Dorri prowled at the edges of the light, showing as much unease as the two visible worgen. She listened only partially to the conversation between Keltyr and the worgen who now identified himself as Neville Hewell. She heard her lover broach the subject of the odd trades of livestock between the Hewells and the Athertons. “Other people came looking a few months ago. Most of them wore a black tabard with red fire on it.”
“Did one of these men have bright red hair? Maybe with a dark haired woman with him?” Keltyr asked, curiously.
“Could be.”
Something bright moved among the bushes and Dorri heard the rest of the worgen pack move quickly away from them.
“Kel, something is coming.” She moved back towards him, still looking for the flicker of light she had seen just briefly.
Lars was upright and alert; daggers out.
“I’ve told you all I can, now free the boy.” The Worgen’s fur was bristling and he was looking anxiously from side to side.
“I thought we were friends, Neville.”
The Worgen snorted, “You’re impressive, slick ear, dangerous too. But I’m no…” The large wolfman raised his muzzle and howled. Keltyr took a few quick steps back and pulled a round metal ball from a pouch as the worgen burned from the inside out.
“Oh, I would think you’re quite the fool.” The remaining worgen fled in terror as the heavy bushes surrounding the manor house parted to reveal a druid of the flame. “You three depraved degenerates have been poking around where you don’t belong.” Long hair looking vaguely green despite the touch of flames, floated around the Kaldorei druid’s face. “And now I had to kill one of my pets because of your interference.”
“If you don’t want your dogs to talk, I suggest you muzzle them.” Keltyr addressed the woman, while Dorri moved to circle behind.
“I’ll have to consider that, but I’d have to train another one to talk. Perhaps I’ll just leave them as ignorant mongrels.”
Any other witty exchanges were interrupted by Dorri’tow’s impatient charge. Her wordless challenge was knocked from her lips as a blast of elemental fire slammed into her chest. “Bloody hell!” She threw a shield of light around her as another fireball rocketed towards.
Lars had vacated her post and was nowhere to be seen.
“Well that was…: Before the druid could finish speaking, Keltyr had tossed a small sphere at her face. Her hand batting it away caused it to shatter, coating her in a powder that caught flame as it was exposed to the air. “Fire against me?” Three daggers flew at the Kaldorei and got caught in a cloak that swallowed the projectiles completely.
The druid turned to face Dorri again and a pot lid that glowed with golden light slammed into her back, ricocheted into the woods. There was a wolfen yelp from the copse, followed by a gurgling sound as Lars emerged from wherever she’d been hiding to slit the downed worgen’s throat.
“The pack is back!” The rogue shouted. A large pair of claws came out to swiped at her as more of the pack closed in. She dodged and grabbed the nearest tree branch, swinging up and claiming the high ground. Small silver throwing knives rained down from her perch, evoking a chorus of pained howls from below.
Dorri merely grunted, focused on the druid in front of her. No Kaldorei would be her match. A quick pommel to the gut kept her opponent from casting another fireball, but the druid recovered quickly.
A second druid of the flame plummeted from the sky with a high pitched shriek. He shifted from fiery bird to a man, landing on his feet smoothly. Keltyr slammed into his back before the Kaldorei could take stock. It was mere seconds to shove his sword into the enemy’s back and twist it.
Keltyr watched two more druids drop from the sky, leaving trails in the sky from their fiery feathers. The paladin could make out at least two more circling overhead. “Hells.” He threw a few bombs at the newcomers and dashed inside the house.
The explosions pulled Dorri out of her red focused haze. A spinning attack sent blades of light in all directions, hitting all three of her attackers, while restoring her energy. If the other two were as skilled as the woman facing, Dorri knew she would be outmatched. She called and the Light answered. Bright golden wings sprouted from her back as she stunned her main opponent. Two steps took her to the druid that was still trying to recover from having one of Kel’s bombs exploding at his feet. He died quickly enough, but two more druids were already on the ground. She barely dodged another fireball as the first druid regained her senses.
“KNEEL BEFORE THE POWER OF THE FIRELORD!” The female druid slammed her staff into the dirt and shimmering balls of fire formed over her head. Incensed, Dorri started to charge, but the air grew brighter. A pulse of fire flared and knocked the paladin back a few feet.
Dorri pulled herself to her feet, using the stones of the manor house walls as handholds. A second pulse pushed her back against the wall, but this time she was ready for it. The hot air burned her skin, but the blood knight pushed forward.
Keltyr pulled Dorri through the door and slammed it shut.
“What the hell!” Dorri turned on Keltyr, angrily.
“Four druids of the flame on the ground, a pack of worgen and light knows what else.”
“There’s three of us.” Keltyr merely looked at her. “I want her.”
The door to the manor house shook and burst into flames. “Right, out the window,” Keltyr’s tone ended their argument. Keltyr snagged a bundle of documents and Dorri followed suit.
“The gear!” Dorri took a couple of steps towards their bedrolls and armor. The heat from the door started to radiate outwards. Without a second thought, Dorri followed Keltyr into the kitchen and out the window. They ran for the trees as a pillar of fire rose out of the structure.
Behind them and closing in fast was the sound of snarling, foliage being destroyed and large padding feet. A great dark figure emerged, charging from somewhere around the side of house and formed itself into Lars astride the shoulders of one of the bigger worgen. She had a garrote wrapped around his neck, holding it like reins. Right as she reached the other two her mount collapse with a loud WHUMP and Lars threw herself away from the corpse.
“Miss me?”
Behind them, the manor house was rocked by an explosion. The shock wave blew past them, carrying the enraged screams of a fire druid deprived of her prey.
“Let’s get in the trees before they take to the air.” Keltyr led them into the forest, hauling out a lighted compass to set them in the right direction to get back to the nearest Forsaken post. It was going to be a long walk. A long quiet walk. Dorri was pretty sure she saw the rogue smirking as she gave Keltyr another suggestion on how to keep from breaking every fallen branch in the woods.
