Make sure to check out my character sketches on deviant art-Casicko. Team portrait and the two lovebirds. Check out how I imagine them to look.
Troll Vacation
A cool, gentle breeze sifted over the dusty, towering plateaus on this gentle evening in Thousand Needles. Blood splattered into the air as a dark-furred tauren slammed into the dirt upon one of the needle plateaus of Darkcloud Pinnacle. Two more made their attempts to stop the oncoming Horde team. Barrack bashed his mace into the side of one of the enemy's heads while Garrett slipped behind the other and stabbed him, repeatedly, before the beast even knew he was there. The group passed over a poorly secured rope bridge- their sixth one in the last ten minutes- and knocked another tauren over the edge of the cliff to his doom.
"Apoco! Get Windsong!" Ku'Mari shouted as he and Quel'Anis attacked Arnak Grimtotem and the last of his minions. Apoco nodded and transformed into a bear as he knocked over two of the guarding tauren. He returned to his own form and politely greeted the young female of his kind.
"Lakota Windsong, we are here to rescue you! Follow me!" He quickly escorted her away from the commencing battle. As they came to the bridge, Apoco took notice to the doubtful look upon the she-tauren's face and frowned. (I know I'm young, but a least give me a chance, lady.) Being merely a teenager, Apoco was constantly subjected to this sort of skepticism. He had learned to deal with it to some degree. They began to cross the bridge but stopped midway as Apoco looked back in concern.
"Don't worry kid, I've got your back." A crackling female voice came as the undead warlock passed the two tauren with her large misty voidwalker. She ran a few feet ahead of them and stopped as she prepared a shadow attack on four approaching enemies. The voidwalker was sent ahead and began beating on two of the beasts furiously. Arcane shadow bolts blinded the other two dark tauren and they fell over the bridge to land hundreds of feet below. The warlock shook her head in disapproval.
"That's what happens when you base your head quarters on top of a cliff." She sneered.
"Irena, five more! Let's go!" Apoco pointed out as they headed toward the final plateau. The group of Dark Cloud tauren growled in fury at the trio.
"Leaving so soon?" one hissed.
"How dare you attack our leader!" another shouted.
Irena casted a curse of darkness, as her voidwalker ransacked two of the tauren. Lakota Windsong braced herself for the attack, weaponless and defenseless, but no enemy reached her. Apoco thrust his crescent pike into the chest of an oncoming dark tauren and with one powerful shove slammed the beast into another. The remaining dark tauren charged toward the young Horde member with his sword swinging. Apoco withdrew his pike and spun around just in time to block the sword's blow. The dark tauren laughed looking down at the short-statured teenager only to be surprised with a fist hitting hard to his chin. He fell back in shock as Apoco plunged his pike through his neck. Irena raised an eyebrow at him in impressed surprise.
"Never underestimate the little guy!" Apoco chimed heroically as he escorted Lakota Windsong down the spiral pathway to the bottom of the massive rock. One by one, the rest of the crew made their way to ground level.
"I hope this is the last of this… I hate heights." Barrack complained looking back up at the towering pinnacle from which they had just descended.
"Who wouldn't after this line of quests." Irena added.
Being the young gentleman that he was, Apoco helped the she tauren down off the final ledge. She immediately kissed him on cheek and hugged him.
"You are my hero!" she swooned. Everyone turned to the young male tauren as he turned as red as a furry tauren could.
"Great job, everyone. Let's get back tah Freewind Post. I be pretty sure we done helpin' out round here fah good." Ku'Mari explained as he led the group back to the Horde headquarters.
The small post sat upon another high canyon- eroded pinnacle but the sturdy wooden elevators at the base made for an easy ascension. Still, Irena and Barrack peered down over the edge wearily. They were both glad to be leaving these lands very soon.
Ku'Mari presented Arnak's hoof to Cliffwatcher Longhorn.
"I thank you, Ku'Mari and your team for your brave heroics. I never thought that foul creature would be brought to justice. Well done. And alas, you have found our Lakota and she is once again safe and sound." The old tauren explained happily. He rewarded them with a small amount of gold and traveling supplies. Irena scowled at the lack of financial reward as they returned to their camp set up near the eastern edge of the pinnacle.
"The reward poster quoted far more than we recieved. What a waste of time!"
"Hey, hey! We saved someone's life today and took down an opposing tribe! I'd say that's never a waste of time. Only a money-grubbing hag like you could think so!" Garrett snapped at her, his hollow eyes narrowing.
The glow of the Forsaken remained prominent in Irena's eyes, however, and she glared back at him.
"I do believe that I was not the only one to complain about shrinking resources and a need for gold after our skimmed reward from killing off the Centaur spies!"
"That was different! There was far more work to be done. The population was in great mass and they were harder to kill."
"Oh please! Their camp was a wreck before we got there and they, not much unlike yourself, were stubborn and easily stupefied. And anyways, we were on the ground."
"Hey, you're the only one with a fear of heights. It doesn't make much sense to me though. I mean, you are dead."
"Walk over to that ledge and I make sense of it for ya!"
"Oye, oye, chill you two. Ya been doin notin but arguin' since we got tah Thousand Needles." Ku'Mari couldn't help but laugh as he broke up the fight. "Musta got too much sand up in ya brains."
"Deh been fighin' since dey met." Mikal'wah corrected a bit annoyed by their antics. The two disgruntled undead people cursed under their breath and moved to opposing sides of the camp.
Ku'Mari squatted down behind a sore and fatigued Quel'Anis.
"How's ya tummy feel?" He asked massaging her shoulders.
"Eh… like I have been kicked in the stomach by a giant tauren. Although I must admit… it was a good move. I must try it on one of our unsuspecting enemies, sometime." Quel'Anis smiled as she closed her eyes enjoying the troll's gentle pressure on her upper back. "I honestly think that you could use this more than I." she said looking up at him.
"Me? Nahh… we got through dis place pretty good. I ain't worryin' too much bout notin. And anyway, I tink its time for a vacation."
Quel'Anis turned to him in curiosity.
The group was previously busy chatting until this word popped up and they went silent. Now Ku'Mari grew a bit hesitant. He laughed a bit nervously as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Tah be honest wit cha, I really been drained out by dis place. It ain't been a month since we got through Razorfen Kraul and I'm still feelin' deh repercussions of deh battle. I'd really like tah go to meh homeland back in Sen'Jin village for ah while and rest meh bones." He looked up and received just the reaction he had expected. The team's faces went sour if not sad with disappointment.
"You recruited us three weeks ago and all you wanted was to get through this miserable place? Unbelievable! I might as well head off on my own." Irena complained bitterly as she prepped her small pipe and began smoking; the fumes of poisonous air puffing out from her skeletal neck.
"Sounds good to me. We won't have to listen to your croaking and retching anymore. I could use some R&R…better… some P&Q." Garrett remarked snidely resting his arms behind his head.
"Oh shove it, you old bag of bones! Your smartass comments to every little thing that happens, hasn't been exactly paradise for me either!" Irena hissed.
Garrett seemed to beam at this last retort and readied a come back, when Apoco spoke up.
"We just started… and it's already over?" He asked as he looked as though he may cry. Barrack patted the little guy on the head.
"Nah, nah. It ain't like dat, you guys. I brought ya here fah good reason. I just really gotta take a small break. Dere's a special festival comin' up in meh village and I'd jest really like tah be dere wit meh pao and friends tah celebrate. Ya welcome tah come. I just didn't know if ya'd want to. We'd be dere two days tops.
"Can I come?" Apoco lightened up.
"Of course, mon! Everybody be invited."
Apoco nodded happily.
"Two days… and then what?" Irena asked sternly taking a drag from her pipe.
"And den we head tah Stranglethorn Vale."
Everyone gasped in surprise as their eyes grew wide.
"Ku'Mari… are ya sure, mon? I mean… Stranglethorn be a pretty nasty place. All deh troll tribes be out dere." Mikal'wah tried to reason.
Ku'Mari smiled as he kicked back and rested his arms behind his head. "Ya well… I tink we ready." He wrapped his legs around Quel'Anis' little body and gently pushed her side to side playfully. She stared at him in shock just as everyone else.
"A wretched jungle of wild beasts, ogres and cannibal trolls…I'm in." Irena grinned wickedly. Ku'Mari shared the grin. He had recruited her for good reasons and one was this.
"Damn!" Garrett cursed while shaking his head as Irena stuck out her black, decayed tongue in a teasing manner.
"Well, I can't wait tah get back home and see meh sistahs. And Stranglethorn? Ehh… I'll tink about it." She shrugged as Ku'Mari gave her a look.
Everyone agreed to follow their leader to Sen'Jin village to enjoy the festival. They realized that they had worked hard in the last few weeks and that a small vacation would be well deserved.
By late morning, everyone was on their mounts heading through the Barrens into Duotar. It never ceased to amaze Quel'Anis how her allies were able to tame and ride such exotic creatures. Mounting a steed was simple enough for they were fairly obedient. And although the jittery colorful hawkstriders of Quel'Thalas were temperamental creatures, she could not possibly imagine how the others managed on skeletal beast, raptors and, of anything, a gigantic kodo. Apoco passed by on his massive kodo, towering over everyone. He was still new to this mount and had the least amount of control over its behavior. Still, he enjoyed the wild ride.
"Whooohooo! Troll fest! Oh this is gonna be great! Ti' puma'neh wayooooo!" The young tauren began to sing an old troll proverb as they traveled. Mikal'wah looked to Ku'Mari in surprise.
"Dah boy knows Deh way of dey land! Where'dya find'em?"
"You know meh recruiten' skills be deh best." Ku'Mari grinned.
Quel'Anis pulled up beside Ku'Mari, her hawkstrider was still a bit weary of his raptor.
"I'm really excited to see your homeland, Ku'Mari. I am very curious to see where you and Mikal'wah grew up. Oh and I can't wait to meet your family!" The blood elf smiled happily.
Ku'Mari suddenly felt a tinge of anxiety hit him. Unsure of what to say, he simply feigned a smile and nodded. Quel'Anis caught the weakness in his smile but decided to look over it.
By late afternoon, they reached the small village of Sen'Jin.
"Whoohoo! We home!" Mikal'wah shrieked in excitement as the group approached the palm leaf huts backed by a scenic view of the Great Sea. Quel'Anis was in awe by this subtle and peaceful environment. Young troll children play-battled with bamboo sticks and threw flowers and grass in an attempt to mimic magic spells. Raptors screeched and paced about as trainers worked with them. A few trolls could be seen tending to tropical plants and flowers, and fishing farther down by the beach. Most of the trolls lolled about at an easy pace, getting ready for the big festival. The females chatted and gossiped as they weaved decorations from palm leaves and dried grass while the males set up long wooden tables and collected dry stalk for a massive fire pit. Everyone spoke with low raspy voices but laughed loud and heartily. It was quite a simple but beautiful place.
Two young troll-girls came out from one of the closer huts running with their arms wide open.
"Wah-wah! Wah-wah!" They squealed as they approached. Mikal'wah's eyes glimmered with tears as she jumped off her raptor and embraced the two.
"Ju'bwali! Nikhal! Oh so good tah see ya, little chirps!"
"Wah-wah, we was wonderin' when ya'd come home."
"So glad ya could make it in time for deh festival!" the girls exclaimed excitedly.
"Wah-wah…" Quel' Anis said aloud, already in love with these two lovely little trolls. They were little versions of Mikal'wah; the same plum colored skin and sapphire hair, only their eyes shimmered in bright teal like the ocean.. Newly exposed to this world, Quel'Anis wanted to learn everything she possibly could about it
"Oye, everybody, it's Ku'Mari and Mikal'wah! Dez back from deh Barrens!" A male troll called out as a few trolls stopped their work to come over and greet the crew warmly.
"Oye mon! Spirits kept cha well!" Ku'Mari's friend said as they embraced and patted each other on the back loudly. "What up wit all deh gear? Ya look like you be a leader now! Well it don't mattah! I'ma still woop ya ass when we get into deh pit tomorrow night!"
"Dat be meh son wearin' a tauren's honor seal?" A deep and scratchy voice came. Ku'Mari turned and nodded proudly to the massive blue troll. Quel'Anis could tell immediately that Ku'mari was his father's son. The teal troll was quite a bit taller than the already towering Ku'Mari and his deep burgundy hair hung in long dreadlocks down to his knees. He wore the same white paint across the eyes with one streak leading down the forehead; possibly a family symbol. They were two in the same, only one was of a far older age and the wisdom and honor of experience were embedded in his face and body as the scars and tattoos covering him.
"Everybody, dis here is meh Pao, Zimboya. Pao, I've returned for ah holiday. Can't be missin' deh festival now. I brought meh crew. Garrett Warden, Irena Tavern, Barrack Morgash, Apoco Greenrunner… of course ya know Mikal'wah…"
"Good ta see ya, Zim-Zim!" Mikal'wah teased. These types of nicknames were common to be made up by female trolls. Zimboya nodded in greeting to his son's crew and turned to the lovely blood elf that stood close beside Ku'Mari.
"And dis be Kellani Serais…" There was a hesitant pause from Ku'Mari and everyone waited for him to finish his introduction. "So what ya been up to, Pao?" The troll immediately put an arm around his father and they walked down to the shoreline.
Quel'Anis stood dumbstruck. Her face turned red with some bit of embarrassment. The entire group felt the awkwardness of Ku'Mari's strange actions. Mikal'wah was ready to run off with her sisters who hung from her arms lovingly. She stopped short to look back at Quel'Anis who had remained still, staring in the space where Ku'Mari had been.
"Oye Kellani! Ya come wit me girl!"
Mikal'wah spent the afternoon showing everyone the village and the group enjoyed a few hours on the beach playing in the water and collecting shells. But Quel'Anis could not bring herself to fully enjoy the activities. She caught sight of Ku'Mari, who stood by the huts, conversing with his father and a group of male trolls who looked to be of importance. Once they all dispersed, Quel'Anis sought the opportunity to approach her mate. But as she came near, Ku'Mari simply glanced at her and headed off to speak to other fellow village members.
Quel'Anis stopped in her tracks. (Perhaps he needs this time on his own. These people are of importance to him. Give him his space so he may catch up with them.) She convinced herself to be fair to him, given the circumstances, and although it seemed appropriate, one question continued to eat at her throughout the evening.
As night fell over the tropical cove, the group set up camp and sat around a blazing fire, enjoying a wonderfully filling meal, prepared by Ku'Mari's father. Ocean fish, crabmeat and fruit were garnished with island spices and chopped sea plants. It was a delicious dinner ensemble, however, Quel'Anis could barely eat as she quietly watched Ku'Mari and Mikal'wah enjoy a humorous conversation with Zimboya in their native tongue. The language, which Quel'Anis once found to be exotic and alluring, now only irked her as it set up a social barrier between them and herself.
Apoco did his best to distract the blood elf in hopes of cheering her up but he could not succeed. Mikal'wah's charming little sisters soon discovered the handsome furry youth, attacked him and chased him around the village. They shrieked and squealed in delight at his suffering.
As the night wound down, everyone retreated to their tents. Barrack collapsed into his tent, overstuffed with good food and Apoco crawled in shortly after, exhausted from play. The two preteens were a bit much for him and he immediately passed out. Garrett and Irena sat on their respective opposite sides of the camp, enjoying their surroundings in silence, for once. Quel'Anis knew not what to do. For the past few weeks, Ku'Mari had insisted on making their tent and they had happily shared it, but he made no implication that this would happen tonight. Should she set up her tent and go to sleep alone? She finally swallowed hard and slowly approached the troll trio. They immediately stopped speaking and looked to her. Quel'Anis only met eyes with Ku'Mari.
"I shall be pitching my tent then." She stated nervously.
"Alright den. Sleep well." Ku'Mari replied in such a straight-forward tone that Quel'Anis's face turned red. Feeling quite unwelcome and dejected, she turned and walked away.
"Damn troll! What's with him?" Quel'Anis cursed as she dumped out the metal rods for her tent and threw the thing together in her frustration.
"Face it sweetie, that's the way they all are." Irena said as she helped the flustered blood elf.
"All trolls are like this? He's completely turned his shoulder to me!"
"No hun, all men are like that. They're shady, conniving, egotistical, stubborn, pig-headed…"
"And the feminist award of the year goes to…" Garrett chimed from the other side of the camp. Irena immediately spun around in retort.
"You keep your mouth shut, you nosy, fermenting bastard!"
"Hey, I'm not the one with ectoplasmic ooze grueling from my eyes."
"It's mucus, you pathetic sack of carcass meat… and at least I still have my eyes!" She snapped and turned back to Quel'Anis. The blood elf was completely amused by their lack of tolerance for each other. Never had she seen Garrett act like such a child before Irena arrived. The undead woman continued her rantings. "Obviously there's something wrong with that troll. You're gonna have to try and pull it out of him somehow."
"How do you mean?"
"You've got to get his attention."
That night, Quel'Anis lay in her tent, unable to sleep for quite a while. She had hoped Ku'Mari would eventually appear but he never did. She finally gave up and closed her eyes.
The sun peaked cheerfully over the tip of the rocky hills, spreading its warmth over the village to the ocean shore. Quel'Anis awoke and turned in hopes of seeing a pleasantly familiar face behind her, but he was not there. She frowned and reached for her clothes. The morning ocean breeze was kind to the village and the villagers continued to finish preparations for the festival. A thick aroma of various foods sifted through the air and Barrack and Apoco wandered about excitedly to see what would later enter their stomachs. Garrett spent his morning enjoying the ocean by brushing up on his fishing skills. Irena helped some of the female trolls hang decorations. They were a bit reluctant and worked at a distance from her. Trolls still had little trust for the Forsaken, especially those who remained in small villages such as these. They figured if Ku'Mari and Mikal'wah were okay with this undead woman, then she would not be much trouble.
Mikal'wah and Ku'Mari sat near the bonfire, as they were the night before, helping weave decorations from palm leaves. Quel'Anis bit her lip as she approached them once again and sat down beside Ku'Mari.
"Mornin' Sunshine. Ya sleep well?" He smiled down at her only to find a highly unamused look upon her face.
"May I help?" She asked dryly.
"Sure." Ku'Mari handed her a few palm leaves and continued on with his work.
(Does he just expect me to know how to do this?) She griped to herself becoming more and more irritated with his attitude. But instead of asking for help, she merely watched his handwork and was able to pick up on the skill quickly. Ku'Mari and Mikal'wah sat cheerfully conversing in Zandali and once again, Quel'Anis felt completely blocked out.
(How rude can they be? It's like I'm not even here!)
"Why don't you try speaking a language that everyone can understand?" She suddenly blurt out in anger. The two trolls looked to her and some nearby showed that they had heard her blunt and bitter words as well. Quel'Anis felt her face grow hot as she dropped the palm leaves she had barely begun to work on and headed off down to the ocean. Garrett noticed her presence further down the beach and was about to head her way when she shook her head at him. Clearly, she wanted to be alone.
"Kellani?" Mikal'wah's voice appeared behind her. Quel'Anis did not reply.
"Listen, elf lady. I just wanna let ya know dat I don't be tryin' tah take ya man away. We just talkin' bout old times. It ain't notin." She tried to reassure the blood elf as she sat down beside her.
"It's not you, Mikal'wah. It's him. I don't understand. For the last few weeks, he showed me nothing but his affection and how much he wanted to be with me. Now that we're here, it's like I'm no longer important to him. I barely exist here. He couldn't even announce me as his mate to his father… is he ashamed of me?" Quel'Anis turned to Mikal'wah with the saddest eyes the troll had ever seen. Mikal'wah patted the blood elf on the back.
"Kellani, dere be no way he went through all deh trouble tah get ya, just tah throw ya aside. We trolls be free-minded folk but our judgments still be harsh when it comes to tings like dis. Deh elders still argue dat we need to have arranged mates but deez aint deh old days. Ku'Mari's Memeh really never liked deh other races much. Especially deh elves so if she was alive now, she wouldn't be too happy wit her son." Quel'Anis looked to Mikal'wah in shock.
The troll smiled. "Ironic, right? I tink dat's why he was so bent on havin' ya. Hopin' tah get dat hatred outta ya and he got lucky dat ya be a smart girl. Anyhow, Ku'Mari loves his Pao. But he do fear his Pao's judgements when he be makin' decisions. I tink he just tryin' tah find deh right way tah tell him and he don't know how tah put it to ya. Ku'Mari's gotta get his Pao's agreement on deh two becomin' mates or deh won't be on good terms. He's just gotta find deh right moment to let'em know."
Quel'Anis thought hard about this. She thought about her own people and how they would feel were she to introduce Ku'Mari as her "bosom companion" or "te'rune dal'shalore" as it was properly put. More importantly, what would her father think were he alive? How could she possibly explain her heart's attraction to this foreign and exotic being?
"I apologize for my outburst earlier." She said quietly.
"It ain't notin. But ya know… if ya wanna get dat boy's attention back," Mikal'wah stood up and helped the blood elf to her feet, "I got an idea dat will work fah sure. Dis way you can also be apart of deh festival. Everybody gonna love it!"
Quel'Anis was all ears.
"Follow meh blood elf. We gonna put ya through troll trainin'!" She said as she led her back to her hut.
As the day went on the crew continued to help the villagers prepare for the festival. Barrack and Apoco were constantly shooed away from the large stacks of delicious tropical entrees. Ku'Mari helped his father and others build the traditional festival shrine used to bring good "juju" for the rest of the year. He took notice to the fact that Quel'Anis had been out of sight since her small outburst earlier that morning. In fact, Mikal'wah had managed to disappear as well. He asked around but no one had seen either female… except for little Nikhal and Jubwali. The two young trolls giggled as they pushed the handsome male away. Just as Mikal'wah had years ago, the girls had formed a little crush on the strong shaman.
"We know where deh be."
"But we ain't tellin' ya cuz it be a surprise!" They continued to giggle.
"Yep! Ya gonna have tah wait until tonight at deh festival."
Evening came quickly for the hardworking villagers and all preparations for the festival were complete. A few groups of powerful troll adventurers had returned to Sen'Jin to enjoy their simple homeland festivities. Everyone encircled the massive bonfire, greeting each other, donned in traditional Darkspear tribal garments and face paint. It was a colorful sight to see. When everyone was seated, the acting-chief of the village stood and began the festival with a speech.
"Broddahs, Sistahs and fellow allies to deh Horde, I, Gadrin, speak for Vol'Jin on dis very important day. Dis day when we first settled upon dis small but peaceful land and finally learned to call it home. We give thanks to Thrall for helping us through our struggles and we give our praises to deh gods for giving us deh fruit of deh land. Tomorrow, we may continue on our journeys, working hard to make an honorable name for deh Darkspear Tribe. But tonight, we celebrate! We celebrate life, our future prosperity and we celebrate tah Sen'Jin!"
"Tah Sen'Jin!" everyone cheered.
The crowd of trolls lined up for a long and plentiful buffet of foods that lay along the wooden decorated tables. Barrack and Apoco greedily piled their bark plates. They were the first of the crowd lined up, to sit and devour the delicious variations of fruits, fish and bird and did not stop feasting until their bellies were bloated out from their trousers. Garrett and Irena sat on either side of the feeding frenzies and stared in disbelief as the food disappeared.
"And you're encouraging the kid to eat like this?" Garrett laughed patting Apoco's bulging furry belly.
Barrack belched loudly, "He's a growing tauren. He needs to eat big to become big. Besides, druids become better healers when they're well nourished." He argued as he finished his last fillet of fish. Zimboya caught the entire scene from afar and laughed hysterically.
"I see ya friends know how tah eat!"
But Ku'Mari barely paid attention as he looked about in concern.
"What be botherin' ya boy?"
"Sorry Pao. I just wonderin' where Kellani and Mikal'wah have been all day."
"Kellani? Oh you be talkin' bout dat pretty elf girl. She seem tah take ah likin' to ya, boy. Why don't you go after dat? It'd make me proud tah see meh boy snatch up a pretty little ting like dat."
Ku'Mari looked to his father in astonishment.
"Yah fah real, mon? Cuz I…" his sentence was interrupted when a group of trolls began to play hand drums and a few young female trolls, clad in traditional Darkspear costume stood and began to dance. Cheers, whistles and chants encircled them as they performed to the percussion rhythm.
"Drink up, kid." Barrack gave cheers as he clinked his mug against Apoco's. The young tauren hesitantly sniffed the contents of his container and looked to Barrack who chugged down the frothy ale.
"This is beer."
"That it is."
"I… I've never had beer before."
"Good. There's a first time for everything. It's all a part of growing up and becoming a strong fighter. Now drink up."
Apoco slowly sipped the thick brown froth and winced at the bitter tang it left behind.
"Down the hatchet, kid." Garrett laughed as Apoco finally threw caution to the wind and chugged down the entire mug. He smiled once he was through it, already convinced that he was feeling more mature. But his smile faded immediately when Irena poured him another stout-full.
"Gotta keep up, little one." She teased.
Suddenly, louder cheers came from the large group of trolls around the bonfire as Mikal'wah escorted Quel'Anis into the center of the circle.
"Oye, Mika'wah! Recruitin' other races to deh tribe, eh?" A troll nearby shouted.
"Wooohooo! Dat be deh smallest troll I evah seen!" Another added.
The blood elf was not only donned in the traditional skimpy dressings of the Darkspear females. Her hair had been dressed with a few small dreadlocks tied with traditional wooden rings. Tribal paint lightly decorated her face and arms as she stood before a dumbfounded Ku'Mari.
"You come get the voodoo." She taunted in a low key voice smiling seductively. Ku'Mari's jaw dropped and his father grinned in a sinister manner.
"Whatcha tink of meh project? How'd I do?" Mikal'wah asked in delight.
"Mikal'wah, I don't tink anybody evah seen a blood elf lookin' like dis before! She be deh hottest ting I seen since Ku'Mari's Memeh!"
Quel'Anis's eyes met only to Ku'Mari who now smiled back at her. Not only was he astounded but also in awe at this new side of her beauty. (Damn, dis girl makes anyting look good!)
"Kellani…" he managed but Mikal'wah stood in the way.
"Nah ah! Ya can't have her yet! She gotta show meh deh dances we worked so hard on!" The female troll took the blood elf's hands and they went to join the other females around the bonfire. Ku'Mari let his jaw drop once again as he leaned forward.
"Dance!?" He laughed for a moment. "Nah, nah! Dat blood elf don't dance!"
Quel'Anis turned back to Ku'Mari and shouted "Je' muipa wannande!"
The crew cheered on as the blood elf followed the other trolls in their traditional dances. Surely this was a new side of Quel'Anis that no one had ever seen before. She had been concerned that the trolls would not be happy with her attempts but they seemed to enjoy it very much.
"You imagine… a blood elf trying to learn deh ways of a troll? It's about deh most flatterin' ting ya could do!" She recalled Mikal'wah saying as she bound and braided her hair. "Deh whole tribe is gonna be in a frenzy!" Just as she had called it, the crowd whooped and hollered, pleased with the scene and well entertained.
Although, not quite as physically ample in her assets as the female trolls, and not nearly as exotically flowing in her body movements, Quel'Anis managed to keep up with the others and the pace of the drums. She had to admit that dancing was far too fun to have passed up for so many years.
Ku'Mari was utterly and unabashedly aroused now. Quel'Anis was typically a stiff and reserved person by racial nature, who only showed such open liberation when she was drunk or in Ku'Mari's arms as they made love. Now her dancing made him want just that… more than anything.
"Son, ya be a FOOL if ya don't want dat woman! I'll take her!" Zimboya laughed as he smacked his son on the back.
Ku'Mari turned and gave his father the cockiest smile he could ever give.
"Dat IS my woman. I was gonna tell ya, Pao. I just didn't know how ya'd take it, what wit deh way Memeh was bout-"
"Son ya be a stupid fool fah tinkin' I wouldn't except dat!" His father laughed jauntily. "Yah did damn good son! Damn good! Ya Memeh ain't here tah bitch about it, spirits know I love her, so go wit it son! I'm happy for ya!"
As the drum rhythm began to change, Ku'Mari stood. His friend came to his side and slapped him on the shoulder.
"Dis sounds like you and meh, Cuz. Ya jest watchya self, mon! I been practicin'!"
Ku'Mari grinned back at him and they came to the center of the pit. As Mikal'wah showed Quel'Anis a place to sit, she felt a hand graze her waist. She looked back to see the hottest most wanton look Ku'Mari could give her. She smirked at him as she walked away in a teasing seductive manner, sliding her hand down her hip.
"Ouch!" He called to her and growled as he put his hand to the healing arrow wound on his chest. The two females sat down beside Zimboya.
"Dis is where it gets good!" Mikal'wah said as she looked over to the team who continued on with their drinking contest.
"Oye, oye! Don't be forgettin' bout me now!" She called out and headed over to steal some drinks from the inebriated crew. She squeezed in between Barrack and Apoco who barely managed, now, after his fourth mug of ale. The young tauren smiled with a goofy grin.
"Dis is deh best part!" Mikal'wah squealed.
"Are they'sh gonna fight?" Apoco managed to slur.
"Even bettah!" Mikal'wah said as she chugged down a beer and put her arms around the two brutes. Both males drunkenly stared down at the troll's buoyant ample breasts that were barely hidden behind her slinky tribal wear. Apoco and Barrack giggled to each other with red faces.
Ku'Mari pulled off his tunic, revealing his sleek and well-defined teal body. The crowd cheered loudly at the sight of his bold black tattoos. The centerpiece tattoo was that of the Darkspear family tree that stretched from his lower back up to his neck and over his shoulders. It proved that he was extremely proud of his tribal origins. He smirked as he amped up from the crowd's cheers. He tied the open strips of his kilt to his calves so that the skirt did not swing freely, revealing anything to keep in modesty. He began to stretch his long arms as he squatted while his friend jumped back and forth in his warm-up, ready for their performance.
"What is this? What's going on?" Quel'Anis asked excitedly as she watched her attractive mate prepare. Zimboya leaned over and smiled.
"Dis heah, be a traditional dance for deh boys in our tribe. A dance dat tells deh story of combat."
The two male trolls came at each other in rhythmic timing of the drums and they swung their arms back and forth. Suddenly, the young troll kicked his leg out and swung it over Ku'Mari's head. Ku'mari then swung his arms out in a slow and flowing motion as the young troll hopped back. The two dropped onto their hands and sprung their legs into the air. Their legs swung around in wide circles as they mimicked a wild battle. Quel'Anis nearly squealed in excitement as she brought her hands to her mouth. Zimboya looked down at her and laughed at her waning elf manners. Everyone cheered and hollered as the males battled on.
"Meh son may do some stupid tings sometimes but he's lucky enough tah get your attention, Kellani. I be glad tah see he be in good hands." Zimboya said in a charming and almost seductive tone as he kissed the blood elf's hand.
As the two male trolls came to the closing of their performance, Ku'Mari took a graceful kick to the chest. He sprung backwards, flipping over and landed in kneeling position. He bowed his head and smiled.
"Ya have been practicin'. Ya got good form."
"Ehhh you let me win dis one." His friend smirked and they locked arms and lightly pounded each other in the chest. As they returned to their seats, the crowd chanted in excitement and two younger male trolls came up to have their battle. Ku'Mari saw his father's charming notions toward Quel'Anis and sat down behind her, wrapping his legs around her.
"Oye, oye. Watch yaself, old mon." He warned half seriously giving a look that could kill. Stealing mates was a rather common behavior in male trolls and Ku'Mari's father was no exception.
"Ku'Mari, that was amaz…" He took Quel'Anis's chin in his fingers and guided her lips to his.
"Yamawei." He apologized softly in Zandali.
Quel'Anis waived her hand at him, "Dayo-dayo." She forgave him as he looked to her in astonishment. She smirked, "You know that I'm fast learner."
"Mmm..." His look of primal desire was enough for Quel'Anis to know what came next. He lifted her by the waist as he stood and put her over his shoulder.
"See ya later, Pao." Ku'Mari called without looking back.
"Good night, Pao." Quel'Anis said dangling from over the troll's shoulder. She blushed as they headed for his hut.
"Later, kids." Ku'Mari's father laughed. He could not be more proud of his son.
As the young troll boys finished their performance, everyone cheered and broke out into dance around the bonfire.
"Dance wit meh, Apoco!" A drunken Mikal'wah insisted as she pulled the short tauren to his feet. Apoco, now completely intoxicated, danced about without a care in the world. Garrett and Irena made temporary truce as they sat back to back in hysterical laughter watching their comrades make asses of themselves.
"Whoohooo!" Apoco shouted wildly as he danced about with Mikal'wah. Nikhal and Jubwali squealed as they dance around them gleefully. The young tauren suddenly found the notion to want to climb atop the banquet table and continue dancing. Troll girls giggled and squeaked at the teenager as he carried on.
"Thish one'sh for you, ladies!" He shouted as he pulled down his pants. The drummers stopped playing as the girls of the tribe screamed in delight and laughed loudly. The elder males were not so amused, however, by this tauren's show and they immediately charged after him. Within a split second, Apoco's gleeful smile dropped and he was sober. He jumped off the wooden platform and ran for his life as twenty-some trolls came after him.
"Whoops! Looks like we've made trouble!" Garrett managed as he and Irena fell off their seats and rolled about in laughter.
Apoco made his way down to the beach before one troll managed to grab a hold of the fur on the back of his neck and raise him off the ground.
"Look 'eah, tauren. Whatchu tink ya doin' disrespectin' our females like dat?" The troll hissed as the other gathered around him.
"Ya must be wantin' tah die!" another persuaded.
"Oh please don't kill me!" Apoco begged. The trolls carried him back to the bonfire where everyone began to disburse.
"Maybe he'll learn his lesson if we throw him in deh fire!" Another troll called out and the others agreed.
Apoco did not fight their remarks. His face grew pale as his eyes glazed over and he began to groan.
"What's wrong, tauren? Ain't ya gonna try ta fight us off?" The troll held him higher and began shaking him. This was enough to do it. Apoco opend his mouth and spewed violently all over the troll that held him.
The other trolls burst into wild laughter and the one covered in vomit dropped the tauren into the sand.
"Come on, mon. Let's getcha cleaned up. Dat poor drunk bastard learned his lesson fah sure!" One of the trolls said as the mob walked away.
Apoco lay in the sand unmoving. He had found his bed for the night and slept peacefully by the festival's fire.
Ku'Mari gently slid his lips down Quel'Anis's stomach as she sighed in pleasure.
"I ain't gonna lie to ya… meh tribe's cloth look better on ya den any female troll I seen. But don't go changin' yaself on meh now." He said taking a thin dreadlock of her hair into his fingers.
"Of course not. But I needed to get your attention somehow. Mikal'wah gave me an answer and it worked, didn't it?" The blood elf sat up and slowly pulled off the tribal dress, revealing her slender bare body. "I mean, it could have been worse." She added as she slid her fingers down past the troll's stomach. Ku'Mari closed his eyes and growled deeply. When he opened his eyes again, Quel'Anis' face met close to his; her eyes glowing brightly in the darkness and her lips inviting him. "I could have just shot you again."
"Kellani." Ku'Mari kissed his mate long and hard as they intertwined.
The next morning Garrett packed up the tents as Barrack and Ku'Mari searched for young Apoco. They found him resting peacefully with his face down in the sand.
"Rise n'shine, druid boy." Ku'Mari chuckled as he pulled the tauren up.
"Mmmmmuuuuuwuuhhh?" Apoco moaned as he looked up at the troll dazed and utterly confused. His eyes were completely blood shot and his nose and mouth oozed, covered in sand. The reek of ale and vomit blew into Ku'mari's face.
"Woohoo! Boy ya be funkier dan a Bloodsail Buccaneer! Common, let' get ya cleaned up." He laughed as he picked the tauren up and carried him down to the ocean.
"Perhaps I pushed him a little too far last night." Barrack said, feeling sorry for Apoco who contined to whine over Ku'Mari's shoulder.
"Oh ya tink?" Ku'Mari laughed. "Ya guys gonna kill meh druid recruit before he gets tah see his first real raid, mon!"
Quel'Anis came out of the hut and stretched, allowing the sun to fully embrace her. She went down to the ocean water and enjoyed a long saltwater bath. As she came out, she dried and dressed in her tunic with plans to alter her travelling clothes a bit. She looked down into the rippling water and took notice to the few strips of permanently bound hair. She recalled Mikal'wah's warning the day before and laughed lightly.
"Ya gonna kill meh tomorrow when ya realize dat deez DON'T come out. Ya gotta cut'em tah lose'em!" But Quel'Anis had simply waived the troll's reluctance. She took a few of the thin locks into her hand and played with them. She didn't mind them… not at all. In fact, she rather liked them. As she walked back up to the huts, she passed a female dancer from the night before. The troll's face was mean but she smiled, "Nice dancin' last night, blood elf!" and waved.
Quel'Anis nodded and began to beam with pride. She knew she had taken part in something no blood elf has experienced before. When she reached the hut, she stood and admired the lovely green Darkspear dress she had been given to wear the night before. Using her dagger, she cut the dress to a tunic length, donned the garment and tucked it into her leather pants. She strapped on the rest of her leather armor and equipment and headed out of the hut. She noticed that the paint Mikal'wah had applied the day before had stained into her skin, nearly unaffected by the ocean's water. (Good, I will get to enjoy this a bit longer.) She smiled and made her way toward the smoking fire pit.
Mikal'wah stumbled her way and put an arm around the blood elf.
"Ya lookin' good, girl." She smirked as she struggled with her bags, sweating and eyes bloodshot.
"I wish I could say the same for you. What happened?"
"Eh… too much beer. Same old story. Ya know how I like meh drinks!"
Quel'Anis shook her head and laughed, "You and Barrack with your drinking! Thank you, by the way… for yesterday."
"No problem. Boys be fools and sometimes deh just need reminded of why deh got what deh got." The two shared a smile as they met up with the rest of the team.
Mikal'wah came up behind Apoco and rested her arm on his head. He whined in throbbing pain.
"Ah! Don't be such a baby!" Mikal'wah teased and pinched his cheek. "I saw ya little pantless show last night. Got all deh girls all riled up real good…you jest keep away from meh sisters!"
"What? Pantless? What do you mean?" He asked rather worried now.
"Ah! Haha!" Mikal'wah cackled, "He don't remember a ting! Dat's deh way tah be, boy!"
Nikhal and Jubwali ran to their sister and hugged her tightly.
"Don't go, Wah-Wah."
"Can't you stay more days?"
"Now look here, chirps. I be back once we get dis stuff ovah wit in Stranglethorn Vale. I bring ya back a shrunken troll head." She said and playfully licked their cheeks.
"Eeewww!" The girls giggled as they backed away. They turned to the hung over tauren and teasingly waved him goodbye.
Apoco gave a pathetic smile and waved back.
A small group of trolls approached the crew and said their goodbyes to Ku'Mari and Mikal'wah. Zimboya grasped onto his son's arm and pulled him in for a tight hug.
"Ya make sure tah take care of ya group and dat elf girl' a yours. Follow deh right path and…" He leaned in and spoke quietely, "Tell ya broddah dat I ain't angry at him no more. I let'em do what he do."
Ku'Mari nodded and smiled, glad to see that his father was having a change of heart.
The group mounted their beasts and headed off, waving goodbye to the trolls of Sen'Jin Village. As they traveled, Ku'Mari looked down and observed Quel'Anis' new battle wear. He took notice to the slinky Darkspear dress she had decided to keep along with the tribal paint still stained into her skin. He smiled at the dreadlocks that were there to stay. Aside from her petite frame and sweet face, Quel'Anis honestly looked like a true Darkspear hunter.
"I tink dis be ah new blood elf before meh." He grinned with a deviant look. Quel'Anis glanced at him and exchanged the look, only to turn away and ride ahead of him. The troll was a bit confused by her sudden deep interest in his culture but he could not help but like it… she was ablaze!
Sen'Jin village continued to disappear behind the crew as they passed Razor hill and headed back into the Barrens, onto Ratchet. It was time for another adventure.