Disclaimer: Not only is Warcraft not mine, but I think I just lost my stocks in all other major video gaming corporations. Too bad that was only a dream, sigh, then I could play WoW forever because I would have mucho dinero!
A/N: Yes so the last chapter was short. Many apologies to my readers, but I managed to catch my muse. Slinky devil was hiding somewhere in New Jersey. Good thing it's such a sucker for cheese. All it took was one bated trap and…snap! On a more serious note I now know more than ever the destructive power of fire. My aunt's house is burning as I type this. All the more true to me is Yawna's extreme sorrow.
So here's the thanks. Reaper see you've gone max. Very good there, you need lots of sugar when you're max though. And well, I suppose I should have slipped that Var'Jun as well slipped into a coma. Probably better that way, he doesn't feel pain then. And too bad for the many Malchior haters Gwyn was too busy steering the ship and brooding over the innocent goblin to kill that annoying pest. And will you direct all Malchior fan doll-selling humans to me. Those son of a guns owe me money!
Youkai good to see you back! You must have been reading for quite a while. Do you realize that most of these chapters are eight pages long? Do the math there! As for appreciating Malchior, I happen to not. Well, a bit. He at least provides someone to take my anger on. Yay for troll x human. Fun to write. This chapter's even better. ;)
Starwolf, welcome to the circle… more. Believe me, that sadly was a short chapter for what is accomplished, but I must tell you. Writing six chapters without the aid of your muse is pretty hard. The muse is good at spelling errors.
Don't worry Dragoness he's safe.. For now. I'm not sure exactly where it's going yet, but you must understand, I'm sneaky like that. Anyhow :grabs catfish and runs: MUWHAHAHAH!
So, that's all there was at this time of writing. Here we go again :tired: Between editing my novel-to-be and this the sleep really likes to run away. More cheese traps in New Jersey I suppose.
P.S: Over fifty reviews:sob: I'm so happy!
Chapter Fifteen: Bloom
"He's not good." Yawna shook her head, watching the elf from the corner of her eye. The rain had thankfully stopped, the sun peeking a weary head from behind the demanding clouds. It was a watery dawn, only the sight of blue stretches of waves below, behind, and in front.
"Well," Gwyn grinded her teeth, "I say something about that canned bastard, but I really can't." She nodded at Malchior who was grimly seated on the bow, his head facing away from them. "After all, he only maimed. I killed that goblin."
Yawna looked away for a moment, the silence hung as if on hooks and dangled in the air between them. Then the tauren looked back, her eyes full of understanding. Not for the first time Gwyn felt guilty.
'How can she forgive so easily?' the druidess wondered t herself.
"I know it was not your intention to let it go that far. But tell me," Yawna paused, scratching Weary Traveler behind the ear before continuing, "What makes us so special that we deserved this boat more than any other passenger there?"
"Yawna you are the future," Gwyn shoved the jamming rod into the rudder so that it faced straight east (judging by the sun). "I hate to tell you, but the prophecy that hangs over your head is not just a cute story. It's our future and what might determine whether we all live or not. Some sacrifices must be made in order to get you out safely."
Yawna paused for a moment as if this thought hadn't occurred to her. But Gwyn could see that she had only confirmed it. The subtle silence lasted for only a fraction of the time that it had taken to say it before Yawna buried her face in her hands.
"I wish this burden would pass from me." she whispered softly.
"Don't we all." Gwyn replied heavily.
The sound of blue magic blasted through the entire bottom of the boat. It was a strange light that danced off the walls, the healing powers even stretching to a small plant with a bruised stem in the corner. At the center of it all Kat kneeled, her face perspiring and clenching while her mind raced away. Muscle and sinew began to reform around the wound on Var'Jun's side.
Sadly for him the troll awakened.
Var'Jun shot up as if he were on fire. His hands ripped through the bed sheets, claws working quickly into the feathered mattress. It felt as if millions of tiny, flaming splinters were icing through his wound, their fingers stretching, hooking onto flesh, and then ripping back out.
His mouth opened, head swiveling to see Kat almost break the hold that she had on the healing magic. She kept it up though, mouthing the words 'I'm sorry' and pursuing his well being with new found force. The troll might have screamed if his voice was working, but instead he just clutched the shredded sheets as if all hell was tipped upon his head.
Which it was.
The healing magic was a cursed gift. True, soon all the muscle and blood that Var'Jun had lost would be grown back. But altering nature in such a way to bring him back was a terrible pain. Not only that, but the tax it put on Kat was almost enough to kill her as well and she would be totally inept for days afterwards.
Little by little Var'Jun could feel himself coming back. But it was not totally. His strength was weak and flimsy, like an aged oak. He felt his arms god limp at his side instead of coming back down upon the sheets. Kat was breathing so heavily he could hear it over the sounds of sparks flying that the magic made.
With the final sounds of the lightning crackling, a short gasp from Kat, and the whoosh of the down pillow as Var'Jun sank back into it all was still. Kat stood steady for a moment, her form wavering by the bedside. She was still on her knees but she stretched out her legs as she fell forwards across Var'Jun's chest.
When Var'Jun finally gained his breath he decided to talk. This was a huge effort, his jaw working slowly as if everything to him had become slow and lost. But he did manage to choke out words that seemed very appropriate.
"You… are… insane." he gasped. His hands found the shoulders of the fatigued priestess and he shook them feebly. She only gasped in return a moment later following it up with a short chuckle.
"You… you could have d-died you know…" The troll eased himself up into a sitting position. Groaning as his back arched and his spine popped the troll managed to pull himself up and raise the priestess. Her eyes were glistening with tears and for a moment the two were silent as the fire crackled and popped in the background.
Then Kat sprung with what was left of her energy and locked her arms around Var'Jun's neck. She sobbed into his shoulder, saying nothing in particular. The troll paused as if weighing out the options. Finally he returned the embrace, long arms folding around the human's shaking form.
"I thought you were going to die." she growled back, her voice lacking the usual annoyance. The troll paused as his ears trained to the sounds of hooves on the stairs. Considering the fact that hooves could only mean one thing he began to say something. Not in time, of course.
Yawna paused at the doorway, first embarrassment and then a smug smile playing over her face. She chuckled as the priestess jumped up unstably and wavered for a moment before being able to gasp out words. Her cheeks were blushing a deep crimson.
"I need water." she remarked, "And air… too. I'll get you some stuff too Var'Jun." She brushed past Yawna and made her way in a wavering step up the stairs. Yawna felt her shock through the Awareness, but also a terrible tiredness. The spell had taken a lot out of her. Yawna was surprised she could walk.
Var'Jun smiled sheepishly as she approached. The troll still was too tired to even move, his arms limp at his side. But a great, saucy grin was plastered across his face. He nodded at the tauren, winking to her.
"That was very noble of you." Yawna remarked, leaning over to pull the small foot stool underneath her before sitting down. She chuckled at the questioning look on Var'Jun's face.
"What?" he demanded, "Since when am I ever noble?"
"The night Malchior wounded you. Kat would have kissed you right then, but you turned her down. Why? The Awareness felt regret from you. I know you were not to happy saying no."
Var'Jun looked at his hands for a moment before taking a deep sigh. He looked up at the tauren for another moment, his eyes the lost ones of the young boy who had brought the killer into his village. They roved to the wall before he responded.
"I didn't want her to do anything that she would regret." The troll closed his eyes as if remembering, "She was so drunk that night, I'm not even sure if she would remember it now. And if she did kiss me I don't even know if I could keep myself under control any longer. I'm the prince of Trolls Yawna. I'm the one held responsible for the future of al Darkspear trolls and I've already betrayed their trust before. I'm not even sure if she grasps the situation fully. If she did take it that far, would she want to stand beside me before the trolls."
The warrior turned to look at Yawna, a single breath escaping his lips before he whispered softly, "She makes me feel so light."
Yawna nodded, smiling to herself. "You see?" she added rather smugly still, "Gwyn and I tried to tell you that night in the cave but you'd hear none of it. And what does it matter if the trolls don't see it or the humans can't understand. You have each other."
"You lost him, didn't you?" Var'Jun asked softly, watching the tauren's expression change from the superior smile to a look of dark knowledge. "The one you loved died, didn't he Yawna?"
"In the fire, yes." Yawna said softly, "And there's not a day that goes by when I regret never telling him. Then maybe… maybe he would have fought harder or gone the longer distance or even held me. Anything that would have proved it. But know I'll never know."
"I'm so sorry."
"Don't be." Yawna replied, angry suddenly, "It wasn't you who killed him, did you? And that's why you have to tell her. To admit to her before she slips away. Because you never know Var'Jun, especially now. You never know when the person you love is going to go away."
"But what of Malchior?" Var'Jun retorted, "What will I do. He's so much more angry than I, and I know I could kill him but how would she look at me? I couldn't just kill her childhood friend in cold blood and expect her to still feel the same way. I wish this burden would pass from me."
"Don't we all." Yawna replied, déjà vu kicking in. She smiled but it was the smile that would have accompanied the death of someone with a suffering ailment. They would be lost to the pain now, and no longer suffering. But they would also be lost to everyone else.
Gwyn smiled as the small bar of brown sand broke in the distance. It was no more than a centimeter wide on the horizon, a dull gritty color topped with a thin line of green. But the sight of the small line brought joy to the face of the weary druidess. She whooped, laughing is a very un-Gwyn-like way and almost allowing the tiller to tip off course. Finally she jammed the peg in, her calls summoning the rest of the group to the front deck.
Var'Jun, who had been asleep for the past day, was brought quickly from below deck by Kat. The priestess had awoken him and through his bleary, sleepy eyes and strands of hair he chuckled as he saw the strip in the distance.
Yawna smiled and stopped her pet wolf from almost tipping over board. It had turned out that Weary Traveler was a seafaring type of canine and threw his head to the wind whenever the wind billowed in the sails.
"Land," shouted Gwyn with a chuckle, "We've spotted land!"
The only one who still wasn't overjoyed by this was Malchior. He was seated in a brooding state on the side of the boat. He was watching Kat and Var'Jun out of the corner of his eye, only Yawna noticing this.
The two were supporting each other, both Kat and Var'Jun wobbling with their loss of strength. Var'Jun had flung his arms about the priestess's shoulder and even though the two were sick and almost unable to complete most any functions at all Yawna couldn't remember a time when she had seen them look so bright and alive.
In a few more hours the party had drawn closer to the land. Most spirits were high, the infectious of spring settling over Azeroth and themselves. The slowly skimmed the schooner across the shallow water near shore, the light of the sun filtered through trees and bushes.
"It's Elwynn Forest." Gwyn remarked, joy touching her voice as she gazed fondly at the trees, "I was here once when I was a child. Elwynn Forest…" She steered the boat closer to the chore, entering the light rain of spring blossoms that fell from the trees. They were light pink things that drifted down slowly like lazy helicopters, the exotic perfume tinting the air.
Var'Jun smiled as a few spilled over the heads of his companions. He caught one from the air, a hand still shaky from loss of strength holding it to the human that leaned on his as he did her. She took it with a delicate hand, tucking it into her hair and smiling warmly at the troll.
'Treasure it," Var'Jun remarked, half laughing and half serious, "It may be the last signs of spring you ever see." He caught a few more, plucking their feathers while mumbling to himself and chuckling as they told him what he wanted.
"And Westfall is close by." Gwyn mumbled darkly, "Along with Duskwood. We can always go to Stormwind, but security there is tight and I doubt we could get in like we are."
Malchior's head pricked up at the mention of Stormwind. He looked quickly to Kat as she tried in vain to catch the wily falling blossoms. Her face was alight with joy, her balance still kept by the troll. The paladin's bow darkened, looking quickly to Yawna. He couldn't fathom why, but he feared the peace-loving tauren the most of the group. There was something about her, something held deep below what she had shown to them, a hidden power sleeping and waiting to be awoken.
Gwyn slowly steered the nose of the boat up onto a bank. A few clicks came from the bushes, Murlochs realizing the arrival of the team. They headed back to their camps, ready to report the strangers there. There were too many to fight now, but maybe later.
"Food." Var'Jun stumbled from the boat, his weak legs almost crumpling beneath him, Kat hurrying to catch up with him. "Fresh food," he mumbled, "And water that hasn't been distilled. Cool, clear spring water." Yawna shook her head as the troll's messy purple braid disappeared behind a tree. Kat was close behind, the edge of her dress not long after his braid.
"As long as they go in pairs." Yawna said after a moment, her head shaking. She smiled to herself though, turning to the elf, "They have the right idea though. I wasn't cut for the life at sea, even if Weary Traveler was. We ought to get more supplies, we're running low."
"C'mon, you bucket of bolts." Gwyn growled after nodding to Yawna, her eyes shifting to Malchior. The paladin grumbled, grudgingly raising himself. Since he had wounded Var'Jun he had become more of a prisoner than a guest amongst their group.
The happy voices of Kat and Var'Jun were never that far around the corner. Yawna could hear them happily garbling, a shriek of dismay and then annoyance announcing that the troll had gone too far again. The smacking sound was heard before Yawna rounded the corner.
"It was just a piece of bark in your hair." the troll whined, his hand held to his face. He snorted, wincing and prodding it gingerly before pulling a face that suggested that he was deeply hurt. Behind it he was smiling though, his tusks bobbing up and down when he laughed silently.
"Oh yah sure," Kat snorted, "That's why you went much lower. I see your logic. You're impossible. Barely able to walk and still trying to bother me. Ugh." She threw her hands up in the air, defeated thoroughly.
"Aw, don't be like that." Var'Jun smiled, playfully prodding her, "You know you didn't mind one bit." He swung out of the way of her swift hand, springing backwards.
"Both of you," Gwyn remarked, her ears pricked to the sound of a cool river flowing, "Are impossible. Both of you. Hear that though? A river I suppose, small though. Maybe we'll find something here." She marched in the direction of the small sound, the bubbling spring flowing smoothly.
The met the small tributary a few moments later. Even though it was shallow and murky in spots it flowed clean and smooth and others, the water singing happily back to the birds. Gwyn dipped a leather flask into it, her face brightening.
"Must have flowed up from Ironforge. Granted that the snow actually melted slightly. It's never really warm up there anyhow." she took a long swig before nodding, "Maybe from Ironforge. We'll know any rate soon. We can follow it up."
"We have to go through Ironforge?" Malchior asked, his first question in a few days. He sniffed at the water for a moment before taking a short swig, his mouth pulling into distaste. Truly he could find nothing with the liquid, but nonetheless felt he had to convey some sort of discontent.
"Yep," Yawna replied, her own flask filling quickly, "If we're going north to the Undercity to try to persuade their leader then we'll have to. Yes, I believe it's from Ironforge. There's small metallic traces of taste."
"Spoken like a true hunter," Var'Jun said, his head swinging back and his Adam's apple bobbing as the water poured down his throat, "I prefer hard whiskey or good ale, but it's better than the crates of that stuff we had."
"True hunter," Yawna scoffed, "Not me. What hunter can't even kill. I can hardly skin anything and keep my lunch much less kill anything."
"Ah, but you can track," Var'Jun replied, "Besides, Gwyn can do the hunting until I get my strength back. I'm not terrible, bad at tracking but not terrible." The troll began to make his way along the banks of the stream, his head facing north. "Speaking of tracks, we better be making some. Sun's not setting any slower."
Yawna chuckled as the sturdy troll stumbled down the shore, his feet half in and half out of the shallow current. Kat shook her head, tottering to catch up with him.
"Wouldn't it be quicker to sail up?" Yawna asked as the group continued. Malchior's hand was constantly on his sword hilt and Yawna made sure to eye him down before continuing, "We could do with saving time."
"Any ship seen off the coast may be shot down immediately." Gwyn replied, "Better to walk and remain unseen than to be hindered by angry natives. Don't worry, we'll make good time."
A few hours later Var'Jun and Kat were wiped. They rested against a small rocky outcropping near the river, a small campfire crackling near them. The sun was setting on the lower lip of Azeroth, the dying rays of the disk casting a red light over the woods.
"Bountiful," Gwyn remarked shortly as she removed a stick from the fire. The end was speared with a piece of meat from a wild boar that had been captured earlier by hers truly. Yawna sat nearby, clicking away at shelled nuts and small, plump berries.
"But earlier I saw a Garrison Tower." Kat remarked shortly, "Over the tree line. There were quite a few guards in there. And we didn't even bother to cover our tracks."
Var'Jun shrugged, "If we're lucky a few humans with sticks will be our biggest problem."
The sound of light snores were filling the camp. Yawna was on the second watch, the moon a blinking eye that looked down upon her. She stared back at it, her eyes piercing it's pearly and porous surface.
For a long time since her mother had died Yawna had watched the moon. Bane had once said that it was the souls of the warriors past, gathered together in one concentrated mass of light and sound that could only be heard by the stars.
Two-Moons had claimed it was the eye of the Earthmother watching over them all, that was why it followed you. Every night she would close her eyes a but more until once it was all closed. For even the god had to close her eye once in a while. That was when evil was most prominent, for then the Earthmother wasn't able to watch.
But Yawna had studied it for a long, long time now. She closed her eyes, her Awareness trying to reach out to the disk. But all she could feel was the same feeling of when she had tried to feel what stones felt like. It was a cold feeling, lonesome and solid. Nothing more.
"The moon is not the Earthmother or old spirits," Yawna whispered softly to herself, a tear dripping down her face, "Because the Earthmother doesn't exist at all. She's a story told to calves to make them sleep at night. Otherwise my mother would still be here, and Two-Moons too, and all of Bloodhoof Village and Bolo too. Otherwise none of this would never happen."
Yawna listened to an owl call through the air for a moment. "The Earthmother does not exist." Yawna repeated to herself, her faith slipping away, "And the moon is only a huge glowing sphere in the air. Nothing more."
Yawna looked to Gwyn, the elf sleeping peacefully. The elves worshipped Elune, the moon goddess. But the moon was nothing but a stone, cold and hard. Yawna decided not to tell her friend this. No one should have to lose her faith but herself.
"Oh Father," Yawna breathed, her hands holding the smooth beads of the sunset horn band, "I wish you were here to guide me. I'm so lost." In the distance Yawna heard a crashing noise. She sprang up, her hand flying to the hilt of her axe. At first she thought that humans might be coming. But she heard the tell tale clicking of something more stupid, but sinister.
The angular face of a Murloch erupted through the bush. Yawna growled at it, raising her axe swiftly. The creature clicked a laugh out before making a loud call. Yawna was surprised that she could understand the broken language.
"Assemble brother sisters. Found group, make fast to here." The Murloch turned to give her an inhuman smile as from the growth plucked hundreds upon hundreds of hostile Murloch faces.
There you go. Sorry, sort of depressed. My boyfriends been cheating on me. Surprise, surprise. I suspected anyhow. Hope you enjoyed, much more to do. Review please, need a moral booster. Edited a few parts, btw...