Chapter 18 Chapter Eighteen

After the last alliance representative left, the high-ranking priestess let out a sigh of relief.She seized all the time to discuss the current needs of Ashenvale with the envoys of other countries, and finally won all the assistance she hoped for.In return, Tyrande promised that Darnassus would increase his support for the various needs of the allies as much as possible.Not only that, she also mediated between different forces and helped them reach various agreements.In just a few hours, the diplomatic results achieved were more significant than months of negotiations. But would that be enough to save Ashenvale? That's what she wondered as she stopped to drink.This article does not welcome the Sina World of Warcraft reprint.

One of her attendants came in. "See you, General Shandris." Shandris did not walk directly into the room, which showed that she understood that the high priestess was busy with business.The general was clearly concerned about whether her stepmother would be able to cope with the new situation. She underestimated Tyrande. "Of course, let her in." Shandris came in, bowing her head in salute. "Forgive me at this inappropriate time—" "Now is the time. Are you here to report?" "Yes. I think we'll be able to dispatch the fleet by noon tomorrow. We can do that because we have a quick reaction force."

"It was you who raised the troops to deal with this situation," Tyrande said proudly.Months before the Cataclysm, Shandris proposed to prepare a reserve team in advance, considering that the Horde was still fighting the night elves in Warsong Gulch.Six warships are on standby at all times, capable of transporting an entire fleet of Sentinels along with their required mounts and supplies.Troops and supplies are all rotated monthly to keep them always at the ready. Now is the time when they come in handy. "I'm just following your lead," Shandris pointed out. "You said before that after what happened in the past, we need to learn to prepare instead of rush."

"How about the follow-up army?" asked the high-ranking priestess.She thought it was all Shandris' work, and she didn't want to take credit for it. "Four more warships can be dispatched within a week." "This is good news. And I hope I can tell you some good news too. I have enlisted various aids from other Alliance members. Most will send reinforcements; others will send supplies." Shandris laughed savagely. "The Horde will regret their ambition." "Maybe……" "What do you know? A revelation from Elune?" The High Priestess shook her head. "No, there are no new revelations. It's just...my...feelings."

"And it's not optimistic. Tell me?" "The Horde knows full well that we can muster strong reinforcements. They will certainly adopt a different strategy than usual." Shandris was unmoved. "Whatever they think, I'm going to be ready." Tyrande laid a motherly hand on Shandris' shoulder. "You know I have absolute confidence in you. But I have made up my mind. I will go with you. I will lead this expedition myself." The other night elf showed no disappointment, just understanding. "You also made a promise to some of our allies, a promise that you need to go to Ashvale to fulfill."

"Your 'eyes and ears' are as good as ever. Most of the deals I just negotiated." "That makes sense, especially if we need to keep them from arguing with each other." Shandris handed over a piece of parchment that she had brought with her. "Anyway, I've taken the situation into account and put everything you need here. We can go over it again." The High Priestess smiled proudly. "Thank you, Shandris." "Let's talk when we survive." Shandris walked to the table and unfolded the parchment.It's much larger than it first appears, leaving almost no blank space.Shandris made good use of the parchment, and it was necessary.Reinforcements to Ashenvale will need to be carefully considered...and quickly.

And when Tyrande bent over the parchment and began to listen to her stepdaughter, she prayed to the Mother of the Moon that there would be enough time. Varian heard the werewolves from afar before he saw them.He knew the werewolves couldn't smell him yet because the wind was against him.The king also knew that they had not heard his voice either.The werewolf curse may have given Gilneans heightened senses, but they haven't stood the test of time. , so essentially they haven't changed, while Varian has a lifetime of experience. Genn's retinue included other surviving Gilnean noblemen and women.But the "royal" hunt was joined by favored officers and Jean's own staff and bodyguards.Besides Genn, it was his bodyguards that Varian needed to watch out for the most.While protecting the Lord of Gilneas is their first priority, the soldiers may also have the leisure to hunt their prey now that they are in a safe place.That meant Varian would actually be fighting several opponents...but that was exactly what he wanted.

There was only one real reason for Varian to follow.Malfurion's machinations had the opposite effect.Varian decided to take the Archdruid's advice and use it to humiliate Jean before his own people.The people of Gilneas will see that their vaunted king is still a failure and will only bring them more ruin. Of course, the Lord of Stormwind also quietly realized that he wanted to calm his frustration by humiliating Jean.But Varian quickly and thoroughly buried the thought deep in his heart.The most important thing now is to bring Jean back to his original form. A muscular figure flitted among the trees to his left.A young werewolf.Varian used this brief moment to observe and assess the creatures.The werewolf's movements were smoother than he had expected, but the king also saw an opening he could exploit.

The werewolf glanced back at him.The initial surprise quickly turned into a strange reaction from Varian.The hunter's long ears pricked up, and it seemed to Varian that the werewolf was not just scrutinizing him, but seeing something special in him.But what it was, the king was hard to discern.The werewolf bowed briefly to him as he ran, a way Varian had seen Genn's entourage show respect to higher-ranking members of the pack. The young werewolf disappeared behind the bushes, but not because he was faster than the Lord of Stormwind.Varian galloped away with speed and dexterity no less than his own.Gritting his teeth, he imagined a pack of wolves chasing prey nearby, and quickened his pace to dare join the hunt before it was over.He knew that wolves would not hunt too far apart from each other.Werewolves have wolf-like tendencies, and Varian is well aware of their traits.

Genn Greymane would regret his bluff, the young king thought with satisfaction.If only he hadn't been caught, that was exactly what he was good at. The bushes ahead swayed.Varian froze immediately. A doe ran past him.She was small in build and looked like she had just come of age.Varian could feel her shock and fear.He nearly shot an arrow, but held back.However eager the chase might be, Varian had no time to hunt alone.His target is only Jean's prey.Even if the other party knows that he is here, Varian has to prove that he can get there first. Varian slipped behind a tree, and just then another werewolf rushed out and gave chase to the doe.The king recognized the werewolf as Idrik.Not surprisingly, Jinn's squire was more composed than the werewolf Varian had seen before.Like any monarch, Genn keeps the best around him.

Idrik paused, sniffing the air.Varian saw the hunter turn in his direction. Suddenly there was a faint movement on the opposite side that caught Idrik's attention.The doe, out of an indiscriminate instinct, began to run again at an inopportune moment. The werewolf followed her after her.Varian waited a little longer before stepping out from behind the tree.The Lord of Stormwind City believed that since Idrik was here, his master would not be too far away. Varian raised his bow and arrow again, and walked in the direction where Idrick appeared.Werewolves generally hunt in packs.But they're human after all, and higher-ups like Jean prefer to hunt alone. Varian retraces Idric's path, weaving through the undergrowth as easily as the werewolves.His eyes scan his surroundings constantly, and his ears and nose catch the trail of his prey. Finally, a werewolf appeared in front of him, and that was the King of Gilneas.Gene is in hot pursuit of a huge boar.The animal had razor-sharp tusks, and if it turned and fought, Genn might have died too.But this time the wild boar thought only of running away. But Gene is winning the chase.Sometimes he ran with only his feet, and sometimes he used both hands.In Varian's opinion, his movements were even more dexterous than the much younger Idric.The experienced ruler approached the wild boar. Varian weighed the situation, then joined the fray.Although he doesn't have the "advantage" of the werewolf curse, he's clearly seen more deadly battles than all the werewolves combined, no matter their skill or speed.At this moment, Varian had more than just the nimble reflexes of a gladiator.There is another force guiding him that enables him to blend into the pack of wolves.As if he was not just a human being, but also their kind. He had been called Lakash in the past... and now that name was more real to him than the one he was born with. As he charged into the field, two black werewolves—one of them a female with a narrower muzzle—snarled at him from the woods behind Genn.Their presence did not surprise Varian.He had long regarded them as bodyguards. Genn in front heard the warning roar, he raised his ears and glanced to the side, and saw Varian holding a bow and arrow. Varian deliberately ignored his opponent and followed the boar after him.Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Genn suddenly understood the intention of the Lord of Stormwind. Genn let out a defiant growl, then stopped.Varian also stopped in his tracks. "So..." the werewolf growled. "Do you have to prove yourself that I am stronger than you?" "I've always been stronger than you, Gene." "Nonsense! You just need to think about the power brought to us by the curse of the werewolf. This power far exceeds that of ordinary people. This power—" "It's power that blows the shit out of the sky," Varian added. "At least, that's all I can see right now." Two other werewolves approached.Genn waved them off angrily. "I don't know why I want to seek your approval of our people! If the rest of the Alliance wants to go down the road with you, that's up to you!" Varian ignored his insults. "My prey is on the run. You can stay here all day and talk nonsense if you want. But I'm off on my way. There's a feast to catch." "Your prey? What are you kidding!" Genn scoffed at his opponent. "You think you can take him right in front of me? Listen to me, Varian Wrynn! The werewolf curse has greatly enhanced our senses. We can see things that ordinary humans cannot see. Some people call you Ra Kash, though I find it funny that they use a tauren title. But it's just another name for Goldrinn, who's been known to be our guardian spirit since our shapeshifting. When you first came to I saw Goldrinn's halo over you at the banquet. Even though everything you've done since has dampened our hopes, I've never given up hope because I can see it in you His shadow, as if it was your own skin..." Varian was momentarily shaken by Genn's words, but he didn't show it.He gladly accepted the title given to him, but always thought it was just an honor.Now Genn claims to have seen the essence of the giant wolf spirit in Varian or something else. The King of Gilneas paid no attention to the effect of his words, but continued, "But even with Goldrinn's blessing, you are still only Varian Wrynn... so you can take my prey The chances of lifting the Greymane Wall with bare hands are as slim..." After speaking, Genn Greymane rushed out in the direction where the wild boar ran away. Varian followed without hesitation.He found that Genn had a slight advantage in speed, but if the King of Gilneas really thought his opponent was not as good at hunting as a werewolf, it was because he hadn't seen Varian chasing prey.Instincts that ordinary people cannot have once again came to the Lord of Stormwind City.He not only asked about the smell of the werewolves, but also identified the wild boar from among the many smells.His keen hearing could distinguish the smooth, small sounds of the werewolves running through the woods from the scurrying scurry of the great beast they were chasing.Varian looked at the terrain in front of him and immediately understood where he was going.He left his opponent, changed direction, ran south, then changed direction again. As he expected, an upward slope appeared ahead of Gene, delaying him for a few precious seconds.And Varian walked around without panting.He knew from countless past hunts that the boar needed to stop and rest, and he knew exactly where it would be. Varian chased his prey with glee, but that glee had nothing to do with surpassing Genn.He felt more alive than he had been in the past few months.The pain of Anduin's sudden departure was still there, but now Varian needed to keep his full attention on his prey, so he was more able to bear the terrible loss. He recognized a figure that was not a werewolf far ahead.The gigantic wild boar stood motionless, either hoping to evade the hunters, or simply not knowing what to do next. The boar suddenly moved. Varian cursed under his breath.The wild boar rushed in the direction where Jean might appear.For some reason, Varian had startled the beast at such a distance.It was not his style of hunting, and the mistake could have come at the worst possible time for the young king. But Varian wasn't about to throw in the towel.He still has a chance to beat his opponent.More importantly, the bow and arrow can give him an advantage in distance if he can use it to his advantage. Varian rushed up after the boar.Twice his arrows almost missed the string.On the second occasion, the wild boar suddenly turned and rushed in a direction that the experienced hunter hadn't expected.This put the animal on softer ground, giving the two pursuers a better chance of overtaking it. Sure enough, a werewolf suddenly appeared a moment later...but not in the direction Varian expected Jean to appear.It was a young male werewolf with dark brown hair and one ear half missing, apparently led in that direction by his own hunting.Now, he was chasing the prey, unaware that it had been chosen by his master...and by Varian. The wild boar twisted its body and climbed a hill with difficulty.The young werewolf was already closing in on the animal.Varian hadn't seen Genn yet, but he could only assume he might show up at any moment. He takes aim at his prey.A well-placed blow—a very well-placed blow—could have knocked the boar down before the young werewolf could pounce. Just then, the boar turned and charged at the werewolf.The Gilnean was too surprised to step aside in time.The huge wild boar threw its pursuers aside with its tusks and long snout.The werewolf slammed into a tree and passed out. The animal's decision gave Varian a golden opportunity.He took aim...and lowered his bow again.The wild boar took the opportunity to turn around and continue to flee. "Is that how you hunt?" Genn's voice mocked. Varian turned to see another king running towards him.Gene was followed by several other werewolves, including Idric.The werewolves sniffed the air in the direction the boars were fleeing. "Sometimes you have to let your prey run," Varian replied. "Nonsense!" The Lord of Stormwind City is not interested in explaining. "Shall we continue?" Before Gene could reply, Varian ran again.He heard his opponent growl, and the wolves behind him echoed in low voices.Varian wasn't worried that other werewolves would get involved.He knew they would leave their prey to their masters.So it's still a contest between the two rulers. Varian followed the boar's tracks.He admired the beast's stamina and strength, which may have something to do with its desperate struggle.Varian intended to show respect for the prey and ensure that its carcass would not go to waste.That would be a real insult to this admirable opponent. The boar sprinted into the thick undergrowth, which might have been his chance to escape.Once in the bushes, neither Varian nor Genn could maintain their speed to chase their prey.Wild boars are better suited for walking among them than they are. Then another werewolf rushed out from the other direction.Later, Varian recognized him as the young werewolf with half of his ear missing. The boar snorted nervously.It frantically stopped.The young werewolf was startled, and instead of jumping on the prey's back, he landed in front of it. The boar turned and sprinted back in the direction it had come, seemingly oblivious to the fact that it was on the more hunter's side.The other werewolf jumped aside in shock, almost hurting his leg by the sharp fangs.The hunter with light brown fur was on all fours, ready to charge again. Suddenly a wild bear burst out of the thick undergrowth behind him. The black giant reared up on its hind legs and let out a roar, revealing a mouth that could hold a whole human head, and a mouth full of sharp yellow teeth that could easily tear off that human head.The bear towered over the stunned werewolf, its thick, long paws much larger than those of a Gilnean. Because of the direction of the wind, neither could smell another predator.Perhaps because of its huge size, the downwind black bear was not frightened by the appearance of the werewolf.To the impulsive young werewolf, this meant that the hunter was now the hunted. Under the command of instinct, Varian immediately shot an arrow.However, the black bear just turned around at this time, so the arrow shot it in the shoulder. The arrow wound didn't slow down the giant bear's movements, on the contrary, it greatly angered it.Its focus remains on the nearest enemy.The young werewolf moved too slowly to avoid its heavy paw.The blow sent the Gilnean into a tumble, but unfortunately he was still within range of the bear. Varian had already set another arrow at the bear.The arrow hit the bear in the chest, but its thick fur and muscular muscles spared it serious damage. Just as the second arrow hit, another werewolf suddenly jumped forward.He stood in front of the fallen werewolf and howled defiantly at the bear.And the beast that pressed forward roared back at the werewolf.Huge tusks turned on the brave Gilnean. Despite threats, Genn Greymane did not back down. Behind Genn, two others grabbed the unconscious hunter and dragged him away.This seemed to further irritate the wounded bear, which extended a pair of giant paws towards the lone defender. The werewolf leaped to his feet, negating the deadly strikes of both bear paws.His feet were a little on the bear's front legs, and he lunged at the foe's thick throat. The sharp claws tore the flesh under the bear's jaw.Blood spattered the werewolf. Now the bear howled in pain.But this pain also contributed to its incredible power.Just as the werewolf was about to jump back, a fore paw hit him.The giant bear began to attack his assailant. Varian had made a decision that most would call crazy.Fighting alone, he would end up knocking the bear down with a shot in the throat or eye.But the bear was fighting the werewolves, and aiming would be difficult if he didn't want to accidentally hit them.Therefore, bows and arrows are of little use here. The Lord of Stormwind City threw down his bow and arrow, drew out his dagger, let out a howl like a werewolf, and rushed forward.Just as Varian had hoped, the bloodthirsty distracted the bear from its surroundings, and only had Genn in its eyes. Varian landed on the back of the huge beast.Without hesitation, he plunged the dagger into its flesh. The struggle made his strikes lose their aim.He failed to stab the giant bear's neck, but stuck in the shoulder blade.The tip of the dagger broke off, leaving only a sharp broken horn. To make matters worse, the attention of the behemoth was now entirely on him.Bear straightened up, nearly throwing Varian off the ground.It writhed desperately, trying to get rid of the annoying attachment on its back. Varian could only hold on tightly, the pulsation of the muscles on the bear's back alone was like an earthquake to him.The king still gripped the broken dagger, its point still capable of being used as a weapon if Varian hadn't been thrown. A howl sounded in Varian's ear, but it wasn't the bear's sound.Genn Greymane sprang to his feet again, claws slamming down the raging animal's throat.The bear struggled to shake them all away, and at that moment the two kings' eyes met, and Varian realized that Greymane was trying to attract the beast's attention so that the Lord of Stormwind could launch a new campaign. hit. The giant bear hugged Jean with its thick front legs, and it growled to bite off the werewolf's cheek. Varian saw his opportunity. He had to use all his strength to drive the broken blade into the bear's neck.In other words, most people can't stab deep enough, but Varian not only has enough strength, but also has the required knowledge - this comes from countless contests in the arena - he knows where is the neck The softest position. The bear's jaws were just inches away from Genn's face. Varian inserted the dagger deep, almost to the hilt. The bear let out a roar like never before, but this time there was something wrong with his voice.The agony enabled the beast to do what it had not been able to do before: both sovereigns were flung from it like nothing. The wounded animal turned around.Varian sat down and looked up at the huge beast.Even badly wounded, the bear was still able to kill him. But the animal was just desperately trying to get the dagger out.Its claws can easily tear people apart, but it can't hold the handle at all.The bear slapped the source of the pain, and its panting grew hoarse. Physical exhaustion and massive blood loss caused the giant bear to fall to the ground on all fours.It writhed back and forth, still trying to turn its head and bite out the dagger. A figure rushed up from the other side.Varian heard the familiar sound of flesh being ripped. The giant bear groaned and slumped to the left, its throat ripped open. A werewolf stands on top of the dead animal, blood still dripping from his paws and dangling pieces of flesh. The werewolf looked down at Varian. Varian nodded to Genn.The King of Gilneas did one thing right.They had no ill intentions towards the bear.The animal was just acting on its own instincts and had the misfortune of encountering the hunters.If it killed both kings and the unfortunate young werewolf, that was just an inherent risk in the hunt. Genn held out a bloody hand to Varian.Varian had long heard that the King of Gilneas was taught from an early age not to accept help from anyone, but to always stand up on his own.Therefore, the Lord of Stormwind wanted to refuse his support at first, but he remembered all the promises made by the other party and his efforts to rejoin the alliance. Varian took Genn's hand and stood up...the two continued to hold each other's hands, acknowledging each other's hunting skills. Varian turned to the bear, studying his companion's previous blow. "Clean and neat," he complimented Gene. "I just did your job," replied the Gilneas ruler. "This is your kill, your prey." Varian shook his head. "Don't say that. I was hunting a boar." "The man who hunted the rabbit and brought back the deer deserves to be exaggerated. The man who hunted the wild boar and brought back the bear deserves applause." After speaking, Jin looked to the sky and let out a powerful howl, which was not only a tribute to the hunt, but also to the people who caused the hunt.His call was answered by other werewolves, who together extolled the might of the Stormwind king. Genn stopped at last, and his entourage stopped howling too.He turned again to face his companion. Except... Varian wasn't there anymore.