Urim held the reins of horse tight as he guided it through the snow. His anger radiated off him and the horse was nervous and agitated because of it.

Plum rode the horse in silence, her eyes glancing at Urim ever so often. She wanted to say something but thought it best to remain quiet. He'll talk when he's ready.

"I never meant for you to see me like that," Urim's voice cut through the thick cold air.  "Are you afraid of me now?" he asked.

Plum could hear deep regret and sorrow in his voice.

"No," Plum answered without a second thought. "You forgot, I was raised by an orc, so I know how orcs get when they are filled with rage. I mean, I was shocked."

A low rumble escaped Urim's lips.

"But, I understand why you did what you did," Plum replied. "And it doesn't change how I feel about you."

Urim stopped and the horse instinctively stopped behind him. 

"Plum," Urim said turning to face her. 

Her gaze accepting to whatever he had to say.

"Before this over," Urim huffed. "I'm going to have to do things... kill people-"

"My love," Plum interrupted. "I don't envy you, or the choices you will have to make soon. You are still the Chieftain of the Blood Horde and I won't rest until I see you back in your rightful place. No matter what may come, my love, you have my bow."

     Urim eyes widen with delight. He carefully pulled Plum off the horse and embraced her. "You always know the right words to say, women." He grunted holding her in his inescapable grip. 

"This road Plum, it won't be easy." Urim's arms tightened around her.

"I know," Plum said.

"They're here and they have us surrounded."

"I know," Plum said leaning into Urim.

"There's an opening there just at the treeline. If you-"

"No!" Plum yelled. "I won't leave you," she buried her face in his chest.

"You have to, Cirrane is not that far now." He said.

"I can't," Plum cried. "I won't,"

"Listen Plum, whatever they do to me I can take it. But you," he squeezed her even tighter. "I couldn't bear such a thing."

"But what if I never see you again? What if you never get to see your child? I couldn't bear that." Plum sobbed.

"I'll come back to you, no matter what I'll find you. But above all, I need you safe and not just you." Urim said rubbing Plum's belly. "Don't worry about me. Now please," Urim said wiping her tears. "go."

He tried to pull away from Plum but she only squeezed him tighter.

"Plum-"

"I'll wait for you," Plum said. "I wait forever if I have to so please come back to me."

"Plum," he whispered. His heart was racing so fast it pained him. Leaving Plum, even to protect her was more than his heart could take. "Don't cry, I'll come back to you I promise."

Urim lifted Plum back on to the horse.

His eyes filled with grief and his heart flooded with sorrow Urim smacked the horse on its backside. "Don't look back." He yelled.

     Tears flooded Plum's eyes the thought of losing Urim killed her inside. She wanted to turn back. But she knew she would only be in his way. It took everything inside her all the strength she could muster not to turn around and honor Urim's wishes. She knew he was fighting for his life and the only thing she could do to help him was to survive.

     For days Plum rode as fast and hard as the horse could. Not stopping or looking back until she was newly frozen. Her feet and hands were burning and tingling. Her fingers had already gone numb and her fingernails were beginning to turn blue. 

Her horse took his last step to exhausted to go on, he collapsed and died from exhaustion and exposure.

"Thank you," Plum whispered in the dying horse's ear. 

But she couldn't stop she had to keep moving she had to find shelter and warmth. She had a baby on the way and she had to be alive when Urim came looking for her.

The snow was up to her knees and rising, the cold air cut through her like a sharpened blade. But she continued to walk on even when the snowfall blinded her and she could no longer feel her limbs. She kept walking for the sake of her unborn child and Urim.

Finally, through the wind and the snow, she thought she caught a glimpse of a tent. The familiar size and shape of a tent meant for orcs. She approached the tent with caution, knowing that depending on who the occupants were it can mean warmth or death. If she hadn't already died from the cold and just hadn't realized it.

It took her only a second to realize she'd prefer to take her chances with the enemy than with the cold.

Her eyes widen and her heart raced an orc appeared in the doorway. His eyes widen with joy and confusion as to why she was there.

"Plum!" Brandyl said. "What? Why?"

Plum collapse to her knees at the overwhelming sight of seeing her father. Tears flooded her eyes and joy-filled her heart.

"Your freezing," he said taking her in his arms and rushing her inside. "Yotul help me."

Brandyl sat Plum down in front of the fire and Yotul covered her in as many fur skins as she could find. 

She was shivering uncontrollably.

"Brandyl, what's going on?" Yotul asked.

"I don't know," he replied. "Plum what's going on? Why are you here?"

"Plum?" Yotul recognized the name. "What's your daughter doing all the way out here?"

"Yotul!" Brandyl yelled a bit of frustration in his voice. "I don't know."

Yotul grunted, she would remember to give Brandyl a piece of her mind later.

"Plum, " Urim sat down next to his daughter, "what happened why are you here and where's Urim?"

Plum laid her head on Brandyl's arm. It was a warm familiar feeling.

"Gor'lok has done something horrible," Plum said through her tears. Her voice shivering.

"Tell me everything," Brandyl said.