[Pvithe, Senariul, Aelrath, Rinuul] - Book 1, Rock Bottom.

Chapter 2, Aelrath Tenderheart.

"Squad Medic, Aelrath Tenderheart." the Field Marshal called out. The words stung her ears, sinking her heart each time she heard it.

"A. Tenderheart, Field Medic." Each time, she prepared herself, attempted to steel herself from the hope of being chosen as a fighter, a brawler. She knew where she would be stationed, she knew each time she would be the designated healer, but that didn't stop her from deep down wishing to be placed with sword and shield in hand.

"Frontline medics, are as follows; Aelrath Tenderheart..." Her name, had become somewhat of a bad omen in the many camps she had frequented since the Regent Lords push into Pandaria. Were it anyone else chosen, those wounded on the frontlines may have stood a chance of being brought back to their feet, brought back to health to live and fight another day. When Aelrath was your medic, the best you could pray for was a quick and painless death.

"For tomorrows assault, the assigned frontline troops are as follows..." The Marshal yelled out to the assembled Knights. A full batallion of Blood Knights stood in their distinct Black and Red armour, shoulder to shoulder beneath the pedestal which their Marshal yelled out from, all huddled together to find out where next they would be fighting and who with, and as the rain poured down upon their muddied and bloodied faces, one face in particular stood apart from the croud with her flush rosy cheeks and sodden golden hair, framing her face. "... And your assigned medic..." The Marshal continued, and in that split second, time froze for the young Sin'dorei. As her eyes scanned the gathered soldiers, not even a quarter had been chosen to lead tomorrows assault. Any one of them could be chosen to act as the assigned healer, all Blood Knights came with some capability to heal themselves and their comrades, they were the best of the best, the elite fighting force of Silvermoons forces, and that's when it came. "Tenderheart, Aelrath."

"That's bullshit!" A voice rang out from the crowd, one of the soldiers she was assigned to work with in the coming fight. "Why are we lumbered with the broken girl? Let someone in the back ranks take her, I want to live to see the end of this war!" he continued, anger in his voice spilling forth like an overboiling kettle.

"You will do as your told, Adept. If you have any issues with your orders, you can speak with me about it in private later, or surrender your weapon and be thrown to the Kor'kron as bait." The Marshal retorted, glaring down at the outspoken Soldier.

"We all know you're only sending her to the front all the time in the hopes that she'll be killed off! Why don't you do everyone a favour and just send her home already, she's useless to us!" He continued, glaring through the crowd which had since dispersed to give the man a clear line of sight to the shamed Girl.

"Shut up!" She cried, her face flushed red with the cold weather, and her tears expertly hidden by the rain. She knew herself that she was a weak medic, but since losing her arm and having it fitted with a prosthetic replacement meant that putting her on the front lines with her weapons would be a risk no commander would be willing to take. Despite her pleas to the upper echelons, none would hear her cries. None would sit there, and evaluate her on her skills, and her ability to fight despite not having a true synthetic arm. She would always be crippled to them, always a liability, and no amount of magic arms would fix that.

"Or what, one arm? You're going to take off that arm of yours and slap me with it?" He replied, glaring at her from across the field with his arms folded over his chest, standing proud.

"I said shut up!" She roared, lurching forward with her good arm and sending a bolt of pure holy Light towards the man, hitting him square in the chest and sending him barrelling backwards into several other Knights. The Girl radiated the warmth of the Light, but there was no love in her heart, only sorrow.

"That is enough, Tenderheart! Both of you, to your tents. I shall deal with you both later." The Marshal ordered, barking her words. As the man was aided to his feet, Aelrath walked away, her head held high and her poise oozing confidence to mask the fact that in the rain, her tears still poured down her cheeks. She would not give him her tears. He was not worth them.

---

"Hey Ael... You look like you've been having fun in the lake again. You getting much time off?" The apparition asked. As Aelrath combed through her sodden hair, she adjusted the towel that wrapped around her shoulders to cover up her scarcely dressed figure, a few inches tall hologram of a Sin'dorei fluttered about in front of her, shimmering in golden Light. From the other end, her Sister, Seras Tenderheart was surrounded by many stacks of paper, and a dozen or so young Archers dashing around in the background. Whereas Aelrath looked tired, worn, and haggered, it was her Elder Sister, the more wrinkled and time worn Sin'dorei that looked the better of the two Sisters, and it clearly showed.

"It's just raining here... Just checking in... How are things back home?" She asked as she brought the towel ever closer, revealing the black rubbered arm from under the towel. Seras did not look, she knew her younger Sister was conscious of it, and so thought it best to not look at it directly. The Arm itself, was made of several 'plastics' and rubbers that joined together like the muscles of the arm, complete with a solid living steel core for the hardened rubbers to attach to as an anchor. For all intents and purposes, it acted and was controlled just like her real arm before it, and concealed under her clothes and armour, nobody would be any wiser as to the extent of damage she had received.

"Busy... We're not being asked for, that much, but still, homeland security is a big concern, especially after the reports of what happened in the vale. Are you alright, by the way? You look tired." Seras asked, leaning in to the projection of Aelrath on her end as if scanning it.

"Yeah... Just a little bit, but it's almost over according to all reports. I'll be home soon, I think... Have you heard any news about Sen?" She asked, putting her comb aside and pulling a long orange shirt over her head.

"Sadly not, no... The Magisterium has been awfully tight lipped. They even now deny that he was in Ashenvale close to the time of his disappearance. They just keep telling me they're looking for him, but I think with all that's going on, we'll just have to wait. Although, I did receive a nice letter the other day, mentioning that if I keep putting my head above the wall, someone will take it off." She replies, a faint smirk forming on her lips as she stretches off in her chair.

"You think the Magisterium had something to do with Senny's disappearance?" She says, leaning forward as a flash of concern and worry overcomes her face. Seras however, steels herself for her reply, and in a deadpan tone she replies

"I think Quel'thalas has the best interests of its citizens and its armed forces in mind at all times, and would stop at nothing to ensure peace and prosperity for all of its people. Does that answer your question?"

"Indeed it does, dearest Sister. Alright... I guess I should go, just let me know if you hear anything... Okay?"

"Of course, and look out for yourself out there. Once we get back, things'll go back to how they used to be, just you wait and see. I've also got a present for you back home, so make sure you come back or else I'll be coming out there to kick your backside myself!" to which Aelrath just giggles, leaving a small smile upon her lips as she waves goodbye and she stops the channeled cast that kept open a line of communication between herself and Seras. She knew what Seras had wanted to say, but even as decorated war veterans, even they were not above the Magisters censors, and would not take such risks in bringing the eyes of the state upon their heads. As she began to curl up into her sleeping bag for the night, the sound of heavy plate boots storming towards forced the Elven girl to reach for her unused blade, and prepare for whatever came for her.

Excellent story. I was highly amused by everything in it, from the elfs way of speaking and his personality, to the way 'Matthew' tried to be all friendly and persuasive. Very well written.

Thanks bud'. Not sure who to do next, Aelrath the Blood Knight, Rinuul the Justicar, or Pvithe the Pvithe.

The theme of this book, is that they're all at rock bottom, and it's interesting for me to write about seeing as it's all current events, and all four characters are in a state of disarray.

Pvithe will have a large secret "revealed" about him that has so far been kept quiet, but even then that will not give everyone a full picture of him.

Aelrath is preparing for the siege of Orgrimmar, at Lor'themars side and longing for a love that she had to leave behind because of the War.

Then there's Rinuul who after being duped into believing the Blades for Hire were a collective of downtrodden peasants being mis-treat by the Guards of Stormwind, has decided to go out on his own to find the 157th that people keep talking about, but during his journey to find them, has ended up trapped in Kun-Lai, on the other end of the Sha infestation with a threat looming right above him.

But who to write next. Decisions, decisions.

Due to being immensely stupid, I have overwritten the first chapter, with the second chapter, and now the first chapter is lost.

This makes me incredibly sad to think it gone like that, but what can I do?

Oh well, enjoy the second chapter.