Ring of Fire

[shosen]

It happened so fast.

One moment we were walking up a rise, and the next, we were surrounded. Troggs, angry and attacking from a cave to our left before we even knew they were there.

I’d been in the Chasm before. When Sakti asked if I would hep her in them, of course I said yes. I thought I knew what to expect.

Maybe the Troggs had learned that numbers could overcome strength. Maybe they’d just finally had enough of the people Thrall sent in to the Chasm to help clear them out. Whatever it was, were overcome for the moment fighting in a less than ideal position.

Thokdok held their attention, my guardian doing his duty, and I tried to keep him healthy as my curses and Sakti’s blades did there work. I don’t know what happened. One moment, I could see her on the ledge, always too damn close to the edge, and the next...

No time to even voice a warning, barely time to realise she’d fallen. I reached out, hopelessly, but all I could catch was her soul. For the first time, I’d have given anything, even my life once again, to once more be able to shield others from harm. That ability is long since lost to me, however, and all I was left with was a bright crystal.

Thokdok cries out, almost overcome while my attention was diverted, and I did what I usually do: I ran, my guardian’s sacrifice protecting me (solitary shield at the expense of another, selfish, selfish, selfish!) I managed to get away, lost the ones that didn’t fall to the remaining curses, and got away from the damned ledge.

I pulled Thokdok back from the Nether, walking to the edge of the glowing lake. I could see a shadow in the light, and I sent Thokdok to recover her damaged form.

...I’m always getting burned...

Old joke, not so funny as I emptied my water skins to douse the flames that still licked at her blacked shape. I stared at her body, not knowing what to do, only knowing that I couldn’t leave her there. Numbly, I wove the cloth she had given me into pieces large enough to swath her body. Once she was covered, I ordered Thokdok to lift her and we leave the Chasm as quickly as we’re able to.

We left Orgimmar quickly, even there carrying around a body is bound to draw notice, and I rode on instinct, looking for a quiet place. She had shown me the Den the other night, drunk enough to head back to the place she had started her training. It’s here I place her, with Thokdok to keep watch, my guardian becoming hers.

I have seen that sometimes even the most powerful of healers cannot repair severe damage. I know that this is more than most would even consider trying, but I hope that at least one will. I can’t simply let her go, not when I have her soul safely wrapped in wool in my bag.

If things had remained as they were when I met her, I would likely turn to Tsuana now. Fortunately they’ve changed, and I have another option. I have to find Avenhar.