Wednesday, July 1, 2009

The First Battle: 3 - The Dark Woods

The trees of Elwynn forest passed in a blur as Seona rode hard to keep up with the other soldiers. All of their steeds were the finest gold could buy, perfectly trained for war, swift and enduring. Poor Caliburn did all he could to keep up, but he was young and stumbled on occasion. Seona patted him, whispering soothing words to help him along, and they managed. Anaara, the young rogue, rode a beautiful battle-cat of the Night Elves, but her beast was also young and far slower than the chargers and huge steeds of the more-experienced soldiers. Seona smiled encouragement, though, and the rogue returned the favor.

The light grew dimmer as they entered the thick of the forest. Seona knew this land fairly well, and slowed Caliburn before they plunged into the river that divided the Elwynn forest from Duskwood. Looking out over the slowly flowing river, she could barely see the dark and forbidding woods standing like dark soldiers along the opposite bank. A curse seemed to hang over the Duskwood, but the other soldiers were pressing on and Seona wasn't one to show cowardice. She urged Caliburn down the bank, and he obediently went, splashing down into the river and swam towards the other bank.

The deep dark enveloped them as they emerged from the water on the other side, and Seona shivered. A long howl echoed in the distance and something skittered away into the dark. Caliburn shook a bit and sidestepped, uneasy, but Seona steadied him and pressed him onward into the woods.

Huge spiders were in these woods, but they payed them no mind as they passed through to the road up ahead. Other soldiers were already climbing up the steep hill to the road and Seona followed suit, finally breathing a little easier as Caliburn's hooves clattered onto the solid, cobblestone road. Lantern-light flickered in the distance, evidence of the Darkshire militia and guard. They ran up the road to the small town, slowing to a walk as soon as the buildings surrounded them, protective.

She could see on of the leaders speaking with a member of the Darkshire guard, no doubt filling him in on what we were doing here, that they should keep their eyes open for the Horde. Milling about, Seona glanced around the town, realizing that not much had changed since her time here. The guard was still under-manned and under-supplied. She could have sworn that she had passed a scourge abomination on the way up the road, thankfully dead on the path, but obvious evidence that the dead refused to stay still in these woods. She shook her head sadly, wondering why Stormwind refused to send aid here, to its own backyard.

They waited for some time for more instructions, or from news of sighting of any horde, but there was nothing. Many of the soldiers were getting impatient and Seona was nervous. Was this normal? Were they just to wait here? She patted Caliburn's armored neck again, and checked her gear. Gildaroy noticed her nervous movements and asked her if she was okay.

"Just a little nervous." Gildaroy chuckled a bit and offered her a flask. "Thank you, but I'd rather keep my head clear." Seona smiled, declining the drink.
"You needn't worry. This is the best bunch of soldiers in all of Azeroth." The paladin nodded, "That I can see."

Commotion from the front line caught Seona's attention. Murmurs swept through the many mounted soldiers as curious citizens looked on. Whispers reached Seona's ears. -They retaliated?Where? -We should take them all out! -Waiting here is foolish, especially if they've hit the border. -What are our orders? -New orders are sure to come soon, be calm. -Steady on, men. - Horde have been spotted in the Jungle! -The Rebel Camp? Then, orders were shouted from the front. "We're moving out! We're riding to Stranglethorn! Show no mercy! Show no quarter! For the Alliance!"

"FOR THE ALLIANCE!" the soldiers shouted in response, and they charged out of town, riding full speed for the bridge to the south that served as the entrance to the hot, steamy jungles of Stranglethorn. Seona gulped and followed, doing all she could to keep her nervousness from showing too much. Anaara, urging her cat forward with the rest, kept near. I'll stick close to her on the road, at least, Seona thought, and urged Caliburn on.

The dark began to lift a bit as they neared the bridge where the trees thinned out. Clattering hooves echoed out over the woods as the front line charged over the bridge that spanned the gorge separating the jungle from the woods. Sounds of battle soon reached Seona's ears as well as the foolish Horde who had attacked the rebel camp on the border were dealt with. She followed as the group turned south again and plunged into the jungle.

"Onward soldiers of the Alliance! Onward to Grom'gol! Take out any Horde threat on the way!"

Seona charged and roared with the rest, the zeal and excitement of the fight and hard ride sweeping her along. Grom'gol was near and the Horde wouldn't know what hit them.

No comments:

Post a Comment