AUTHOR'S NOTE: Oh man, it feels like I haven't been on here in forever... Sorry everyone. I just need to remember to post! D: I may one day go back and rewrite this story, because knowing younger me it's probably all over the place, but I hope you all still find it at least a little enjoyable. If any of you would like to see my actual professional writing, I still do a podcast series called Bosh & Brave! You should check it out if you like adventure stories! And I also run a WoW theory blog I just started which is an analysis of the lore. Look up Crafting Theory.

Take care guys I hope you're all doing well and I appreciate your support!

Chapter Twenty-Six

"Ryney Fizzlepop?" Hyleana asked. The goblin's name seemed so strange, foreign and ridiculous to her. "According to the men, he's been a great help in inventions, and we need that here in the Outlands." Grothos grunted in approval. "But why would a goblin be helping the Earthen Ring?" She could only imagine that it would be a Horde affiliation, or if anything that it had to do with money.

"That is what I would like to find out myself. Which is why I'm sending you." Grothos smiled as he offered her a gryphon. "You're not going?" she asked. "No. When I was captured, I had not yet met this Fizzlepop. And while his inventions may have been of use to my people, I feel a bit unnerved at why he helps us. From what my brethren have said, he has no interest in money from them. Supposedly he makes enough from some other profit."

"What goblin has enough money?" Hyleana chuckled. "That alone is just asking for trouble." Grothos nodded his large head and added, "It's not just that. I want to know what that other profit might be. If the Earthen Ring is being utilized for his benefit, or even that of the Horde, I want to know." Since their return, Grothos had been adamant about helping his people. However, it still didn't answer Hyleana's question. "But why are you not going?" she asked again.

"If he sees an orc coming, he'll be prepared for either the Horde or the Earthen Ring. He could easily play off as either. But a night elf would mean Alliance. A completely different attitude. Go to him and figure out what's going on in raw form." Brushing a lock of teal hair behind her ear, she narrowed her silver eyes in focus. "I can do that." Kicking the gryphon in the side, she took flight and hovered slightly over Grothos for a few moments, Haru crying in protest as he slung over the hide.

"And Hyleana." Grothos called from below. "Come back safely." His face grew tiresome as he felt he'd given her a task he'd regret. "Of course I will." She shrugged and headed for the area he'd designated.

Fizzlepop was somewhere out in the plains in a small hut, so after a few hours of travel, she'd seen it almost at once. Landing, she roped the gryphon and sat down to analyze the situation. The sun was going down, which meant that communications might be made. If she went in now, she may ruin the chance. However, she countered, if she introduced herself now it may cause more of a commotion to observe.

Haru at her side, the two neared the hut. "Excuse me!" she called out in an authoritative voice, hoping that speaking common alone would be enough to attract the goblin's attention. She could have sworn, however, that she heard two voices from within the hut. After a few moments of silence, Hyleana prompted yet again. "Is there anyone home? I'd like to conduct business."

Another beat of silence and a small goblin exited the tent. "What business would a night elf have during this time of day?" She'd known it; it had been the wrong time of day to conduct business, for her kind at least. Quickly coming up with an excuse, she shook her head and laughed. "I'm a night elf and night is arriving soon. I just took an early start to my day."

The goblin had a bright shade of green engulfing his skin and long black hair that was pulled back into a low ponytail. His greedy yellow eyes stared at her for a moment or two. "I guess my next question for ya, then, would be why does some snobby night elf wanna conduct business with a goblin?" This was a rare chance, but she decided to take it. "I'm only a business dealer, nothing more. And a mutual of mine suggested that you might be able to help me." The goblin's yellow eyes were defensive and suspicious, but his bat ears perked in interest; what was he protecting, Hyleana had to wonder?

"Who sent you?" Hyleana could tell that he wasn't going to give up until he knew she wasn't a snoop. At the very least, she deducted, being Alliance didn't mean anything. "A mutual. His name is difficult to pronounce, I'd get it wrong." She shrugged. It was a lame excuse, she knew, but if she could look honest enough, she might be able to get away with it.

After a few more odd moments of silence, the goblin seemed to somewhat deem her fit for business. "What can I do you for? I specialize in trade for furs, meats or really anything you have to offer." This, she tried not to smirk, was something she could catch him with. "What about weapons?" she asked. If she could look like an arms dealer, she might be able to get into the grit of his situation.

A light burned in his eyes. "Come in my tent and we'll talk." He offered. The tent was small, but there was a large living area. It was well furnished enough to be noted as expensive, but not enough to be taken as permanent. He could flee at any moment... She kept tabs to herself. "So what kind of weapons are you looking to sell?" he asked her, sitting on a large, furred rug made of some unknown beast.

"The better question is what sort of weapons are you looking to buy?" She smiled and sat down in front of him, playing her role rather well. "Anything. If it's used, I won't even ask which faction it came from. All I care about is selling it." The goblin smirked. "Really?" her eyes widened as she kept marks on what he said, figuring that she was closer to the truth. "I guess I'm not used to this sort of thing. Arms dealing where the producer doesn't matter?" she asked. The goblin shook his shagged head and smiled. "I gotta make a livin' somehow. Everyone's gotta thing they need to do to survive right? I'm sure a night elf selling weapons to a goblin wouldn't have any reservations on that!"

He had her there, and perhaps that showed to much of her true identity. She decided to cover her mistake as smoothly as she could. "Well, you have me there. I've sold to the Horde faction under other circumstances, but it doesn't mean they don't ask me where I got the product." She casually shrugged her shoulders and kept her eyes keen on her target.

"Fair enough. Welp! Sell me what you got!" he sighed as he stretched out his back as it cracked in protest. Thinking quickly, she listed off the different bows, guns and swords that she could "sell" to him; she was thankful for her knowledge in weaponry at this point. "Sounds like a nice bunch. Used or clean?"

"Some are slightly used, but not too bad." She nodded. "Good. Yeah, if you bring them in I can take a look and see what I can buy off of you." He shrugged. She noticed that the goblin seemed tired, as though something more pressing was going on. Not to mention, he seemed to want her gone. A goblin shooing away a customer? She knew something was wrong.

"I was also hoping maybe you could show me some of your goods as well. Do you have any goblin technology for sale?" she asked. "I could use something that'll allow me to hunt more effectively." She noted as she pet Haru, who'd been laying beside her. The goblin's eyes narrowed at her mention of goblin technology, but only slightly. Had he figured her to be a spy? "I know it sounds weird, but believe me, I don't have no huntin' tech for ya." The goblin dismissed. "If you want other arms, tell me and then maybe we can talk."

A noise startled the three sitting in the tent; Hyleana could have sworn it was a sneeze from a small creature. Haru growled and located where the sound had come from. Grabbing her bow off her back, she aimed it at the goblin as Haru neared a large trunk at the back of the tent. "Is there someone else in here?" she was ready to shoot. "I swear there isn't!" the goblin hissed. "Get that scrappy cat away from the trunk!" he yelled.

"Why? What's in it?" she knew her cover was blown, but she needed to make sure that at the very least she got what she needed. "Please just don't go in there!" Haru yowled and Hyleana's sensitive ears swore she heard a small response come from the trunk. "Please!" the goblin begged, but he seemed more desperate than angry.

Against his wishes, she walked towards the container while keeping her bow aimed at him and her dangerous eyes attentive. It was loosely closed, so she kicked it open with ease, however the weight of it surprised her. Looking in, two large blue eyes peered up at her. "What the..." she trailed off as she slightly lowered her bow.

A small gnome woman was cowering in the trunk, her layered pink hair splayed all over the place. "Lymkin!" The goblin cried. "Ryney!" she squeaked and sat up to look at him. Lowering her bow, she could tell that there was no hostility between the two. "What is this?" she turned to the goblin. "She's a gnome, duh! Now leave her alone!" Ryney moved to grab weapon but Hyleana was swift to send a warning shot his way. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"Ryney!" the gnome called again. "Please don't hurt him! He's not doing anything wrong!" Hyleana cast a suspicious look at the gnome, but lowered her weapon once more. "You better explain to her!" the small woman chirped to the goblin. He gave an annoyed and deadly look to the night elf, but Hyleana could only guess as to why. What exactly was going on here?