Chapter Twelve
Zippy the Lighter

"This is going to take for-ev-er," Fiernaa complained even as she urged her Talbuk with her crop.

"Less talking, more riding," Raybourn grunted.

They were just entering the Arathi plainlands, impatient but determined. They'd refreshed their mounts at Tarren Mill, and were prepared to ride through the night.

"I'm just nervous about riding so boldly through the Wetlands," Bogarden muttered. "The Dwarves don't like me too well…"

"What'd ya do?" Verii said, poking her fellow Hunter with her foot. "Ya steal their women?"

"Damn you, Verii," Bogarden grinned back. "Actually, yes, I won a drinking contest in Booty Bay once…"

Raybourn broke out of his reverie and smiled. "I remember that. What a night that was."

"Yeah, well, you ran off with two of the short little ladies, if I recall correctly."

"That I did. Like I said… Man, what a night that was!" He barked a laugh.

Thrilled that Raybourn was not brooding, Fiernaa turned to tease him. They continued through the plains in happier spirits for several hours, carefully avoiding the Alliance outposts. As the sun was setting, they finally saw the ruins of the great bridge that would lead them into the Wetlands.

"What's dat?" Verii said, pointing off to their left. Beyond the hill, to their surprise they saw the top of a large balloon, almost like the one used on zeppelins.

Fiernaa reined in her Talbuk swiftly, and grunted as Bogarden's kodo plowed into her from behind. "Someone's in trouble."

"So is Aerdrie. Let's go," Raybourn muttered, not slowing.

"Raybourn. Stop sulking and get over here," Fiernaa said sharply. She pointed at a small figure brandishing a torch at three ogres who were steadily advancing. "They need help, and we need their help."

"What are you talking about?" Bogarden asked, puzzled even as he steered his kodo toward the figure.

"Just come, I know we must do this. Raybourn, get your fuzzy ass over here," Fiernaa called, forcing her Talbuk into a gallop.

"She's always right wit' her feelin's, mon. Let's go." Verii urged Raybourn's kodo alongside her raptor and followed the Orc.

"Back, you knaves! You'll never have it for yourselves!" shrieked the little man as they neared. It was a goblin, and he looked roughed up. What looked like a small version of a zeppelin was parked behind him.

"Told you!" Fiernaa crowed, pointing at the tiny airship, her eyes glowing red with bloodlust. "Let's have some fun!"

The ogres, seeing the reinforcements bearing down on them, were already making a hasty retreat, but Fiernaa bore down on them and dismounted, her twin axes slashing at their legs, crippling them. Verii and Bogarden took aim beside each other, then let fly, and two ogres dropped dead on the spot. Fiernaa quickly finished the other.

"Thank you! Thank you!" shrieked the little goblin, running toward the friends and hugging each in turn. Up close, they could tell he'd already been in a few scuffles. He wore a bloodied bandage over one eye, and he had numerous scrapes on his chest and arms. "You saved Zippy! You saved Cogspinner!"

"Of course, little one," Fiernaa said, grinning. "You said you're Zippy? Come here and let me tend to those wounds of yours." She knelt and began whispering words of power over his eye.

"What's Cogspinner?" Bogarden asked. "That?" He pointed at the airship.

"Why, yes, yes of course! That is my own version of the zeppelin! Lighter! Faster! She's all mine and these filthy ogres wanted her!" The goblin nearly vibrated with constant energy, and Verii frowned, finding him quite annoying.

"And, ah, Cogspinner works?" Raybourn asked skeptically. It was the wrong question to ask, for the little goblin nearly flew into a rage.

"Works? WORKS? Of course she works! How else would I have gotten here, you dumb brute? How dare you insinuate-"

"Watch your tongue, we just saved your little green behind," Fiernaa said, smiling and showing her sharp teeth. "Now, we need to get to Grom'gol. Can you take us there?"

"What joy! What luck!" Zippy danced on the spot, clapping his hands. "That's where I'm going! I stopped to mine some iron I spotted but let's go! Let's go!"

"Yes, indeed, let's go," Raybourn said, nodding encouragingly while taking a few steps away from the volatile goblin.

Zippy tore off his eye bandage and scampered up the ramp. "Hurry! Let's go! You can even help us get there faster!"

"How's dat?" Verii asked, looking around the ship. Everything was in disarray, and parts of the ship even looked… burnt.

"Help keep the fire going!" Zippy handed her a small bellows, pointing at a contained fire on the other side of the ship.

"Fire… On a wooden zeppelin…" Bogarden frowned heavily. "I'm going to say a prayer for all of us."

"Here we go!" Zippy called, and threw a few switches. Slowly, the airship rose into the air, but quickly gained speed. It rocked, sputtered and shuddered, but it seemed to hold together well. Devildawg seemed to be taking the ride the worst, and remained beside his master, cowering and whimpering.

Raybourn picked his way across the littered floor to his fellow Shaman, who was tying down a pole more securely. "Fie, thank you. I was too caught up in my own worries to listen to you, or the Earth."

She smiled and hugged him tightly. "That's what we're here for, Ray. We all work together to be the best we can be. I know you're distracted and worried."

He hugged her back, kissing the top of her head. "That means a lot to me."

"Hmph, stop acting so surprised." She stood back and tilted her head at him. "We're here for you as you're here for us. Start believing that. I know Bog is your oldest and dearest friend, but that doesn't mean Verii and I aren't just as devoted."

"I know, but I can say thank you, can't I?" He punched her shoulder playfully.

"There's the Raybourn I know," she smiled back. "Keep your chin up, babe, I haven't felt any ill befall Aerdrie. We'll get there before anything can, as well. And don't forget, she has our beloved Muche with her."

"Yeah, I'm glad she's got 'im," Verii said, coming up behind them. "I can feel his feelin's from here." Her eyes glazed over, looking far into the distance. "He's preparin' to fight wit' us. He knows we're comin'."

"I hope he can convey that to Aerdrie," Fiernaa said worriedly. "I hope she's not fretting too much."

"I tink he can," Verii said happily. "She's great wit' animals."

"That she is. She's helped my lands rejuvenate. I've had more wild animals around my home lately than I've ever remembered. Even the vegetation is healthier."

"She's going to be an Archdruid someday," Fiernaa mused. "She's very powerful in her own right."

The airship shuddered powerfully, throwing the friends against the side. "I hate this ting," Verii whispered, not wanting to anger the goblin.

They all nodded at each other and clung to the side wall as the ship narrowly avoided a mountainside.

"We'll be in Stranglethorn shortly!" Zippy called out, pointing at the lush jungle ahead of them. Raybourn felt his spirits rise even further. He desperately wanted off the patched zeppelin, and he wanted to find out where to head next.

"So, how did you build this… thing?" Bogarden asked, nervously watching one of the engines start to shake violently.

"I had a lot of help!" Zippy replied happily. "I have a lot of Gnome friends and they all worked on it!"

"Gnomes," Raybourn groaned. "Great Mother Earth, save me."

"No wonder," Bogarden growled, watching with horror as the sputtering engine caught on fire.

"There's Grom'gol!" Fiernaa shouted happily. "We're almost there-" She stopped short as the airship sputtered, died, and began to plummet.

Verii couldn't take it anymore. She began to scream, jumping on Bogarden and clinging to him. "I don' wanna die!" she cried.

"Neither do I," he grunted, flailing his arms, buried beneath the Troll and Devildawg.

"Let's steer this into the trees!" Fiernaa shouted, pulling Raybourn along behind her to the tail of the ship. Together they pushed on the steering fin mounted behind the ship.

"Harder," Raybourn yelled.

Fiernaa threw down a pulsing totem, and they both felt their arms strengthen. "Now! Push!"

Slowly they got the fin to move, and the ship curved its path.

"Hold on!" Bogarden shouted, clutching Verii and his Devildawg to his chest and bracing himself as the trees rushed up to meet them.

With a loud crash and fiery sparks, the Cogspinner scraped along two trees before coming to stop in the third. The passengers yelled as they were thrown to the front of the ship, but fortunately none tumbled to the ground below.

Zippy was wailing over his broken ship as the others began helping each other stand, careful to not rock the ship.

"I'm gettin' outta here!" Verii shrieked, pulling a rope from Bogarden's pack and tying it around one of the more secure posts.

"What am I going to do? Oh, I'm ruined!" Zippy howled, picking up pieces of the zeppelin and cradling them to his chest.

"Whatever it is, don't include Gnomes next time," Raybourn growled. "Let's get down before this ship crashes to the ground."

Quickly they all descended the rope, leaving the weeping goblin alone. They rapidly called their mounts to their sides and raced to Grom'gol, which they could just make out over the hill.

"Let's find out where those brothers went," Raybourn panted.

"I- I- I want to rest a m-moment," Verii sniffled, still shivering with shock.

"You can rest on the flight," Fiernaa said soothingly, patting her shoulder.

"Flight?" The troll's eyes went wide.

"Just a wind rider, I'm sure, dear," Fiernaa added quickly.

"Theramore," Verii said suddenly as they rode into the outpost. "Muche is in Theramore."

Raybourn reined in his kodo, looking at the shaking Troll. "Are you certain? You're not looking so well, there-"

"Yes, he's in Theramore," she snapped back, gratefully accepting a skein of water from one of the vendors.

Bogarden swore softly. "How are we gonna get in there?"

"I don't know, but we're going to, nonetheless. Let's head to Booty Bay and worry about that in a few." He put an arm around Verii. "Do you want to stay here? You really look sick, Verii."

"I- I will be okay," she hiccupped. "Don't worry, I'll k-keep up."

"If you need rest, dear friend, you should stay here."

She smacked his supporting arm away, swaying slightly. "It's not every day I almos' die in a fireball, ya know. I'll be fine. Let's keep goin'."

Raybourn sighed. "If you're quite sure." He handed the fare for himself and his friends to the wind rider master, and soon they were flying to Booty Bay.