The tall grass hid the two grunts completely, they moved with stealth as they slowly advanced towards the monster. Ulric looked over to Kelda and with a few swift hand gestures indicated to her that she should move around and come at their enemy from the east while he attacked from the west, she nodded once moved away, vanishing in the undergrowth.

Luck it seemed was on their side the huge monster was sleeping, its snores filling the air. Ulric heard Kelda’s bird call, signalling that she was in place for the attack; he replied with his own, they both knew it was now or never.

“For the Horde,” they yelled in unison and charged, but in that instant the monster woke and reacting with unbelievable speed swept the two orcs up in to its mighty grip…

* * * * * * * * * * * *

If Xue was sure of one thing it was that the system of caves that Blackfathom depths stunk with the smells of stagnant water mixed with every other type of smell she could imagine. The only reason that her team had been sent here was as a demonstration to the alliance and in particular the night elves that the Draenai were trust worthy. So now here she was her team consisted of herself, Farrer a young shaman, Thrope a veteran warrior and their captian Ezekyle a formidable hunter, their task was to observe a group know as the Twilight Hammer which seemed to consist of many different races, some from the alliance and some from the horde.

For the first two weeks they had been down in the depths nothing of note had happened, the cultists did nothing but dig in the murky waters and fight the naga/murlocs that they shared the caverns with. Then at the start of the third week a new group of around ten others arrived, though they were dressed in a similar fashion, dark purples and blacks, their robes and armour seemed to be of higher quality as if these newcomers were more important to the Twilight Hammer organisation.

The newcomers took charge and soon the ruins were teaming with activity as more and more artifacts were extracted. There were only two figures that seemed oblivious to the hectic activity that was around them, they wore heavy hooded robes that completely hid their identities. They made a strange looking pair, though they were both the same height, the robes on one of the seemed almost stretched over their muscular frame while the other seemed to hang loosely about them.

It was Farrer who woke them with the information that there was an argument between the cultists, on one side were the newcomers and on the other the original members of the caverns. Farrer was young and eager to show the rest of them that he could be a valuable member of the team.

“Over there,” Farrer pointed as Xue crawled up beside him into their observation spot. “The two hooded figures seem to be in the centre of it,” he explained as she looked outwards. “It started when one of the older cultists found a group of gems…”

“Quiet I want to listen.” Xue cut him off, for a moment his face fell then he nodded. They both watched orc cultists who was standing closet to the two robed figures yell at them clearly enraged.

“I’m telling you that if you think we are just going to hand these gems over to you after all the trouble and effort we have put into this dig while you and your friends just sat back on you fat asses then you can think again.” The orc yelled. The robe figure said nothing but held out his had waiting for the gems to be handed over.

“I think it would be best if you gave those gems to the master,” a lean dangerous looking human stated as he stood on a slightly raised platform and rested against a piller.

“And you can go stuff you head up a Kodo’s arse.” The orc snarled back.

“Careful with that mouth of yours,” the human replied. “Or you might find out what my blade feels like.”

“You dare threaten Lord Kelris,” yelled a ragged dressed dwarf.

“Hand over the gems and we will be finished here,” the thinner of the two robe figures replied, the voice was seductively feminine but filled with threat of violence.

By now the cultists supporting Lord Kelris had produced weapons and surrounded the others. Kelris looked around at his followers and smiled in triumph; the stockier robed figure looked at his thinner comrade and nodded. Suddenly she struck out with a whip, which lashed itself around the twilight leaders neck and before anyone could stop her she pulled the orc towards her. As he came with in reach a dagger formed in her free hand and she plunged it into his right eye, then the weapons vanished, and Kelris dropped to the ground.

“Gut them Gut them all,” screamed one of the cultists and the ruins erupted in fighting.

The human who had been the first to speak casually dodged a clumsy blow by a troll cultist and then grabbed them by their large tusks before snapping his head to the side so hard that he broke their neck. Then he drew two poisoned blades from their sheaths on his back calmly walked down the stairs into the brutal melee which was in front of him. No sooner had he done so than a pair of cultists attacked him one a female orc the other a female tauren.

However even as they struck out with their weapons at him, he vanished, the pair stopped in their tracks and for a second looked at each other blankly, and that was all the time that he needed. His attack cam from out of the shadows and before either could react he had stabbed his blade so hard into the orc’s back that he ran her through.

With a scream of rage her companion lifted own sword to strike him down, but in a movement that was to quick for anyone to properly see he stepped towards her and stabbed his second sword upwards through her neck. He then paused for only a moment to admire his handy work, neither female was actually dead but the wounds were mortal ones, with a malicious smile he stepped backwards, withdrawing his blades and allowing them to fall.

The tauren hit the ground first and instantly began to fit as the poison took effect, moments later the orc fell on top of her and also began to tremor. Xue watched as their bodies were jerking in the most painful and unnatural way that she had ever seen, each spasm placed the pair in a rigid disjointed position that looked as if it was causing the maximum amount of agony that it could. This continued until they died from their wounds some five minutes later, by then the human who had inflicted these wounds had gone on to give them to half a dozen others without even looking out of breath.

Xue noticed that the man however was not the only powerful and unique fighter that seemed to follow the robed figures. A rather insane looking orc who had stood at the back during the whole confrontation stepped forward as battle began. His eyes were hidden behind black tinted goggles and he was grinning manically.

He was targeted by a gnome cultist who seemed to have the ability to control the water; this was evident in the fact that he had an elemental by his side. The gnome pointed at the orc and instantly the elemental began to cast a spell, but it never finished as the orc made a gesture and it seemed to be hit with shadow magic of such force that it disintegrated into a puddle on the floor. With a mocking laugh the orc produced what looked like a metal sphere and hurled this at his vertically challenged opponent.

In mid flight it opened up into what looked like a tiny humanoid and it hurled a fireball into the cultist’s face. The gnome screamed as his face burned and his clothes caught fire, but the figure was not finished yet, once it had landed it hurled more at him. In a blind panic the gnome threw himself into the water only to be torn apart by the creatures that lived in the dark depths who had been driven mad by the magic being abused in such a closed confind space.

The orc however was not without an opponent for long as a dwarf wielding a two handed sword charged him. It looked as if the orc was in trouble but suddenly he produced a device that he had attached to his belt and the dwarf was suddenly reduce to such a small size that the orc picked him up in one hand and threw him across the chamber. The dwarf hit of a rock close to the hiding Draenei’s position, and sustained the fatal head blow from the impact he grew back to full size and stared at the blue skin observers his eyes filled with questions before they glazed over.

As battle raged all about them the thinner of the two robe figures bent down and picked up the gems from the dead Twilight lord and walked over to her stockier companion. Then as if uninterested in the carnage they examined them all one by one, after each had been held up to what passed for light the stockier figure nodded and the thin one place the gem inside her robe. Soon the battle was over and the cultists were dead or dying on the floor of the ruins.

“Alright how many did we loose?” the thin robe figure asked. The twin blade wielding human called for a head count.

“Only two, plus a few minor injuries.” He informed her, the robe figures looked at each other and the stockier one once again nodded.

“Then I think it is time we were going, we have what we came for, and its time for the final member of our team to join us with the items we requested.” The thin robe figure stated and Xue knew she was looking directly at them.

“By the prophet’s beard they know we are here,” Farrer said in horror. “Let’s get back to camp and warn the others.” Xue nodded and they moved away quickly.

They had based themselves in a secluded cove previously used by some strange murlocs it was out of the way and relatively well hidden. Thanks to the battles between the cultists and the naga, allowed the team to cover up the deaths of any who had found their little camp. To their horror however they spotted their companion, Thrope lying dead on the ground with the pool of water his head was resting in slowly mixing with his blood. Farrer ran to their comrade, but Xue held back, her gut told her that something was very wrong here.

“How did they get Thrope?” Farrer questioned as he began to try to resurecte their friend team mate. “Xue what are you just standing there for? Help me,” he called out to her, “We need to find Ezekyle and get out of here.” As soon as the shaman mentioned their leader’s name Xue realised what was wrong, other than Thrope’s body there was no sign of a fight, and she seriously doubted that he had been taken unaware. This left only one option, and it was confirmed in that instant.

“Xue why aren’t you helping…” his words were cut of by the twang of a crossbow and a bolt boring into his right eye.

Suddenly a huge spider leapt from one of the over hanging ledges and sunk its fangs into Xue’s shoulder and her entire upper torso immediately felt like it was on fire, she screamed and threw the creature off, before turning and running as fast as she could. There was a loud hissing as the spider perused her through the caverns, normally she could have easily out ran it but her limbs began to feel heavy and her vision was starting to blurr.

The monstrous spider caught up with her and launched itself at her, sinking its fangs deep into her lower legs, once more she felt the burning sensation of poison being injected into her. With what little strength she had Xue kicked out with her leg in a sudden motion that dislodged the creature, but it skittered around and leapt on to her back where it bit her again, in desperation she blinked herself away from it.

She found herself standing on a muddy bank, and her exhausted limbs were to weak to hold her upright, so she slipped down into the cold dark water. As a splash hit her face it seemed to shock her mind if not her body back to its senses, her blink had bought her a few seconds and she hauled herself back to her feet and began casting the only spell she could that would save her life. A portal to the Exodar opened before her just as her mind finally fogged over and she passed out…

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The group waited in the ruins some of them picked over the bodies of their recent kills looking for trophies, others patched up their own wounds others just relaxed as if they had not a care in the world. In the middle the groups leaders examined the gems and items that had beed gathered over the last few weeks.

From out of the shadows emerged a tall powerful figure his dark blue skin seemed to almost absorb what little light there was, the group watched him with suspicion as he was not a member of any of the races to which they belonged. What gave it away most of all was the fact that his legs seemed to be hinged the wrong way and ended in Hooves rather than feet. He seemed top heavy but carried himself with a predator’s gait.

“You sure took your sweet time in joining us,” stated a human member of the group who made his way to stand in front of the stranger.

“Some of us have important work to do in covering up our master’s actions Falkus,” the stranger replied.

“While others are busy getting their hands dirty completing his goals,” the human replied coldly, indicating the rest of the group, the stranger shrugged.

“Were you successful Ezekyle?” asked the robed female her voice both powerful and seductive. “Are our actions concealed from prying eyes?”

“They are, I personally killed two of them, Lucius killed the last, when she tried to run.” Ezekyle replied.

“Your spider killed the last?” an orc stated in disbelief. “How can you be sure that she is dead then?”

“Because Lucius had more killing power in his small fangs than all you demonic powered mechanical abominations put together.” Ezekyle smiled, the orcs face darkened.

“That maybe, but Jar’ag’s point still stands, how can you be sure that she is dead?” the human replied coldy. “If she has escaped then she could reveal our presence to others.”

“Enough,” the robed female called out. “The master and I care nothing for your petty rivalries. We have what we came here for it is time to leave, Toi a portal if you please,” She nodded to a female troll who stood back a little from the group, placed a rune on the ground, made a few gestures, muttered some incantations as she, and a portal opened.

The silent robed figure took three steps towards the portal and was gone, closely followed by his female counterpart, with Falkus, Ezekyle and Jar’ag after them, but before the rest of the group walked through. As the last one did so the magical doorway sealed itself off and left the cavern’s empty filled with blood and the smell of the dead.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The monster’s movement had been so surprising that both Ulric and Kelda had lost their axes and had to resort to lashing out with their fists at the beast that now held them both. But its tough hide seemed resilient to their attacks. Suddenly though it released them, before rolling away, taking the opportunity both grunts went for their weapons. Behind them their foe raised itself to its full height towering above the pair as they spun to fight it once more.

Ulric swung his axe at the monsters exposed mid-rift, from the other side Kelda mirrored his attack. The creature bellowed in pain as both blows hit and it stepped backwards, the two grunts however pressed their attack pushing it towards the ocean. Then Kelda over reached herself and the monster grabbed her by the wrist and wrenched her up into its embrace, Ulric seeing his comrade in trouble redoubled his efforts though it dodged one of his attacks and seized him around the waist lifting him too into the air. As he was being lifted however Ulric lashed out and knocked the monsters leg out from under it and once more the three of them fell into the stand and started to roll down towards the water.

Some how Kelda managed to grabbed the monsters dagger on its belt and stabbed it in the heart as they struggled. With a roar of agony the monster threw its arms wide allowing the pair to escape and run towards their weapons once more. Though by the time they had retrieved them their mortal enemy was dead.

“Well what is going on here then?” asked a voice that both Kelda and Ulric knew well.

“Mummy!” they called together and dropped their wooden toy weapons back on the sand and ran to her. Laughing Varlet picked up the twins, one in each arm and held them tightly to her, their little kissing covering her cheeks.

“We been playing with daddy,” Kelda said happily.

“Oh really what was the game?” Varlet asked.

“We were Grunts in the army and he was a vicious monster,” Ulric answered. “And we beat him, did you see mommy?” he asked.

“You know I think I did see that, both of you are such brave orcs,” she laughed.

“They certainly are,” Jarax agreed coming up on his family. He threw his arms around all of them as he kiss Varlet soundly on the lips, with the usual ‘ewws’ and gagging sounds from the twins. “How is your brother doing?” he asked.

“Well you know my big brother, things are interesting, but I’ll tell you about it later,” Varlet smiled and kissed him again.

“Did Uncle Zujy give us any presents?” Kelda asked eagerly, her face alight with hope.

“Yeah did he?” Ulric pressed his face mirroring his sisters.

“We’ll have time for presents later, now go help your Uncle Timur and Aunt Juna with dinner,” she told the twins and put them back down, the children hugged her legs one last time and then ran towards Grom’gol.

“So what is going on with your brother?” Jarax asked as Varlet moved to the long grass at the top of the beach.

“We’ll talk about that after the kids are asleep,” she stated indicating that he should join her. “At the moment I’m hoping the twins have not tired you out too much,” she said and in one sudden movement pull him down on top of her into the long grass…

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The cool air on her skin and the familiar humming sound of the Exodar was what first alerted Xue to the fact that she was awake and no longer in danger. Some one was standing over her but she could not focus on their features, slowly though everything began to become clearer and she felt the one standing over her applying a lotion to her exposed back and massaging her tail and buttocks.

“Hmm, that’s nice,” Xue smiled still under the effects of what ever medicine or magic that the healers had used. “Could you come back later when I can appreciate it more?” she asked.

The figure behind her continued their massage but said nothing, all to soon in Xue’s opinion they stopped however and covered her back up. When they were gone she fell asleep quickly once again.

The next time Xue woke her sedation had worn off, so slowly climbing out of the bed, she walked over to a near by mirror. What she saw made her gasped loudly and stumbled backwards, falling on her ass with a loud thump. The door opened an a female draenai looked in concerned, her expression turned to a small smile and she came over to help Xue to her feet.

“My skin, what happened to my skin?” Xue asked in a state of shock.

“I’m afraid that what ever bit you injected some of the most powerful venom that we have encountered on this planet into your blood stream.” The healer explained. “It took several of our best scouts two days to find the right combination of herbs with which to make up an antidote. Unfortunately however the loss of skin pigment was an unforeseen side effect that it has removed your skins pigment.” She said her tone apologetic.

Looking in the mirror once more Xue saw again that her once dark purple skin was now pearl white,. She gazed at her reflection for what seemed like hours gently touching her face. Behind her the healer waited patiently till Xue remembered that she was there.

“The Elders wish to speak with you about what happened to your team,” the healer spoke in her soft voice. “Please dress and come outside as quickly as you can,” she smiled and left the room.

Xue found the robes that had been left for her and her Tabard which she noted had been repaired, putting both on she opened the door to the out side and prepared to face her superiors. The draenai captain who had sent her team on its mission was waiting for her outside, as soon as she appeared he motioned for her to follow him.

“This is a real mess Xue,” the captain commented. “The recovery team we sent in after you came back told us it was like a blood bath in there, some of our people say that your team was involved.”

“I know sir, I’ll answer the elder’s questions as best I can,” Xue replied, she noticed that a number of her fellow draenai stopped what they were doing and watched her. Apparently the knowledge that she had fallen unconscious through an open portal, soaked to the skin and with blood pouring out of numerous wounds had gone through the Exodar like wild fire.

She walked past them all without a second glance, she knew she had done nothing wrong and most importantly she needed to tell them of Ezekyle’s betrayal and of the strange group that he must have been part of. The Captain led her up to a small closed of chamber in the ‘Vault of lights’.

“Wait here,” he told her and walked through the doors, she heard muffled voices from inside then he reappeared. “You may go in they are waiting for you. She nodded and walked through the door…

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The fire was now slowly dieing as the four orcs sat around it, Jarax rested his hand against the small of Varlet’s back, once every now and then he would tickle her and she would squirm next to him, whispering for him to stop it. Across from them sat Jarax’s older brother Timur sat with his mate Juna, they had been working hard all week and had just finished a large order of new axes and shields for the army, which now awaited pickup and transport to the dark portal.

“I still can’t believe the size of that order,” Timur commented looking back over his shoulder at the crates. “What can be going on through that portal, that they would need all of this?” he asked no one in paticular, as Juna drank the last of her ale.

“Well I’m going to bed,” Juna stated as dropped her mug on the ground. Standing up slightly unsteadily, she bent down and kissed Timur on his forehead. “Don’t be too long,” she told him and walked away weaving from side to side.

“I think Juna’s had a little too much to drink,” Varlet giggled looking at her own empty mug and then holding it out to Jarax with an impish imploring look. He took it from her and gave her a full one. “Aww… thank you, *hic*” she said and kissed him on the lips before starting to drink.

“I better go make sure she gets back ok,” Timur told them, though there was a twinkle in his eye that suggested there might be another motive as well. Varlet gave him a little wave and then moved closer to Jarax and resting her head on his shoulder.

“Have I told you about my brother yet? *hic*” she asked him, as her left index finger moved in small circular motions on his closest arm.

“No you haven’t,” Jarax replied and stroked her back gently.

“Hey that tickles,” she squirmed, but did not tell him to stop. “He has a new apprentice, and she’s a girl you know” she stated her voice becoming a little louder at the last part.

“Really” He asked with a smile and she nodded vigorously then took another drink from her mug. “I thought he was going to hold off on taking on new apprentices, since Aradal,” he added.

“Well she was very, very persistent, followed him about like a puppy trying to show him that she could wield magic, *hic*” she told him. “You know my brother, he is a big softie so he gave in and accepted her,” Varlets voice was dripping with drunken venom, the likes of which Jarax had rarely seen plus he knew that if there was one thing Zujin was not it was a ‘big softie’. “Now she is all over the place saying things like yes master, of course master, what ever you say master.”

“Hmm, orc warlocks aren’t know for their manners,” Jarax commented, and Varlet suddenly pulled her head back and looked him directly in the eye.

“She’s not an orc, she’s an Elf, a blood elf,” Varlet spat. “And she is all over my brother like that pet dragon of his, its disgusting.” Jarax had to suppress the desire to laugh at her obvious jealously towards her brother new apprentice.

Varlets head dropped into his lap and her mug fell from her hands to the ground, telling him that she had pass out. Gently he picked her up and carried her back to their home where the twins slept safely. His mate almost never got drunk but it was clear that the assignments she was running for her brother now were stressing her out somewhat, not to mention this new comer to her brother’s life.

The only reason he had not joined his family in drinking was that he had to lead a patrol to the ruins of Zul’Gurub in the morning to assure that the trolls within posed no threat to the horde interest in this area.

It was to be his last official duty in Stranglethorn Vale, orders had reached the camp commander just this morning, he had shared them only with his officers, and around a third of the garrison was to be transferred through the Dark Portal to Thrallmar the hordes primary base in outlands. Jarax had been selected as one of the junior officers who would lead the force through to their new station.

He knew he would have to tell Varlet tomorrow and the means convince her to stay here in Grom’gol with the twins where they would be safe were still unknown to him. Looking down and his sleeping mate he heard her mumbling to herself about her brother new apprentice.

“A blood elf eh,” he smiled to himself and pulled Varlet closer to him.