Elwynn Forest was the home ground of the Stormwind Royal Cavalry. More than twenty years of patrol duty had made them intimately familiar with every blade of grass and tree here. The Stormwind Royal Cavalry galloped down the road in neat formation.
Upon hearing the wolf howls, the Stormwind Royal Cavalry prepared for battle. They donned their helmets and raised the blue lion banner of the Alliance. Their banner differed from ordinary ones—the lion emblazoned upon it was edged in gold.
It represented their glory, the glory of the Stormwind Royal Cavalry. Only they possessed such an honor.
They held their heads high and gripped their lances firmly. After the death of Grand Duke Anduin Lothar, they had only one object of loyalty: Varian Wrynn, the current High King of the Alliance.
Both sides arrived at opposite ends of the bridge over the Stonecairn River, which flowed from Stonecairn Lake in Elwynn Forest, at nearly the same time.
The Stonecairn River was not as turbulent as the Southfury River between Durotar and the Barrens, nor was it particularly wide. Still, cavalry could not easily cross it, making the bridge the only battlefield for both sides.
But how wide could a single bridge be? It was utterly incapable of accommodating a full-scale battle between cavalry forces numbering in the tens of thousands.
Thus, Nazgrel stopped the meaningless fighting on the bridge and shouted at the Stormwind Royal Cavalry, "Stormwind Royal Cavalry of the Alliance, do you dare cross the bridge and fight us in a real battle?"
Without waiting for their answer, Nazgrel led the Orc Wolf Riders into the forest.
The Stormwind Royal Cavalry had their pride. Moreover, Elwynn Forest was a place they were supposed to defend. The Orc Wolf Riders had already penetrated deep into Elwynn Forest—how could