Chapter Eight
Ayysa didn't like traveling at night, despite her nocturnal instincts calling for it. She'd felt groggy from her unstable sleep schedule and tried her best not to fall asleep. Zan, on the other hand, sat tall and stayed perfectly awake throughout the night. He shook her shoulder lightly to awaken her from her dozing. "We be at Felwood." He told her. "Will you keep going?" she asked. "Aye."
"Then don't wake me up." She snapped as she rested her head against his chest and dozing back into a light slumber. She heard him sigh in frustration and knew that the two had not been on good terms since they'd taken down the swamp monster together. Ayysa felt a confusion in her heart; she was unsure if she felt something for the troll and if she did, she was unsure of how to handle it. Now she found herself angry at him entirely, and he, more frustrated, with her.
Perhaps she could have handled the situation if they ignored each other or acted as they normally did, but Zan had been indecisive of how to treat her. Every time he talked to her, it was one random thing after the next. What followed was awkward silence. Ayysa had decided that if Zan would not decide on a line of communication, she would. She deferred back to her default attitude, and refused to talk to the troll at all, and when they did speak, she was quick to dismiss him.
But now that they entered Felwood, she found her slumber slightly deterred. Grunting in frustration, she gave up and slouched on the saddle, rubbing her head. "Ya have a tough time sleeping love?" he asked her. "Well, I don't think I would if someone had just let me sleep. This place is teeming with fel magic and disgusting creatures. But I suppose being one yourself, you wouldn't understand." The harshness of her words made her heart crumble, and the small beat of silence told her that it'd had some sort of impact on Zan, but he simply laughed it off.
"I suppose ya be right. Ya belong in a beautiful forest like Ashenvale. I tink dis place suits me more." Her heart fell heavily at his words; was he punishing himself for something? Guilt grew in her chest for a few moments, and finally she hissed out, "I didn't mean it." Angry tears were slightly building in her eyes as she tried to ignore the presence behind her. "I know ya didn'." He patted her shoulder. "Are you just nice to me because I'm pretty?" she asked. "Nay. Ya could be an ogre an I still would find ya beautiful. But I don' have it in me heart ta be mean ta women."
"But it's not me?" she asked. "What ya gettin at?" She tried to wipe the tears away. "You're just nice to me as a default. It's not that it's me, is it?" she asked more clearly. She couldn't see his face nor the face he'd be making, and she was confused as to what his emotions could possibly be. But Zan did not answer her question, and pressured the raptor forward. "Ya be tired, love." He hushed.
The two stayed on the path and did not falter for quite some time. There weren't many people on the road, not surprisingly, and both Horde and Alliance members could be found in the disgusting woodland. They'd merely be passerby's so long as no one caught them. After crossing the first river of green sludge, the two stopped and allowed the tired raptor a break. It was too dark in the forest, Ayysa could not tell if it was morning or night. Grabbing his pouch of fresh water, he offered it to her. "Don' die on me now." He smiled, but something was different about it now.
Drinking, she sat leaned against a tree and wobbled slightly. "Ya sick?" he asked her. "No. I haven't walked in some time and our last meal was too long ago. Not to mention I haven't received proper sleep." Trying to hold her own, she looked at the road ahead. "How long do you think it will take us?" she asked. "Anoda day." He estimated as he followed her metal gaze. "Ayysa." He called her suddenly. "Back at da lake... Dat not be about ya. Dat be about me."
"What do you mean?" she asked, although she was sure she would not like the answer. "I tink ya need ta make up ya mind about ya life soon." He said, which only confused her more. The two stood in silence, neither looking at each other. "It be too dangerous here ta sleep, but we can nap before we continue." He explained as Pretty curled up to sleep. The two sat against the tree and Ayysa found it difficult to get comfortable against the dead bark.
Draping his arm over her shoulders, he pulled her head in close to his chest. "Sleep here." He said in his heavy accent. She was too tired and weak to argue, and decided that if he were allowed to toy with her emotions in such a manner, she was allowed to play back. Hugging him around his waist, she was more than sure his eyes had grown wide. "It's comfortable." She excused herself and held on tight. "Yah..." Zan agreed with a smile.
The demons scared her awake. From afar, she could hear their relentless laughing. "It be fine, none are aroun here." Zan calmed her, resting her head back on his chest. "How long have you been awake?" she asked. "An hour or so. We slept most da day. Don' matta doe." He shrugged. "You waited for me to wake up?" she asked him warily. "Aye... Ya were a little too weak. Ya needed sleep. But, I cannot feed ya here. Too much corruption." She nodded in agreement. "We should get to da boarder by sunrise if we leave now." Her brows furrowed as she realized something. "Don't we have to go through Timbermaw Hold? Do you have relations?" she would be surprised if the answer was yes.
"I did work for dem a while ago. Dey owe me da favor. Once I'm a druid, I not be needin da passage anyways." He shrugged. She nodded, remembering that the druids main city was within the Moonglade and that it was unnecessary for them to have to use the Timbermaw passage. After they were on their way again, Ayysa found herself feeling slightly better now that she'd slept properly. "I've always wanted to see Moonglade." She smiled. "Ya neva been der?"
"No." she shook her head. "I'm a warrior, remember?" she sighed. He nodded as he remembered and continued to lead them down the darkened road. The two rode in silence, but Ayysa was in a talkative conversation with herself. She contemplated what would happen once they arrived in Moonglade and whether or not she should truly marry Corey. "So you don't plan to stay there right away?" she asked Zan.
"Nay. It be a problem if I did. Tauren really distrust me kind. It's best if I leave for a while." He shrugged. "But you could start your life off right away. I mean, sure there may be hostilities, but if you don't try to convince them you're worth it then when will you get your chance?" she asked him. "Ya know what ya be askin doe, right?"
She shook her head after a few moments of confusion. "Ya be askin me tah stop holdin ya captive. If I did dat, I would not need da money." Looking at her hands that were draped in his shirt, she smiled. "Then drop me off at the latest convenience." His hand ruffled her white locks. "It will neva be convenient." He smirked. She smiled and rested her head on Pretty's neck as she looked out onto the rotting landscape. Something about making peace with him made her happy. And she could only hope that soon they would be out of the corrupted land and somewhere better.
