Chapter 6: A Narrow Escape
The night air was thick with tension as Aritzaga sprinted across the battlefield, the Horde flag clutched tightly in her hands. Behind her, Salove closed in, her cheetah form a blur of speed and fury. Aritzaga’s heart raced as she darted between the trees, using the terrain to her advantage, but she knew Salove wouldn’t give up easily.
Ahead of her, the Alliance base loomed in the distance, its flag still safely secured in the flag room. If she could make it back, victory would be theirs. But the Horde wasn’t going to let that happen without a fight.
As Aritzaga neared the center of the Gulch, the sounds of battle grew louder. The Horde had regrouped, their forces pressing hard against the Alliance lines. Wy and Thieme were in the thick of it, cutting down Horde soldiers with ruthless efficiency, but they couldn’t hold out much longer.
“Get ready, lass!” Wy shouted as she spotted Aritzaga approaching. “We’ve got ta get ya through!”
Thieme appeared from the shadows, his daggers gleaming in the dim light. “Horde’s closin’ in fast. We’ve got ta move!”
Aritzaga nodded, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Salove was right on her heels, and she could feel the weight of the Horde closing in around them. This was it—the final push.
With Wy and Thieme by her side, Aritzaga charged toward the Alliance base, her legs burning with exhaustion. The Horde’s forces were closing in from all sides, but the trio fought with everything they had, cutting down any enemy that dared to stand in their way.
Salove let out a furious roar, her cheetah form barreling through the battlefield with terrifying speed. She was determined to reclaim the flag, and nothing would stop her from reaching Aritzaga.
But Wy was ready.
With a quick motion, the dwarf hunter pulled a trap from her pack and hurled it toward Salove. The trap snapped open just as the Tauren stepped into it, freezing her in place with a burst of icy magic. Salove let out a furious snarl, struggling to break free, but the ice held her fast.
“That should slow ‘er down,” Wy grinned.
“Good timing,” Aritzaga panted, pushing herself to keep running.
Thieme stayed close, his daggers ready to strike at any Horde soldier that got too close. They were almost there—just a few more feet, and they’d be inside the safety of the Alliance base.
But as they neared the flag room, a figure stepped into their path.
Gromak, the battle-hardened Orc warrior, stood with his massive axe raised, his eyes locked on Aritzaga. He wasn’t going to let them pass without a fight.
“You’re not gettin’ away that easy, elf,” Gromak growled.
Thieme grinned, stepping forward with his daggers at the ready. “Ye want ta stop us, lad? Ye’ll have ta go through me first.”
With a roar, Gromak charged, his axe swinging in a deadly arc. Thieme met the attack head-on, his agile form dodging the heavy blows with ease. The two clashed in a flurry of steel and sparks, each strike sending shockwaves through the air.
Meanwhile, Aritzaga pushed forward, her eyes locked on the Alliance flag room just ahead. Wy stayed close, her bow ready to fire at any Horde soldier that got too close.
With one final burst of speed, Aritzaga leapt into the flag room, the Horde’s banner still clutched tightly in her hands. As soon as she planted the flag, a cheer erupted from the Alliance forces.
They had done it.
The Alliance had won the battle of Warsong Gulch, and Aritzaga, Wy, and Thieme had played a crucial role in securing the victory. Exhausted but triumphant, they collapsed against the walls of the flag room, the sounds of celebration filling the air.
The Horde had fought fiercely, but in the end, the Alliance’s determination and teamwork had carried the day. And now, as the dust settled and the battle came to an end, Aritzaga, Wy, and Thieme knew that this victory was only the beginning.
There would be more battles, more challenges, and more victories to come. But for now, they could rest, knowing that they had proven themselves worthy in the heart of Warsong Gulch.