Ganked V 2.0

Chapter 8 Flight

It was not until around five that Wigget's training ended. The new schematic she'd received from Zap was intriguing. And though she'd poured over schematic for hours, she was still thoroughly convinced she didn't quite understand it all.

When she entered the Inn, she was surprised to see it completely empty of people. Only Vizzie and some goblin workers were there. There was no sign of her party. Although she knew that Skinflint and Denevell were gone, she fully expected Lorenna and Cyrus to have returned by now. Besides, where was Neiana? She should have been there, grinding up plants, as she usually did. Of the Horde party, there was no sign. Every personal effect had been taken, which meant they were gone for good. This conclusion was reinforced by the goblins, who were busy changing their sheets.

At first, Wigget didn't worry. She expected Lorenna and Cyrus back at any minute. Undoubtedly, Neiana became bored. There were plenty of places to see in Everlook. Perhaps she ran into an herbalist, or a mage. She didn't know about such things herself.

An hour passed, and then Wigget became concerned. At first, she merely went about the small town, asking the locals about her. But none of them had seen a human mage wandering around for hours. The one thing they all agreed on was that early that day, around eleven, the Horde party had left in a hurry. Some claimed that a fifth person joined them, but no one had paid too much attention since they were used to the sight of adventurers coming and going at all hours of the day.

Wigget did not make a connection between Neiana's disappearance and the party until she went to the stables. They were empty. All the animals were missing, including the one that should have been there: Neiana's white stallion, Chesse.

It can't be! She thought.

But why would she leave with a group of Horde? Perhaps she was mistaken. Perhaps she had left to pick some herbs and had gotten distracted. She swiftly returned back to the inn. Wigget didn't know what to do. That's when Vizzie caught her eye.

"Vizzie!"

"Yes? What is it?" Vizzie asked tersely.

She was in the middle of coordinating a change in the inn and she did not like getting interrupted, particularly by a gnome. Like most goblins, Vizzie didn't care for gnomes. She loved charging the a little extra every time she had to deal with them.

"Did Neiana happen to tell you where she was going?"

"I don't know...what's it to ya?" Vizzie asked.

Wigget glared at the goblin with annoyance. How she hated goblins. Filthy, ugly, green little money suckers they were. If it weren't for the fact that they made excellent engineers she wouldn't bother with them at all.

"I don't have time for this! Tell me where she's gone!" Wigget demanded, sensing then that something was very wrong.

"Listen sister, I don't have the time to talk. Time is money, and I could be making money right now instead of talking to you. So tell me, how much is this information worth?" Vizzie replied forcefully.

"Five gold," Wigget said flatly.

She decided to aim high. There was no time to haggle.

"Done deal," Vizzie replied with an extended palm.

Minutes later, Wigget burst out of the Inn and summoned her Felsteed. The large, bright red horse suddenly appeared in a plume of smoke. She dashed on it, as small as she was she had become quite adept, and began to contemplate her next move.

First she thought about going to Cyrus. But then it occurred to her that she didn't know the location of Ice Thistle Hills. So instead, she galloped to Starfall Village. Hopefully Denevell and Daela where still there. Not only could they lead her to Darkwhisper Gorge, but they'll be able to heal Neiana as well, if she needed it.

South of Everlook, the now vacant cave in Ice Thistle Hills, was carved into a hill overlooking the road. Although it hung back east, it was near enough the road so that anyone at that vantage point could see traffic quite clearly.

Lorenna and Cyrus had taken their time mining. As he walked through the opening of the cave onto the outside world, Cyrus noted that his bag was only half full of ore. It was a lot less than one would expect from such a rich site. But they hadn't really been paying too much attention to rocks. He adjusted the links of his mail gloved hand and then mounted his horse.

Lorenna was still busy getting dressed when he called her.

"Hey, are you ready yet?"

"It takes a while for us girls you know," she shouted back.

He grinned and shrugged his shoulders. He was about to give a cheeky retort, but then, a loud noise got his attention. It was the rumbling of mounts on a rough, snow covered road. He turned to look and there, on the road heading north, was the Horde party he vaguely remembered from earlier that day. Heading the party was a Blood Knight, covered in a luxurious black, fur-lined cloak. On foot beside him, but running with great speed, was an Orc Hunter and a large green spider. A female elf was riding a Hawkstrider behind him, and flanking her was a Forsaken priest upon his skeletal Warhorse and an unmanned Hawkstrider, probably the pack mule.

As he watched them pass by, he couldn't help but marvel. They seemed so gallant and proud. One of the problems with the Alliance was their unwillingness to cooperate. Every step was by committee, and heaven forbid anyone work together on anything. It was that lack of cohesiveness that he blamed for many Alliance failures, and why it seemed that they could never secure Arathi Basin, for example, or Warsong Gulch. But here they were, different races, many of whom, if intelligence was correct, hated each other despite being allies, moving as one unit.

Cyrus would never admit these things out loud, but he was content to watch them pass by. He wasn't worried they'd gank him. Whatever they were doing, they were in too much hurry to bother. But then, the elf that led the party turned to him. Even at a distance, Cyrus felt those cold green eyes on him. Instead of hatred, he felt a distinct sense of urgency. The elf, who Cyrus noted was black haired, motioned to the south with his right hand before he turned back ahead to the road. They passed as swiftly as they arrived.

That was odd, Cyrus thought.

There was something familiar about that group, especially the elf who led them, but he couldn't quite place them. Although he had an excellent memory, it was difficult to pick one out of the hundreds he'd run into in the course of two years. He wished he hadn't been so sick that morning.

It was then that Lorenna left the cave, still adjusting her belt.

"That was some workout. If I had known you had it in you, I would have asked you to come mining a long time ago," she remarked with a grin, but he was not paying attention. Instead, he was scanning the south.

"Hey, Lorenna, what is down there, south of here?" he asked, motioning with his head.

"Oh, there? That's where Frostwhisper Gulch is, and beyond is Darkwhisper Gulch. It's a scary place. Usually, it's recommended that five people go at least. Why?"

"A Horde party just passed and the leader pointed to it. He seemed..." he paused, trying to think of the proper word. "…worried? Could it be that something is coming?"

"There is no way. Those demons just wander about the gulch, and the giants at Frostwhisper don't go anywhere," she explained.

He turned to her. "Have you been there?"

She shook her head. "We came close, once. We stood on a ridge and were able to see some of it, but we weren't strong enough to go in."

"Five? It takes five to explore that area?" he asked.

"Yeah, usually. Why?"

She was beginning to tire of all the questions. What did it matter what the Horde group thought? They were a bunch of snobs anyway.

"There were only four in that party," he observed.

"So?" she asked.

"Something is definitely wrong. Perhaps we should go and investigate."

Sol led his group in a frantic pace. His plan was to ride all the way to Felwood without a single stop. It may take until nightfall to reach the closest encampment, but they would not rest until then. Their betrayal was more serious than any of his team realized. Although he was not able to stop it in time, he also needed to ensure that she would not die. Her death would bring not just the wrath her four companions, but of the three Alliance women. They would be hunted and killed by seven Alliance members out for blood. All that was required for her services was a single diamond ring and a small bit of ore. Fools! Why did they do it?

He urged them onward, his heart beating fast. If that warrior, Cyrus, were an idiot, and he didn't understand the signal he'd circumspectly given, then it would cost them everything. But there was something in that man's green eyes, a keenness, that he'd recognized even from the time at Southshore that assured him. He would know.

Guntag broke Sol's thoughts. "Sir, there is an Alliance party headed our way. It only has three people."

"It is her friends! We should kill them before they can get to her," Lucilin replied.

"Absolutely not, Lucilin, we continue forward until we reach Irontree Clearing!" Sol commanded.

"Tsk," Lucilin murmured. "Now she'll be revived for sure."

A few minutes later, they were in view. The Alliance was rushing toward them, as swiftly as they were running north. The three Alliance members were Wigget, riding hard on her Felsteed, and two Druids in beastform, racing swiftly as cheetahs.

"Ignore them!" he commanded.

"Hrm, they may just get there in time," Guntag murmured between strides.

"There are only three of them," Lucilin urged. "We can kill them for sure."

"Didn't you see that warrior? He was not alone. If we engage them now, the warriors will enclose from behind. We are tired from a day's worth of fighting and digging. We will be overrun and killed," Sol explained.

The groups met. For a second, the two parties formed a tapestry on the road. One heading north, toward Felwood, while the other headed south, desperately seeking their lost companion.

As they passed them by, Wigget broke a cardinal rule: never make eye contact. When traveling abroad and encountering the Horde, it was important not to make eye contact since it could be seen as antagonistic. The trick was to be aware of one's surroundings, without appearing to, so as not to signal hostile intent.

The moment she passed Sol's Charger, her eyes drifted to him, curiously. She wanted to know why Neiana would do something so foolhardy as to go with a group of enemies into dangerous territory. It was then that she recognized him. She had been so busy tending to Cyrus she scarcely paid the Horde party any attention. But if she had, she wouldn't have spent the day with the Engineers.

Although she didn't really care for "big people" in that way, she could understand what a human girl would find appealing. He was richly armored and dressed. Clothed in black and scarlet, it created a sharp contrast to his pale but ruddy skin and wintry surroundings. Everything worn, from the smallest buckle to his bear-trimmed cloak, was of the highest quality. This was undoubtedly due to a judicious use of resources coupled with fearless ambition that led him to explore some of the deepest parts of Azeroth. His bearing was sure, proud, stern and almost cruel. This was not a man that anyone would trifle with. Above all, he had an air of experience and deep understanding that belied the fact that he was much older than he appeared, lending him an aura of mystery.

He gave her a brief, dismissive glance as they passed on by.

How like an elf, she thought.

And how like a non-elf, to examine the elf, taking in every detail, only to be dismissed in return. She could have kicked herself. Elves and their blasted charisma, and she had fallen for it. If she was not immune, then how much more affected would a young human woman be not yet acquainted with the ways of the world? She felt deeply for her friend Cyrus, and hoped against hope that they would reach her in time.

Cyrus and Lorenna rode to Frostwhisper Gorge in a frantic pace set by Cyrus, much to Lorenna's disapproval. She didn't even know why they were going and saw no reason to do so. But there they were, following this odd hunch he had because of those blasted Horde.

The first sign of something amiss was when they spotted Chesse some ways before Frostwhisper Gorge. He was grazing on an herb by the road. After Scare Beast wore off, he had discovered he was hungry. Instead of dutifully finding his master, as he was trained, he was having a snack when Cyrus spotted him.

"Chesse!" he called, as he rode to the animal.

The horse looked up immediately. If ever an animal looked guilty, he did at that very moment. Cyrus took him by the bridle and gave him a stern look.

"Where is your master?" he asked.

Chesse looked down.

"Chesse! I'm warning you!" he cried.

By this time, Lorenna was utterly confused. Who would talk to a horse like that? What was he, a Hunter? The horse pointed his nose south.

"Well, at last an answer. You are coming with us!" Cyrus declared.

The horse made no complaints as he was lead forward. When they arrived at Frostwhisper Gorge, there were signs of battle everywhere. The most telling was a patch of hardened web, which looked torn on the top. A trail of litter lead from the web to a pile of rags several yards west. He could see footprints hastily marking chase, following the trail to the rags. That is when his heart sank. Those were no rags!

He rushed to the pile on foot, dropped to his knees, and gingerly moved the cloth. There was a woman hidden within. She was bloody and bruised, her face barely recognizable. But he could tell who she was from the loosened chestnut brown hair that now hung about her like waves. By this time, even the usually dull Lorenna understood what had happened. She was probably lured there with promises of True Silver and whatever other trinkets they could give her, only to be ganked at the end of her usefulness. It was a common tactic used by both sides.

To compensate for her lack of healing skills, Lorenna was an expert in First Aid. Most warriors were, so both were able to see at once that she was alive, although barely clinging to life. She immediately removed bandages from her first aid kit and got to work. The robes were torn open, exposing her white torso, marred with deep slices and wounds. To an experienced fighter, each would told a tale. They spoke of hatred, jealousy, and resentment.

She was losing blood fast, and was weakening by the minute. Luckily, he still had the vial of restoration that Neiana had given him. He uncorked the top and lifted her head carefully. As he poured a drop into her mouth, some of the precious liquid poured down the side of her cheek.

"Her mouth is sealed shut," Lorenna said "You have to pour it down her throat with your own mouth."

He nodded grimly before pouring the rest into his mouth, placing his hand over her nose, and then locking lips with hers. The liquid went straight down her throat and into her stomach. A brief light shone from her wounds and they partially closed, but much to Lorenna's dismay, the light was a sickly green. It indicated poison.

"She's been poisoned!" she cried

"Do you have any anti-venom?" Cyrus asked.

She shook her head. "I ran out of it while hunting the Furbolgs. There are no spiders here that I can use to make new ones. "

He desperately searched the rubble. Surely she packed anti-venom and other potions before the trip. But as he searched, he began to realize just how complete the ganking had been. There was nothing left of value on the snow. Shattered bottles and even torn herbs were the only thing that were left of her work. He could see quite plainly, from the indentations of the snow, that the vials had not broken from the fall. They had been trampled upon.

"Tsk. We have to take her back to Everlook as quickly as possible!" he declared.

Just as he was going to gather her up and place her on her horse, a voice called from the North, authoritatively.

"Do not move her, Cyrus!"

Both Warriors looked up, and watched a cheetah morph into a massive Night Elf in two strides. He did not even stop as he cast several restorative spells. Her body became encased in green light. The wounds closed, leaving no trace on her smooth skin. The sickly, pale coloration became rosy, as the venom was exorcised away. To Cyrus' surprise, the Elf did not stop casting then, but instead cast another healing spell on her. It was then that Neiana took a deep, healthy gasp, as though just emerging from beneath a pool of water, but she did not wake.

"There were some internal bleeding," Denevell explained. "Even if you had taken her to Everlook, she would not have survived the trip."

Cyrus looked down at her solemnly, and to Lorenna, it seemed that the hard lines of his face became even sterner. His eyes were set forward. His jaw was tightly clenched. She'd seen that face before. It was the face of a Warrior holding back tears.

Daela and Wigget arrived, the elf woman standing beside Denevell, her shinning white eyes on the woman with detached concern.

"We should take her with us to Starfall Village. She's been through quite a shock. It will probably take several hours, possibly days, for her to wake up," she observed.

"True," Denevell said. "And we should send word to Skinflint after we arrive."

"Why not take her to Everlook?" Lorenna asked.

"That place is too rough," Daela replied. "The Goblins will not care for her like we will."

Wigget busied herself by picking up whatever belongings were left, knowing that Neiana would ask for them when she woke up. There was little left. As Cyrus had noted, nearly everything of value had been scavenged. No promised True Silver lay upon the snow. No diamonds, or Darklotus, or magical items were spared. Her potions were trampled upon, painting the surrounding snow in blue, red, and violet hues. Mostly food, first aid items, and a few minor pieces of ore were what was left. The only item of any possible worth left was a Malachite Pendant. But by their level of experience, such an item was a simple trinket. It befuddled her that anyone would want to keep it, but judging that it may have some sentimental meaning, she took it as well.

They placed her face down on her horse, covered her in a warm cloak, and lead it to Starfall Village, slowly, so as not to disturb her. Cyrus would have preferred taking her on his horse, holding her as they traveled, but he kept his wishes to himself.

That afternoon had been a productive one for Skinflint and his niece, Geldie. After a day spent collecting Toxic Horror Droplets for Donova, all three were sitting by the campfire, preparing dinner. The three Dwarfs were unwinding, speaking Dwarvish and not caring one wit about the sensibilities of other Races as they drank and shared tales in their native tongue to heart's content. They would stay the night, under the same tent, and then work once again on the springs the next morning.

It was then, as they happily conversed, that Skinflint caught an odd sight. It was a group of Horde, four in number, rushing head long into Felwood.

"Now will ya look at tha!" he exclaimed.

"What kinda fool goes inta Felwood at night?" Geldie asked.

"A desperate kind," Skinflint said darkly.

Something didn't sit well with him. Especially when he noticed one of the party members rear her Hawkstrider back, refusing to go any further. There was an argument, with the Blood Knight (he refused to acknowledge them as Paladins as they acquired their power through ill-gotten gains), pointing into Felwood and the female elf and Orc disagreeing. They were arguing quite loudly in that fell language, Orcish, so some of the words traveled over the snow and to the camp. How he hated that sound more than anything. Even if he couldn't understand the words, he could feel their concern.

"What do you mean we have to go into Felwood?" Lucilin demanded.

"Felwood is haunted by evil that cannot be killed," Guntag said. "I am no coward, but some things in there still walk my dreams."

"Then you should have thought of that before you acted on your own and ganked her," Sol declared.

There was a heavy silence before he continued.

"A cheap ring and a few plants! That's all she wanted. That's all we needed to give her and we could have had everything, and spent the last night in Everlook, leaving in the morning at our leisure instead of running away like common bandits."

It was then that Bill said his peace.

"But consider, sir, if she would have betrayed us after we returned. She knew what was acquired, and how much it was worth. As you say, we are outnumbered. It is much easier to kill us and steal the gems and ore, than to go against giants and demons, and dig, as we had to."

Sol gave him a sly look. "If I had any notion that she would have done such a thing, I would not have recruited her in the first place. She was completely within my powers."

The corners of his lips creased slightly, giving away a tiny, satisfied smile. It was clear he relished the power he could wield. "She would have dove into the Searing Gorge if I had asked. As it is, you are lucky that I did not kill her."

"What? What do you mean you didn't kill her?" Lucilin asked, shocked.

"You allowed me the final judgment, and I gave it. I let her live. And the fact that I left her alive is precisely the reason why we haven't been hunted down! They were too busy trying to heal her to come after us."

"Indeed Sir," Bill interrupted. "I noticed that you did not. As a Priest, unfortunate as that may be, I saw that her wounds were so extensive, that physical healing would not fully restore her. She would be transported to Everlook, or perhaps Starfall Village, for a full recovery. And it would have to be a slow trip, she would be transported with utmost care."

Lucilin glanced between Bill and Sol, annoyed that she had been left out of the loop.

"But then, shouldn't we be able to stay here? Pitch our tent near the entrance and then leave first thing in the morning?" she asked.

"Hrm, I sense two of their party members north of here. We have been spotted," Guntag said. "If we stay, we might be ambushed in our sleep."

Bill then laughed, surprising everyone but Sol.

"Why do you fear? Felwood may be crawling with cursed beasts and fell creatures, but I am Undead. I fear them not. I will lead you gladly!"

"And if we stick to the road, we shouldn't even encounter them. Ironwood Clearing is not far. What are a few Oozes to the demons of Darkwhisper Gorge?" Sol asked, calmly.

Lucilin and Guntag glanced at each other apprehensively before finally coming to the same conclusion. They simply nodded with acquiescence. Nothing else needed to be said. Sol turned his horse westward and on they rode to Timbermaw Hold.

As Skinflint watched the group continue on West, he became filled with foreboding. Why would a group be so desperate as to enter those woods at night? They were running away. Clearly, something wasn't right. The only thing they had to fear was them, the Alliance. And why else would they run from the Alliance, unless they had attacked a member of their party? What if someone was dead?

Skinflint's dark thoughts cast a shadow on the warm firelight, and the three Dwarves became hushed, although he didn't voice his troubles. It didn't surprise him when thirty minutes later, Denevell arrived with the news. He became so enraged, he demanded to know why Denevell came alone. He would have charged into Felwood himself, cursed beasts or not.

But the Night Elf shook his head.

"There is no reason to head after them into that darkness. Neiana is alive, and that is all that matters. Let us not augment the evil done with further violence."

"Ye and yer damn 'vlish ways!" was the only argument Skinflint could muster before angrily going into the tent. "They'll be tha death o' me fer sure!"