Phew. Ok. Here's chapter 7. Sorry for the wait, guys. Had oh so much going on. Work picked up pretty dramatically, and we moved our entire office down a floor. And then there was my very vocal objection to patch 2.1. If ya read the WoW general forums, you might've seen me posting in a few threads objecting to some of the nerfs that came at Shammies. Since then, I've respecced poor Rayford to Resto. Sobs Oh well. Got a Warrior and a Hunter comin up anyway, so we'll see how those go. Heh. Those are my excuses for the delay. : P Sorry about all that, guys. I'll try to be a bit better about posting on a quasi-regular basis. Guess that last chapter just kinda drained me of my creative juices. For anyone that thought the last chapter had a bit of a shocker, wait till ya see the end of this one. I think its a bit better. What do you think? Just wanna let you guys know that I've got chapter 8 under way, and I'll work on it as the schedule permits. Please, as you read this chapter, bear 3 things in mind. 1) This chapter didn't go through my little review process (see: having wife read it). 2) This entire story is a work in progress. It is by NO MEANS a completed work. I know that there's a lot to improve upon, and please, if you think that there's something I could do to make the story (or shoot, my writing in general) better, don't hesitate to review it and let me know. I like hearing feedback from others, especially if its something that I can use to improve my story. 3) I don't own World of Warcraft. To a certain degree, it owns me. I simply play and enjoy the game (not ALL of it, mind you. But a great deal of it).
This sudden admission caught Illaria off guard, and few several seconds she just sat there, mouth still open, trying to form the words she had planned to speak, but unable to. She could feel her face growing a darker shade of blue as she blushed. Speak, you fool. Say something! Snapping herself out of her stupor, she again opened her mouth to speak, but Cairne was no longer facing her. Instead, he had turned his attention to Rayford, and was studying him with the same intent gaze that he had focused on her just moments ago.
"You have been having visions too, have you not, Rayford?" Cairne's voice was deep and commanding. And while it was one that you couldn't help but obey, it was clear that he also spoke from great wisdom. He had deep, clear green eyes outlined by black fur, streaked with gray. From his head protruded 2 long and dangerous looking horns, which were much longer than those belonging to either Rayford or Bogarden. Illaria decided that their horns must be some indication of age, in which case Cairne was considerably older than her two rescuers. Despite his age, though, he was obviously still quite fit, and there was no doubt in her mind that if he wanted to, he could pick her up and crush her with just one arm. Behind his chair, leaning up against the wall sat what looked like a huge tree branch, except that it had had some kind of hand grip whittled into the middle of it so that it could be wielded as a weapon. The sheer number of cuts and scratches on it spoke of its use in many battles.
To her left, she heard Rayford let out a soft sigh. Then, glancing at Illaria, he nodded. "Yes, Cairne. I have had a strange vision as of late. I've tried to decipher what they mean, but I can't seem to figure it out. I have a feeling that it is an issue of great importance, though."
Cairne nodded solemnly for a moment before standing up. "Bogarden, I thank you for aiding Rayford and Illaria in their quest. But if you will excuse us, I must speak privately with them. Here," he said, reaching under his chair for a small pouch, "is a reward for you and your hard work. Go to the inn and get yourself some ale." Cairne tossed the pouch to Bogarden as the Tauren stood, who caught it easily. Bogarden nodded at Cairne, then turned back to Rayford. "I'll see ya at your place, bro." With one final nod at Cairne, Bogarden left, leaving her alone with the two Taurens.
"Follow me," Cairne said. Without waiting, he turned around towards another door that Illaria had missed, and immediately walked through it. Rayford and Illaria stood and glanced at each other. Shrugging, Rayford lead the way into the new room, and Illaria followed shortly behind.
Bog breathed deeply as he walked across the green plains of Mulgore. He enjoyed the smell of his home this time of year. Beside him, Devildawg padded happily along. Bog smiled at his pet. The worg had been through much in the service of its master, and out of all the animals that Bog had tamed, Devildawg remained his favorite.
He had originally found the worg as a pup, left stranded and badly injured. Apparently something had thought Devildawg would make a good meal. Devildawg had disagreed. It had taken several weeks and many nights spent awake to nurse the animal back to full health. But the day it was able to walk, it had never left his side. Bog fondly laid a hand on his pets head and scratched it softly behind the ear. In response, Devildawg looked at its owner, its jaw hanging open slightly, tongue hanging out of one side of its mouth, and tail wagging goofily. He laughed softly at his pet, and knelt to give it a good scratching. But the second he'd gotten down to one knee, the worg immediately tried to pounce him and lick his face. Laughing more, he succeeded in fending off the worg, but just barely. After finally getting the worg to sit and stay for a minute, he reached into one of his pouches. The one that held the worg's treats. Devildawg's eyes lit up when he saw what Bog was going for, and it immediately began wagging its tail furiously in expectation. Bog laughed again as Devildawg proceeded to devour the treat.
Suddenly Bog's senses told him he was being watched, and he spun around to see if he could spot who was watching him. But all he could see behind him was a small forest. Standing, he reached into another of his pouches and drew out a flare, which he lit and tossed into the trees. He'd hoped that he'd be able to flush whoever was watching him out into the open, so that he could figure out what to do, but it looked as though it was just his imagination. He was just turning around when his senses screamed at him to get out of the way. Diving, he tucked himself into a roll, drawing both his bow and his axe as he came out. He surveyed his surroundings a second time, but again couldn't find the source of the attacks. Sheathing his axe yet again, he instead drew an arrow, and placed it on the notch of his bow, ready to fire at a moments notice. Beside him, Devildawg growled, it, too, trying to find their assailant. "Easy, DD. Easy," Bog said to his pet. Suddenly he heard it. The thwip of an arrow being released. Raising his bow, he let fired his own arrow in the direction that he'd heard the sound. His had been fired in a straight line, and so hit its mark first. Distantly he heard the thunk! as it hit….something. It wasn't a tree, nor was it his target. But he couldn't worry about that now. Looking up, he saw the arrow that his attacker had fired beginning to descend at him. Gauging its arch and speed, he took two steps back while placing another arrow on his string, and watched as it struck the ground at his feet. That was when he noticed the pattern that was etched into the arrow.
Sighing, both in frustration as well as relief, he called out. "Damnit Viri, if you ever fire at me again, I'm going to personally kill and skin that bat of yours!" He heard a Troll giggle in the distance, as Viri stepped out from several trees and approach him. Once she got into range, he reached out and smacked her in the back of the head with one gauntleted hand. "What were ya thinking, huh? Come on, kiddo. Ya scared the crap out of me. I thought I was really under attack!"
"Aww, come on, Bog sweety. Ya knew we just be playin wit ya. You know dat if we wanted ta hurt ya dat we coulda." Viri wore a huge smug grin, knowing that she'd indeed scared Bog pretty well. Normally it was hard to get the drop on the Tauren Hunter. It was often said that he was one of the Horde's best Hunters.
The apology didn't do anything to stem Bog's anger, though, and it was only after a minute of his ranting that he stopped and turned to face Viri. "Wait, what do you mean 'we?'" It was only then that he noticed the third member of the little party.
"Yeah, hi Bog," Teris said. "Mind taking your arrow out of my ssstomach now, please?"
Some time later, the three were all at Rayford's estate, seated around a table catching up. Bog had told them about their assault at the zeppelin tower, and Ray's near death experience, as well as the meeting that Ray and Illaria were having with Cairne at this very moment.
"He's getting that look in his eyes. You know. 'The look,'" Bog finished with.
"Which look dat be, mon?" A foreign, male voice asked from behind Bog, who visibly jumped for the second time that day.
"Damnit! Who else is gonna sneak up on me today?!" He demanded. Then turning, he grabbed at the Troll Rogue behind him, who easily avoided him. "Sukar, I swear, if you EVER do that again, I'll have your hide!"
Sukar laughed his deep Troll laugh. "Yeah right mon! Like ya could catch me! Ah hahaha—OUCH!" His laughter died suddenly as another Troll hand reached out and smacked the back of his head. "Whacha do dat fo'?" He demanded of his mate, Al'lara.
"Fer bein a jerk. Dats what fo'! Lemme 'pologize fo' me stupid mate, Bog. I tried ta stop him, but ya know how quick he can be, mon." Sukar harrumphed at this, upset that she'd ruined his fun by apologizing, but didn't make any other comment.
"It ain't a big deal, Lara," Bog responded, bowing his head slightly. He had always liked the two Trolls. Though they did have a tendency for sneaking off and engaging in activities that activities that were better left unspoken, more often than not to satisfy their Troll…."hunger."
Lara and Sukar were both average height for Trolls, though Sukar stood an inch or two higher than his mate. While Sukar was a Rogue, Lara was a Mage, and the two were always getting into squabbles as to which form was better. Sukar had sky blue skin, which didn't match his green eyes at all. His hair was a deep purple, though, and as usual, it was long, and hung well past his pointed ears. Fortunately, he'd managed to collect some of it into a ponytail. Lara had soft green skin, with her bright orange hair pulled into two ponytails, each draped over a separate shoulder. Her eyes, though, were the most striking part of her. One was a bright red, while the other was an icy blue. Never before had Bog seen eyes like hers, and she usually attracted a few stares from passersby whenever she entered a town.
Behind them stood the rest of the party. Each brought something special to the mix, and each had been requested by Ray in his letter. After departing the Burning Steppes on his wyvern, Bog had of course read the letter that his friend had given to him. Behind Sukar and Lara stood Alyndia and Xandir, both Blood Elves. Aly was a student in the arts of the Warlock, her brunette hair cut short, only shoulder length, and drawn back a bit to show off her tan skin and emerald green eyes. Xandir studied the Light, and dedicated himself to Paladinism. He had long, brown hair which he drew back into a ponytail, that being his only real defining feature.
Behind them, but still towering over the two Blood Elves, stood Selia Lighthoof. She, too, was a Tauren. But she was not just any Tauren. She was also a Druid. Ray had hoped that perhaps she could help Illaria with familiarizing herself with Mulgore, and getting the Taurens to accept Illaria into their society.
"Bogarden, it is good to see you again. How are you?" Selia asked in her light, slightly airy voice. She had always been slow to speak, and very seldom did she take action without thinking through all of the possible consequences. And as with every Druid, she had always shown caring and consideration for every living animal, seeking balance and peace when possible. But that did not stop her from showing her fighting side when the situation called for it.
"Not too bad, Selia. How's about yourself?" He responded.
"I am well, thank you," she responded as she moved further into the room, sitting in one of the many chairs spaced throughout it.
It was one of only 4 rooms in the first floor of Rayford's home, and was immediately adjacent to the entrance. While it had once had several windows to let in light, the glass had long since been removed. Not by thieves, however. Rayford's grandparents had removed them, as a sign of welcoming nature into the home. Fortunately, the surrounding trees provided more than enough shelter from the elements, so the windows weren't really necessary. It was an ancient 3 story stone house, and Ray's family had lived in it for generations. Every member of Rayford's family, save for one, was buried somewhere on the grounds. But not even Bog knew where this graveyard was, though he suspected that it was protected by a magical enchant of some sort to keep grave robbers, or little kids, from discovering it.
"So Bog, wat be dis bis'ness dat we be called fer?" Lara asked, breaking Bog out of his musings.
"Yes, Bog, I feel that an explanation is in order," a deep yet slow voice said from behind Bog. Turning his head, Bog spied the large figure currently occupying the doorway. The Tauren standing there was covered from head to toe in thick plate armor, though one would never know it, as he moved as silently as a Rogue. At his hip he had his trusty sword, while a large, battered shield hung from his back. The figure reached up, unbuckling his helmet, removed it, revealing a brown face with short, yet quite sharp horns. A scar ran from under the hair covering his forehead, over his left, and down to his cheek bone. Yet his two piercing, deep green eyes showed a quick wit and sharp intellect.
"Taur, you're late," Bog replied. Taurgard, or Taur, as he had his friends and allies call him, simply smiled as he, too, moved into the room. "And if you simply can't wait, then...Tough. This is Ray's story to tell." Bog tilted his head a bit, listening. "Fortunately you won't have to wait long. I hear him coming now."
"Jah, and one more wit 'im," Viri chimed in.
Sure enough, only a minute later Ray walked into the room, with the tall, slim figure of Illaria trailing behind him, wrapped up in her cloak. But it was obvious that the pair had not seen the rather large gathering in next room, as they walked past the sitting room and into the kitchen. Everyone there exchanged puzzled glances, each of which ended up on Bog. Sighing, the Hunter stood and walked into the kitchen where he found his friend lighting a fire. Bog glanced around and spied Illaria at the opposite end of the room, leaning on a counter and staring out the window.
"Everyone is here, bro," Bog said, trying to get Ray's attention, but to no avail. The Shaman continued to fiddle with the stove, trying to light the fire. Bog knew that Ray was prone to having visions at times, and when he did, Bog was left with two options. Leave him to his thoughts, or shake him out of them. Normally he'd just leave his friend to his thoughts. But today he had companions. Friends and allies that he'd specifically requested. "Ray," he began, reaching a hand out towards his friend. He didn't get very far, as Ray spun around quickly, eyes narrowed, and a painful look in his eyes.
"Bog, I'm going to die, man."
Bog just dropped his arm back down to his side, as somewhere he heard Illaria crying softly in the background.