Success and Sorrow

[Ryanica]

Fire. Air. Water.

Totems. Familiar things. But why were they here?

A female troll's voice entered Ryanica's head. Soft, soothing. She appeared to the huntress, with a smile.

"Ryanica... why are you afraid? We never taught you to fear."

Ryanica could hear the native Zandalarian tongue well. But why was it speaking to her?

Mother.

"Mother... why are you here? Where am I?"

"Do not let fear overcome you, daughter. You are strong. You have the heart of your father in you."

The vision was fading, fast. The gentle smile of her mother started to evaporate like smoke.

"Mother! No! Stay!... I need you!"

She could hear another voice, coming in strong. It got louder every second.

"Rya... Rya!... RYA! WAKE UP, Rya!"

Ryanica slowly opened her eyes. She has on the flat, cold stone ground of the Pit. She heard the ever-present screams of the dying, the cold winter wind, and the panting of soldiers and beasts alike. She slowly lifted her head. Sylvannas was nowhere to be seen, but her old friend, Jo'zel, knelt beside her.

"Sistah, ya gonna hafta be mo' careful 'round heeya. We almos' lost ya back to dat demon. It knocked you out fo' a little while..."

Jo'zel stopped talking, and Ryanica slowly rose to her feet. Titan nuzzled his master, then he snarled as a menecing shadow overcame them. A death knight rode atop a giant frostwyrm. He looked over the Horde gathered together, and then shouted commands.

"Intruders have entered your master's domain. Signal the alarms!"

"Soldiers of the Horde, attack!" The dark lady's command rang loud and true, and the Horde rushed to attack the frostlord. But it was then that Ryanica felt a sick, twisted feeling. She watched in horror as the soldiers were lifted in in the air, like an invisable hand held the struggling Horde soldiers by their throats. They were finally dropped but they were no longer living. The newly born undead charged at Ryanica and her friends. The remaining forces fought the undead bravely, and the frostlord flew off, laughing.

Lady Sylvannas slew the last undead minion and sighed. She stepped forward, looking over the pit that housed many Horde slaves as well as undead. "We must press on before the King knows we are here. Free as many slaves as you can and meet me near that cave over there," the dark lady said, pointing a slender finger to the distance.

They set off deep into the pit. Titan's powerful fangs bit through the chains of the slaves, and while Ryanica slew many of the remaining Scourge that held back the slaves, she couldn't help but think about the dream that she just had. She had been on her own for years, after both of her parents died. Why now, would she call upon her mother? She snapped out of her thinking when the ground shook beneathe her. A frostgiant had fallen, slain by the Horde. The slaves ran about, now clad in armor and armed with swords and shields. Jo'zel ran to Ryanica and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Sistah, ya really gotta be careful! Ya be all spacey, an' if ya not careful, we'll lose ya..."

She smiled at her friend, and then they heard a loud cry. They ran over to the other side of the pit. Sylvannas held a gnome by his throat. "Frostmourne? The Lich King is never without his blade! If you are lying to me..." she snarled. "I swear it's true! Please... don't hurt me!" the gnome shrieked. Ryanica couldn't believe it herself. The legendary sword? Ahead of them, and without its master?

A dark, cruel voice came over them now. "Worthless gnat! Death is all that awaits you!" A dark bolt twisting with death shot between them, and the gnome fell to the ground lifeless, twisting and writhing. The scourlord was flying above them. "Do not think that I shall permit you entry into my master's sanctum so easily. Pursue me if you dare." he flew up away from them.

"Tyrannus guards the entrance to the sword," Sylvannas explained, stepping away from the corpse. "Up this way to the tunnel!" Gorkun Ironskull ran to them, several freed slaves with him. They raced up the hill, killing the Scourge that stood in their way. They reached the tunnel and ran inside. The scourge lord called out to his wyrm, and the cave started to shake violently, heavy snow and ice falling all around them.

He was trying to bury them alive.

Ryanica and Titan raced as fast as they could, the dark lady and Zulakkah close behind. Ironskull and his crew were ahead of them, clearing a path. Even though they were running as fast as they could, several slaves and undead alike were caught in the slow of ice and snow. The screams of dead and horror echoed off of the cave walls.

They finally reached the end of the cave, and Tyrannus was waiting for them. Several more scourge came from all over the cave, but Ironskull kept them back. Ryanica and her team closed in on the scourge lord. The dragon fired many ice bolts at them, but Jo'zel called on the power of the elements, restricting the dragon from hurting the team. Ryanica dodged the undead's death rays, shooting her arrows long and true. After what seemed to be an eternity, the scourgelord let our a bellowing cry and fell to the ground. He struggled, trying to fight death.

"Rimefang... warn---" Tyrannus' words fell short as the dark lady dropped her sword into his skull. Silence.

Cheers rang out as Ironskull started to shout words of triumph. Ryanica couldn't hear him and wasn't even paying attention. Her friends started to relax, getting ready to head into the halls up ahead, to take the sword. She felt numb, her mind running so fast. Mother... could she see her now? Would she be proud that her daughter was fighting the scourge, the evil in the name of the Darkspear trolls?

"Look out...!" the cry was faint, almost like the dream earlier. Ryanica didn't know why, but she turned her head over her shoulder to look. A very cold wind blew around her body. Time seemed to freeze, but move so fast. She could feel her heart beating in her head.

Dragon.

Sindragosa.

Her vicious fangs were shown in a wide, cruel smile. Foul snow and ice surfaced at her mouth. Her scream filled the air, and the frozen beam shot out. Straight to them.

"Take cover behind me! Quickly!"

Ryanica felt herself fly backwards, barely avoiding the ice. She crashed hard onto the ground, and there was a wall of ice that protected her from the ice. She was back in the cave. Sylvannas had grabbed her and the others when the dragon breathed her ice fire. The wall eventually died down, and the dark lady stepped out to the landing. The slaves ran out from the cave. As mighty as the banshee queen was, she could not save everyone. The Horde wept over the bodies that lay on the ground, dead from the dragon's wrath. Ryanica walked out among the bodies. Her heart sank as she knelt beside the Shaman she had known most of her life. He lifted his head slighty to look at her, and let out a quiet dying breath. Ryanica held his body close to her, holding back the tears.

Spirits be with you...