Chapter Four: Murlocs, Mysteries and Mountains (Part II )
Trisana crawled across the soggy, sticky sand, staff still in hand, coughing up the brackish sea water that had been forced down her throat and had filled her gasping lungs. Lilam was beside her, her own fit of sputtering coughs racking her tiny frame, one hand still grasping Trisana's staff.
Trisana was soaked, battered, fatigued, but overall relieved that the little gnome had been able to hold onto the staff and not let go. Lilam was stronger than she had first thought, and she was glad they had not been separated. What would she have done if they had been? Trisana shuddered from the thought, sending a fine shower of water droplets over her arms and hands.
"Are you alright, Lilam?" she asked, beginning to wring out the gown she had longed to wear for so long, and now, was sullied, drenched and torn. However, the state of her attire was the furthest thing from her mind at the moment.
Lilam opened her mouth, but instead of replying, removed a long, leafy strand of stranglekelp that had somehow lodged itself between her teeth and around her neck. She made a face, tossing the vegetation aside. "So that's what stranglekelp tastes like. Not as good as it looks. It tastes like murloc. At least when I tried Firebloom, I burned off all of my tastebumps on my tongue."
Wrinkling her nose, she began to unwind the stranglekelp coiled loosely around her neck. "Needs less strangle, and more kelp, I think." Freeing herself, Lilam then reached into her pocket, producing the shell she had stopped pick up earlier.
"I'm okey dokey. Look! I even managed to hold onto my lucky shell! And every lucky shell should have a lucky name. Now it has to reflect the shell's personality. Well, it's tan. And smooth. And... has little squiggly lines on it. I'll name it... Simon!"
Trisana merely sighed, trying to remove the tangles in her hair with her fingers. She froze when Lilam suddenly gasped, pointing at Trisana with a chubby finger.
"Wait a tinker tocking minute! I thought you were a moony elf! But... you're a no elf human... thing. But you have that eye sickness that the moony elves have. And those pointy bunny ears. You're not one of those transvesties I heard about that one time I was in that tavern and the cousin dwarf got mad at me because I didn't buy anything? You know, those transvesties who want to be something else but they're not, so they get 'em an operation."
"I always wanted to be a wisp. I tried getting one to bite me once, so that'd I turn into a wisp too. That didn't work out to well. It ran away and jumped into some moony elf lying in the middle of the road. Then he started yelling at me about 'wriggling my grubby gnome hands in his around in places they shouldn't be and how I touched him were no one should ever touch somebody else'. I think he was kinda' a pervert."
Trisana looked up from wringing out her dress, Lilam staring back with a childlike innocence. "Lilam... there could be a whole book written about you... and that still wouldn't be enough to understand what goes on in that head of yours" Trisana said, the beginnings of a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"No, I'm not a 'transvestie", as you call them. When I was very, very young, I feel into a moonwell. The magics from the pool altered me to look this way. If you go by the blood that flows through my veins, I suppose you would call me human. But in my heart, I'm a Kaldorei. Only, other people can't see in my heart like I can, so they label me as human. I only had one wish my whole life growing up with my parents; to become a druid like them. But now... it doesn't matter. Let's get going."
Trisana was about to stand, but the crook of her arm was suddenly grabbed. "That was a sad tale, child. Sadder than mine, even." The night elf that held her arm helped her to her feet, smiling melancholically at her. The man was cradling something oblong and while under his arm opposite of her.
"So what's your sad story moony elf man who snuck up on us when we weren't paying attention" Lilam inquired, trying to get a better look at what the man was holding. The elf glanced off towards the sea, his voice deep and tremulous as he began his tale.
"You both may call me Talen. You see, I was on my small vessel, skimming over the submerged ruins of Zoram, when naga attacked me, surging from the water and tearing at me with their claws! I fled, carrying what supplies I could to make this meager camp.
"But when I reached the shore and ran... my prized possession was lost. Luckily, a passing elf, about your age, spotted it and brought it to me. However, that is not the end of my tale. I fear the ancient statuette's secrets will remain forever hidden unless you find the key to its ancient lock.
"That key is a ring, the Ring of Zoram. It belonged to the rulers of this city before the waves of the Sundering drowned it. For years the ring was lost, but the naga have recently found it. Their leader, Ruuzel, dwells on an isle on the northern edge of Zoram. Please, both of you, retrieve the ring for me!"
-----------------Note: Talen is a real NPC in WoW as well as his story. The quests that I "borrowed" and adapted into the story from him/WoW, would be "The Ancient Statuette" and the continuation of that quest, "Ruuzel". The "Ruuzel" quest is word for word and is property of World of Warcraft and Blizzard Entertainment. Just making sure I didn't get slapped with lawsuits or anything, . Also, Ruuzel is actually a female naga, but I changed her to male for the heck of it.
-----------------Talen then removed the statuette he had tucked under his arm, and began stroking it like one would a furry animal, muttering to himself, "There is only one ring... one ring to rule them all! My preeeecious.. Mine preeeecious!" He started cackling, causing Lilam and Trisana to exchange looks.
Noticing that the two girls were eyeing him strangely, Talen glanced up quickly, hugging his possession to his chest. "What? You've never seen a man enjoy fine art before? This is Talen's precious! You go now! You find that ring and you bring it right back, you hear? One ring to rule them all! One ring to rule them all! Hehehehehe!"
"Uh, sure okay. We'll be leaving now, I guess" Trisana said quickly, grabbing Lilam's hand and beginning to drag her away. The gnome waved, finding the man's antics amusing. "Bye Tali!" Then to Trisana, she whispered surreptitiously, "I think he's a pervert too. Only a statue pervert."
"Okay, we're not talking to any more strangers. Ever. Besides, what are the odds that we'll even run into that Ruuzel naga anyway."
Lilam thought for a moment. "Using my gnome smarts about math and stuff... I'd say about one hundred percent plus a squee."
Trisana paused, dreading the question she was about to ask. "Lilam, what kind of number is 'one hundred percent plus a squee'?"
The warrior cleared her throat, speaking matter-of-factly. "Well, while we were walking and you were trying to get away from pervert Tali, I noticed eyes following us. And of course, they weren't just floating eyeball cookies like I had originally thought. No, they were snakey people hiding. As I'm speaking, they're coming out from everywhere. I feel that I'm wasting time telling you all of this, but it's best I tell you now before I forget. I hate when that happens."
Trisana whirled around, slinging Lilam around with her. Naga were slithering all over the ancient, dilapidated ruins scattered across the beach, all heading towards them. The girl began to fervently wish they were back with the murlocs.
"So, the way I see it, it's about one hundred percent likely we'll meet Ruuzie."
Trisana wanted to cry. From one life-threatening situation right into the arms of another. Could they ever get a break? "And... what's the squee?" she whispered, taking slow steps backwards although she knew it was useless to try and escape.
Lilam's hand went for her sword, pausing only to answer Trisana's question. "Oh yeah, I forgot" She cleared her throat once again, pointing a quivering finger at the approaching Naga.
"WATER SNAKEY PEOPLE ARE COMING TO STEAL SIMON SHELL! SQUEEEE!" Trisana let a sound escape her lips that was in between a sob and a bark of self-pitying laughter, cursing whatever higher power that saw it fit to make her life into this pitiful farce apparently only for it's own amusement. Her stomach began to feel strange again. Silently, she prayed it was only gas...
Their numbers seemed endless, the naga easily herding Lilam and Trisana into a tight semi circle with the sea at their backs and no way to escape. Lilam had never been face to face with a naga in her life, but she had heard enough stories to know they were no where near nice. This tim,e even the gnome felt the gravity of the situation. These were not murlocs, but murderous serpentine monsters perfectly capable of dragging them into the sea, never to be seen again.
A quick glance at Trisana was not very encouraging, the rosy hue of the girl's face fading into a sickly pallor. Lilam clenched her sword tightly in her hand, realizing she was still gripping the shell in the other. So much for it being lucky.
That's when Lilam spotted him. He was taller than all the other naga around him, more imposing with a certain arrogant swagger to his slither. His color was also different from his surrounding brethren, making him stand out quite gaudily. This naga was obviously the leader, making his way towards them in an unhurried way as he held his three-pronged trident high in the air.
There was something else about the naga that also caught the gnome's curious eyes. A ring glistening on his right hand. The naga could be no other than Ruuzel himself. Truthfully, Lilam didn't know what to make of the situation. Her everything-will-be-okay mentality was clashing with a sudden wave of anxiety about the seemingly hopeless situation. Knowing this, what she did next should not be that surprising.
She threw the shell. Straight at Ruuzel. It clonked him dead center in the forehead, the whole encroaching procession coming to a grinding halt. "Okay Trissy, Simon will buy us some time! Let's run into the sea! They'll never catch us, haha!"
"Lilam, how many times do we have to go through this?! THEY CAN SWIM!"
The warrior swirled the tip of her sword in the sand. "So... Simon's sacrifice was in vain? But he was so young! Maybe I should have thought that out a little bit better. I just made things worst, didn't I, Trissy?"
Before the girl could reply, a rhythmic, monotonous hissing bombarded their ears, the naga shaking their sleek, shimmering weapons towards the sky angrily while closing in the gap towards their helpless prey.
"Yes, I feel it's safe to assume you did. What were you thinking, Lilam?!"
"Nothing much, really. Warrioring is for warriors and thinking is for thinkers. And intelligent clouds. They're always watching us... just... watching..."
Ruuzel had picked up the discarded shell, holding it tight in his hands as he approached, towering above both females, baring sharp, porcelain colored teeth at the pair. The hissing lowered in pitch to a soft, throaty hum, Ruuzel staring down at Lilam with a haughty glare. His vivid, red tongue darted into the air mockingly as he began hissing zealously at the gnome, causing her to raise a confused eyebrow.
"I think... his tongue is broken. It's stuck on 's'. That or he's telling me to be quiet over and over and over."
Trisana didn't reply, but Ruuzel did pause, blinking slowly at the clueless gnome. He turned his piercing gaze on Trisana, the girl's heart skipping a couple beats in a row.
"Yousss, human. No, notsss all human. Sssssomething more... yousss undersssstand thissss, yesss?" he said carefully in Darnassian. The language of the Kaldorei was Trisana's native tongue. Unfortunately, Trisana couldn't find said tongue. Instead, she nodded, swallowing what felt like her lungs back down. At least they hadn't been speared and gutted. Yet.
"That hairlesssss worm bessside yousss hasss challenged me. Let it knowsss that I acceptssss. It issss a battle to the deathsss."
This was not good. This was very not good.
"Lilam!" Trisana shouted in a mixture of anger and panic, trying to collect her thoughts yet remain sane at the same time, but unfortunately, it wasn't working.
"What? What'd he say? Did he say something nice about me? Tell him his big fork is nice. Ask him where he got it! I could slay, like twelve bears with a fork that big!"
"No, Lilam, listen. I think when you threw that shell, though I don't know what would possess you to do such a thing, you challenged Ruuzel to a fight in his eyes. A fight to the death!"
Lilam nodded somewhat hesitantly. "Okay... a fight to who's death? I hope it's not Simon... he's too young to die!"
"Not Simon, Lilam. Yours."
"... Hmm. Now are you absolutively positive that he said 'death'? I coulda' sworn I heard him say I 'invited' him to a 'party' to the death. Yup, party 'til you drop... dead. Party favors are coffins and tombstones. We could even play the 'Let's Live A Few More Hundred Years" game! Everyone always wins! Except Niecy. Mechanostriders are not impact resistant. Who knew the things couldn't fly... after a running leap offa' the top of Mount Ironforge. Maybe she just had an outdated model..."
Looking at the twitching expression frozen on Trisana's face, Lilam waved an reassuring hand, shrugging off her backpack as she insisted, "It'll be fine, Trissy! I've got it all under control. It's time to pull out the heavy artillery now!"
The gnome quickly reached inside her pack, retrieving a small, lumpy object wrapped in her spare cloak. "Oh, you're in big, super hujungo trouble now, Ruuzie" Lilam said with a strange cackle, grinning crookedly at the sea of reptilian faces surrounding her as she held the covered object high in the air for all eyes to see.
With a loud, unnecessary "Ta da!", the twinkle-eyed gnome removed the cloak. And revealed a mechanical squirrel. A fast, measured hissing escaped from the naga, sounding suspiciously like laughter. Ruuzel was not among them. His trident struck the coarse sand, ending the snickering abruptly. Then, he leveled the weapon at Lilam, jerking his head towards her sword that she had sheathed at her side.
Lilam merely stepped closer with the squirrel. Ruuzel's tail snapped dangerously in the air, whipping about in a rage of it's own. Trisana could tell that this was not going to end well.
"Lilam! What are you doing, are you insane?!"
"Trissy... don't you trust me?"
The girl's mouth shut at this inquiry. Lilam wasn't looking at her, but the tone of her voice made her echo the question in her own mind. DoI trust her? Trisana looked at the scores of naga, all awaiting the orders of their leader. Then she looked at the gnome... holding the squirrel aloft as if it were some mechanical messiah.
The same gnome that had saved her life before she even knew her name... who was trying to save her now, even when anyone else would have given up and accepted the grim fate that was sure to come. Her moonshine eyes brimmed with milky tears, but she managed to stave them off, a faint, half-smile upturning the corners of her mouth.
"Yes, Lilam... I trust you."
"Great, now trust in the squirrel."
Winking cheekily at Ruuzel, Lilam patted the squirrel on the head. "Here's a little taste of gnomish engineering, Ruuzie. Much better than goblin, I might add. Fear the squirrel and pray to your fishy gods that he has mercy on your fillets."
Ruuzel lurched forward at the gnome, just as she held the squirrel close to her ear. "What's that, Squiget? You say today's going to be cloudy... with a chance of crazy random lightning!"
And at this, she flipped on the squirrel's switch. And tossed him to Ruuzel. Lilam tackled Trisana to the ground, just before a blinding flash of light sparked across the beach followed by the crackle of electricity and howls of pain.
When the pair looked back, Trisana was dumbstruck, although Lilam merely nodded with satisfaction. Ruuzel's prone figure was spread out on the ground, smoldering in the slightly blackened sand along with four other bodies. The squirrel sat before the fallen naga, mindlessly oblivious to anything, still sparking with jagged tendrils of electricity dancing about his body.
"Haha! I knew that would happen. I skipped a step when I made Squiget, so he malfunctions sometimes, especially when he gets wet and you turn him on. Glad I gave up engineering! I think-- Hey... no, Squiget keep away! I know that look in your eyes, stay away from me!"
As it was programmed to do, the small creature began to shuffle off after his master. Lilam. However, the gnome knew better to let him near before the water worked its ways out of his gears and stopped his sparking.
So, she ran. Into the crowd of naga. "Hwaaaa! He's gonna light me up like an ornament at Winter Veil!" The naga scattered, having seen up close and personal what had happened to their leader. Although, few were lucky enough to dodge out of the way of the wailing gnome and electrified squirrel.
It was when Lilam tried to run out into the sea, when Trisana had to step in, grabbing the gnome by her cloak before she could set foot in the water.
"Lilam! Stop before he really does light you up like an ornament!"
"I can make it to the water! He can't swim! At least I don't think he can... I'm willing to find out!"
"Lilam, he's not sparking anymore. It's okay. We're... safe." Trisana released the gnome's cloak as Lilam glanced back at Squiget to confirm that her words were true. Seeing that there was no longer electricity running along the length of the creature, Lilam bent down before it, poking him on the nose. In which she was promptly shocked.
Lilam yelped, and sat back hard on her bottom, sticking her stinging finger in her mouth as she muttered irritably, "Oh, very cute, Squiget. No lug nuts for you, Mr. Smarty Squirrel."
"C'mon Lilam, we should leave before they regroup or something", Trisana said anxiously, hauling her companion up. The warrior nodded, but proceeded to run up to Ruuzel's motionless body instead. Trisana jogged up after her just as Lilam rose from bending over his arm for a moment.
"Look, Trissy! I'm betrothed!"
The ring that had once been on the naga's hand was now on Lilam's pudgy finger.
"Isn't that the ring Talen wanted?"
Lilam glanced at the ring, then back at Trisana. "Finders keepers. Besides, I don't want him to get his pervert germs all on it. I think I'll leave it with Ruuzel. He might meet the woman water snakey of his fishy dreams someday and need it."
Lilam tried to remove the jewelry from her finger, but after several unsuccessful attempts, she gave Trisana the "I know I'm in trouble" face. "Trissy... the ring won't come off." Trisana sighed, grasping Lilam's hand and beginning to drag her away.
"We don't have time for this now, Lilam. We'll get it off later. Right now, we need to disappear, and fast."
Lilam raised her hand. "I know a short cut!" Trisana lifted an eyebrow skeptically.
"What? I thought you said you trusted me..."
"Of course. Lead on, my friend."
"Can I lead with my eyes closed?"
"I don't think so."
"But I thought you--"
"I trust you enough to know you won't finish that sentence."
Lilam opened her mouth... then shut it, suddenly hit with a realization. "OH MY SPARKS! WE LEFT SIMON! Simon's a POG! A 'prisoner of gravity'! He can't walk! Poor Simon... I'll never forget him..."
"... Can I also trust you never to speak of 'Simon' again? Ever?"
"Simon says to go on without him. And to hop on one foot. He likes telling people what to do."
"..."
"Lilam, I'm not doubting you or anything... but are you certain we"re going the right way?" Lilam stopped skipping and swinging her arms. "No, I got lost a long time ago."
Trisana stopped too, sighing until there was no longer any air in her lungs. "And when were you going to tell me this?" Lilam dug the toe of her boot into the ground.
"When you asked. But don't worry, Ashenvale's pretty safe once you get past the water snakey people. Just a bunch of deer... And some wolves. And a few bears. And banshees—"
"Okay, I think I get the point. Let's just keep moving." Trisana started forward again, Lilam nodding in agreement as she trailed behind her. By this time, the pair were off the well traveled, visible road, lead astray by Lilam's shortcut. "Hey look! A party!" Lilam suddenly exclaimed excitedly, pointing ahead eagerly.
Trisana followed the gnome's gaze. Indeed, not too far off there was a large gathering of people. "Let's go ask them for directions!"
The gnome sped off past the suspicious Trisana who chased fearfully after her. However, Lilam did slow to a swift jog upon closer inspection of the "partiers".
"Why are those moony elves red? And those cousin dwarves... their faces are gray. Maybe they ate too much and it made them sick? And there are trollies down there too. I didn't know moony elves even came in red. I bet they smell like berries... or jam. Or they could just be very, very angry... "
Without warning, Trisana tackled Lilam, dragging her behind a large boulder just before the gathering of strange people. "Trissy, I don't think that's how you follow the leader... That's not what the 'fall' in 'follow' means..."
Trisana put a hand over the gnome's mouth, holding a finger to her own lips. "Shh! Lilam, those aren't exactly night elves and Ironforge dwarves. Those are blood elves and dark iron dwarves."
Trisana saw the realization in Lilam's eyes and she removed her hand, albeit a little cautiously. "So... we're not invited to their party? What if I bring my luck pot? That's what you do at parties, right? Eat from the luck pot?" the warrior whispered, mimicking Trisana's hushed tone.
"One, it's 'potluck', Lilam and two, we're not exactly on friendly terms with those people. We should just turn around and—"
Lilam interrupted, slamming a fist into her palm as a thought struck her. "I remember now! When I was in Darkshore awhile ago, I heard some moony elves talkin' about some people who did bad things around here. I think they were part of some group called the Bark Hand or Lark Land... something. And that they're a bunch of cannonballs."
Trisana waited for Lilam to explain, but the gnome was silent. "…And what exactly is a 'cannonball'?" she asked, having no earthly idea what the little warrior was talking about.
"You know, they cook people up and eat them. Cannonballs" Lilam replied as if it should have been common knowledge to the girl.
"Oh... you mean cannibals."
The gnome sighed exasperatley. "That's what I said! Cannonballs!"
"Oh, we're not cannibals, but we can do plenty things that would make you wish we were."
Trisana and Lilam spun around. A tall, darkly robed blood elf hovered over them, sneering down at them with glowing, sickly yellow eyes.
"And for future reference, we're called the Dark Strand, gnome. Not that it matters much now. Your screaming souls shall echo endlessly in the abysmal void of the Twisting Nether once I'm done with you."
Lilam raised her hand. "Can"t our souls just do a happy, laughing dance in the sugary sweet, huggable land of the Slightly Bent Nether? Or the Twisting Pretzel, either is good."
The elf didn't get a chance to comprehend the gnome's statement or reply, because in that momentary hesitation, Trisana made her move. With all the strength she could muster, she brought her staff down upon the man's cranium with a sickening crack.
The Cultist fell without a word, plopping softly onto the ground in a cloud of dirt. Lilam looked at Trisana with surprise written plainly on her face.
"Trissy… way to go! I mean, I woulda' just hacked him into little itty bitty pieces, but smashing him on the head is good too! You opened a whoop butt of can all over him, yup!"
Trisana sat down hard, her hands still shaking. She smiled weakly at Lilam, replying, "Yeah… I guess I did."
The girl stared at her trembling hands, willing them to be still. She didn't know what came over her, only that she had leapt up and struck the man without thinking. It wasn't a good feeling.
Lilam pranced over to the prone figure of the warlock on the ground, jeering tauntingly, "Haha! The Dark Strand is a dumb name anyway. It sounds like a tailor's shop that sells… dark strands. And no cannonball actually says they're a cannonball. How'd they get anybody to eat if they tell everybody they're gonna' eat them?"
A light caught Lilam's eye, winking enticingly from the elf's open palm. Unable to stave off the wave of curiousity, without thinking, Lilam reached out and picked up the gleaming object. It was a jewel, stained a deep ruby red that seemed to pulsate in her hand.
"Hey look, Trissy. What do you think this is?"
Trisana glanced up to see the warrior scrutinizing the gem. She shrugged, rising to unbalanced feet as she replied distractedly, "I don't know, but you should put it down before something else happ—"
The last of her sentence was abruptly cut off. The gem exploded with an unearthly light, blinding the pair. Lilam let out a cry of surprise as the jewel suddenly floated from her grasp, hovering just above her palm before gliding to the ring on Lilam's finger and producing yet another bright beam of light that lit up the sky in scarlet flames and hues. When this magnificent display subsided, Lilam lifted her hand apprehensively.
The ring and the gem had reacted upon each other, it seemed and had fused together to become one entity. The gem on the ring was now crystalline, soft, ruby swirls twirling in a chaotic dance within the iridescent oval. Trisana's eyes, which had been transfixed on the gem's transformation, now drifted back behind the pair. Every Dark Strand eye was upon them. Or rather, upon Lilam and the ring.
"Lilam... you ever try and you know... not get yourself into trouble?"
Lilam followed Trisana's gaze. And sighed. "I did once… and now I can never go back to that Inn every again, no sir. They said I'm (1) KOS now. I wish I knew what that meant. Maybe I should go back and ask 'em…"
Trisana yanked Lilam after her as she ran by, not even bothering to look behind. What was the point? The Cultists said nothing, merely chasing after the gnome and the ring that contained the gem that was the very essence of their power. They would not let her escape.
"Outta' one furnace and into another! I think I know what bread feels like now..." Lilam began hitting herself on the forehead with a chubby fist. "I just wish they'd all stop chasing us!"
"Yeah... wishful thinking. Now hush and run faster!" Trisana dragged the babbling gnome along, unaware of the phenomena occurring behind them. Every single last one of the Cultist had stopped. Dead in their tracks. At the same time.
Had Lilam not been beating herself up (quite literally) she would have noticed the ring flash twice at her wish. And she might have also seen the glowing, golden eyes that had been witness to the whole scene and was now eyeing the ring in avaricious glee...
-----------------
Index: (1) KOS -
Kill On
Sight
-----------------
"Look! A sign! I"ma go read it." Lilam ran ahead of Trisana, standing on tippy toes to try and decipher the road sign that towered several inches above her.
"What does it say?" Trisana inquired, coming to a stop behind the squinting gnome.
"It says... 'You must be this tall to read this sign. This means all gnomes must wander around aimlessly and figure out where they're going by asking nearby woodland creatures, particularly of the Horde persuasion'"
Trisana first gaped at the warrior, then peered at the sign. It read Maestra's Post. "Lilam... that wasn't even close."
Lilam shrugged. "That's what my father always says when he reads a sign. I thought that's what they all said." Trisana hid a smile, and nodded for them to continue.
It did not take the pair long to make out the tall, stark tower that loomed in the distance, almost beckoning them forward, to pick up their pace and quicken their steps. It was their halfway point to Astranaar. "Astranaar, Astranaar! It ain't that far, it ain't that far!" Lilam cheered excitedly, skipping with the tinny metal clanking of her mail ensemble.
An almost wistful smile briefly touched Trisana's features until something further up the road made her features fall. "Off the road!" Trisana hissed urgently, snatching Lilam by her shoulder and half-dragging, half-leading her off to the side.
"What is it? Bears?!" the gnome squeaked, panic rising in her already high-pitched voice. Trisana shook her head, crouching below some brush so that she was not visible to anyone that happened to pass by.
"No... Sentinels." Lilam followed the human's gaze. Sure enough, a handful of distinctly dressed women on decorated mounts were loitering around the road, adjacent to the Post. There was no way around. Lilam pursed her lips together, then tugged at Trisana's sleeve.
"Okay, here's what we'll do. We'll--"
"No. It won't work."
"But... I didn't even say what my plan was yet!"
"Trust me, Lilam... you don't need to finish." Trisana slouched to the ground with a heavy sigh. It was a sheer, almost vertical climb to the left of the Sentinels. And they'd surely be spotted if they took the practically coverless right side, not to mention the savage beasts that were roaming about. Trisana sighed again.
"Don't worry… we'll wait 'em out." Lilam said comfortingly, offering an encouraging smile.
"Well, this is a rotten place to do that."
Lilam and Trisana jumped at the new voice that had entered the conversation. A lone, female Night Elf stepped out from behind a tree off to their left. "The Sentinels will be there awhile, I'm afraid. That is, unless I give them a reason to be on their way" the woman added, smiling unthreateningly.
Her smile was kind, her features soft and feminine in a quiet, motherly way. Trisana was immediately put at ease, feeling her muscles uncoil and relax on their own. "You are more than welcome to come and stay with me for a spell" the woman continued, gesturing to the tower in the distance.
Trisana nodded, beginning to rise, but Lilam was not so easily convinced. "How do we know that you aren't gonna' tell those Sentumnolls on us?"
The woman chuckled softly. "I've got cake, if you both would like some."
Lilam's eyes lit up hungrily. "C'mon, Trissy! What are you waiting for, let's go!" she exclaimed, tugging at the girl's hand. Trisana shook her head, not sure whether she should be worried at how easily the gnome was won over.
Falling in step beside the mysterious woman, Lilam grinned up at her goofily. "So, tell me more about this cake..."
"You know, you didn't have to hit that guy like that, 'Shar. It was completely unnecessary and out of line. You're a bully."
Anishar snorted, both at his companion and in an attempt to expel the rest of the sea water from his nasal cavities. "I crawled onto the beach looking like a beached thresher... What in the two moons would possess him to ask me to find some dumb ring for him? I was still coughing up water! That's why in turn, I asked how he'd like to find his teeth."
"But you really didn't have to beat him with his own statue. That was... kinda' harsh in a psychotic sorta' way" the hunter pointed out, wringing dark water out of his jerkin.
Anishar shrugged, pushing a wet lock of hair from his face. "I wasn't going to. But that whole 'precious' bit... it just made me want to hit him. Repeatedly. Dad always said do what feels right. So I went with my first instinct and beat him until he wasn't making sense anymore... I think he's back there mumbling 'My breakfast'..."
It was silent for a moment, Falerian pausing from futilely trying to drain the sea from his drenched clothing. "So... how do you think we survived?"
Anishar frowned, giving him a peevish look. "Because, you idiot, we're the villains. The villains never die this early on."
Falerian nodded in agreement. "That, and the readers would probably stop reading the story, riot and hang the author from a burning tree if she killed us off now. As perfect character foils, we compliment each other in such a charismatic way that it makes us an instant fan favorite. That and I'm so huggably innocent it makes all the giggly fangirls and fanboys go, 'Awww...'"
Anishar stopped. He took Falerian by the shoulders, taking deep, soothing breaths before asking, calmly, "What. Are. You. Talking. About."
The rogue gave Falerian a jaw jarring shake. Falerian blinked. "I... don't know. It was like... someone had control of my mouth. Like... some omnificent presence, that smelled mysteriously of cucumber melon and warm, fresh baked cookies, suddenly had control of every aspect of my life. I was... a mere tool for her enjoyment. I feel violated. The last thing I can remember is a feminine voice whispering softly in my ear, 'Shadowmeld is cheap! Nerf!' and fading away into sweet, sane nothingness..."
Anishar released the hunter as he pushed away from him, scowling irritably in confusion. "Why is it always like we're speaking two entirely different languages and yours is the stupider of the two?"
His companion paused to consider this. "You know, nobody makes fresh baked, homemade cookies anymore. Everyone's too busy, nowadays. If there was a way that we could, oh I don't know, have a couple elves bake up batches of cookies over in Teldrassil and then we sell them for profit, I bet we'd make a whole lot of money. I even thought of a name for our cookie enterprise. Keebler. Has a nice, Kaldorei ring to it."
The rogue slapped him in the back of the head unmercifully. "Just shutup. That's the most idiotic, and imbecilic thing I've ever heard. No one would buy cookies from a bunch of elves who live in trees, for Elune's sake."
Anishar smacked him in the head again, for good measure. Falerian rubbed the back of his head pensively, avoiding eye contact with the aggravated rogue. Instead, his eyes fell upon the corpses of Naga strewn across the beach.
"Wild party?"
"Didn't I tell you to shut up?"
"You didn't say please..."
Before Anishar could wrap his hands around Falerian's neck, Petunia began squealing, her large nostrils flaring wildly. Falerian gave the boar a side glance, then gazed off into the distance, beyond the Zoram Strand.
"That girl and the gnome... they went that way. They're heading for Astranaar."
A cold, metallic glint appeared in Anishar's eyes as he smiled thinly. "Astranaar... that is where we'll have our chance. They won't escape this time."
Falerian clapped loudly. "Ooo, very villainish! Now it's my turn. Astranaar... that is where we'll... git 'r dun!"
"Why couldn't you have just drowned..."
"Because... I have thumbs, silly."
"Not for long..." Anishar growled. With a shrill whistle, he called for his night saber as Falerian followed suit and did the same. Off in the distance, angry, ominous clouds were forming over Astranaar, foretelling of a storm swiftly approaching. Indeed a storm was brewing, but not necessarily the one taking place amongst the heavens. And Astranaar was its unwitting destination.
"I am Liladris Moonriver. Welcome to my home."
Lilam looked up from her plate to excitedly begin to say something that was unintelligible coming from a mouth stuffed full of cake, her cheeks practically splitting down the middle. All she really managed to do was shoot a fine spray of crumbs across the table, then cover her mouth quickly before the bulk of the soggy mess in her mouth came after.
Trisana sat amazed at the tiny warrior's voracious hunger (and horrid table manners), taking a dainty bite from her own slice of cake. "I believe what Lilam was... uh, trying to say was thank you for your hospitality. Our gratitude is beyond words."
The girl was silent a moment, her eyes roaming the small yet cozy room high above the Ashenvale forests below. "You won't get into any trouble harboring... fugitives like us, will you? If the Sentinels were to find us here..."
Liladris, who had been gazing out the window turned to face the soft spoken girl, the child's concern etched clearly on her youthful face. The woman smiled softly, gliding across the room to take a seat at the table next to Lilam.
"There is no need to fret, young one. You are safe here, I guarantee that. This is my Post, therefore, it is under my command. If I have not reported anything, then the Sentinels will leave me about my own business."
The woman paused to watch Lilam attack her plate with uncanny gusto, causing her to chuckle under her breath. "And I cannot conceive how anyone, Sentinels included, could accuse the two of you of some sort of misdeed. Well... maybe our little gnome friend. She looks like she could cause a heap full of trouble. But I know for a fact that Trisana is innocent of any crimes, no matter what those uptight sister Sentinels of ours say."
Trisana was a little taken aback by the woman's words and how she had seemingly known that she had done no wrong without her even pleading her innocence. "How... how do you know all that?" Trisana whispered, not knowing why she felt the need to inquire in a hushed tone.
The woman smiled again. Or perhaps it was the same smile, one that never strayed too far from her features. It was a smile that started in her eyes, making them illuminate with an even brighter glow that seemed to work it's way and spread a warm mirth across the rest of her face. It reminded Trisana of her mother's smile. That thought made Trisana's breath catch in her throat, but she fought down the sob that was crawling its way up her esophagus.
Liladris did not reply immediately. Instead, she reached out with long, elegant fingers and pushed back Trisana's hood. The girl raised her eyes to meet Liladris'. They looked just like hers, a mirror image.
"Because, young one, the winds, the trees and earth told me so. Our kind should not be hunting one another. We have too many enemies for that. You are kin and deserve to be treated as such."
Trisana shook her head. "But I'm not--"
The woman took the girl's hands in her own, interrupting her. "You are kin. The winds, trees and earth do not lie. Perhaps not in entirely in physical appearance, but you are Kal'dorei in heart and spirit. And that is what I see. That is what Elune sees."
Trisana choked back a sob of overwhelming emotions just as Lilam choked on a half chewed glob of cake. Liladris patted the over eager gnome's back, chiding her gently about eating too much, too fast.
Lilam nodded and proceeded to stuff the last bit of the sugary confection in her mouth before excusing herself from the table with a nod of her head and a barrage of crumbs. The contented gnome, now happy that she was stuffed with cake, bounded towards a bookshelf near the window, poking at the book ends curiously.
"Won't you come with us?" Trisana suddenly blurted out, her eyes pleading with Liladris. "We're just children! We can't make it to Feralas by ourselves! Much less with Sentinels and other enemies chasing us so closely. We need help... please."
The smile on the woman's face faltered as she shook her head forlornly. "I'm afraid I cannot. This is my home here, as well as my binding obligation that I swore my life to. Maestra's Post is mine to look after, to keep the forces that would do harm to these lands and the people inhabiting them at bay. To always be alert and on the watch for danger, from whatever direction it may come. I will protect this Post with my life."
Trisana's face fell, her body resigning disappointedly into a defeated slouch in her seat. Liladris began wrapping the rest of the cake slices in leathery cheese cloth. "However, you have little to fret over, young one. I know your journey may seem daunting and your goal unattainable, but you are strong. You have countless Kal'dorei spirits to help guide you. And, not to mention an eager young warrior by your side. You are not quite so alone as you think. Darkness may be gathering around you, but Elune's light shall illuminate your path."
Lilam paused from her exploring to make one comment. "Well, I hope this Elune has a lot of candles. We have a looooonng way to go and if she's going to light up Trissy's path, I figure she won't mind me using a bit of that light too."
Liladris blinked at first, then laughed bemusedly. "I'm sure she won't mind, little one. I'm quite certain of that..."
Lilam wrinkled her nose at the woman, wondering why she had suddenly laughed, but shrugged it off. Night Elves were strange, strange people. Instead, Lilam amused herself by taking a quick peek out the window. Had she looked only a moment sooner, she would have seen two Night Elves, a stone faced rogue and a hunter with a boar running at his side, pass by on large feline mounts heading for Astranaar...
Trisana awoke to being softly shaken into consciousness, Liladris hovering above her with a face glowing with maternal warmth. "Trisana... it's time to go." The girl yawned with the wide stretch of her jaw, tears welling up at the corners of her eyes. The woman smiled at her as Trisana rubbed her face, not asking whether the tears were a product of the yawn or something more.
Instead, she turned to gently nudge Lilam, who had fallen asleep in an armchair at least three times her size. "Mmm hmm, shake your booties..." the tiny warrior mumbled, resisting the encroaching wave of consciousness as she turned onto her side with a sigh.
Liladris stole a glance at Trisana. "It's a long story" the girl replied with a lopsided grin, attempting to smooth the seemingly permanently creased wrinkles in her gown. "I'd like to hear it someday"
Once Lilam was finally roused from her slumber, the trio scaled the winding ramp down the tower, their footsteps echoing in an endless round up into the spacious raptors. When the finally reached the bottom, Liladris handed the pair their packs, now filled with food for their journey.
"I want the two of you to be careful" Liladris instructed with a knowing smile. "Especially you, Trisana. I fear that the winds are conspiring against you, but do not fret. The noble, protecting earth shall protect you. May Elune illuminate your path and Cenarius guide your steps."
Then, the woman turned her gaze on Lilam. "And you, young warrior. I know you will do your best to protect Trisana. Try not to eat all that cake I gave you in one sitting and try not to get into any trouble."
Lilam wrinkled her nose. "It's not getting into trouble that I'm worried about. It's the getting out of trouble part that's seems to be Lilam-proof."
The woman chuckled, and ruffled the gnome's curls playfully. "Take care of each other, you two. Farewell!" Lilam and Trisana waved as they departed from Maestra's Post, Liladris continuing to wait until the duo disappeared over the hill and out of sight.
While Lilam prattled on and on about how she was planning on eating every slice of cake in one sitting and the subsequent sickness that was to follow, Trisana remained silent, lost in her own thoughts. Lilam didn't mind; it wasn't like she really needed another person to have a conversation with. She was perfectly capable of carrying on a dialogue with her self.
It was not long before the elven city of Astranaar crested over the horizon, causing Lilam to point excitedly. "Looky, Trissy! That's Astranaar, yup it is!"
Of course, Trisana had already noticed the city fast approaching, but humored the excited gnome with a nod. Lilam took this as encouragement and immediately burst into song as she skipped along the gravel path. "Astranaar, it ain't that far! Astranaar, it ain't that fa-"
Her vocal catastrophe was suddenly cut short as her song transformed into a strangled squeal. A purple blur was all Trisana could make out of what came speeding out from the woods off to the right and snatched Lilam up, leaving her open mouthed and frozen in place. "Lilam!"
The lavender feline slowed to a stop on the other side of the path at Trisana's shout, glowering at the girl with its yellow, misty eyes, with Lilam swinging precariously in it's jowls. There was a soft poof and the distinct scent of magic in the air as the cat transformed into a Night Elf amidst a cloud of green smoke. Lilam struggled in the woman's grasp, her legs kicking futilely in midair.
"I've finally found you... Trisana."
The girl couldn't believe her eyes, utter surprise robbing her muscles of function and strength. "Ell... Ellisah?!"
The grin on Ellisah's face was hardly that of a warm welcome. "I've finally caught up to you, Trisana." Overwhelmed with a sudden head rush of curiosity, Lilam stopped in mid-squirm, looking back and forth between Trisana and Ellisah with round, inquisitive eyes.
Trisana gaped at her sister, countless emotions cycling within her, swept up and tossed about in a truculent torrent. "Ellisah... you don't know how glad I am to see you! Mother, father and I went home and then Lanrith--"
Trisana's elated outburst was choked off as the druid's grip on Lilam's collar tightened. Lilam squeaked in surprise, assuming she would be let down, considering the manner in which Trisana had greeted the woman.
"Hey! I'd like to keep my head attached to my body, if you don't mind", Lilam cried out with a scowl, "I don't think either will work right if they're separated."
Trisana stood completely still, blinking blankly at her adopted sibling.
"Ellisah... you're hurting her! Stop it, right now!"
The druid turned her gaze from her captive and rested it upon Trisana. "Ignorant child. That is the whole point."
Trisana's grip on her staff tightened, the color quickly draining from her face and knuckles. "But why? I thought... I thought you came to help me! We're family, what about mother and fa--"
"Do not ever make the mistake of calling us family again," Ellisah hissed, her eyes narrowing dramatically. "You are a criminal, having committed a grievous crime against the Circle. I have come to ensure that you are properly punished, by orders of the Archdruid himself."
Trisana reeled back, her entire face stinging as if she had been dealt a physical blow. I knew Ellisah never liked me... but... how could she do this? How... ? The trembling girl fought back tears that threatened to overpower the dam she had built just behind her eyes. "Why Ellisah?! I haven't done anything wrong! You know me, help me tell them it was all a mistake! Please, Ellisah!"
"And while you're at it, how about you let go of the gnome? It'd be much easier for you to talk without your hands being full", Lilam interjected, prying at the woman's iron grip.
Ignoring Lilam, Ellisah laughed a cruel and bitter laugh, her eyes burning maliciously into Trisana's own. "Why? You're an aberration to nature, an abomination. And now, on top of that, you've transgressed against my people. You are the only mistake here, Trisana."
The druid watched her words take their effect on the girl's visage, taking wicked glee in the result. Her free hand went to her belt, removing her dagger from it's sheath. She pointed the blade at Lilam, who stopped wiggling to blink at the weapon.
"And you, gnome, are just as guilty for being her willing accomplice. Tell me, how does it feel to be inches from your own demise?" Ellisah said with a bemused sneer.
Apparently, she had no idea who she was talking to. "Why don't you tell me how you managed to take ugly to a whole new level? You might want to try pointing that kitchen fork in the opposite direction. If anything will kill me, it'll be that ugly mole on your chin with the face of its own trying to gobble me up whole" Lilam jeered, staring up at the woman challengingly.
Ellisah growled, jerking the dagger close to the warrior's face. "Hold your tongue, gnome, or I'll cut it out and make you hold it."
Lilam's immediate response was to stick her tongue out mockingly and defiantly reply, "You don't scare me, ugly hag. I don't need a tongue to raise my sword and chop you down to my size!.. However, I would need a tongue to sing. Or not. I mean, I could make sounds... I think. Hmm, I wonder..."
"Lilam! Ellisah, let her go! She has nothing to do with this!"
The gnome's eyes darted to the shouting girl. Waving a dismissing hand, she said, "Shhh! Trissy, I'm pondering if I can actually sing or make sounds without a tongue. I can't think with you screaming. Smeeze, you act like someone's dying or something."
Disregarding Lilam's words, Trisana started forward, not sure what she was going to do, but Lilam was an innocent victim in this. She couldn't let Ellisah harm even one hair on the quirky gnome's head.
Ellisah didn't move, but instead pursed her lips together and whistled, long and shrill. The forest came alive as the Sentinels that had been hidden from view of the road swarmed from their concealment, two of the female warriors rushing forward and grabbing Trisana before she took another step.
This did not sit well with Lilam. "Hey you ugly witch, let me down before I'm forced to do something so warriortastic, it'll shock the ugly right off your wrinkly leather face, old baghag!"
For the moment, Ellisah ignored the gnome's insults, merely tightening her grip to silence her prattling. "This one insists on resisting being taken into our custody", the druid said, nodding her head at the struggling gnome. "I have tried to reason with the creature, but she will not come quietly. If I let her down, she will attack. If I rend her unconscious, she will surely follow."
Ellisah turned her steely gaze upon Lilam, the hatred in her eyes permeating from her very soul so deep, it was almost visible. "That leaves only one option. She must die so that I may carry out the Archdruid's orders."
"NO!" Trisana bellowed, lurching forward but held fast by her captors. She began struggling against the warrior women, fear for Lilam's life filling her with an unknown strength. "If you harm her in any way, I'll... I'll..."
"You'll what?" Ellisah barked in laughter, giving Lilam a violent shake. Trisana's face had turned bright red, and as much as she wanted to say something, anything to her sister... she remained silent. There was nothing she could do.
"That is what I thought. Know your place and stay there, Trisana, lest I have to forcibly keep you there." ... And I invite you to give me that satisfaction, the druid thought to herself. As soon as I dispose of this disgusting gnome... you are next, foolish child...
Her private thoughts were interrupted as something damp splattered upon her cheek and sent a fine spray into her right eye. Shocked and thoroughly repulsed, Ellisah could only stare for a moment at the rebellious gnome who grinned up at her handiwork.
The druid felt something snap in her jaw as she snarled, wiping off the saliva with the back of her dagger hand. In a petty, angry jerk of her hand the woman brought the dagger across the warrior's cheek, drawing a thin line across the flesh that instantly reddened and stained the dimpled skin in tiny rivulets.
Lilam winced, but managed a crooked half-grin. "Even with this, my face still isn't half as ugly as yours. And you call that butter knife a weapon? Get a real sword, otherwise, you're just buttering toast."
This was enough to decimate Ellisah's normally calm and cool demeanor. "Damn you warriors! You, Lanrith...damn you all!" Blinded by an uncontrollable rage, the druid raised her dagger in the air, tightening her grip maddeningly and aimed for Lilam's vulnerable neck. In her last encounter with a stubborn warrior, she had merely taken an ear. This time, she wanted to take a life...
BANG!
The unexpected shot rang out across the forest, pealing painfully loud in sensitive ears. Ellisah's dagger was ripped from her hand, the bullet sending it spinning to the ground. The druid cursed loudly in her native tongue in surprise as her hold on the gnome faltered. Lilam cried out as she landed hard upon the rock strewn road, able to breath easy now that the druid's vice grip were no longer making the process of respiration difficult.
"Heeeerrrreee's Fali!" Falerian exclaimed with a sloppy grin, stepping out of the underbrush with Petunia snorting softly at his side. "As much as I approve and would like to participate in the stabbing of Gnomes, I'm going to have to ask you to step away from Gnome and put your hands where I can see them. Preferably wrapped around me in a loving embrace. I like cuddling and you, my dear, look like a cuddler."
"Who in the nine hells are you?!" Ellisah spat, her hand still tingling from having her dagger shot out of her hand.
"I'll be anyone you want, baby. How about you turn into that cat again and show me what those claws can really do? Call me a hopeless romantic, but that's how I like my women; feral and prone to outbursts of violence and rage. Finally, someone I can bring home to mom."
Ellisah's face darkened a whole shade deeper before she replied, speaking to the Sentinels who were silently awaiting her order. "Stop standing there with your mouths open and cut him down! However, leave his head attached to his body. I'd like to rip out his jugular with my own two hands and personally crush his voice box into dust."
Falerian pouted in mock sadness. "Does this mean I can forget the honeymoon in Blackrock Mountain? Those Dark Iron Dwarves have plenty of organs that we could stab and blast out together as a couple. We could even maim some helpless gnome child on the way there! Murder and senseless violence are the best aphrodisiacs after all."
The hunter laughed at this, purring at her mockingly as he swiped a "claw" in the air playfully. The druid opened her mouth to blurt the most vile, vulgar words she could think of, but was stopped by a sudden shift in the air.
The Sentinel to Trisana's left unexpectedly became very limp, slumping into an ackward position and swaying uneasily on her feet, releasing the girl in the process. The Sentinel on her right opened her mouth to question the woman, but instead, only a thin trickle of blood escaped past her lips before she crumpled to the ground, green ooze seeping from two fatal looking stab wounds gaping open in her lower back.
Trisana shrieked, stumbling numbly towards her sister and Lilam in horror. Anishar bent down to clean off one dagger on the fallen Sentinel's sleeve. "Fal, I said distract them for a moment while I get into place, not make pseudo-psychotic advances at the druid."
The rogue then glanced up, shrugging almost apologetically at Ellisah. "I'd say go ahead and kill him if I didn't believe that he'd be too stupid to know he was dead and just keep on as normal. I'm beginning to think I might be cursed. We could always team up and stab the stupidity out of him. Three daggers are better than two. Trust me, you can never have too many daggers around Fal."
"She's a lot cuter up close" Falerian piped up, keeping aim on the Sentinels who were now eyeing Anishar with hate-filled glares. "She can rake her claws across make back any day. Besides, I've always wanted a pet." At this, Petunia snorted almost indignantly.
The hunter glanced down and added quickly, "I mean, a feline companion. You know, likes when you rub their belly and are good for keeping your lap warm. Normally, I'm not a cat man... but I can make an exception in this case."
Ellisah snatched her dagger from the ground with a feral snarl, holding it at arms length at Anishar. "Rogue. You and I have something we need to settle. I will see to it that your last moments are an eternity of raw, soul searing agony." Her voice was nothing more than a deadly whisper, the feral nature within her beginning to show.
Anishar's eyes narrowed as well, peering jeeringly at her from above his bandana. "So be it. And after I'm finished gutting your disfigured corpse, I'll be sure to send the girl and gnome shortly after you so that you may all be reunited in death along with the other two I had the pleasure of disemboweling. You should be thanking me. I'll be reuniting you with those two old fools. Be sure to send your regards for me, eh?"
Falerian frowned slightly, muttering to himself somewhat dejectedly. "Anishar always gets the girls. Must be that tall, dark and stabby thing he's got going for him. The girls love a man who knows more than one way to disembowel a person in twenty seconds or less. All that leather doesn't leave very much to the imagination either... plus he has big ears. And everyone knows what they about men with big ears. At least I know one woman who's crazy about me..."
He let the very edge of his vision fall on Petunia. The porcine companion snorted curiously at a cockroach skittering across the road before eagerly gobbling it up with a satisfied crunch. "Not very picky. Gotta' love that in a woman."
Lilam crept up beside Trisana, whose eyes were still glued upon the deceased Sentinel. "Well, I am now officially confizzled. So the hunter and rogue want to kill us, your sister, who is a few tools short of a full toolbox, I might add, wants to kill us, and your sister wants to kill the hunter and rogue that want to kill us and I just want to want to live long enough to have someone explain to me how babies are made.
"Every time I ask someone, they get all nervous-like and say 'wait 'til you're older'. And you know it's gotta' be something good if it's a secret until you get old. I just hope nothing else goes wrong because, conflagit, baby making machines that send mecanostriders to deliver babies in cabbage patches so they can grow on trees in order for parents to pick them just doesn't make sense! Even to me!"
The entire standoff was brought to a stand still as yet another voice joined the chaos. "Might I suggest that everyone calm down? You'll wake the dead with this raucous, and let me just say, we are not happy reanimated people when awoken to such defecation from the mouth."
The Forsaken clasped his hands behind his back, eyeing the group with piercing, yellow eyes. "And now talking zombies?!" Lilam exclaimed, putting hands to her cheek in disbelief.
"I'm a Forsaken, you twit. Not a mindless zombie."
"Oh... how am I suppose to know the difference? You both smell funny and eat people. And neither of you can dance. Must be the lack of rhythm... or heart beat, I'm not sure."
The undead merely sighed, turning his unwavering gaze upon Ellisah and Anishar. "I'd like the human and the gnome, but please hold any discriminating comments about my race lest I be forced to defend my honor and devour your face."
Ellisah spat on the ground. "Undead scum. No one is getting their hands on Trisana and that gnome but me."
"Woah... I believe the calling of 'dibs' is in order. And I call them first because my dagger is pointy and a pointy dagger typically means no objections, unless you call death moans objections" Anishar said, eyeing the new arrival frostily.
"Now this is what we call, a three way, folks" Falerian suddenly said, leveling his gun at the Forsaken.
"There's four of us, you nitwit" Anishar sighed.
"That's even better, a four way! I'm not really down with necrophilia, but I'll try anything once."
"Shut up, Fal. Every time you open your mouth we lose a 'fear me I'm evil' point on the evil villain meter. We're down to about negative eight now, thanks a lot."
Trisana couldn't get a good breath of air into her lungs, seemingly unable to retain enough oxygen.
"... twenty eight, twenty nine, twenty ten... uhh... eleventyfour... fortytwelve... five ninth and two quarters..."
Lilam had seated herself on the ground, one mail boot set down next to herself as she counted using both hands and toes.
"Lilam... what are you doing?!" Trisana hissed, finding her voice.
The warrior glanced up. "I'm counting how many people here want us dead. And it's a bunch! I had to use my toes!"
The Forsaken sighed again, letting his arms drop to his side as he took one step forward. "I'm afraid I have no intention of joining this altercation. My methods are far more effective, you might note."
His skeletal hands began to glow in a aqua blue aura as he raised them high above his head. Jagged shards of ice instantly frosted the ground and mercilessly wrapped around the ankles of Anishar, Falerian, Ellisah and the Sentinels. The mysterious Forsaken swiftly approached Trisana, offering her his hand.
"If you want to live, I suggest you both come with me."
Trisana hesitated, turning quickly to Lilam. And, she was still counting, apparently undecided in what number came after "hundredybillionfour". The girl bit her lip hard. Given the situation, did she really have a choice?
Without further hesitation, she grasped the man's hand, trying not to let the repulse she felt in the act show upon her face. The Forsaken then snatched up Lilam by the back of her collar, beginning to drag her along as well. With a cry of protest, Lilam managed to grab her boot and stuff her foot in it while being dragged along.
The man led the pair to the east side of Astranaar, pulling them into the stream that surrounded the town before they could hesitate. Sloshing through the freezing water, Trisana blurted out in a frightened squeak, "Where are we going?"
The man did not slow his pace, nor look to Trisana. He merely said two words: "Stonetalon Mountains."
Coming Soon -- Chapter Five: The Curse of Friendship
Lilam and Trisana make a new friend (awww). Sorta. Half his lower jaw is missing, so there's hardly enough left of him to designate him as a "friend". However, compelling circumstances will quite forcefully turn this duo into a reluctant trio…
