Chapter 7: The Final Push
The flag was in their hands, but the battle was far from over. Outside the Alliance flag room, the sound of clashing steel and the thunderous roars of Horde forces echoed through Warsong Gulch. Wy and Thieme stood guard near the entrance, their weapons drawn, while Aritzaga leaned against the flagpole, catching her breath. Her heart pounded in her chest, the weight of the Horde flag still heavy in her hands. The victory was close, but not yet secured.
“That was too close,” Aritzaga muttered between ragged breaths. She wiped the sweat from her brow, her body trembling from the intensity of the fight.
“Too close?” Wy chuckled, notching another arrow and surveying the battlefield. “That’s jus’ how we like it, lass. Keeps things excitin’!”
Thieme grinned, his daggers twirling in his hands. “I wouldn’t want it any other way. But we’ve still got ta keep ‘em off yer back long enough to seal the deal.”
A deep, rumbling roar shook the ground as Gromak charged toward the flag room, his mighty axe raised high. Behind him, the remnants of the Horde forces, including Nara and a few remaining soldiers, pushed forward with everything they had left. The Horde wasn’t going to let this flag capture go without a fight.
“Here they come!” Wy shouted, pulling back her bowstring and loosing a volley of arrows toward the approaching horde.
Aritzaga straightened up, her eyes narrowing. She couldn’t let her guard down now—not with the enemy so close to reclaiming their flag. The night elf druid planted her feet firmly on the ground, drawing power from the earth beneath her. Her eyes glowed with emerald light as she prepared to make her final stand.
Gromak’s axe cleaved through the air with deadly precision, aimed directly at Thieme. The dwarf rogue was quick, dodging to the side with the speed and grace of someone who had danced with death more times than he could count. He darted behind Gromak, his daggers flashing in the dim light as he struck at the gaps in the Orc’s armor.
But Gromak was relentless. His massive size and brute strength made him a terrifying opponent, and he swung his axe with the fury of someone who had fought through countless battles. His focus was solely on reclaiming the Horde flag, and he wasn’t going to stop until it was back in his camp.
Meanwhile, Nara called upon the elements, summoning crackling bolts of lightning that arced across the battlefield. Wy’s wolf howled in pain as one of the bolts struck it, but the loyal companion didn’t back down, charging toward Nara with teeth bared.
“Thieme!” Wy shouted, her eyes flicking toward the rogue. “Take down the big one! I’ll deal with the shaman.”
Thieme nodded, already anticipating the move. “I’ll keep him busy. Don’t get zapped now.”
With precision and speed, Thieme darted back into the shadows, leaving Gromak swinging wildly at empty air. The Orc’s frustration grew as he struggled to keep track of the elusive rogue, his movements becoming more desperate with each missed strike.
Wy, on the other hand, notched a special arrow and took careful aim at Nara. The Troll shaman was focused on calling down more lightning, her staff raised high as she chanted in a low, guttural voice. But she didn’t see the arrow coming—not until it was too late. The enchanted arrow struck her in the side, sending her staggering backward as the lightning dissipated into the air.
With Nara temporarily incapacitated, Wy turned her attention back to Gromak. “Thieme, now!”
The rogue appeared from the shadows behind Gromak, his daggers finding their mark as they plunged into the weak points in the Orc’s armor. Gromak roared in pain, swinging his axe wildly in an attempt to dislodge the rogue, but Thieme was already gone, slipping away into the shadows once more.
“Enough!” Gromak bellowed, his voice shaking the ground. “The Horde will not fall here!”
But as Gromak raised his axe for one final swing, Aritzaga made her move. With the last of her strength, she channeled the power of the Emerald Dream, summoning roots from the ground that snaked around Gromak’s legs, binding him in place. The Orc struggled, roaring in frustration, but the roots held firm.
“We’ve got him!” Aritzaga shouted. “Finish it!”
Thieme grinned, stepping forward with a flourish. “With pleasure.”
The rogue’s daggers flashed one last time, finding their mark in Gromak’s side. The mighty Orc staggered, his axe falling from his hands as he crumpled to the ground.
The Horde’s final push had been stopped.
With a triumphant cry, Aritzaga raised the Horde flag high above her head and planted it firmly in the ground next to the Alliance banner. The battlefield fell silent for a moment as both sides realized what had happened.
The Alliance had won.
A deafening cheer erupted from the Alliance forces, their voices echoing across the Gulch as the Horde soldiers began to retreat. The battle was over, and Warsong Gulch belonged to the Alliance—for now.