*Reminder: This story is still being written, revised, and corrected regularly. There is much to be done with it, so if you feel like I should change/add something in, feel free to tell me and I'll see about working it in.

DISCLAIMER: This entire story is Copywrite. MINE. Got it? World of Warcraft, however, is NOT. Characters, also mine except those like Thrall and the NPCs and all.

-x0x-

Of Humans and the Horde

Chapter 4: Dreams and Danger

"Damn," I muttered in a heavy breath aloud when no one could hear me, for I was sure I was alone. Physically, I mean.

"Kujajin," Her soft and sweet voice rung through my head, not my ears, and I melted to it.

Just don't think about it, she'll go away. This was just a figment, imagination, a day dream. Nothing more. Why was she haunting me like this? I couldn't stop thinking about her, or what I want to do to her. I cracked my eyes open a sliver and she was still there, her sexy smile lingering even after my neglect. I would have loved this at any other time, but it was just a taunt that this couldn't be. She was so far away, and the only girl around was my damn sister. Angrily, I slammed my eyes shut and muttered yet another curse under my breath.

"Kuj," I blushed, hoping that it was also only my imagination that I felt her crawl over me and hover above.

"Go away," I whispered venomously. Even though that's not at all what I wanted, I wanted her to stay there, with me. Just like this.

And she must have known, for she was still there, and moving against me dangerously. My face heated up and I was mad at myself for being flustered. I could almost smell her sweet and intoxicating scent. I felt myself yearn to hold her again, to bury my face into her hair or her neck and just breath her. I wanted her to be close, just me and her, and I wanted to show her my extent of my feelings for her, consummate them. Perhaps that was what brought on this sort of imagination. I had all but fallen prey to her charm when-

"Kujajin!" Votheilia screamed in my ear, causing me to jump in a start.

"W-What?" I said, still blushing.

"Get a hold of yourself man," She huffed, "I've been yelling and yelling at you, did you zone out or something?"

"Something like that..." I muttered, rolling over with my back to her and my legs tight together, for obvious reasons.

"Anyway, come over and join us already, dinner's ready," She offered kindly, her mood coming back down to size. I wish I could do that.

"I'm not hungry..." I murmured, stalling.

"You haven't eaten since we left," She stated worriedly.

"I know that," I grumbled, of course I knew that. Just go away, Votheilia, is what I wanted to say.

"Well don't just mope around all day and night," She crossed her arms, her anger flaring again, "like that's gonna help!"

"..." I remained quiet, knowing she was right.

"Well," She sighed the word, finally getting a hint, or giving up, "Hurry and get over here, or I'll send Al to come and get you."

"Kay..." I answered, but couldn't move right away.

I heard her footsteps retreat before clutching at my shirt in frustration. I didn't get it, why did I keep seeing her? I don't even know where she is right now, or if she's even still alive, but I kept having strange visions of her. These kinds of visions. God, what is wrong with me. I flipped onto my back as soon as I could and stared at the darkening sky. Maybe it would do me some good to go over with Votheilia and Alpine. Being alone is only making me go crazy.

I stood up and brushed myself off, slowly. I shoved my hands into my pockets and made my way across the small stretch of camp-site. We had chosen a little spot to rest in the Arathi Highlands, after walking and riding since morning. Alpine had got the firewood, Votheilia collected some herbs, and I caught some fish. It was good teamwork, but I felt less than satisfied. For now, we weren't any closer to saving her. For now, we were just sitting here waiting until we could move again. For now, I was restless.

I stood over the fire, watching the flames eat away the pieces of wood. Watching them crack, fall apart, and glow orange through the slits in their charred exterior. It was almost settling. Votheilia touched my arm from her place on the rock by the fire, silently offering me a place to sit. I nodded and sat beside her, but didn't say a word about it. The silence was awkward and forced, but none of us would start a conversation.

The real question on my mind right now was about Thrall. I was still in the dark about his intentions for me, more so, his intentions for Nasrina. The more that I thought about it, the more used I felt. There I was, living happily in this new kingdom, trusted by the inhabitants, when all of a sudden I'm turned against them and forced to use their trust against them. I felt dirty and savage. I had to hand it to Thrall, it was a terribly devious plan. Not only that, but as long as he has Nasrina under his control, so did he have the three of us. That brought up another inquiry-

"I wonder where she is," Alpine expressed my concern, followed by Votheilia elbowing him in the ribs, "O-Ow!" He protested.

"You can't just-" She began in a hush before I interceded.

"I wonder about that," I said calmly, not allowing my expression to be show with emotion, "And if she's even still alive..."

"Don't you talk like that," Votheilia slapped me on the wrist, which felt like a snakebite.

"Sorry," I avoided her eyes like the plague.

"You two know I don't like violence, so don't make me hurt you, okay?" She pouted while trying to change the subject.

"Yeah hurt me," I grinned as I held my wrist as if it actually hurt, finding the statement amusing.

"Don't you make me start no fires under your ass, boy," She pretended to be tough and threatening.

"Watch out Al," I mocked her in a fake fearful tone, "she means business,"

"You're damn right I do!" She huffed like she was about to blow smoke.

"Shit, dude," Alpine waved his hands around frantically, "Don't antagonize her!"

"Too late," Votheilia jumped from her seat and towards me, growling like a hound.

"Ooo," I pretended to shiver as I dodged her advances, "I'm trembling in my sabatons,"

"Sabatons my ass, pretty boy," She hurried after me, knocking over logs and rocks that we had set up.

"Prettier than you are, my dear," I grinned, obviously joking. She hated when I insulted her, especially how she looked. We both knew she was pretty, she was just bothered by it.

"Hey now, I've had plenty of guys ask me out," She pretended to pout.

"Says the girl who took her brother to the graduation festival," I laughed as she made hastier chase.

"Says the brother who asked her to it!" She retorted over the clanging of dishes as we knocked them over too.

"Al, cover me," I pushed Alpine in her way in my faux desperation.

"Wha—wait!" He stumbled out in front of her and was knocked over in one loud, ground shaking thump.

They hit the ground like an aged tower, collapsing in one final bow. At first the dust that was kicked up, along with my raised arm in front of my eyes to protect them from said dust, masked the scene. Slowly, the dust and my initial shock settled, and I stood before them in a shroud of amusement, a shroud that faded as quickly as it came.

She lay on top of him, bewildered by the sight of his own bewildered face. He gulped, I could see it. He had cushioned her fall, but the two remained in an awkward situation. My once laughing face fell suddenly, and I could do nothing else but watch on.

They stared at each other for a moment and I felt like I wasn't really there. I felt like I was watching two strangers, and they were staring into each others' souls and feeling a connection, and I was absent. I was hollow and alone. I watched on and felt the heat between the two, and for an instant felt that Nasrina's rescue should be only my burden, and that I was intruding on their happiness.

I could feel it between them. It was like a fire, or a force, and it only happened every once in a while. But it was there, and I was aware. I didn't see how the two were any match for each other on the outside, but the more time that I spent with the two of them together the clearer it became. It was odd, I never imagined my sister would find something so important in some Tauren I'd met in a forest. Actually, I don't think I ever thought about what kind of person I would deem worthy of my sister. I suppose a good friend of mine was good enough for her, that way I'd always know she was safe.

Safe. Was anyone safe in this world? I couldn't bring myself to think such a thought. I watched on at their awkward, red-faced encounter. What was this attractive force between the two of them, anyway? Were they attracted to some sense of belonging, or security? The more I watched the two, the more I felt like I deserved to be on this journey alone, it wasn't fair to bring them into this mess anyway. They didn't need to be here, and I'm sure they didn't want to come all this way to help me. If I weren't involved directly, then Hell, I'd hate to be dragged along. I already hated this.

As I thought this, Votheilia averted her gaze and her head sunk. A sudden wave of sorrow hit her like a tsunami, and she backed away from Alpine. Both me and Alpine followed her, wonderingly, with our eyes. I made to ask her why, and I noticed Al's attempt to do the same, but she stopped us both short.

"I wonder if she's alone..." Votheilia said quietly.

It came back to me. Indeed, I felt like I was lonely without her, but when did this become about me? Thinking about it, I couldn't help but picture her, small and alone, held captive by these monstrous enemies. She had been through it before, perhaps that was what was truly unfair. Maybe Alpine and Votheilia didn't mind making this trip, maybe they cared enough about Nasrina to put themselves through this mess if it'd only help her to not be lost and alone.

We were all the same, the three of us. We couldn't just go on knowing that our ally was in such a horrible situation. Well, perhaps I could, if I tried. But I didn't really want to be like that, like one of those self-righteous Horde creatures. I wanted to be like Nasrina, though, maybe that goal was a little to high for someone like me. I frowned. I wondered if it was my Blood Elf nature to think more of myself than of others, or if it was a personality drawback. Votheilia seemed to be quite capable of empathy, and I wished I could be more like her. It was odd, I could see my own flaws, but could hardly do a thing to change it, and sometimes, I didn't even want to change them. It was comfortable, being me.

Alpine's response must have been much more comforting than my lack there of, for he simply pulled her into an embrace and let her lean against him. I let out a breath before turning away. I rolled my shoulders and looked to the dark sky, judging that it could get no darker. It was well past time to still be awake.

"Regardless," I spoke up through the thick dimness, "We need to get some sleep."

"Yeah," Alpine agreed and the two of them parted and got ready for to find their own temporary, make-shift beds.

I rested on the still warm ground and lay on my back, with my arms folded easily behind my head. I watched sleeplessly on as the stars moved away too slowly for me to even realize. The only sound was this strange scraping, no, carving sound. It was muffled and slow, as it it were hidden beneath a cloth. I huffed a sigh, deciding not to invade on someone's privacy. My eyes were not ready to close, nor was my mind prepared to rest. But this wasn't about me, as much as I hesitated and hated to admit. I shut my eyes and forced slumber upon myself.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

There I was, in the middle of a snowstorm. I was standing, but somehow it didn't feel like I was anywhere, doing anything at all. Merely existing over the edge of the world. There was a peace. There was a prevalent, lasting and longing equanimity that flowed like an ocean beneath my feet and a breeze around my body- had I a body at all. For I could not see myself. Not in the reflection of the ground, which spread and streamed like steady water, nor as I reached my hand into my view as to perhaps count the fingers.

She stood there, so far out across the desolation between were my fingers might be, and yet so near that I could feel the heat of her breath as it escaped into the frigid silence. Like a feather, it floated back and forth, but upwards, in a rhythmic and loving wind, which carried no air to move at all. But it floated, and it flew, like a dove towards the vacancy of this emptiness. This wonder, though entrancing and euphoric to every sense as it should have been to any onlooker, felt to me like watching bricks crumble.

She watched me. More than that, she watched my eyes. Like a mirror, they followed mine, as if they couldn't stand to part. No, I moved after her. It seemed more like I was chasing her eyes. I chased them around her head, trying desperately to make them fall on me. At last, by no action of mine, my eyes broke from hers like splitting a log in two. While hers finally hit my gaze, mine could not be moved from this spot on her chest. At first, I couldn't understand this magnetism to the spot right below her collarbone, but it became all to apparent. I felt, though it could not be seen, that I had raised my hand to her, to reach out to her. And then it began.

Her skin churned and twisted grotesquely. I trembled, or so I would have, had I had owned a body to tremble through. A hole tore through her, and through the hole I saw this sticky, trickling liquid engulfing her slowly, like sinking and drowning. I ran, facing her and towards her, but felt myself being saved while she was falling. I was pushing her away by running towards her. I had torn a hole through her, and now I was pushing her into the darkness.

The world, one which was a world without the world, died. She was sinking, and no matter how quickly I swam towards her, she lost her breaths and her beats. I was useless again. I was terrified, helpless, and obsolete. I flipped and saw only flashes of her fading, only brief film-strips of her life loss. I could feel the world again, the life, the truth, the calm and the joy. But somehow she remained grey and darkening. I called out with silence, a silence to out-shout the silence. But that only served to force her farther away.

The water became still. As the last drop of life fell from beneath my feet, I felt myself reach back onto the edge of the world. But she, however much I despised the very thought much less the sight, disappeared into the white vacuousness of the snowstorm.

She had died, and by my harrowing hand, I had killed her.

Splash.

The shrill frigidness came as a shock, and as but a night dreamer who'd worn out his welcome, I sat up in a start, taking a quick and sharp breath. I coughed suddenly and felt like the walking dead, with my skin cold and tense. I shook my head and felt the droplets of water fly onto my exposed arms and noticed the darkened specks where they hit the ground around me. I glared at the girl standing over me, who appeared shocked by my sudden action.

"Good heavens," Her mouth moved, belying her statue-still form, "I thought you were dead."

"Yeah," He added, and my eyes moved over to the large Tauren standing above me, empty gourd in hand, "She was freaked."

"Hey shut up," She pouted, "You were too."

"'Not at all'," he mouthed to me by cover of his hand, and I let out a huffed snicker.

I suppose it was a dream, I thought as I leaned forward onto my bending knees. I slouched and let my shoulders rest once more, paying close attention to the feeling of slippery droplets of water flow down my face. I deeply hoped that nothing like that would ever happen to me. Nay, to her. I breathed out and pushed a drop off the edge of my lip, for it had annoyed my already shaken state. I look around myself to note that the camp had been packed up, the fire was out, and we were ready to leave.

"You could have woken me sooner," I muttered as I got to my feet.

"I am not a wake up call, bro," Votheilia turned away as she went on her way towards the bags.

"Just saying," I rubbed the back of my neck and rolled it lazily, "I could have helped pack up, you know."

"Anyway," Alpine broke in, louder than necessary perhaps, "Lets get a move on," He tied his tree onto his back once more, for he had slept with it off, "Can't keep Thrall waiting."

"Tch," I grimaced and glared at nothing, then remarked sarcastically, "Right-oh."

"Hah," Alpine pushed some hidden object into his bag, as if trying to hide it, "that sounds like something Vi- er, Nasrina would say," Alpine smiled as he began on our way, knowing that the mention of her name would spur me to move.

"Yeah," I muttered and followed him reluctantly, staring angrily at the dirt as if it were, well, dirt.

"It's just a little farther," He went on as if the lack of a member of our party didn't phase him, though I was more than sure it did, "To Hammerfall, I mean."

"Are you sure it's save to go to a Horde-occupied town?" Votheilia spoke up as she hurried to keep up with us.

"I think we're far enough North that our faces won't be easily recognized," I replied, looking over at her, "And I mean, we did help aid the prisoners, so we may actually get a warm welcome," I said optimistically, for once.

So...

"Get the fuck outta here, traitors!" The Orc yelled as a hand-full of dirt was thrown at me, causing my eye to twitch in irritation.

"We're here so we can get to the Undercity, we only need a ride there," Votheilia tried to explain.

"In this time of dire need, these Alliance dogs come to burn the already crumbling city to the ground?" The Orc went on screaming like an evangelist, but swinging his club like a moron, "I will not stand for it!"

"We're here under Thrall's direct orders," I stepped forwards, staring him in the eyes so he would know it was no lie.

"Like I believe that blasphemy, heathen!" He growled, and I then thought I had seen a glimpse of foam pouring over his jowls. I was mistaken, luckily.

"If you'd just listen to-" Votheilia tried again, but in vain.

"I-will-not-stand-for-it!" He nearly cried, like a child having a raging tantrum, "I will prove my allegiance to Thrall by pounding, crushing and beheading each one of you, then displaying your disembodied visages throughout the city until the people have had their fill of this beverage of cleansed sins, and only then will-"

"All right," Another approached us, this time from the shadows and in the form of a rotting corpse, or what was left of one, "Enough already," He waved his hand and the Orc seemed to calm down, "I'll take care of the intruders."

"Victor," He said quietly as the Forsaken stopped in front of him, facing us.

"Uttnar," He addressed the Orc, peering back with hallow eyes, "You should return to your business, there are hungry customers awaiting your services."

"Understood," He nodded firmly, "I'll leave the rest to you."

As the Orc retreated, we were left staring at this sack of bones and skin. I didn't know who he was, but it intrigued me. He relaxed and crossed his arms, leaning casually on a nearby wall. I waited for him to speak first, for I hadn't a clue what to ask. Besides, he must have come to us for a reason.

"I was told of your arrival," He said, looking us over, "and of your feat, that of releasing our prisoners at least."

"Go on," I pressed.

"I'm here to direct you." He stood straight, "I'll take you to Urda, our flight master, and she'll send you on your way to the Undercity."

"What's going on up there, anyway?" I asked as we followed him around the edge of the city.

"Pardon me?" He didn't even look back.

"In the Undercity," I went on, "That vendor said that the city was 'already crumbling'."

"Perceptive," He would have grinned, had he any skin around his mouth to move, "Thrall made no error in recruiting this one," He went on with it, "There's a battle for supremacy, and it seems everyone is involved. Horde, Alliance, and the Forsaken of the Undercity,"

"You separate the Forsaken from the rest of the Horde," I noted, raising an interested brow.

"Indeed," He sounded almost impressed, though he wouldn't tell me about that, "But you'll find out more when you get there, for now," We arrived at the flight master, quite quickly, "We'll send you on a direct flight to the Undercity."

"Fair enough," I agreed to the terms as he and the flight master readied the mounts.

"Fare? None, it's on the house," He punned, with no laugh to himself.

"Funny," I said with no enthusiasm as we mounted quickly.

"Safe travels." The mounts took off before we could respond, or thank the dead man for his assistance.

And we were off. I looked back at watched Hammerfall shrink behind us, and watched the waving finger bones of this strange doctor sway until movement couldn't be measured. I looked straight ahead and watched absently as we flew across the land. I must have been on autopilot, until Alpine spoke up.

"Hey Kujajin," He said over the wind.

"Yes?" I looked back with as little effort as possible.

"What do you think is happening in the Undercity that Thrall needs our help with?" He asked, and I found the question to be one on my mind as well.

"Your guess is as good as mine," I said turning forwards again.

We flew over the great wall that separated Arathi Highlands from Hillsbrad, and continued towards the Undercity. I took to watching the clouds try to keep up with us, for it was a futile act. Of course, my feud was not with the clouds at all, but it was a distraction. The flight was a short one, though it seemed to me like it took the daylight away. Maybe that was just the change of location. Tirisfal Glades was anything but lively. It was not light, it was not pretty, it was not green. It was grey, ugly, and dead. It was about as much as I expected from the Forsaken, but every time I see it I cringe a little bit. The flying mounts flew towards the sewers, over a mass of people.

And when I say people, I mean people. Humans, mostly, with Dwarfs, Gnomes, et cetera. It caught me off guard, and even my suspicions grew more suspicious. We flew over them, but did not reach the sewers. Our mounts screeched and turned tail suddenly. They started to flap around frantically, searching for a place to land, but only served to knock Alpine off of one of their backs. I called to Votheilia.

"Vo, jump off," I shouted over the flapping of terrified wings.

"R-Right!" She hoped off, and I followed suit.

We hit the ground with more force than I had imagined. I was sure I sprained something, but didn't find the need to check myself over. I landed between Alpine and Votheilia, and in front of the mass of Alliance folk. I hesitated at first, but finally lifted my head to see them.

Their stares were overwhelming. I knew that somehow they knew exactly who we were, and held a greater grudge against us than they would any average Horde affiliates. I slowly began to reach back to retrieve my bow, when I found myself at barrel's end. I got to my knees and raised my hands, staring back at the faces of those around me.

"Kuj," Votheilia whispered faintly, like a scared rabbit.

"I'h kne'ew it," The Dwarf said surely, "You're all that gang 'at released all 'em pris'ners, aye?"

"You've got it," I replied coolly, not making any movements.

"Boy, you've really pulled 'un over on us, eh," He waved the gun around a bit.

"We sh'ud make 'em pay for it, eh boss?" One of the Gnomes spoke up quickly, a little ball of energy he was.

"Now that's enough," A stronger, more assertive voice came in, and though I hadn't been the least bit scared before, I was more assured now, "Don't make villains of yourselves."

The man stepped forward, as the group cleared a path. It was plain to see that he had incomparable influence over this brigade, and for a second too long I wondered who he could be. It came to me, and I lowered my head in his presence, for still I felt myself one of his subjects. Even if he didn't feel the same.

"King Varian," I said humbly, watching his feet for any sudden moves.

"So this is the Kujajin I've been hearing about," He leaned down to my level and looked me in the eye, "Stand up, boy,"

"..." I did as I was told and came to my feet, with my hands still beside my head.

"And lower your hands, now is not the time for a petty dispute," He let me lower my arms before addressing the others, "And you two must be Alpine and Votheilia, yes?"

"Yes sir," Alpine stood abruptly and motioned for Votheilia to do the same.

"Strange," Varian looked around, "I seem to remember there was another woman with you, a Human no less."

"About that..." I trailed off, catching my tongue in time.

"Ah, so there you all are," A recognizable voice was heard, and I turned to look him in the eye.

"Thrall," Varian stood up straight in the Warchief's presence.

"'About that'," He repeated what had I said, "The girl is waiting on the other side, at the front gates with the rest of my men."

"Really?" Alpine perked up, "Is she really? She's over there, and-and we get to see her and-"

I smacked him.

"Shame. I would have liked to have met her, from what I have heard." He turned to Thrall, "You know, I don't like this fight any more than you do, but right now we are not enemies, but two parties with a common goal," Varian began, but Thrall would have none of it.

"I am grateful for your support, King," He looked over at us, "But I'll be taking my men to our stations now."

"Be my guest," He took a step away from us, falling into line with his men.

"Come on, Blood Elf," Thrall roughly grabbed me and pushed me the way that he had come.

I watched carefully as Thrall looked back and shared a nod of understanding with Varian. Strange. I guess he was all talk. Perhaps the two of them actually knew a thing or so about politics after all. As we were about out of eyesight, I took a chance to look back myself. Varian was still watching us, as if somehow knowing that we were dragged into this unwillingly. His sad and sympathetic eyes were all it took to know that.

"We're fighting Varimathras, one of Sylvanas' underlings," Thrall snorted angrily, "Apparently she needs to make better assurance of who she deems trustworthy."

"Hm." I nodded absent-mindedly, just wanting to get this over with.

"Anyway, you three will be part of my task force," He started, "Along with Sylvanas and myself."

"Just dandy," I looked away.

"Just," He said, louder and firmer now, commanding my attention, "remember what it is that you're fighting for," Thrall looked me dead in the eye, as if somehow he understood how important this was to me. He didn't shake me off or sneer or anything, he just waited for a response.

"Yeah," I shrugged and went to get ready with the rest of these grunts.

"Blood and thunder, champions of the Horde!" Thrall called out to his men as he stood before them, "We fight on this day for our fallen brothers and sisters! Mourn them not for they all died with honour in their hearts!"

The rest of the troops cheered and raved, while I scowled and scuffed my boots on the dusty stones. Votheilia and Alpine hurried to my side and the three of us got prepared for such an endeavour. We checked each other's armour and waited for the command to move. Finally, I called out Max, for now was the time I would need his support. I gave him a pet, and he rubbed my hand in affection until I gave him something to eat. As he chewed, Votheilia handed me my helmet.

"What do you think," She asked suddenly, "of this whole thing?" Votheilia leaned over towards me.

"To be honest," I looked down into my helmet with a stoic expression, "I think it'll be like most other quests." I tossed it onto my head, "Boring, predictable," I strapped it on, "but it's got to be done."

-x0x-

Preview of Next Chapter:

"Has your ineptitude no bounds?" I asked, burying my words into his skin purposely. I knew how to get to him.

"Then you first!" He charged at me, grabbing his second axe and holding them both above his head.

I quickly rolled a dodge and ran to Viola, grabbing her by hand from her stationary shock and pulling her through the cave as fast as I could. We hurriedly evaded the surprised Troll who dared to reach for us, and the Ogre Innkeeper who really had no interest in helping or hindering us. Upon reaching the mouth of the cave, the two Ogres who stood ahead of me were tossed to either side from the force of my Thunderstorm.

"Get your wolf," I commanded her as we ran on foot out of the cave and I began to summon mine.

"Right," she summoned hers and mounted, quite quickly for someone with bound hands.

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