The Orcs had yet to break through the defensive line the Bronzebeard Dwarves had established in southern Loch Danmor. According to reports from the front, the combined forces of the Bronzebeard Dwarves and Gnomes had temporarily stabilized their precarious defensive positions with help from more than 1,200 human cavalrymen. But they could clearly sense that the Orcs were gathering strength to break through their defenses in one fell swoop, so they kept urging the Alliance forces to march faster.
All the reports made it clear that the troops at the front were fighting an exceptionally difficult battle. Alleria expected another adjustment to their deployment after they joined Lordaeron's main force. The Elves would most likely be reassigned as the vanguard, while one or two Main Combat Burning Legions from Alterac or Arathi would take over the Left Wing. She therefore asked Yu Lin Bloodhawk to send Gryphon Riders to contact the troops still catching Raptors in the rear.
Alleria's instructions were that if they had already captured enough Raptors to equip one unit with 600 mounts, that unit should hurry back at full speed to join them, while the other remained there to keep catching more. If they had only caught around 300, both units should return together.
She believed that if they had only caught 300 in the short time available, it meant there were not very many Raptors around. There would not be enough time left to capture the number they needed, so it would be better to rejoin the main force as soon as possible.
Yu Lin Bloodhawk sent a Gryphon Bodyguard to deliver the message that same day.
Despite the journey of several hundred kilometers, the Gryphon Rider returned that very day and told him that a unit equipped with 600 adult Raptors was hurrying toward