Colin's eyes began to open, lazily, as the ephemeral haze began to wane the further his body was taken out of the forest. His sight first came to him before his feeling of touch did, and for a moment, all he could tell was that the ground beneath him was rolling along in front of his face, leaving him slightly disoriented until a slight popping cane through his eardrums, his sense of balance thrown off, teeteringly, as he suddenly pulled at his arms to brace himself. He was shocked when they didn't respond, though he could tell that they were being held back, rather than being without feeling, and in the next moment, he could tell that he was atop of somebody's shoulders.

"Morning," came Kyra's slightly strained voice, though she did her best to remain neutral.

"K-Kyra?!" Colin shouted incredulously as his head whipped back and forth, quicker ascertaining that she had, indeed, been carrying him atop her shoulders.

She grew a crooked grin as if she were bragging, "Silverwings are required to carry their nightsabers, should the need arise, you know."

"I-I know now!" Colin replied, still in shock, before he pulled at his arms once more to free himself.

Quick to shake her head, Kyra leaned forward enough to disorient Colin so that he'd stop struggling, "Quit it; I don't want to drop you."

"Then let me down; I can walk just fine," Colin pleaded, growing increasingly embarrassed, "Some hunter's going to think I'm your fresh kill!"

"Oh, is that it?" Kyra wryly muttered in retort, peering at him over her shoulder, "Sure it's not for any other reason? I thought you enjoyed me being more dominant."

"Y-Yeah, but this is-" he stammered, trying to save face as his face reddened, both from embarrassment and blood flow.

Kyra smirked, "I kind of like the idea of you emulating my fresh kill. I mean, I do know how tasty you are."

Finally relinquished to his fate, Colin went limp with a distant groan, admitting defeat with a weakened air, "Okay, you win."

He felt a sudden shaking beneath him as Kyra managed to laugh with his weight atop of her, stealing another glance over her shoulder, "Sorry. It's just nice to tease around like normal for once.

Colin smiled, "Yeah, I know what you mean. This whole journey has been one thing after anoth- Hang on, what happened to that beast?!"

"The one that snuck up on us?" Kyra asked, knowingly, "Oh, it's no big deal; Cenarius showed up and helped us out."

She spoke with such ease that Colin's eyes nearly leapt from his face in abyssal amazement, "W-Wait, you just said Cenarius- Is that a local lumberjack or Northern beast that was even bigger, or-?"

Kyra grinned up toward him as her ear flickered to life, quickly looking into the dense forest ahead as she began to hear the tell-tale signs of a body flying through the thick underbrush toward them, her ears even able to tell her that whomever it was bore the same shape and swiftness as her elder sister. She paused her steps, lowering her body so that Colin could stand on his own, though after an immediate, heavy sway, she kept ahold of his arm to steady him.

"I'm pretty sure that's Vylira just now," Kyra nodded, much to Colin's continuing surprise, "Don't worry; I'll let you know what's up before-"

She suddenly paused as she heard two more presences behind Vylira, and knowing that these two were most likely Syheath and the blood elf, she immediately took care with her words, lest they be heard. She held on to Colin as she walked along, watching his feet as he slowly managed his own pace. Even he had begun to hear the rustling before them as he stared down at the ground, and as it broke through the final plane of branches, Colin's heart sank as the voice of Syheath broke through to them.

The younger elf crashed angrily into the ground as she slid to a stop, though continuing her motion as she approached the two of them, her face twisted in fury, "What's up, woman?! You better not be admitting to bringing us out here simply to have us killed!"

Kyra's eyes grew wide as she stared at Syheath, her focus too disoriented by her sister's words that she suddenly realized that, if that human, Ulric, was also among the three chasers, Vylira may just as easily not be among them. She felt a twinge of unsurity rush through her legs as Syheath approached her, even closer, throwing a hand out and shoving Kyra's shoulder.

"Talk!" she shouted, angrily, hardly enough noticing Colin to her sister's side.

As such, Colin's voice caused her to jump, slightly, in surprise, "Shadowmoon, we weren't up to anything. We were simply talking and got carried away; everything's alright, see?"

He drew his hand downward as if presenting their bodies, showing that they hadn't any injuries, nor had anything on them that was suspicious, "What have we to gain from turning against your group?"

"Oh, she's got plenty to gain!" Syheath shouted as she shoved her sister again, though this time, Kyra resisted as her mind flooded back to her.

As Syheath drew another offensive motion toward her, Kyra immediately drew her own hand, grasping Syheath's wrist and spinning around, throwing Syheath to the ground, though the older of the two was quick to return to her feet with a seething rage emanating from her snarling teeth. Kyra released a defiant breath through her nose as she prepared to counter her sister, but as Syheath charged in her direction, Colin managed to throw himself into her path, colliding with Syheath and miraculously remaining on his feet as she broke into his balance.

"Hey! Cut it out, you two!" he shouted, though as Kyra had noticed him struggling to remain standing, she quickly rushed up to support him, even frowning as she made contact with her sister.

Syheath was less than cooperative as she snarled back, "The only thing that's gonna be cut is my fucking throat if she's allowed to do as she pleases! I know that look on her face- she thinks she's better than me; it's always been the case."

Kyra scoffed, shaking her head, "As if you were worth the trouble."

As if taking this rejection of ill-intent just as poorly as the last, Syheath shoved her weight into Colin as she threw her arms around him in an attempt at grabbing ahold of her sister, her heated breath reminding Colin so well of that time in Ban'ethil Hollow. He quickly tried to separate the two of them, but in a second, a heavy *THUD* hit the ground and the voice of Vylira broke through the confrontation.

"HEY!" she shouted, angrily, quickly approaching the three of them, her voice in authoritative fury as she grasped ahold of Syheath and yanked her away as Colin held onto the youngest of the three, "I'm not about to-!"

Syheath whipped her body around to try and escape her sister's grasp, angrily shouting back at her, "You'd better let me go!"

Vylira leaned in closer to her ear, "If you don't listen to me, I'll make sure you spend a good, long nap to cool yourself down."

In that second, Parvaen appeared, having drawn his mastadonic dagger, holding it out in Vylira's direction, much to Colin's astonishment at how gradually this situation had escalated, leaving the blood elf to seethe, "Unhand her, or so help me…"

Shadowmoon sneered as she continued tugging at her sister, managing to throw the two of them off balance enough that she fell to a knee as she threw a stare toward Parvaen, "Get her off me!"

As he did what she had ordered, and with Vylira not giving any indication of letting go, Colin immediately released Kyra to allow the both of them to approach the rest of the party, with Kyra aiming her sword toward Parvaen with deep eyes, "Ash karath, sin'dorei scum! Mine's bigger; let's see what happens!"

Although having paused in stride at her threat, Parvaen remained steady as his eyes turned to each of the three of them, his body remaining low and defensive as Shadowmoon's resistant groaning continued as she fought with the stranger. Vylira assessed the situation carefully, not wanting to upset their guides, and quickly lessened her fight, bringing her face as close to Shadowmoon's ear as she could.

"[Call him off, and you're free]," she muttered in Darnassian, causing Shadowmoon to stop as she, too, saw the out, "[We don't need any further trouble, sister.]"

Shadowmoon gradually gave up her fight, though her breaths remained heavy as Vylira reluctantly let her go, allowing the younger of the two to dash away, squaring up beside Parvaen as the blood elf spoke up, quietly, "We'll wait until Ulric shows up; he came too."

As she nodded, Shadowmoon couldn't help but tense up at his words, though she remained defensive as Vylira regained her standing posture, joining up with the two others of her ground, wrapping a hand along Kyra's shoulder as her younger sister leaned her head to the side to listen. Shadowmoon and Parvaen both tensed their ears to hear, though, by the look of deep thought on the human's face, they weren't speaking in any tongue Colin even knew.

All Shadowmoon could make out what the whispering of sounds she couldn't make out, her face turning toward Parvaen with a serious look on her face as she whispered, "Must be some Silverwing thing; I can't make it out."

"They were both Silverwings?" Parvaen asked, almost worriedly.

Not bothering to answer and increase his worry, Shadowmoon merely returned her attention to the other two, though as she did so, she raised her hands, quickly, jumping back as Colin approached her with an outstretched arm.

"What am I gonna to? Take you out?!" Colin questioned, sarcastically, as he dropped his arm, weakly, "Take some, both of you. It's some food; you both look exhausted after coming out here like that."

Offering the small leaf-wrapped blocks of food once again, Shadowmoon eyed him suspiciously while Parvaen reverted to his lower standing, waiting behind Shadowmoon and allowing her to dictate their move, though he couldn't help but allow his eyes to glow with anticipation at the delicious-looking offerings. Shadowmoon noticed Vylira and Kyra both watching Colin with surprise, which seemed good enough to her as she approached the human.

"Thanks," she muttered, weakly, "You know, you really are stupid."

Colin grinned, "Well, if making friends is stupid, I'd hate to be smart. Come on, you too, Parvaen."

At the calling of his name, Parvaen crept up toward Colin, his eyes shimmering as he grabbed ahold of the green delicacy, "By the gods! P-Pine nut bread?"

As if offended by the offer, Kyra frowned as she crossed her arms, turning away in near-disgust as the food of her home passed onto the hand of a blood elf, though she said nothing. Parvaen skittered away as he unwrapped the leaf that surrounded the bread, his lips curling inward expectantly.

"I do remember having some of this in our reserves as a child, but after a short time thereafter, it was all but extinct to my people!" he exclaimed, not sure whether to eat the bread or worship it.

Colin smiled, "Well, eat up; it'll get your strength back. There's no need for any of us to not be civil to one another, especially if we'll be traveling together for some time."

Parvaen eyed him suspiciously as he bit into the bread, his eyes immediately shutting as the wonderful taste consumed his insides, the piney taste immediately returning him to his childhood. Colin shrugged as he chuckled, turning back toward Vylira and Kyra with outstretched arms.

"See?" he spoke up, "Food brings everybody together."

"Yeah, expect demons or any being that 'food' means humanoids," Vylira replied, dryly, "Certain trolls come to mind."

Parvaen eyed her sinisterly, catching the night elf off guard as she returned a neutral glance of her own, "What are you looking at, Sin'-!"

An arrow pierced the air just in front of Vylira's face, her body immediately dropping to a knee as she threw her stare to the stare to examine the underbrush just beyond their sight. The others had done the same, even though Shadowmoon, Parvaen, and Kyra had physical weapons; the three of them taking the fore in watching the deep forest, leaving Colin behind them with flames suddenly whipping up and down his closed fist. Vylira's eyes met his magical ability, suddenly growing wide as her head jumped up as a troll jumped from the treetops, lunging at Shadowmoon, who quickly parried his blow, hopping backward as Parvaen took her place, aggressively throwing his daggered hand toward the vicious guest.

Suddenly, a collection of troll hunters appeared from behind the trees, demonstrating that these elves and human were, indeed, outnumbered. Their jagged, misplaced teeth showed glisteningly in the sun as they cackled aloud at their sudden fortune, the lot of them muttering amongst themselves as they paced around the group in a circle, as if choosing meals. Colin recognized some of their words, though it was far from the same Zandali he knew.

"Godehsi," he muttered aloud, offering something of a greeting, catching the ear of one of the trolls, who paused his steps as he eyed Colin, humorously.

Pointing at the human, the troll turned to his companion, the two uttering some words to one another before the both of them began to cackle in amusement, the first of them shaking his head as if simply dismissing Colin's greeting. Colin's lips curled confusedly as he realized that he was the closest chance the group had to getting out of this, unscarred, anyway.

He looked around, trying to identify the oldest of the group, before speaking further, pointing to himself slowly as he lowered his head, seriously, "Dazdooga."

He pointed to Kyra, and then Vylira, "Bal'a. Wassa'dim."

Returning his finger to himself, he muttered, lowly, nodding his head slowly, "Jang."

Seeming to have understood enough, the troll he'd addressed stopped walking, eyeing Colin curiously as he crossed his arms, "Ackee?"

Colin nodded seriously, "Colin'ju."

At that, the troll grinned widely, chuckling as he ran a hand over his face, shaking his head in disbelief as he turned to his companions to share a few words. Kyra and Vylira both looked over their shoulders in shock, with the latter expressing her amazement.

"What did you say?!" she whispered.

Colin nearly went pale, "That I'm a fire lord. and that I'd protect you two to the death…I think."

Kyra's eyes widened at his explanation, her hand gripping tighter around her sword while Vylira took a much different stance, her eyes growing suspicious as she watched Colin, quickly trying to explain further, nervously, "Look, I'm just buying time. If Ulric shows up, we'll be even numbered."

Shadowmoon overheard him, her ears straining to hear from afar, though the noises of the trolls did a number on her, draining out anything coming from beyond their gullish sneers and laughter. The one Colin had addressed walked toward the group, forcing Kyra and Parvaen to raise their weapons, though Colin quickly held onto Kyra's shoulder to steady her, warily, waiting to see what the troll was doing.

The old troll eyed Kyra critically before looking over toward Colin, "Bal'a? Kaldorei?!"

Colin nodded.

The troll's lips morphed into a disgusting smirk, his teeth popping out from his lips as he looked back down toward Kyra, as if assessing her for whatever reason. Suddenly, the troll swung a massive arm at Kyra, wrapping an arm around her neck and forcing her to the ground as his other arm pinned her sword against the earth. In a mere second further, the other trolls, who'd inexplicably snuck around to the back of the group, instantly grabbed ahold of each member of the party, the extra one quickly grasping onto Vylira, who's voice quickly lunged into a snarl as her face angrily watched the older troll standing atop her youngest sister.

Colin's eye drew wide as his teeth appeared, clenched, as the troll before him cackled with a swift wave of his hand, "No 'ju here, mon. No dazgooga neither. All talk, eh?"

Realizing he hadn't bought his challenge, Colin felt the veins in his arm run hot as he watched the massive troll reach down after kicking away Kyra's sword, grasping a handful of her hair to appraise her as he lifted her up, "More like riva'dim; HA HA! Or even nehjo!"

A burst of flame wrapped along Colin's arm, forcing his personal goon to fall back away from him in shock. He angrily roared under his breath, earning a frightened glare from Vylira as the flames suddenly burst into massive conflagration, covering his entire body, yet not seeming to damage his robes. He lifted his arms as he coiled into a fighting stance, his eyes shooting daggers toward the old troll.

"Get…away…from her," Colin roared deeply, almost as if summoning the very fire from beneath Blackrock Mountain to speak for him.

The troll laughed, "All trick!"

Colin felt the troll behind him grasp around him and begin laughing as he did. While he did have flames surrounding him, they were more projection than anything, he knew; though he also knew that it wasn't the only ability that he had up his sleeve. He quickly threw his arm to the side to escape the troll's arms wrapping around him, before quickly reaching up and shoving his hand in his troll's face, a ball of magma immediately appearing along the assailant's face, an ear-shattering trollish scream breaking through the air as Colin fell backward with his goon, who still managed to hold on to his human prisoner as he fell to the ground.

The leader and his companions all watched in vague horror, with the elder quickly sneering in retort as he set his eyes on Kyra, quickly grabbing ahold of a lengthy knife from his belt, dropping his night elf prize to her knees as he prepared to slit her throat.

In a second, Vylira threw a foot into her troll's knee, forcing him to collapse to the ground as well, allowing her to tear away as she screamed loudly, rushing toward the leader, who quickly threw his head up, suddenly bringing his arms up to grab Vylira's wrist as she threw a punch, the troll pulling her down into a swift kick at her stomach, watching sneeringly as a second night elf fell at his feet.

He reached his dagger up once again, prepared to kill his prize, but in a dazzling flash, a massive object threw itself right into the troll's side, sending him flying along the forest floor, sliding along as the visage of Ulric appeared before him, the human loudly shouting as he rained fists down upon the leader's face.

Colin released himself, jumping to his feet as he summoned a flaming ball of magma, throwing it at Shadowmoon's assailant, sending him falling into a disquieting heap as he clutched his face, forcing the rest of the trolls to abandon their target as they rushed back into the forest, leaving the three straggler's behind. Shadowmoon immediately slammed a foot into her goon, knocking him out before spitting furiously on his face, noticing the troll that Colin had first gone after was lying on the ground, lifelessly, before she suddenly became aware of the vicious snarling coming from Ulric.

She turned, joining Parvaen and Colin in watching the human continue to angrily growl as he continue punching the face of the troll…although there wasn't a face left. Having already punched the troll's face and skull into oblivion, Ulric appeared so lost in his fury that he simply continued throwing his fists into the dirt below, unable to realize that he'd gone well beyond defense.

Colin slowly made his way to his companions, crouching down to check on them as Ulric suddenly stopped, his entire body expanding rhythmically with each quick, heavy breath. He slowly rose to his feet, his head turning slowly toward the group, his dark beard nearly covered in red blood as he surveyed the others, his face still drowned in venom.

Nobody was sure what to say, not even Parvaen, who simply watched his leader with a lowered jaw. Ulric slowly turned the rest of his body, walking toward the group with a sinister look toward Colin, who was helping Vylira and Kyra to their feet.

"You're not to leave my sight again," Ulric muttered, sinisterly, pointing toward the three of them, "Not until we get to Wyrmrest Temple."

Colin's eyes met with his, and though he normally might have held a slightly nervous look about him, after what had just transpired, Colin's eyes held a certain steadiness to them, as if he couldn't have been afraid of anything at that moment, as he responded with a stare of his own toward Ulric.

"You'd better keep those eyes turned down, boy," Ulric muttered, "Just because I don't like failing to complete missions doesn't mean I don't mind counting dragging your dead carcass to the finish line as a success."

"Ulric!" Shadowmoon shouted, horrified.

He didn't reply, simply walking past the group toward the forest where he'd come from, "Tomorrow, we head out. No questions asked."

Disappearing into the trees, Ulric quietly went along without another word, leaving the others behind to stare at one another, wholly confused by his attitude. Parvaen looked to Shadowmoon for guidance, though she hadn't any. The man who'd just saved them was a stranger to her, she realized; a fear that had crept into her mind since their little tryst back in Wintergarde. Though, while she had worried about some emotional thing, she was now fearful of much more in that man.

Kyra and Colin shared their own worrisome glances, not wanting to speak ill of the man in front of two of his companions, and simply following the others along, leaving Vylira, alone, to watch, warily, at the second human to leave the clearing. While she was easily worried about Ulric's demeanor, she realized a deep fear welling up toward Colin, himself.

A/N: The trollish/Zandali in this chapter, I tried my best to keep it canon, though Blizzard has given frighteningly little information regarding many of the languages of Warcraft. Most of it in this chapter was due to a list of Zandali words compiled by Tmirai on Tumblr, though most of the words on that list, according to a Blizzard forum, were more fan-canon than anything else (obviously). Hopefully it didn't bother any troll-players; I know Darnassian is near and dear to my heart, so I'm sure I'm not the only weird person on here xD

Dictionary (According to TMirai's "{Trollin' Thursdays} Watch yo' language! Zandali Words & Phrases" post on Tumblr) in order of appearence:

godehsi - hello (formal); ex. Godehsi, Vol'jin.

Dazdooga = Fire (this one actually comes from Wowpedia)

Bal'a - "beloved"; pet name used in serious relationships

wassa'dim - a loved one

jang - protect

ackee - fire (I used the two differing words more for dialect differences - "Zandali" is actually used, more or less specifically, by the Darkspears)

'ju - "mastery or master"; a troll who has mastered a certain art and is a teacher (suffix)' ex. Shobe'ju: Master Shobe (Colin is lying about this ;p)

riva'dim - "person I lust for" or "lover" (obviously used in the former context for this exchange)

nehjo - dirty; a promiscuous person