...part of the backstory I've been trying to get written for my main character on WoW
The outpost was mediocre, offering little in the way of stone walls to protect the alliance forces gathered within. The land was plains-like in semblance save for the sharp cliff face just to the east. That in turn dropped into a gorge with a coursing river slicing through it's center. Attack from the east would never be expected, so all eyes were constantly on watch of the other three directions in which onslaught could occur. A sudden cry broke the still of the air, as a messenger dashed into the confines of the Outpost walls.
"Sergeant!"
The silver tressed woman slowly turned her head in response to one of her men calling her attention. His tone stressed the urgency of whatever he wished to report, and she could do nothing but hear him out. After all, would she have been much of a ranking officer, though lower than many, if she did not follow through with her command where she was stationed. She inclined her head in a nod of acknowledgement before turning fully to face the messenger; for that was what his insignia designated as his position in the allied military forces. The man in return, panted, seeming almost grateful that she had paused in her determined stride to hear him out.
"Sergeant, our spies have sent back word that the opposing forces are laying in wait to ambush the troops during our next skirmish. Unknown to our operatives, their general secreted a message to the naga queen from their encampment to report of the size of the army which stood waiting. Lady Vashj has sent reinforcements, some of which have yet to arrive, to storm this outpost and take no prisoners. I fear, my lady, that it may be our doom should we stay here much longer." The young man's hazel eyes seemed almost frantic with some shimmer of what seemed to be hope that his superior would pull back their forces so they might live to see another day. However, the ranking officer shook her head, turning away from the man as a heavy sigh was expelled.
"This is rather serious indeed. I cannot just pull back. For now, we are expected to hold this outpost until the general relieves us. I understand the severity of what you say, but we have little choice in the matter. Send out a silent message to the troops. Alert them to this grave news. I want the men prepared to vacate if it comes to that; but....we do not turn tail unless there are absolutely no other alternatives." She waved a hand of dismissal, the young messenger responding with a quick nod, saluting her before rushing to spread the word quietly about what was happening.
The rest of the day passed without event, of which...the woman was quite grateful. She didn't want there to be widespread panic, but sometimes that was inevitable. At least her men had some measure of courage to remain though they all knew what would take place in the too near future. Though uneventful, a tense cloud hung over the outpost, the men eerily silent as they prepped themselves mentally for the long night that was quickly approaching. Their sergeant too was anxious for the rise of the moon, only to see it fall and have the sun rise again without so much as a drop of blood spilled. This was of course, wishful thinking on her part. She doubted they would get that fortunate. Lady luck had not smiled on them for sometime, and she feared that the sought after, yet unseen queen of fortune had all but turned her loving gaze from the alliance forces now huddled at the fore of their tents, clutching crude weapons with fearful looks masking their faces.
Just as the sun was setting, the silver haired officer noticed something rather odd. A man, with dark hair, taller than she by a head and slightly built for battle was quietly, but slowly, treading away from the outpost. This man she knew well, though why he would be leaving made no sense to her. Taenier Olias was a quiet man, but he had wit and knowledge that easily put him well within the know of the information that only officers were privy to. It didn't help matters much that the sergeant shared her bed with this same man more nights than she slept alone. He could have been considered her lover, but neither would reveal their relationship because it would have resulted in their expulsion from the military entirely. Still, who he was to her did not make up for the fact that he was almost covertly moving away from their semi-secured station without orders to do so. From what she could see, Taenier was moving along the cliff face, his stride practiced. It was almost as if he knew he was doing something he should not be. The sergeant dropped from her perch, curious as to what her lover could be up to, and determined to find out why he was breaking ranks when the outpost was on alert.
"Take watch, I must see to something that definitely needs answers." Her voice was quiet as she spoke to the armed watchman who was due to take watch soon enough anyway. He'd been resting his eyes, since sleep did not come easy to the troops in that outpost for the past several weeks. He, however, nodded his ascent, rising from his not so comfortable seating as he took his shift to watch for suspicious activity outside the outpost walls. She, in turn, searched the walls of their insecure garrison because she had no doubts that the men at the gates would not have allowed Taenier leave to exit. Sure enough, she found a weak spot in the ruin of a wall behind the tents that would permit passage to some, though departing through that orifice would have been a tight squeeze for private Olias. She shook her head, sighing with disappointment as she crouched low and crawled through the broken wall herself.
The ledge on the other side was wide enough for her to stand and walk a few feet before the flat land ended in an abrupt drop to the chasm below. The sergeant breathed, closing her eyes as she stepped back, then turned to follow the faint footprints Taenier's boots had left on the still wet grass. The sky was dark by the time Private Olias had slipped behind a large rock formation in the distance. The sergeant wondered if she could remain hidden from view, yet eavesdrop on her supposed lover and whatever activities he may be proceeding with.
Slowly, she climbed the slope of the rocky face, settling herself in a niche just near it's peak. Taenier was below, but the serpentine voice that responded to his greeting made the normally hardened woman's skin crawl. A naga...and one of some import from the neck piece and weapons she sported. The sergeant's eyes widened with shock, her gaze transfixed by the sight before her as she stifled the urge to gasp aloud. Private Olias, a traitor? She couldn't believe that the man would stoop so low. She thought she had known him well enough to foresee such, but apparently there were many things he concealed.
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