian, but mortified nonetheless since Varok had a fairly firm grasp of the language now. She looked at him to find him watching her, brows arched high as though to say 'Well?'.

"You realize he can understand you, right?" Gylledra hissed.

"Oh yes, I know."

"You're insufferable…"

"Well? Did he?"

"Yes if you absolutely must know!" Gylledra made a frustrated noise.

"Of course I must know, why else would I interrogate and embarrass you?" Nasorya outright cackled and waved at Varok who graciously pretended not to notice.

"You realize I am back to my full strength, don't you?"

"Oh, I am well aware, everyone felt it." Nasorya stared at Gylledra expectantly.

"What?"

"Tell me about your kiss."

"There is nothing to tell!"

"Was he good at it?"

"Yes? I don't have much of rubric considering it was more than ten millennia since the last time I was kissed!" Gylledra wondered just how long her face could feel as aflame as it did.

"Alright, well…were you covered in orc slobber when he stopped?" Nasorya crossed her legs as though she'd prepared this questionnaire.

"Nas…"

"Were you?"

"…no."

"Did he gag you by shoving his tongue into your throat?"

"No! He…" Gylledra stopped herself as the grin spread farther across Nasorya's devious face. "No."

"Alright, well, most importantly then, how did it make you feel?" It seemed there was less of a teasing tone to that question and Gylledra fidgeted a little, feeling foolish and shy. Things an elf of her age should not be feeling.

"I felt wonderful." She finally replied, very quietly, aimlessly fiddling with a buckle on her boot. Daring to look at Varok again, she found him watching her and her smile was involuntary, and apparently contagious as he smiled back. When she looked at Nasorya she found her beaming with tears in her eyes once more. "What?"

"That's what I wanted to see." She explained.

"There. I've told you things, you can stop badgering me." Gylledra smirked, though, and Nasorya threw her arms around her, squeezing and knocking them both backward off the log.

"Nas!"

"Sorry!"

With Nasorya's whirlwind of emotions having been seen to, Gylledra went to the fire where Varok and Baine Bloodhoof got to their feet. It was a bit embarrassing that all this fuss had been made over her, she preferred not to burden others but was grateful, knowing she might have died otherwise. She'd never been in a position before that required this kind of aid and part of her wondered if it had something to do with being on Azeroth, if somehow being on her home world, a place she was more invested in, affected her.

"You must be Baine Bloodhoof." She greeted. "I believe I have you to thank for this…for my life…"

"I led the way, it was the ones who care for you that saved your life." He had a pleasant way about him. There was wisdom in his eyes despite his youth.

"I understand that, but nevertheless you played a part and I want to thank you for your help."

"I almost did not." Baine said suddenly and Varok's brows flashed upward in surprise before he schooled his face again. Gylledra, however, just smiled.

"I am not surprised; shadow has far more weighing against it, and nothing that can be justified. As with all forces in existence, the coin has two sides. As I learned to wield it, I did so with a metaphorical knife to my throat. If I had slipped even a little into corruption, my teacher would have killed me…as he'd originally intended to."

"I feel I made the right decision." Baine put a firm hand on her shoulder.

"So do I, but I'm biased." She gave him a smile as the tauren chuckled. "I hope to fight alongside the tauren when the Legion attacks."

"I cannot imagine our people not seeking to defend the world we love. Speaking of defense…" Baine released her and turned to Varok. "I have gotten word that your people are headed north from Mulgore into the Stonetalon Mountains, so I will take you there to meet back up with them." The enormous tauren still watched Gylledra closely, as one would watch any potentially dangerous stranger. Thrall and the orcs had helped them, after all, not her. She had yet to prove herself as someone worthy of trust; she had yet to prove it even to all the orcs, the only one she knew truly trusted her was Varok, but he had seen inside her mind. "We will leave at dawn, unless you need more time to recover…"

"No, I will be ready at dawn." She assured him.

Gylledra felt energized and alert, not even remotely tired as the rest of the group slept. She tossed and turned for a while on her bedroll before getting frustrated and decided to take a walk. The silvery light of the White Lady shone down through the trees, both illuminating the marshy forest and casting shadows. To Gylledra, shadows were alive, they were things almost. To some it might seem impossible that the absence of everything had power, that nothing could be wielded like a weapon.

Most curious of all was where her thoughts had been dwelling since she stepped out of the cave. True, she'd been thinking quite a lot about Varok, but what weighed most heavily on her was the newfound desire to be in the world after the Legion's defeat, to truly live. Gylledra wanted things she had never given any thought to before. She wanted a home, someplace that was hers, she wanted people and it didn't matter if those people were elves or orcs or anyone else.

She had spent nearly her entire life avoiding having something to lose again. She'd lost what she did have, her family, and the blame for it loomed over her…had it not been for her, they would not be dead. Bent on revenge, or the need to feel something other than grief and regret, she had left behind what did remain of her family before they could be taken away as well.

Waging war on the Burning Legion had always seemed like a righteous cause, one Gylledra had been hiding behind for thousands of years. She did truly desire to see Sargeras and all his forces eradicated to cease the senseless destruction of worlds, but it had also been a convenient front while she ran away from her own life. Nasorya was right…Gylledra had lived long without genuine joy, without thinking of her own happiness and desires, but it wasn't in altruism, it was cowardice. How could she ever truly have the strength to fight the Legion if she didn't know what it was to have a home or what it meant to love? If she had nothing to lose…nothing to fight for…then what was she even fighting for?

She leaned against the trunk of a thick tree as regret rose up into the back of her throat like bile. Centuries…millennia…wasted. She had failed herself, submersed in a gray existence devoid of feeling. Yes, she loved Nasorya like a sister, though initially, it was simply that she refused to stop following Gylledra around…but before setting foot back on Azeroth, there had been nothing else.

What's done is done, she thought to herself, shoving her regret and self-pity back down. Those feeling accomplished nothing besides tempting her to wallow in wretchedness. Her only choice was to find her strength through what once seemed like only a vulnerability. Through her fear she had known incredible failure, perhaps it would be through hope for having her very own happiness that might clear the path to victory.

As though summoned from her thoughts, Varok stepped out of the shadows as he approached. She watched him for a moment, saying nothing but admiring how the moonlight struck the silver of his hair.

"Are you alright?" His voice was quiet amidst the sounds of the night.

"Yes, just restless." She replied. "I've had much to think on."

"As have I." Varok agreed. She didn't think that sounded very good for her, but inquired anyway.

"Oh?"

"Much has happened since we set sail, profound and otherwise." He peered up at the moon for moment. "I had a mate…" Gylledra froze at that, saying nothing, waiting for him to go on. "Do not look so nervous, Gylledra, she has been gone more than two decades." He gave a one sided smile and she cleared her throat.

"I'm not nervous." She lied. There was an uncomfortable feeling in her gut thinking of Varok with a mate, an orc of course, something she would never be. She wasn't sure she wanted to know whatever he was going to tell her.

"I had not thought to ever have another."

"She was your great love?" She regretted the question the instant she said it and he looked at her for a moment.

"I loved her, she bore me my son. But…who I am now is vastly different from the orc I was then." He went on. "Like any younger orc, I was brash, intemperate, and bent on bring glory to my clan and to the Horde. I made foolish choices thinking of myself, my glory, my honor." He leaned against another tree and she joined him in the shadows of it. "The red pox consumed her, as it had so many. Our son was only an infant, and I gave him to the elders of Garadar to hide away, to keep him safe from the fel as I had promised his mother I would." A son? Gylledra thought. How had the possibility escaped her that one such as he had a family? Like him in his intemperate youth, she was thinking more of herself than most anything else, she feared. "He is grown now, wherever he is."

"I am sorry…" Gylledra wasn't sure what to say, or why he had told her.

"Do not be, it was a long time ago, and I left my boy safe." He gave a sad smile. "Though I do still think of him each day."

"I wish I had a heart-felt story to share with you." She looked up at him and he put his arms around her, shadows in his eyes, unspoken words.

"I had not thought to ever have another mate." Varok said again, in a whisper.

"I am not an orc." She replied, just as quietly. "I cannot suppose it would be acceptable to your brethren to choose an elf over one of your own."

"Were you any other elf, perhaps." A small smile crossed his lips. "But you are the elf that aided in our departure from the Eastern Kingdoms, who then nearly sacrificed your own life to ensure we made it across the sea. There is no orc that would deny you a place amongst us as an ally."

"As an ally." Gylledra murmured. "But as a mate?"

"I will do as I please; only a fool would question my decisions."

"Knowing what they do of my power, they might think I bewitched you."

"No." He gave a chuckle. "That would be accusing me of weakness, which they know is very bad for their health."

"Fair point. So, then what? In a cave is not how it is done, I cannot suppose secretly in the moonlight is how it is done either." She flashed a grin, letting her hands lay on his chest, though he was armored once more, and she knocked on it lightly.

"No." Varok shook his head.

"Though, it is unclear what you mean by it, because if you mean coupling, well, that is done just about everywhere, orc or not. I have seen it…and heard Nasorya's tales." She went on. He chuckled again, releasing her.

"We start a long journey tomorrow, we'd best get back and get what rest we can." He told her, offering no clarification or explanation of what he'd meant at all. Gylledra sighed, giving a mildly annoyed sound of assent.

At dawn, the small party broke down camp and prepared to depart. Very little lay ahead of them that wasn't shrouded in uncertainty. The unknown was intimidating because it might mean failure and defeat, but it could also mean success and joy, and Gylledra chose to plan for victory.

She plucked a small red flower as Nasorya secured their meager belongings to the straps of a kodo. The color was deep, like blood…the color of the Horde, and she spun it between her fingers, watching its nine petals twirl. When Gylledra looked up she found both Nasorya and Varok staring at her with concern.

"What?" She stuck the flower in her hair and Nasorya's mouth dropped open before she turned to Varok.

"What did you do to her?"

"What did I…?" He spluttered. Nasorya leaned close to Gylledra, staring into her eyes with scrutiny.

"I don't know exactly what happened in that cave…but I'm glad." With that, she climbed onto the kodo. Gylledra moved to get on as well but Nasorya pulled the reigns, moving it away from her. "No. You and Mr. Moonlit-walk can ride together." She told them, pointing at Varok, then rode toward the front of the group. It wasn't a terrible disappointment and Gylledra turned to look up at Varok who had just mounted his own beast.

"That settles that." He rumbled. "Come on."

"On back?" She eyed the saddle warily, skeptical of its viability to seat two.

"Only if you want to fall off." He held out his hand and Gylledra took it, as he practically picked her up and sat her astride the kodo in front of him. Yes, this would do nicely, she thought. "I think I can handle having your heft in my lap." Gylledra gasped theatrically, looking over her shoulder at him as he smirked.

Gylledra was acutely aware of the fact her backside was wedged firmly between Varok's thighs. Her back was pressed against his chest, his arms around her as he held the reins…she could feel every minute movement he made and became hyperaware of her tactile sense. There was little else to focus on or distract herself with and every shift of his legs and hips seemed to make the deep parts of her clench just a little. There was virtually no room between Gylledra and the pommel; she tried to shift just a little bit and found at once what a terrible mistake that was, gasping as the leather ridge pressed against her. Seeking to avoid so closely riding the pommel for the next several hours, she shifted back, also a mistake, as her backside pressed even tighter to Varok's thighs and he made a small noise.

"What's the matter?" He asked, his mouth close to her ear as he leaned down. She squirmed as his warm breath sent a chill down her spine, the deep reverberation of his voice did not help.

"I've become a bit too intimately acquainted with the pommel." She replied. Just then, the blasted kodo shifted, which moved the harden leather pressed so tightly against her that she winced, but not in pain.

"It could be worse." He offered.

"How?" Gylledra demanded, falling into the obviously laid trap before her brain could stop her. He placed his hand flat on her abdomen but moved it slowly, his fingers descending between her legs but stopping before reaching too far. She inhaled sharply, clutching at his thighs, very grateful that they were bringing up the rear. At least everyone else was facing forward. She looked up at Varok over her shoulder and found his mouth close to hers. There was a delightful wickedness in his eyes, as he let his lips lightly brush hers before pulling back so she could not kiss him properly. "Oh, you're a bastard." She whispered.

"It's going to be a long ride." He murmured, his mouth against her ear. Gylledra's eyes moved over the rest of their fellow travelers who either heard nothing or were diligently ignoring their existence.

"Is this how things are done?" She hissed and the chuckle rumbled in his chest.

"No." He said simply but suddenly gripped her, making her gasp aloud as he lifted. But he scooted himself back a bit in the saddle, releasing her to sit more comfortably, his arm innocently wrapped around her middle now. She could feel herself trembling slightly but cleared her throat.

"Thank you." She told him quietly.

"You're welcome." He breathed.

"You must know a lot of stories. Tell me one." Gylledra quickly changed the subject.

"What kind of story?"

"Something diverting, maybe about things before you were the great Commander Saurfang." She offered.

"You require a diversion?" He asked, knowing very well she did. With a huff, she crossed her arms. "How about the story of how Draenor came to be?" Gylledra gave a nod and Varok launched into the tale of Sporemounds, the Evergrowth, and the mighty Grond.

They'd made it into the Barrens the first day, which were beautiful in a rugged, untouched sort of way…but they were aptly named as the stretches of dirt, tall grass, and hills all began to look exactly the same. Periodically a large cat easily camouflaged in the grass would explode out from underneath a brambly patch of growth. It made for something interesting at least for a minute or so.

Camp was set up as the sun dipped below the horizon and they ate without incident. Most everyone fell asleep shortly after as they had been moving at an exhausting pace. Gylledra still found it somewhat difficult to sleep, however, her mind immediately littered with thoughts and questions about this world and what she might do in it if she was ever free from the oath she took, if the Legion was ever truly defeated.

The fire had died down to glowing coals and Gylledra could see the outline of those who were sleeping. An orc was on watch and he was some ways off, facing away. She turned over, looking in the direction of the shape that was Varok. He also was not asleep, she could tell by the way he was breathing.

Silently, she shrugged out of her coat and vest then made her way to his side where he lay on his back, a saddle bag beneath his head. He grabbed her, pulling her on top of him and she barely stifled a squeak of surprise. He kissed her and held her against his chest but a quiet sigh escaped her.

"Shh." He shushed. She could feel him grin and she lightly bit his lower lip, pressing her hips against him. This time he had to stifle a soft groan.

"Is this how things are done?" Gylledra whispered.

"Certainly not. But you wear down my resolve." Varok kissed her roughly, tugging at her shirt and somehow managing to unbind her hair. He moved to roll over but suddenly she froze and he halted. Her eyes darted into the darkness, there was a strange scuffling and what might have been hooves. Hooves? She inhaled sharply. "What?" Varok breathed.

"Centaur…" She hissed, her heart suddenly pounding for different reasons. "CENTAUR!" She leapt off him and to her feet, hurling a ball of flames at the nearly extinguished bonfire at the center of their small camp. It erupted, lighting up the area as everyone scrambled up.

The lookout lay dead where he had been sitting, somehow she hadn't even heard him die. Another orc who had been sleeping near the edge of the camp was also dead and a burning fury rose up in Gylledra as she searched the darkness for movement. Those orcs were dead because of her, because she had needed help.

"They're still here." Varok snarled, axe in hand. "I can smell them."

"This is my fault." She whispered so only he could hear.

"Don't." He shot her a look and she gave one right back.

"Nevertheless I will put them down."

"Gylledra…you…" Nasorya started.

"No." It came out harsher than she meant it to.

The fire suddenly extinguished and when it flared up again, they were surrounded by centaur, one of which held the blade of his spear to Gylledra's throat.

"Oh, shit…" Nasorya stared at the one holding a spear, almost amused, knowing what was in store for him and his brethren.

Gylledra and her band of orcs and tauren were severely outnumbered. Baine was ready to spring into action, teeth bared as he looked from face to face. One centaur, a bit bigger than the others, stepped forward, looking smug.

"Fortune smiles upon us that we happen to fall upon the chieftain's son outnumbered by his new allies. It won't look good when they find your carcass slaughtered by what seems to have been your green friends." He taunted.

"It would seem you've woefully misjudged fortune." Gylledra snarled, changing as her rage and shadow coursed violently through her.

The leader gave a nod and as the centaur holding the spear to her throat moved to thrust it into her, she darted out of the way and in a flash, grabbed the spear, pulling it from his hands and drove the sharpened butt of it through his neck. The dying centaur fell at once, making a spluttering gaging noise before he hit the ground and she pulled out the spear.

Chaos erupted as the centaurs surged forward to strike, but they were met with a blast of purple and white-blue energy that bypassed the orcs and tauren, forcing back their attackers. The leader bellowed orders and the spear in Gylledra's hands became charged with power. She hurled it across the camp, hitting him in the abdomen. Black tendrils slithered out of the wound, wrapping around him as the front line of his soldiers burst into flame. This was enough to halt the others, at least momentarily.

The orcs and tauren were all ready to fight but looked back and forth between the centaurs and Gylledra. The leader struggled as the black tendrils pulled him to the ground. No one spoke, there was only the sound of flames and the dying screams of the burning centaur.

"More will rise from where each one of us falls!" The leader grunted, with difficulty.

"I will cut down any who rise in their place." She replied, her voice sounding strange. It felt good to use her power again, she felt stronger but her rage was close to the surface. Gylledra did not take kindly to her allies being murdered in their sleep. Loss of life was expected in battle, but cowardice such as this disgusted her. There was honor in dying by the hand of the enemy, honorable deaths she could accept, but for two to die in this way when they had volunteered to embark on a journey that was to save her life…that she could not abide.

Some of the Centaur had begun to run off, but her impulse was unchecked as she raised her arms, black spikes drove up out of the earth and into their bodies, halting and ending them at once. There had been perhaps fifty or sixty to start with and their numbers were dwindling. They wavered back and forth between wanting to attack and fleeing, knowing that both would get them killed. From what she'd been told, they had been terrorizing the tauren as far back as anyone could remember. It was a much fairer fight now, despite her group still being slightly outnumbered and she turned to the waiting orcs and tauren.

"Fight for the honor of the fallen." She told them simply and stepped back as they attacked the remaining centaurs, their war cries ringing out.

The enemy was cut down with no more interference from Gylledra, their ferocity and strength were more than enough to take down even those who outnumbered them. The leader still lay struggling on the ground, blood seeping from the spear wound and she crouched down, leaning close to his ear.

"Know this, centaur…when we have honored our dead…I will march on your camp…and I will burn it to the ground."

.

The battle had not been lengthy, but it was fierce and Saurfang's breath was slowing as he wiped the blood from his axe in the grass. It was not the first unexpected night battle he'd experienced, nor would it likely be the last. Though, it was the first time he'd been interrupted in the midst of other things. He looked amongst the dead centaur and saw Gylledra kneeling beside the two orc who had been cut down in cowardice. He knew it didn't matter what he told her, she blamed their deaths on herself.

He wasn't sure what he expected of her in a fight, but whatever it was, it was not what she had done. The memory of the storm on the ship and the sheer magnitude of her power was not something he had forgotten, but he was reminded anew as he saw the charred remains of those who had burned.

"This was nothing." Nasorya told him, suddenly at his side, somehow able to discern what his thoughts were lingering on. "Wait until you see her fight demons, I would wager you've never seen anything like it, not even from the warlocks on your home world." Saurfang said nothing but she smiled and walked away.

Gylledra's half open shirt hung off one shoulder, untucked from her trousers, and her long dark hair cascaded down her back. Some fell forward as she bowed her head, her eyes squeezed shut. She seemed back to herself, but everything about her had changed when she wielded the shadow. It should have been frightening to see, but he found it beautiful and powerful.

"Gylledra." He said softly, getting on one knee beside her. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"They should not be dead…if I hadn't been…if I had made a better choice that night…" She started, and looked over at him, regret in her eyes.

"All who agreed to come on this trek were made aware of its danger, of the possibility that the centaurs could attack." He told her.

"They didn't even have a chance to fight." She shook her head.

"There will be stories about how they were slain by our enemy, but that you fought against the centaurs to bring glory to their names. I knew them both, they were good warriors, it is why I trusted them to come. They will still be remembered with honor." He laid his hand on her back and she looked for a long moment at the bodies on the ground.

"You saw a glimpse of the monster I can be." Gylledra's voice was a whisper and Saurfang frowned slightly. Her eyes seemed to flash as she looked up into the darkness. "You will see it again when I kill the rest of them." She got to her feet and strode away, her anger still palpable.

"I am glad she is not our enemy." Baine told Saurfang as he approached. Saurfang rose and nodded in agreement.

"As am I." He rumbled, watching her across the way pulling on her vest and braiding her hair again.

"Dawn approaches soon, what should we do?"

"We will build them pyres and then we will follow Gylledra to the centaurs who sent these ones to kill us." He looked over at the tauren who seemed a bit perturbed by the idea.

"What will she do?"

"They meant to incite war between your people and mine, what do you think she will do?" Saurfang gestured to the dead around them and Baine's eyes grew wide.

"All of them?"

"All of them."

There were still a few hours until dawn when the camp was moved away to a cleaner clearing. The group spoke quietly amongst themselves, most simply sitting and waiting for the dawn. Saurfang and Baine had made sure their kodos were still secure and began putting the saddle bags and harnesses back on. They returned to the ring of light cast by the fire and Saurfang noticed at once the Gylledra was not present. Nasorya conspicuously attempted to avoid notice.

"Where did she go?" He demanded. She looked up at him with wide eyes, doing the worst impression of innocence he had ever seen.

"Do you really think she tells me everything?" She asked, giving an exaggerated shrug.

"Yes." He growled.

"That's fair. I'll give you three guesses." The grin that spread across her face was positively diabolical.

"Nasorya…" He started.

"Fine, I will give you one guess." The grin somehow widened.

"She is on her way alone to the centaur camp." Baine interjected.

"The point goes to the hairy hooved one." She told them. "She didn't want you following too closely, but if we leave now, I imagine we'll still catch some of the show." Saurfang gave a frustrated growl and barked orders to move out. He should have supposed she would disappear on her own to rain down a dark retribution.

Their small company moved as quickly as they could with lumbering kodo in tow. They weren't exactly beasts made for speed. They were on the move for two hours when there was light rising over the hill ahead of them.

"Dawn approaches." One of the orcs commented.

"We are moving west." Saurfang replied. "That is not the sun."

They drew closer and finally the blaze came into view. It had been a rather large camp; the crude structures and tents were nothing but burning frames. Off to one side, Gylledra sat perched on a large rock, her legs crossed as she watched the fire. She briefly glanced back at them before turning her attention forward again. The heat was immense and even from as far back as they were, they could feel it on their faces.

Though he had not watched Gylledra set the camp on fire, Saurfang suddenly felt something very heavy and uncomfortable in his gut. The camp was large enough to be a village…even the children of centaur, the children of any enemy…did not deserve to die for the sins they had not committed.

"They are all dead?" Baine asked her as they approached.

"Yes…well, two or three managed to run off, but I figure there has to be someone to tell the story. I made sure they knew who they were running from." She gave a mirthless laugh and hopped off the rock, finally looking at Saurfang who quickly looked away, staring into the fire. He was no stranger to sacking cities, to driving his axe through anything that moved that wasn't another orc. It confused and disturbed him that one moment she was torn up over the needless loss of life, but then…she was capable of…this.

"All of them…" Baine was astonished and Saurfang could not tell if he was ecstatic or horrified by it.

"It was a warband camp." She told them. "There were no young amongst them."

"How can you be sure?" Saurfang gave Gylledra a cold stare which she met squarely, unflinchingly. He wondered if there was truly anything that she feared.

"Because I burned it from the inside out." She stepped up to him. "I would not slay their children any more than I would have slain those human children in Hillsbrad, Varok." She'd known somehow what it had brought to his mind, but then, she had once seen inside him, she knew him in a way no other ever had. Saurfang realized then that he needed to trust in what he knew of her, too.