A/N: Whereas the first two stories were created from my imagination, the characters appearing in this chapter are not; one is my main on the Turalyon server (the mage), and the other three are roughly based on friends, although their names have been changed (a druid named Urmomsahorde/Kittypwn – he was forced to change his name over a complaint – would not do well in this world, I'm afraid.) Some of the dialogue is based on the general interactions between my friends and I, some is created based on the specific personalities given to the characters.

The resurrection and 'questionably gay' jokes are ones between my friends as well, and I enjoyed them enough to incorporate them into the story. For the record, I've nothing against gays, but the two BE Males are not, I'm afraid. Neither is the Tauren; it's based on the frequent jokes the males in my guild make, poking fun at the questionable sexualities of the BE Males in game. And, yes, I as well as my character are flirty with our friends.

To those curious: Yes, I do largely play Horde, however, I have nothing against the Alliance; I've played both sides (Although admittedly I play Horde more often, because I fell in love with playing my mage). The story is merely Horde-driven at the moment, however, in the next couple of stories we'll be seeing things from an Alliance point of view. I tried keeping a general balance, and have a roughly equal amount of Horde and Alliance, of male to female, of varying races and classes.

Anyways... As always, I am grateful and appreciative of your time reading, and of reviews. Read... Review... Enjoy...

The Bonds We Make

Tempers and Alcohol: Eshne and Baernor, Felvor and Taolin

The young woman stared at the anthropomorphic creatures around her in distaste. Creatures resembling the cattle she was used to eating walked around her, and she was supposed to think of them as allies, as equals. Well, they certainly were stronger than her, but she saw their distrust of her and her magic. Of her addiction to it, and the corruption that had come over her race, changing their eyes to the glowing, fel green color. Their distrust made her distant and disdainful towards them; while normally she had no issues with befriending and allying herself with others, when they judged her like this she was instantly turned away from them.

Turning away from them, she wandered around the mesa their large city stood atop. How they had gotten up here in the first place, with their hooves and large builds, she didn't know. It astounded and intrigued her that they had managed to not only get up here, but build such a massive city in the few short years since their joining with the Horde. Such wonders, and she unable to find out how, not with their mistrust. They enjoyed the company of the orcs and trolls, barbaric and savage though they often were, but not of her. She heard what the other Horde said about her kind; cruel, arrogant, addicted. Fools, all of them.

She approached the bankers, and was preparing to store more items with them when someone tapped her shoulder. Turning, she stared up at a massive male tauren. He was looking at her, his expression open and friendly, so different from the others. "Yes?" she asked, her voice carrying the magniloquent undertone her race often had.

"You're a mage, aren't you?" he asked, a deep rumbling sound. She smirked, and raised an eyebrow, looking him up and down.

"Let me guess. You want a portal somewhere, right?" At his nod, she crossed her arms and stood back, staring at him arrogantly. "Look, darling, I don't give out portals to random people that come along, and I'm busy. So go away," she said snidely. He looked taken aback for a moment, then moved closer, and she felt suddenly dwarfed.

"A simple yes or no would have been fine, darling. You needn't be so nasty about it, especially when I would have paid you for the service," he replied. She scowled at him.

"If you people weren't always expecting it to come so easily, then I might not be so snappish to every one of you that comes along, dear," she said, then turned away. A giant, furry hand gripped her arm, strong and yet surprisingly gentle, and turned her back around.

"I said I would pay, and I was just asking for a service. Now calm your skinny ass down, and stop being like that to me. I haven't done anything to you," he lectured, and she looked at him, startled. Most Tauren were peaceful, gentle, not like this. She'd almost think him human or Blood Elf, maybe even a troll, with his tone and words.

"...And how much time did you spend in Undercity or the Drag?" she asked, incredulous. He grinned.

"More than I should have. Rest of Orgrimmar too, don't think the orcs won't be confrontational if you act like that to them. Now, are you calm?" he asked. She slowly nodded, still staring at him in fascination. "Good. May I please have a portal? I'll pay you at least a gold, and then be out of your pretty hair," he said. She blinked, then smiled.

"Aw, I think I may not hate your kind so much after all, now. Where did you want to go?" she asked.

"Undercity," he said. She nodded and began concentrating on the spell. After several moments had passed, a window opened in the air near them.

"There, one portal to the Undercity," she said. He handed her a gold piece, and was nearing the portal when she asked, "Hey, what's your name?"

"Baernor. Yours?" he asked. She grinned.

"Eshne," she replied as he stepped through the portal and was sent to the Undercity. She waited several seconds before, deciding she had little else to do, she stepped through as well.

As she arrived in the city of the Forsaken, she looked around to see the Tauren shift into a cat and take off. Surprised, she used her magic to teleport several feet ahead to where he was running. "Baernor!" she called out, and he halted to look at her.

"Yes?" he asked as he shifted back to his normal massive form.

"Why would you need to be here?" she asked. He raised an eyebrow.

"To fly down to the Badlands and help down there," he told her. She nodded slowly, then grinned.

"Mind the aid of a mage?" she asked. He smiled.

"Long as you watch your temper, then sure. Let's go," he said as he shifted back to his cat form and ran towards the bat handler. She followed after, marveling that she had found a Tauren who didn't view her with distrust, and who treated her as a friend.

Now there was a word she hadn't used in awhile, especially since beginning her travels. Friend, the last she had had was dead, killed in the attack on her city by Arthas and the Scourge. Poor Arylis had been destroyed in the destruction, and Eshne remembered Narayan's, Arylis' brother, grief Afterwards. the yelling and the charging after an undead. She'd been forced to use a spell to subdue him and pull him back. They had hidden, watching in terror. The weeks after that he had mourned, wasting away both from the magic craving that had fallen again upon them, and his grief over Arylis' death.

She shook herself from thoughts of the path as she paid for a trip down to the Badlands, and was mounted upon a bat. Narayan had become a rogue after that, training hard, and she had focused on her studies. Then the alliance with the Horde, and she had traveled to each city, exploring and gaining power as she went. And seeing the prejudice against her addicted, cursed race. So different that one of them would look upon her with compassion, and not be pushed away by her temper. That one, that druid ahead of her on another bat – she hoped the poor creature wasn't hurting too badly to carry the Tauren – would become a friend.

The two oddly paired Blood Elf males pushed their way through the trees of Feralas, both marveling at the magnificent greenery around them, and cursing that they'd become lost.

"I told you, Camp Mojache is south, and towards the east," one of them said, stopping to lean against a tree. An attractive female, winged, horned, and hooved, stopped next to him, glancing around for a victim to use her whip on.

"And I told you that we aren't looking for the Camp, not yet. I want to explore where the ruinsh are," the other said, stopping to look back at his warlock friend. A shield was strapped to his back, and a sword glinted at his side.

"There are ogres that way, Felvor. Why would you want to go somewhere invested with ogres?" the warlock asked.

"Becaushe, Taolin, I'm curioush. We might find some treashure down there. Or at least I'll get the chance to crush some creaturesh," he replied with a savage grin. Taolin rolled his eyes.

"Then could we have at least stayed on the road?"

"No, there wash an iron mine. If you forgot which way the road wash after that, well, that'sh your fault. Beshidesh, we're two shtrong elvesh, we can shurvive in the wildernesh...sh," Felvor said. Taolin shook his head and sighed.

"Whatever you say, Felvor. Lead on, and prepare to be my shield if we meet any more monsters," he said.

They continued on, Taolin mourning the tears in his robes, Felvor storming his way past the trees without heed to the scratches on his plate armor. The two friends had traveled south into Feralas after having explored the dreary land of Desolace, and while they both appreciated the change in climate, Taolin wished that they could at least stay on a civilized road, and reach a town. Felvor was too drunk at the moment to care, it seemed. Taolin really needed to remember to limit the alcohol consumption of his friend.

They ran into furred beasts, yeti Taolin believed they were, and gorillas. They skirted past hippogryphs, feral and fierce in all their glory. In the distance, they saw the ogres, and around them, the ruins. Taolin had to admit, he was rather interested in the area, as any treasure of elven make was fascinating. He was sure Felvor merely wanted to see, and to kill ogres.

Unfortunately, the ogres had other ideas. Two tried smashing them, with Felvor ducking behind his shield and unsheathing his sword to do battle, and an ogre magi sent a firebolt at Taolin. Amused, he watched as his succubus darted forward to seduce and subdue the ogre, and he turned to aid the paladin by sending curses at the ogres. Unfortunately, he overdid it and one came over to him, smashing down on his frail and poorly armored body. He winced at the pain, and tried to cast a spell to send it fleeing in fear, but the ogre sent him flying into the air, interrupting him. Standing painfully, he again tried casting a spell or curse, calling back his minion to help, but again, he was attacked. This one knocked him to the ground, and the ogre stomped its massive foot down on Taolin's chest, crushing his ribcage and lungs.

Dying, he watched his minion vanish, and Felvor suddenly swarmed by the remaining ogres as he killed his target. Frantically trying to call the Light, even if it was stolen and gained through evil acts, to shield him, he stood protected by a bubble. Casting a spell to heal himself, he grinned as the ogres attacked unsuccessfully. Fully healed, he began again attacking the ogres, his heavy armor saving him from the beating. Killing first the warrior ogre, he moved on to attack the magi, and finally killed him.

Felvor looked to his friend, who's spirit hovered over the crushed body. "Don' worry, Taolin. I can bring ya back," he said as he sat down and pulled out something to drink.

"...Is that more beer, Felvor?" came Taolin's deathly, eerie whisper. Felvor grinned.

"Maybe," he replied. He could almost see, so used to Taolin's mannerisms, the sigh and the holding his face in his hands.

"Just make sure you actually resurrect me. Curse the stored soul expiring," Taolin whispered. He could feel the tugging at his soul as it tried to go to the Twisting Nether, but force of will kept him there. He'd used a spell to bring him back should he die, but the long wanderings in the jungle had worn it down, and he had forgotten to recast it.

"Yeah, yeah..." Felvor said as he stood, stumbling, and began to use his magic, to bring life back into the body and sending Taolin's soul back into it. Finishing the spell, he stood back to await the warlock's reawakening, when one of the ogres clumsily stood up. Eyes wide, he re-equipped his sword and shield, an "oopsh" escaping from his lips. He heard the warlocks cursing as he began battle.

"You stupid inebriated paladin! How could you resurrect an ogre instead of me? How do you make that kind of mistake, you misbegotten fool?!" Taolin scream-whispered at him, watching as his companion dispatched of the ogre and turned back to him.

"Shorry? Won't happen again," Felvor said. He sat to drink some more, having used more mana than intended in his drunken state. Standing, he began to perform the spell, beer mug still in his hand. This time, he correctly brought back the right person. He began a healing spell as Taolin winced from his crushed ribs and battered body.

"...What's the name of that spell again, Felvor?" Taolin asked, scowling at his friend.

"Redemption."

"And yet you cast such a spell while drunk and holding a beer mug... You drunken disgrace to our race... I cannot believe you did that."

"Yep, that'sh me, the drunken paly. And, hey, I shaid was shorry, Ta'lin," he slurred. The warlock looked at him with loathing as he straightened his robes and summoned his succubus. The moment the demoness appeared, she latched onto her master.

"Oh, master! You're alive! I thought you were gone," she said. He pat her head, used to her affection. He only disliked it when she acted jealously towards other females, which was why he never had her with him in towns. She turned to hiss at Felvor. "That filthy mortal almost made you destroyed forever, and I would have been so upset! Can I rip him apart, Master?"

"Entertaining as that is, Salthia, I think not," Taolin told her with an amused look. She pouted.

"She could try, Ta'lin. Bet I could show her who'sh bossh," Felvor said. Taolin raised an eyebrow at him.

"I'm her master, thus her boss, Fel. I won't have you and my minion fighting; I reserve the right to kill you for myself. Now, can we go to the camp?" he asked. Felvor nodded, and they began walking.

"You won't kill me, Taolin. Ya love me too much," he said before slinging an arm over Taolin's shoulders. Taolin scowled, and rolled his eyes. He didn't, however, push his friend away, estimating that such would cause the fool to fall over, and they really needed to get to civilization.

"For one, I may very well kill you some day out of annoyance. For another, don't say it like that; it sounds wrong. If others were around, they would think... inaccurately. We have too much history and friendship for me to do anything to you, yes, but that only applies when you're sober. When drunk, well... You really will get yourself, or the both of us, permanently killed someday," he said. Felvor grinned.

"Yep, and I bet you'll be cursing me to the Twisting Nether the entire time," he said. Taolin laughed and shook his head as the two continued walking.

Arriving, hours later, at Camp Mojache, both males stopped in awe at the female blood elf that stood in the road, talking to a Tauren. Neither had seen a female of their kind in weeks, so busy with their journey, and it was an appealing sight to finally see one. Felvor appreciated her raven-haired beauty, and Taolin the magic radiating from her. A fellow caster, he was sure, although the lack of deep fel magic – aside from whatever she may have tapped into to feed her addiction – suggested mage or priestess.

She turned her eyes towards them, and smirked. "Like what you see, boys?" she called out before wrapping her arms around the Tauren. Taolin raised an eyebrow, and Felvor laughed before walking forward.

"I might. You didn't look the type to like beshtiality, though," he teased. The Tauren, who had been talking to one of his kind, turned to look at him, and laughed.

"Oh, but she's into all sorts of things. Maybe later the four of us...? I know you two look very fine," he said. Taolin blanched, before noticing the mischievous gleam in the Tauren's eyes, and the high laughter of the female. Felvor laughed again as well.

"Now I may be intereshted in you, big guy. How about you ditch the girl and come with me?" he teased. Taolin snickered, knowing Felvor was drunk and willing to flirt with anything on two legs. Not that he'd make such an offer sober; both males were strictly into females. Still, it was a fun, recurring joke Felvor made, especially with many allies thinking rather oddly about the males of their race.

"Stoppit! I might take you up on that!" the Tauren joked. Both Felvor and Taolin were surprised at the Tauren's joking, almost vulgar manner, but they enjoyed it as well, as it instantly developed an easy-going manner between them.

"Ok, guys! That's enough!" the female said as she doubled over with laughter. "Before you kill me with all this, really. Or turn me on, whichever comes first," she said with a wink. Turning to the Tauren, she tugged on his brown fur. "Baernor, are we going to go kill gnolls, or what?" she asked. He looked down at her, then over at the two Blood Elf males.

"Why don't we see if they want to come along with us, Esh? We can group up... after they repair and rest," he said, noting their worn armor and weary forms.

Felvor nodded, "Hey, that'd be fun! Give ush a couple hours, and we'll be ready to go!" he said.

"Yes, but allow Fel to sober up first, please," Taolin pleaded. He did not want another episode of death any time soon. He dealt it to others, and disliked feeling it himself.

"Sounds like a plan," Eshne said. She stepped away from Baernor and approached Taolin, smirking. "I'm Eshne, by the way, and that's Baernor. One druid and one mage, at your service," she informed him. Looking him over slyly, she flashed him a flirtatious smile. "make sure you rest though... I plan on wearing you guys down later," she said with a wink, Taolin laughed, unsure of whether she was serious, or joking.

"Yes, we'll rest. Ah, and I am Taolin. My tipsy friend over there is Felvor," he said. Looking at his succubus, who was glaring hatefully at Eshne, he nodded to her. "And this is Salthia." Eshne nodded at them, then grabbed Taolin's sleeve.

"Oh, my, hon, your robes are so torn up... I'm a tailor, I can fix these if you want," she said. He glanced down at the tears on his robes, and nodded before stripping them off. Her eyes widened at the lean elf as he handed her the robe, still wearing plain black pants beneath. Decently built for a fellow caster, she thought, if not as toned or buffed as a rogue or warrior. Nice, all the same.

"I'll go rest and get some stuff from the vendors. Thanks so very much for the he-" Taolin was cut off as his succubus shot past him to attack Eshne, who's eyes again widened, this time in fearful surprise as she backed up. "No, Salthia, stop!" he ordered, and she refused to obey. Roots suddenly shot up out of the ground to entangle the crazed demon who glared hatefully at Eshne. At the same time, a blast of fire hit her, and Eshne's eyes glowed slightly as she wielded her magic, more fire forming around her hands.

"Ya better control your demon, Taolin, before I kill her," Eshne warned as Baernor came closer, standing defensively next to the physically weaker person. Taolin nodded, and again tried to order Salthia back. She growled and hissed, spitting in Eshne's direction before lashing her whip at the mortal. Baernor's arm went up to catch the blow, and another blast of fire hit the succubus, this time making her stand down.

"Salthia, no more," Taolin said as he finally managed to dismiss the errant creature. Turning to Baernor and Eshne, he bowed apologetically. "I am sorry about that... She gets rather jealous," he said. Eshne frowned and waved him off, more concerned with Baernor's bleeding arm than an apology. Deciding to leave them alone, he and Felvor walked off to rest, repair, and visit the vendors.

"Are you alright, Baernor?" Eshne asked, gingerly touching the wound. He nodded.

"I'm strong, Esh. I can handle damage like this; I am your meat shield after all, remember?" he said teasingly as he used his nature magic to heal over the wound. She gave him a lopsided grin.

"That you are, darlin'. And I'm very thankful that you are my own personal shield. Oh, and my personal teddy bear!" she said as she hugged him. He pat her head, and she looked up at him. But, with those two, making new friends, are we? You must be bored with me," she said, faking a pout. He laughed.

"We've been working together several months now, hon. Shouldn't we meet other friends as well?" he asked. She shrugged and nodded.

"I suppose. A warlock with a jealous succubus and a drunken paladin, our travels should be interesting now," she commented, going silent as she mused. He stayed around a moment longer before turning to go talk further with the people of Camp Mohache. Two new friends, and now of her race. Interesting. She grinned; her little family was growing, even if she would have to now deal with a jealous 'girlfrend.'