Talfuric and I left the inn almost immediately. We walked casually until we lost site of the town, then we sprinted until we found a location we knew was private.

Panting for breath, we sat down with our backs to a small hill. I looked up at the sky and tried to judge how long we had until nightfall. It was still early in the day, so we had time.

After I had regained my breath, I asked Talfuric, "Why don't we just camp out here? Maybe if he thinks we cleared out, he'll choose someone else."

Talfuric shook his head, "I think he's too smart for that. Besides, he and this giant beast are obviously related. Whose to say it won't hunt us while we're out here?"

I frowned as I realized we really did only have until nightfall. "We could always return to Stormwind," he said quietly.

I thought that over. "No. Not unless we have no other choice. We're these people's last hope. If we don't succeed, more people will die," I said.

"ok," he said, "what do you plan to do?"

I opened my mouth to tell him an absolutely foolproof, brilliant plan of mine that could save the day easily, but then realized that I didn't have one. Thinking quickly, so as to not look foolish in front of Talfuric, I said, "Why don't we let ourselves be captured?"

He looked very surprised by that. "Are you crazy, or do you just have a death wish?" he asked me. As I thought more about it, the more I liked it. "What if we spread word that you've chickened out and left to Stormwind while I stay here? Then, when night falls, I'll probably be stolen away by the culprit. Then, you quietly follow us and we can gang up on him," I said.

He started to make a smart retort about my plan, but I interrupted him. "Just think it through," I said.

He paused and grudgingly thought it over. After a minute, he said, "We'll be putting you in a whole lot of danger," he said. I laughed aloud at that. "Of course, a man like me who grew up in a harsh and unforgiving climate full of bears, boars, and other beasts would have no experience with danger."

He thought it over, and then said, "Well, I can't come up with anything better, so okay. But I think I really should go back to Stormwind to tell them what we've found out. That way, if we both die, they'll at least gain our knowledge of the situation."

I nodded and then stood up to go back. He did the same, and we walked back into the village, pretending to argue heatedly over what was going on.

"It's too dangerous here!" Talfuric hissed at me. "We need to get out of here as soon as possible! We'll go hunt in the Wetlands!" I laughed at him, and said, "The Wetlands? Oh Aye! We can catch all the frogs we can eat! And share 'em with the orcs! I'm telling you, we can handle any sneaky little coward any day!"

Talfuric shook his head. We were drawing attention now, just as we had hoped. "You saw what happened to that man in the inn! We'd be no match for someone like that! I'm done with you and your foolish games!" he shouted at me. "I'm going to Stormwind! I'm going to take the first boat to Auberdine, and you can die for all I care!"

He then ran off towards Stormwind. "Talfuric, wait!" I shouted after him, but it was no use. I pretended to over my face with my palm and then glared at everyone who was staring at me. "What are ye lookin' at?" I hissed.

They glared back at me and walked away. I suppressed a grin.

I spent the rest of the day pretending to drink heavily in the inn, shouting about how lonely I was now that my only companion had left me for good.

When I wasn't talking about Talfuric, I was bragging about how I was not afraid of any man who stole people from their beds.

As the sun began to set, I pretended to make a giant yawn, than tumbled up the stairs, making as much noise as I could. I called out to random people I saw in the halls, and then walked into my room and slammed the door.

Hiding a long, sturdy dagger in my breeches, I laid down and tried to get some sleep, my heart hammering.

The last light of the sun disappeared beneath the trees and a hush fell over Elwyn Forest. Staring out into the forest that I hoped contained Talfuric, I went to sleep.