The following morning was rough on Mae, her head was still pounding with something fierce and her cheek had blossomed with a purple bruise. The cut on her lip had dried and was tender to the touch. She laid still for a while, hoping that the pain in her head would ease up. When she finally sat up, she noticed the Orc was no longer with her, but someone had left some bread on a plate at the bedside. Mae ate the bread quietly without question, glancing at the cracks in the tent. There was no sun shining but no rain fell either; It was a gloomy day all together, but at least it matched her mood.
After eating, Mae got some of her lost energy back. Her mind wandered to her captor.
Where was the Orc? Should she try to escape? Would it be possible to stealth out of here? As if her thoughts were voiced, an Undead stepped into the tent, grumbling something to her in a language she couldn't even really tell it was words. She got up and headed outside after him, hugging herself as the chilly morning air prickled at her skin.
The camp's tents were completely gone except for the one she had been in, of which was now being taken down and packed up. Everyone was setting up their mounts and getting ready to traverse. Soon Mae was placed on the large Worg and they headed out. The only sounds were of the animals and a few grunts here and there. It was chilly and everyone seemed to be miserable and tired, probably from the raid the previous day no doubt. She had heard of her people going on raids and they were exhausted afterwards. Even more so after traveling for a month to get everywhere; people missed their families and a nice warm soft bed and food the inn's provided.
The Orc, who she still didn't even know his name, was quiet as well, and it scared her. Would he get frustrated and hit her again? He would occasionally take a strand of her hair and sniff it, giving her the shivers down her spine. Other times his large hand would rest on her thigh. Mae had no clue how long they had been traveling for, but it gradually became colder and colder. The Orc put a skin over her and Mae wrapped herself into it. He then hugged her close to his chest. As the snow got deeper and deeper, her eyes widened at the realization.
"Ironforge…" Mae whispered softly, dread lacing her voice.
They were going to Ironforge! There had to be some way to warn them, not only that but this could be her chance for freedom.
The next time they had set up camp, they were at the bottom of a mountain. She could barely see Ironforge, but she knew it was there in the distance. Her heart raced with excitement, but she was also terrified.
"Ang Gijak-Ishi!" The Orc shouted to the others. They seemed to be getting ready. The tired faces soon were awake, weapons were being pulled off their mounts and attached to their armor
"No fire here. Go hunt for meat." The Orc spoke to her, his eyes boring into her own.
"Do not run." He growled to her as he gripped her hair making her gasp in pain, his face came close to hers and his forehead pressed against hers.
"Do not want to kill you." The Orc warned.
Mae's heart jumped into her throat and she nodded. Shifting into her cat form, she moved around the camp quietly. Eyes were on her like hawks, she didn't want to move too far, but at that same time this was her only chance of getting away. If she could make it to Ironforge she could warn them, and even take the tram to Stormwind to get away from the raid. She could also take the old and young and weak with her.
Her paws left tracks in the snow, her stomach rumbled. She was starving. She hadn't eaten for most the day, not to mention the morsels she received the day before. Looking around, her ears swiveled around. Mae was about to dart off into the direction of Ironforge, she would run even when her heart and lungs wanted to give out. As soon as she was about to launch herself forward, she heard something. Looking back she saw a rouge; He was in stealth but she could see the footprints in the snow. She growled softly as she moved around him.
A hare caught her attention. She was silent in the snow from her massive paws. Her rear end wiggled to get a grip and she moved. She was fast and at the hare in no time. She kept her eyes looking around, she couldn't seem to see the rouge. She dropped the hair and snow flew from her paws as she took off.
Mae didn't get far before a hunters pet was at her, biting at her ankles to stop her. DAMN! A hunter as well?! How had she not noticed? The bite to her ankle was painful and left a red trail in the snow as she moved. Finally stopping, Mae knew even if she ran the trail would lead them right to her.
The hunter tossed the hare she had killed at her and turned back towards camp. The cold snow bit at her new wound, causing her to walk with a limp. With the dead hare hanging in her mouth, she dredged along behind the hunter, head hung low. The rouge was soon behind him no longer bothering with being hidden. The Orc looked to her and glared, growing more angry when he saw she was limping.
No trouble came to the hunter though, just a curt nod. The Orc grabbed Mae by the back of the neck, picking her up by her scruff. It was painful, there was no doubt about that. She was a very large wild cat and she shouldn't be picked up in that manner. She was no cub!
"You want be animal?" Growled the Orc as he went through a bag. A leather belt, stained with blood was fastened around her neck. Confused she looked to the Orc, was he putting a collar on her?! Mae was outraged.
"I treat you like animal." Glared the Orc. He turned his ax and hit it hard into the ground, a large spike digging through the frozen ground. A chain was brought and attached to the collar, the other end to the pike deep in the ground. The hare she had killed was tossed to her and the Orc left. Mae's ears perked up when she realized they were mounting up. They were leaving! She growled as she got up and tugged on the chain. She huffed as the collar tugged around her neck, choking her.
Two horde were left behind and they didn't look happy about it. They didn't come on a raid to babysit. There was nothing Mae could do now, she was stuck here and they were going to murder everyone.
After exhausting herself, she began to lick the wound on her ankle. It was sore and caked with dry blood. It was still bleeding but not nearly as bad as before. Once she felt she had cleaned the wound up enough, she dug into the hare, which didn't offer a lot for meat. All she had been given was the hare she had killed and a large skin blanket. Finding some ground that wasn't as much covered in snow she crawled into the skin, making a bed out of it and covering up. Mae shapeshifted into her elf form, looking over her ankle once, hoping no infection would get into the wound.
When Mae woke again, it was dark out. Lingering in the skin blanket for a few moments, her fingers brushed against the leather collar around her neck before she stuck her head out, which was faced to the reaction of a blood elf pulling out his blade. Her hand fell down into her lap, looking into the distance she could see the flames lapping at the sky, smoke billowing from Ironforge. Her ears could pick up on the faint screams that echoed into the night air. She tossed the skin back over her head and forced herself to go back to sleep.
It must have been midday when Mae heard loud noises, waking her from her sleep. She buried her face into the warm fur and growled.
"Stupid horde.. " She growled softly to herself. "Pigs, all pigs and monsters…
She had heard some things the two were saying about her, though she hadn't been with the Orc for long, she was fast at learning their language. This gave her hope that she wouldn't be killed. Why would he put effort into teaching her a language if he was just going to kill her? At the same time, she wanted to be killed, who knew what he did plan to do with her.
Mae didn't want to face the horde, so she stayed in her little protective fort. Within the hour the Orc came and picked her up, bringing her into the tent. He was covered in blood, and slightly drunk. They had started a fire and were all being loud and singing. She could smell the meat and alcohol, they took advantage of the dwarves alcohol that was for sure. He was silent as he removed more of his armor, the leather was more protected from blood from the plate armor, but blood still stained his skin beneath it.
"Come wash me." That was all the Orc had said to her. She limped to his side without a word, taking a cloth that sat in a bowl of water. Gulping softly she looked up at him and ran the cloth on his face. He gripped her face hard and pulled her closer to him.
"Don't ever run from me." He growled before letting her go. She rubbed the cloth where the blood was, cleaning as much as she could off. Her stomach growled loudly. She hadn't eaten since the night started, and it was already late afternoon. In a swift motion he grabbed her and placed her in the chair. He took something from his pocket and placed some of it on his finger and rubbed her lip, it had no scent to it but it was like a gel. He moved down to her leg and rubbed some of it on the new forming scabs around her ankle.
"No food." He said to her softly, but a look of anger and disappointment still was on his face. She was being punished. It would only be two days of no food, but her stomach already ached from hunger. He wrapped her ankle and gave her a coat he must of grabbed from Ironforge. Iit was beautiful and white, made from tons of hare's. He was punishing her, but gifting her? Grabbing her by the leather collar; which was far bigger on her now in this form, but still not able to be lifted above her head; they went out by the fire. He tugged her into his lap and lifted a mug. The jacket at least kept her nice and warm.
Mae was starving and the smell of food was everywhere. There was boars and even a stag being roasted, drink and bread with cream. Oh how the cream smelled amazing! Another Orc grabbed the boars leg and started to dig into it. It only opened up the smell of nicely cooked meat and it made her groan. A few men laughed, and she was patted on the head. The night went on and belly's were all full, except for hers of course. Some of them went to bed good and drunk. Mae could understand a bit of what they were saying, telling stories, though it was very broken to her and made no sense. Talk of families and children.
Mae yawned wide, she was bored of the stories, and hungry. Though the food was well gone by now. The Orc's arm went around her waist and shook a bit, laughing. Though he was sometimes gentle, he was an Orc and was still rough and brutal. She hadn't forgotten when he hit her; her lip was now feeling better from whatever it was he put on it, but the cut was there as well as some darker purple bruising. The Orc picked her up and placed her on her feet, chugging the alcohol and getting up himself, stumbling and laughing. They bid their good nights and she and the Orc were off to the tent. He made her strip again, though in the snow, inside the tent was warm. She expected to go to bed but when he stayed sitting in his chair, she began to get nervous.
"Hungry?" He grinned to her. Mae's heart started beating fast. Food? She was starving, but she had a feeling that wasn't what he was intending. He laughed and moved to the bed, his eyes on her. He leaned back into the bed of furs and her ears rang as she heard his belt buckle coming undone. He gripped her jawline and his mouth was on hers, kissing her deeply. Mae gasped and closed her eyes tight. Now she knew what the Orc had in mind. The grip on her jaw was painfully tight. Soon his hand started bringing her head down to his waste, still barely covered.
Mae shook her head, keeping her eyes closed. She had never done anything like this and she did not want to do it! The Orc grinned down at her resistance and let her go.
"Please your master." The Orc demanded. He leaned back and she gulped. The cloth barely was covering him and she could see the large bulge under the cloth. She took a deep breath. She knew she would get a good whack if she refused, though she had a feeling she'd rather risk it. Mae's ear twitched, a soft sound reaching her ears. Snoring? She looked up and the Orc was sleeping, snoring soundly, the mug still in his hand. Her heart just about stopped and she let out a sigh. He must have been so full, drunk and exhausted from the raid he passed out.
Mae carefully crawled into bed, hugging a lump of fur close to her. How lucky was she in that moment? But what would happen next time if he wasn't drunk and tired?