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Hell Cavern	By : Koori Category: +S through Z > World of Warcraft Views: 3541 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own World of Warcraft, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Chapter Fifty-One
"No, I stayed within the mines after that night. I didn't want to risk being seen … until I was prepared." Rain paused and shrugged his shoulders. "The dark doesn't scare me much, there are worse things in the world and I've had the displeasure of experiencing many of them."
Frowning, Falcon looked over his shoulder at Sly. Had the druid lost his heart to madness already? It seemed he spoke to himself. The rogue read his expression and grinned, confusing the druid. "You aren't the only one that shares his true name, Akire," he whispered and nodded toward the petite emerald-haired hunter walking at the demon hunter's side.
The truth became clear and Falcon had to smile. After so many years Red could finally speak freely with someone, though her lips were still silent her heart was not. Rain unable to answer with his clouded soul had to voice his words aloud. "Yes, I healed him," the young elf glanced over his shoulder at Falcon and Sly, "I'm sorry I could not do more. The opportunity presented itself I had to take it, after they tried to kill Falcon I knew time was running out."
"Sorry for poisoning you," Sly said, Falcon didn't have to look to know the elf wore an apologetic grin. "I didn't want you to suffer."
"It was easy to purge, just glad your throw didn't sever any nerves that would have been troublesome." Rain replied, as he continued to lead them down a dark and sometimes confusing path. Behind them whispers of dissent started.
"So how did you escape those chains," Sly asked ignoring the murmurs. "You looked pretty beaten."
"I hid my power within me, found out I was stronger than the demons when I put my heart into it. Something I hadn't the desire to do before finding love here. However, you are right; the iron was stronger than my want … I had help." The last words came out as a whisper.
"Help?" Falcon frowned, silently adding, "Stop Adran." Touching the mind of the elf on his back he warned him to hold on as he transformed back into an elf keeping a hand wrapped behind him to steady Sly. Crystal quickly moved and took over supporting the rogue as Falcon walked over to where Rain had stopped; the demon hunter's gaze was on the ground.
"Who helped you that night, my heart?" he asked. When there was no reply, he moved in front of Rain and slid a finger under his chin, raising his face so their eyes would meet if the other's wasn't covered. "Who?" he asked again.
"Why does it matter?" Rain said, "thanks to them I am alive."
"Who?" Falcon asked again, his tone getting colder. Rain's face remained still but the druid couldn't help but to think the gaze had moved beyond him.
"It was I," a soft feminine voice said. There were gasps of surprise and Falcon looked over his shoulder and shared in the astonishment, it was Atot's wife that had spoken. Even the Tauren chieftain seemed shocked at his wife's admission. "My name is Shyn Pridebite, you saved my life," the Tauren female said, "I had tried to repay the favor. The demons would leave the cavern when the dragon was released so there was no fear of being seen."
"Fear of getting eaten by a dragon is another story," Sly said.
"Aye," the Shyn said nodding her head. "The child saved my life in the end," she pulled up her tunic to reveal four long scars which covered her left breast down to her lower belly. "The beast split me open, after I freed the elf. I awoke to find myself healed and lying beside the unconscious rogue under the stage and the cavern empty. I made my way back to Greatwolf, assuming all had been for naught. I am overjoyed to see you lived. So I must once again express my gratitude and my debt for saving my life."
"You wouldn't have been in the position to be harmed in the first place, if not for me," Rain said sadly.
"Only the demons were to blame," the Tauren maiden said as she stepped forward and pulled Rain into an embrace. The much taller woman held him until Falcon sensed the elf relaxed in her hold. "Only the demons and they are dead now." After a long moment Shyn released him and returned to her husband's side.
Falcon's head reeled from the news that someone, almost a complete stranger, had attempted to save his heart that dark day. Payment of a favor or not, Falcon knew he was indebted to the Tauren.
"Let's keep going," Rain said breaking him out of his stupor. "We're about halfway there."
"Are you sure about this lad?" Myrick asked his hand on the cavern wall. "We could be walking in circles for all I know."
"We start gaining altitude soon," Rain replied, "you'll see."
"You can always go back," Sly said coldly and loud enough to be overheard by those who had been grumbling moments ago, "move a few tons of rock with your bare hands, eating rats for the next ten years. Me, I'm following the kid here."
"I meant no harm," Myrick said holding up his hands, "just asking, making sure it's the elf leading us and not the demon half." Falcon's eyes darkened but he held himself in check as he transformed back to a grizzly. Crystal helped Sly climb on and with a nod at Rain; they continued their way ever deeper into the mine.
"I don't want to talk about it," Rain mumbled a short time later. The elf's shoulders shrugged a moment later. His head jerked in the direction of Red. "I said … I … don't … want … to … talk … about it!" As he emphasized the words, his voice became deeper more menacing.
"Lad," Sid said speaking up. "Those are some mighty fine Warglaives you be wielding, where'd they come from?"
"I made them," Rain said. "When we were initiates, we had lessons in blacksmithing so we could make our own glaives when the time came."
"They ain't up to dwarf standards," Sid said with a nod, "but you did well, lad. You mentioned to the lass you didn't leave the mines, where did ye find a forge to do smithy work?"
"Deep below, in some abandoned tunnels there was a derelict forge. Probably made by dwarves, it hadn't been used in a long time but was still functional. I don't know why it was so deep into the ground."
"This is a rich mine," Sid said with a shrug, "no saying the demons were the first ones to discover it."
"So that was smithy work I heard the other day," Rad said speaking up. "And the scream we heard wasn't the old mine shaft giving away."
A malicious grin marred Rain's face. "Nay," he said, "that is when …" the elf shook his head and the dark look faded. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Did you trigger the cave-in that happened then?" Rad said pressing.
"Yes," Rain replied keeping his face forward as he led them. "I had it rigged to collapse."
Crystal gripped the dwarf's shoulder and shook her head slightly silencing any further questioning. It was hard to tell how much time had passed in the darkened cave, eventually though the dwarves in the group started getting more excited. There was talk of regolith and subsoil, and the druid watched as the dwarves brushed their hands against the rocky walls. It looked the same to his untrained eye but obviously something had changed.
"Sid?" Falcon asked.
"The lad is leading us true, we'll soon be seeing the leaching layer and after that be topsoil, we'll be able to dig out with our bare hands. Which be a good thing, because we sure don't have any tools with us."
"I already did that," Rain mentioned nonchalantly. "The passageway to the surface isn't huge but I tried to make it big enough for a Tauren."
"You knew they would be here?" Falcon asked.
"I knew you," Rain replied.
A large pile of dirt and rock appeared soon after and Rain stopped. "We're here," he said, and gestured to a gaping hole off to the side. Falcon could feel a cool breeze.
"Sid and Rad check it to see if it's secure enough for us to climb through," Falcon instructed as she shifted back into an elf bracing Sly as he did. With his free hand he grabbed Rain's wrist and held it tight, the threat of staying down in the mines not forgotten.
"No," Demoncraft said stepping in front of the tunnel. "I do not trust the dwarves not to be waiting to take our heads off when we go outside."
"Well I sure as hell ain't letting one of you go first," Rad growled.
"You're not serious," Sly all but cried, "not when we're so close to freedom. Once again we have to be on opposite sides? We're here … moments away from liberty and again we're back to the horde and alliance bullshit."
Falcon could quickly tell neither Rad nor Demoncraft had been swayed by the rogue, nor had many of the other infuriated murmurs. "Who would you trust to check out the shaft to make sure it is secure and help the rest out?"
Demoncraft looked over at him. "You, ul'beh she'kah," the orc said.
"Aye, works for me," Rad said with a nod.
"And us as well," Atot said.
"Same," Dylan said.
Falcon frowned but nodded. "So be it," as he walked toward the tunnel he kept a firm grip on Rain's wrist.
"We didn't say the demon hunter," Demoncraft said.
"He'll stay down at the bottom of the shaft, he's stronger than any of us," Falcon said. "He can aid in helping the rest of you leave." At the base of the opening he reluctantly let go of Rain and bent down to look up tunnel. "It's pretty dark," he said taking the offered torch from Dylan.
"It's night time," Rain said with a shrug, "you'll see in a moment."
"I trust you Adran," Falcon said softly. "Do not leave me. Help me get these souls to freedom."
He was forced to crawl through the passageway, though low it was comfortably wide. In the light of the torch he noticed deep claw marks in the hardened earth. He had no doubt Rain had used his bare hands cursed with demonic talons to dig. The ground became loose and he worried about a cave-in, the next moment he found himself outside. For a long moment he sat there with his head above the ground and just gazed around. The alien sky of the Outlands greeted with its large planets in nearby orbit and thousands of glittering stars.
"We've done it," he whispered to his wife. "We're free!" His wife returned his thoughts with love as he pulled himself completely out of the tunnel and did a quick glance around. The ground was barren and foreign to him; he didn't sense any living beings nearby which was fine. Meant he didn't have to watch his back for the moment.
"Let's go," he shouted back down to the tunnel as he stuck the end of the torch into the ground beside the opening, giving those following a beacon. Lying on his belly so not to upset the fragile ground, he offered his hand to Myrick who was working his way up the tunnel. He was followed closely by Shyn; the Tauren voiced her thanks as Falcon pulled her to safety. One by one those kept within the caverns of hell for so long were freed. After a half dozen, Rain's face appeared below. "Sly," he said.
Falcon nodded and inched a little further over the edge so he could offer both hands to the disabled elf which Rain helped through the tunnel. "Glad you don't weigh as much as you used to," Falcon grunted as he hauled Sly up and over his shoulder, rolling with him so he landed beneath the rogue.
"I never really pictured you as a bottom," Sly said with a smirk as he kept his seat and looked around. "Where in the hell are we?"
"I would be guessing somewhere in Shadowmoon Valley," Shar replied as he helped Sly up.
"We're free," Falcon said, "the rest will come as it will."
As the druid moved back to the exit he pulled back startled as a large boar tumbled out of the hole, followed a moment later by Gola. "Good to see you too, Pug," Falcon replied with a chuckle as he rubbed the animal on the snout. As the number of freed survivors increased Falcon sent a whisper to his wife to be the last one out of the tunnel. She readily agreed, and he prayed that would be enough to keep Rain close at hand.
Soon only a handful remained below, Rain, Demoncraft, Crystal, Dylan and Rad. Above ground a small camp had sprung up as wood was found for a fire. Though free from the cavern no one seemed willing to leave until all were liberated. A long moment passed without anyone else coming out.
"Beloved?" Falcon whispered.
"The men are arguing who will be last," she replied.
Falcon shook his head and let out a laugh which startled those around him. "Send that ass of an orc up next, then Dylan, Rad!" he shouted, "don't make me come down there!"
The large form of Demoncraft appeared and Falcon offered him his hand. Pausing only a moment the orc took it and he pulled him up and out. Demoncraft stood and slowly looked around; glancing down at Falcon he nodded his head and walked over to where Aluari was nursing her son with Jach close at hand. Dylan was the next to exit and Falcon embraced the man for a long a moment. "We did it," the human said, his voice choked with emotion. "I just wish we could have saved them all."
"They'll live in our memories and are smiling down at us now," Falcon said, as tear escaped down his bearded cheek.
"Akire!" Crystal's panicked whisper reached him. "Rad slipped and when I went to catch him our heart raced away … beloved, he won't answer me."
"No!" Falcon shouted startling Dylan as he shifted into a cheetah and dove back into the tunnel. His lithe body easy slid between Rad and the cavern wall and the dwarf hollered as he went past. "Adran, I will not leave you," he called out, as he landed in the shaft. "Stay here," he barked at his wife as he raced down the tunnel back the direction they had come from.
He heard more yelling behind him but focused on the darkness in front of him, even his elf aided eyes had a hard time seeing. But what his eyes could not see his nose could sense and he followed the scent of his heart. "I will not leave you," he whispered again, "I'll die in these caverns with you first." He rounded a corner to find a torch glow in the distances and in the light stood Rain, either hand held a rope and at a glance Falcon could see they were secured to the support beams of the cavern.
"Stop!" Rain shouted. "I'm just a Sin'dorei … traitor to your people. Even worse I made a pact with a devil, do you know who murmurs in my head right now? Viser, yes I sacrificed that monster, slit his throat to give me the power to save you. I'm a beast. Please let me die on my terms and be not forced to fulfill the dark whispers in my head. His soul is still there, taunting and as malicious as ever."
"Then fight him," Falcon shouted, "you said yourself, you're stronger than anyone knew."
Rain shook his head. "I'm tired now; I want to rest with Kinro and Katri. We'll see each other again, they say I shouldn't be afraid of death and I'm not … not anymore."
Abruptly large vines burst forth from the ground and rapidly grew up the wall; dozens of thick rope like plants twisted together covering the wall and ceiling. Both Rain and Falcon were taken back and a large form rushed past Falcon and toward the dazed demon hunter. Rain recovered and screamed in denial as he jerked on the ropes he held, the cavern moaned but held and then Demoncraft was there and brought his thick skull down on the other's forehead hard. The elf crumpled. The orc picked him up and tossing Rain over his shoulder raced back.
"Go … go!" Demoncraft shouted and Falcon chased after him and Atot toward the exit as the cavern behind them let out a deep rumble.
"Faya!" he cried.
"I'm out, hurry beloved … by Elune don't you dare die on me now."
"The cavern is collapsing it's not very deep where we are, move them away from it before they are caught in the sinkhole!"
A few torches remained behind showing the leaders of Earthhunter, Greatwolf and Elfkillers the exit. Atot was in the lead and shifting into the form of a wolf scrambled up. Demoncraft adjusted his hold on Rain and followed the Tauren out, behind Falcon heard the vines of the shaman give up their fight. Clambering up on the orc's heels they burst forth and started to run; the ground under their feet collapsing. Shifting into a spirit of a hawk Falcon took flight but hovered close to the orc ready to take Rain should Demoncraft fall. The orc stayed on his feet and they made it to solid ground where the others waited. Changing back to an elf Falcon took Rain from the orc and held him close as he healed the ugly bruise which started to swell on his pale forehead. Crystal dropped down beside him and wrapped her arms around both.
"Cutting it close there, lads," Sid said approaching. "We've scouted around a bit; some of those that haven't been in as long as we were … are pretty sure we can find a dwarf stronghold to the south. And for those under a different banner, an orc village to the east."
"All right," Falcon said holding the unconscious elf to him. "Dylan and Rad lead those under the Alliance banner to the dwarves. Atot and Demoncraft the Horde are your responsibility; I pray in the future we don't find ourselves on opposite ends of the battlefield. We have no weapons, please be careful. May Elune continue watching out for you…"
"Lad?" Rad said rising an eyebrow, "this is sounding a lot like goodbye. I'd hope to share a mug of ale with ye before we parted."
"I can't bring him to others like this," Falcon said nuzzling the cool cheek of his heart.
"What are you going to do, Falcon?" Dylan asked.
"I'm going to help him purge the demons within him." Falcon said as he laid Rain down and stretched out beside him taking his hand into his own.
"Is that even possible?" Rad asked.
"No idea," Falcon whispered as he started calming his body down enough to enter his dream state. "But I am going to try."
"You won't be alone," Crystal said as she lay down on his free side and wrapped her arm around his waist, "take me with you. The strength of three of us will overcome anything …"
"Then four will be even better," Sly said as Shar helped him lay on the ground on Rain's far side, and entwined the fingers of his good hand around the elf's.
Above them Red held up five fingers and knelt down lifting Rain's head into her lap. Falcon met her gaze and whispered aloud, "Akire."
"Nis," a soft feminine voice said, "show me how to help Adran, my friend."
"I ain't leaving ya," Sid said as he sat down nearby. "I'll watch your back while you help the lad."
"And I'll keep him company," Shar said, "Though hurry up if you could, that ale of Rad's sounds mighty nice."
"We'll try old friend," Falcon replied as he closed his eyes and stilled his mind and heart.
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Hell Cavern