(AUTHOR'S NOTE: WARNING!!! Theres a brief moment of abnormally brutal content! M rated! It is very brief but viewer discretion is advised!)
Chapter 7: An Alliance Viewpoint
The Alliance forces spread out to their main strongholds. Drake Valarian was en route to Stormwind. Drake arrived on the scene to a strangely brutal yet relieving sight. His city stood and demon bodies littered the city, but so did his comrades, his allies, and his friends. Although the city stood, it had been badly damaged. With many of the Alliance's forces at Alterac Valley Stormwind's defenses had been minimal. The demons had reached the inner sanctum's and begun to raze the city. Fortunately the remaining Alliance forces managed to repel and decimate the demonic forces.
Drake steered his elegant gryphon down into the Park in the stronghold. Several minor demon bodies surrounded a large dead Pit lord whose thick greenish black blood corrupted the wildlife around it. Drake looked around in honor. Dozens of Stormwind guards lay dead within the grass, brutally ripped apart by the demon savages.
"Well look who decided to show his face!" called out a familiar voice. Drake turned to see his dwarf friend, Longshot.
"Longshot, my friend, you survived! Thank the Light!" cheered Drake as he rushed over to his friend who was mounted on top of his bear, Betsy, as usual.
Longshot was a talented hunter with a mysterious past. Several years ago, Longshot was found aimlessly wandering around in Khaz Modan in the middle of a blizzard. When an Alliance patrol discovered him, he was emaciated, along with Betsy, and on the verge of death. They took him back to camp and when he awoke he had no recollection of anything of his past. The only clue he had was a very skillfully custom crafted gun that was tied to his back and his bear companion with the name "Betsy, etched into the saddle. Later, when a large wendigo assaulted the camp, the dwarf instinctively pulled out his rifle and displayed excellent marksmanship. Longshot enlisted into the Alliance army and has been trying to learn of his past ever since. He has found nothing of his past and no one who knows of his former self. His name Longshot comes from his excellent sharpshooter skills and the chance of him finding his past.
"Aye, I made it through the fight. It be a gruesome battle though. Many o' good men died today." said the dwarf in a solemn tone. Betsy growled sympathetically. Betsy was an abnormally large grizzly bear. Longshothad mounted two cannons on her side that he used whenever he charged into battle. He had also made her a special set of battle armor. Whenever people spoke of Longshot's bear and they refer to as "Tank" fearing the name Betsy will ruin the power of the tale.
"What were you even doing here? I thought you were looking for answers to your past in Ironforge?" asked a more than curious Drake.
" Indeed I was. I found a lead there and was following it here to Stormwind. Shortly after I arrived, these demonic bastards showed up outta nowhere and began to lay siege to the city. Me and Betsy gladly joined the fight, but these demons…They be a strange lot. They were unnaturally brutal and strong. Never seen nothing like it…" said the dwarf as head adjusted some settings on his signature yellow electronic goggles.
Drake stood still for a moment before a panicked look came over him and he dashed off running towards Cathedral Square.
"Ey! Where ye be goin!?" barked the dwarf in a confused tone.
Drake arrived at the Cathedral of Light. It had taken much damage from the battle, but it still stood tall and proud. Drake entered the hold and anxiously looked around. Standing at the altar at the end of the main hall along with some other men stood the man Drake had been looking for.
" Sir Tyring!" called out Drake as he ran over to his master. Drake embraced the old man tightly.
"Sir Tyring, I'm so glad you're all right!" exclaimed Drake.
"Aw come now Drake, we've known each other long enough, I've told you call me Darius." laughed the old man.
Darius Tyring had been Drake's mentor and a father figure to Drake as he grew up. Drake became an orphan at a young age when his parents died fighting in the war. Darius always visited the orphans, but had taken a special interest in Drake. Once Drake began to train as a paladin, Darius took the orphan under his wing and taught him everything he knew. Drake came to know Darius not only as his mentor, but as his idol.
Darius Tyring was a jolly old man. The term ancient would be more precise than old. He was one of the oldest living men in Stormwindand was a veteran of just about every major war throughtout his lifetime. He was well liked by all the citizens of Stormwind.
"Where were you when the demons attacked?" asked Darius in a curious tone.
"I had gone on an 'expedition' with some Alliance forces… I'm sorry I was not here to protect you." said Drake shamefully. Darius placed his wrinkly shaky hand on Drakes plate shoulder.
"You did your job sonny. What's there to be ashamed of? There was no way you could have known of this attack. Besides, I'm perfectly fine. I stayed held up in here the whole. I must admit, I was a bit shaken when they began to attack the Cathedral." smiled the old man.
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Drake and Longshot were roaming around the city assisting in repairing the broken city. Several hours had passed when all the citizens were called into the Trade District. Varian Wrynn faced the crowd standing with his guards and a night elf with fresh battle wounds and blood drenched garbs. While Drake was standing in the crowd he recognized the elf as Tygra Lightfoot, a very close friend of his. Tygrahad taught Drake how to survive off the land and navigate through the forest once when Drake had been wandering aimlessly through a forest for days. They began to accompany each other in their travels and forged a very strong relationship.
"Citizens of Stormwind and members of the Alliance, I bare terrible news…" called out Varian to the crowd,
"Recently Thrall called a meeting with the leaders of the Alliance. While their, we were informed of something terrible. A great evil is entering our world. An evil that not only threatens us, but also the Horde and all other beings of this world. You have seen it's harbingers and the chaos they alone have placed upon us. The evil I speak of is none other than Sargeras, the Destroyer!"
Loud whispers and shrill cries of fear broke out amongst the crowd. Longshot anxiously turned to Drake as the paladin stood steadfast.
"This is not the only attack made upon us mortals. While I was in the Alterac Mountains me and my men were also attacked by the Burning Legion. This night elf, Tygra Lightfoot. She was stationed in Darnassus until not too long ago. The once lush grove has been decimated. Though they too managed to fend off the Legion, there were but only a few that survived the attack…" said Varian as a look of disgust took his face. A mixture of anger and sadness gripped Tygra tightly as she held back her tears.
"If we hope to survive this invasion there is but one option: ally ourselves with the Horde and destroy these demonic bastards." growled Varian. A combination of angered outbursts and confusion overthrew the crowd as they hollered at their king.
"SILENCE! Do you not see what has happened here today!? Our men, women and children were slaughtered like cattle. We barely managed to defend ourselves and I guarantee that the Horde is fairing no better. We must dismiss old hates to preserve a new life for our people; our families! Believeme, I would not ally myself with the Horde if it was not necessary. We are on the brink of destruction, extinction, and genocide. We must stand up and fight as one force if we hope to survive!" pleaded Varian. Grumbles of angered acknowledgement rolled throughout the crowd.
"I recently stumbled upon a gnome who told me something very interesting. His friend, Nal, a very talented warlock, recently stumbled upon an artifact. This gnome told me Nal began to change drastically, and mysteriously left…Soon after, the Burning Legion entered our world…This may be a coincidence, but we can not afford to take chances. If this Nal is bringing demons into our world, he must be deal with. I will be sending ambassadors to the Horde as will they. Together we shall come up with a plan to halt this invasion. Until then I urge you all to seek out this Nal character. That is all." said Varian as he turned away and walked away with a look of depression.
Panicked citizens and worried soldiers began to converse and disperse. Drake walked over to Tygra and looked deep within his eyes. He had never seen such a look of hate and anger on the elf's face.
"Tygra…I'm sorry" Drake said.
"Drake…They're all dead…They were murdered like they were nothing…Their deaths… The torture they endured…No one deserves that." sobbed Tygra as she gritted her teeth.
"We shall avenge them Tygra…I swear it. Where is Kyavel..." Drake said, his voice changing from sympathetic to worried, as he placed his hand on the elf's shoulder. Kyavel was Tygra's fiancé. He was a druid like Tygra and was also her childhood sweetheart. They engaged very young and were rarely seen apart.
"I'm going to rip ever one of those demonic bastards hearts out with my own hands!" screamed Tygra as she stormed off.
"Oh no…" murmured Drake. He knew Kyavel was dead. Tygra was a very passionate person and he couldn't even handle her friends being harmed or threatened without becoming enraged. Drake couldn't begin to imagine what the death of her husband-to-be would do to her.
"Sir Valarian?" asked a guard as she approached Drake. The paladin swirled around and faced the guard.
"I am…" said the paladin.
"Lord Wyrnn has requested an audience with you." said the guard. "Please come with me."
Drake arrived in the Throne Room of Stormwind Keep. Even this building had sustained damage from the attack. Drake kneeled before his king in respect.
"Lord Wrynn, what is that you ask of me?" asked Drake. Varian gestured to him to rise.
"Is it true that you aided a group of Horde in killing the Lich King?" asked Wrynn with an stern look on his face.
"Yes sir it is true. I fought by Draggo Dragonblade and his allies against the Lich King. He was an honorable warrior. I respect him very much." replied Drake.
"I see. From what I have heard from you and researched I see no better candidate to send to the Horde. Report to Orgrimmar as soon as possible. They should be expecting you. I would advise you to bring along some worthy companions along the way…The lands are not as safe as they once were." said Wyrnn.
A bewildered Drake simply nodded and was escorted out of the Throne room.
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Drake was wandering the streets of Stormwind during the night searching for Tygra. He found her in the Park sitting on the broken Moonwell. Her gaze was fixated on the blue water as she ran her fingers across the surface creating ripples that flowed across the well.
"Tygra…How are you holding up?" asked Drake as he slowly approached the elf.
"He can't be gone…I mean he was there one second, and then the next…" Tygra looked up at the moon as it's light reflected off of the single lonely tear that slid down her face. "It's all my fault."
"Tygra, I'm truly sorry for what happened. I knew Kyavel. He was a good man. I understand how you feel but-"
"Do you understand Drake?! Do you have any idea what it' like to see the love of your life be murdered by malicious heartless monster and not be able to do anything about it? Do you know what it's like to have their blood rain down on you!?" snapped Tygra.
"Look Tygra, all I'm trying to say is that you can't blame yourself for this. There's no way anyone could have avoided this." Drake said, slightly unsettled by the druid.
"Do you know how he died? There was a monstrous pit lord their. He had no mercy and no soul. He was dismembering people and letting them bleed out allowing them to suffer immeasurably before they died . I was careless while I was fighting and managed to be incapacitated by that monster. He slowly began to place me under his foot and crush me like an egg, but Kyavel jumped in and attacked. The pit lord made sure I watched as he ripped off his arms, then his legs. When he was finished, that monster tossed his bleeding torso on top of me. Kyavel still lived but that look in his eyes…" Tygra said as she began to cry uncontrollably.
"It's ok Tygra…I'm here." Drake said as he held Tygra close. Tygra cried all night even as Drake walked her to her quarters within the city. Drake knew what it was like to lose loved ones to war, but he knew he had never felt what Tygra was feeling right now.