There was a thunderstorm that night, and the three trolls endured it in the comfort of their abandoned mine, sleeping in turns even though the weather was so bad there was almost no need for a guard.

After swallowing his pride a bit, Jah'ren had admitted that he was too hungry not to eat something, and took a bite of the raptor-steak. In the end he did know this was the way of life; you lived and then you died, and sooner or later you were going to be someone or some thing's dinner.

He and Ba'ka found comfort in each others company as always. They had kept each other warm by sleeping side by side since they both were whelps, and saw no point stopping just because they had grown up.

The kind priest had offered Za'rhin too a place beside them, but the last of the Ocean-blood just shook his head at the invitation and curled up against the cold mountain, long arms wrapped around his legs in an attempt to keep himself warm. Jah'ren, who had the first guard duty, watched the other troll with interest.

There was something about Za'rhin that made the young hunter tremble with excitement. He had so many questions he wanted to ask this living legend, but there was something lonely and reserved about the troll that made him stall his tongue. Ba'ka had told Za'rhin was not that much older than himself, but there was something very tired in those blue eyes, something experienced and knowing.

*

The storm had died down before morning and Za'rhin, who had the early watch, got the embers from last night to flicker into life by breathing at them. He warmed the leftover raptor on the tip of his spear and went to sit in the entrance of the cave, chewing thoughtfully and watching the mist dance.

"Yah been away from Durotar for long?" Ba'ka asked, as he sat down beside the other.

Za'rhin scratched his chin and stared out into the mist as if he was looking for something.

"Yeah. Been a long time now. Yah know what Ah say..."
"Aye," the priest smiled. "Ah remember: Da be no one place for yah."

There was a snort from behind, followed by more sounds telling them the hunter was waking up. Ba'ka touched the bluehaired troll's arm and whispered:

"Don tell him it was Ah dat helped yah kill dat shark... Ah will neva hear da end of it."

And for a short moment Za'rhin's face broke into a friendly grin and there was a spark of joy in blue eyes.

*

The three trolls travelled away from the battleground together. Za'rhin had a small hope of finding his riding-raptor, but the fields where they had fought the day before lay still and void of life, drowning whatever hopes they had of finding anything or anyone alive.

"Dat raptor cost me a lot of gold," the bluehaired troll sighed. "Now he'll prob'bly be someone's dinner."

They reached a river at noon and knew it would be vital to cross it before nightfall. On the other side waited the safeness of a Horde-controlled area, and none of them wanted to be found by Alliance patrols.

"How da water?" Ba'ka asked as Jah'ren knelt down on the bank and put a hand in the water.

The young hunter shuddered and turned to the others:

"Freezing. We have to find some way 'round."

The heavy storm the night before had caused the river to run fast and furious, and the waters were filled with branches and debris.

Za'rhin gazed thoughtfully over the water a while before he started to take his armour off.

"Yah canna swim across," Ba'ka told him. "It be too cold and wild today. We find a bridge."

"Dar be no bridge for many many miles. We canna reach it today," the answer came. "Dar be only one way across."

The two others took a long look at the tempestuous waters before they too began stripping off their armour.

"We'll be carried downstream, but we try to keep togetha," Za'rhin told them when they were ready.

With their equipment and weapons tied to their backs the three trolls entered the water like blue turtles. The water took the breath out of them for a moment, and soon muscles were starting to numb.

All three of them were excellent swimmers, having been raised by the sea, but they knew they had to hurry across if they were going to make it before their bodies gave in to the cold.

They were almost halfway across the river when the two oldest lost sight of Jah'ren.

Za'rhin managed to climb up on a rock and scouted the waters around them. At the base of the stone protruding from the water, Ba'ka was clinging to it, his face a mask of worry.

"Yah seein' him?" He shouted over the roar of the waters.

Za'rhin shook his head without once taking his eyes from the place where he had last seen the hunter.

"Dar!" he shouted pointing at something flowing past.

They both strained their eyes to see, but it was hard to determine whether or not the tuft of something soaked and green really could be the hunter.

In the end they had to give up the safeness of the rock and continue swimming towards the shore.

"Mah Tata Parnko," Ba'ka gasped as Za'rhin helped him out of the water and onto a small sandbank.

They were both shaking with cold and gasping for air, but there was no time to rest.

"We'll find him," Za'rhin comforted. "He be strong and full of energy."

Hands and feet numb and aching, they dressed in a hurry before running downwards along the river, eyes scouring the waters.

"His sista tell me if Ah eva loose him, she kick me in da nuts!" Ba'ka wheezed, not knowing what would be worse; the kick itself, or the look he would get from Hetar if he had to tell her the little brother she doted on had drowned.

Suddenly the bluehaired troll in front of him shouted and sprinted down to where a couple of rocks stood up from the frothing river. As Za'rhin jumped into the water, the priest realised what he had seen; a blue arm desperately clinging to the rocks.

In seconds Za'rhin had pulled the smaller and lighter troll to the surface and stared dragging him to the shore where Ba'ka waited, worried and happy at the same time.

"He be okey?" he asked when the two others reached the bank.

Jah'ren was too weak to stand, but as he knelt down, panting and spitting water, they both knew he would be fine.

"Yah scare me dar, Jah'ren," Ba'ka exclaimed, grabbing the hunter and squeezing him.

"Let go..." the boy gasped, still trying to get his breath back.

Filled with relief the priest only hugged his friend even tighter.

"Let go!" Jah'ren wheezed. "Ah canna breathe!"

*****

Thank you for reading.

I am off to plan my wedding to a pirate! ^^