Dearest readers, I have no good excuses. Life, work, and the distraction of another fic. I beg your forgiveness. For those who are returning to the story, I have edited and expanded the first ten chapters. Not by a huge amount, and you don't have to go back and reread to know whats going on, unless you want to. (hint, hint) For first time readers, I hope you're enjoying the story!

Chapter 11: The Festival

Why is there never a rock to crawl under when you need one?! I 'm mortified, absolutely mortified. What got into me? WHO got into me!? I can't even look at Zen, I'm so embarrassed. What must he think of me? It's like some demon possessed my body and used me as a puppet, a very horny, sex-crazed puppet. In fact, I think that's exactly what happened because I can't for the life of me begin to explain my dreams. Sweet Elune, the dreams! I was someone else. But it felt so real, like memories, not my imagination run amok. How could I even begin to know what mating with an elf feels like? Whoever's eyes I was looking through certainly wasn't a saber. And the male, he was so strange; physically like the blood elf, but larger and colored differently. And Zen… I'm thrilled my fur hides the heated blush of my skin. I can't think of him like that! He's my master, my friend, a completely different species! There can never be more than that between us. And yet I want more. I crave it! I want what I had in the dreams. Goddess, I can still feel his rough hands on my smooth-skinned breasts. I can still feel him inside me. Get a grip, Luar-ke!

We will be leaving for some new place called Thunder Bluff in the morning. I have heard Zen and Un'gar discussing the town and its denizens. Tauren they are called. Yet another new creature for me to meet. The voice has all but disappeared. It gave up trying to warn me of such dangers since I never listened to it. Now I simply enjoy the thrill of adventure and discovery. There's a familiarity to the sensation, one I must have known, enjoyed, in my life before. I like it, the hum of anticipation; this rush of the unknown. Perhaps I traveled much in my former life. At the same time it saddens me to leave this place. Un'gar has been very kind to me. I'm still uncertain of his exact relation to Zen, not sire, but I can both see and smell the shared blood. Once I was feeling… better… Un'gar took us hunting, along with his spider pet, Anansi. At first I found her many eyes and legs disturbing, but she has grown on me. I particularly enjoyed the prank she played on Zen, which ended with him so tangled in her webs Un'gar had to cut him free. The elder troll takes great delight in tormenting his relation, though I can see the love they bear each other.

Now that my mind is less… occupied… I can actually spend some time dissecting the new details I have learned of my master from one who knows him well. Un'gar spoke several times of Zen's family; mother, father, two sisters and their children. Any mention of them would upset Zen, but Un'gar would press on regardless. Apparently they were all killed in an Alliance raid, composed mainly of night elves, while Zen was away fighting in some distant land called Northrend. In one bloody moment he lost everyone he loved, except Un'gar. It's obvious he blames himself for not being there to protect them. The older troll expressed his surprise that Zen would want to keep me, seeing as I'm a night elf pet. I'm certain this cannot be. I could never have belonged to a race that would slaughter an innocent family like that, could I? I'm glad I don't remember! What horrid creatures these night elves must be. I've yet to encounter one, but when I do, I will surely mete out vengeance for Zen's family. Here comes Zen with dinner. I really prefer the taste of his skin though… Bad thoughts! Stop it!

He'd forgotten about the festival. So many weeks in the wild had him loosing track of time. They'd arrived in Thunder Bluff early that afternoon to find the whole plateau city decorated for the Lunar Festival and its inhabitants in a tizzy of preparations. There would be a fireworks show after the sun had set, which the guards had promised would be spectacular. "Better than Moonglade for sure!" Zen had never really celebrated this particular holiday. It's origins with the night elves (and the furbolgs, for that matter) made it rather unpalatable to him. Sure, he was as glad as the next citizen that the Burning Legion had been defeated, oh a few thousand years ago, but this event was mostly for, by and about the Druids, and he quite honestly didn't have more than a passing acquaintance with any. Unfortunately, they were going to be forced to participate as the next Zeppelin wasn't scheduled to arrive until the morning. Thanks to the influx of revelers, the inn was full to bursting with not a broom closet to be had. It looked like they'd be camping out for one more night.

Zen had been concerned about how Luar-ke would be received, and how she would react to the crowds. Certainly, thus far she had proven to be easy going, but a major city in the midst of a major celebration was an entirely different animal. As expected, they received a lot of pointed stares, but no one had yet called him out on her presence. Laur-ke, for her part, seemed fascinated by everything she laid eyes on, beginning with their trip up the elevator to Lower Rise. She was wise enough to stick close to him and Lar'ja, but outwardly projected an aura of confidence. She continued to make him proud. He knew, however, that Orgrimmar, being the Horde capital city and chief military hub, would be extremely dangerous for his pet, and consequently him. He had a plan though. After booking their passage on the Zeppelin, Zen set about finding a shaman.

The trio made their way across the wide rope bridge to Spirit Rise and were pointed in the direction of a large hut by a friendly female tauren. She looked askance at the saber, but said nothing, just as everyone else had. The occupant of said hut was a huge male tauren, with graying braids that brushed his knees and an imposing set of intricately painted horns.

"Salutations and best wishes on this Lunar Festival. How may I be of service Honored Hunter," the creature asked after Zen's greeting, his voice low and rich.

"Well, I be needin' some 'elp tuh make mah pet fit in ah bit betta. I has an idea, an I 'ear you jus da shaman tuh pull it off."

"Really," the bovine looked intrigued. "Then I look forward to hearing more of this odd pet and how I might provide a solution." Zen proceeded to relay his story.

Luar-ke, at this point, had wandered toward the edge of a wide open area where a group of young tauren druids were practicing their skills. She sat, alert, eyes never leaving the scene before her. At one point a female spoke a chant and was briefly engulfed in a cloud of white light, which dissipated to reveal a huge brown bear. The saber nearly startled out of her skin. It took several calls before Zen was able to grab her attention, so focused was she on the magical display. The large feline paced back toward her master, casting glances over her shoulder at the spectacle behind.

"Dis be mah girl," Zen said, scratching Laur-ke's ears as she sat down beside him. She purred at his display of affection and looked up at him with adoring eyes. "So yuh tink yuh 'ave som'ting dat will do da trick?"

The old tauren reached out a huge furry hand and gently cupped Luar-ke's muzzle, bringing her gaze up to meet his. He looked deeply and gave a warm chuckle. "Did you never think this nightsaber might be a Druid?"

Zen glanced at his pet, then back at the shaman, shaking his head. "Na, mon. She be 'eld priz'nah fo' months. No Druid put up wit dat. Been wit me couple months mo'. If she be ah Druid, she sho' 'erself long beh'fo now. 'Sides, all dem kal-dorei Druid's got am'bah eyes. 'Er's is silvah."

"Then that must be the case." The tauren gave a small smile, as though he was amused by an inside joke, his brown bovine eyes glittering. "Well, I hope this will do the trick for you," he stated, releasing Laur-ke and handing Zen two small clay pots.

"I tank yah much, mon," Zen replied.

As the tauren returned to his hut he paused and turned back to the strange pair. "Allow me some parting words of wisdom: Sometimes the heart sees what the mind is blind to." And then he was gone, ducking through the darkened entry, leaving a puzzled troll and saber in his wake.

Later that night, after the sky had darkened and the moons come out to play, a keen observer might have wondered at the odd sight of a blue-gray troll, sitting with his legs hanging over the edge of the bluff, watching the sky light up in a riot of colored lights; and perched at his side an ivory, spotted cat, with night elf tattoos, her glowing eyes wide in wonder and posture proud, with her shoulder gently touching his.