The Keep

Lektu and Grimmik returned back to the camp a week or two later, their bodies wounded, some of the wounds already beginning to heal, scarring their green bodies. They didn’t speak for days, though Kali stayed close to their side as much as she could, sitting closer than usual to them, respecting their need for silence. Even Lae was quieter than usual, cooing quieter and less often than usual, not daring to cry out. She didn’t see Grot for days on end, though she missed him greatly. She needed to be near her parents, though. As poorly as they may treat her, she was still a child, and she needed them.

The news of Gul’dan’s coma hit them all differently. Kali widened her eyes in excitement when she heard the news, quickly trying to wipe the look from her face as she saw a solemn look cross her parents, both looking around suspiciously at others. It was a few weeks after their defeat at Stormwind that they heard of the discovery of an organization called the Shadow Council, and they only heard of it as Doomhammer proudly stated that they were no more. It was a powerful organization, he had found, that was controlling and manipulating not only Blackhand, but all orcs, and was controlled by Gul’dan.

He promised the crowd that the Horde would no longer fall prey to corruption and manipulation at the hands of such an organization again, raising his hands emphatically as he spoke, a cautious rumble of voices murmuring through the gathering. Lektu and Grimmik looked at one another, their eyes connecting in a way Kali was sure that there was some message being passed, though she had no idea what. Her young eyes looked back to Doomhammer, filled with pride and admiration, amazed at his strength, willpower and honour. She knew that this man would guide the orcs rightly, a man she could really envy.

He led the orcs back into Stormwind, and this time it fell. The Horde was freed from their manipulative peers, but the blood lust still swam in their veins. Kali stayed up late the night of the clan’s return, their bodies glistening with sweat, their voices excited and happy. They were to gather the clans, ready themselves for a full out war and move onwards, to the lands of the Dwarves, and with their newfound strength and unity, there was an electric excitement in the cool, otherwise calm air.

Kali, upon this news, finally sought out Grot who had become slightly more comfortable with the larger gathering of orcs, more and more arriving on foot every day. Other clans slowly started moving through the portal and north to Redridge upon news of Doomhammer’s acknowledgement of what exactly was going on within the Horde, and that they would need more forces to continue to triumph over the new land.

She smiled at him when she saw him sitting quietly by a small campfire, near to others, but alone. Strutting over to him, she plunked herself down close to him, holding his hand as a child would, looking at him. “He’s a good orc,” she smiled, watching Grot’s expression change from happiness at seeing her to confusion.

“Who?”

Kali smiled dreamily. “Doomhammer.”

Grot narrowed his eyes, watching her back. “I don’t know.”

Kali chuckled, shaking her head. “To single-handedly free us from Gul’dan’s reign? And to take out that stupid Blackhand?”

“I didn’t think Blackhand was so bad,” he countered, not sure if he believed it or if he just hated the idea of Kali liking another man.

She laughed, tearing her hand from his and punching him in the shoulder, “Shut up he wasn’t. Anyways, ya comin’ on the trek to the Dwarfs, right?”

“Of course, what else would I do? Stick it out here?” he replied, his voice low and serious, causing her to laugh again.

“Yer so serious all the time. I gotta go with Grimmik, but try to find me every couple days, ‘kay? Hate when I can’t talk ta you whenever I want.”

She grinned at her friend, her eyes wide and happy, her posture relaxed and at ease. Her clothing wasn’t so ratty as when they had first arrived, pillaging the human’s cloth and clothing, and she now wore a nice black top with matching pants, and shoes that covered her entire feet, though they looked a little too large and awkward for her. Grot was still in most of the same clothing, though Kali had swiped him an oversized shirt that went midway down his thighs.

He grunted, nodding, “dabu.”

She laughed, punching him again, standing and looking down at him. “An’ promise me you’ll try ta smile once every few days. Yer face is goin’ to stick like that soon,” she teased as she trotted away from him, back to her parents.