**THIS STORY WAS RECENTLY REVISED! By me. February 2011. Just so you know... LOTS has changed.** Kay, I'munna stop putting this up here. I think you know by now that it's all been revised, down to the end. Plus, who reads this, anyway?
DISCLAIMER: This entire story is Copywrite. MINE. Got it? World of Warcraft, however, is NOT. Most characters are my own, except characters like Thrall and such. The world, too, belongs to Blizzard.
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Chapter 4: Wind Riding and Wild Weather
Votheilia insisted she escort us to the Dragonhawk handler, personally. She must have really missed her brother, and wanted to spend as much time with him as she could or something. As we travelled through this wondrous forest, I thought for a moment that I was in a dream, and that it might never end. It did, though. All of a sudden, the whole mystical forest stopped. The last few trees were barely trees at all; burnt and black, as well as warped. I glanced forward to see a large patch of dead Earth. The ground was black and grey; the plants barely existed, and those that did were deformed and stunted.
"What," I paused, taking in the surroundings, "what is this?" I asked softly, almost disgusted.
"They call it the Dead Scar." Votheilia began, as she continued, not really bothered by it, "It's a path of Blight, created by the Scourge."
I looked down at the diseased and crooked earth at our feet and furrowed my eyebrows. It pained me to look at the remains of once brilliant woods. I forced myself to keep walking, prying my eyes from the ash. It was like walking over piles of dead corpses, that's the only thing I could think of anyway. When I felt the soft bits of dirt that had been burned out of their mass collapse beneath my feet, all I could think of was stepping on tender flesh. And the scattered remnants of plant like looked like brown and black coral reefs that protruded from the sea of dust.
There was a snap from behind us, and all four of us spun around and looked back. All that was to be seen was the mist rising off the deep coloured soil. It must have been some critter or something. I lowered my guard, just slightly. This place was enough to make a person go mad, I swear. I slowly turned back around. It seems that even a little twig breaking of some kick of dust was enough to make people scream out here.
"Look out!" Votheilia shouted, just as a skeletal enemy burst from the foggy aura surrounding us and attempted to slash Kujajin with his sword.
Kujajin's blade clashed with his, forcing the creature back. Kujajin's backup sword was nothing special, but it came in handy for close combat encounters I suppose. The skeleton faltered and lost its footwork. Kujajin took this advantage of its trouble to slice through its bony body swiftly, silencing it. He was still for a moment before straightening his posture and sliding his sword back behind his back into it's place.
"Plauguebone Pillagers, if I'm not mistaken." Kujajin spoke, looking around for more.
"I think so, yeah." Votheilia shakily nodded her head, her hands clenched together in front of her in mild fear.
"They don't pose much trouble to us, but the ruckus could alert some wandering guards," Kujajin theorized, again making sure we weren't being overheard.
"We're too much of a threat," I added myself.
"You mean we attract major aggro." Alpine stated, I'm pretty sure he was joking around. He does that, jokes around even when it's clearly not the time for it.
"You could say that," I nodded while rolling my eyes. I wasn't much in the mood for his stupid jokes.
"So what do we do?" Votheilia asked, ignoring our dialogue.
"I'll go stealth;" I started, taking some control, "Kujajin has aspect of the beast and feign death if things go awry, and Alpine can change his form and prowl." I spoke out.
"What about me?" Votheilia asked, looking somewhat nervous.
"Mount me." Alpine suggested, changing his form into that of a cat.
"Now that is what she said." Votheilia smirked, but walked towards him and climbed to ride him like a mount. She seems a little unsettled but didn't complain or whine any more. It's nice when people don't fill the air with useless noise like that.
"Which way?" I asked, in somewhat of a hush.
"Um, right." Votheilia whispered back, before pointing in the correct direction. We began moving slowly in a creep, but Votheilia betrayed us with her talkativeness, "You know, I heard that there are some really strong enemies that sometimes roam the Dead Scar, like Pit Overlords, and Eredar Sorcerers, and Wrath Enfo—"
"Shh!" Kujajin silenced her, with a finger on his lips and a frown on his brow.
"Sorry!" She whispered, quieter, "and now you know why I don't go to Silvermoon very often."
Moving quickly, and trying our best to do it quietly, it didn't take long to reach the other side of the Dead Scar. Which was a very nice treat. We all released a sigh of relief, and walked a little further away from it before lowering our guards. You never know, right? We stopped for a moment and looked to Votheilia for more direction. She slid off of Alpine's back and got her bearings back before speaking.
"Just down this path," she guided us, with a little excitement in her voice, "It's not far."
"I think I see it," Alpine pointed above the trees to the bits of pointed buildings poking out of the forest as he transformed back into his Tauren form.
"So where are these Dragonhawks taking us, anyway?" I asked as the buildings got taller and closer to us.
"Well the Dragonhawks don't fly over water, so you have to go to a harbour if you want to get to the other continent." Votheilia explained, looking over at me easily.
"Well doesn't the Undercity have a Zeppelin path straight to Orgrimmar?" Alpine pondered, walking between us.
"From what I've heard, that's a bad idea." Votheilia countered with reason, "The Undercity is under very secure lock down, because not only are they expecting a counter attack since the attack on Ironforge, they've raised security because of threats on the inside. They would surely find her." She referenced me.
"Not only that," Kujajin added to his sister's point, "but flying directly into Orgrimmar would be a bad idea, we need time to plan, flying right in we would have problems. The Zeppelin tower landing point is crawling with guards."
"At this rate it would be much faster just to send Stormwind a letter about this," I groaned, "Well then, if we can't take a Zeppelin, what do we do?" I asked, frustrated with hearing only things we cannot do.
"If you can get to Booty Bay you may be okay, because it's neutral grounds. They have a boat that goes into Ratchet, in the Barrens, which is right next to Durotar." Votheilia suggested optimistically.
"That's kind of back tracking, and a rather long flight, but there are not many other options." Kujajin seemed to agree, which a sigh, "We're just going to have to hope we don't run into trouble down there."
"But flying mounts are fast," Alpine reminded him, "And you've got me to protect you guys if we get into trouble," He grinned as if he was the deciding factor between victory and defeat.
"Not when you're riding them..." I joked in a mutter.
"Look!" Votheilia pointed just ahead of us at the entrance to Silvermoon city, and just to the left of that, the Dragonhawk Handler.
"At long last," I tossed my hood back over my head to hide my ears. It was a terribly lazy disguise, but it seemed to work all right for now.
We approached the Dragonhawk Handler and Kujajin greeted her. I gazed behind her at the walls of Silvermoon. It was a grey-beige colour with red windows and huge pillars. The walls were edged with gold, and beautiful flowers grew in a garden beneath the entrance. It was like a palace, a kingdom, something I'd only ever read about. I really wanted to go inside and see what it looked like in there, I bet it'd have a fountain, and long winding streets, it'd be so fascinating.
"We're looking for transportation to Booty Bay," Kujajin's voice was the only thing I could hear outside of the ramblings in my head, and I remembered where we were and looked back over at them.
"Certainly, I can get you there." She gave us a stern nod. She was a business type woman.
"How much?" Alpine asked. Someone had to.
"Not much, we have good rates, if you don't mind a few stops on the way." She informed us, writing something down on a little notepad. It was probably to keep track of her sales.
"No, we don't mind." Kujajin agreed as he waited for her to finish.
"Kujajin," Votheilia interrupted, and almost immediately afterwards stated, "I want to come with you."
"Now, now, this is a very big journey, Votheilia, you could be killed," He argued seriously, he seemed very protective over her, like she had told me he was.
"You know you'll be better off with me, I'm an herbalist and a medic, and a Mage," She debated, almost pleading him to let her come along with us.
"If that's the case then just port us there..." I muttered more to myself that anyone, especially since no one was listening anyway.
"Come on!" She ignored me, tugging at Kujajin's sleeve eagerly.
"But," He couldn't think of any more excuses, and finally let out a low and long sigh, "Fine…"
"Yes," She did a quick fist pump and grinned to herself, "Finally an adventure with my little brother," She cheered.
"Don't call me that Votheilia, you're not that much older." He shook his head, of course he wouldn't want to be seen as a child, "anyway…"
I didn't pay attention as they discussed the cost and the route, I didn't care much about spending gold at this point, because I had nothing better to spend it on, but I remember hearing we had four or five stops. I didn't mind that either, as long as we got to Booty Bay as soon as possible. I was kind of getting rather bored with this "adventure". It just seemed like an extended quest, and I was pretty sick of questing. Kujajin turned to me, once it was fully discussed.
"You ready?" He asked suddenly, as if it was a bigger deal than it was made out to be, flying and all. It was kind of an everyday thing for most people. Most people except me. I don't know how he knew, but somehow he understood that I didn't do this very often.
"Y-yeah." I nodded hesitantly, wondering for a moment too long if he could read my mind.
"Hold on a moment," Kujajin told the Handler as he pulled me aside and spoke to me, "Are you all right with this?"
"To tell you the truth," I muttered quietly, "I'm just not particularly accustomed to flying," I started vaguely, "I'm kind of somewhat, I don't know, uncomfortable with it. I'm not afraid or anything, just really not good at it," I lied.
"Really?" Kujajin smirked, somehow knowing the truth already.
"Yes," I mumbled, avoiding his gaze.
Truth is, I wasn't terrified of heights. They just really got me unsettled. I was very uncomfortable with them, to put it simply. I honestly don't know why. I didn't mind falling, but I hated being so high up. I don't even know how that works, but that's how I feel. Weirdest part is, I kind of like being so high up, and feeling scared. It felt so strange that I guess I kind of liked it. I know I'm crazy. Maybe I'm some kind of masochist.
"Don't worry about it," He gripped my hand comfortingly, placing a hand on my chin and moving my head to look at him, "I'll be right there with you,"
"I-" I lost my words, feeling my face heat up. I hated when guys did that, the whole touching thing. I hated it because it worked.
"Come on guys, we're waiting," Alpine called to us.
Kujajin pulled my hand as he turned around towards the Dragonhawk Handler, and led me over to the Dragonhawk resting in a box of hay. He swung his leg over it, causing the thing to perk up. I already felt that uncomfortable anticipative feeling. He extended his hand to me graciously. Of course, his whole chivalrous routine. I never accepted it, though, I found myself nervously climbing onto the beast, behind him.
"You should hold on." He warned me, as if he knew exactly what he was talking about.
"To what?" I asked, "Is there some kind of handle bar or something?" I remarked sceptically. I do that when I'm uncomfortable, I joke.
"No, no," he laughed at me, "hold on to me."
"Do I have to?" I whined, reluctant to do so.
"No," He pressed his foot lightly into the side of the Dragonhawk, guiding it to begin flapping into the air, "you can fall off if you want."
"Eep!" I quickly wrapped my arms around him fretfully, followed by making a deep cutting glare into the back of his shoulder. I muttered some curses to accompany my eyes.
The beast dashed forward high into the air, flapping its wings hard. It felt like some kind of crazy machine or something, it was very foreign to me. The speed made me nervous, as well as the fact that we were so high off the ground, with nothing holding us to this creature. I would have jumped off, if I didn't think I'd die. I closed my eyes and held tightly to the only thing I could, which evidently was Kujajin.
"Wo-oh!" Alpine cheered as he flew by, with Votheilia sitting behind him, cheering with him. They sure were excited about it. I instinctively moved away from Kujajin as they flew by, I wouldn't have them know I was such a coward too.
"I think you're going to kill that Dragonhawk," Kujajin said, looking down at the poor struggling beast beneath Alpine and Votheilia.
"Sorry little fella!" He patted his mount's head, and it lost a few feet from the ground.
Slowly I began to feel safer in the air, with Kujajin. Somehow. I don't know, it just got easier over time I guess. It had been a few hours, I think, and we were making great time, it wasn't that much farther away. I could tell by the landscape. Somehow I had mustered the courage to grant me the ability to look down from the mount, though it took some practice. We had finished all connecting stops already. Alpine wasn't kidding when he said flying mounts were fast. It was a good thing and a bad thing for me. It meant the trip was shorter, but a hell of a lot harder on my nerves.
"Hey Kuj," Votheilia called to him from her and Alpine's mount just a short distance away.
"I know, I see them." He nodded, and instantly I perked up, riddled with questions.
"See what?" I asked, looking at him over his shoulder and trying to keep my voice even.
"Just those storm clouds," He gestured to a few large grey and purple clouds up ahead, and on the right side. I don't think putting a "just" in front of "storm clouds" makes it any less intimidating.
"You don't think they could be trouble, do you?" Alpine shouted at us, over the sounds of rushing winds and bird wings, as they flew just above us. Odd, they were flying away from the clouds.
"Let's just hope they're dormant," I shivered, for once not excited to see my beloved clouds.
The rain came like a plague, and none were spared. In a matter of moments we were beneath the storm, and getting showered on as if we were swimming in it. The fog grew immensely around our feet, and crawled up our bodies as the mounts lost altitude, and it became difficult to see. The wind was knocking the Dragonhawks back and forth, so much so I thought they would give up and crash down, but they kept going. Somehow these humble creatures had diligence that rivalled that of many advanced races I know.
"Alpine," Kujajin shouted into the dense storm, "stay close!"
"I'm trying!" A reply came from far away, as if it was the sound of tree branches cracking across the woods.
Lightning clashed just a short while away, followed shortly after by groans of thunder bursting all around us. I almost screamed inadvertently, but instead hugged Kujajin tighter, despite myself. I hated thunder, and I hated flying. We continued through the storm, thrashing through the air until I felt a short sensation of falling, the one thing I did like, followed by leaves smacking into my arms. The beast shook us harshly off its back and flew away into the distance. We fell hard and landed onto the wet ground with more than a thud. My eyes shut tightly, locking out the storm. I just knew something like this would happen.
"Nasri, are you okay?" Kujajin's voice opened my eyes from close by my side. He must have thought I was asleep or something.
"Yeah…" I nodded grudgingly, sitting up, "where are we now?"
"If I am correct, I think we're somewhere in Strangethorn Vale." Kujajin informed me as he took another scan of the surroundings. The fog wasn't so thick for the most part around her, or perhaps it just looked different because we weren't moving.
"Yeah, looks like it to me." I agreed, knowing something about the climate here, "So that means we're almost there, at least, right?"
"I guess so, yes." He said, though it still sounded as though he was worried about something.
"What's wrong?" I asked curiously, I was at least somewhat calm, even though I had just fallen into a place I didn't know very well at all and was now sitting in the rain and mud.
"I don't know where Alpine and my sister are." He said, standing up from his crouched position at my side and looking around.
"W-what?" I asked in a small panic, standing up as well, though less gracefully.
"It's possible they found a safe place to land and wait it out." He went on, sounding like he was distancing himself from the severity of the situation, "but really I don't know."
"I-I'm sure they'll be okay." I assured him, and truly I was sure they would be fine. After all, Alpine wouldn't let anything happen to Votheilia, and he might have been a bit of a baby, but somehow I had confidence in him.
"I hope." Kujajin mumbled. He wasn't too good at showing how he felt about serious things like this, I found.
I leaned my back against a tree, sighing softly, feeling the warm air exhale from my mouth and sink into the cold breeze. It felt so good to just relax like this, though I still didn't feel content. Under the leaves and branches it was dry, but still cold, I wasn't completely soaked, luckily for me. Kujajin stood in front of me, flipping the droplets of rain from his hair with a quick toss. He looked over at me, with those heart-stopping green eyes of his.
"Are you cold?" He asked softly, and his voice melded with the pattering of the rain.
"Just a little." I actually admitted for once. Feeling my fingers turning pink slowly, I flexed them to try to keep circulation. They felt stiff and old.
"Well then," he reached out and took my hand in his, stroking the tops of my fingers with his thumb. He wasn't much warmer than I was, but then again, my fingers were so numb I don't think they could register heat correctly.
"Thanks…" I mumbled, watching the light white condensed air spread and disappear from my lips in front of me.
He took another few steps forward and looked at me straight in the eyes. That certainly froze me in place, if the cold didn't already. I was kinda caught off guard, and I had no idea what he was trying to pull. I'm not too good with guys getting all close and stuff. I mean, having guys as friends, that's easy, but when they start walking up real close with eyes like that, you know something different. And I'm really awkward in that kind of situation, I'll have you know. Damn, I was so caught up in my own mind I wasn't even paying attention to him.
I felt my face heat up again, though it may have just looked like my cheeks were red from the cold air. That's what I hoped anyway. See, I get really red really easily, it's very much a curse. His other hand found its way on to the side of my bright red tomato face. His fingers were just about as cold as mine, I noticed on my burning hot skin. He moved his face slowly closer, and I felt the heat of his breath on my lips, which were damp from the rain. For a moment I hesitated, almost allowing this, before coming to my senses.
I shoved him away from me harshly and spun away from the tree, standing between him and the rain. God, I was so mad I was panting and fuming. I kept a good distance from him. His brows furrowed as he looked at me, with a strange and curious look. I took a sharp breath before speaking again.
"What are you doing?" I said loudly, with stern force. Louder than I even noticed, for I all but screamed at him.
"Why did you pull away?" He ignored my question and asked one of his own.
"You can't," I was rather disoriented, "y-you can't do that." I told him, not even believing my own tone of voice as I spoke.
"Nasrina," He pressed on, stepping forward again.
"Stay back!" I took a step back, mirroring him, and continued slowly retreating from him.
"No," He spoke with gentle care, "why are you avoiding me?"
"Just stay away from me, like everyone else," I said irrationally, stepping backwards into the rain with the splash of a puddle on my foot, "Men are nothing but trouble, so just back off, all right."
"Why would I do that?" He continued towards me, into the wet air without a thought.
"Because then you can't hurt me," I shouted, a tear falling from my eye and mixing with the raindrops on my face. God, I hated when things got dramatic. I just wanted to hit myself.
"Nasri," He moved swiftly forward and put one hand on my waist and another on my chin. The rain poured all over us, moistening our skin and cooling my temper. His fingers were cold and rainy, but sent tingles down my spine regardless, "I'm not that kind of man."
He whispered so softly and sincerely it froze me to the ground again. In one fluent motion, he moved even closer and embraced me warmly. It was a feeling I really wasn't used to, and as such I tensed up right away. My shoulders were rigid and my body went stiff, but he hugged me anyway. I hadn't felt such kindness since the falseness of Hejan. But this felt different, somehow. I felt the rain slide down my cheeks and drip off my nose and chin. My eyelids gave in slowly and fell over my glazed, stinging eyes. I slowly reached up and returned the hug, as best my trembling arms could muster.
"You're not a man at all," I murmured a joke into his shoulder, "Elfboy."
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Preview of Next Chapter:
"How long is this boat ride?" I asked suddenly.
"The captain said it would take a long few hours to get back to Booty Bay for the next ride," he reminded me, "so probably just a couple hours, we should be arriving soon."
I groaned and lay back down on the cot. I didn't like spending hours just sitting around. It wasn't my kind of thing; I would rather be out training myself or something cliché like that. I folded my arms behind my head and swung one leg over the other, bouncing it up and down impatiently. I just then noticed that my shoulder could move in such a way, and supposed that it was doing well. Magic is a crazy thing, it really is.
"So what do we do, then?" I asked in a bored tone, staring at the ceiling with drooping eyes.
"I can think of one thing we can do," He trailed off.
"..." My mind wandered around about what he meant by that, causing heat to rise back to my face. I bit my lip lightly as to not start yelling at him.
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