Chapter 7 - Onward

Gunnorda woke before the sun came up. She couldn't sleep. Her bags are packed sitting in the hallway by the door. Softpaw slumbers at her feet keeping them toasty. She sits at the desk trying to write once more. Sighing softly, she crumples the page and sets it aside with the ever growing pile. Looking at the stack of crumpled paper she shakes head. Setting down her writing utensils she takes the crumpled pieces of parchment loading up her arms crossing over to the fireplace tossing them in one by one watching them burn. Her mother has always been against her chosen path. Yet she really didn't want to leave things this way with her. Taking a cleansing breath she crosses the room and sits at the desk to try again only this time she writes to her Da and not her Mum. Her Da understands her better. They have more in common any how. Her pen flew across the parchment with lovely loops telling him of her upcoming trip, asking him to keep her in his thoughts and then her pen stops. Biting her lip she debates on how to approach the subject of her Mum. Lost in thought she taps the pen against the page.

A muffled thud is heard in the hallway causing Gunnorda to jump in her seat. She looks behind her towards the door expecting to see Cybrind the insomniac yet it's Cayllar. He grins at Gunnorda waving to her, "Morning. I half expected to see Cy down here not you. Can't sleep?"

She glances at the page and gives Cayllar a half shrug, "I been puttin' off th' letter t' me Mum n Da. I supposen I sh' write afore I go travelin' all th' way out t' Northrend."

Cayllar pauses taken a bit surprised and nods slowly. "I hadn't thought about that. The only family I have is going with me." He stares at his feet a bit lost in thought.

"Y' dinnae have any other t' be sayin' bye t'?"

Cayllar gives Gunnorda a sheepish grin and shrugs. "Nah, no one will miss me much. Listen I'll leave you to your letter. I'm gonna start breakfast."

"Do y' need help?"

Cayllar chuckles on his way to the kitchen, "Nope. No more procrastinating, Gunn. Get that letter written before you regret not saying bye." He gives her a friendly wink before disappearing in to the kitchen leaving Gunnorda sighing.

"I'm no' procrstinatin'." Softpaw raises her head and snorts. "Oh hush."

Gunnorda takes a deep cleansing breath and starts writing once more. She requests he speak with her Mum and see that she knows she is loved. That she is thinking of her and that she will miss them all very much. She hesitates and shakes her head choosing to leave it a positive farewell, something for them to remember in a favorable light. Sealing the letter she walks over to her bag tucking it in to a side pocket before joining Cayllar in the kitchen to help him cook breakfast for every one.


It was as if the whole guild hall woke up at once. It went from peaceful and quiet to a constant roar of footsteps and talking, mixing in a bit of shouting and laughing with perhaps a sprinkle of worrying. Bob stands on his chair, clipboard in hand directing traffic. All personal bags to Northrend are in one area while supply bags and boxes are in another.

Toots sits at the table giving last minute direction to an annoyed Joy. Bob moves outside to direct the laborers to load the carts and giving them the rundown on how to properly stack them for better efficiency. Cybrind rolls up his maps for the umpteenth time looking around for his sister. "Anna!"

The cat lay on her usual perch behind the head table. She slowly lifts her head in a bored manner giving him a look of unconcern as if she has no stake in what is going on. Cybrind growls at her. She stands slowly stretching languidly then hops off her perch to stalk slowly towards him. "It's going to be hard to carry things that way. Unless you prefer them strapped to your back? Now let's go."

Annarathis shivers as she transforms. She stands motionless for a good thirty seconds as the younger ones gawk at her. Some forgetting, some not knowing she is not a true cat. She quirks her eyebrows at one such recruit. Valadana averts her eyes in order not to stare. Twice she taps Faf's shoulder smiling gently urging him to move on. Faf looks from Annarathis to Valadana and nods nervously. The scathing disapproval evident on Annarathis' face sends the dwarf skittering away. With a soft huff Annarathis moves to Cybrind's side. She notes his boxes and nods silently taking the first of many out to Bob and the caravan of carts.

Dishes are clean, leftovers are stored, and bags are packed and stacked outside on the caravan of waiting carts. The carts are hitched to the animals and every one is ready to leave. Cybrind looks around taking note of everyone present and ready to go. "Toots?" He yells across the yard. His eyebrows furrow as he looks around a bit put out. He isn't sure if he's concerned or annoyed by her absence.

"Keep your pants on!" Toots giggles as she comes out the front door, "Or don't… some say pants are over rated." She closes the door and locks it looking around at everyone. She grins up at him and takes a running leap at him. His eyes widen as he braces himself for impact. She jumps rather high for such a small woman. If Cybrind were any other man, especially human, she would have more than likely reached his chest. As it was, Cybrind isn't any other man, he stands feet higher than most humans and wasn't as lucky to be tackled at chest level or wouldn't be if he hadn't seen her coming. He caught the spitfire of a woman with an oof, chuckling. He set her on his shoulder pad where she can see everyone.

"Okay let's head out!"

The first cart guided by Bob starts down the street followed by five more. Guild members, beasts, companions all walk or ride as the case may be towards Tinkertown and the tram that will whisk them off to Stormwind.

Such a sight they must have been traveling in that caravan. Those citizens of Ironforge that were awake enough to witness them stood watching with growing interest. Children ran along side them as if they were an odd parade.

Cayllar gives his dawnsaber a nudge with his foot urging him forward as they rounded a corner. He catches up to Gunnorda and gets her attention pointing out a mailbox ahead. They had passed two already and he noted she still hadn't mailed her letter. Gunnorda bit her lip hesitantly, gives him an annoyed look before nodding. They exchange a look before she breaks from the caravan to mail her letter to her Da.


Tinkertown, a town within the large city of Ironforge deeply carved with in the mountain in Dun Morogh, home to many gnome survivors. The guild made their way through the inner town, a few stopping to speak with vendors on their way to the station. Bob's eyes light up with excitement as he finishes haggling with the vendor for a new set of plans. Toots rolls her eyes at him playfully from the safety of Cybrind's shoulder. "Do I even want to know what that is?"

Bob holds up his latest prized possession with a huge grin of triumph. "Yes! Yes, it is a flying machine. A machine that flies!" Toots and Cybrind exchange a brief look of uncertainty as Bob continues, "Just think of it! We will fly one day across Dragonblight, across Azeroth, no more walking with our feet or beasts! Just think of it!"

Cybrind shakes his head slowly trying to imagine what sort of contraption it could possibly be when other engineers of their group get wind of Bob's plans. The group begins planning and working out the logistics on how they not only will build at least one of these machines, they will bring it back with them. Cybrind gives Toots a sideways glance, "When will they have time to create this machine? We are in the middle of a war."

Toots puts a finger to her lips shushing him. "Let them have their fun believing. After all, what is there to live for if you have no more dreams?"

Cybrind grows quiet contemplating Toots' words watching them animatedly plan and scheme as the tram pulls in to the station. Bob's manner slips back in to place, tucking his plans in his pack he hops up on to the first cart, grabbing the reigns and begins leading the procession.

The time grows nearer, the conductor looks at the time and at the mobs still loading on to the tram. It is almost to capacity. He starts to blow his whistle for the first warning as the last group starts in to the last tram. Bob pokes his head out of the door about to step out to hurry everyone when the last is finally loaded with seconds to spare. At long last the conductor blows his whistle in two short bursts followed by a long third. The gates close firmly locking in the process, the tram engines turn over almost groaning from the effort of movement. The tram moves slowly forward towards Stormwind at long last carrying with it the guild members and their gear.

Cayllar slips off Tarambo's saddle landing on his feet in an agile hop. He looks around the car he occupies and at the other travelers when he spots a fair haired beauty looking around at the crowd nervously. He grins to himself, tossing the reins lightly over Tarambo's thick neck causing the dawnsaber to look at him briefly. The occupants of the tram are rather tightly packed. Not one sitting unless upon either a cart or a beast. Easily Cayllar makes his way through the crowd towards his desired destination, the beauty's side.

Her dazzling blue eyes are sharp. She watches everyone's movements carefully including Cayllar's progress towards her. She bites her lip debating her options, allow him to reach her or slip away in to the shadows eluding him. Joy sets her eyes upon him as he approaches at last, she tilts her face up to him invitingly batting her eyes and rewarding him with a smile. "Took you long enough, I thought maybe you got lost."

He returns her grin with one of his own, "Lost in your eyes, not in the tram car."

Her eyes narrow as she studies his face. Her arms crossed shifting her weight to her left foot. "Do those lines really work?"

Cayllar brushes the hair from her eyes, allowing his fingers to caress her cheek before gently brushing down her arm to hold her hand. "I wouldn't know. I don't use lines I speak from my heart." He lifts her hand to his lips kissing her palm softly, holding her hand to his face. "I'm going to miss our stolen moments together."

"Is this when you say you may not return alive, we have only this moment and you love me… so why shouldn't I give in and give myself to you?"

Cayllar laughs, "I would never do that to you. When you give yourself to me, it won't be because I tricked you… it will be of your own free will." Joy's cheeks blush deeply. "You will be mine… some day."

Her breathing hitches yet her gaze is unwavering. "You're awfully sure of yourself. You could die before coming back."

Cayllar inhales, smelling the inside of her wrist, kissing her palm once more before lowering it yet not releasing it. He favors her with another smile, "That is a risk I'm willing to take. Coming home to you is at least something to live for."

Joy licks her suddenly dry lips, her eyes searching his. "Why?"

Cayllar lowers his lips to hers, kissing her softly. Her eyes flutter open, her chest rising and falling quickly with her rapid breathing. "For you…"

"Is that right?"

"Do I need another reason?" Cayllar quirks his brow.

"I'm more than just a play toy."

"Yes, so much more. I wouldn't bet my life on a toy." Cayllar wraps his arm around her waist, pulling her body to his. Joy lifts herself on her toes, her arms snaking around his neck, their lips meet in a kiss, so full of hunger and passion. The two pull their lips apart breathlessly. Cayllar's gold eyes darken with his lust lifting her off feet to kiss her once more, deeply. Her hands deeply intertwined in his hair holding him to her kissing him just as urgently. Again their lips part both staring at each other lost in a world of their making, all other occupants of their tram car are forgotten.

"Why?" A pained look crosses Cayllar's face, he lowers her gently back to her feet. He swallows hard past the lump in his throat, his jaw clenching and unclenching. Her eyes sparkle, she looks up at him pulling away. "You know what I need to hear." She says, not asking, she knows he can't say or is it he won't? She backs away yet another step waiting, hoping.

Cayllar reaches out for her as if to speak yet no words come to him and she's gone lost in the shadows, disappearing in the crowd. Cayllar closes his eyes, his hand drops as does his head. He has failed her yet again. She longs to hear those three small words. He just can't say them. The tram whistle blows announcing their arrival.

A high pitched voice calls from outside the tram car, "Stormwind! Everyone off!"

The door slides open to the tram station. One look around you couldn't really tell if you've moved as it looks exactly like the tram station in Ironforge with one exception, the signs stating your current location plastered near the entrance. Cayllar lifts his head as the throngs of people begin departing the tram. He stares at the sign reading, 'Welcome to Stormwind'. Cayllar sighs, making his way towards Tarambo, he feels anything but welcome. Grabbing the reins, he escorts Tarambo off the tram and onto the platform. The dawnsaber notes the sudden change in his master's behavior and nudges him. Cayllar sighs laying his forehead to Tarambo's speaking to him in Darnassian, "I'm a fool. You deserve a better master." Tarambo remains silent staring at his master, reading his actions and mood purring deeply moments before nudging him again. Cayllar looks around noting the exiting group and walks with his dawnsaber towards the hallway bringing up the rear.


The captain calls out to his men, yelling instructions double checking for himself that all is in order before the rest of her guild arrives. He watches the draenei with growing interest. She is a beauty, no doubt. A frightening beauty more accurately yet that is not what he is interested in at this particular moment. The man boldly walks to her side standing with her for a moment before motioning towards the crewmen she has been watching so intently. "Why do you look at him like that?"

"I am assessing his market value."

Captain Stanton is aghast, he stutters, "H-h-he is a crewman, one of my men!"

"For now." Kreah eyes the tauren causing him to drop the rope he had been attempting to secure.

"Now see here!" The captain blusters on, "This is my ship. This is my crew. I am in charge here."

Kreah gives him a steady look, her unwavering gaze causes him to become more flustered, "As I said, for now."

The captain throws up his hands. There is no reasoning with this death knight. "I can kick you off my-"

"Permission to board, Captain!"

Captain Stanton hears the reverberating bass tones coming from the docks. His head whips around, his mouth opens to rebuke this request as his heart is suddenly held in a vice grip. "Ah, my guild mates have arrived at long last."

Kreah hands the man the pouch containing the agreed first payment and smiles. The captain stares open mouthed at the pouch, clears his throat and stands taller in an attempt to reconfirm that it is truly him that is in charge. He hollers to those on the dock. "Permission granted."

Kreah's tail flicks and she grins. "Lovely. They need help loading. I suggest you put that creature to use elsewhere if he can't even manage to hold something as simple as a rope."

Captain Stanton grumbles under his breath moving away from Kreah, pocketing the pouch. He bellows new instruction to the crew. The guild is ready to bring the carts aboard along the wide plank provided to them. Skillfully the crew loads the carts and beasts using ropes and wenches. Each is carefully tended to. Cayllar sees to Tarambo personally ensuring he is put in a stall with his sibling's sabers.

Boxes are stowed below deck, gear is tossed in various rooms as good-byes are said between those staying in Azeroth and those leaving for Northrend. Cayllar looks around expectantly only to find himself disappointed. What did he expect after the ride over?

The captain blows the whistle. The dock master gives clearance and the engine comes to life. All guild members staying in Azeroth exit the boat and stand in a group on the docks waving their good-bye. Some of the Northrend crew stand on deck waving back as the boat slowly pulls out.

Cayllar sighs to himself and heads below deck grabbing a flimsy blanket and pillow. He tosses them on the bottom hammock, stowing his bags underneath. This is to be home for the next weeks as they make their perilous journey skirting the Maelstrom on their way to Valgarde in Howling Fjord, Northrend.

Tieago tosses a pillow and blanket on the hammock directly over Cayllar's and looks down at his older brother with troubled eyes. Cayllar sighs and sits up, scooting over allowing him to sit beside him. "What?"

Tieago runs a hand through his hair and glances nervously at Cayllar before speaking in hushed tones, "She wants a kid."

Cayllar's eyes widen, he blinks a few times to fully absorb what Tieago just shared with him. "You can't just blurt something like that out, Bro. You should warn a guy." He looks at the seriousness in Tieago's eyes, the pain, and the uncertainty. Cayllar sighs. "You're serious." Tieago nods silently. "Damn."

Tieago drops his head in to his hands, "I know." He groans, "I don't know. I mean, ya I want kids and ya sure I love the woman but now? The timing sucks."

Cayllar looks at his little brother and grins. He looks so much like their mother. He frowns as a thought strikes him. "Is that even possible? Are you two… compatible? I mean I don't want to talk about the hows. I just mean in a scientific way. Obviously you two have been together so that part of it is a go… just genetically speaking…"

Tieago's eyes narrow in thought, "I have no idea." The two men grow quiet as the rest of the crew make their way below decks. Above deck is the sound of the horn blowing announcing their clearance of the bay to the open seas.