"What in the world was that?" The young, calming tender voice wafts back to me.
My arm still is locked in the same position as prior. My hand grips the firm handle with all might left. My eyes ride the stock and barrel of shovel of the smoking blade. Fading light leaves behind a chilled, dark gray residue.
Breath, Hope, breath.
The burning fireball still sticks to my retinas. Only inches away from our faces, yet I still managed to fire my weapon. Spinning tendrils and spiking flares of illuminating energy tore the red ball asunder. Air parted and fled as the coursing ball released its terror on the calm sky and on the unsuspecting creature.
Sadly the shot did not vaporize the beast, but instead sent it tumbling down the deep chasm to an unknown yet rather certain fate. For us, well, we darted across the rest of the tiny bridge and on to a heavier dirt path. Behind us was left the roars and rumbles of a mighty battle.
You done good, sir. He did quite excellently.
Back muscles quake as I lean backward. My left arm reaches and braces the buckling spine. The other limb extends back, down, and towards the tiny sack where my shovel was once before. Slipping it in place, I gather myself and lean back forward.
I notice trees towering to the sides while various creatures scurry at their bases. Giant webs cover some of the bulky barky structures, while muddy streams rush around clumps of them.
My back slumps into a perfect, comfortable location and my eyes sweep back to the woman ahead. As I come to a complete resting position the young woman repeats, "What was that?"
Fingers lift back up and run calmly through the thick hair upon my head. A few lost strands bounce and blur my vision. My eyes dart up towards the slowly darkening skies before they fall back down to the young lady.
I shrug at her and let loose a short answer, "Power of the light."
Thin eyebrows draw downward. Angry green orbs lock firmly upon my dulling gray pupils. Sweat builds at the edges of my brow and sweep across the vast of my face. Nervous nerves twitch. You are letting her get to you. He needs to be a man!
The horse trots slowly, but her eyes still scream a thousand words a second. Sadly, she also speaks a thousand words a minute.
"What do you mean, 'the light?' Are you messing with me?" Her face draws closer to mine, "Let me tell you something, Champion, I do not like being messed with."
Muscles lax in my lower jaw. Strange sounds emit from the back of my throat, but no actual words slip through. Her dark red eyebrows lift upwards, and she snorts angrily. She makes to speak, but again, a surge of rage causes her to simply grunt loudly.
From the corner of my eye I can see the second rider slowing and moving to our sides. Unfortunately for me I am unable to break sight with the woman ahead. It is as if she is crushing my soul with her sight alone. You need to relax. He needs a good rum.
Her mouth opens and she makes to speak. However, the other cloaked figure raises his hand, and her once piercing vision darts over to him. Instantly her flaring soul is quelled and all the tension of enraged estrogen fades away.
He chuckles weakly before speaking.
"My dear, he is Hope Blackwood." Ropey reins draw to his body, "We have both heard tale of his marvelous feats." Robes shift as he turns to look at me, "No doubt about it, young crusader, that was the full fury of the light."
Thank you, mysterious rider. You said it. He silenced his way into victory.
Silence sweeps the three of us. At the same a bit of anxiety clenches me. Thoughts and questions of past events begin seeping into the empty void of my mind, and I now find myself lost in a torrent of ideas. You should probably ask a few. He is going to make us do it for him, isn't he?
Sighing I release a bit of stress before speaking, "Where are we?"
The robed figure does not turn to me as he speaks, "Where are we? Well, Champion, we are delving deep in the northern forests of the zone deemed Howling Fjord."
His robes twists as he looks back to me, "Of course, from your expression I am betting you are going to need far more than a location to settle your mind."
He has me pinned perfectly. You were read harder than a book with no cover. He got called out.
With a gentle tug of the reins and a quick repositioning the man shifts back bit and begins to speak.
"Where to begin? Where to begin? Ah yes, yes, you are probably curious on the events that led to you current lively state, am I correct?"
I nod and say, "Yes, knowing how I went from falling to sleeping a prison cell would help fill in a lot of this puzzle."
He chuckles and replies, "Most definitely." There is a slight pause before he continues, "For some time now the force known as the Argent Crusade as been watching you. From the moment you left the shores of Kalimdor until this very second, we have had a keen eye on you."
The horse nays suddenly and interrupts the man. He quickly calms the beast before looking back at me. From here I can barely make out his face, but a slight glint of light reveals his eyes. Each orb aligns perfectly upon my being. Each orb focuses intently, yet beams a bright sense of tranquilly.
Then, as we stare he speaks, "You are more a simple place amongst the world's ignorance. You are more than the simplistic armies of the Alliance and the Horde combined. You are…the light."
He leans from the side and draws ever closer to me, "You are the savior." He pauses briefly, "You give to this world what it needs most."
Bright blue eyes radiate in the light. White hair wafts from his chin and around the corners of his face. Blackness engulfs the rest of his expression, but I can see him clearly. I can see his determination and focus.
And I can hear his words louder than ever, "You give us…hope."
His eyes lock for a mine a moment longer. As the do a warm sense of triumph floats down the back of my tough spine. Energy courses through my once cold veins. His words burn deep inside me. You are rejuvenated! He is reborn.
Instantly he recoils back to his original position and readjusts himself. Robes rustle across his body as he repositions his armor underneath his clothing. Bulky shoulder pads shift beneath the cloth for a moment longer before he grips the reins.
Without looking back to me he speaks now.
"And that is why we have followed you. Followed you all the way to Northrend through the mist and frozen air." He looks back, but to his accomplice this time, "If it were not for the skillful talents of my fine Gryphon rider here, this world would be lacking something beyond a hero."
That makes a whole lot more sense now. They came in on those winged, big birds, plucked me out of the air, and whammo, in a jail cell. Wait, that does not make any sense. You are right. He is confused again.
I glance over the rider and speak, "Well, how did I end up in a prison cell?"
The young woman giggles and turns her head back to me, "Well, we brought you in, and when we couldn't explain how we went out with two and ended up with three, the commander of the Alliance Post deemed you suitable to interrogate."
She sighs before throwing her free hand in the air, "Politics amongst the un-political. Always fantastic."
The man takes over this time, "Yes, and despite the misfortune of the Vrykul assault, we found ourselves in fortuitous circumstances. A great distraction for an equally as fitting escape."
He pauses as something to his side catches his attention. Unable to control myself, I lean back and look in his direction. From here I can make out a few sparse trees, and what appears to a lone, furry animal.
It is rather tall and long. Long, black ears flutter side to side as it watches us as keenly as we do to it. Red eyes burn through the thick shadows of its hide out. Those same eyes give sight to the gnarled fangs within the long snout below. You see a huge puppy! He sees a dog above him on the food chain!
My thoughts are interrupted by the man, "Yes, our departure was a gift of fortune, but the assault was something destined by another hand."
I cannot help but reply to his statement, "What does that mean?"
He twists back to me, "It seems rather odd that the remaining Vrykul forces in this region would simply amass and surge our most fortified of positions. Something stirred them into aggression."
The young woman responds, "You mean the Lich King ordered them to attack?"
A moment passes before he answers with a nod.
"But why?"
He turns his head again to glance at the occasional wolf before looking back to her.
"My only guess is that he knows something worth stopping has arrived on these shores. Some entity worth throwing entire legions at."
Dry, unpleasant cold grips my throat. Nervousness sweeps my tensely tightening muscles. I swallow hard in attempts to remove the chilling bite strangling me. A second later I hesitantly ask.
"Are we talking about…me?"
He barely twists, but I know he is looking back at me.
"My boy, you have no reason to concern yourself. Entire legions are no match to the might of the Crusade."
The woman turns and smiles.
"The grand Lord Fordring himself has sent his best knights to assist you." She nods confidently, "You are safe with us, Hope."
I nod half-heartedly. Once again thoughts cloud my focus. One word destroys all other thoughts. One name crushes the rest. Fordring. I know that name. I am not sure how, but I do. You are certain. He knows it most definitely.
"You ok, Hope?" Again the sweet voice brings me back to reality.
Fidgeting for a moment, I attempt to gain my composure before I think of an answer. Forget it, Hope, just say something. Anything.
"Um, well, yeah." Fingers scrape against my scalp, "What are you guys…exactly assisting me with? I am kind of in the dark here."
Her smile fades from her face and she clears her throat awkwardly. Red hair flops across the sides of her face as she looks to her fellow crusader. Without hesitation the figure nods, lean on his saddle and looks at me.
Clothing rustles at the edges of his hand as positions it.
"Recently the Crusade constructed a massive facility. Harbored within its walls are evils beyond imaging. Heroes from around the world have come to best them. To show that they are ready to face the Lich King himself."
He raises his arm, "It is there you will show the world you strength. Upon the tried grounds of the trial, you shall show us why the Lich King fears you."
Loose fabric dances again as his arm descends. His body flinches as he shifts back forward. Ahead of me the other Crusader shifts forward. Silence. Besides the thudding hooves and rustling wilderness, there is silence.
Curious orbs within my rather flooded head shift to the trees again. Almost immediately I see more of the red, piercing eyes than before. Actually, there would seem to be three or four pairs. They simply lurk in the shadows, but they are definitely there. You see right. He sees perfectly.
Focus breaks and I stare forward again. Attention diverts to the slightly bouncing young woman ahead of me. She leans back partially as she lets the rhythmic flow of the horse show. Pockets of red strands shift delicately as she falls and tighten to her head as she lifts up.
Uncontrollably my mouth opens and I speak, "So, who are you?"
There is a brief pause and hesitation before she oddly looks back to me. Only one green orb comes into sight, but I know she looks at me, "Excuse me?"
Again I say, "Who are you?"
She pauses glances to the other rider and then looks back to me.
"Um, my name is Jessica. I have been part of the Argent Dawn and the Crusade since the horrible plague ravaged the lands of the Eastern Kingdoms."
I speak without thinking.
"Wait, how old are you?" Pausing briefly, I rethink that question and hastily blurt, "I mean, you do not look that old. Wait…"
She giggles and shakes her head.
"To answer your question, I was fourteen when I joined the Dawn, and just recently arrived to aid the Crusade. That was six years ago." There is a brief pause as she frowns, "You do the math." Her tone became angry and harsh.
She makes to move forward, but sighs and raises her free hand to her face. Her short, slender fingers glide across her face before she speaks.
"I apologize. I did not mean anything, just bad memories."
My hand reaches forward, and I let it slide over her shoulder. It tightens and I nod to her.
"Nothing to apologize for. I know what you mean."
She does not say a thing. Green orbs glint in the light. Soft skin glows gently. From the corner of her eye I see a patch that sparkles dimly. It travels down slowly. Smoothly my hand moves from the shoulder and glides down the sparkling globe's path.
My finger slides against the tear and I whip it from her face. She blinks and she smirks weakly.
A smile sweeps my face, and I cannot help, but say, "Jessica, look at this way, your father wasn't a necromancer and your best friend isn't a thin, fleshless jerk."
She stares at me uncomfortably. A frown forms as her eyebrows shift upwards. Muscles churn in my stomach, but instantly relax as she tilts her back and laughs. Her hand flies to her mouth, and she attempts to compose herself. All of her face vanishes as she directs herself back forward. Unfortunately for her I can still see her shoulders moving as she laughs.
Movement sparks my attention. Robes wriggle on the manly figure as he chuckles to the comment. Apparently the both of them know my background. You know everyone knows your past. He has a crazy lifeline.
Again movement draws my focus. This time, however, it comes from the darkened shadows of the thickening tree line. A pair of angry red sparks bloom in the dark. It is then I notice more than dozen flaming lights glaring back at me.
That is not a good thing. You think? He isn't thinking, he is soiling himself!
My mouth slides open and I emit as quietly as I can to the two others, "Any one else feel uncomfortable?"
Jessica twists back to me, but her eyes do not make it to me. Eyes widen and her mouth drops. Lips quiver, but no words escape. Reins tighten and jerk backwards as her trembling hands motion for speed.
Hooves pound against the dirt ground, and we slowly accelerate. My eyes glance back to the shadows, but quickly dart forward again. Ahead I can see a white path that leads back to the sparse foliage of prior. Sadly, the blackened forest still stretches for some time.
Movement. This time, unfortunately, it comes from the right side of my vision. Thunderstorms gather on the borders of my bony sea. Tides churn the vast oceans of my gut. Pipes swell as pressure build from the pumping blood.
On this side are dozens of horrifying, red orbs. I had not seen them before due to the thick spider webbing and dirt mounds, but now they are more than apparent. Another pair emerges after another.
Suddenly, and disconcertingly, a massive black mound of fur breaks from the looming cover. Heavy paws pat the dirt beneath its gnarled claws. Drool drips from the edges of the jaws. Nostrils flare. Bright, enraged eyes pierce directly at me.
Speed increases rapidly from the horse below. Adrenaline begins to pump freely through the already narrowed passages of my body. Hair straightens on the vast of my body in fright. Lungs shovel mounds of air in and release gas clouds of burnt fuel.
A growl draws my attention to the other side. Two more pups appear from the darkness. In seconds the three of them line behind our quickly moving steeds. Their limbs thud against the hard ground. Second by second they gain speed.
Suddenly the one in the middle jerks violently. Horrifically it's front shoulders snap outwards. Dark eyes fly downwards as the spine of the beast breaks, ripples, and realigns. It's fur wafts in and shortens on all ends of it's body. Elbows bend inwards, crack and snap sickeningly.
The violent shaking ceases.
Its front paws shift through with the dirt. Twisted claws dig into the crusty soil. Red eyes burn. Unexpectedly the jaw of beast shifts and a loud, bellowing, dark voice whips upon the wind.
"Obey the call! Obey your master."
Back legs of the beast shift and lock on the ground. Shoulders drag up and reposition over the bulk of the body, while heavy arms leave the soil behind. A dense, shifting head glares continuously at the ground before suddenly reeling to the breaking point of its spine. It draws its shoulders back, and its arms curl to the sides.
Standing upright, the once normal dog howls upon the broken skies. A sound of a twisted soul crashes like a tidal wave upon a shore. Birds tear from their once safe heavens. Tiny critters scurry across the frozen soil. Large hounds of equally as sinister qualities trot to the rugged road.
As the beast stands amongst the soil, we gain on it, but its howl still penetrates to us. Its howl still wraps around our minds. It still strikes at our souls and lashes at our sanity. It screams to us…and calls to its counterparts.
The howling, upright monster shifts its jaw back to normality. Red eyes secrete wriggling dark flames as it twisted sight bears down on us. Swiftly it lifts its arm and points menacingly in our direction.
"Hope Blackwood, the master will not be denied!"
Dozens of hounds stride speedily towards us. Bodies quake and shake as they pursue us. As they chase their limbs disjoint. As they follow their body contorts. As they trail, their structure rearranges. As they track, their hunger is shown.
Reins snap and crack. Legs crush firm ground. Straight ahead light breaks upon our bodies. Second by second we gather speed, but the lumbering, rumbling beasts close in quickly.
As we near the borders of the forest, I reach for my gun, draw it to my chest, and load the round. I do not look back for a moment. Regretfully I turn my head and take in the narrowing pack.
It is then that the woman in front of my finally shouts, "Worgen!"
Worgen? You now know their names. He knows their identification.
I do not care what they are. I do not care where they come from. I do not care of their names. All I care about is escaping this forest.
I lift my weapon to my shoulder.
All I care about is bringing the light to these mindless monsters.
Catch.
TITHBURSH