Forest Wolf Shadows (II)

"Yes. Come on, Alpha. Let's go pick our men." After receiving approval, Darius pulled Alpha outside.

Alpha still asked worriedly, "Is this really alright? The king..." Darius took a drag from his pipe and cut him off. "I know we're forcing his hand, but we have no other choice. If we don't seize this opportunity, we'll truly perish. Think of those children still in other people's capital cities. Even if every one of us dies here, we have to carve out a future for them. They are our hope. Say no more. Gather the rest at the clearing." Seeing the pained expression on Darius's face, Alpha silently went to assemble the men, making a decision of his own as well.

A quarter of an hour later, the small training ground was filled with Worgen. Looking at the living, breathing people before him, Darius felt his heart twist. He had no idea how many would remain after this plan was carried out. Yet he did not regret it. "Everyone, quiet down. I have something to tell you. Participation is voluntary." He then explained the entire plan.

The training ground fell deathly silent, with only the rustle of wind sweeping through the trees. Darius had thought that no one would agree. Most of them had children, after all. Would they really throw away their lives so easily? Just as he was about to say something, someone suddenly shouted.

"Boss, I'm willing! Back then, we didn't take part in the Second Orc War. We watched those refugees get slaughtered right before our eyes, and the guilt never stopped tearing at us. Now that we have a chance to make up for our mistakes, we can't let the next generation live in regret like we did. And we're not as weak as we were back then. We have strength now!" Then he roared, "For the Alliance! For Gilneas! For the next generation!"

The atmosphere immediately surged. Quite a few people there had witnessed that scene with their own eyes. They exchanged glances and saw the same resolve in one another's eyes.

"For Gilneas!"

"For the Alliance!"

"For the Alliance! For Gilneas!"

The chants gradually grew louder and firmer until they united into one cry.

"For the Alliance! For Gilneas! For the king!"

Darius, standing at the front, felt tears fill his eyes at the sight. Alpha had not witnessed those years himself, but from their cries, he could feel the helplessness and remorse of the past, as well as their determination in this moment.

King Genn, hiding behind a tent, could no longer hold back when he heard those words. Tears streamed down his cheeks. Ever since his son had died in Gilneas, he had never cried again. At the same time, he made up his mind. The soldiers are about to carry out this plan without regard for their lives. I cannot remain idle. I must secure the greatest possible protection for them. After wiping away his tears, he left the camp and headed for headquarters with firm strides.

"Since my people are willing to give everything, then as their king, I too am willing to give everything for my people." —Genn Greymane

In another tent, Varian, Tyrande, and a number of high-ranking commanders were discussing the future situation. Tyrande said, "For now, we can only use the terrain to tie down the Orc scouts. My Sentinels simply cannot withstand the Orc wolf riders head-on. Once they get close, my Sentinels will have no choice but to die." Varian understood the vast difference in strength between the elves and the Orcs, but all his cavalry was stationed at the front to contain the enemy's main force, leaving no reinforcements to send. Meanwhile, the Draenei elekk cavalry was being tightly pinned down by the enemy's Tauren cavalry. The commanders below were also discussing possible solutions.

"Your Majesty, King Greymane is waiting outside," a guard rushed in to report.

Varian frowned. "What does that old man want? Tell him we're discussing military matters and have him come back later."

The guard hesitated before saying, "He says he is here because of the war."

Varian was about to say something else when Tyrande interrupted him. "Your Majesty, let him in. Greymane was an outstanding commander in his youth. Let us hear what he has to say." Varian considered it for a moment. "Let him in."

Greymane entered under the guard's guidance. Many present were seeing the king of Gilneas for the first time. He wore plain black clothes trimmed with gold, his graying hair combed flawlessly, and a longsword—whether decoration or weapon, no one could tell—hung at his waist. He stood straight in the center of the tent and looked at Varian.

Varian studied Genn before him and felt that he was somehow different from the man in his memory, though he could not put his finger on why. He said, "You claim you came because of the war. Though Priestess Tyrande says you are also a commander, I do not share her view. State your purpose."

Greymane seemed not to understand Varian's mockery and stated his purpose word by word.

Not only Varian, but every commander present except Tyrande and her officers was stunned. Varian repeated, "You say the Orc scouts should be left to your men? What makes you think I can entrust the Alliance's eyes to you? You expect me to hand over the eyes of the entire Alliance based on a single sentence? Impossible."

Greymane said, "Because my men can withstand the Orc wolf riders head-on and wipe them out completely. Over the past two days, my men have killed more than a hundred Orcs while suffering only single-digit casualties." Varian called over a statistician to verify the report, and it proved accurate. Looking at King Genn, Varian said again, "That is true, but it is far too little to matter on the battlefield as a whole. You have too few men." At that moment, Tyrande said, "We can work together—your Worgen force and my Sentinel force. We will provide rear support and enemy positions, while you protect my Sentinels. Just like during the War of the Ancients." Greymane nodded. "Yes, Lady Tyrande."

Varian looked at the two of them speaking in riddles and said, "Even so, I cannot hand everything over to you. So I've decided to give you the western flank. I need to see results before making a final decision."

Having gotten what he wanted, Greymane left. Watching his departing figure, Varian finally understood what was different about Genn. His resolve had changed.

Back at the camp, Greymane summoned Darius and Alpha and told them that they would be working with the Sentinels for this operation. Though Darius was not entirely pleased, his men were indeed too few and needed help. Alpha, meanwhile, thought of the War of the Ancients he had heard about from his mentor Hamuul—the victory won through cooperation between Worgen and Sentinels. His blood began to boil.

Before dawn the next day, a Night Elf Sentinel squad arrived at the Worgen camp. Majestic black panthers stood in the clearing, their eerie green eyes fixed on the Worgen nearby in the darkness. Sentinels in light armor, carrying glaives, rode on their backs, occasionally stroking their panthers and leaning down to whisper to them. This was the scene Alpha saw when he arrived.

One squad captain leapt from her panther and came before Darius. "Sentinel Third Squad, twenty members in total, reporting for duty." She saluted. Lord Darius gave a slight nod to indicate that no salute was necessary. The two then discussed the squad formation and ultimately decided to send twenty Worgen. Five Worgen and five Sentinels would form one group—ten people per group—for a total of four groups.

By the time the first ray of dawn entered the camp, the soldiers had already set out. Darius and Greymane watched them depart and said, "May you return with glorious victories."

Gilneas had begun to bare its fangs.