For the most part, I am going to be posting chapters as quickly as possible. I have pretty much finished all but the last chapter of this story, but due to technical difficulties and annoying set backs it has taken way longer than anticipated. Anyway, for anyone still reading, here is the next chapter.
Enjoy.
Coning light radiates outward from the crashing wave of bright illumination. Wrinkled warriors clad in blue try to flee, but the curving lash tears them asunder. Decaying flesh turns to ash, rotting bones crumble, and once raging eyes calm to a peaceful departure.
The armored giant that looms over me has just enough time to twist and absorb his final moments with little anticipation. A mighty explosion tears into the soil sending his body tumbling away.
Light pours over me. My eyes squint and narrow in attempts to hold back the waving wall of pure light. The world seems to be engulfed by the illumination. The world seems to fade to nothingness by this brightness.
And in the heart, in the very center of the gleaming light, approaches a figure. A heavy black outline builds to the unbelievable glint of his golden armor. Massive hulking plates arch over his confident shoulders. This same armor covers almost every inch of the man besides his head.
White hair clings to the top of his forehead. A heavy beard hangs from his chin and upper lip. Wrinkles line the face showing years of wear and seasons of stress. A white piece of cloth hangs down his chest and covers up the beautiful gold. A black, spiky circle rests in the center of this strange cloth. You are looking at a tabard. He sees the grandest of tabards…
A voice of the gods rains from his throat, spilling its deep, confident call for us unworthy to hear, "To your feet, Hope Blackwood. To your feet."
Gold gleams as a large armored hand extends for me. Fingers held steady and wait patiently for my proper response. Without hesitating I reach up and wrap my hand around his. A mighty tug swiftly jerks me to my feet.
I remember this face….
He shifts around me and aids the groaning Jessica to her feet. He flings her over his shoulder and stabilizes her. Once they are both in the proper position, the old man smiles at me.
"Do forgive the secrecy, young man, I simply wanted to avoid any unnecessary uproars."
I raise an eyebrow as he passes by me, "What do you mean?"
He begins marching forward. His head tilts slightly to the side, and I instantly know that face. I have definitely seen it before and very recently. He…
"Obviously, young sir, I was the other rider that accompanied you. I figure you already deciphered that. Simply stating I apologize for not telling you my true identity."
He moves quickly and I rush after him. In a matter seconds I pull to his side and scratch my head.
"Not to seem rude, but…" I shrug at him, "Who are you?"
The old man slows a bit as he stares at me awkwardly. For a brief fleeting moment he comes to a stop before rushing along side me again.
"Sorry, it would seem I threw all manners out when introducing myself." His hand attempts to reach for me, but his current position detains him, "Well, anyway, my name is Tirion Fordring, and I lead the Argent Crusade I spoke of earlier."
Jessica groans, "Lord, that wasn't much of an introduction for a man of your stature…"
He shrugs, "Humility seems to have overcome me, my dear. All bragging rights are lost in the moment."
The man…Tirion…continues forward quickly even with the young girl. My legs work feverishly to simply keep up with the rushing man. It seems impossible that he is moving at this speed.
"Fordring…how…how didn't I know it was you?" Jessica softly speaks as we shift towards the outer edges of the forest.
"Master of disguise, my lady. Master of disguise." Words stammer as panting breaks his normal steady flow.
Faster and faster we seem to move. A dark haze begins to build ahead. The forest slowly comes to an end as the ground begins fading back to a green and white mesh upon the floor. After a few, long steps the green completely fades to the white powder.
Crunching feet ring loudly. Shuffling boots drag pockets of packed snow forward. Ahead I see a steep incline that leads to a rather calm river. As we approach this said path I can make out another felled tree that perfectly crosses the water and gives us the access we need.
Trees thin in numbers as we near the steep bank. Snow becomes harder and slicker. Ice forms quickly and dangerously. Trickling water spews delicate sounds as it shifts through icy passes.
Tirion aligns himself and the young woman with the fallen tree. He repositions Jessica in front of him, and with a gentle grip of her waist he guides her forward. Her feet smack the slimy slides, and she stumbles.
With a firm tug he keeps the woman from falling, and he takes to the slick surface. His heavy metal boots scrape mercilessly against the aging carcass. Small decaying branches snap at the sides of the tree as well as from behind.
Rustling leaves rumble a rather oddly overwhelming torrent of sounds, forcing my mind to race and my eyes to wander. Regretfully I turn from the two traversing the natural bridge, and shift back the path we came.
Blue figures rush past lively trees, brush past dwarfed shrubs, and crush snow with monstrous feet. Dozens sprint full speed as once before. Light reflects and guides my eyes to massive, metallic axes. The blades sweep the owner's sides smoothly and aim fiercely at the ones before them.
They are coming…and doing so fast.
Jessica and Tirion break from the tree and thud heavily on the opposite shore. I quickly draw my shovel to the ready and aim it back at the unyielding fools. Light sparks from runes, and hums burn from bright energy.
Flash.
An explosion rips through the ones leading. Their mighty stature is torn asunder by the flashing orb of bright destruction. But more fill their lost place, they refuel their once lost pace.
"Move it, Hope!" Jessica screams, "There are too many!"
Without hesitating I flip my shovel down, turn, and stumble idiotically onto the sickeningly frictionless surface. Arms shoot to the side instinctively as I attempt to regain complete balance. Swaying motion overwhelms my body, but finally, after what feels like an eternity of rocking, I find my footing and dash forward.
Bark scraps from my soles as I hurriedly scamper onward. Tiny twigs tear from the sickly flesh. As quickly as I clumsily climbed onto this rotting stink boat, I leap off, slamming on the crisp, crushed snow.
Jessica and Tirion continue forward. I make after them, but a thought crosses my mind. You better not start thinking. He need more running, and less kindling of brain! Again I bring my spade to the ready. Light. Hum. Flash.
BRURSH.
Chunks of rotted wood shoots in all directions. The center of the bridge ceases to exist, drawing the outer edges inward. Both sides grip the snowy banks for only second longer before folding into the trudging slush.
With a triumphant nod I spin from the destroyed path, rushing towards the two a great distance ahead now. I sprint feverishly after them. Snow clings to my feet, slowing me slightly with every step.
Second by second I near the two. After a good long minute of annoyingly speedy and exhausting movement I come up behind them. That man moves far too quickly. You said it. He needs to take whatever he is taking
"Tirion!" I take a breath, "How do you move…
WHOOSH
A torrent of air drags my hair forward. Blurred gray, black, and brown mesh together as a spiraling disc of density and of destruction. Slivers of bark slap my face. Feet come to an exact stop. My head darts to see a handle of an axe hanging from a large tree ahead of me.
Instantly I spin back. The giants continue onwards. They leap across the river with ease, digging up snow as they jump and land. How in the world? I destroyed that tree for no reason! You are gonna get it by DEHTA! He hates nature!
"Well, these little buggers are rather persistent," Tirion's voice seems to be traveling, "Keep moving!"
Without hesitating I once again find myself running after the insanely speedy old man. I dodge rocks, broken stumps and the occasionally unnerving pile of bones. These same piles connect to rather massive skeletons that give home to giant, ominous birds. Squawks radiate from the decaying beaks and rattle their rotting bodies. Carrions.
You need to focus! He needs to duck!
My head drags down as I dodge a low branch. I make to upright myself, but a sudden, rush of wind ripples past my ears. Eyes drag upward just in time to watch the swirling blade speed straight towards the front two.
I make to yell, but Tirion skillfully drags both to the side. Sadly, does this with lacking haste. Red spurts from the young woman's shoulder. A high-pitched, short, agonizing yelp bursts from her mouth.
She grabs the wound, and Tirion speaks to her. After a second they continue onward. I continue to them, watching their every move. Jessica seems to slow readily, almost to the point where her feet drag against the snow.
Tirion swiftly pulls the two to a large, bulky tree and lays her against the trunk. I hurriedly rush to their side, take in the advancing pack, and focus back on them. We have some time. You have seconds. He has maybe a minute.
Jessica grips the red and oddly green seeping wound. The edges of the torn flesh are a sickly black color. Tendrils built of gray and dark green stretch out from the black edges and under her clothing. That isn't good…
Jessica winces in pain as Tirion draws his hands to it. She coughs and her face slowly begins fading to an unhealthy pale color. Her lips crack while purple slowly replaces the once healthy red.
Tirion sighs as Jessica writhes, "Poison. Unbelievable! How do massive, Neanderthal like men learn such a fine art? And manage to slop it on axes?!"
He shakes his head and cups his hands around the wound.
"Sorry, my dear, but this is going to feel rather unpleasant." A light glow radiates from his hands, "Been some time since I healed a wound. Going to need some time."
His eyes divert to me, and I know what must be done. You get to use your boomstick again. He gets to use the one with a bigger kick!
Smoothly I glide my shovel to my side, giving myself proper room to jerk my gun from my side. The middle of the weapon falls into my hand. With a quick readjustment of the gun I grab the handle, and with my shovel hand I grab a handful of bullets.
Quickly I load the cannon and pull both weapons to my sides. My shoulder leans against the cold, icy bark. Pressure builds on the outer edges of my flesh and on the inner walls of my veins. Adrenaline pumps. Mind races. Focus.
Light.
I spin from behind the tree.
Hum.
I lift my gun forward.
TITHBURSH.
Blood splatters from a nearby enemy. His body slams to the ground.
Shovel drags up and to the side.
Flash.
Dirt tears from the ground. Snow builds a barrier of solid powder. Enemies collapse from the explosion. Both weapons are pulled back inward where I reload. The gun rises again.
A giant lurches back. Axe at the ready. Too slow.
TITHBURSH.
His body jerks and goes limp. A pile of blue, lifeless mess is all that remains. I take a step forward, snow dragging behind my sole. Flash. More pockets of torn earth shoots upward. Enemies slam to their final resting place.
More come.
Another step forward, weapons inwards. Reload. One, two, three giants rush headlong towards me. Axes lift over their heads. Another step. Weapons both pull upwards. Metal sight locks forward. Spade glowing and humming. Axes fling forward.
TITHBRUSH.
Air drags past the side of my head. Flash. Bodies are vaporized. I pull downwards. Torrents of force break a once calm air above me. I strafe to the side and make to pull my weapons inwards. My feet stumble and drag backwards as another axe whirls past.
More and more enemies advance. I pull upright. Weapons back at the ready. Eyes locked forward. It is then I notice the figure in the corner of my vision. Readjusting feet make to counter the beast. Weapons drag with my body.
A massive, gray axe looms overhead. Brown skin is covered by thick, gray armor. Leather clings to the vast of his body. Scars and red patches rest upon his body as signs of a recent fight. In a flash the blade lowers.
CLING.
Bladed death lays locked with my two items. Rages courses through the blade and flows from his eyes. Sparks rain from my gun and shovel. Neither of us will break. Neither blade will crack. Unfortunately, the locked weapons give my rather muscular foe an advantage.
The moment almost seems to blur as I lift upwards. Both of my weapons break from his axe as I fly backwards. Air rushes all around me, force pulls back at my body. All of it a long, drawn blur.
Thud.
Pain surges through my back. Legs feel weak. Arms grow heavy. Get up, Hope! Get up! Slowly I drag my elbows back and draw my body upwards. Again I find myself below the towering giant.
Dreadlocks break at his torn shoulders. Blood spills from parts of his body. An axe rests overhead. Anger spews from his eyes. Smirked spills vomit sighs of revenge. He positions himself and grips his axe.
"You will not escape me twice…"
As his words finish escaping his mouth, a strange rumbling echoes from a short distance away. I swear I have heard that before. Sadly, the voice from above calls my attention back…
"Today…the light…dies!"
Axe drags upwards. Rumbling grows louder. Rage ahead. Sound grows louder. Axe locked at the ready. Louder… It almost sounds like a propeller…
BRURSH, BRURSH, BRURSH.
Massive firewalls burn from behind. Both the giant's and my attention divert back. Towering pillars of destruction rain up into the sky. Blackened flames consume dozens of attacking undead giants, while scorching flames vaporize their already decaying carcasses.
Air ripples from the mighty wall of flame and terror. Snow washes over the giant and surrounds my being. All vision is blurred. All is lost in the explosions. All is lost in the void of chaos. All is blocked but the floating wooden platform overhead.
A tiny green man jumps back and forth at the wheel, while a furry individual mans a large, gray cannon.
"Pinky!" The captain, ship, and crew barrels past, "You draw far too much attention to yourself!" He chuckles, "That is my job, Pinky!"
Skippy…you are unbelievable…
Brown fills the entire sight above me. Dust falls from the creaking wood. Giant metal propellers draw disturbed powder and shoot disturbed air. As the entire ship passes by, a strange, black figure leaps from the side of the ship.
"I will not be denied!" My eyes draw back to the almost forgotten death before me, "This is my victory! The Death-God shall reward me!"
Light glints from the finely crafted blade. Rage flares from his gnarled teeth. Hate flows through his assaulting arms.
TWANG, TWANG, TWANG
My giant jerks violently. Dull thuds ripple from his back. Tiny, red spikes jut from his chest. Groans roll from his mouth. His own fluids muffle his screams. Arms lose all hate as they glide to his side.
All rage is lost as he falls to his knees, teeth separating. Light glints weakly from his eyes as he falls to his side. Pale envelops his body, as gray fills his sight. Pupils turn black as death itself. Body goes limp.
Directly ahead and behind where he stood is now a hooded figure. It moves quickly across the snow and flows ominously with the flickering flames that rest behind it. Black boots quickly trample the snow and rise up the long, sleek legs.
Smooth, gray skin is exposed at the midriff and fades under the short shirt on her chest. Strong shoulders lock with arms that lead to a bow in one and a dagger in the other. A hood hangs closely to the head. Yellow and gray strands dance across the top of her chest and cling to the sides of a delicate, smooth face.
Blackness shrouds the vast majority of its face, but the identity cannot be hid. Beneath the shroud, and beneath the darkness, one feature tells no lies. Red eyes.
Sylvanas….
Armies of undead flee from the billowing wall of destruction, but she continues to me, reaches down, and grabs my arm. With a swift, violent tug, I am thrown to my feet and left standing in a state of bewilderment. Angry rubies lock with mine briefly. Her mouth makes to mouth, a strange flicker in her eyes, and strange cooling of my arm silences her.
Warm fades from my wrist where her shaking hand rests. My eyes break briefly from hers and lock with her hand. Fingers and fist are wholly absorbed by a weak glow. Gray skin glows and turn to a light pink mesh. With each passing second my flesh cools and freezes as she glows and burns with warmth.
I turn back to her. A smile stretches my face as her lips quiver gently. Red eyes calm and flesh sparkles with life. It is as if death itself is filled with a life she once bore. It is as death itself is replaced by a time she so longs for…
Her eyes lock with mine. I can feel her body quake, and for a brief, fleeting moment, she lets her guard down. The second time we have locked this way. And like the first, is not a moment I will soon forget…
Disappointingly Skippy shouts from a short distance away, "Delivery for Pinky and angry woman!"
Instantly the warmth flows through her arm as she throws mine from hers. Rage quickly returns as she focuses on something behind me. She glares at me angrily and crushes all thoughts of me.
"Lady Windrunner!" Tirion shuffles into my sight, "Your tardiness is absurd!"
She frowns and turns to him. I look as well, letting the now self-standing Jessica and confident Tirion. The young woman still appears weak, but at the same time seems stronger than ever. You are so confusing. He is something.
Sylvanas brushes past me and speaks as she moves, "Fordring, do forgive me, but I was busy taking care of your special order."
I turn and watch her hurry towards an awkwardly positioned crate. It almost seems like it was dropped here. You know it was, you ninny. He knows Skippy dropped it!
My feet shuffle after hers, but my mind locks back to Tirion.
"Tirion, why was Sylvanas late?" My mind wanders, "No, no, why do you want a package?" I pause, "Wait…"
I spin and shout to Sylvanas, "Why are you even here?"
She turns her head and raises an eyebrow,
"Child, you lack focus like a fish I once owned…" she pauses as if a stroke of brilliance hits her, "Goldfish, which is your new name, I am here for the Trial this man so urgently needed me for."
She notices towards Tirion as she comes to the crate, "And he made me bring you this. Why, I don't know, but it is for you, Goldfish."
With a swift kick the crate breaks apart, revealing a set of armor placed firmly on it. I cannot help but hurry to it. It appears to be a heavy suit with gray edges. The outer mesh changes to white as it moves to the middle. A black, spiky circle rests in the center of the chest plate.
The same two symbols are constructed on the bottom edges of the shoulder pads, near the armpits. The spikes jut from the bottom of the pads and form a perfect flow to the chest. Argent Armor. You are good. He tries.
"Lady, help the young lad get it on, will you?" Tirion rushes and grabs the chest piece with his hands.
With a shift jerk her pulls it from the rack and as I approach him he lifts it up. It takes him no time at all to slap it to my chest and strap on the back. Before I can even move, the groaning Sylvanas drops the shoulder pads heavily upon my shoulders.
A surge of pain rushes through my body, and I look at her with mouth ajar. She shrugs and grumbles, "There, he is set."
"All but for one piece."
His arm rises and directs me towards the helm. I almost feel lost in the object as I rush to it. I have never had a helmet of my own. My commander in the Plaguelands told me I'd blow it out with my over worked pressure cooker that is my mind. After that I never came across one that a Scourge hadn't worn…
"Fordring, may I ask," Jessica chirps as I wrap my fingers around the metal helmet. "But why did you have an armored suit ordered to the middle of nowhere?"
I lift it over my head and Tirion chuckles, "Wasn't planned to be dropped here, but we needed to get our lad here a suit deserving of his stature. Just so happened this is where both delivering and receiving parties met."
"Stature? He should be wearing a loincloth with that logic." Sylvanas grunts as the metal slides over my helmet.
My vision is greatly narrowed by the finely gripping piece of metal. Folds of plate move to my mouth and stop at the edges of my nose. Slits allow for both my eyes to see forward, but not much more than that.
I breath and glance the only direction the helmet allows. Ahead a mountain towers into the sky. Gray clouds wrap around the peaks. Brown juts from the wall of white the clings to the sloping walls. Black rock slowly becomes the norm as my eyes shift down the massive structure.
A firm slap hits my shoulder, "How do you like your armor, Argent Champion?" Tirion gives me a shake, but my mind is locked.
I ignore him completely. Adrenaline pumps through my pressurized veins. Muscles grow tense. Drums rattle my bony cage. Fingers lock. Clouds of cold drift from my mouth as my lungs heaves air in and out.
A small town rests nestled in the base of the cliff. Tall dark gray walls are lined with spiraling loops of spiky metal. Green structures mix with brown buildings. Rustling figures scurry on the outskirts of the location. I know this town…
My mouth opens, "Where is this?"
Sylvanas grunts as she walks by, "This is Venomspite. Where we are to meet the overzealous Nathanos and the rest of your lack luster companions." She grunts and steps forward, "Would seem that the Scourge beat us here!"
My throat clenches as I speak, "Nathanos…is…here?"
She turns to me as she moves, "That is what I said, Goldfish. But that, obviously, is no longer of concern." She points forward, "Looks like we are going to enjoy another marvelous Scourge encounter…"
Legs grow weak and thoughts burn my mind. This town is locked beneath a mountain of sloping brown and powdery white. Buildings of familiarity litter the ground. I swallow hard and take a breath.
It is the town of my stirring, sleepless nights.
Of my nightmares…