[ShadowHunter]

They were throwing their blades at any Orc that dared challenge them. I walked over, looking around and always checking my back. When I got to the group I asked, “Who’s the fastest?” The Huntresses always took pride in their speediness, but were also modest, like all the Night Elves. No one answered. “Who?!” I screamed, becoming impatient. Four of the five Huntresses tuned to one, and the one raised her hand.

She had long black hair, like all the Huntresses, but this one was especially beautiful. Her face was the fairest I had ever seen, and the tight clothing she was wearing only brought out her sleek, youthful curves even more. “What is your name,” I asked.

She smiled, “Sandranis.”

“Then go, Sandranis, and tell Brimsti the Mountain King that we are in need of his services. Now!”

She smiled again, then turned and dashed into the woods. I fought with the Huntresses, on the front lines. The grunts were still charging into our lines, and they seemed endless. Then crude spears started to rain in on us, and one after another of the Huntresses fell. Soon it was only me and another Huntress left. And then a horn blew.

The Orcs around us looked back, took one final swing, and retreated. With them gone, all of the Night Elves looked on the carnage that had resulted form the battle. Bodies of Orcs and Night Elves lay everywhere. A lone Shadow Wolf, only heeding the call of its master and not any horn, picked among the bodies, growling and eating any decent meat. Then an Archer on the front lines faired an arrow after the Wolf torn an arm off another dead Archer. The shot flew thought the air, and dug into the Wolf’s eye, killing it. Some scattered cries were heard from the Elven side, but most were silent, knowing that the worst was yet to come. The Orcs had fallen back to regroup, not retreat.

But the Night Elves regrouped too. The Archers came to the front line, and the remaining Huntresses went right behind their sisters. I stayed on the front, in the middle of the Archer line. I had a couple gashes on my arms, but nothing serious.

Then, as we reformed, we looked down on the Orcish Horde to see that they were not regrouping, but clearing the field for Tauren. In front stamped the biggest Tauren I had ever seen. It towered over even the huge Tauren. It was a Tauren Chieftain. An audible sigh was heard from the Night Elf line. They had had some hope, after the Orcs retreated, that they could win. But now, with the mighty Tauren coming out, it was hopeless. But I was too busy summoning my inner strength. The Tauren started to charge across the field. The Archers were launching their arrows, but it was no use. The Tauren laughed at the arrows, and they didn’t even draw blood.

The plan called now for the retreat of the Archers, which was gladly complied, and the advance of the Huntresses. But the Huntresses stalled. I couldn’t blame them. I knew this is where I came in. I took the final preparations in my meditation, and I immediately felt warmer, almost hot. I looked at my arm, expecting but still surprised to see it covered with flames. I smiled. It had been so long. So I charged.

I ran at the closest Tauren. It smiled, thinking me easy prey. It swung its stump down on me, and I jumped aside, right under it. My fire made deadly burns in hurting places, and I was then able to slice into the burnt skin with my blades. It screamed, and fell. The ground shivered, and then the Huntresses charged. I jumped from Tauren to Tauren, burning away its tough hide for the Huntresses’ blades, and Archers’ arrows to pierce.

Soon almost three fourths of the Tauren lay dead. The other cowered in fear away form me. So of these proud, mighty warriors even ran away. I laughed and so did the other Night Elves. But not for long. Out of the smoke of the burning Tauren came the Tauren Chieftain, grim and mad. He and his fellow warriors- the mightiest Orcs of them all, had fallen victim to me. His eyes were on me and only me. I felt my mana fading, and then dissipate. I was in trouble.

And then, as I preyed to my Gods, thanking them for the privileged life I had, and praying to make my death quick and easy, a crazed Dwarf jumped on the beast’s back with a yell. The Mountain King, I realized, was Brimsti, the greatest dwarf I had ever met. I was pleased with hi charge, but knew it would not, could not really do anything against the giant beast. But Brimsti charged on, digging his axe in and out and in again to the Chieftain’s back. It yelled, but was more intent on killing me.

But then I heard a sound that brought all the hope back to me. It was a loud BOOM!! that echoed across the battle field. I smiled as a flying ball of led smashed into the side if the Tauren’s knee. It screamed again, and tried to toss Brimsti off, and turn to its new foe at the same time. But when it turned, it shuddered. Standing there was the Dwarven arsenal, three squads of Riflemen. Shots thundered, and the Tauren screamed again and again.

I had been wishing for this creature’s death since I saw it come out of the mist, but now I only felt pity, not hate. It was a proud and fearless warrior, one that had had its comrades slain before its eyes. And now it, too, was being slaughtered.

I pitied it, but also hoped, when I died, to die in battle, gloriously going down. Then I felt a hand on my arm. I turned, and saw Sandranis standing there, smiling. We looked at each other for a while. And then, as if compelled by some unseen force, I bent down and kissed her. She smiled when I took my head away. I smiled too. I had, in this short time, fallen in love with this Huntress. But then a loud thump interrupted my thoughts. The Tauren Chieftain was finally dead.

The Dwarves lead the way as we charged at the remaining Orcs. But they were running away. The Grunts, Troll Headhunters, and Raiders had turned their backs and fled. But the Far Seer had remained. Two Shadow Wolves were his only protectors. With a signal from their Mountain King, the Dwarves shot them dead. And then I threw my blades into the wolf that carried him. Arrows flew through the air, felling the beast. The Far Seer jumped off. No one rushed, no one fired. This hero was mine, everyone knew that.

The Far Seer tried to run. I was off balance, and he was too far ahead for even my fast legs to catch him. “Damn.” I whispered. But then a huge wall of roots shot up from the ground and blocked his path. I smiled, and turned to the front line. My father stood there, standing next to Sandrais. I turned toward the Far Seer. In a desperate attempt, he shot a blue blast of lighting at me. I easily dodged it, and then shot a mana burn his way. He felt himself drain, and soon he dropped his staff. I walked over to him.

I had no respect for Far Seers. They roamed from clan to clan, not pledging allegiance to any of them. They were the exact opposites of Tauren, who were born to a clan, fought bravely, and died, in that same clan. Far Seers were only for themselves. They followed not the orders of commanders, but made their own show. I hated them. They sent their dogs out to kill the real warriors, not helping their clan. They stayed in the back, casting magic to kill us.

I approached the Orc, who was standing tall and erect. I quickly changed that, with a punch that broke its nose. It cowered, and backed into the root wall. I mercilessly punched its face in, then proceeded to it chest and stomach. When I was finished it was crawled up in a bloody ball, shaking with fear and pain. I extended my hand for some weapon to finish the Orc off with. I was handed Dwarven Rifle. I smiled to the Dwarf, and ****ed the gun. I aimed it at the curled Orc, and pulled the trigger. My shoulder hurt for days after from the blowback, but the Far Seer was ripped apart, and the Night Elves and Dwarves rejoiced. We had won the battle.


Epilogue
I lay in bed, next to Sandrais. She was my wife- we had been proudly wedded a month after the battle. The battle seemed like a lifetime ago. But I knew it had only been a year. Sadrais held in her womb the mix of a Huntress and a Demon Hunter. I smiled. Another thing I would be remembered for- the father of a baby that had never been had before- a mix of unknown implications. I kissed my wife on the cheek- growing to love her every second more I stayed with her. I was a very lucky Night Elf….

THE END