The sun was high above, hanging in the cloudless sky and shining down upon the small border territory between the lush forests of Val'sharah and the sparse slopes of Highmountain. The calls of birds echoed off the nearby stones, and the sounds of many small life forms could be heard as the skittering and rustling added to the peaceful atmosphere. A larger animal or herd could occasionally be seen passing through, many of them migrating out of the forests to the west and towards the tall stone cliffs that lay on the border to escape the deeply-rooted corruption that permeated the once green lands. Stones turned below hooves and paws, leaving the tell tale signs of passage through the narrow margin between forest and mountain.
The migration had not gone unnoticed; the cliffs and hills beyond were thick with the tall, twin headed giants known as ettin. They were well aware of the influx of fresh meat, and more than one stalked the paths to surprise a herd of deer or pack of wolves that had wandered too close. It was the chaos of those attacks and the scattering of one such herd that had provided a prime opportunity, one that Animus intended to use to his advantage.
A gloved hand gently inspected a recently broken twig lying upon the ground, the supple leather aiding in the digits they covered to pick up the piece of plant. The hand raised before a face, the lower half covered by a crimson and black cloth that blocked much of the man's identity. His piercing blue eyes remained unhindered, and his long ebony ponytail flowed gently in the soft breeze that swept through the tall grasses that surrounded him. He inspected the broken piece before glancing down to the soft indent of a hoof-print, noting that not too far up a similar mark had been made in the smooth stones. Accompanying the mark was a small slip of blood upon the blades above it, the bright red liquid acting like a beacon to give away the direction his prey had traveled. The twig was placed ever so gently back in its place without a sound, and like a panther on the prowl he delicately made his way forward through the ever-towering grasses.
The tracks led him not too much farther, the signs becoming fresher with every step. He risked a peek above the swaying blades of yellow, noting that he was heading into a deep gully flanked by two rather steep cliffs. A smirk formed below his mask as he crept forward; there would be no escape once he had caught up with the injured doe he had been tracking for over an hour now. He could hear it faintly, perhaps a hundred or so yards in front of him; the animal's slightly labored breathing, and the sound its hooves made on the tough terrain. His hands twitched towards the swords that lay strapped to his back, but he stilled them and steadied his breathing, concentrating on placing one step in front of the other as quietly as possible. He would have to be close to ensure a good shot at his prey, his daggers ready to work their deadly magic and incapacitate the doe for him to dispatch. Ducking his head so that he would not be detected, he slipped into the shadows he knew so well and slid his way towards the deer.
As he crept in closer for the kill, his hearing picked up the low, constant thrumming of water farther down the gully. His luck was with him today; should the doe try to flee, there would be nowhere to go with cliffs by his side and a waterfall before him. The blood trail was fresher now, more marks clearly left on the yellow grass as he followed them without a sound. He drew a small dagger from his belt and peered through the blades, trying to catch a glimpse of the animal.
Dark brows pulled together as he realized that the doe was just ahead of him, but was not standing as he had expected. The creature lay on its side upon the ground, its body unnervingly still as the wind continued to dance through the grass. Suspicious, the man approached with caution till he was by the deer's side, surprised to see that it was in fact dead. A large cut along the side that had been the source of the blood trail was the most probable cause of death; ettin were not known to be that efficient in their kills, after all. But the human's eyes then came upon a long, thin shaft protruding from the doe's eye socket, the fletching of feathers at the end ruffling in the breeze. That had most certainly not been there when he had noticed the doe escaping into the mountain, and his eyes narrowed in suspicion as well as frustration.
Stepping back into the tall yellow grass the rogue slipped back into the shadows once more and stilled himself, the area around him calmly reverting back into place as though he had never been; he had been tracking the doe for near two hours now, and he would not allow a lucky bystander to rob him up his intended dinner. He focused his breathing and waited, careful to not move a muscle and watching for the one who had denied him his prey.
It seemed he did not have to wait long; the sound of footsteps became audible barely a minute later, and the rustle of the dry grass as it was pushed aside heralded their arrival. A small figure appeared, about half a head shorter than he was. The form was feminine, tightly fitted armor covering all of her while glinting gold and dark green that would blend in with the surrounding area. A hood shrouded her face completely, but he did not miss the way the top seemed to dip to indicate a set of horns hidden below and dark blue tendrils that slipped out from the inside, nor the cloven hooves that delicately picked their way to the carcass. A well-made bow was held in the strange woman's hands, indicating that it was she who had shot the arrow that had taken the life of the doe. Gloves covered small hands as she made to holster the bow next to the quiver of arrows upon her back; the man waited still as a stone till the hunter knelt to inspect her kill, and then he struck with the speed of a snake.
Darting up behind the woman, Animus gripped her upper arms and jerked her harshly away from the fallen doe. A loud squeal of shock echoed off the sides of the gully as he unceremoniously slammed her to the hard earth below; he wasted no time as he quickly straddled the dazed woman below him, the dagger he had intended to use on the deer now pressing threateningly against a slim blue neck. The woman stilled at the feeling of cold metal, but he could see the way she gaped up at him through the space her hood did not cover. He was not deterred, and spoke coldly to her prone figure.
"Well now. You just had to go and make things complicated, didn't you?"
The woman let out a tiny gasp, but he paid it no mind as his free hand came up and gripped the edge of the hood that kept her identity from him. He was not gentle as he jerked it from its place upon her head, tossing it somewhere into the grass around them before he peered into the startled glowing blue eyes of his captive. It took him only a moment before he too froze, his own orbs widening as Animus recognized the gently curving horns and delicate features of the draenei woman's face as she stared up at him in a mixture of confusion and lingering anger. His grip on her lessened, and he could not keep the surprise out of his voice as he spoke.
"...Areai?"
The large floating city of Dalaran was uncommonly peaceful for an afternoon, only a few adventurers making their way through the streets between shops while the normal citizens went about their business. Those who ran their shops found themselves rather idle with their time, while those who actually crossed their threshold found themselves rather bombarded by those eager to make their daily coin.
If there was one exception to the rule, it was the innkeepers. Normally swamped with work, they seemed to appreciate the brief lull before the later rush that was sure to come later when night began to settle on the land. It offered a chance to prepare, but to Animus it offered a relatively private conversation with his comrade as they sat within the Greyfang Enclave tavern, A Hero's Rest. He sat cross legged in a comfortable seat in the tavern eating space, a cup of warm tea before him as he peered at the draenei woman across him in mild curiosity as she fidgeted under his gaze.
"Ah...it's a pity that we couldn't eat the doe," she said quietly, clearly trying to hide the nervous tremor in her tone.
"The corruption was too deeply embedded in the flesh to safely eat," he said simply, lifting his cup to sip at the steamy tea. It went down smoothly, and he took a moment to appreciate the taste.
Areai nodded, a hint of sorrow edging her expression. She had expressed the same emotion as they had butchered the deer before they had come to Dalaran, though to him it was not of much concern. It was a pity to waste an entire animal, but the Nightmare had infected it too thoroughly.
"We get a chance to eat and talk to each other, on the upside," she said, her tone perking along with her posture. "How have you fared these past few weeks?"
"Well enough, I suppose," Animus said simply.
"What have you been up to?" she inquired, leaning forward ever so as curiosity lit her already glowing eyes further.
The man raised his brow at her inquisitiveness, tilting his head as he considered her.
"Not much. Taking jobs to stay busy, contracts and the like."
The draenei's head copied his tilt.
"Contracts? Such as?"
""Many men are willing to take advantage of the chaos the Legion brings. Nothing you are in need of knowing," he said with a firm tone, unwilling to discuss his more unsavory contacts.
The short hunter wilted ever so slightly at his tone, but perked back up not a few moments later. It amused the rogue to see her shift so quickly, and he felt himself relax a bit more as he took his turn.
"What of you, Areai? Are you still with the group?"
Shoulders stiffened, and a heavy sigh was followed by a swift shake of her head. Surprise had him lift his brows as he let his expression show a hint of what he felt. The young woman before him as well as himself had belonged to a rather interesting group of people not too long ago, but when things had taken a rather sharp turn for the worst on account of their leader, Animus had opted out in order to avoid the chaos he had known would be coming. To hear that she too had left them was interesting and he peered at her questioningly; she shifted in her seat once again, glancing away and sighing deeply once more.
"To put it plainly...it no longer felt like home," was all she said.
The man nodded in understanding, once again sipping his tea as he turned this bit of information over in his mind. His companion sipped her own beverage, the scent of honey and mint wafting over as she copied his movement. A moment of quiet passed between them, the outside noise of the city drifting in over the sounds of those inside going about their business mingling to create a soothing atmosphere. The time passed slowly, lazily, and it was almost a shame when the huntress spoke once more.
"Regardless...it is still good to be in your company again," a playful smile ran across her face as she said with a slightly teasing tone.
Animus found his lips twitching upwards ever so before he resumed his calm expression, covering the movement with another long sip of tea.
"Admittedly, that was not the way I thought I would come upon you. I must point out, however," he paused for a moment taking in his beverage once more, before placing it on the table. His hand rose to his lips and he traces the outline of his mouth with his thumb carefully before speaking.
"Your skills seemed to have waned greatly since we were in a similar situation," his tone was empty and his eyes seemed to fixate on something far away.
Areai's lower lip poked out as her cheeks seemed to inflate, giving her a look akin to that of a puffer fish. She held it for a few moments before deflating visibly, her cheeks turning a slightly darker shade of blue as she dipped her head.
"I...I have not been training as hard as I used to," she confessed quietly. "Since I left, the need has mostly dissipated. I devote my attention to other things."
Animus concentration returned to their conversation curious as to what she meant, but the two were interrupted as a willowy elf came up to their table. She smiled at them politely, her blue eyes glancing over their posture before bowing her head and speaking.
"Pardon the interruption. Are things to your liking as of yet?"
The rogue nodded once to answer her question, the draenei mimicking the movement with a bright but wary smile to the elven woman. He surmised that she might be the one who kept the inn, and his suspicion was proven correct as she turned to speak with his companion.
"Miss Areai, I am loathe to interrupt, but I must speak with you about your accommodations here?"
The hunter visibly winced, her smile growing a tad more edgy as she glanced towards him as her cheeks darkened even further. She cleared her throat, breathing deeply as she answered.
"Ah, yes...I had been meaning to notify you of that. I have been trying to sell some of my craft lately, and I was intending to try the local shops here on the morrow to see if they would be interested."
The innkeeper tilted her head, eyeing the sitting woman with a rather stern expression that look almost like a mother about to scold her child. But before she could continue the conversation, a sudden loud ruckus towards the entryway of the tavern caused all three to turn and see what had caused it. To their surprise, a group of Horde had shoved their way into the tavern despite the guarding worgen out front, talking loudly in their guttural language as they looked about the place with a violent air about them.
"What? How dare they," the elven innkeep said with a nasty scowl, turning on her heel to face the newcomers.
"You there! You are not allowed in this section of the city! Be gone and there will be no trouble!"
Much to Animus' displeasure, the group of five Horde seemed to only be amused at the elf's threat. A tall blue-skinned troll loped forward to stand before the woman, practically bending in half so he could look at her proper.
"Ah, ya be da proprietor of dis inn, mon?" he asked, his thick accent nearly making his Common indistinguishable.
To her credit, the innkeep did not seem put off and merely placed her hands on her hips and glared at the troll viciously.
"I am, and as such I am demanding that you leave at once," she said in an icy tone.
Areai shifted uncomfortably in her seat, and Animus found his muscles tensing as he glanced over the ragtag group of invaders. The remaining Horde seemed to be comprised of one Forsaken in a tattered robe, two orcs that both had wicked looking swords strapped to their sides, and a green eyed blood elf who looked like he would rather be anywhere else than where he was. Besides the orcs, the band didn't seem to be out for blood, but the rogue felt his hand drifting towards his belt where he kept his smoke bombs unconsciously before he forced it to return to where it was on his cup.
The troll, apparently the leader, laughed in the elf's face as he shook his head. His wildly colored hair and braids flailed about, nearly knocking the innkeeper in the face and causing her to flinch ever so slightly despite her brave show.
"Pity, we cannot do as ya say. Ya see, we be seeing a snake slither his way in here after roughing up one of our own. He be needing a lesson in honor, and we be gonna give it ta 'im whether ya like it or not."
"I swear by the Light, if you do not cease this barbaric-"
Apparently having enough of the haughty tone she was using, the invading troll lifted his hand and delivered a strong backhand across the shorter woman's face. Her small body flew backwards onto the two adventurer's table, Animus remained seated a slightly bothered look creeping across his normally calm face as Areai jumped in alarm. The troll's orc and undead companions laughed loudly while the male blood elf looked disgusted.
"That was uncalled for!"
To his shock, Animus turned to see the tiny draenei hunter bolt to her feet in anger, and she quickly darted to the other woman's side to see if she was injured. From a glance, it appeared as if she had been rendered unconscious by the force of the troll's slap but was otherwise uninjured. Seemingly satisfied, Areai turned a fierce glare on the towering troll as he peered down at her from his enormous height.
"Oh? Ya be wantin' ta make someting out of it, little one?" he taunted, his deep red eyes practically giving away his delight at the thought of a fight as he rattled his tusks.
The woman looked up at him furiously and opened her mouth to respond, but was interrupted by Animus rising abruptly to his feet. Both looked at the human in surprise as he simply rolled his shoulders, seemingly unconcerned in the entire situation around him.
"Oi, ya be wantin' ta be da hero mon?" the imposing troll asked, gnashing his teeth together in a threatening motion.
"Hmph. It's become much too crowded in here. I am taking my leave," the dark haired man stated simply, giving the troll a uninterested look as if he were merely a nuisance.
The words seem to infuriate the troll, and he drew himself up higher as if to intimidate with his height alone. The other members of the Horde band smirked and began to move about, clearly thinking their 'leader' had it under control and became more concerned with hunting down the person they had originally come for.
"Ya not be going anywhere, mon," the troll said in a low, ominous tone.
"I believe I am," was the response, his voice never going beyond anything other a calm tone.
Areai watched from her place beside the innkeeper, only glancing down when she heard a low groan of pain coming from the elf. She knelt down and helped the other woman sit up, muttering to her softly to take it easy as consciousness came back. It drew the troll's attention for a moment, and he made a threatening step in the two women's direction before he was stopped by a tight grip upon his arm. He turned to see the shorter human male holding onto him tightly, and a fierce rage kindled in his eyes at the realization.
With a shockingly loud bellow, the barbaric man whipped around and grabbed hold of the other's collar tightly. He lifted the human clear above his head before slamming him into the closest wall, ignoring his companions and the two women's cries as he began to take his anger out on the rogue. Pain laced into Animus as he was viciously punched on the stomach, side and face, but he stubbornly kept his grip on the troll's arm. He saw the innkeeper regain herself enough to run out of the tavern towards the streets, her shouts for the guards nearly blocked out by the troll; he also saw Areai leap to her hooves and start towards them, only to stop and freeze as she stared at the scene with a horror-struck expression.
The troll seemed to tire after a moment, his shouts turning into furious growls as he shook his tusks in a frustrated manner. A smirk appeared on the human's lips, and he purposefully tightened his grip as he looked at his assailant with an air of disdain.
"Is that really all you've got?"
Fury reignited in the Horde member's gaze, and with a loud curse in his own language he slammed Animus back into the wall again in an attempt to get him to release his grip. The shorter male felt his head smack against the sturdy stone behind him painfully, and he was briefly overcome with a dizzy sensation before he refocused himself. It hurt, being used as a punching bag, but a glance at his still frozen companion reaffirmed his resolve to keep the troll's attention on himself only.
To his relief, he was only forced to take a few more moments of punishment before the troll was violently removed from his person. His body slumped to the ground against the wall, and through blurred vision he saw the bright purple robes of the battle mages that patrolled the city of Dalaran and kept the peace.
"Enough!" the mage shouted, the staff he carried sparking with power as he and two others effortlessly lifted the encroaching Horde into the air to dangle helplessly.
"You all know the rules. You are not allowed in this place; if you are found here again, you will be imprisoned for the remaining duration of the week!"
A smirk lifted the corners of his lips as Animus watched the party disappear in a bright blue flash of light, but his head was pounding so hard he found it difficult to concentrate. He heard movement beside him, and was barely able to keep his eyes open enough to see as well as feel soft blue hands gently touching his person. He vaguely realized that Areai must be by his side, but the dizziness hit him with a vengeance, and he could not resist the blackness that swam up to take him from consciousness.
