The blast of holy magic was all consuming. Rushing outwards in a single wave it swallowed the surviving pair in a blinding flash of gold. What followed was silence only the dull rhythmic thumping of their heart beats could be heard resounding in their ears.<br/><br/>A few blinks to clear her vision and Jessica snatched up Nelwyn's weakened body, doing her best to heave her across a single shoulder and rush forward in the first direction away from the demon steed. Her heavy plate armor crunched against the ring mail beneath. Each step was heavy and her feet sank and slipped in Durotars light sand. Still Jessica pushed, her knees trembling with effort, her strength peeling through the exhaustion by adrenaline. She ran until, finally, beneath the desert sun, it finally became too much and she collapsed spilling her cargo down a sand dune.<br/><br/>Nelwyn's body rolled passively through the sand coming a stop just a few feet away and after a moment she too struggled to her knees to face her ally. Jessica's auburn hair was slick with sweat and was pasted to her forehead and cheeks from the exertion of the run. Her cheeks red and flushed, her lips parted and dry, nearly cracking from the dry heat the baked them both. Nelwyn' wasn't much better off. Her robe was stained dark from sweat in the usual places of perspiration but the rips and tears in both her robe and underclothes provided at least some relief from the heat. It wasn't as bad as Jessica's heavy plate and chain armor, not to mention the sword sheathed and slung around her hips.<br/><br/>The pair shared a moment of pure exhaustion, staring blankly at each other as they struggled to catch their breath. That was until they heard a whinny from atop the adjacent sand dune. The Dreadsteed trotted almost playfully into view. It's stained black body twitching with muscle as it managed each step gracefully through the sand.<br/><br/><i>Do you creatures honestly believe you can outrun me?</i><br/><br/>The demon's voice echoed with cruelty through the women's minds.<br/><br/><i>Or them?</i><br/><br/>The steed craned its armored neck and motioning toward the south. In the distance the sand kicked up in small puffs as a pair of Horde riders raced toward the surviving alliance members.<br/><br/>Jessica's eyes widened. "Advanced scouts for the main hunting group." she spat between clenched teeth as she struggled to her feet and slid her blade from her sheath. The blade tip wavered uncertainly back and forth, her hand weak with exhaustion.<br/><br/>"Jessica." Nelwyn's voice cracked dryly. "I can't. I don't have enough strength to fight them off as well. I used what I had to break the spell."<br/><br/>The Paladin already knew. Her features scrunching in an attempt to bite back the bitter taste of sorrow that crept up from the pit of her stomach. It didn't matter. She had made a vow to protect Nelwyn no matter the price. Her second hand reached up to her blades hilt and steadied her grip. A nearly silent prayer was ushered and Jessica's armored body shimmered with protective energies and not a moment too soon.<br/><br/>An arrow caught flight from one of the riders and was deflected off of Jessica's armored shoulder. The impact, however, was jarring enough to knock the Paladin off her footing and she whirled about. The Paladin's blade caught axe as an Orc warrior swung low from his Worg mount. The crashing sound of steel echoed loudly off the hills of sound and the dead desert sky. Another crash of steel, and another, the Orc warrior was speeding in close circles from his mount lashing in only to come rushing back for blow after blow. Jessica was on a single knee now. The tip of her sword resting in the sand, exhaustion had taken it's toll and the weapon was nearly too heavy to lift. The Orc swung around again this time Jessica's blade was torn from her grip and sent spinning through the sky lost to the desert.<br/><br/>Behind the fight, Nelwyn was rolling desperately with her attacker, a female troll shaman, both hand their hands on the priestess' staff, with Nelwyn pinned beneath trying not to have her throat crushed.<br/><br/><i>Last chance for a deal whelps. Or I leave you to the horde</i><br/><br/>From beyond the demons dark voice spilled into the human's thoughts.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>