Disclaimer & Warnings:
I do not own World of Warcraft- though I've played it since it's original beta. :D
Apart from the famous NPCs appearing in this story, these characters are all based on actual, played characters. Please do not use their names or personalities in your own writings. Even if Fiernaa offers you stolen elven wine!
This story is rated T due to mild language and innuendo.
This story is dedicated to Muche. I miss you, my wonderful squeaky buddy.
Chapter One
A New Life
Familiar sounds and smells wafted from the old inn, and Raybourn breathed in deeply. The Tauren shaman had been away from home for nearly a year, and finally he was back where he wanted to be; home among his guildmates, friends, and his favourite pub.
Sighing happily, he swung the heavy oaken door open and stepped inside the smoky building. Instantly he was buried under two people- Fiernaa, a fellow shaman and strikingly beautiful orc, and Bogarden, a faithful Tauren hunter; two guildmates he hadn't seen in quite some time.
"I've missed you!" Fiernaa cried, leading him over to a table towards a far corner. Bog, as he preferred to be called, was slapping Raybourn on the back, grinning.
"I've been away too long!" Ray nodded, sitting at the table with his friends.
"You must tell us what all you saw," Bog said firmly, thrusting a huge mug of ale at him. "And about everywhere you went!"
"I will, I will," Ray promised, then drank deeply from his mug.
Two slender arms snaked around his throat, pulling him back. Startled at first, he relaxed as he recognized the worn gauntlets.
"Hiyas Squish," he grinned, leaning forward and pulling on the undead rogue's arms. Carefully he lifted her over his head and sat her on the table.
"Hiiii," she replied in a sing-song voice. "I thought you wouldn't be back for another week or so."
Ray shook his head. "Here am I."
"So noted, have another ale on me!" She handed him Fiernaa's mug, grinning.
"Hey!" the orc frowned, wrestling it back from the slender undead.
Dimly, Ray became aware of a commotion by the front door. The barkeep was arguing hotly with someone standing just outside the door, and the shaman smiled as he heard a familiar screeching. Finally, a blue skinny hand shoved the proprietor backwards, and in strode a tall troll female, closely followed by a very large red bat.
"I dun told you dis before!" the troll said, stomping her foot in defiance and glaring at the barkeep. "If you don't check weapons at da door, den my pet stays wit me!"
"But-!"
"No buts! 'Cept yours, behind dat counter servin' me ale!" the troll roared fiercely. The bat landed on the troll's shoulders, hissing angrily at the barkeep.
Muttering to himself, the barkeep scooted away from the huntress. Patting her fiery orange hair out of her face, she looked around and spotted Raybourn.
"Dere's my boy!" she cried happily, winding through the crowd and sitting at his table.
Ray leaned over and hugged the troll. "It's awesome to see you again, Verii!"
"Same, same!" She kissed him on the cheek. "So, we all gonna get drunk while da big shaman tells da stories until da show, yes?"
"Show?" Ray asked.
"Oooh, he don't know," Verii giggled. "You gotta big surprise comin' tonight!"
"But first, stories!" Squishy said, raising her mug to the shaman. "The show won't be for another hour or so."
Tucking her long ears inside her hood, Aerdrie quietly walked through the gates to Orgrimmar. Though she was a night elf druid, she had been welcomed into the Horde community half a year ago. Leaving her brethren and faction behind, she has chosen to devote her life to the Cenarion druids of the Horde. Although by now most everyone was at least aware of her, walking through Orgrimmar openly displaying her race would be inviting trouble.
The guards nodded her into the orc city, one of them that she knew well giving her a toothy smile. She grinned back and quickly made her way to her workplace for the night. Although she was often in Thunder Bluff teaching druidic rituals, she worked for the popular inn in Orgrimmar as entertainment. It was, she thought, another way to actively gain acceptance, something she struggled for every day.
Slipping in the back door, she ran to the kitchen, then unlocked the walk-in closet the inn had set aside for her use. She went inside and shut the door, then completely disrobed. Naked and nervous, she let her eyes slip into night vision. Finally she located the large tree root that protruded from the ground, and grasped it with both hands. Chanting softly, she closed her eyes and felt herself connecting to the earth, to its magic. Her skin began to glow softly from the contact. Taking a deep breath, she stood and opened the door on the opposite side of the small room and stepped out.
