His breathing was labored, and the air was coming in small tight gasp. Blood poured from several wounds and mixed with the sweat that was pouring off his body. His body was ravaged with pain. To the point, it was all he could do not to lose consciousness. He tried desperately to heal himself, but the words of the spells would not come.
His pursuers were drawing closer. He could hear their voices as they shouted out commands. Soon they would be on top of him and he would be dead. He looked around for anything that would hide him from his pursuers; he found nothing. The voices were getting louder now; it was time for him to move.
He started moving south again, using his staff as a walking stick to help support him in his weakened state. He needed to get back to Thunderbluff before the Grin met with Thrall.
He was not sure how the meeting would go; it was true that Thrall had been coming around to see things, but it was also true, the head of the Horde did not like being told no, and Yagyu was going to do just that. The Grin had decided not to take orders from Thrall. They were going to continue to do what was best for the people of Azeroth. They were going into the Northrend. If need be they would stop the threat themselves.
He heard shouting from the west, and more from the south. They were now to his left and in front of him, and they were close. Even though he could not understand what they were saying he could tell it was the language of the Alliance. He picked up his pace as best he could but that was not going to be enough. He still had a long run before Mulgore guards would be there to help him. He would need a good deal of luck if he was to succeed.
As he topped a small hill, he could see trees less than a hundred yards away, if he could make it into the wood line he might have a chance at losing his pursuers. Every step he took caused a new pain to shoot through his tired muscles. He could not think. He was moving purely on survival instinct.
Thirty yards and closing.
A dwarf stepped out from the tree line. Awanu changed. The dwarf was looking off to his right; he never even knew there was a bear coming at him. Awanu used all his remaining energy and swung his huge paw at the dwarves head. The dwarf turned in time to see the paw; the last thing he would ever see. The force of the blow knocked the dwarf back into the tree line, his body slamming against the trunk of a great tree and falling limply to the ground. Awanu changed out of bear form and fell just inside the tree line. That was all his body had, he closed his eyes, warmth came over his body, and he let go.
He awoke on land completely unfamiliar to him. Green rolling hills with trees taller than anything he had ever senn before placed evenly over the fields. The sun shone so brightly that is should have blinded; yet he did not even have to squint.
“Are you going to just lay there or are you going to get up?”
Awanu rose up to a sitting position and looked around for the body that went with the voice. There was no one around.
“I thought you had more spirit than that boy. Get up we need to talk.”
Again he looked around and there beside a tree stood a large orc. Something about the orc made Awanu smile and his heart felt lighter. However, there was something cold and dark about the orc also. Awanu wanted to stand but he was not sure if his body would be able to hold him. He had spent the last of his energy on the dwarf. His staff lay by his side, Awanu took the staff to help support himself and with all he could muster he stood. The pain shot through his back and legs, and his head began to swim as his eyes rolled back. He would have fallen back to the ground but the huge Orc grabbed him by the back of the neck and with one hand held him upright. “Easy boy, I thought that all that time with me taught you better.”
Awanu’s head stopped spinning and the world was coming back into focus.
“I’m fine” Awanu said, his voice was weak and raspy.
“Hell there was only four Alliance and you have only killed one, and that was because the dwarf was slow in the head.”
Awanu pulled forward trying to get away from the big orc’s grip. The orc let go and Awanu stumbled forward. It took several steps before he was able to get his balance back. He turned and faced the orc. “Am I dead?” Awanu asked
The orc started laughing and walked over to a near by tree and sat down. “Your not dead boy, but you are not alive either. At least in the manner you think of as alive. But that is what we need to talk about boy.” The orc made a motion for Awanu to sit next to him. “Have a sit boy we need to get this started so we can get this finished.”
Awanu struggled, but made it into a sitting position with great pain.
“This group you are running with have plans to come to Northrend, don’t come with them boy. You have never seen power like this before.” The orc was staring into Awanu’s eyes unblinking. Awanu chuckled. “You say that as if you are worried about me.”
“I always looked out for you boy. You might do well to remember that. You are not ready for this type of battle; you have not fought this type of war. You are not ready.” Awanu laughed. “That is where you and I differ Muglaw. I have never been afraid to die. My spirit looks forward to the day. If you had only embraced our earthmother and not worried so much about the power you had or wanted…”
The orc cut Awanu off. “That is past boy, you need to think of the future, you do not want to come to the north boy, things there are bad and getting worse. You say you are not afraid to die, but what of those around you boy? Are you ready to watch them die?” The orc stood and ran his hands across his face. He looked down at Awanu with eyes that were so cold that Awanu had to look away. The orc laughed. “You are not ready boy.”
Awanu took a deep breath and looked back up to the orc. “I remember when you were good Muglaw, before the promise of power ate away at you. I remember all the times you helped me, and I will always be grateful for that, but I also remember what you did to get your power Muglaw; that I will never forget. I will never forgive you that either, killing innocent’s to serve him, killing friends, I can not forgive you that.”
“You think you are better than me Awanu that is your down fall. You were always quick to judge others, gather your fact boy then judge until then heed my warning, do not come north boy, you are not ready.”
Awanu stood as if he had never had pain in his life “As I have told you, I am not afraid to die Muglaw.” Awanu’s voice was calm and even as he spoke. “If I die in the Northrend then so be it, but know this, I will kill you before I die.” The words came out not so much as a threat or as bravado, just a statement. The orc blinked. Awanu continued. “I will not be in the Northrend with that old group I once followed; you are right, we all would have died. I will still come and when I do, it will be with warriors that are ready for you kind. Warriors that have fought side by side in many battles.” Awanu moved closer to the shell that was his old friend. “You see I am no longer with Mulgore, I am no longer with Thunderbluff, I am with the Grin. It is you who are not ready.” with that, Awanu disappeared before the shaman turned deathknights eyes.
The orc blinked.
Awanu’s eyes open to the dark. How long had he been unconscious? Was there still time before Yagyu was to meet with Thrall? Awanu got to his feet, still a little wobbly, but the short trip into the nether realm had given him time rejuvenate himself and the spell seemed to carry over into the realm. He took a second or two to get his bearings and listen for any Alliance that might be in the area still. He felt stronger by the second the rejuvenation spell was working wonders for him, and he was able to cast a life bloom spell on top of that now. It is a wonderful thing what a few minutes rest can do for a druid. Awanu dropped into his travel form a sprinted for Thunderbluff.
The stars were out full and bright by the time Awanu arrived in Thunderbluff. He was fearful that Yagyu had already met with Thrall and that he would not make it in time for the meeting. But this was something he had to do. As he rode up the elevator to the main landing, he wondered if he would still have the courage to do what he came here for.
Things had changed for him over the last few weeks. He had come to respect the Grin more and more. They were a fighting force to be sure, but he had seen them go into villages and give to those who had nothing. In times when the Grin was running out of supplies, and many of the soldiers were missing, they gave to others first and still fought the Alliance off. That is what had led to his decision to leave the services of his former employers.
He made his way to the Elders Landing and went to the far back portion of the landing. There stood a Tauren so huge that Awanu looked like a Bloodelf in comparison. Awanu walked up to the Tauren and bowed deeply with respect. The Large Tauren returned the respect.
“We are going north, we leave in the morning.” Awanu said. “I will find our people, and take your message to them.”
The large Tauren looked at him and smiled. “If you find our people, let them know they are welcome here. Let them know the great spirits are with us here.” The large tauren moved closer to Awanu. “I know that you will hunt for Muglaw, but please do not let that make you stray from you mission. Yagyu is a fine warrior and is proving himself a fine leader; he and the Grin will need you to stay focused on the objectives. Do not let personal business take you away from that.” Awanu nodded and took a deep breath.
Awanu had come to consider many if the Grin family, and he knew that the battles coming would be hard won and could be at great cost. He would do as Yagyu and the officers ordered, he would not fail them in battle, but if the opportunity arose, he would destroy the Death knight that was Muglaw.
Awanu arrived just in time to follow Yagyu and the others to the meeting with Thrall. As he walked up, he could hear Yagyu and Shadiel discussing many points of the meeting. Awanu noticed there was a small imp positioned behind Shadiel in the shadows. Behind the imp, he thought he could see the shadow blur for a brief second. Awanu went up to gather his gear. His thoughts were no longer on the meeting as much as they were Muglaw. His old friend had betrayed him and those around him for power. Awanu snorted. “What power has he got now?” Awanu said to himself. He finished gathering his gear and went back to where Shadiel and Yagyu were finishing the talks. Yagyu decided to send Shadiel was taking the initial scouting party that very night. Awanu was leaving the next day.
Yagyu made peace with Thrall that very night. It seems the leader of the Horde was more than willing to listen to the leader of the Grin. Maybe Thrall realized the Grin kept the Horde villages safe, not some peace treaty he had hope would work. Maybe Thrall had realized once again who he was; and that he would never be accepted in the human society. Maybe the shear magnitude of the Lich King up north made him realize the Grin was better to have helping. Who knows what triggered the change and Awanu was not sure he cared. He did know that when the Grin went into the Northrend the Lich King would pay hell getting them out.
Awanu watched as the first party left for Northrend. The journey some called necessary and others called foolish had begun.
Awanu wished them well as they began their journey and part of him wished the Yagyu had seen fit to send him that night as well. He knew the first group would face hell and have to fight for every inch of ground.
All of Stonard stood and saluted the group as they left. Some with tears in their eyes, some with hope in their hearts, but all with pride in their souls.