Chapter 2
-Taken-
The woman's breath came in rapid bursts as they reached the end of the clearing. Looking back, she groaned to see they were being pursued. Three of the bandits, had seen the woman lead the children away from the fighting and they hadn't hesitated to follow. All three carried swords, so at least they wouldn't have to worry about ranged fire. But, either way, the woman knew she could never out run them. Glancing down, she saw the children, stains from their tears, dry from having the wind in their face as they ran. Taking a deep breath, the woman turned around. The children suddenly shrieking as she did so, not wanting to get caught by the bandits. Smiling gently, she looked over her shoulder at the worried kids, her voice cracked from fear, but managing to retain a calm tone.
"I'll be fine. Run to Goldshire, you'll be save there."
Gritting her teeth, the woman turned back to the raiders, who were now only 20 meters away. Closing her eyes, she held her hands out far in front of her, shaking at the effort of the magic she was summoning. A warm glow spread through her body, and she trembled as it passed, opening her eyes, she whispered a spell.
"Smite!" The word reached the ears of the eager assassins, and they couldn't help but laugh at her pathetic attempt.
Most of the children, now terrified, ran hard and fast. Heading in the direction they were before. Except the two girls, they had to stay. Because the man, who they witnessed, defeated and killed was their father. And this woman, who had risked her safety to help the kids, was also their mother. The blonde, who was old enough to understand the danger, tried to push her sister away, begging and pleading for her to run. But, her efforts were useless. The toddler was too entranced in the fighting, to notice anything else.
Disorientated and stunned, the woman held her hands in front of her face, a desperate attempt to protect herself.
She was dead before she hit the ground.
Turning to the two remaining children, the bandits smiled wickedly through their masks. Snickering evilly as they pondered how they would kill them. Although, without warning, the brunette trudged bravely forward, her hands on her hips, and chin raised high in the air. She walked past her mother's body, a small glint catching her eye. Reaching down, she pulled a long dagger from her mother's sleeve. The question of why her mother never thought of using it passed through her. But, she was much too young to fully comprehend the logic. Shutting her eyes tight, she held the dagger outward, both hands on the handle.
The blonde shrieked as she watched her sister threaten the bad men. She started to walk forward, hoping to pull her sister back, but stopped herself. Deciding to use words instead.
"Ceinlys. Ceinlys il n'est pas sûr, là-bas, peut-être vous devriez revenir ici. S'il vous plaît! I don't want you to get hurt!" Her voice held a very strong accent, which was more prominent in the language she spoke. The bandits only seemed to comprehend the last few words. Which were in the common tongue, spoken over most of Azeroth.
Her sister understood. But, she didn't care. The only thought racing through her mind, was revenge. These mean people, killed her friends, her family, and might even kill her sister. If they thought they could just run all over her, they were wrong.
Howling in laughter at the frail girl's attempt, the leading bandit of the three quickly knocked the dagger from Ceinlys's hands. Balling his fingers into a tight fist, he punched the girl in the jaw. Dislocating it, and knocking Ceinlys out cold. She crumbled to the ground, only a few feet away from where her mother lay.
A curious idea came to the bandit, and he picked up the small girl, throwing her across his right shoulder. Without saying anything to his comrades, he began to make his way back towards the main group. Who had already started to move out.
Shrugging at the bold move, the other two took a quick glance at the blonde. Whose jaw was hanging down, as she watched her only sister be carried away by the man who killed her mother. The only thought that raced through her mind, was to run. Turning around, she bolted for the forest's edge. Her feet moving fast on the ground's soft grass. Looking over her shoulder as she ran, she was relieved to see that the two others had decided to leave her be. Choosing a pace, she continued to run, she knew these forests well, and had been to Goldshire many times before. The wooden buildings soon came into view. And she allowed herself a brief respite. Though her mind still raced, still trying to register the previous events, that gone by in a blur of blood and death.