Aerie Peak

"There, sir! Look there!"

Kurdran Wildhammer changed the direction of his Gryphon mount, Skare, and stared down in the direction his companion was pointing. Yes, there it was! His sharp eyes caught something. He nudged Skare with his heel. His Gryphon mount responded with a soft call, folded its wings, and began to swoop down.

He was a little closer, and now he could vaguely make out something moving through the forest below. Troll? These creatures, though possessing the same green skin as those repulsive Forest Troll, walked on the ground instead of skimming the branches. As beings with an almost Elf- like understanding of the forest, their steps were heavy; they moved through the woods without even noticing their surroundings. No, these creatures weren't Troll. As they crossed a clearing, Kurdran made out the creatures. He frowned. They had bodies as tall as humans but much heavier, with strong muscles and long legs. They carried heavy weapons like giant axes and hammers. Whatever these creatures were, they were hostile, like they were preparing for war.

He pulled back on the reins. Skare swung its tail, spread its wings, and soared back into the sky. Faland and the others were waiting in a circle, their weathered skin blending into the tawny fur of their mounts. Kurdran joined them. His braided beard and hair were blown behind him. Even in this harsh environment, they were immersed in the thrill of flight. Not far away, he could see a huge stone eagle sculpture confidently overlooking the world. That was his home— Aerie Peak. The sight before him did not bring him his usual pride and joy. Because it was too close to the changes unfolding below. "Do you see that, Lord Kurdran?" Sentinel Faland asked. "I told you, the Ugly One has entered our forest!"

"You're absolutely right," Kurdran said to the sentry. "These ugly bastards are intruding into our world. There are many of them, and it's difficult for us to attack them while they're in the forest."

"Are we just going to let them wander across our land like this?" another sentry asked.

"Of course not." Kurdran said with a laugh to the other Wildhammer Dwarf. "We need to find a way to drive them to the open. Come on, lads, let's go home first. I have some ideas. Don't worry, we'll soon make those greenskins understand that they're not welcome in the Hinterlands."

Alliance Camp

As the Elf slowed her pace and stopped before the main tent, Lothar was engrossed in discussing the upcoming battle with the others. Those present hadn't seen the Ranger's arrival, but this wasn't surprising at all. In the past few weeks, they had learned just how quickly and quietly the Elf could appear and disappear. Alleria often spoke suddenly when no one was watching, and she seemed to enjoy it.

Excuse me.

"What is it?" Lothar looked up at the Female Elf, pausing his writing.

"The Orcs have appeared in the Hinterlands," the Elf reported. "They seem to be planning something big." The last word was tinged with worry. Lothar hesitated for a moment, then understood what the Elf meant.

Do you think the Horde is going to attack Aerie Peak?

She nodded, indicating agreement but also a hint of disapproval. "And I'm worried about something else. The Ranger I sent out all reported similar things: they've discovered Troll tracks within the Horde." Her final tone was clearly tinged with disgust.

Turalyon was well aware of Elf Troll, and that this feeling was mutual. This was easy to understand; both were forest-dwelling races, yet the forests were not large enough for both to coexist. They had been enemies for millennia, even after the Elf drove the Troll out of parts of the forest and established their kingdom on the conquered continent.

"Are you sure they've joined forces and aren't just passing through? Or maybe the Orcs just happened to occupy Troll territory, so..." Turalyon said, absentmindedly stroking his chin.

"I'm sure of it! Ranger Troll just as despicable as Orcs, perhaps even worse. They must have made some kind of pact." Worry returned to the Elf's face. "They're preparing to attack Aerie Peak, and then head to Quel'Thalas..." Her voice trailed off at the end.

This was her true concern, revealing the purpose of her visit. Quel'Thalas was the Elf's homeland, and the Troll hated them. If they joined the Horde, it would obviously be a direct target.

"I will consider this matter carefully. If the Troll and Orcs really become allies, it will cause a lot of trouble," Lothar assured him. "We will definitely stop them before they get close to your homeland."

The Elf nodded, though she didn't seem entirely reassured. She turned and slowly ran into the woods, disappearing once more.

"The Orcs' target is Aerie Peak," Lothar said after Alleria left. Everyone turned to look at him, some with surprise in their eyes. "Alleria's report is valuable. The battle is at a stalemate, Orgrim will definitely find a way to break it," he explained. "The Orcs have allied with the Forest Troll and are preparing to attack Aerie Peak."

Khadgar nodded and then turned to the map that had been sitting on the large table. "That makes sense," he acknowledged, pointing to the location of Aerie Peak. "The Wildhammer Dwarf are capable of starting a battle, so they don't want to be attacked from behind. If the Troll are with them, they'll want to drive the Dwarf out of the Hinterlands forever."

Lothar also began to stare at the map. "Fighting them in the forest is quite tricky," he commented. "We can't deploy our forces well there, and we'll have to leave our ballistae behind." He rubbed his forehead, thinking. "On the other hand, the Horde also can't deploy their forces very well. We can split into many small squads without worrying about them sending their entire army to any one location."

"And the Dwarf can also be quite powerful allies," Khadgar pointed out. "If we help them, they might repay us, or even consider joining us. They are excellent sentinels and frontline fighting forces."

"Their Gryphon are very helpful in the battle, both in terms of air power and messenger capability," Lothar agreed, catching glances from those present before nodding. "Reorganize the army," he ordered. "We will head to the forest and rescue the Dwarf."