Straydog Saga

Flea 23: The Gem That's Truly Outrageous

Thrall grunted in his concentration. The energy that flowed from his tough green fingers, streamed pure and clean, into the massive gem. The troll shaman, Jango, stood nearby, tossing an occasional cooling spell to his leader's sweat-soaked form before turning back to his work.

"Are you alright? You can rest a while if you're tired." Violetina spoke in perfect orcish, a language that had graced her mouth for hundreds of years before she ever saw a human thanks to curious orc-children and innocent exchange. Thrall slowly turned to face his fellow shaman, whose own arms trembled under the weight of her spell work. Thrall felt an uncomfortable twinge zap through him. The draenei woman, whose youthful appearance gleefully masked her matronly age, looked to Thrall with honest concern in her glowing eyes. The dreadful feeling began to solidify in his veins. What his people had done, the sins of his father's generation seemed to roll off of her kind features, despite having lived through the horrific genocide. Vengeance never seemed to reach her even as the demon-tainted green-skinned monsters marched on, continuing the torture of her kind long after paving the path of glory with their sun-bleached bones. He gave a husky sigh and shook his head before replying in his second tongue.

"I am well; we will take a break soon." He gave a thankful nod and returned to his silent concentration. The massive stone before him gently hummed as its warders draped the protection of the elements around its shining mass like a safety blanket. The occasional soft light would offer some strange comfort before disappearing within a jagged edge as the gem slowly spun in place. When the shamans' arms began to buckle under the constant stream of energy they lost their concentration and reached for their usual sweat rags.

"How long we gunna be doin dese wards? My arms be da size 'ah tree trunks." Jango snorted as he moved his bulging arms to flex. Thelma softly laughed and shook her auburn-haired head as Jango winced from the jolt of pain in his upper body.

"Archmange Romulus will analyze our progress at the end of the week and we'll go from there. But for now, I think we all need a well-deserved drink." Thrall sighed. He led his team from the massive gem as the tightly woven branches of the Pinnacle Bough began to unravel, granting them passage into the less secure parts of the upper bough. Thrall cleared his throat and looked to the violet skinned draenei.

"Violet, may I speak to you in private for a moment?" He asked in orcish. She slowly nodded as the pair splintered from the rest of the shamans who seemed more concerned about finding a good place to cool their try tongues. The pair made their way to a secluded spot, away from the huddled clusters of priests and druids, before their conversation commenced.

"I'm concerned about something." Thrall confided to the honest-eyes Violet in a quiet tone. His old blue eyes darted around the small area, in case there were extra ears taking in his thoughts. Violetina tilted her head for a moment.

"What is it that is troubling you, sir?"

"You know the tree's warden from before, correct?" The question seemed to catch the shaman off guard. After a few moments of mental grasping, she held a response to her lips.

"Y-Yes. We met in Draenor, many years ago, why?" Violetina seemed cautious about the question, eyes casting their own query back to the elder orc.

"I see. I know she and Archmage Nightgaze were principle in killing the night elf betrayer. It is why I allowed our team to stay here so long. But something isn't right about this; tell me you've felt it too." Thrall spoke, eyes transfixed on an increasingly uncomfortable Violet.

"The energy of the gem is quite imposing, but anything sinister? I do not." She nervously smiled. Her twitching tail and slightly shaking eyes were not lost on her superior.

"Is there something you wish to tell me?"

"What do you mean?" She did her best to stay steady. What did Thrall know, what did he see or hear that would make him ask such a question. The secrets of her noble heart, things spoken in confidence could never be uttered, even if someone as great and as important as Thrall were to ask. His eyes seemed to cut through her like a fierce ray of light.

"I knew from the moment that we arrived that this place was filled with chaotic magic. I expected there to be some…anomalies. But this gem they're asking us to ward is something different. Did she ever mention its purpose to you?"

"Erm, Ori did say it was like a power dump. It sucks the raw energies out and purifies them to make sure there are no magical explosions and things like that. Lord Thrall, I know Ori very, very well. She would not go out of her way to hurt anyone, especially not with magic."

"I never said she would. And what you said is what I was told as well. But if that is the case, and it is truly rendering the energies innate then why must it then be warded? Something…smells amiss." Thrall shook his head and guided his vision and thoughts to the birch floor. His intuition rarely led him astray, aside from one glaring oversight that caused his most trusted friends to question his sanity and nearly splintered the Horde for good. But something gnawed at Thrall's gut like a slow worm. Something in those shining rays reflected from the massive stone seemed to speak to him and the words were different from ones spoken from mortals.

"I'm sorry sir; I'm not sure what to say. I-I haven't noticed a thing. Maybe I'm just not as perceptive as you think I am." Violetina spoke, trying to keep her voice from quivering like a leaf in the breeze.

"You don't need to say anything, Violet. I did not mean to sound accusatory. It could be my imagination…just keep your eyes and ears open." Thrall smiled giving the slender shaman a reassuring pat on the shoulder. She nervously smiled and gave a nod.

"I understand you just want to be cautious. This sort of power, even harmless power, in the hands of evil ones can be a danger. But I can say, with all my heart, that we have nothing to fear." She spoke with a solid tone. Thrall gave a half relieved sigh as he led his fellow shaman to the main path.

"You're probably right. I've found I'm quite quick to suspicion in my old age."

"Suspicion, wisdom? The are the same, I think." She smiled, a slight spring returning to her clacking step. When the reached the others they were greeted by several empty grog glasses and three bursting smiles.

"What's that one do?" Pashima asked as she pointed to a large gnarled claw adorned with colorful Senegal feathers. Ima finished chewing on a bit of bear bacon before replying.

"That fetish wards against sad thoughts. It's a parrot claw so it's supposed to grab your sorrows and make them fly away." Ima informed, remembering the day her mother taught her how to make if fondly. Herbert, the dancing Dryad's Delight plant, seemed to make a small yawning noise from atop Ima's orange-locked head before cuddling deeper into the fluffy depths. Ima smiled and reached to softly stroke its petals which were slowly changing color.

"Interesting. Ew! How about that one?" Pashima's investigating hand moved to point to another elaborate creation made of bat wings, a piece of naga spine, and a griffon's beak.

"That's a black-claw ward. Its supposed to protect us from night creatures and it also helps ward against possession."

"Oh I see. Can I have one?" Pashima innocently asked, before taking a sip of conjured cranberry juice. The colorful and finely made fetishes were like pieces of candy to her childish vision. "I don't mean to be greedy, they're just all so pretty!"

"Y-You like them? Sure pick out whichever one you like." Ima chirped with a spring in her voice. She had never met a non troll whose eyes marveled with such brightness at her crafting.

"Do either of you girls want another piece of bear bacon? Last call." Meryld informed from the small kitchen area while tossing a piece of bear bacon in an old but clean cooking skillet.

"No thanks Miss Meryld. I'm full. You might want to save some for the others when they wake up though." Ima laughed. Pashima nodded her head in agreement. Meryld gave a small smile before placing the last of the defrosted meat onto the skillet and leaving it on the small black stove before heading up the creaky staircase. As Pashima's hand moved over the small pile of fetishes her eyes focused one of them with a gasp. She pulled the blood red stone, encased in a gold setting with a long golden necklace chain attached from the pile of fetishes and began marveling at its brilliance. Ima gasped and reached for the object.

"Not that one!" She hesitated for a moment, stopping herself from talon-gripping the object out of Pashima's hands. Pashima pulled it away and buried it against her chest for a moment, eyes pleading to allow her to investigate further.

"What is it?"

"It's a gift, from someone really important to me. Have you heard of Archmage Romulus Redmane?" Ima asked, voice quivering at the mention of her idol. Pashima shook her head with no hint of excitement or emotion in her semi-pouting face.

"Who's he?"

"Only the most awesome, kind hearted, and weirdly handsome mage who ever lived!" Ima did her best not to squeak as she spoke.

"Is he a troll like you?" Pashima asked with an idle finger putting itself to work twirling one of her long pigtails.

"No, he's a human. I mean no offense to humans or anything but they're all small and flat-nosed and well, not my type. But I'd SO go pinky for Lord Romulus. He's just the best." Ima gushed extending her three-fingered hand to collect the glittering ruby. Pashima reluctantly gave the artifact up. Ima held it close to her chest with a blush coming over her full blue cheeks.

"So what makes him the best?" Pashima pouted, crossing her arms with a confused huff. Ima's eyes gained a wetness about them but no tears came as her mind slipped into rose-colored memories.

"Lord Romulus is the whole reason I'm a proper mage at a proper school. The mages at Dalaran won't accept someone like me so I um…acquired some special materials to make a potion that would make me look like a human so I could apply and study there. My proportions were a little off and I ended up a gnome, but it still worked and I got in. But just as I was about to set foot into my first class, Lord Romulus stopped me. He pulled me aside said "your tusks are showing miss!" I'll never forget that."

Ima paused to fully remember the scene. She used all of her sagely self control to keep from giggling as the image of his strong jaw and soft blue eyes came into her mind's vision.

"He said my potion work was impressive for someone with no formal schooling but any of the elder mages would be able to tell something was wrong with me. So he used his strong magic to better fortify my appearance. He said the potion and his booster spell would eventually wear off so he gave me a list of better quality ingredients to make a stronger potion next time, one that would only take a little bit of extra warding, which I can do myself. When I left to get summer work to pay for the reagents, or you know travel around to find them, he gave me this pretty jewel as a good luck charm. I'm certain it has some kind of charm or ward on it, but it's so subtle I can't really tell." Ima said, resisting the urge to cuddle it to her bosom. Pashima tilted her head, eyes seeming only slightly impressed by the tale.

"Sounds like a nice man." The young draenei shrugged as her eyes whipped to one of the smaller fetishes. It was made of broken dragon scales that seemed to shimmer different hues of red, blue and violet. The scales were tied together using thin gold-colored wire and made for an attractive bracelet. "This one!" She plucked it from the pile and, with a big smile, worked her hand through the jingling bracelet.

"It suits you!" Ima smiled as she placed her own treasure around her neck before putting the charms back in their usual hip bag.

Meanwhile, Meryld found the top of the creaky old steps to be deserted. She stopped to look around for a moment, old ears straining to hear faint sounds of the living within the slumbering hallway. She came to the first door and gave a gentle knock. She moved it open slightly, eyes to the floor in case the room's occupant was in an awkward state of dress.

"F-Bomb?" She asked, lifting her eyes when the sound of nothingness reached her. She found the room completely empty and shrugged making her way to the next room, figuring that the middle-aged goblin had slinked off to town or to the hot spring. She followed suit with the next room. A small, amused smile came to her face as the sound of medium volume snores drifted in the mid morning air. Draped in monstrously colorful bed sheets, a comforter, and what looked like lavishly decorated shams, were a pair of slumbering but fully clothed elves. She took another step in to view the rare sight, familiar warmth entering her old heart. Chris was on his back, legs hanging over the side of the bed with Shandori, crumpled up in a fetal position beside him with one arm draped across his chest. Meryld shook her head, toying with the idea of waking them but decided to allow their sleepy hearts to enjoy the caring moment the waking world would surely destroy. She closed the door as quietly as she could before coming to the final room. She gave the same gentle knock but did not open the door.

"Lady Shadowsong, are you awake?" A weak moan was her reply. "Lady Shadowsong?" Meryld hesitated a moment, not wanting to disturb her fellow elder but something in the weak moans that seemed to come with every breath caused her arms to tremble. She quickly opened the door to see the once proud and lithe huntress and warden crumpled onto the floor. Meryld rushed to her side, smoothing Maiev's hair for a moment and checking for any signs of injury.

"Maiev, what happened?"

"F-Fell…" Maiev coughed. An apparition in the night ran its clawed hands on her dreams. She tried to fight the night-terror but its grip was too strong and she felt her breath leave her. Her physical soreness and her aging muscles cried out as she fell onto the floor with a sickening thud. The chill of the night caused her whole body to tremble.

"Can you stand?"

"I-I don't…don't know."

"Wiggle your toes for me." Meryld calmly but firmly asked. Maiev managed to comply despite the numbness in her tiny appendages from the cold. When Meryld saw the movement beneath Maiev's worn socks she moved to scoop up the taller elf. What would have taken a few seconds in her brown haired days; she felt the sweat began to form beneath her grey brow. "Damn, I'm too old for this." Meryld sighed and as much as it made her growl in annoyance she allowed her human form to shift into her more lupine appearance. She lifted Maiev up with less strain and began walking her to the door. The smell of over cooked bear bacon assaulted them both. When Meryld got Maiev to the bottom of the steps Meryld shouted to the pair of youngsters to tend to the potential mess while she made her way to the back door. The brisk air caused Meryld's gray fur to stiffen as she did her best to both cover Maiev's shivering form and pull her along towards the refreshing hot spring.

"I-I think I can walk." Maiev's pride swelled as her feet struggled to support her. The pain in her legs and back caused her to wince with every excruciating step.

"The spring will fix you right up. Me and F-bomb spent a few hours there the other day, didn't prune up or anything…well not like I can get any more prune-like…" The small joke brought a smile to Maiev's face.

"Age is a terrible thing…" She sighed, eyes darting too and from the grey fur and wrinkled skin beneath her companion's youthful resolve. Since the night elves lost their immortality, the eldest among them felt the lost in their joints, skin, and failing organs.

"It's not so bad. Sure you look like an old sack, your bones break, muscles cease up on you, joints explode when it snows or rains, things that stayed in one place shift around like an old tarp…"

"And there's an up side in there somewhere?"

"I'm getting to it! I'm getting to it…" Meryld chuckled, pulling Maiev's arm a little further over her broad back to straighten the stumbling night elf. "I'd rather be old and smart than young and stupid. Take those two elf-kids for example. I want smack some sense into them sometimes." Meryld rolled her eyes and motioned with her muzzle back towards the cabin.

"What about them?"

"They need to get it done and over with."

"I do not follow." Maiev spoke with a raised brow was Meryld struggled to focus on the path before her and think of the appropriate words.

"You see how they act with each other. It was cute at first but now it's just annoying to watch." Meryld snorted. Old memories, long left dusty and rotting in her mind seemed to shake to life. Meryld closed her eyes tight and willed them away.

"Romance between Kaldorei and Sin'dorei is an abomination. They know that. You cannot expect them to act so freely. Would you if the person you had affection for was, was an orc?" Maiev shook her head, doing her best not to stumble in the snowy path.

"No, he wasn't an orc…" Meryld sighed as the sight of the small hill that marked the hot spring's location put a little more spring in her step.

"Oh?"

"Let's just say I was young and stupid with a man too. Well several men…but that one in particular didn't work out too well. Ah, we're almost there." Meryld grunted, shifting Maiev in her grip. When the hot spring's steamy pools came into view, a small green spec in a yellow bikini was there to greet them.

"Hey you two! Took ya long enough." F-Bomb smiled, raiding what looked like a glass of tropical drink adorned with a pine apple and cherry umbrella.

"Good morning, F-Bomb. Where'd you get that?" Meryld asked, helping Maiev into a sitting position.

"That's a secret that ain't worth sharin'. I can get you a glass if ya want though." She smirked as she took a long sip through a bright pink curly straw. Meryld shook her head.

"Not THIS early in the morning. Where are the towels? Maiev here needs a dip."

"In the shack where they always are. It's open." F-Bomb said, motioning to a small, dilapidated structure that seemed more like an outhouse than a storage shed. The three older women enjoyed a morning of relaxation and promised rejuvenation as Maiev's aching muscles and the hidden injuries seemed to wash away with the bubbling clear water.

Romulus didn't know whether to smile or cry. The roots dug their way into his person, encasing him in a wooden shell. Though, as they always seemed to, the terrible rips and tears in his flesh healed but they left great bruises behind. When he returned to his sleeping quarters, his usual perfumed entourage was there to greet him. His first lover, a lovely blond human woman named Undel, rushed to prepare a hot bath while his second and third lovers, a pair of pale blue-haired night elf twins named Duelle and Twana, carefully helped him undress. The last of his lovers, a gorgeous red haired Quel'dorei girl named Kat, readied herself in his bed.

"Who did this to you?" Duelle asked with worry and fright in her vibrant-glowing eyes.

"Never mind. Help Undel with the bath." He softly commanded. Duelle bowed her head in apparently apology as she scurried off towards the bath. Kat watched with a small frown as Romulus kicked the remains of his fine red robes away, nearly nudging Twana as she moved to collect them. "I'm sorry." He sighed.

"No my love, you didn't mean it." Twana smiled as she gathered the fallen garments.

"Would you like me to join you?" Kat asked with no hint of emotion in her rose-silk voice. Romulus paused for a moment before giving a small snort.

"If you can keep your hands to yourself. I'm a bit sore tonight." He smirked and began walking into the lavishly decorated bath area. The bath itself was far larger than many seen in the homes of Mydrassil. Not even Orifiel with her post and standing had a bath pool that was large enough for four. Undel rushed to apply the various sweet smelling bath oils and remedies as Romulus touched his big toe to the water.

"It's too cold, please make it a little warmer." He gently commented, causing Undel to move forward with incredible speed to adjust the hot water knob. Duelle, all the while, watched as she reached into a small cabinet and prepared a pair of fine clean robes upon their exit.

"Picky tonight, aren't we?" Kat crossed her arms and gave a bitter smirk to her shared lover. He did not move to reply. When the water was to his liking, Romulus and Kat entered the soothing water, leaving the other three to tend to their beloved's laundry.

"I'm really not in the mood for your attitude tonight, Kat." Romulus sighed, entering the bath and allowing the water to rise just above his waste.

"Then you should choose one of your more…dutiful concubines to bathe with you." Kat suggested with a slight sneer, softly tracing a long slender finger across his taught shoulder. Her soft pink lips and pale blue eyes were intoxicating and even the surly-mooded Romulus began to soften in their wake.

"They're better served with domestic tasks for now. It would be rude of me not to pay attention to my latest addition, would it not?" Romulus asked, reaching for his favorite soft-scrubber. Kat stopped the motion, lightly gripping his wrist before claiming the object for herself. His brow furrowed at her insolence but the heat within from her lurid actions with the scrubber quickly cut through the outrage.

"I suppose that's true. Mother would not be pleased with me if she thought I didn't perform my duties adequately." Kat dryly spoke as she washed herself.

"Please don't talk about her while you're doing that." Romulus shook his head and claimed a lesser cleaning towel and washed the sweat from his face.

"I'm sorry, making you uncomfortable am I?" She said moving a little closer to her lover. Romulus, despite his previous warning, made no motion to move away.

When their time in the sinful bath was done, Romulus and Kat rejoined the three other women and prepared for bed. The three women tended to Romulus's grooming needs, brushing through his long red main, trimming his facial hair, clipping his finger and toe nails, among other hygienic tasks. Kat merely dried herself off, styled her own hair accordingly and took her usual place in bed. She faced away from the activity, blue eyes lazily scanning the surface of the nightstand beside her. A soft red hum from within the top drawer brought her attention to full focus. She slowly moved to open the dark wood dresser drawer to find bright red light bursting form within.

"What is that?" Romulus moved to turn, causing Twana to hurry in her comb-work. He saw Kat sitting, robe removed, in his bed with a small red-gem necklace in her soft hand. "By the Titans!" Romulus moved, shifting his robe as he walked to where the sensual elf sat. She moved to show him the gem with a raised brow as he quickly took it from her grasp. After a few moments of magical scanning, a great, white-toothed grin came to his face.

"Finally, she took it out of that damn bag, haha!" Romulus cheered with a loud clap, careful not to catch his palm on the intricate metal frame on the setting.

"Who?"

"The one who's going to get our plans back on track…"