ALL STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLIED HERE.
Thanks for the reviews I have received so far. The people that read and enjoy my story are the reason I continue to post. If it wasn't for you, I would just keep this gem to myself.
Am back for another installment. While working on this chapter, began to realize that I was trying to put too much into one chapter, so her is the first part. Hopefully I can have the rest of in a few days. Hope everyone enjoys it.
Will try to add more on a regular basis but updates may be sporadic sometimes as inspiration strikes. I am not sure what will happen with this story, it is writing itself, I am just the conduit that tells it to everyone. Again I hope you all enjoy.
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Chapter 8
Time passes as it always does regardless of the wishes of people. Cat and I began to travel together, moving from place to place doing work for one person or another but always together. During the day we would be found out in the wild subduing one thing or another or gathering this or that. At night we could be found tangled together whether in an inn or beneath the stars, pushing each other to new heights of pleasure.
Typically we would do work that only required the two of us to complete but on occasion, we would find ourselves grouped with other adventurers to take on larger jobs. It is one of these jobs that find us traveling through Forsaken lands on our way to the Scarlet Monastery.
Scarlet Monastery is headquarters of a group of extremists known as the Scarlet Crusade. The Scarlet Crusade is waging a war against Sylvanus and her Undead and anyone else that they deem to not be "pure" in their minds. Our group has been tasked with entering the monastery and to make our way to the library where we are to gather any information of importance as well as to eliminate any opposition along the way.
Our group met up in the town of Southshore and from there we would travel northward to where the Scarlet Monastery resides at. Throughout the days that followed while we traveled, our group got to know one another some. Besides me and Cat, the group comprised of a mage, priest and a paladin.
The mage, a student of Jaina Proudmoore she tells us, is one Contessa Honeywell, but everyone calls her Honey for short cause of her honey blond hair. Knowledgable in all magic known to mages, Honey is especially adept at controlling fire.
Like Cat, the priest is a Night Elf as well. She is mysterious some in that all that she will say is that her name is Peches. As we travel, I notice a slight resemblance between Cat and Peches but attribute it to them both being Night Elves. Peches does seem to enjoy the company of the fifth member of the group, Ryan Nightwulff.
Ryan Nightwulff embodies everything that a paladin should be. Night, as he prefers to be called, is quick to help others in need and is willing to place himself in front of others to keep them from harm. His calm, carefree manner hides a readiness that is there at a moment's notice.
Having not seen many humans up close and for this long, I find myself watching Night and Honey. Neither one seems bothered in the least by being grouped members of other races. In fact they are quite comfortable.
Talk flows freely amongst everyone as miles pass beneath our feet. No one appear concerned about the upcoming task at hand though thoughts about it can be read in each other's eyes. At night, everyone compares stories and experiences in hopes of learning something from the other. As the fire dies down, we each get comfortable in our bedrolls. Cat and I have our bedrolls next to each other and share a blanket that we curl up together under. The other three have theirs spread out around the hot coals.
As we settle in, Cat leans close to whisper in my ear, "Poor Honey, I feel a bit sorry for her."
"What do you mean?" I whisper back as I roll on my back to look at Cat.
"She feels left out," Cat says.
"How can that be? She is included in everything, no one is ignoring her."
"That isn't what I mean," Cat elaborates. "You and I have each other and Night and Peches have themselves. Honey has no one."
"But Night and Peches are just companions cause we are grouped up for this job," I counter.
"This is true," Cat agrees. "They don't know it yet, but they are attracted to each other. If you watch, you can see little things here and there including how they position their bedrolls. They haven't realized it yet but I can tell there is an attraction there."
"How can you be sure?" I ask. "Them placing their bedrolls could just be coincidence."
"The scent coming from each of them can't be faked. It tells me everything even if they don't know it," she explains.
"Then what shall we do about Honey?"
"There isn't much more we can do unless you wish for her to join us," Cat mentions.
I ponder Cat's words for just a moment. "I don't think I could share you with anyone."
Cat smiles and leans towards me, kissing me lightly and passionately on the lips. Breaking the kiss, we settle into a deeper embrace and drift off to sleep. As sleep over takes me, my thought turn to how to include Honey and keep her from feeling lonely without including her completely.
Continuing our journey the next day, I begin to chat with Honey much more as does Cat. Cat and I bounce around from person to person talking with each as we traverse the pathways. As evening falls, the group goes through what has become a routine evening for everyone once we stop to set up camp.
Now that we have begun to enter areas of land controlled by Sylvanus, our evening fires are kept to a minimum and we also begin to take turns on watch throughout the night. Times that me and Honey replace one another for watch, I take some time to talk to her some more and keep her included. Cat has even commented that what we are doing is helping with Honey's loneliness.
Finally, after many days of travel, we come in sight of our destination. It is decided that we will backtrack a short distance to set up a base camp and to give ourselves time to rest before we go in. As Cat is the only one of us able to stealth around, she sets off to find out what she can about guard positions and shift sizes and when they change. Meanwhile, the rest of us set up camp in a small glade that is well hidden by thick undergrowth.
The rest of the day passes quietly and as evening darkens the already gloomy sky, Cat still has not returned and I begin to worry. I volunteer to take the first watch of the night since I know I won't be able to sleep until Cat is back and safe.
Hours pass and I let Night continue to sleep instead of waking him for his turn. As I sit there staring at the cooling coals in the fire pit, I feel something furry nuzzling my shoulder. Looking back over my shoulder, I am greeted by a pair of amber, feline eyes staring at me. Startled, I spin around and try to scramble backwards from the large cat. In the process of backing up, I end up lying on my back with the panther standing above me. As I lay there not moving, the large cat leans its head down and starts to nuzzle my cheek and neck.
"Why are you running from me?" the cat purrs.
"Cat?"
A quick shimmer and there is Catalya leaning over top of me. "Yes dear, it is just me."
Quickly my emotions overcome me and I launch myself up towards her, wrapping my arms around her. My momentum pushes Cat backwards and we tumble over to where I am now above her. I kiss her deeply, thankful she is back.
"Oh Cat you're back. Are you okay? Did anything happen? What took you so long?" I stammer out the questions.
"I am fine Viv. Nothing happened, I stayed this long to see as much as possible," Cat explains.
"I am glad to have you back," I reply. "Promise to never scare me again like that alright."
"I am sorry I startled you so much but I saw you sitting there and just had the urge to nuzzle up against you."
"I would have let you; you didn't have to sneak up on me like that," I say with a bit of a scolding tone. "Now you go rest and I will join you as soon as I wake Night up." I give her a quick kiss on the lips before getting up and moving over to wake Night. Once he is up and set, I crawl under the blankets with Cat, who is already asleep. Smiling, I curl up against her and drift off to sleep as well.
Morning comes and rouses the group awake. Over breakfast, Cat recounts what she had seen and learned while she prowled around the monastery. Having spent most of the previous day and half the night, Cat was able to familiarize the group with the layout of the grounds by sketching in the dirt. She then proceeded to relay guard positions on her sketch as well as quantity. By her accounts, the quantity of guards stationed is fewer over night versus during the day.
As we mull over the information, Night gets up and moves closer to Cat's drawing and looks at it closely. He moves around it, looking from different angles at it.
"We will come in from the north," Night says. "Fewer guards on this side cause of the hills. A large force would have difficulty moving through them but a small group should be able to pass unnoticed."
Everyone nods in agreement, it is a sound plan.
"But we are on the southeast side of the monastery," Honey points out after a bit. "How are we going to come in from the north?"
"Just before dusk, we will start to circle around and continue to the north side through the dark," Night explains. "Then after shift change, we will move in. There is the same number of guards stationed on that side during the day as there is at night. This will give us a plenty of time to complete our task. From what Cat says, there are not very many people coming and going from the library.
Now everyone get some rest and spend the rest of the day getting ready. We are going to travel light so we can move quickly so only bring what you need to complete the mission. Everything else we will leave here and recover it afterwards."
With that, we each move off with our own thoughts to occupy ourselves. Night and I both settle down to sharpen our weapons, him his sword and me my axes. Peches and Honey make sure they both have adequate potions available for their use. Cat sets to hiding the un-needed gear in the bushes so no one can stumble across it accidentally.
Once gear and packs are in readiness, we all try to relax and get as much rest as possible. No one is able to sleep with thoughts of the impending task ahead. Dinner is eaten quietly and without the usual conversation.