The Grove under Attack

It did not take long for the pair to stumble into more excitement. Lae'zel led the two of them into a clearing, where they encountered a huge gate. Made of wood and covered in vines, it was manned by a few tieflings standing above. It was unclear whether they were friend or foe, and considering her recent experience, Lae'zel seemed inclined towards the latter. Before the girls could even talk about their options, though, a commotion interrupted them.

"Open the bloody gate!" A human yelled. Three men had run up to the gate, looking haggard and battered.

"Nobody gets in, Aradin!" One of the tiefling guards yelled back. "Zevlor's orders."

"That pack of goblins will be on us any second!" Aradin begged, looking back fearfully.

"What's going on!" An older tiefling approached the guard outpost, the others seeming to look at him with respect.

"Goblins are on our tail!" Mixed in with Aradin's distress was clear contempt for the old tiefling. "Open the gate, Zevlor. Now!"

"You led goblins here?" Zevlor was incredulous, his face twisting in anger. "You idiot! Where is the druid?"

"Please, there's no time!" The man was getting ****. "Just-"

A loud growl cut through their conversation. Emerging from the treeline, and quite close to the girls, was a worg, and behind it, an entire party of goblins, armed to the teeth with bows and blades. Lae'zel readied her sword as Shadowheart raised her shield, the pair being out in the open and clearly spotted.

"By the Nine Hells," Zevlor exclaimed, turning to his fellow tieflings. "Open the gates!"

It was too late, though. As the warriors rushed forward, archers shot a volley of arrows. A few stuck in Shadowheart's shield, but she was not the true target. The tiefling operating the winch which raised the gate was struck in the heart, killing him instantly. As he fell, so did the gate, sealing the humans outside.

"I should have never let you lead the way," Shadowheart grumbled, steeling herself. "Now look what we're caught up in!" Her harsh words concealed the half elf's true feelings. She had never faced down a horde of goblins before. While she knew they were individually weak, their numbers terrified her. And that wolflike worg... it sent chills down her spine.

"Tsk'va!" Lae'zel growled. "It matters not how we got into this mess. Only how we get out!"

Shadowheart agreed with that, at least. Standing side by side with the gith warrior, she prayed for Shar to see her through this fight.