Trolls and tribulations

Over the next few days she travelled and got her affairs in order. Supplies that might be hard to get in Northrends frozen wastes were packed, along with fishing gear and threads for her leather working were tucked safely in her bags.



From Nagrand she had travelled to Shattrath to see a friend, from there taking the flight to Thrallmar to see the flight trainer there and spend hard earned gold to learn how to care for a stunning wind rider she was aiming to purchase. When she left with her purchase she smiled. Surely she was almost ready now.



A check in with her trainer in Orgrimmar, making sure she knew all they could teach her for now she began her scariest trip yet.



To Northrend.



The zep was far different to the ones she had used before to go to and from the eastern kingdoms and to stranglethorn. There was no cover, the deck exposed to the elements and as they arrived in the northern lands she felt the chill of the air already. As she left the craft she was met at the dock, given a temporary billet and orders to report. But nothing could have prepared her for who she was to report to.



Garrosh Hellscream and High Overlord Saurfang.



She stood a few moments with her jaw hanging open slightly and her eyes wide. How could she approach these two? These two Orcs were among the most famous of the horde forces...and she was to ask them what was needed of her? Finally she stepped forward, clearing her throat.



"Ah 'ate ta intarupt ya sirs but da sgt up at da dock said fer meh ta report an get mah orders from ya." She hoped more confidence showed on her face than in her voice and as one both men turned a moment to look at her. Hellscream looked her over twice, once that made her shiver slightly then again with an expression she disliked then spoke.



"A hero of the Horde eh?" He sniffed the air a little and his upper lip curled in a sneer before he spat on the ground. "Fear. You won't last long." And he almost threw a small stone tablet at her, a re-usable set of orders she thought. Not yet glancing at them she turned towards the other man. Saurfang though offered a smile and a nod.



"Thrall's recent communication said he had chosen from the best and brightest the Horde could offer. Go see Ragzor, he will set you a task, see what you're capable of. Lok'tar ogar!"



The next few weeks were among the hardest of her life. The Nerubians in the quarry below the hold were vicious and had a poisonous bite. Their egg sacs were tough and hard to break. Supplies stolen and hidden down there had to be found, peons that had been taken and webbed for food released, soldiers too. And the sinkholes the Nerubians used to enter the quarry had to be plugged. More than once she found herself wishing for easier times, Outland or Reventusk...or Durotar. Many times she had to avail herself of the repair service the blacksmith within the hold offered before returning to the small sleeping space she had been shown.



And each night she sank into a nearly dreamless sleep...one of exhaustion. Nearly..because most mornings she woke with the feeling that something was missing, that her dreams while not recalled were trying to tell her something.



Eventually her tasks alloted at warsong hold were at an end. Saurfang and Hellscream, pleased with her work, sent her to assist at Garrosh's Landing, and from there she continued her travels. Amber Ledge. Bor'gorok outpost. Taunka'le village. Kaskala. Unu'pe.



Everywhere Tasha went was the same. Help us please they would say the scourge are closing in on us or the Kvaldir are attacking. She felt her heart shattering a fraction at a time that she could only do so much to assist them. And so much of it requiring her to kill, something she was becoming more and more loathe to do. But far more efficient at it now.



Thru it all she felt alone, isolated. For the most part she had little contact with her superiors within the army, and not a word from either Omen or Scotour. Oh she listened out for word of them, despite her vow to not do so. And despite that vow she knew thought about them...far too often. As her dreams were beginning to show.



Awakening in the small inn at Taunka'le with a start, her body still tingling from the dream of unknown hands upon her body, she sighed. Gathering her things she slipped quietly from the room, headed for the small hot spring within the walls of the village. At this hour surely it would be deserted.



And maybe ...just maybe...she could deal with this frustration in peace.