#dancewithdevil

The Argent Crusade and the Cenarion Circle were doing their best to heal the Eastern Plaguelands which Dyzz assumed was the only reason some remnants of life clung on. She continued to push through these lands, never leaving her elk form save for when she sought a place to sleep. Opting to out run the feral dead that roamed the area instead of fight. She needed to get to her brother before this vision Gonk gave her became truth.

But Dyzz became aware she was not alone in this journey through the land of death. In the distance was a great grey stag. The large elk was a smoky ash grey with his mane being a deep charcoal grey. Oddly once he came close enough it was also obvious his pelt also held deep grey swirls. But it was his eyes that made Dyzz pause. Burning like embers in a fire. Never had she seen a stag with such bright eyes, even from the distance he stayed.

Animals following her wasn’t of much surprise. She had to fight off many lynx’s on her way through the lands. All mistaking her for prey or even the odd deer herd following her for safety. Perhaps this rare beast thought, with her own light grey pelt and tiger stripe coat, she was one of it’s own. Dyzz snorted in annoyance at the thought of the stag trying to woo her in this form. But for now she ignored it, even if he had been following her since Northpass Tower.

She finally came to Corin’s Crossing where another Argent tower stood in the distance reclaimed from the land. But the town before her made her fur stand on end. Something that itched at her soul and made her stop in her tracks. Pawing a hoof at the ground she paced like an anxious deer wary of a hidden wolf as she looked at the town. It was the direct route to where she needed to go but none of this moment felt right. There were no sounds to be heard. Only deathly silence.

Then a call sounded behind her, the deep throng of an elk stag bellowing a warning. She turned her head to eye the grey stag whom had come a bit closer. Those ember orange eyes wide with fright. Clearly he knew this was a bad place but Dyzz felt as though there was no other choice. She snorted at him, flattening her ears as she walked forward. Head hung low as she walked through the empty streets. Buildings in horrible decay, fallen and rotted. Long dead remains littered the streets and carriages lay broken in pieces.

Something bad happened here, something terrible. Dyzz could almost feel the souls of the dead screaming and clawing at her. Suddenly a boney hand shot from the dirt, reaching for a stray hoof. Dyzz jolted and kicked the hand but suddenly many more burst from shallow graves, grumbling and growling as they began to crawl out after her. She gasped and turned to run back only to see more undead corpses cutting off her escape. There was no choice, Dyzz was going to have to fight her way out. She let out a bellow that sounded into a roar as she shifted into a tiger.

Baring her fangs at the relentless wall of bodies that shambled her way. She thrust forward swiping a leg clean off and turning to bite another. Whirling frantically around to face those that bit and clawed her back side. She spun around quickly and knocked many to the ground but more took their place. A howling roar shattered through the groans and growls of the undead and a flash of smoky ash grey flew beside her. A massive paw swiping over her head to knock down several undead.

It was a cat, that much she understood but one that was trying to help her so she paid it no mind as more and more undead covered her feral form, chewing and clawing at her flesh. Suddenly the earth beneath her feet burst green and a soothing heal soaked her body. The heal was instantly recognizable as it was the same nature spell she used. This was no mere cat by her side, but another druid. He bit down on an undead, tossing it off her. It’s mouth ripping flesh as it was taken off her. The two fought ferociously and eventually thinned the mass enough to take a moment to breathe.

She got a good look this time at the cat and it dawned on her that the stag following was not an animal, but this druid. His pelt was the same smoky ash grey with a thick wolf like mane of deep charcoal and those burning ember eyes. But he lacked the horns of a tauren and the tusks of a troll. In fact if she hadn’t heard his clearly feline roars she would have guessed it to be a wolf. He even has erect pointed ears like one. She briefly thought him night elf but he lacked the sleek agile panther body.

“Urugh play time!” A grotesque bellow came behind him, ending all of Dyzz’s curious thoughts of her savior. Both looked back to see a hulking abomination lumbering towards them. Bile dripping from his open gut, innards sickly colors of green and yellow as the dragged under him. Both gasped and glanced at one another before making a beeline for the path out of the city. A huge hook slammed between them as the hulking undead tried to catch one. “Here kitty, kitty!” It gurgled as both just kept running. But the mass of undead began to thicken and choke their only escape.

Agile paws gave was to heavy pads as the grey one came in front of her, letting out a thunderous bellow as he shifted into a great grey bear. Even more wolfish in this form he barreled right through the undead, knocking them away as he charged through them. Dyzz followed in his wake, making sure to stay on his heels. Soon they left the town behind them and the stopped following once their feet touched green lush grass.

Dyzz stopped, slumping to the ground and shifting into her true form. The troll’s blue fur was stained with her own blood and bite sized hunks were taken from her shoulders and back. She spat out decayed flesh left over from their escape and her head turned to the strange druid. “Ta…nks…” Her words faltered as the bear shifted into yet another beast. It took Dyzz a moment to realize, this however wasn’t really a beast. Not an odd unique humanoid wolf form but his true form. Dyzz stared eye to eye with a grey worgen. His vicious jagged toothy maw pulling into a snarl, or smile. She wasn’t sure but those ember eyes looking into her solitary one was enough to send her jolting back with a savage snarl.

He yelped, despite not being touched, his nicked and cut ears laying against his head. “Druid! Druid!” He growled repeatedly in poor orcish, pulling at a necklace around his neck. The symbol was that of the crescent shape and the circle, the symbol for all druids. Dyzz could feel a weary sickness taking hold and she worried she would not have the strength to fight this Alliance dog. The troll curled defensively against a tree, hissing and snarling at the wolf man. He said something in human common, a language she didn’t understand but his actions made it seem like he meant no harm. He held a clawed hand over her bitten leg, calling forth a heal. The ground growing greener and the soothing green energy soaking her bloody wounds.

He said something in Taur-ahe, the tauren tongue but still Dyzz didn’t understand. She knew only Orcish and her own zandali. She shook her head ‘no’ before speaking. “I don’ speak tauren.” She growled. The worgen frowned and scratched his head muttering words and syllables before he started to be trying to say something in Orcish. “Fen… fran… fiend… fends! Fend?” Dyzz just stared for the longest time. “Druid.” He pointed to himself then to her. “Druid! Druid fend!” He nodded. She paused and relaxed a little. “Friend?” He nodded quickly. “Friend!” He gave another sneer or smile.

Dyzz pointed to him. “Alliance.” Then to herself. “Horde. Enemies.” But the worgen was persistent and shook his head. He pointed to the tabard he wore, a bit scuffed and bloodied but it was still obvious. A white garment with what looked like a yellow sun outlines with black radiance. “Argent Crusade.” He said and Dyzz nodded. She knew of them, remembered Sash telling her about those that joined under their banner did so to fight the scourge. They took in any race, on either faction. But the island girl had never personally encountered them.

The girl was at least smart enough to understand he was a druid with the Argent Crusade whom thought because she was a druid, they should be friends. She wasn’t so keen on the idea but he did save her in a dire situation. She huffed and pushed against the rotted tree and staggered to her feet, all the while her new ‘fend’ watched with worry. He pointed to the tower just up the hill and Dyzz nodded. Knowing it was a refuge of sorts, a tower reclaimed by the Argent Crusade. But the first step she took made her stumble horribly from the bite on her other foot.

She was surprised when the worgen quickly grabbed her arm, stopping her from falling and even helped her walk towards the sanctuary. He then moved a little in front of her and bowed respectfully. “Oscar Holmeswood.” She didn’t understand what that meant, perhaps it was ‘you’re welcome’ in human? She stared as they walked, scowling at him. He frowned, looking much like her brother’s puppy when scolded then pointed to himself, repeating the words again. Then he motioned to her curiously.

“I don’ undastand…” She said shaking her head. He stroke the white fur on his chin then simply said, “Oscar.” A light bulb went off in Dyzz’s head as she understood. “Oh! … Dyzz.” He gave an elated toothy grin as he pointed to himself saying his name, then to her saying hers. Dyzz gave half a smile and nodded.

The walk to Light’s Shield Tower seemed to take far longer than Dyzz expected and her body clearly needed rest from the journey and fighting but Dyzz felt something else. Something eating away at her strength, a disease or sickness. She found herself clinging to Oscars grey fur as she struggled to walk. She glanced up to see humans rushing to her, but not in attack. To aid. Her body growing weak and weary they took her to the tower, with her worried savior in tow. “I… be fine pup. Jus’ need a bitta rest.” She said as she was laid on a cot.

“Rest easy.” One human spoke in clear Orcish. “You’ve been bitten terribly. The undead can have an infectious bite. You’re lucky young Homleswood found you.” Dyzz scoffed as the paladin tended to her wounds. “Feh. Mebbe tell hims ta be less stalker-ish? Followed meh for a long while.” But the paladin gave a soft chuckle. “Since working with the Cenarion Circle he’s wanted to meet a troll. I am surprised it took him so long to come up to you.” Dyzz weakly looked over at the worgen and she swore if he had a tail it would have been wagging.

She slid down, straddling his chest as she looked down at him. “We’re gonna play a game.” She said pulling the mask down to reveal pale cream skin, full pinks lips and a distinctive deep scar on her chin. “Why… You’re only going to kill me in the end.” He coughed. Her full lips curled into something wicked and sweet at the same time. She grabbed her black reflective goggles and pulled them up to reveal almond shaped emerald fel green eyes. Her face was thin and elegant, delicate and fair like much of her race. Pulling the hood back released billows of sunny blonde hair that was restrained in a pony tail. Raz briefly wondered what she was doing when he realized, those who saw her face… Didn’t live.

Madam smiled and chuckled, “Yes but in this game you have the option to die with honor. Or die a slow, painful, pitiful death.” She curled her lips as she looked down at the man. Her sultry voice was enough to put Raz on edge as he glanced at his brothers. He didn’t want someone tortured to death simply for information and he’s seen what Madam could do when she didn’t get her information right away.

Luckily the orc took the bait, coughing he replied. “What do you want, devil?” She drew her dagger and softly ran the blade over meaty exposed flesh, causing the man to growl in pain. “How many guard the Evermoore compound?” She said flicking her green eyes to his brown. “Fifty… now that you’ve killed this regiment.” Madam nodded and pulled the dagger away. “Any weak points one could enter easily?” She cooed as she licked the blood from the dagger. The orc shook from the pain and bared his teeth at her.

“That would be betraying my leader, and… would bring dishonor on my name.” He growled. But Raz quickly spoke up. “Dere be a cliff behind da compound. It help fortify et but… one ken git up dere. Be easy ta glide in on our’a glidahs. Tho he might have men up dere. Can’t imagine dey hard ta take out tho.” Madam looked to him and nodded before looking at the orc. She patted his cheek and stood up, sheathing her dagger. “You’ve failed to give me the information I needed. How long will you lay here before the wolves and bears find you I wonder?” She said tauntingly as she started to walk away.

Amber eyes cut to the woman. To be left to die from whatever may come was no way to die. Especially when he knew murlocs patrolled these shores. “Murlocs’a find em before da animals.” Raz noted. “Do not… leave me to these murlocs… you bitch!” The orc sputtered and coughed. But Madam laughed and tossed her blonde hair from her face. “Oh! I forgot about them.” By this time three raptors came trotting up. The two teal and yellow striped raptors Raz recognized but the black venomhide he didn’t.

“Das cold, babeh.” Zenzak stated before she pulled herself on the black raptor’s back. She spat something at him in Thalassian and Raz looked back at the orc. Even Jakjak frowned and seemed to shiver. Raz’s fur stood on end as he swore her heard a gurgle from the amphibious men. “I nah gonna leave his fate to dem murderous beasts!” Raz snapped at her as he armed hos bow. But the tiny elf reeled back with surprising ferocity. “You will not fire an arrow or touch that orc! That is an order.” Raz jerked his head back looking at her. “I don’ work for ju, elf. Nor would I iffen ya paid me.” He gave a shrill chirping whistle and without hesitation all four of his wolves leapt on the orc. His screams shattered the silence and the sickening crunching squelches made Jakjak turn away. Raz stared defiantly into the irritated eyes of the blood elf as his wolves ripped the orc apart.

She let out a slow irritated sigh as she crossed her arms. Raz went about quickly looting all the bodies of his arrows and arrows of the fallen archers. It didn’t take him long before the wolves finished the orc, although Rokk was still maiming the long dead body. He pulled himself on Kaui’s back and followed the others. Madam shot a glare at him to which Raz barked a snarky reply. “Technically I nah touch hims. I nah kill him, mah wolves did.” But she was not amused. “Disobey my command again and-“ But Raz was having none of it.

“Ju what?!” He snapped. Both stopped their steeds, both of which growled and hissed at one another. “Ju onleh gittin’ ya plague sample because I don’ want my Rubi ta die!” Her cheeks flushed with anger and her pink lips curled in a sneer. “I could easily have killed you and taken you to the Baron. I could have bought my way to the plague sample. Your ‘brothers’ are the only reason I’ve not killed you!” She replied viciously. Jakjak and Zenzak looked on helplessly, seemingly torn between siding with their brother and their leader.

It was Zenzak that moved first, siding his raptor next to hers and laying a hand on her arm. “Do nah make me make a choice. We don’ wanna fight you… I don’ wanna fight you. Raz be who he be an’ no one eva change dat.” Jakjak stepped up and gently tugged the teal raptors reins until the beast slid next to Kaui. Raz’s jaw would have dropped as he not been holding face to this woman. They were willing to fight beside him against her. But more so it was obviously by Zenzak’s words that Madam and he were lovers. There was no doubt in Raz’s mind.

The way Madam looked into Zenzak’s crimson eyes said it all, her fierce stare broke and she glared at Raz before jerking the reins. The black raptor darted off in a sprint but the brothers for once didn’t right away follow. Silence befell them before Raz glared at Zenzak. “An elf? Realleh? A troll no do it for ya no more?” He snarked . Zenzak feigned ignorance and turned his raptor and he started to trot off. Raz and Jakjak followed. “Donno wha’chu mean.” The blue haired brother replied coyly.

“Are they smart enough to lose any who follow?” Madam asked in her cold sultry tone. Raz narrowed his eyes on her faceless image. “Ya, dey ken.” He growled in defense. Suddenly there was a thump at the door, like it was trying to be opened. Then pounding followed by a bellow. “Get out of the way, I’ll get it down.” Suddenly a sword edge hacked way through the door, just nicking Jakjak’s ear. “EH! Watch it wit’ dat! Ju gonna put an eye out.” He said with a chuckle, taunting the mercenaries as they started to break the door down.

Raz looked back to see both Zenzak and Madam had their goblin gliders ready to go. But the Darkspear couldn’t help but taunt them with his brother. “Knock knock?” Raz said as he looked at Jakjak. “Who dere?” The cheeky boy replied. “Nun’ya.” Raz giggled as another whack made it so the angry forsaken could look through. “Nun’ya who?” Jakjak replied in a sing song voice as he ran over and grabbed a goblin glider.

“Nun’ya gonna git da Wolfmon Raz!” The Darkspear taunted as he ran over and grabbed a goblin glider. The trolls laughed as Madam merely rolled her eyes. Right as the door smashed down the four jumped, a frost bolt whizzed over Raz’s head as he looked back to see a furious orc and his three forsaken lackies. The wings of the glider shot out and the four glided safely away, although not before Raz waved at the angry orc.

The gliders took them a great distance away, soaring effortlessly though the rotted remains of Tirisfall. It brought back memories for Raz. Ones that he didn’t care to think of again. The Ziffo brand goblin glider his boss made saved his life more than once on Draenor. The wind tussling his hair as he crouched low on the board, his amber eyes closed there was only the wind whooshing past his long ears and the angry yells of the mercenaries left behind. Moaning on the wind were the anxious howls of the wolves he left on the zepplin.

Raz knew they’d find him easily. Just like they always found him in Tanaan. Eyes of coal shot open and he leaned just in time to swing the glider away from a tree. Underfoot the ground seemed to seethe and move but Raz was sure it was just his senses working over time. “We got company!” The female elf’s voice rang out, letting Raz know that maybe he wasn’t seeing things. As his glider dipped further he notice the ground was moving. It seemed the feral undead that roamed the country side had become quite restless.

A fleeting memory flashed in his mind of when he was younger and fresh meat in the ruins of Lordaeron. One of his first jobs was to cull the feral zombies with Chui. A twitch of a smile touched his lips as he saw a shimmer of ethereal violet run along the shadow of his goblin glider. Curling wisps of white smoke left fleeting paw prints in the dried grass as something unseen ran along with Raz. “Ju readeh for ol’ times girlie?” He called to nothing. Jakjak looked back confused and replied. “I nah a woman!” Although Raz wasn’t talking to him.

All the parties leapt and rolled with their gliders in order to save them for another flight. Raz was quickly packing his away when he looked up to see a mass of staggering bodied groaning and shambling their way. The three Darkspear smiled and despite Madam hastily moving away, they stayed put. Raz grinned as he pulled his bow from his back and readied an arrow. Jakjak tugged his hulking canon off his back and cocked the barrel, pulled back a lever or two and aimed for the undead horde. Zenzak pulled twin jagged daggers from his hips, spinning them dangerously in his hands before he crouched low.

“What are you doing?! You’re allowing them to gain precious ground!” The elf snapped but it was Zenzak that turned to look at her. “C’mon babeh. Jus’ a little tar-“ But those words barely left his lips before the feisty woman tossed a throwing dagger at him, narrowing missing his ear. “Don’t… call me baby.” She cooed in an all too flirtatious tone. “Dey far away. Sides, who eva kill da least owes evereh one a round’a drinks!” Raz chimed but Jakjak laughed. “Ju got no pet! Ju gonna lose!” Jakjak replied with snark.

But the grin on Raz’s face made him stop. “Onleh a fool would assume I got no wolf at me side.” But Jakjak of course saw none. “An iffen ya was my enemy, ju’d be a dead fool.” Raz gave a calling whistle, something akin to a song bird. Suddenly a ghostly snarl burst from the emptiness at his side. The hunter watched in glee as Jakjak took a tentative step back from the pair of ethereal white eyes the glowed beside Raz. Wisps of violet and white smoke filled the void like blood in a cup of water, taking the shape of a large wolf.

She was every bit as big as Kaji, her shoulder nearly as tall as the five foot five elven woman, with lifeless eyes of a spirit. She yipped and barked excitedly, prancing in place as she looked at the oncoming horde. Raz laid a hand on her, touching her cool soft fur. A ping of heart ache hit him as he thought of her in life but it only showed for a fleeting moment in his eyes. “Get em, Chui.” The spirit wolf rocketed forward and viciously, and rather gleefully sank her teeth into the first zombie. An arrow flew past her as Raz scored his first kill, hitting a shambling undead with in the head.

“Das cheatin’! Ju neva say ju had’a spirit wolf!” Jakjak cried as Zenzak suddenly appeared in the mob of undead. His blades flashing quickly as he danced among them, heads and black blood flying. “Ju loooooosin’ brothah!” He called back in a sing song voice. More arrows quickly flew as Raz took out one after the other. The teal haired brother pouted and pulled another lever on his gun. Madam leaned against a tree and scoffed. “Heads up!” She called from her post with arms crossed. Raz looked back at Jakjak as he stood in a stance that suggested he was about to fire a broad side ship canon.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. The shots were deafening and kept rapidly coming as a barrage of bullets rained out onto the undead. “GAH! Wat in da name of Hethiss!” Bellowed Zenzak as he narrowly missed being pelted as he jumped behind a tree. Chui howled as she was loaded with bullets but the spirit beast merely shrugged them off and disappeared. Raz hit the ground as he’d never heard a gun so loud while being so close.

Silence rang in Raziax’s ear as he turned an incredulous eye at Jakjak whom was cackling and grinning like a mad goblin. The barrel smoking he looked at Raz as though he’d just slept with multiple women in one night. “I win!” He said looking at the pile bodies on the ground. However many were still moving and trying in vain to crawl towards their intended meals. Zenzak came from behind the tree, throwing blown off body parts from his own. “JU ALMOS’ SHOT ME YA DICK.” But this only made the teal one laugh.

Raz stood up and shook the ringing away, then stepping to Jakjak he threw back a hard punch to his jaw. Instantly silencing the cocky brother. This however made the other brother, Zenzak laugh. “JU SHOT ME WOLF YA DICK.” He bellowed in anger. Jakjak looked up apologetically but shrugged. “It be a ghost! Can’t shoot a ghost! Look, it be fine.” He said as Chui appeared wagging her tail gleefully at Raz. Although her violet form was dotted with white from where bullets went through her. “I know. He shot yas. He stupid Chui. I git Baku ta pee on hims while he sleepin’ tonight.” He cooed at the spirit as he lavished attention upon it.

Jakjak pouted as he rubbed his sore jaw. “Now that you’re done blowing your load, let’s move.” The elf ordered as she turned heel and began to walk. Zenzak was the first to follow although not before smacking Jakjak in the back of the head like only a brother can. Raz sneered at Jakjak as he turned to follow, his spirit wolf following suit although a few steps in the faded and disappeared. Jakjak stood a moment before grinning. “Y’all jus’ jelleh of mah gun. MADAM, JU OWE ME DRINKS.” He called after her as he darted after the rest.

The brothers argued over who got the most kills as the group high stepped it towards Silverpine Forest. But each moment without his pack made Raz anxious. Yes he was in the company of two spirit wolves but they could only manifest themselves for brief periods before they exhausted themselves. They had made it past the high gates leading into Silverpine and moved off the road and followed the banks of Lordamere Lake but it wasn’t too long before a sound touched Raz’s ears.

Thundering hooves and unearthly whinnies. Horses. Undead horses. “Here! Take this potion! We’ll run across the lake!” Madam said as she pulled blue vials from her satchel. The brothers took the vials without question but Raz paused and closed his eyes. Nar’thoks voice of stone rose from his heart.

“Never back down. Never run.”

A low growl rumbled from his throat as ghostly unseen howls surrounded him. All the running had left him nothing more than tired and weary. Ties broken and hearts wounded. “No. I finish dis now!” He snarled with the ferocity of a wolf and he pulled a small, but deadly explosive trap from his satchel. Loading the armed explosive on his arrow he shot and fired, the trap landing armed snapping trap in the path the mercenaries would take. Quickly he loaded an ice bomb onto his arrow and shot it just behind the incendiary. “We are outnumbered by now! I know they would have reinforcements waiting at Brill!” Madam bellowed. “No more runnin! No more backin’ down! I gonna finish dis NOW!” He roared as he looked back. To his surprise Jakjak stepped beside him, gun ready. Then Zenzak stepped on his other side, crouched low with his daggers in hand. “We be at’cha side brothah.” Zenzak said first. “Like we should’a been all along.” Jakjak nodded.

Five pairs of feet tread lightly, near silence as they walked through the forest. Their conversations hushed as they looked for something. One Orc. One elf. Three forsaken. “This is a waste of time. We’re chasing a ghost. She died on Draenor.” The male orc growled. He was what many would see an orc as. Impressively tall, bulky, green and with many scars. His leather armor nicked and cut from previous combat and even stained with blood. His dark eyes swiveled to the elf whom sighed in annoyance.

The elf was also in leathers but his armor was meticulously well cared for. His weapons sharpened to an exquisite point and his long blonde hair pulled into an immaculate pony tail. He was what you’d expect from an elf. The three forsaken well surprisingly cleaner then the orc also, their clothing and armor well taken care for. Albeit old and obviously well worn. The one’s cloth clothing was clean but tattered and the cuffs at the wrists slightly burned.

The jawless one’s plate armor was scratched and dented beyond recognition but clean. As was the single massive sword on his back. The shorter forsaken worn mail armor. The chainmail broken and severed in some places, showing it’s owners rotted flesh and bone. His cross bow however was in much better condition and appeared to be newer then the rest of his belongings.

“Ahyee ouu aw anorhua…” One jawless forsaken gurgled. His equally decayed companions nodded in agreement, although the orc and elf didn’t understand. “Yea what he said. They all look alike.” One of the chain mail wearing forsaken added. The elf groaned and rubbed his temples. He started to retort that no one understood the jawless one but decided against it. “They don’t all look alike. And I saw her. In Silvermoon getting supplies. Speaking with one of my own.”

“Why couldn’t we find him then?” Snarked the last forsaken as he toyed with a conjured flame in his fingers. The jawless one gurled and groaned an unintelligible reply which seemed to appease his undead companions. “Just… think of the gold we’ll pull in when we catch her.” Retorted the elf as they continued to walk. “Some small time thugs were after the troll she was with and I last saw her headed this way.” He continued.

The continued to walk in silence and had they been tracking other prey, they might have gone unnoticed. But the birds chirping wildly at them betrayed their position. Hunters had become hunted.

One single honey-golden orb watched their every move, a wolf skin eye patch covered the missing eye. Grey paws silently followed alongside from the cover of the brush. Her calm and sleek movements belied a beast ready to attack. Her heart thundered in her chest and every fiber in her body coiled to leap from cover. The only thing that betrayed her anxiety was the tip of her grey and white striped tail. Wiggling and twitching with anticipation.

Why were they following her? Clearly this wasn’t a friendly party. Not with the weapons and gear they carried. Whiskers twitched as they stopped. She licked her lips between long fangs and short but thick tusks. She had heard the bird calls and heeded them. Now she stopped and waited. The orc and elf began to argue while the other three held back and kept watched. But one less so then the others. She decided that if she had a chance, the archer and mage needed to go first.

Her ears twitched as the archer lazily walked towards the way they’d came, inspecting where she had just been. He knelt down and inspected paw prints. Hers. “Lynx came this way not too long ago.” He said looking up. “Shup up! We don’t need updates on all the wild life!” The orc snarled as he returned to argue with the elf. The hidden cat grinned as she silently crept towards the lone archer. “Sometin’ far worse den a lynx comin’ for ya boyo…” She thought as she positioned herself.

The archer moved further into the bush and let out only a gasp before there was a snap and sickening crunch as her jaws crushed his skull. Dragging the forsaken into the thicket and away from the party. In an instant, he was gone. The others stopped and whirled around to look but saw nothing. “Fredrick? Fredrick! Stop playing games!” Demanded the orc but there was only the sound of something being dragged away.

The remaining men reached for their weapons and the mage held his hands ready to cast. The elf darted back with daggers drawn but the wily tigress had already moved. “He said something about a lynx…” He said as he spied the now truly dead forsaken. But no cat. No attacker just the body. All were on guard as they looked around.

The suddenly a piercing roar shattered the deathly silence as a tiger leapt from the brush at the elf. His hand shot up to cover the deadly bite aimed for his face. Her jaws and long fangs crushed his hand and the force of her pounce slammed him to the ground. He screamed as the grey and white striped beast mauled his hand. His free hand shot out and embedded his dagger deep into her shoulder.

The jawless one charged forward, letting out a gurgling bellow as his great sword swung down aimed to chop her in half. The honey-golden orb narrowed on him and she let go and bolted just as the sword came down and nicked her in the side. The orc laughed as the elf groaned and held his hand. The tiger pivoted and leapt for the jawless one, slashing and biting at his armor. He danced back trying to keep the great sword between him and death as she relentlessly advanced at him.

Finally the elf regained himself and the orc decided to join in and the both rushed from behind. A flurry and slashes and stabs hit her back side and she twisted to fight them but the onslaught was too much for the tiger. Suddenly her feline roars turned deep and thunderous as in an instant she shifted into a great grey bear. A fire ball flew between elf and orc and slammed into the beast rump as a massive paw flew and knocked the elf back. “No tiger! This is a druid!” The orc exclaimed with glee. “I’ve always wanted to fight a druid!”

The warrior thrust his great sword upwards and cut deep into the bear’s hip, letting blood pour out on the lush green grass. She let out a bellowing roar as the fire continued to burn and sear her fur and flesh. She whipped around and slammed a massive paw at the warrior, knocking him back as the other two continued to slice and stab at her. Her full body reared up and shoved the warrior to the ground as her jaws and tusks clamped down around his head. She turned with the kill blow to face the other two. Dragging the flailing warrior back as she chewed on his face. The sounds of squelching blood and crunching bone was enough to make the elf hesitate as another fire ball flew past him. But suddenly the bear stood up and lifted the body with her and the fire ball hit the forsaken instead.

His screams faded as she dropped him, the smell of burning decayed flesh starting to fill the air. While standing she let out a deep thunderous roar before landing back on her paws. She charged forward, knocking down the elf and orc as she ran past. Her wild honey-golden eye locked on the mage. He gasped and threw his hands up and in an instant the air around her feet froze her in place. A smirk coiled on his corpse like face before it was wiped away as she shifted again back into the cat.

The ice broke and the tiger shrieked as she leapt for him. The mage hadn’t anticipated this and only screamed as the bloody and burned druid landed on him. Her fangs snapped around his defensively placed hands as she slammed him to the ground. He cast an instant fire spell but this only seemed to infuriate her as she shook her head violently. A sickening crunch and snap sounded as she tore his fore arm off. She spat it out and bit his other hand as he tried to fire another spell at her. Shaking violently and dragging him back she did her best to avoid the other two. Another sickening pop could be heard over his screams and she ripped his other arm off. Her claws raking his throat, spilling black congealed blood as she dragged him away.

The elf and orc rushed forward but she let go again. They paused to listen to their companion spit and choke his dying breath before looking up. The tiger stared and growled lightly. Her pristine grey and white striped fur stained dark with decayed blood. Her back half looked weak form the rogue pair assault. It was now that they realized that as far as druid cats, and troll cats went, she was small. A white stripe of cloud white mane went from her head down her neck and seemed to tumble like water. Her body was covered in the same white stripes as her mane and her grey fur was a soft smoky color.

She bared her teeth again as she stomped her foot and to the surprise of the pair the earth suddenly turned lush right under her paw. New shoots and grass grew and small flowers bloomed by her bloodied claws in an instant. A mist of green was released from the new growth and it swirled and spiraled up her leg. Her wounds stopped bleeding and to their horror even began to heal. The deep cuts sealed and the minor ones healed completely.

The orc laughed and grinned madly while the elf looked on in horror. “This will be a fight to remember! Come at me troll! I want to bathe in your blood!” The orc bellowed as he slammed his fists on his chest. “Are you insane?! Don’t taunt it!” The elf said just as the tiger roared and bolted for him. With one hand he slashed at her, cutting her nose but she didn’t stop. She repeatedly slashed both claws downward at him all the while moving back. The orc moved in and slashed at her back but this time the wounds kept healing.

Suddenly she swung her head low and her tusk caught the elf’s ankle and with an upward head thrust she tripped him. He hit his back with a loud thud which winded him long enough for her to pounce on top. Callously the orc stepped back as the sickening sound of muffled, choking screams drown out the sound of crunching bone and squelching blood. She jerked her head up and slashed her tusk through his neck nearly severing it from the spine. She spit out the flesh and turned to face the orc. Letting out a low growl as she bared blood soaked fangs at him.

He chuckled and anxiously waited for her to come. “I didn’t like his whiney ass anyways.” He said to her as she stomped her foot to heal her wounds again. “An orc could fall in love with a lady like you.” He snarked at her as they paced one another. She snarled, letting blood and saliva drip from her gaping maw. “At least I’m assuming you’re the helpless little sister the elf was looking for. But… Oh baby you are far from helpless.” He said licking the blood from his dagger. “Come at me, Dyzz and die with honor!” With hearing her name, Dyzz roared in fury and leapt for the orc.

He aimed to back slash her but her jaws slammed down on his wrist, her claws raking through his leather hide armor. He roared with vigor and stabbed her in the side. Dyzz reacted with a yowling yelp and twisted to bite the other hand. He jerked his hand back and she darted away before he could stab her again. The orc took a step back and readied for another attack when Dyzz made on odd sound. It was a moaning yowl. Something akin to an addict taking a hit of their drug of choice for the first time, in a long time. Her honey-golden eye burned like the sun and dilated so severely her black pupil was barely visible.

He furrowed his brows at noticed she looked feral, rabid. Like all sanity was lost and something else was taking control. She was wildly licking her lips at his blood and her burning golden eye seemed to pierce his soul. He growled and rushed her. It was quickly obvious that the intelligent troll was elsewhere. Replaced by a blood thirsty beast hell bent on his death.

The fight was not quick and lasted what seemed like hours. He’d juke and dodge, slash and stab but this time she didn’t hold back. Mindlessly she kept attacking no matter her wounds and no matter where she was stabbed. Her claws shredded his flesh and armor and her jaws ripped through where ever they landed.

“Yesssss… Yesss my cub. Kill hims in mah name. Feast upon hims flesh an’ I make ya strongah!” A thick growly voice said in her mind. Blood loss weakened him and he made a fatal stumble back wards which Dyzz fully took advantage of. She leapt upon him, her teeth slicing through his throat as she ripped and tore flesh away. The orc choked on his own blood as he tried in vain to shove her away. Before he was dead she was clawing ferociously at his armor. Biting through the straps over his chest and wasted no time crushing through the thick bones of his rib cage.

It wasn’t until she ripped his heart out and veraciously ate it that he died. Like a blood elf starved of magic getting a taste for the first time. She chewed like she’d not eaten in weeks and even started to choke from swallowing too fast. This was not the ritualistic cannibalism that many of her troll kin practiced. This was feral. This was rabid. This was a sick need.

The green orc’s flesh was still, even after so many years, tainted with fel demon blood and it didn’t take long to make the troll sick to her stomach. She coughed and gagged until she vomited. As she did so she shifted into her natural form. The female was small, even for a Darkspear troll, with very long cloud white hair that now draped over her and began to stain with blood. Dyzz began to sob and lay her head on the dead orc. “No! No Shirvallah! Why? Been so long since I did dis… Damn you Tiger God!” She sobbed like an addict regretting going back.

Her frail form stopped after a moment, her blue and white tiger stripped tattooed fur was covered in cuts and blood. Her thin face lifted as drool and strings of blood pooled from her mouth. Her single honey-golden eye spied something under her blood soaked hand. Sniffling she lifted her lithe hand to look at the insignia on his arm. It was a dagger and a raven. “I seen dis b’fore…” She said looking up. The orc had fallen next to the elf he so despised but that led Dyzz’s eye to the satchel around his waist.

More importantly, the three scrolls on the ground that had fallen out. She reached over and her bloodied fingers stained the old parchment as she picked it up. Unrolling it revealed a bounty for her. But it was outdated with red lettering saying ‘deceased’. Confused she reached for a much newer scroll. A gasping shudder escaped her lips as she unrolled it. The string of blood that hung from her full lips dropped on the drawing of Raz. Making it appear as though her brother were crying tears of blood.

“Dey was… lookin’ for me ta git to ya… Ju stupid ass hat Raz. I can’t die but ju can?!” She squealed in irritation as her claws fingers ripped the scroll. She growled but stopped when a burp of upset stomach made her calm down. She looked down at what little wolf skin leather covered her bloody body then used the torn parchment to wipe away the blood from her face. Then she spied a third scroll. Opening this one revealed the fuchsia hair troll that had become like a brother to her. Raz’s estranged mate. Rubikks.

“Ju done got Rubi in dis too… I need ta find Raz b’fore hims git hims self killed.” She said looking about. Asking for such a boon as to find a person was going to require a proper sacrifice. She eyed the elf and crawled to his body, pausing a moment to grab his dagger she then began to cut away at his chest. She cut out his heart and wrapped it in shredded leather he was wearing before stashing it in her own satchel.