Crouching behind thick bushes in knee deep snow wasn’t exactly the best of situations but that’s what I had to do in order to accomplish my mission. From my position, I had a clear view of the trail and the foliage kept me camouflaged. My shadowmeld ability, common to all night elves, certainly helped as well. Maya was crouched next to me, tense and eager for action. Her breathing was slow and silent blending into her surroundings even with her black fur contrasting the white snow. She was the perfect hunter.
I did not bring Midnight for even though he survived our travel to Winterspring, he never fully recovered completely. With his age and chronic injuries I knew he was better off resting in the cabin. Besides his training did not involve stealth. So it was just Maya and me, ready to intercept some Winterfall runners.
The Winterfall furbolgs were corrupted creatures in war with the Timbermaws. Since I had befriended the Timbermaws, I naturally became the Winterfall’s enemy. Donova Snowden, a very clever dwarf female, also disliked the Winterfalls. And when we discovered they were planning to use a dangerous toxin to corrupt Winterspring, we were obligated to stop them.
We knew the Runners were planning to travel down the very trail I was surveying. It was just a matter of when. So I waited day after day, hour after hour ready to intercept the convoy in hopes of stopping their diabolical plan.
Just when I thought I had made a mistake, all my patience paid off as I saw the small group of furbolgs heading my way. There were three of them in coats of white fur. All three of them were larger than the usual Winterfall furbolgs I had encountered in the past. They seemed stronger and more dangerous. I stared into Maya’s eyes wondering if we were capable of defeating them in combat.
But there was no time to hesitate. I had no time to back away. If I didn’t stop them here, the Runners would escape and they would win. Winterspring was my adopted home. Corruption was already flooding it in certain areas. I had to defend my home.
I nodded to Maya and she made her move. She moved silently behind the furbolgs and then burst into a dash. She tackled one of them, taking the unsuspecting furbolg to the ground. Raking with her claws and biting hard, the prone furbolg yelled in pain. His two companions quickly converged onto the fight trying to pull Maya off their comrade.
Maya released her grip and maneuvered around the three furbolgs. Maya was quick but even she wasn’t fast enough to avoid blows from all three of them. But she did what she was supposed to do: distract them. Now it was my turn to join the frey.
I fired off a volley of arrows at the nearest furbolg to me. A couple sank deep into the fur but most bounced off the thick hide. The angry furbolg turned around and charged at me, ignoring the enraged cat before him. Maya saw that the furbolg switched his target but she was too busy fighting off the other two to help.
Too close for arrows, I drew my twin blades. The Runner charged with full fury and left himself completely open. I slashed with my main sword and the magic flame from the blade scorched the furbolg across its stomach. Unfortunately, even my magic blades could not penetrate the thick hide. The Runner was just got more angry.
I dodged his first swipe with his razor claws and returned the favor. My blades cut into his arm, finally drawing blood. He swiped again and I parried it with my sword. The strength of the furbolg was tremendous and the impact of the parry left my left hand numb. I was barely able to hold onto my second sword.
It became very clear to me that we were outclassed. These Runners were much more stronger and much more adept at combat than the ones I had faced in the past. Maya looked tired and weak. I was barely dodging and parrying my attacker and with each blow, it drained my stamina.
A prolonged fight was to the furbolg’s advantage and my attacker took advantage of my weariness. His large claw connected with my shoulder and the blow knocked me down. The searing pain screamed in my head and I had to concentrate to focus. When I did, I saw the furbolg on top of me, ready to crush my head. I was too weak to resist.
When all seemed lost, I heard a shot. The furbolg standing over me snapped back as a bullet pierced his chest. Then another bullet hit him in the stomach. The furbolg bent over. I managed to stand back up during the reprieve to see where the shots were coming from. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
There was a golden haired blood elf female unloading her rifle on my attacker. I turned to check on Maya, hoping she was still standing. She was and better yet, she was only facing one furbolg. The other one was fighting off a cat I had not seen in a long time. It was a golden lynx found in the northern regions of Lordaeron.
Maya was hurt so I cast my mending spell on her and she began to fight with new vigor. The other cat, the companion of the mysterious blood elf hunter, had the second furbolg on the ground and was finishing up mauling it to death.
Another shot rang in my ear and I watched the furbolg nearest to me drop to the ground. A bullet had penetrated its head, killing it instantly. I looked over to the female elf who looked at me and then dropped her rifle. She stared at me again, waiting for my reaction. I simply nodded and I thought I saw her smile. She lifted her rifle again and aided our two cats finish off the remaining furbolgs.
Within seconds, the Winterfall Runners were all dead and I had recovered the toxin.
I approached the female elf and Maya remained by my side, ready to defend me. I placed my hand on her head to let her know that this new hunter was not our enemy.
The blood elf female was petite. She had wavy satin blonde hair. She had an almost unearthly beauty and magnificent green eyes. Her skin was light and her mannerisms seemed regal. I wondered if blood elves still spoke Darnassian but I figured using the common tongue of humans would be a safe choice.
“Thank you,” I said.
“You are welcome,” she replied as she bowed.
“It would be a great honor to know the name of the elf that saved my life as well as my cat, Maya.”
“I only aided,” she spoke.
“And I am Terra,” she added. She stroked her lynx across the back and said, “and this is Furbas, my companion.”
“Well, thank you Terra,” I said and turned to the lynx, “and Furbas.”
She smiled and bowed again. “But I must say, it seems a bit foolhardy for one elf to take on so many.”
“Failure wasn’t an option but I did not have time to call for aid.”
“Yes, I know,” Terra said. “Donova sent me to help you.”
“Oh did she now?” I replied. “Does Donova even know that the Alliance and Horde do not get along?”
“Maybe this is her way to force us to get along?” Terra said.
Donova was a clever dwarf. And she was not allied to the Alliance or the Horde. In fact, since the feuding slows down her work, I would venture to guess she does her part to mend the differences between the two factions. And after watching Terra come to my aid, I truly began to wonder why there was no peace on Azeroth. Maybe the cut just ran too deep for our leaders.
I smiled at Terra. “Donova is a wise dwarf. I am glad she sent you to help.”
Terra accompanied me back to Donova’s camp. The little dwarf just grinned as she took the toxin. As she was working with the mixture, both Maya and Furbas rose and growled. They had sensed something.
“The furbolgs are here,” Maya’s voice rang in my head.
It appeared Furbas sensed the same for Terra looked at me and nodded. And sure enough, we saw a small group of Winterfall Runners charging towards Donova. I was too eager to return to Donova and left an easy trail for the furbolgs to follow. The cats reached them before they got to her. The Runners were no match for our combined attack and they were defeated easily. Donova returned to her tent with a satisfied grin. It seemed like she was talking to herself but clearly it was a message to both Terra and me.
“If only the Alliance and Horde would settle their differences, this world would be a much better place where all could live in peace where no evil could destroy it,” she murmured.
Donova returned her attention to the both of us. “Thank you both. The danger is now past. You have crippled the Winterfall conspiracy.”
Both Terra and I bowed to the dwarf.
“Be well, both of you and travel safe,” Donova said. “Visit me anytime.”
The two of us headed away from the camp towards the main trail. We walked in silence, our cats trailing us. Every once in awhile I would notice Terra glancing at me when she thought I wasn’t looking. I must admit, I did the same.
We stood at the trail without a word until I broke the silence.
“I believe this is where we part ways,” I said.
“Yes,” Terra replied. She almost seemed disappointed.
“Be well Terra,” I said, “I will not forget your kindness.”
She stuck her fingers in her mouth and blew a whistle. From the bushes, out came a large bird with dark blue plumes. A saddle and harness told me it was her mount. Terra climbed the large bird in one graceful motion.
“And be well Belion,” she said on her mount. “It’s a pity our people refuse to move past our differences. Blood elf males are handsome but they are certainly not as…robust as you. May we meet again in better times.”
I watched her ride off.
“She seemed quite fond of you,” Maya teased.
“Yeah but not a good choice.”
“Why’s that?”
“Blood elf females are too fragile,” I said with a grin. “I’d break her.”
Maya’s laughter rang in my head as we followed the trail back to Starfall Village.
