The Keep

Kali woke up with a start at a loud banging. She reached to her side and grabbed the handle of her axe before hearing the now familiar whimper of the demon wench’s last attempt at breath.

Sighing, Kali rolled onto her side, still clutching her blade, as she tried to find sleep once more. She had been sleeping somewhat restlessly since coming back to familiar faces. She had seen Lae, and that troll she insisted on tugging along everywhere, earlier in the morning. They looked so blissful, and caused her to feel warm emotions she had long since forgotten. When once she only wanted to protect her, now Kali wanted to hurt the little girl for forcing her to remember. She wanted Lae to feel the rage, and the power, that Grot had made her feel. She wanted to have a friend, someone to talk to. Grot had been so distant, so upset lately. She didn’t feel as though she could talk to him about anything but the killing.

She could still faintly remember her life before the fury; reminders lay abundant in Azeroth. Sometimes when she is out in battle she comes across the small hut that had once been home to Lae and herself. A young laboring orc had now made it his home. He stands cutting wood as Kali remembers disturbing images of telling stories to Lae by the fire before bed. She remembers the warmth that she had felt for her young sister. Kali grunted and squirmed under the silken sheets that Grot had made when he was still learning to be a tailor. His skill in tailoring, as most every other skill he undertakes, has reached the highest potential. Every day he grows stronger and stronger as Kali struggles to keep up, to keep him satisfied.

His blood lust has reached an all time high, with him venturing into battle to commit torturous attacks on his foes at all hours. Kali was once the one to take so much pleasure in killing, but the monstrosities that Grot commits seem so dark, even to such a battle torn warrior as herself.

Kali tossed to the other side and she could hear Grot re-summoning the wench again. She rested her hands on her still flat stomach. She knew why Grot felt such rage, but she was still unable to give him what he desired. Every time she looks in his eyes all she sees is his pain. The love that was once there is now clouded in anger and resentment. She had failed him.