Fires of Determination

The orc scout made its way carefully through the tall grass along the outskirts of Northshire Valley. After having slipped past the Alliance guards posted along the roads in Elwynn Forest, he had made his way over the treacherous hillsides surrounding the Valley to proceed with his scouting mission. Undetected by human patrols, the green-skinned creature paused often to check his surroundings, intent on completing his mission and bringing intelligence back to the main raiding force waiting deeper in the forest. The creature smirked, his tusks jutting out slightly as he relished in the fact that he'd made it in unobserved.

Or so he thought.

Along a distant ridge-line to his east, a row of hedges stood beneath the treeline as the forest continued into the distance. There, amongst the hedges, a single eye watched the orc through the long tube of a rifle scope.

The owner of the brown-hued eye was a woman, dressed in tightly fitted studded leather that blended seamlessly into the colors of the forest around her. Her face was painted with a variety of different pigments, each color smeared in a haphazard fashion across her normally tan skin, causing even her flesh to disappear from sight when seen from more than a few feet away. Her jet black hair had leaves and twigs woven into it, making her entire head appear to be just another example of the flora of the region.

The woman, who was named Belleri Giano, studied the distant orc through her scope, her hands caressing the weapon with the practiced ease of years of experience. The stock of the rifle was set against her shoulder where her armor had been specially reinforced to take the recoil of a weapon without spoiling a second shot. Not that one would normally be needed.

Belleri inhaled deeply, and although she was perfectly still and silent, in her mind voices from her past spoke to her.

“Bell, why don't you do something that you would actually be good at, like farming or perhaps you could become a seamstress?” her mother seemed to say.

“No daughter of mine will be going off to join the Alliance forces!” Her father stated sternly. “You won't be of any use to them and you're not going to be some damned camp follower!”

“Bell, I know you want to come and help with the fighting up north, but that's not your place love,” her boyfriend said tenderly. “Wait here for me, and I'll come back for you when it's over. I promise.”

“You're way too small to fight Bell!” her friend's voice exclaimed. “You're wasting your time even thinking about it!”

The harsh voice of a drill sergeant barked at her, “You think you can just waltz in here and join us maggot? You don't have what it takes to even make it through basic training. Get out of my sight!”

“Private Belleri Giano. You have been assigned to the first scout company of the Alliance Expeditionary Force. Be at the docks at sunrise in two days time,” the lieutenant's voice echoed.

“Corporal Belleri, for bravery in the face of extreme danger you are hereby presented with this medal of valor. Since your company has had such high causalities, we have found a new assignment for you that should be suitable to your talents. Welcome to the 7th Legion, Ranger,” the commander's voice replied.

“Ranger Captain Belleri, it has been my pleasure and honor to serve beside you throughout the campaign. On behalf of the Alliance I hereby present you with this commendation for bravery, and your honorable discharge papers. May the Light guide you on whatever path you walk. You have honored your people and served your country well,” the commander said to her, the last words she would ever hear from him.

The memories continued until Belleri exhaled, her finger caressing the trigger on her rifle.

Over half a mile away, an orc dropped dead, killed so quickly that his body took one last stumbling step forward before it realized life had ended and dropped softly into the tall grass. The retort of the weapon's firing, though muffled by the modifications Belleri had made to it, still echoed through the valley.

Both eyes open now, Belleri gave no more thought to her target or to the memories that the action had stirred. She was already on the move; already relocating so that her position would not be compromised. There were other orc scouts making their way into the valley after all, and in her new role amongst the chapter of the Divine Order stationed in Stormwind, she wasn't about to let Alliance territory be violated by such creatures. It was what she was born to do, what she lived for, who she was.

By nightfall former Ranger Captain Belleri Giano of the 7th Legion would be the only scout moving through the valley. The orc raid would never again see any of their own reconnaissance team.