Coilfang Ambush

Sha'Leigh's feet hit the damp waters of Zangarmash. He unpacked the gear he needed for the mission from the pouches strapped to Eliksimo, his war Elekk. His sun-hawk bow was slung over his back and his blade holstered on his belt. His several vials clanged together as he made a final check. He quickly loaded his quiver with poison tipped arrows and threw his trusted pet Vaako some last minute food. Zelune and several other Cenarion Expedition soldiers arrived on their sabers and approached Sha’Leigh.

‘It’s been a long time old friend…a pleasure to be by your side once more,’ Zelune his long time friend said. Sha’Leigh merely smiled and nodded at him before pointing to the Coilfang Resivoir in the distance. It pumped out gas and steam and the others quickly listened to his plan.

The marched down the bank of the lake and dove in. They began to swim towards the compound without talk. When they approached the entrance Sha’Leigh stopped them.

‘Below us is a small tube we’re going to have to swim through, half way down you’ll reach a section which releases air pockets, we’ll take a small break there and then make our final approach to the landing.’ With that they all nodded and dove down, kicking their arms and legs as they entered the tube. Their faces hit weeds and other underwater vegetation but they ignored it and carried on their descent and swim inside the Resivoir compound.

They reached the air pocket ventilation tube within a few seconds and they took in the oxygen they needed before carrying on with their travel. It was nearly two minutes before they approached the landing and surfaced, taking in deep breaths and catching their breath and recharging their energy.

‘Right, everybody do an equipment check before we carry on, we have to make sure we have everything,’ Zelune explained as the group of several Expedition soldiers began looking for their contact.

Several minutes later everybody was ready, druids and warriors scanned the area and found no trace of the Druidess they were supposed to meet. Sha’Leigh knelt down and but his ear to the floor, he closed his eyes and sniffed the air. His eyes flashed back open immediately and he sprung to his feet. Attention turned to him and everybody looked at him curiously.

‘What is it?’ Zelune asked. Sha’Leigh pulled down his black face mask and let out a heaving sigh.

‘They know we’re here.’ Everybody quickly regrouped together and peered around. They couldn’t see or hear anything, they lowered their weapons and straight after a body flew across the underground cave and hit the floor several feet away. Zelune scurried over and checked it.

‘Our contact, shes been murdered…’ he said looking at his friend. Sha’Leigh wasn’t listening. He had his head facing the separate way and suddenly loaded his bow. He pointed it at a small corridor and waited.

With a sudden bang and a ferocious roar, several Naga Myrmidon slithered toward them, polearms held up high and teeth gleaming. Sha’Leigh released his arrow and it struck the leading creature. The Naga hurried their pace and the rest of the Expedition soldiers took action and readied themselves. Druids casting Moonfire spells hit several of the oncomming enemies before being forced to fight hand-to-hand. Sha’Leigh released another arrow, wounding another Myrmidon before throwing his sun-hawk bow aside and drawing his blade as they drew closer. Two charged him, their golden, royal warblades lifted high. One aimed for Sha’Leighs right shoulder but he parried it while the other aimed for his chest. He danced out of the way and struck down to two Naga soldiers.

He glanced around, the Expedition soldiers were heavily trained but were completely outnumbered. Zelune was holding off three Myrmidons while the others took two-four. Vaako was nearby hissing and growling at one of them before lunging at his neck and ripping him apart. Sha’Leighs glance quickly turned behind him to notice a second group of the snake like soldiers slither down another corridor. He called for assistance and two druids were with him in a second.

He readied his blade and ordered the two druids to cast their spells. They followed their orders and struck down several of the threat before entering close quarters combat where they were struck down. Sha’Leigh and Vaako started to fight defensive against the swarming horde of the Naga streaming from the two corridors. Three other Expedition soldiers fell leaving him, Vaako and Zelune left to hold off the remaining Myrmidons. The chance to succeed was very unlikely.

Sha’Leigh pulled his blade from inside the chest of a Myrmidon and he quickly span around to gash another behind him. Vaako jumped forward, teeth gleaming and struck another. The Warp Stalked quickly disappeared and then reappeared behind another soldier cutting him down also. Sha’Leigh looked over to Zelune and watched him take a gouge to the stomach and saw him hit the floor crying in pain. One of the Nagas around him lifted up a blade to bring down upon him. Sha’Leigh quickly aimed and threw his sword into the Myrmidon and watched him hit the floor next to his best friend. He was now defensless and turned to face another soldier who bashed him with the hilt of his sword and he slipped backwards onto the floor.

He watched as his trusted pet fought on, he killed three other Naga royal soldiers before being stabbed several times. Sha’Leigh grew a tear in his eye as he watched his pet be killed infront of him. He didn’t care if he was killed now, he only wanted to be left alone. He was suddenly tossed onto his front and his hands were bound together with rope and he was flung over one of the Nagas shoulders. They grunted loudly as he and Zelune, his best friend were carried away into the dark corridors, and into the Nagas lair.

*

Sha’Leigh awoke the next morning, his shirt was ripped off and he only wore his leggings and boots. It stunk inside the cell he was in and saw Zelune quivering in the corner holding his wound. There was nothing he could do and if he wasn’t seen by a Priest soon, he would die. The cell was small and was damp, no beds or a toilet was situated inside, it was just a square room.

Two hours later the two Night Elves where dragged across the corridors of the Coilfang Slave Pens and were thrown in front of Warlord Kalithresh. Sha’Leigh was struck in the head and blood dripped down his forehead. Zelune was on his knees holding his wound and was growing pale. They were not bound and Sha’Leigh eyed up the situation while Kalithresh threw him tonnes of questions he did not answer. He was struck again twice and if he was hit another time he would be out cold. He had to act now.

The guard hitting him with the hilt of his blade was grunting. He was ordered to hit him again and he brought down his weapon. Sha’Leigh used every ounce of strength in his body to turn around and grab the blade. They both wrestled and the other Naga soldiers became alert. Zelune got to his feet and used one of his arms to swing a punch into the back of the guards head. Sha’Leigh took the blade and began to battle off the other Myrmidons.

‘Zelune, get out of here, get back to the Cenarion outpost and alert them of whats going on, hurry, I’ll buy you as much time as possible!’ he yelled to his weak friend.

‘B-but, y-you’ll be kept h-here, I d-don’t want to leave you here,’ his best friend stumbled as he slowly made his way to the door.

‘Get out of here…now!’ Sha’Leigh yelled again as he ducked and lunged towards a Myrmidon who ran into his blade and keeled over with a groan. Zelune stumbled away and without a look back ran towards the door and was away. Kalithresh was ordering his soldiers to suppress Sha’Leigh who was taking down every threat he could. He fought on, but the Naga tested his strength and stamina, but he wore out of energy and lost every ounce of power he had.

One of the Myrmidons chuckled, slithered up to him and snatched Sha’Leighs stolen blade. He then lifted his own and brought it back down, striking Sha’Leigh in the heart. The Night Elf huntsman cried out in pain and clutched his wound as the blade was released from his chest. He fell backwards with a loud thump and his eyes closed as his last breath exited his body and everything went quiet…

(( This is the story of Swiftstrike's death who was killed on the 13th August ))