Azure Lynx: I'm sorry for not updating. But if you see my profile, you'll understand. Anyway, seeing as I got the groove back for this idea and that I have Word … finally … I'm going to continue with this.
Disclaimer: I don't own World of Warcraft, Blizzard does. The only thing I own is my characters and their pets ECT. Oh, and a George Foremen Grill!
Chapter 2 – Waking
Where am I? … It's hard to focus … I cannot see correctly… Am I dead at last? There's a faint smell of something burning … and … and there's wood burning too. My senses are slowly coming back. Need to open my eyes … need to get up. Need to move. Need to do it now. Now!
"Ah you're waking up already … good."
Who's voice is that? I've never heard of it before. It doesn't sound feral or even growlish. It sounds … harmonious and sweet. Slowly, I'm able to move my aching muscles to a lying position. All my strength has been sapped and by the Moon … do I feel awful. I shake my head to rid of the blur of my mind and focus the eyes onto what's in front of me. As the haze moves, I can see a figure that instantly causes my whole being to shudder in fear.
"You needn't be afraid, little cat. I'm not going to harm you."
That's the voice from the … Night Elf I see before me. I want to run away, but at the same time I have a need to trust her words. Which also makes me wonder, how can I even understand it? She notices my breathing begin to slow down as if I was convinced. And I was. The Elf moves cautiously to the fire that's a yard away from me and takes something off a stick that's above the flame. Curiously, I sniff the air to get a hint of what it was. Venison!
"Are you Hungry, NightSabre? You look half starved. I bet your clan doesn't treat you very well. You've got visible scars all over your body …"
I notice its voice trails off as she inspects the flaws of my fur and skin. It was right though. As the least favourable ranked of the clan, I'm … mistreated. This is the first time I've actually seen some hospitality. I never expected it to be from a Night Elf though. A supposed common enemy.
She carefully pushes the flank of meat towards me and within enough distance for me not to move so I can take a bite. The aroma is almost a killing scent … it makes me ravenous and as I'm acting on impulse, I tear into the meat like some half starved dog begging for scraps. Although my pride hates to admit it, I was nearly the very thing I described so spitefully. As I desperately gnaw and rip apart the generous helping of meat, the Elf looks upon me with intrest. It eyes me with a smile so kind that I have to avert my attention from it. Regardless of all this … I'm happy to be treated so respectfully but at the same time, I cannot help but feel that this is all going to be part of some trick. I'll keep those thoughts in the back for now. I should take advantage of this.
During some time after I 'attacked' the venison, I could feel my strength and general alertness return to me. I felt much better but now the question is what to do with the Elf. It still watches me with some sort of smirk.
"Are you feeling better now, cat?"
Its voice rings something feminine so I guess this slim and slender looking Elf is female. Considering I've hardly seen them up close, it's difficult to tell. In response to her question, I'm stuck for what to do. Instinctively, I nod my head and growl softly. Something they would understand. Her face brightens up and she stands above me. It only just occurred to me how tall these Night Elves could be. This one had long midnight blue hair that seemed all over the place, glowing eyes that looked akin to the moon and red stripes over her blue-like skin. Maybe it was some kind of clan mark.
"Excellent. I'm glad. It took me a lot of effort to save you from that hunting trip. You're very lucky, cat."
I tilt my head. Hunting trip? I was going to die … and she saved me? How is this even possible? I growl as if I was posing a question. The tone higher at the end of it. She laughed and seemed to understand as she spoke once more.
"That's right. I saved you from being turned into a doormat. You might find it weird yourself, but I'm also a Hunter. I can guess you would have some sort of hatred towards me because of what I do. I kill your kind and other beasts to clothe others. To keep them warm and to also keep me from going hungry. It's a harsh world, cat. We have to kill in order to survive. It's the way of the Hunter. Just like you. You're a Hunter too. You kill to survive, right? You kill to keep yourself and others alive. We have more in common than you think."
After listening to her, something sort of clicked in my head. It's like I achieved some knowledge that was sparse. Or maybe or I was just opening my eyes to the truth at last. It was like I was finally awake to the world. It only brought up more questions though. In all my thoughts, I spoke out in my tongue.
"But that doesn't explain why you saved me." I only just realised what I did but it's not like it mattered. She couldn't understand me anyway. So I thought.
"Oh, well, it's hard to explain. Lets just say that I require a good, strong friend for the road ahead."
She responded to me directly and didn't seem surprised unlike me. I bet my jaw was dropped. However, I just carried on talking. I've got too many questions to ask but I can't just blurt them all out. It would make me seem almost vulnerable now.
"A friend? I don't understand. Why does a Hunter need its prey for a different purpose?" I tilted my head while sitting up, eyeing the Elf up and down with a curious eye.
"Yes. A Friend. You see … Hunters can work together also. So I have this offer for you. Would you like to come with me? To explore the world, see different things, become stronger and wiser, to lead a different life? Or do you wish to stay here with the clan that set up your own death?"
It was like she had me at a fork in the road … but with only one path looking more decent. She grinned at me. She was good … but her way with negotiating seemed almost dangerous. Regardless, the offer was too tempting. I'd do anything to get away from here. From the abuse. From Shta'.
" … You know my Answer, Elf. I'd rather come with you, who treats me with kindness, than stay here and be assassinated in my sleep."
"Good but I have a favour to ask of you … only this one favour."
She seemed like she was almost pleading, moving her hands in front and clasping them together. I furrowed my brow, suspicion evident.
"And tell, what would that be, Elf?"
"You would have to fight for me. Fight by me. With me. I want you to be my Sword … or claws in your case. You will be like … a Guardian."
A Guardian? Taking the damage? I've got enough pain already … but still, the offer is better on the scales here. I still have no choice, really.
"As long as you keep your word. If you do, I'll learn to trust you. If you don't … I won't be protecting you. I may be some low beast but I still have a cunning mind." I sort of bared my teeth slightly. I can't help but be impolite to strangers. The Elf nodded to me and smiled faintly. She slowly moved her hand to my head and patted it. It felt nice I'll admit but I can't help but feel like that was the end of the diplomacy here. I purred …
"Don't worry. I'll keep my promise. It's going to be nice to have you around, cat."
She reassured me with that smile of hers and I felt myself being lured in to her strange charm.
"So … what's your name? You can call me Kaze."