The Winterfall Shaman fell dead on the cold tundra dirt, a dozen arrows lodged into his back. Maya sniffed at the shaman confirming its death. I surveyed the small village. There were half a dozen furbolg corpses along the primitive huts. These creatures would not threaten Winterspring any more.
In the past few weeks, Maya and I have been focusing our efforts combating the Winterfall threat in this area. Unlike the Timbermaws, who were peaceful, the Winterfall clan were aggressive and dangerous. We were working closely with Rivern Frostwind, a solitary night elf hunter who studied the most majestic creatures that dwelt at Winterspring: the noble frostsabers.
Because all his efforts and time were spent on taming and monitoring the frostsabers, he often sought help from various adventurers to aid his work. My aid came in two different ways. I hunted bears and chimera for their meat so the frostsabers could be fed during taming and I challenged the Winterfall threat for their aggression was starting to reach Frostsaber Rock.
I enjoyed the work. It was hard work trekking through the thick wilderness snow to hunt for meat but it was much more satisfying than the Plaguelands. I was home in these mountains. The cold air, the crunching of snow, the songs of alpine birds gave me peace. And with my trusted companion Maya beside me, I wished to be nowhere else in the world.
I mounted Midnight and made my way to the next Winterfall village. This would be our last stop before heading to our cabin at Starfall. Once the village was in our view, I got off Midnight and made my way on foot. Maya and I stealthed our way close enough to see the pair of furbolg guards standing at the gates of the wall surrounding the small village. We suspected there were at least a dozen furbolgs in this camp. Honestly, I wasn’t sure we were capable of handling so many.
“I’ll take out the left furbolg,” I explained to Maya. “That will alert the other one. Once he charges, you take him out.”
Maya nodded.
Silently raising my bow, I aimed at the unsuspecting furbolg and fired. The arrow stabbed the furbolg in the chest causing it to roar in pain and anger. The second guard charged in my direction now that my cover was blown. The injured furbolg also charged, the frenzy of his rage causing him to ignore the damage I had done.
I didn’t have time for a second shot so I unsheathed my twin blades. Maya sprung into action and dashed to the leading furbolg.
To my surprise, another arrow hit the injured furbolg and another. Three arrows in all slammed into the creature felling it. The remaining furbolg got confused and stopped. Maya used that opportunity to crash into the furbolg, knocking it to the ground. It didn’t take long before Maya mauled the creature to death.
I stepped into the clearing where the furbolgs had fallen with my weapons still drawn. I looked around to see if I could find the source of the arrows. I didn’t have to look long.
Out of the shadows appeared a female night elf. Beside her was a large frostsaber whose lavender coat blended almost perfectly with Winterspring. The night elf had long dark green hair that flowed freely. By her armor and weaponry, I could see she was a seasoned veteran, more so than me.
“Well met hunter,” I said. “I am Belion and this is my companion Maya.”
“I am Chrysalide and I travel with Alaja,” she replied.
“Thank you for your assistance,” I continued. “In fact, I am very glad you are here. I had hoped to defeat the Winterfall furbolgs here but I fear their superior numbers will be too much for me to handle.”
She smiled. “I am here for the same reason. It seems our meeting is quite serendipitous.”
“Yes it is. I do believe our little group won’t have any problems with the remaining furbolgs.”
Inside the walls I saw nine furbolgs. Five of them were huddled around a center campfire waiting for a pig to fully roast. The other four were wandering around performing whatever chores furbolgs did. The tactic was simple enough. With our combined might, we knew we could handle this group easily.
The cats snuck in first and attacked a pair of the fringe furbolgs. That sounded the alarm. Immediately the small group by the campfire rushed to aid their comrade. The majority of the furbolgs were now crowded around our two cats, trying to subdue them but both Maya and Alaja were incredibly elusive and could not be pinned down.
Chrysalide and I then made our move. Grabbing a fistful of arrows, we both launched a volley of death into the crowd. Maya and Alaja knew our strategy so at the precise moment they jumped their way out of the rain of arrows. The furbolgs tried to protect themselves or flee but because they were in such a tight group, they could do neither. In a matter of seconds, the camp was down to three furbolgs. We dispatched the remaining ones just as quickly.
“We make a good team,” Chrysalide said to me as we headed out of the camp.
“You are a superior hunter than I,” I said.
“Only because I’ve been to the Outlands fighting nonstop against the demons,” she replied. “Why don’t you join me?”
“My home is here and I still have work to do for Rivern. Once that’s done, you will see me at the Outlands. I do not wish for demons invading our world.”
“I understand why you would not want to leave Belion. Maybe we will meet again?”
“I would like that.”
Her mist saber mount approached us, trailed by Midnight. She mounted the cat with unearthly grace.
“Be well Belion,” she said. “I would definitely like to see more of you.” With a sly wink she smiled and rode off.
Maya looked up at me.
“Yes Maya,” I said, “I totally got the not so subtle sexual innuendo.”
