Alanea sat on her bed, head down. Andereon had been gone for six days, and she was alone. There was no better chance than now to escape. But in truth, every time the thought crossed her mind, an increasing amount of terror welled up in her being. Even though her time with him was short, she knew she was breaking.

It had been three weeks since she was brought into Andereon's home. Those three weeks had been a mixture of pleasant feelings, and hellish torture. Andereon was as wild as he had said. At times, he was caring, letting her use her bed for sleeping, not talking down to her, treating her like she wasn't a total slave. He wasn't too kind, of course; he never said much in the first place, and he never spoke in detail about his past. He was still practically a stranger to her.

But when he was bad, he was cruel. Yelling, insulting, beating. She used the floor as often as the bed for sleeping. The kind of treatment a "prize" like her deserved, he would say. Her mind was slowly becoming a mess as a result of the mixture of abuse and care. She found solace in the care, and she powered through the abuse so she could get to the next caring moment, regardless of how quick it might be. It was all a part of the training, she knew; he wanted to break her totally, completely, and it was working.

And then, almost a week ago, Andereon left. Transporting her from Kalimdor to Duskwood took most of his gold, and as much as he didn't like the idea of it, he had to interact with the "outside" world to help pay for food. She couldn't help but wonder if one day he'd just drop the idea and take them both out into the wild. He seemed scary enough to be able to form a pack. And given the howls that filled the air at night, there was no shortage of Worgen to be taken in if he so desired.

He didn't tie her to a post or lock her in a room. He didn't tie her hands up or beat her into a coma. He just gave her a stern warning: "Leave, and you die". Be it by his hand, or the dangers in Duskwood, or the humans on the continent, if she left, he had said, she would be killed. And he was right about what he had told her before. She didn't want to be a slave, but on the list of priorities, "live" was much higher than "seek freedom".

So she waited. She didn't even step outside of the house due to her own internal terror. Even though she knew he was gone, she imaged him pouncing on her as soon as she let a single hoof touch the ground. She ate, listened to silence for hours, and then slept. Every minute seemed like an hour; every hour, a day. The only real noise was the howling at night, the truly wild Worgen that would no doubt rip her apart if they got their hands on her.

Still, she was going crazy with the isolation. She needed to do something. Anything. Why wasn't he back yet? Did something happen? Was he dead? Did the Alliance find out he took a slave and capture him? Did the Horde find out he took a Tauren and somehow kill him? Did a druid somehow find out he took a fellow druid? Where was he?

Every day grew longer, becoming more and more like an eternity. Alanea pulled at her strand of braided hair in agitation. There was only one thing she could do to alleviate the boredom, even if it meant death.

The Tauren left the house. It was an agonizing process. Every step made her body feel like it weighted three tons. The dreary trees of Duskwood loomed down upon her, and she shook in slight fear. “This was a bad idea...a very bad idea...” she told herself. In times like these she'd shapeshift to her cat form, but with the collar on her neck, she'd be unable to change back until Andereon got home. Then he'd ask her why she was shifted, and she'd have to tell the truth, and she'd get punished.

“Just...just a couple minutes of wandering,” she assured herself. “Just...take it all in, and then go back inside, be a good little girl for your master...”

She blinked. “Oh, Earth-Mother, what am I saying to myself?” She put a hand to her head. She was breaking.

She shook her head and ventured out westward. She intended to merely move in a circle, always close to the house just in case something happened. She just needed a walk, that was all.

“It's okay...nothing is going to happen to you...” She continued to talk to herself as she walked slowly. “Just...keep walking, stay in sight of the hosue. Just...just...”

She now had a headache. “Why me? Why me and not someone else? Just...just because I challenged him to a fight...just...just because...just because I...just because I was too weak...I'm a druid, I should have--”

She heard a soft growling. So conditioned was she that she immediately turned in the direction of the growling and whimpered. “W-wait!” she let out, head down and cowering as she expected a blow.

When it never came, she looked up and saw nothing. “...Now I'm hearing things?” She buried her face into her hands. “Keep it together Alanea...though maybe just a couple minutes out here was long enough, time to get back inside.”

She turned around, starting to move around a tree, and came face to face with a Worgen. This one seemed completely feral, much like Andereon, but the look in his eyes wasn't madness borne of fel energy and mental trauma, but the look of a pure wild animal.

In shock, she stood stone still for a moment, then yelped in surprise as she jumped backward. The fully nude, gray-furred Worgen growled as he stared at her.

“N..no...” Alanea began, shaking now. Her hands quickly began to glow green as roots sprung up from the ground and wrapped around the Worgen's lower body. “S...stay away!”

With the Worgen entangled, Alanea sought to move past him and rush toward the house, but behind another tree, a second Worgen bore down on her, tackling her to the ground.

“No!” Alanea shouted, struggling to get the second Worgen, also gray, also naked, off her. “Help! Someone help!”

Her shouts reverberated around the trees. The entangled Worgen broke free of the roots and joined the second Worgen in taking hold of the thrashing Tauren. They both had to work together to pick her up; they weren't as tall as Andereon was, but they had strength. And they were certainly taller than she was. Alanea couldn't break free, and she was slowly being carried away from the house. One of them howled, and after a moment, Alanea could hear more howls in response.

With one of them holding her wrists, and the other her legs, Alanea was helpless. She began to sob as she realized that, once again, she had screwed up. She had screwed up, and now she was at the mercy of truly wild Worgen. Now she was going to be a meal or just something to kill, and all she could do was cry, begging for Andereon to save her.
* * *
It was night before she was brought to a cave. There were other Worgen around the cave, a pack going by what Alanea knew. She quickly saw who the alpha of the pack was when she was set down in front of a tall, muscular Worgen, with his left eye gouged out and large scars on his chest visible through his brown fur, the evidence of failed attempts to end his life. He was as feral and wild as the rest of the Worgen; Alanea knew there was no point in begging for her life. She just looked up at him as she stood up, tears rolling down her face even now.

This is how I die, she thought. This is where I die, and it's all my fault. This is what I get for being a dumb...a dumb, stupid cow. He was right. Earth-Mother, he was right all along. Please...I'll behave...I'll behave. Earth-Mother, please help him find me...

The alpha sniffed her over. She wasn't sure if he could smell Andereon on her―she had bathed after he had left―but she figured at this point it wouldn't matter in the end anyway. His muzzle was inches away from her as he sniffed. His hot breath shook her against the cold night air.

She saw his cock starting to poke out from its sheath, and she realized immediately why she was brought to him. She was just an offering to him. She was going to be raped again, by a different Worgen.

Please, Andereon...

He grabbed her by the arm and sat down, legs crossed. He made her position herself over his length, her back to him, legs spread as he began to push her downward onto his cock. He was going to mate with her, and he wanted her to look out at his pack while he did it.

She felt him entering her. It didn't hurt given that her pussy was already getting used to Andereon being inside her almost every night ever since arriving in Duskwood. In fact, she let out a quiet moan as he filled her with his cock. She shook her head as he began to move her up and down, her breasts bouncing slightly in sync with her movement. She couldn't believe it was happening, but at the same time, it felt good. Her body was too used to Andereon's treatment for it not to feel good.

“Please...let me go...” She pleaded, her moans heavy. “Please...”

The alpha of the pack wrapped an arm around her stomach, letting the pack see his meat moving in and out of her as she was made to ride him. The pack watched, all eyes on her. Her moans were getting louder as the alpha grabbed her arms with his other hand and kept them pinned behind her back.

He licked the back of her neck, tasting her. Alanea couldn't help but shiver, body tingling with pleasure. She still wanted to escape, but this was a lot better than her first rape. But then, she had Andereon to thank for it now hurting a lot less.

The alpha was pent up. She could feel that much considering how much his cock was twitching and throbbing in her as she moved along it. He was moving her with an increased speed, almost frantic. He was concerned of only his own pleasure. At least Andereon would fondle her breasts, tell her how much of a useless cow she was--

Alanea let out a mixed moan and grunt as her body flared in pleasure. Her pussy tightened in orgasm as her juices flowed over his cock, lubricating him more and countering her sudden tightness. The alpha's knot was begging to be let inside her; she could feel it trying to push in. Mind hazy, she tried her best to get it inside her, helping the Worgen alpha push it in. She tilted her head back slightly, and the Worgen's muzzle touched hers. She gave it a kiss right before the knot popped inside her, making her body shake as she felt his seed unloading inside her, filling her up to her womb. The alpha howled as he came inside his conquest. She screamed out in pleasure as she felt the warmth inside her. She wondered, for a moment, if Worgen could breed with Tauren. But then, Andereon would have claimed her womb already if that was the case.

The other Worgen howled in response to the scene. Their alpha was pleased with the offering, clearly. He let her hands go, and she steadied herself on his chest, panting heavily as her mind stayed in its fog. She was tired. Very tired. Her eyelids felt heavy, and she couldn't help but pass out.
* * *
The rock was cold. Alanea shivered as she woke up. It was also dark. Darker than the house. She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling of a cave. The sound of screaming reached her ears.

Remembering the events of the night before, she sat up. Between her legs, a dried pile of cum. The fur around her pussy was off-white again, and she could smell the alpha's scent on her as a result.

Looking around the cave, she saw no Worgen. Where did they go? Outside? That's where the screaming was. It was a female, no doubt about that. Venturing toward the light, she came upon a sight that made her blush.

The alpha was raping another Tauren female, making the pack watch as he claimed her. This Tauren had black fur and a lathe frame, with bright white horns and a tribal marking on her left side, going around to her stomach. Alanea didn't recognize the pattern.

What was another Tauren doing here? Why was she in Duskwood? She wished she could ask her.

Two members of the pack noticed Alanea. They barked something to the alpha, who stared Alanea down. He barked something to the pack, not stopping his abuse of the black-furred Tauren, and the two Worgen who noticed her approached her. She shook her head and backed away, ready to entangle them in roots, but they were on her an instant before she could cast the spell.

One of the Worgen held her arms behind her back as the other, cock out of its sheath, picked up her legs and easily found her opening, still sore from the sex the night before. Alanea whimpered as the Worgen thrust into her. He wasn't as big as the alpha nor Andereon, but he was spry and energetic, and Alanea could still feel almost every inch as it pushed into her. Not as pleasurable as the other Worgen she had experienced, Alanea still moaned out softly as she was used.

Outside, the black-furred Tauren continued to scream. Either it was her first time, or she hadn't had sex in a while. In any case, Alanea knew that the Tauren would be sore once the alpha was done with her.

Despite her moans and the growls of the Worgen with her, Alanea still prayed. This isn't where I belong...Andereon...Master...please...

She could hear the alpha howl, followed by a rather pained sound from the other Tauren. They were finished. As for the Worgen thrusting into her, he was likely getting close as well. His thrusts were getting faster and more wild. Were these Worgen taking females because they haven't felt pleasure in so long? She wasn't sure. What she was sure of was that this one didn't have a knot. He was close, but she couldn't feel anything else like with Andereon and the alpha. Maybe Worgen made from certain species lacked knots?

She felt her position being adjusted. Now both Worgen were supporting her weight. She wondered why at first, but after a bark from the Worgen behind her, she felt his cock pushing against the hole under her tail. That made her eyes go wide.

“Wait, not there!” she pleaded.

Her words fell on deaf ears. She let out an exclamation of pain as he began to push into her tailhole. She gripped onto the Worgen in front of her hard as a reaction, gritting her teeth to bear through the pain; she knew there would be no stopping him, the only thing she could do was bear it.

She panted as he forced all of his length into her, and then he began to thrust. The pain canceled out the pleasure the other Worgen was giving her, and her grunts were grunts of agony. The first Worgen shot his creamy load inside her, and she definitely felt it; it was the last thing she felt before the pleasure faded.

The alpha outside barked a series of orders to the pack. Several Worgen walked back into the cave as the Worgen in front of Alanea pulled out of her, his seed starting to leak out of her pussy. Another Worgen took his place, taking hold of her thighs.

They were all going to have a turn with her.
* * *
Most of the pack had their fill after three hours. Some had knots, others didn't. Alanea's mind was tired. She panted, exhausted, as she lay on the cave floor, eyes glazed over.

The alpha had brought the other Tauren inside once he had untied from her. She lay slightly further in the cave, a seed trail trailing from her body. Part of the pack was asleep, the rest were out, likely hunting. The alpha was out hunting as well. As long as they were quiet, Alana reasoned, they'd be left alone.

She rolled onto her stomach. Her inner thighs were now entirely off-white and heavily matted. She hated it. She hated all of this. And it was all her fault, she knew. But at least she wasn't alone anymore.

She slowly crawled over to the other Tauren. Alanea hoped she wasn't dead. “Hey...are you okay?” she asked quietly, shaking the messy Tauren. Like Alanea, she had a mess between her legs, made much more obvious with the black fur.

The other Tauren groaned softly. She opened her eyes and glanced at Alanea. “W...who are you?”

“Alanea Sharphoof. I'm a druid.”

“K...Kirima Skychaser. Hunter.”

“What happened to you?”

“I was...what was I doing...?” Kirima held a hand to her head. “I can barely remember...I was on the road, and my group got attacked by Worgen. They ambushed us. Everyone...I don't know if they're alive or dead. I was dragged away from the battle after being overpowered.”

Alanea's hands glowed as she cast Regrowth on Kirima to try and soothe her pain. The hunter let out a sharp moan of pain as she felt the warmth coursing through her body. “That...that feels better, thank you.”

“Don't mention it,” Alanea replied.

“How's your cat form? Maybe you can escape and get help?”

“From...where? Any help would be days away. If I left, they'd probably kill you.”

Kirima sat up, wincing at the pain flaring up between her legs. “That...that alpha...”

“A brute, I know.”

“How'd you get here, Alanea?”

“S...same as you. They overpowered me.”

“We need to think of a way out of here.”

“There's too many Worgen. Even if we managed to leave the cave, they'd find us. We need to wait for Ma--” Alanea caught herself at the last moment, “--my friend.”

“Your friend?”

“His name's Andereon, and--”

Kirima's eyes widened. “Andereon? As in, Jayden Andereon?”

Alanea blinked. “You know him?”

“I fought beside him when the Legion assaulted Kalimdor. He was one of our best defenders. Hard to work with...but he cared for us. At least, he did until he was nearly killed by a blast of fel energy.”

She frowned, a sad memory running through her mind. “One night he just...left. He abandoned his post, abandoned us. We were able to drive the Legion out, and it was a victory, but even as I continued adventuring, he never left my mind. Even with his brash nature, he was still kind up until that blast...”

She trailed off. “That doesn't matter anymore. How do you know he's coming?”

“I just...I just hope he is...”

Kirima stared at Alanea for a moment, and then shook her head. “Just a feeling won't get us anywhere...we need to worry about just surviving. The alpha stripped me this morning. My stuff should still be by the cave. Can...can you go check?”

Alanea touched her collar. Should she? If Andereon did save her, she would already be in big trouble. May as well go all the way.

She shapeshifted to her cat form. The collar readjusted to fit her. She whimpered as she felt the leather tighten, then began to slowly walk out of the cave, careful not to awaken the sleeping Worgen. Thankfully, paws were quieter than hooves.

More Worgen slept outside. She wasn't sure how big the pack was; thirty, forty Worgen by her estimate. It was sizable. They must have had time to gather while everyone was fighting the Legion and not paying attention to Duskwood.

She saw Kirima's armor in pieces, scattered all over the ground. Her pack and bags were in a far better state, in that they were still intact, resting by a tree twenty feet from the cave entrance.

Alright, this might be...this might take some time, she thought to herself. The armor wasn't salvageable, but Kirima's bow was still intact, as was her quiver, still full of arrows. The pack and bags would be too bulky to move quietly, but they could get it after leaving.

She took the bow back first, then the quiver. Kirima gave her a quick pat on the head after making sure the bow was still good. “Alright, now for the actual escape,” Kirima whispered. “Keep quiet and stay low.”

The two of them inched their way out of the cave. It was slow going, thanks to Kirima needing to step softly to muffle her hooves, but the both of them made it to the cave exit after a couple of minutes. Kirima had an arrow ready to fire in case a Worgen awoke.

“Can you tell if the alpha is coming back?” Kirima whispered to the Tauren cat.

Alanea sniffed the air, and winced. “The alpha's smell is...well, it's on us. I can't smell anything else,” came the reply.

“So we move fast.”

Before they could turn to resume their walk, they heard a quiet growling. Alanea glanced at the treeline, and began to shake like a leaf. “No...no...!”

Kirima squinted her eyes, and frowned. “Damn...”

The alpha emerged from the trees, dragging the carcasses of two dead humans behind him. Several other Worgen followed him. Upon seeing the two Tauren, the alpha growled and let out a loud howl. The Worgen around them started to stir from their slumber.

“Not good,” Alanea whimpered, “Kirima, we need to--”

Kirima let fly an arrow that pierced the alpha's body. He roared in pain but yanked the arrow out of his chest. Kirima nocked another arrow and pulled back on the string, but one of the Worgen near her grabbed her with one hand and slashed her with the other, drawing blood as he tore into her shoulder. Kirima took a step back and fired her arrow, piercing the Worgen's neck. He dropped to the ground, trying to yank the shaft out, as a second and third Worgen rushed her. At that range, she couldn't ready another arrow in time, and was disarmed as one of them bit her arm, her bow falling to the ground..

Alanea let out a roar and jumped on one of the Worgen, clawing with her claws and biting with her teeth. The Worgen roared in pain as Alanea went for the back of his neck, biting down and tearing away a massive amount of flesh from his neck. The other Worgen grabbed her and slammed her on the ground, stunning her.

Within a second, more Worgen rushed them, overwhelming the two. Claws and teeth sunk into their flesh, and both Kirima and Alanea let out pained screams, knowing their deaths were near.

Another howl. This one different from the pack's, different from the alpha. The Worgen stopped their attack, and even the alpha turned to the direction of the howl. Alanea glanced along with them, blood oozing form her sides. Kirima strained to see as she crawled toward and sat against the rocks, bleeding from several wounds.

Andereon pointed both of his swords at the alpha. “You have something that belongs to me,” he said in a quiet voice, a voice that sent shivers through Alanea's spine. “You'll give it to me. Now.”

The alpha growled and barked an order. Three Worgen rushed toward Andereon, who didn't seem fazed. He engaged the three Worgen, skewering one with a blade immediately. Before he could push the corpse off, the second Worgen swiped with a set of claws, aiming for Andereon's neck. Andereon took a step back and knocked the Worgen aside with the body of the first Worgen.

The third Worgen let out a snarl as he pounced on Andereon, knocking his swords from his grip. Though the warrior was knocked down, he kept the Worgen at bay with an arm before sliding out the shield from his back and bashing the Worgen with it. Andereon got to his feet and picked up one of his swords, striking the Worgen with the shield again before driving his sword through the Worgen's neck. The Worgen fell away from Andereon, grabbing at his throat as blood flowed freely onto the ground.

Now with one last Worgen to deal with, Andereon freed his sword form the dying Worgen and turned to face his last challenger, who had pushed the other corpse off his body. The Worgen charged and Andereon let out a howl that made the Worgen take pause, clearly intimidated. Andereon ran forward and tackled the Worgen, crushing him against a tree, the weight of his body and his plate armor breaking more than a few bones inside the feral Worgen. Andereon tossed the Worgen off to the left and slashed, opening a large gash on the Worgen's chest. Yelping and whining from the pain of his internal injuries, the Worgen took a step back, starting to cower. The alpha barked an order, and the wounded Worgen lunged toward Andereon for one final attack. Andereon easily intercepted the Worgen and picked him up, throwing him down; with a heavy stomp, he snapped the Worgen's neck, one final yelp escaping the Worgen's muzzle before he was still forever.

The alpha scowled. Five Worgen began to approach Andereon, but the alpha let out a threatening bark. The Worgen glanced back at him, and then backed away from Andereon. The alpha himself growled softly as he approached the Worgen warrior and assumed a challenging stance, gesturing for Andereon to face him in one-on-one combat.

“Is that what it'll take?” Andereon asked. “Fine!”

Andereon tossed aside his shield and sword. He tossed aside his helmet and let his gauntlets fall to the ground. He removed his breastplate and leg armor, standing with only a shredded pair of pants protecting him. He hunched over slightly and let out a threatening roar, the manic look in his eyes back again.

Alanea crawled over to Kirima. “What are they doing?” Kirima asked.

“I think...I think the alpha challenged him personally. It's something I read about while studying the Worgen...I don't know what that means, but...but at least the pack's paying attention to them. Do you have bandages? I...I can't leave this form yet.”

“Why not?”

“I ju...just can't--”

Kirima looked at the collar around Alanea's neck. “...That collar looks familiar. It's not what I think it is, is it...?”

Before she could continue, the two Worgen engaged in combat. A test of strength showed them both as equal, as Andereon tried to overpower the alpha and the alpha tried to do the same to Andereon. Andereon broke the stalemate with a headbutt, and the alpha took a step back to recover. Andereon swiped with his claws and slashed open the alpha's chest, but the alpha countered with a bite near Andereon's neck. Andereon bashed the alpha's head with three mighty blows, but the alpha managed to tear off a large piece of Andereon's flesh anyway.

Holding the shoulder wound, Andereon barked in frustration and tackled the alpha to the ground, pinning the Worgen under him. He let out a slow barrage of powerful blows with his fists, most of which the alpha blocked as he covered up, following up with grabbing Andereon and reversing the pin, Andereon now on the ground and the alpha on top of him. The alpha opened his jaws and went for Andereon's throat, but Andereon jabbed the claws on his feet into the alpha's back, distracting him enough that Andereon pushed him away. The both of them got to their feet, facing off again, both bloody, with clumps of dirt sticking to their fur.

Andereon took several deep breaths before the alpha charged, lunging with his claws. Andereon stepped to the side at the last second and grabbed the alpha, redirecting his momentum into a tree. The alpha yelped as his fingers smashed against the thick wood. Taking advantage of the moment, Andereon grappled the alpha from behind and smashed his head into the tree several times before he was forced to let him go.

Now bleeding from several small head wounds, the alpha let out a howl of rage before he slashed out with his claws again. Andereon tried to take a step back, but the alpha spun around on his foot, slashing with the other set of claws after closing the distance a bit more. Andereon yelped loudly as a set of gashes opened up on his face. He took several steps back, hand on the wounds.

A faint green glow appeared under Andereon's fur on the left side of his scalp. His eyes changed color to a faint green. He let out a howl and lunged forward, grabbing the alpha and lifting him up a few inches off the ground. He slammed him down and kicked him in the head, the alpha yelping at the blow while his body thrashed in reflex. Andereon got on top of the alpha and began to pummel him with punches again, most of them actually finding their mark. The alpha's muzzle broke under the force of his blows before the alpha became desperate.

He shoved Andereon off him again and backed up toward the cave. His face was almost unrecognizable given how disfigured his jaw and muzzle were. Every breath looked painful to take. Andereon, blood flowing down his face and shoulder, rushed forward at a fast speed. The alpha used his trick against him, dodging Andereon and driving him into the rock. Andereon corrected himself before hitting the rock and merely dislocated his shoulder rather than smashing his muzzle against it.

Andereon bounced off  the wall and redirected his momentum to crash into the alpha. The both of them fell to the ground, and Andereon rolled on top of the alpha. Wanting to end this, Andereon elbowed the alpha's ruined muzzle with his good arm. With a yelp of extreme pain, the alpha drove his claws into Andereon's chest. With the alpha's arms now occupied, Andereon took the chance to stab with a claw, aiming for the alpha's eye.

The alpha let out a agonized scream as Andereon skewered the eye, blinding the him. On instinct, the alpha yanked his claws free from Andereon's chest, opening fresh wounds. Andereon reared his head back, ignoring the pain racing through his body, and then brought his jaws around the alpha's neck. The green glow on Andereon's head flared slightly as he clamped down hard and then pulled back with all his might.

With a sickening loud ripping noise, Andereon tore out most of the alpha's throat. He spit out the mass of flesh and muscle and howled as the alpha gurgled and thrashed under Andereon for a minute before lying still.

The other Worgen stared at the dead alpha, and then at Andereon. Andereon stood up, much of his body pink as the white fur mixed with red blood, and looked around him. The Worgen gathered around him slowly.

“This isn't good...” Alanea's tail went limp, ears pressing against her head. The druid-cat knew Andereon wouldn't be able to take the thirty plus Worgen if they attacked at once.

Andereon growled and stomped on the alpha's chest. He let out a howl again, and entered a challenging stance, hunched over as he breathed heavy, adrenaline racing through his body even as he bled.

The Worgen scattered, terrified.

Panting, Andereon dropped to one knee and grabbed his dislocated shoulder. Counting down quietly, he set his shoulder, letting out a quiet yelp. He stood up and leaned against the stone of the cave entrance, breathing heavily. Kirima, still in awe at the display of violence she had just witnessed, approached Andereon slowly. Alanea followed, hoping that her punishment wouldn't involve as much violence as the battle.

“...Jayden?” Kirima asked quietly.

Andereon glanced over at her. He stared at her for a minute, as if trying to remember who she was. Finally, he let out a quiet “...Skychaser.”

“What...what just happened?”

“Rather than submit to me, the pack scattered,” Andereon replied, his voice strained, likely as a result of him trying to calm down from the high of battle. “They'll likely be absorbed into other packs. But that's not the point. What are you doing here?”

“I was...well, I was running away, I guess. Once I heard the news about the fighting at Darkshore, I left the Trueshot Lodge to try and find my friends. I mean...I was there. I helped gather the Pillars of Creation, I joined the Army of Legionfall...I even helped at Argus. The thought of having to put an arrow into the bodies of the friends I've made, the people I fought alongside...”

It took Andereon a moment to fully absorb what she was saying, mostly because he didn't understand most of the names she was throwing out. But once she fully explained herself, he nodded and responded with “You've been busy.”

“Busy for a dumb cow, you mean?” Kirima replied. She frowned and shook her head. “I'm sorry. That...that didn't come out right.”

Andereon walked past her and looked down at Alanea, the druid-cat shaking so much that she may as well have been surrounded by snow. “And you.” Andereon growled. “You weren't at home.”

“I'm sorry!” Alanea blurted out, on the verge of a breakdown. “I'm a stupid little druid! I don't know anything! I thought it would be alright!”

Kirima put a hand on Andereon's shoulder. “Jayden--”

“Andereon,” he corrected her. “If you were smart, Skychaser, you'd take your gear and leave.”

“No. Not until I settle my business with you.”

“We have no business, Skychaser.”

“Yes, we do. I need to atone.”

“There's nothing to atone for. You heard Arbury, you heard the druids. What's done is done.”

Kirima took a step back. “Look, it's my fault, I know, but there's no reason to take it out on other Tauren. What did that druid ever do to you?”

“She crossed me. That's enough.”

“You used Ashton's collar on her! He gave it to you in case you ran into a demon out there that needed capturing!”

“That was before you ran out into the field to get your lion!” Andereon shouted, snarling as he took a step toward her. “You ran out there against orders! I had to rush out there to protect you and you know what that got me!?”

“Jayden, please--”

Andereon lunged at her and knocked her to the ground. “Stop calling me that!” he shouted, his muzzle inches from her face.

He continued breathing heavily, eyes wild. Kirima covered her face with her arms, fearful he was about to start clawing at her. After a tense minute, he simply got off Kirima and leaned against the wall again, trying to restore reason to his psyche. Kirima stood up and approached him. Alanea was laying on the ground, paws over her head, in dreadful fear of Andereon's wrath.

“Ja...Andereon,” Kirima began quietly, “I'm...I'm sorry. You were one of our best guardians. Without you, several of us would have died during that defense. You know how I felt about Blackmane. He was a good lion. I...I couldn't think right when I saw him on the field, broken like that. One moment, I was behind the defensive line, the next...” she trailed off. “You saved our lives. That's something we owe you...something I owe you. To see you like this now, it hurts. It hurts, knowing it's a mistake I can't fix.”

Andereon growled softly. “Leave, Skychaser. This is how things are now. If you stay, you'll suffer my wrath.”

“And what are you going to do now? You think that you'll be able to keep a slave under your power out here?”

“I just wanted to live away from civilization. I wanted to make sure I was never a danger to anyone else. If I continued to remain around you, around the others, there's no telling who I'd kill or dominate! There's nothing left in here--” he practically jabbed a claw into his head, “--but instinct and cruelty!”

Kirima walked over to her broken, destroyed armor. She was quiet for several minutes. Seeking to change the subject, to try and calm the Worgen down, she said “I can't believe this. I'm a huntmaster, damn it. I can't believe I got beaten by a group of wild Worgen...I need to go.”

“Where do you plan on going?” Andereon asked, hand on his head as he spoke through clenched teeth.

“Back to the Trueshot Lodge...maybe. I wanted closure between us once I found you. That's all I thought about while on the Broken Isles, while on Argus. Finding you, and...figuring all this out. This...this isn't what I wanted. Knowing you've taken a slave, that you're seething with rage over what I did...I know it's the fel influence, but...” She shook her head and sighed. “I guess you were right back then. No matter what I do, I'm always going to be a weak, pathetic calf. I shouldn't have clung to the thought of being able to get through to you...”

Andereon didn't say anything as he watched Kirima move to her backpack. He slowly sat down, the loss of blood from the battle with the alpha starting to make him dizzy. Kirima retrieved a potion from her pack, as well as a white stone with a blue rune drawn onto it, from a bag.

“A hearthstone?” Andereon asked. He let out a dry laugh. “You must know some important people.”

She looked at the hearthstone for several minutes, trying to figure out what it was she really wanted to do. Mostly she just felt sick to her stomach, knowing that the only reason she was able to become one of the best hunters in Azeroth was because he sacrificed everything―unknowingly as it might have been―to make sure she lived. She hated reminding herself of it, and she really hated that he reminded her. The tears were starting to well up in her eyes. She gave him the healing potion, but couldn't bear to face him as he healed his wounds with it.

The hearthstone glowed as she concentrated on it. “Thank you for rescuing me...again,” she told Andereon quietly.

She vanished in a flash of light.

Andereon trembled slightly. His breathing quickened, pulse racing. He tossed the empty glass bottle in his hand against the cave wall, sending glass everywhere. Why did it hurt? Was it because he let a young female go? Was it because they used to be friends? He didn't know anymore. Everything seemed miles away. He wanted her, that was for sure. He wanted her broken under him, obedient, like he had wanted Alanea after she lost to him. But something held him back from just taking her. It was probably the memories. He let out an angry howl, ears pressed back against his head.

He finally noticed Alanea still cowering nearby. Newfound anger built up within him in an instant. “You...you...you useless...you stupid, useless, pathetic excuse for a druid!” He stomped on her tail, making her scream in pain. “I should kill you right now!”

Alanea apologized, repeatedly, as he kicked and stomped on her. “You're lucky I was able to follow your scent to the pack's territory, you worthless cow!” He picked her up and threw her against the stone of the cave. “How dare you disobey me after I put my trust in you!?”

Alanea cried in pain and misery, sobbing heavily as she could do nothing but bear the beating. She knew she deserved it. She had been making him happy before this foolish mistake, and now she was paying the price, suffering his ire.

After a particularly brutal throw to her stomach that knocked the wind out of her and ended up with her coughing on the ground, Andereon grabbed her by one of her horns and lifted her head up. She looked into those wild eyes of his and let out a cry of fear. 

“I was going to be gentle with you when I got back,” he told her quietly. “I missed you, Sharphoof. But if this is how you repay my trust, well...something different awaits you back home.” He stood up. “Get up!”

Shakily, Alanea got on all four paws, still coughing. She was unsteady, weary from fatigue and pain. She was sure nothing was broken, but things didn't need to be broken to hurt immensely.

Andereon knelt down and touched one of the fel gems on her collar. “Go on. Shift forms.”

Alanea shifted forms, returning to her Tauren form.

“I'm sorry...” Alanea repeated over and over, shaking her head. “I'm sorry...!”

“Heal yourself.”

Alanea did so, using all the magic power she could muster. Physically, she felt better. Mentally and emotionally, however...

Andereon walked over to his armor and weapons. After spending time putting everything back in place, he grabbed his pack. “If we're lucky we'll be home by midnight,” Andereon told her. “I'm going to clean you as roughly as I can. I'm not going to have my Tauren bear the scent of another Worgen. Don't expect a good night's rest.”

He tied her wrists in front of her, making her whimper again as he tight them much tighter than before, to the point it actually hurt.

“F...for what it's worth...” Alanea began quietly, “T...thank you for saving me...” She thought for a moment about what to say next, then muttered, “I'll...I'll try to be less of a failure from now on.”

Andereon just grunted before leading her back to their home.