After two weeks of daily healing and rest, Rukten had finally begun feeling a bit like himself again. Stiffness and aching joints still pained him every morning but that was to be expected after a near death experience. In fact, he had expected to have a longer recovery time given his wounds. Who would have thought a paladin could speed up my recovery to this extent he thought, testing the range of his sword arm. The muscles screamed in protest and his shoulder felt like an ice pick had been jabbed into it; sending a shock of pain all the way to his elbow. Still some nerve damage I'll have to ask Taya if she can focus on that today. The tank thought, looking forward to their daily appointment and conversation.

Like clockwork, a muffled knock sounded on his tent flap, making ripples in the hide. "Hey you awake and decent?" Taya asked through the closed entryway.

"Yes, come on in. I have some new work for you." He replied.

The healer came and knelt next to Rukten, who was sitting up near his rolled sleeping mat, and gave him a quick checkup. All of his gashes and burns had healed more than a week ago, mostly she looked for any hitches when she had him move for her. "Well it all looks okay, definitely need to focus on getting you limbered up. You move like an eighty year old man!" she teased.

"You would too if you had a paladin for a doctor" he retorted with a playful smile.

"Oh yea? You would be nothing but a pancake if you had a priest looking after you during that fight!" Taya laughed.

"I know, I know I just can't pass up a chance to ruffle your feathers." He said while ruffling her hair quickly- another of her pet peeves.

"Hey! I actually brushed that today!" she pouted.

Rukten felt butterflies in his stomach. She's so cute when she pouts- Stop it! She's a human. What of your betrothed? What about your family and their positions? Having thoughts of an Alliance woman was not an issue this warrior of the Horde ever thought he would have. His father commanded thousands of Horde soldiers and Rukten himself had killed more Alliance than he could count through out the wars. The cataclysm had put the long feud between the factions on pause but old hatreds rarely die. Hellscream stoked the fires of war, peace was not even a topic that crossed the Warchief's mind and any fool crazy enough to even mention that out loud in Orgrimmar would be beaten in the streets immediately by the orc guards.

Under the command of Thrall, Rukten and his family had privately hoped eventually their battle against the Alliance would end. So many Shield Brothers and Sisters dead. Families fragmented. Children orphaned, hungry, and forgotten. Any person who had seen the destruction endless battles have brought developed a distaste for it or went mad with blood lust. Rockten was the former, Hellscream was the latter. Rukten's father had relentlessly drilled discretion into him just as much as he drilled combat defenses into him. Politics was a fight just as important as the one for your life because in reality they were one and the same for the prestigious orc family. The Warchief expected obedience. The Warchief expected ruthless compliance. Any form of resistance or even a thought against Hellscream was a danger not only to himself, but his loved ones. When did the Horde become nothing more than a gang? He thought sullenly.

"Well what's hurting you today?" Taya said snapping him out of his reflection.

"What?"

"What is Hurting you today? Could it be your hearing?" She said poking fun. It felt so natural and freeing to be around him. Although she hated to admit it, the paladin really looked forward to their healing sessions. He was like an old friend even though they had only known each other a few weeks. It seemed like a lifetime ago she had felt a bubbling anger at the sight of him. His kind brown eyes melted her. Kind eyes? Since when have you ever noted a man's 'kind eyes'. Her small conscience squeaked in the back of her mind. Nonsense, don't even think like that.

Growing up in Elwynn, just outside of Stormwind, had a lasting effect on its citizens. Patriotic was a way of life so much so it had become innate for her. Orcs were nothing but filthy animals that had to be exterminated for the good of everyone. They weren't friends with kind eyes.

"It's my shoulder, feels like someone is stabbing me if I move it too far. I can even feel it in my elbow." The warrior said, moving his arm to the point where he felt the sharp pain.

"Sounds like a pinched nerve, let me see it." She said feeling around the joint. Her soft hands caressed his strong shoulder, sending healing light into him and sensing the remaining injuries that needed to be fixed. A master level of finesse was required to heal something as small as a nerve. Taya concentrated on the kink in the pinched strand. Her eyes closed and her brow furrowed. Small, controlled, healing light coaxed it back into the right position. Too much could do more damage, leaving his arm numb.

Rukten held still and quiet, feeling the intensity radiating from the healer. The feeling of her work tickled, pricked and itched as she restored it. Eventually the sensations stopped and her eyes opened and met his. For a moment they sat in silence looking at one another. Her hands still grasping his shoulder. Let him go what are you doing?! The tiny voice in Taya's mind screamed returning logic into the situation. She yanked her hands back to her awkwardly.

"Well test it out and see how it feels now." She said quickly, staring at his arm and avoiding anymore eye contact, a small blush forming.

He quickly moved his arm. A little too quick as his muscles informed him with a burning pain. Slowly, the warrior began stretching his arm as far as it would go. "Much better. The muscles are still killing me though."

You could give him a message like you did with Senraen…how long has it been since you touched a man? Taya quickly pushed the lascivious thought from her head. "It probably will for a couple days. I think it is better to stretch them organically than try to heal them."

"I'll focus on that today then."

"Don't overdo it or you'll make it worse. No more than ten stretches to maximum range per hour."

"Fine, I feel like at that rate we will be here all month."

"You want to play doctor or do you want to listen to someone with training?" She teased again dispelling the awkward mood.

"Okay, okay. I'll listen this once" he replied, with his trademark small smile.

Playing doctor could be fun. Rukten thought, to his horror. He was a taken man. His mate had already been negotiated. The orc's mother had found him a suitable orc woman with appropriate standing since he had not found one in a timely matter according to her. Ransha was beautiful and intelligent. When they met one another, he was actually happy at the pairing. She would not only be an asset to his career but someone he felt he could build a happy life with. Sitting in the tent and reflecting brought on a new revelation: for first time, the warrior realized he had always thought of marriage from a practical standpoint and never from a point of passion. Prior to his engagement, he satisfied his needs in taverns like any other member of the Horde; there was no shame in it. Although any approach at more than coupling had been refused. He couldn't take just any mate. His wife had to be well rounded and respectable. Definitely not human. He thought, a sinking feeling in his stomach replaced the butterflies. Why torture yourself? He tried to push the thoughts away by stretching hard, probably harder than Taya approved for his condition. Luckily, she had quickly exited after their last playful banter.

Outside, Both Senraen and Zah'kal were slowly starting their day. Sen stretched, yawned, then began pulling out her unfinished armor pieces she had been working on since the day they downed the large buck.

"Still working on those jerkins? I thought leather was supposed to be a quick type of armor to craft." Taya said peering over the night elf's shoulder.

"Yes, a poor to mid quality chest piece would only take a day or so after tanning but I like to make my things better than that. A good jerkin can mean the difference between life and death! Not to mention such a fine hide from a buck like that should be treated like the treasure it is." Sen replied reverently. Her mother had always told her to respect nature. When a life is given for a resource it is a great gift from Elune.

"Fair enough. I think I'll stick to flower picking and potions." Taya said with a yawn. The intense concentration and drained her energy and she felt a good nap coming on. "I'm going to lay down for a few. Don't let me sleep more than a couple hours, okay?" She asked Sen who replied with a nod.

The leatherworking had gone smoothly and Senraen began etching her small trademark into the inside of both. She rarely ever commissioned armor for anyone so her leatherworking good were rare. To top it off, she had put her heart and soul into the crafting of both of the high-quality armor. One she made for herself and the other Zah'kal. Both had been custom fitted to the owners' measurements down to the millimeter. The leather was soft where movement was needed and reinforced where it mattered. For her own she had died it a soft black to match the rest of her armor. The perfect color to match shades and shadows. For the druid's armor she did her best to match his ensemble. A woody brown with vine and leaf etchings.

Zah'kal had been watching from the campfire, cooking their breakfast of owl egg and wild boar bacon. Keeping the façade of a party member uninterested in anything but friendly conversation had been tough for him and keeping his eyes off his mate even tougher. Of course I gotta cook when we finally have some alone time together. He thought impatiently.

Sen glanced at him over her shoulder beaming with pride. Carefully, she placed each Jerkin on the rack she had made for them. Displaying her completed work for the whole party to see. Bringing over a bowl of water to the campfire she made herself comfortable next to the troll. She cleaned her hands of the leather shavings and began talking to him in a low voice: "Finally done, love. Now you'll always have something from me close to your heart."

"I appreciate ya, girlie. Don' talk like we gonna be apart. We gonna find a way, I promise ya that." He responded touching her forearm softly. It was the only touch he felt was subtle enough to give in case either plate wearer decided to come out of their tent.

The past two weeks had also been difficult on Senraen. She didn't want him to just touch her arm, she wanted to be in his arms. Although she enjoyed the company of both Taya and Rukten she felt annoyed she had to hide her feelings just when she finally felt comfortable enough around someone to express herself freely.

"I know, it's just been hard not being able to actually be wit you" she responded, frustrated. "Where are we going to go where we can just be together and not have to hide it? And if we find it, how will we get there? What about your family?"

"It's gonna be okay, Meh'Atal. We gonna find a way. We might not have all de answers but we will have dem when de time comes." He cooed.

They heard rustling as Rukten prepped to come out of his tent. Quietly they moved apart and made small talk about their breakfast. "Glad we go that boar the other day!" Sen said trying her hardest to sound sincere although her heart ached.

"You know it, girlie. Good find on de eggs." Zah'kal responded in his best up beat voice he could manage.

"It does smell good out here, I'm starving." Rukten chimed in as he approached the two.

"It be almost done, brotha." The troll said as he grabbed a few plates for the trio. " Can ya hand me de banana leaf? Gonna wrap some up for Taya. She be nappin' for a bit longer."

"Sure." He said grabbing a couple from the pile of leaves they had gathered yesterday.

"Thanks, mon."

The three ate together and enjoyed some light hearted conversation. Once they were done, the paladin emerged from her tent rubbing sleep from her eyes. "You guys didn't eat it all did you?" She asked, a little afraid they had actually consumed the whole meal given all three ate enough to feed an army.

"Of course not! We saved you some. We know how cranky you get when you're hungry." Sen laughed and handed her the wrapped eggs and bacon.

"Thank the light." She replied relieved. "I'm so hungry, believe it or not healing is tough work.

"I know and thanks again." Rukten said earnestly. "I've been thinking, I'm healed enough to head back to the inn. It would be nice to have a bath and a meal we don't have to hunt down ourselves. I know I have to send a report in soon to Orgrimmar."

"You have to send one? No one from Stormwind told us to write any report." Taya said, her mind racing. How did we not think to write a report? How is the alliance to get all this information? Does it give the horde and edge?

"My father asked me to report in. I'm surprised you don't have orders to do the same." The orc responded stone faced.

"It's fine Taya, I report in to either my guild leader or a representative of the alliance after every mission" Sen said. "Although it would be smart to actually write a report, not a bad idea at all." The rogue said pulling out some parchment.

"I think it would be good for us to head back to the inn. I'll make sure we have some rest before our next mission. It doesn't make any sense to head back out until you're back in fighting shape. If we leave soon we might be able to make it back by sundown and actually sleep in a bed tonight." Taya said, half thinking out loud.

"I really would love a hot bath too." Sen added.

"Lets get packin' now, I'll round up de mounts." Zah'kal replied, quickly getting up and moving.

By the time the camp had been packed up the sun was high in the sky. The party headed back toward the inn. They rode in a single file with Rukten in the middle, eyes peeled for any danger. The journey fortunately proved uneventful. They stopped at small streams to rest and stretch their legs, mostly for the benefit of the wounded tank. Although he was mostly recovered, the trip was taxing and his muscles stiffened up much quicker than if he had been healthy. As the sun began to set the group arrived at the inn.

" I'm going to send for a courier." Rukten said rubbing his sore behind while leaning back in attempt to stretch.

"That can't wait until after dinner?" Taya asked, dismayed.

"It won't take but a minute. Duty is first always." He replied writing a quick note to be sent to Orgrimmar. A Horde runner would arrive the next day to retrieve the report.

"I'll let Syrus know we are back. Meet here in about 15 minutes?" Sen asked everyone and was met with tired nods.

That night the party feasted. Roasted deer, boar, and fish found their way to their tables as well as several types of ale from all over Azeroth. It was nice to let their guard down a little bit. Their odd party attracted stares from everyone else in the room. Most of the other patrons were alone or in small groups of members of their own faction. Mixing horde and alliance, even in neutral towns, rarely happened.

The group didn't pay any of them any mind. They wanted to be care free for a night after such a rough ordeal. Tomorrow reports had to be written and delivered, briefings attended, and new quests given.

"Do ya think they gonna keep us together for de next mission?" Zah'kal pondered, sipping his moon nectar.

"I don't see why not, we were successful and we mesh well together. It would be a set back to establish a new group." Taya said more defensively than intended. She didn't want their grouping to end so quickly. She had avoided all thought of it until now and it gave her anxiety.

"Agreed, my report to the horde will also reflect our success." Rukten added attempting to hide the anxiety he was feeling as well. "Let's get some rest for now, I have to get up early tomorrow."

The group disbanded for the night. Each heading to their respective room and hot baths. Rukten stripped off his undergarments and eased himself into the hard earned, warm and bubbly water with a sigh. Amazing how a hot bath can ease the muscles. Amongst other things. To his surprise he had an erection. Well, I guess it has been several weeks since I've had ANY release. Being in a camp and mortally wounded provided no privacy to address such a thing.

He slowly stroked himself, trying to think of any source of inspiration. First he though of Ransha and what he thought she would look like, nude and wanting. He thought of her full lips and breasts. How her mouth would taste against his. He thought of her on all fours, offering herself to him. Her pussy and ass displayed to him, inviting him. Her violet hair tumbled over her shoulder as he grabbed her other shoulder for leverage. The feel of her folds parting as he entered her made his cock bead with precum. But no matter how hard he tried he just couldn't focus.

The forbidden coupling kept creeping from the shadows of his mind. Teasing him, testing him. Don't do it, you'll never get over the fact you spanked it to a thought of HER. He thought, his member softening with the turmoil. Maybe it was just too hard to focus on his fiancé when he hadn't so much as kissed her. Yes, let's pretend that's the issue here. He thought, annoyed with himself. Instead, he relented and thought of his first threesome. An orc and troll he bedded several years ago. They had all found a room to rent above the tavern they had met in. The troll woman voraciously kissed him, while the orc woman voraciously sucked his cock. Ruckten found his trolless wet and willing as he fingered her. Taking control he lay her down next to him and brought the orc woman up for a rough kiss before positioning her on top of the troll woman. The two began to kiss each other, enjoying the feel of their soft breasts and hard nipples rubbing together. The warrior spread both their legs and entered the troll while fingering the orc, eliciting moans from both. He remembered the efforts he took to please both women and thanked the gods he had the stamina to do it. One of his fondest sex memories by far, and yet his cock still yearned. It yearned for forbidden fruit. For something he'd never had.

I just want her. Right now, no one needs to know. He thought more frustrated than ever. At last he gave in. He thought of Taya as they camped. The rogue and druid had gone off for a hunt leaving the two alone. She massaged his shoulder once more but this time she didn't pull away, this time she continued up his collar bone and moved to his well-muscled pecs. The orc pulled her in close for a kiss. Her small frame pressing into him. He laid her down on his simple sleeping mat. And sat in a kneeling position taking her in. How long had he stolen glances at those full breast? Those wide hips? Those strawberry pink lips? He reached for her Simple linen pants and slowly pulled them down. Her Hips raised to allow him to do so. Her dark burgundy hair lightly blanked her pubic area and she shyly covered it with a hand. He moved it away, kissing her center, pleasuring her. He heard her stifled a shocked moan as he began to caress her thighs, licking and sucking her clit.

Once she was ready, He kissed her roughly and rubbed his hard dick against her wet folds. Rukten stroked the tip of his hard dick, using soapy water to lubricate it. He slowly entered her to her gasps of pleasure. Slowly, he thrusting into her, making as little noise as possible. The orcs hand stroked himself slowly, his member harder than it had been all night. But that wasn't all he wanted, he wanted to take her. The troll and druid were far off hunting. No one could hear them coupling. He rose back onto his knees and prompted her to turn over. She acquiesced rising to her knees and hands. Driven by his lust he reentered her from behind. Thrusting into her. She muffled her screams of approaching climax into his pillow while he steadily pounded her. He felt her walls closing in on him. As he began to close in on his climax he squeezed his dick harder. Hungering for the feel of her climaxing with him. It's all he had though of these past few days. He thrust in faster feeling himself following her over the edge. Taya desperately whispered to him: "Fuck me deep, fill me Rukten I want you to fill me, give it to me." Rukten moaned as he shot his long overdue load into an awaiting rag. His climax tensing and relaxing his muscles all at once.

The orc didn't know how to feel about what he had just done. Relieved in body, but troubled in spirit. His desire for the human paladin hadn't gone away with his horniness. Fantasy is just fantasy. No one will know as long as you don't act on it. It's not wrong to have fantasies. He said, comforting himself with logic. But part of him wondered how he would be able to work with the paladin and control himself in reality.