The Prey Changes. The Hunt Goes On.
Just like old times indeed.
Running around Elwynn Forest was different than patrolling the wastes of Northrend, but the goals and anxieties were familiar. The ghouls were coming into Alliance territory in waves, with paladins, death knights, and military fighting them off at the main points of access to the forest. The threat was too close to home for the heroes and adventurers of Stormwind to ignore, as well.
Even Nellahri could not stand idly in her retirement with the Scourge so close. Stormwind had its flaws, but it was her home. Elwynn was the barrier, protecting the city from the horrors of the world. It was also the easiest way to get to Westfall. Nellahri sent word to her mother, who was holding a secure location with her farmhands and neighbors, but the ghouls had not made it out to the countryside yet.
All the more reason for Nellahri to dart from tree to tree, setting traps throughout the forest. Immolation Traps in clearings where they would do the least damage to the woods themselves. Freezing Traps deeper in the forest. Stray ghouls were still finding their way into the Forest, despite the efforts of the frontline. A few ghouls could do real damage, so Nell had to do her part to keep them from making it to the innocents of Stormwind and Westfall.
Nellahri stopped on a strong branch at the sound of a fox’s yelp. Leaping toward the sound, Nell found Pepper, her companion growling and herding two ghouls toward one of Nell’s traps. Their movements seemed erratic, but after her time in Northrend, their shambling was something Nell could follow with her eyes. One of the ghouls motioned to break left. Nell nocked an explosive arrow, pulling the string of her father’s bow taut.
The arrow loosed, the arrowhead passing through the weak shoulder of the ghoul. The creature’s arm nearly came off, but that would not kill a ghoul. The arrow collided with the ground, exploding on contact, forcing the ghoul to dart away from the blast on mindless instinct. The first corpse stepped upon the clear blue crystal marker of a Trap as it exploded in a burst of ice, entombing one ghoul and freezing the leg of another.
Pepper guarded the partially trapped ghoul, keeping her distance. The fox knew not to bite into a Scourge creature. She dutifully waited for Nell to hop to the ground, brandishing her hunter’s knife. Avoiding the thrashing claws of the beast, Nell swiftly sliced the creature from neck to shoulder. The body went limp as the head’s jaw opened and closed in its last throes of undeath.
Sighing, Nellahri looked around for more stragglers before scratching behind Pepper’s ear. “Two down, girl.” Endless to go. Nellahri had the forest littered with traps and snares now, so it might be time to touch base with Dam and the others. It felt like they were stalling, and she hated that. All she could hope was someone far above her head was finding a way to stop the hordes before the trickle became a river became a torrent. Until them, Nellahri would protect the places close to her.
Mention: @arrows-and-cigars
