**Try not'a snack too much while reading, eh?
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.
-x0x-
Of Humans and the Horde (Working Title):
Chapter 1: Four Fighting Foes
My lips moved back and forth against each other, and I might have though that I groaned or grumbled, if I thought very much at all. My head rolled a bit, and all I could really register was the fact that I was wiggling my toes. It was about all I could muster, given that I could barely feel anything, and what I could feel, well, hurt. I could hear though, but I couldn't comprehend words very well. I just heard distant mumbling, two voices, one closer, and one farther. The closer one spoke again, and this time, I might have understood it.
"Wake up, Human." Were the first words that rung through my aching head.
I didn't recognize the voice at all; in fact it seemed more than foreign to me. I groaned, squeezing my eyes together to keep from registering my surroundings. I didn't want to wake up, I just wanted to go back to sleep and wait this out. This horrible aching, this numbness, this disorientation. Finally, my eyes cracked open and I groggily looked up at the large Orc standing over me. That was never the sight one wanted when waking up, I'd wager. His big angry frown, his irritable eyes, I could just tell this guy wasn't Mr. Popularity.
"Ugh…" I couldn't formulate a word at first, but I managed to push out the most obvious question one could ask, "who are you?" I asked, just now noting the somewhat familiar feeling of shackles gripping my wrists raw above my head.
"What, you don't fucking recognize me, wench?" He grinned and cocked his head, his big, fat, square head. We were just going to get along so great. Right.
"You'd think I would," I started raspingly, "someone as ugly as you is sure to leave an impression," I remarked, still raising myself.
"You haven't changed, I guess," He growled before squatting down to my level, for I was sitting on the ground, "You sure you don't recognize me?"
He took my chin with his oversized hands and looked me dead in the eyes. Guys always did that, touched you when you didn't want to be touched. But still, I looked closer, and yet I couldn't identify him. Not in the slightest. I wondered what kind of relation I may have had to this oaf, and I hoped he was even less than an acquaintance. I was silent, innocently observing his darting eyes as they traced mine for recognition, which they were without. He growled again and ripped his hand away from me, almost pouting. I was at least amused by that.
"Kharn'A'Lei," A deeper voice addressed the man before me, "Quit playing with the woman." I looked up to the speaker, registering him as a rather influential guy, but nothing more than that. "Viola, that's what they call you, isn't it?" He bent down to me beside this Kharn'A'Lei fellow. My alias, he spoke of. Though he didn't seem know that it was anything less than my name, which I was glad about. I didn't like people knowing my name.
"Yes," I nodded, glad someone had manners at least, even though I myself cannot boast of such things, "but how do you know that?" I stared at him suspiciously, in confusion.
"Oh this worked perfectly," He grinned at me, looking me over a bit, though I squirmed beneath his gaze, "I knew that hit on the head would be a good idea." I was quiet as he went on, "And the Year's Lost Sip was not a terrible addition, we may thank our potion brewers for that."
"The… the what?" I asked, cocking my head reaching to touch my scalp. I don't remember drinking anything strange, either. Can't imagine I would.
"Poor dear," The Orc shook his head as if he was sympathetic at all, "You don't remember anything, do you?"
"No," I confirmed, somewhat carefully, for I really didn't know. Odd thing is, when you forget something, you can't remember that you forgot it. I felt rising resentment bubbling up in my chest. Whatever they had done to me, it must have been bad.
"Exactly." He chuckled, seemingly amused or proud, "You don't remember me at all, is that so?"
"No, I don't," I muttered again, becoming frustrated with his smugness. I felt as though he were making fun of me, or something.
"Well," He stood up tall and towered over me, "I am Warchief Thrall."
"Thrall," I recognized the name, "Warchief of the mighty, mighty Horde," I mocked a deeper voice than my own and smiled at that, at least he was vaguely known to me, "Pleasure to make your acquaintance, though I'd hardly call it that since apparently it looks like I'm more of a prisoner than anything else."
"Indeed." Thrall gave me a rather serious look then, before turning his back to me, "Now, I've some business to attend to, I was pushing it by waiting for you to wake up. But of course, I couldn't resist that," He glanced back at me, though that other Orc didn't seem to notice, "Needed to know everything was in order."
"What do you mean by that?" I questioned, though I had some idea.
"I know it seems somewhat underhanded, to take your memory away from you," I thought so too, "But I find that the best way to motivate is with emotions. Take those out of the picture, and you're an ideal prisoner. No threat of rebellion, no need."
"Don't want a rebellion, eh, then why didn't you just kill me?" I quirked an eye brow, he must at least know much enough about me to comprehend that I was never an ideal prisoner.
"I couldn't," He said simply, and both me and Kharn'A'Lei looked over at him strangely, "What good would that do? As a man of my word, I need you alive." I could at least give him credit for that. "Besides," He was quieter, "You're not that easy to kill."
"What," I shrugged sceptically, "A little more poison, a sharp dagger, even a pillow- us Humans are pretty squishy deep down."
"Seems so," He smiled a bit at me, then turned to the other Orc, "Kharn'A'Lei," He perked up to his name, "Watch the hostage until he arrives."
"Yes sir." The other Orc obliged, standing and saluting Thrall as he left.
Who was this 'he' that Thrall mentioned? Must have been someone important, I assumed. Too important for a name, anyway. Thrall was out the door before I finished pondering that, and with him left any remnant of familiarity. Without even a name to know, I was kind of, well, lost. I puffed a bit of a laugh, breaking the silence with a stupid noise.
"What was he goin' on about, hit on the head?" I pretended I wasn't as confused as I was, "Pfft, What did I do to deserve that?" I snorted, trying to pry information.
"None of your fucking concern, cunt." He snapped, sitting on the opposite side of the room. He was certainly a vulgar one, jeez.
"Hey now, what's that about?" I muttered, raising an eyebrow. To be honest, I was a little outright shocked by that little outburst. Hadn't much been expecting it, was all.
"Fucking bitch," He retorted, hacking.
"Shovel-face." I added, though less than spitefully. It was like a conversation, you have to keep it going.
"Slut." He stated, almost stimulated by the attention.
"I'm about ready to turn my mature filter on." I murmured, effectively thwarting his insult rant.
We were both quiet, staring at each other, before we both sighed and fell silent. I wasn't in much of a position to talk right now anyway, even if my head was filled with questions. It was like waking up in the middle of a dream, because it didn't really seem all that true, and as such I didn't feel obliged to make an effort to liberate myself from the situation. Not at first, anyway. After a couple minutes of heavily awkward silence, the Orc yawned and relaxed against a wall. I took the opportunity to observe my situation more carefully, for I was slowly becoming aware that time was moving rather slowly, as often it did in the real world. I had an inkling that this may have been reality, after all, though the thought was a less than comforting sentiment. I was tied to this, really tall stone wall, and I'm pretty sure it was the only wall that had a window on it. Of course, they'd have it so I couldn't even enjoy looking outside. My arms were shackled together, by the wrists, and my feet were tied with a thick rope. All in all, a pretty shitty situation.
I noticed that I was still in my armour. I found that, at least, comforting. If I were in this kind of situation in rags or something, I don't think I could be the least bit confident. I would feel like a completely different person. I took a look at this, this strange armour. I don't remember having earned it, I must have forgotten that too. Brutal Gladiator's Vestments, I think it was called. Damn, I was already hating this amnesia thing. Last I remember I was in my Assassination Armour, what the hell.
That Orc was watching me as I looked myself over, and that made me significantly less comfortable, even under this skin of leather and metal. Boy, I was having a hard time feeling at ease in this place. He gave me a look, the kind of look you give someone who's somehow beneath you, like, less that worth the glance. It was conceited, condescending and demeaning. I hated when people did that. I would have spat in his eye, had he been closer. Actually, I wished he was closer so that I might have been able to, I really did.
"I wonder if your fucking boyfriend's gonna come and get you," He teased, though it didn't work without my recognition of such a thing.
"My," I pondered the word, "boyfriend? I don't have a boyfriend." I replied surely, not pleased by the slimy sensation I got when he spoke the word. It just didn't work with me, that word. It sounded almost like a paedophile has spoken it.
"What about that Kujajin guy?" He asked, turning his head and scratching under his patchy, stubbly chin. Must have had a flea.
"Koo…jah…gin?" I sounded it out, "Is that Orcish? Is that supposed to mean something to me?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at the guy.
"Wait a minute, you don't remember him at all?" His eyes widened with a smile, before he laughed at me, raising his chin.
Again, that goddamn condescending glare. It made my skin crawl, that damn Orc and his goddamn eyes. Those yellowish, cowardly eyes. I bet he wouldn't have been saying that kind of shit if I hadn't been tied up. I would have showed him something funny, boy I know it. His damn eyes were making me really pissed off. I wanted to spit in them again, I really would have, if he was closer. I swear.
"What's it to you; you prick." I growled this time, looking away, knowing that any more insolence would only urge him on.
"Fuck; touchy, touchy." He shook his head and clicked his tongue in a disappointed way. Like he was my damn father of something.
"…" I frowned at that, just trying my hardest not to bark at him or something.
"And you don't remember me, either…" He spoke, presumably to himself, mostly because I was pretending not to listen, "That's for the best, I mean, you and I didn't really get along all that well." He snickered, as if somehow it would impress me that he was that difficult to get along with. That kind of stuff really gives me a pain, when guys like him think it's cool or impressive to be disliked. That's just something that rubs me wrong, really wrong.
"Oh, and we're just best friends right now, is that it?" I retorted, with a fake kind of smile.
"Funny." He snorted at that.
Just then, that door that Thrall had left through creaked open, and two more beings entered the room. They were bickering angrily and walked over to Kharn'A'Lei. I watched them suspiciously, as they passed by without a glance, like they didn't even know I was there. One was a Troll Priest, obviously, and the other was a slightly more bluish Orc, possibly a Warrior or something. The Warrior and Kharn'A'Lei began talking, as if the argument had been passed on, and the Troll approached me, kneeling down in front of me.
"'Ello ma girl, 'ow's that gash in your 'ead doin'?" He asked, almost politely. It was a fake kind of polite, partly. You could tell that somewhere in his heart he did care, but somewhere even below his priestly pride. Them Priests always had that aura about them, thinking they're somehow better than you because they can fix you after you get cut up and all. I had bandages for that.
"'Ey, Ori'piras, stop minglin' with the scum." The bluish Orc said loudly over his shoulder. At least he was rude on the outside, too. He didn't try to hide it.
"'Nuff outta you Juz'kar," He replied, shaking his head before addressing me again, "I healed it up s'much as I could."
"What are you talking about…?" I asked slowly, not registering any pain right then to remind me, "Oh, right," I remembered what Thrall had said. Goddamn hit on the head and all.
"Wench don't remember a damn thing," Kharn'A'Lei all but shouted, as if it was also impressive that he knew that information before they did. He certainly was proud, diseased with it.
"Heya, guys," The door swung open once more as a lighter, yellowish green Orc rushed the room, "I brought some grub."
"You too," Kharn'A'Lei groaned, "What, exactly, are you three doing here anyway?" He asked, somewhat irritably. It's no wonder people disliked him.
"Sounds like you don't want us here," That Juz'kar fellow deduced slyly, "You want that 'wench' all to yourself, eh? Didn't get enough last time?" I didn't even want to know.
"Oh shut the fuck up, will you?" He crossed his arms angrily. He was pouting, that damn near killed me.
"Oh!" The younger, yellowish Orc looked over at me, and I tensed up under his stare, "It's the little firefly!"
"Firefly?" I raised an eyebrow and scowled. Somehow I had this way about me, this sort of drawing to nicknames. I mean, I guess how I would put it is that it's really easy for people to nickname me stuff. I don't like it very much. I always end up with these names that even I don't understand. This one, particularly, I had no idea about. Gotta be that amnesia.
"Don't you remember?" He cocked his head at me, as if it'd help.
"..." I looked away, I didn't want to say that I didn't remember it, because I knew that I'd be rung out for that kinda thing. Especially by that arrogant Orc, the one with those pale yellow eyes.
"Well, I'll remind you then! Gazrin, that brute, had forgotten that you needed fire for your food," He recollected, "So he only gave you raw meat, see? Then so this other Orc, I don't remember his name, but, he gave you this log, see and told you to 'make it yourself', and you showed us all up by doin' just that," He laughed loudly, raising my eyebrows. I would have laughed, too, if I had any recollection of the matter.
"Stop talkin' to it like it's a person," Juz'kar coughed, "She dun't 'member anything anyway."
"S'at true?" The younger Orc turned to me again. I could tell he was a little different from the others. He was more naïve, more childish. He didn't really want to act all tough or anything, which is probably why he didn't really fit in.
"…" I couldn't answer, mainly because I didn't really know. I was not pleased right about now, nor was I really in the mood for talking.
"Nope, she's dumb as a fucking doornail." Kharn'A'Lei shrugged, turning towards his friends. Right, so first he's trying to get people to dislike him so he can be proud of it, now he wants to impress them with his stupid insults. Real constant.
"Want to try that one again, mule-mug?" I barked at him suddenly, catching the low murmurs of surprise from the others in the room. I hadn't really though I'd say something like that, see, I'm kinda the type that doesn't much like to get into heated conflict. It happens, though, especially to me. A lot. It's because I can't really stop myself when I get mad and all. It's a curse, I swear.
"Wench, you don't know when to shut the fuck up," He turned back, shaking his head and fists. I almost laughed, though.
"And why does everyone call me wench?" I asked, not really sure if I wanted to know at all, just curious.
"'Cuz you're a fucking wench." Kharn'A'Lei snapped. Well, I could have guess that one. Diarrhoea of the mouth; constipation of the ideas.
"My, aren't you clever." I muttered, this time not wanting him to hear me, else we'd have got into a fight or something, that Orc's real sensitive.
"So why did Thrall ask us all to come up here and check on them?" The young, yellowish Orc asked, to no one in particular.
"I have to keep watch over this fucking wench, else she be rescued by those fucking traitors or some idiots from the Alliance," Kharn'A'Lei told him, he had a problem with talking other people down to make himself look good, "And I guess Thrall doesn't quite think I can fucking do that on my own."
"Or maybe he thinks you'll kill 'er yourself," Juz'kar made a valid point, loud enough for everyone to hear. I had the same idea.
"And what exactly do you want with me anyway?" I spoke up, finally managing to ask one of those burning questions.
"That, my dear, is none of your fucking business," Kharn'A'Lei mouthed, his teeth smacking against each other like his rolls of fat when he moves too quickly.
"Jeez, man, lighten up." He didn't have all that much to be so worried about anyway, "And I a'int your dear," I shook my head. Boy, I could hardly stay in the same room with this guy, I swore I was going to snap. I really was.
"Well," Juz'kar snorted, "I'm outta here pretty damn soon, I got somewhere more important to be. Or at least more interesting."
"Fair 'nuff." Kharn'A'Lei agreed, acting like he didn't care, though I'm sure he found it offensive that he wasn't as entertaining to everyone else as he found himself.
"I'll 'eave wit' Juz'kar, too," Ori'piras added, "Thrall wants me t' do somethin' a little more suited to my style, gotta fix up the troops n' all." Troops... was there a war raging somewhere?
"We dun't fucking need you here anyway," Kharn'A'Lei concurred with an obnoxious snort. He really likes to play up his act.
"Good, then." Juz'kar finished, he wasn't much to keep at arguments.
"Well," The youngest Orc cleared his throat in an attempt to attract attention, before he opened up the few packages he brought with him, exposing little rations of food, "We'd better eat up."
"Fuck, I'm hungry," Kharn'A'Lei snatched a package, "I've been sitting 'round here all fucking day, waiting for this fucker to fucking get up."
"Fuck, fuck, fuck, that's all I hear comin' outta your mouth," I shook my head. I know it's a common word and all, but after a while it just gets tiresome. Especially when it comes out of the same guy's mouth, and every time he says the word it sounds almost mispronounced, like he doesn't really know what it means but he says it to sound tough or something. It was almost sad.
"Like I care what you fucking think." He growled. He did though, he was like that, I could measure.
"With a mouth that fucking dirty you might as well just fucking replace it, maybe with some big-ass fucking lips to suit your big fat fucking head," I retorted, swearing like he did. Sometimes lines just come out of my mouth like they were written on a script, I don't even think them through half the time.
"You'd better shut your fucking lips before I rip them off," He narrowed his eyes. That was a pretty violent and, well, graphic comment.
"Jeez, and I'm the one who's touchy." I smirked. He was easy to horse around with, really. He took a lot of things too personally.
I faintly heard the muffled laughing of the inhabitants of the room. I leaned back against the stones that I was chained to and sighed heavily. This whole thing was just too much. I didn't know why I was here, how long I'd been here for, or how I got into this situation at all. It bothered me to be completely in the blue. I'm not much of a control freak really, to my knowledge anyway, but I do like to know important things like that. I chewed on my bottom lip, an old habit I had.
The light in the room, I could tell, was fading. The only thing that allowed me to see the faces of those around me was the natural light emanating from the window behind me and the sliver of flickering light from the torch in the hall. It was almost evening, I deduced. I let out another hefty breath and closed my eyes, remaining focused on staying aware of those around me. I had that much that I knew. The smell of their food was eating me alive though, and I struggled to keep my mind off the topic. I couldn't look at it anyway though, it'd make me sick. Especially the way that jerk ate. He must have thought he was really something, because he made a show of eating like a pig. You could tell no one else really wanted to see it though.
I sensed his leering eyes more than anything, and cracked an eyelid to catch his stare. I stared at him with my one half-open eye, expecting him to say or do something. It was a long, awkward few seconds before he grumbled and looked away. My eyebrow twitched at that, first he has the balls to stare at me, then is such a girl he doesn't even say anything? I let out my long-held breath and stared at a spot on the roof intently.
"Here wench," Kharn'A'Lei finally spoke up, and it was then I realized he had come a few scoots closer, "Eat something."
"I don't need your Orc feed," I turned away stubbornly. He grunted in shock, and was most probably offended by the link to a mount.
"I said eat, so you'd better fucking eat." He was getting desperate now, not wanting anyone to think he'd failed in his quest to get me fed.
"No, I think I'm okay." I rolled my neck absent-mindedly, knowing that his pride would get the better of him.
"Listen," He grabbed my cheek roughly and turned my head to face him, "When someone fucking offers you something, it's polite to accept it."
"Pfft," I broke away from him harshly, "And it's polite to keep your hands to yourself."
I hated when people did that, it really gridded my gears. When people just go around and touch you with their greasy fingers, especially when you don't want to be touched. I like my personal bubble just fine, thanks. I particularly didn't like the fact that it was this sweaty hog that had laid hands on me, and he wasn't even a pally or nothing. Just who did he think he was dealing with, here?
"Just shut the fuck up and eat," He dropped the rest of his bag of food in my lap, and turned away quickly. I stared at it blankly, before deciding to speak before my stomach spoke for me.
"Fine." I continued to stare at that package, knowing full well I couldn't eat it with my hands tied behind my back, "Hey, buddy-boy," I nodded my head at him, and could see him shutter, "Couldn't eat this if I wanted to," He looked back at me, "I don't have my arms."
"You whiny runt," He snorted with a higher pitch and spun back around, "You're smart, do it yourself, like last time."
"I'd be a lot easier if I had some hands, y'know?" I groaned almost whining, hoping to piss him off.
"I'll help you!" The younger, yellowish Orc stood up quickly.
"No," Kharn'A'Lei and I snapped at the same time. He's clumsy looking.
"Siddown, Jy'ko," Juz'kar patted his place beside him.
"Just trying to help," He said defensively, and I was sure he was.
"Actually," Kharn'A'Lei sounded thoughtful, "I have an idea," He grabbed the bag again and whipped out one of my daggers from the pile of my stuff in the corner that I had only then noticed. He scooped up a bit of food and held it out to me, completely serious.
"Well that looks sanitary," I commented quietly, turning my head away in a disgusted way, "Even I don't know where that's been, for obvious reasons," I meant the amnesia thing.
"Quit fucking complaining," He held it out closer. I could smell him from here, better than I could smell his dripping Orc feed.
"You get that anywhere closer to me with that and I'll bite off your whole fricken' hand," I warned him, hoping he'd get the idea that that he really disgusted me.
"Enough bitching, wench." He sounded frustrated, leaning the dagger closer to me still. He was stubborn, but only when it came to his pride.
"You persistent bastard," I shook my head reluctantly before leaning forward and biting off the chunk of meat with ease, particularly cautious in case he were to try something, "Lookie there, you didn't ram it down my throat."
"Doesn't mean I didn't think about it," He smirked and scooped up another dagger full. It didn't taste all that bad, but really, I'd eat anything.
"Mhmm," I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of a decent response.
"Well look at that, Kharn'A'Lei," Jy'ko beamed with a stupid smile, dimples and all, "You're not as serious and cold as you claim."
"Shut your fucking yap or I'll ram this dagger down your throat." He barked, glaring at the guy as if he were a cockroach. There's that pride again, boy, he was racked with it.
"Yeesh, fricken' cobra, man, take it easy," He held up his hands defensively.
While he was distracted bickering to the other Orc, I took hold of the dagger with my teeth and yanked it out of his flimsy grasp. While he let out a surprised yelp and turned back to me, I flipped the knife around with my tongue and tossed it into the air, catching the handle with my teeth. I smirked and raised an eyebrow, waiting for a response. I just love being the life of the party, sometimes. Didn't so much like the attention so much as I liked his flustered look.
"You manipulative bitch," He stood up and glared down at me.
"Maybe you should spend less time arguing and more time watching your hostage," I reminded him through my teeth, content to degrade him interminably.
"Fuck you," He whipped out his gun and aimed it at my head, pressing it against my temple with the cock of his thumb, "Just try it."
"You think I'm afraid of that?" I snickered, yet noted the fact that the gun against my skull felt oddly familiar. Perhaps I knew him after all, or his gun anyway.
"I wouldn't even flinch if I splattered your cruddy Human blood all over this fucking dump," He leaned closer, "Wanna test that?"
"You know that Thrall'll rip your head off if ya' do," Juz'kar reminded him uneasily, careful of his wrath.
"Hm," I cocked my crazy neck suddenly, aiming the blade of the knife straight down. I grunted as I dropped it, effectively cutting the ropes which had bound my feet. I rolled my ankles and stretched my legs out, kicking them up and down to relieve the uncomfortable, numb feeling. I knew that really got him, especially when I waved my toes around.
"What?" He lowered his weapon slightly, more confused that relieved.
"I'm not an idiot," I cracked my neck disobediently, "How far do you think I'd get with a dagger in my mouth? I'd say about an inch, no, scratch that, I'm chained to a wall, so not even an inch."
"You bitch…" He glared down at me, embarrassed by my antics.
"Those ropes were rather annoying, anything you can do about the shackles on my wrists, or shall I endure?" I asked, looking as innocent and harmless as I could manage without cracking a smile. I'm insane, I swear.
"Heh," He shook his head with a sort of small laugh, before crouching down to my level, flicking the shackles holding my arms above my head, and placing his hand on my head, "Sorry wench, but that'd be a 'no fucking way'."
"Can't blame a girl for trying," I shrugged, flicking my head so to knock him away. He had pushed some locks of hair into my face, something that really annoyed me.
"Hm." He frowned, took the dagger out of the crack in stone ground in front of me, and then sat down just behind the fresh cut and crossed his legs.
"Well," Juz'kar stood suddenly as we all looked over at him, and motioned towards the door, "I'm outta here."
"Wit' ya mon." Ori'piras followed suit like they were tied by the heel.
"Uh," Jy'ko looked around with an uncertain visage, "Does this mean I have to leave too?"
"Yes," They all expelled, exasperated with tolerating this guy. I didn't mind him too much, at least he didn't care so much what people thought and all.
"Get out, no one fucking invited you here anyway you fucking pest." Kharn'A'Lei snorted with a flick of his wrist. Case in point.
"Got it!" He stood and saluted before bounding off after the others like a deer of some kind.
"Good." Kharn'A'Lei fell silent and stood utterly still, staring at the door.
This was one of those times. I mean, after my whole silly prank, I kind of had a decision to make. It was a moment in which I could either laugh at the guy for his embarrassment, or I could ask if he was all right. He looked rather melancholy, and somehow I felt that I was responsible. I mean, I'm pretty sure I was, but it was odd to me that I regretted it. In spite of my resentment for him, I rolled my eyes without his notice and decided to speak up.
"You oka-" I began, but he cut me off.
"Shut up!" He slammed his hand hard against the rock right beside my head and stared menacingly into my widened eyes, "There'd better not be any more fucking bullshit up your fucking sleeve, you stupid fucking wench."
"..." I was silent, my mouth hanging slightly ajar in fear for a second, before I pulled myself back together and acted tough, "Scout's honour." I cocked my head with a smile. I'm kind of a goof sometimes.
"Hm." He snorted. His eyes slowly slipped from mine and traced my face, but I couldn't tell what he was looking for, "Strange," He reached up and traced my cheek with his middle and index fingers gently as his eyes briefly softened, though I tossed his hand away from me quickly, "Humans are so…" He stopped himself suddenly and put his hand down, "Irritating."
"What?" I gave a confused look. He was all over the place, really.
"Never mind, you fucking bitch." He barked as he scooted back and crossed his arms angrily. He really cared about appearances, even when no one was around. Maybe he wanted to impress himself. That killed me. That really killed me.
"Sheesh," I shrugged as I leaned my head back to try and see out the window behind me. I couldn't see anything past the faintly dimming skyline, "Say, who's this guy you're waiting for, anyway?"
"Again you nosy bitch," His anger flared and I nearly jumped in anticipation that he might smack me, "Non'a your fucking business!"
"Kay, kay, I get it, I get it, holy Tauren..." I shook my head, when an image of a Tauren in a floral shirt came to mind. I perked up but could think of no explanation as to why.
"I can't believe you just don't even remember me..." He muttered again, seeming somewhat bothered by it. He surely made an effort not to be forgotten, it must have really torn him up to know his efforts were in vain. Poor guy.
"Why, did we have a fling or something?" I cringed, my eyes narrowing at the roof and my lips turning to a sneer.
"Fuck no!" He yelled, then turned away rudely. I was about to start bothering him about his intentions towards me, I mean, it was almost like for some reason he might have even liked me. I shuttered at the thought. I was sure he was going to say something flattering, instead of saying 'irritating', but I guess he had some self control. I almost grinned, but he spoke again, "Come to think of it," He pondered, "I never did get to repay you for what happened last time," He looked over. I still didn't know what he was going on about.
I couldn't really read what his eyes intended this time. He looked somewhat determined, else vengeful. It set me on edge. It really did. I was sweating all of a sudden, though I didn't act it very much. I tensed up, though. I tensed like I was scared and all, but I didn't do it too noticeably or anything. He would have really picked at me about it, I know he would.
"What does that mean?" I pressed my back against the wall instinctively.
"You embarrassed me in front of my comrades," He started off strong, though it was misplaced as I was hardly listening to his words, just his tone, "got me in a boat-load of shit, and fucking attacked me."
"That sounds like me," I shrugged, trying to keep the mood nonchalant. It didn't work too well.
"I'm sure Thrall won't be too upset if I rough you up a bit," He stood up, looming over me with his palm resting on the butt of gun, "he's got other things to worry about up North," He added quieter, and for some reason I felt like he was threatening Thrall himself. Like he knew something he hadn't divulged, "I might just have myself a bit of fun."
"I-I dare you," I said in an attempt at confidence.
"I've heard that line before," He grinned as he pulled out his steely weapon once more.
I almost felt like cowering in the darkness of his creeping shadow, but decided instead to hold my ground and the shred of bravery I still had left. I'm kind of yellow too, once in a while I mean. I'm not too sure. I'm only a little yellow, and it comes out at the worst times, the times when I need my confidence and all. I think I'm a bit yellow and a bit just plain crazy. I swear I am. I usually just act tough because I don't care much what happens to me and all, that's the crazy part. I'm a bit suicidal that way. His face was darkened and his expression was both angry and grinning, at least what I could make of it. I felt my breath boil in my throat and waited impatiently for the inevitable.
"Oi," A voice broke in from the door, freezing him dead. I, too, was stalled, stopped from any protest or remark.
"A-Ah-uh-uh," Kharn'A'Lei quickly stuttered nervously as he turned around anxiously, his gun trembling in his hand.
"What do you think you're doing?" The voice said coolly and calmly. I was amazed at Kharn'A'Lei's sudden change of attitude.
"S-Straad, I-I-" He was caught off guard, and obviously by someone with influence. This must have been who we were waiting for, and the apprehension damn near tossed me off my seat on the floor.
"Oh, I see," He halted Kharn'A'Lei's fumbled sentence.
The only light sources were those from the window and from the hallway, a torch that hung on the wall behind this stranger's head. The silhouette was leaning against the door frame when he uncrossed his arms and reached for the hanging torch. He moved it quickly across his face, barely an instant to take it in, and he turned away from us, placing it on the ring in this cell. A breath was expelled as our captivation climaxed, or mine anyway. He stepped back and sighed, his back still to us. He turned his head and looked back at Kharn'A'Lei. Either he was someone for dramatics, or I was someone for interpreting dramatics.
"Well, we don't need any blood spilled here," He stepped towards us easily, boot by boot, the sounds echoing through the walls and my ears, "we lose enough fighting our enemies, but fighting captives? Ridiculous."
"You-You're right." He lowered his weapon and stepped away from me, though his stern scowl opposed his words.
"No need to lie, Kharn'A'Lei," He laughed lightly, which was a surprise to me, "You've no one to impress. Just remember that right now, she's a very important person to us."
"Just what the fuck are you going on about?" Kharn'A'Lei growled, easing his tension. He went right back to his act, even after, I could tell, he just had the wits scared out of him. If he had any wits to scare, that is.
"Ah, forget it." The stranger waved it away, slowly becoming visible to my eyes, "Don't worry too much, nothing particularly reportable happened, correct?" He seemed to be asking me, though I was hypnotized by his expert use of syllables and pronunciation.
"U-Uh," I could only nod in agreement slowly, for some reason I felt in utterly awe of this man.
"Well, now that you're here," Kharn'A'Lei regained his composure and arrogance, "I don't have to be. I'll leave the wench to you."
"Oh, don't be rude," The strange man slapped him on the back playfully.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," He walked out hurriedly, avoiding my eyes directly.
"Sorry about him," The stranger spoke with a commanding voice, "He's a little rough around the edges." He waited a moment, until even his distant steps were lost to us, "Not one I know particularly well," He checked over his shoulder once to make sure Kharn'A'Lei was really gone. He seemed like the type to linger.
"No big deal," I shrugged, looking up from under my brow curiously, though I would hide my fixation.
"My apologies, Viola," He turned to me, already knowing my name somehow, "I didn't introduce myself."
"And you would be...?" I asked, more eager for an answer than I would let on.
"Straadlater of the Nightfall, they call me," He bend down to my level, his knees bending, the muscles obliging him with no complaint, "You can call me Straad."
He had deep green skin and jet-black hair, barely visible through the Shamanistic headgear. He was not too large, as I would have concluded from the commanding voice and title, but he had rather broad shoulders and strong arms. He had scruffy, Orcish sideburns accompanied by a fringed beard, though not too apparently on the front of his chin, which seemed to suit him just fine. I could tell, just by staring at him, that he was rather attractive among Orcs. Among anyone, I knew as I noticed myself gawking. I tried to force away the feeling bubbling in the deep of my stomach, and that rosy slap I felt taking my face. He was good at first impressions, that was certain. Not to mention, his accent was good, for an Orc.
Something struck me about this guy. It was kind of strange to me. He wasn't trying to act mighty or anything, like Kharn'A'Lei was. Though I could tell just by looking at him, he was very strong, like some kind of Orc war hero or something, though I didn't ask. He was definitely not stupid, I could tell already, and he didn't give off any vibes of hostility. It made me feel less tense, even in a place like this. It really did.
"Ah," I acted uninterested, though my cheeks were pink from finding myself painting him in my head.
"And you are indeed Viola, is that so?" He cocked his head at the name, or at me.
"That's me." I shrugged, creating a metal scratching sound with my shackles.
"Pleasure." He said simply, though I'm sure it wasn't much of one. His eyes drifted to the shackles above my head and remained, I could tell he was going to say something but I spoke first.
"It doesn't bother me too much." I looked away from him. Somehow I kind of felt almost embarrassed. It was a weird feeling for me.
"Hm," He nodded, and nodded again. He shrugged before jumping back into a sitting position and crossing his legs expertly. I think he was being funny. "So," He raised an eyebrow to me with a handsome smirk, something I never thought I'd think about an Orc, "get yourself comfortable, because it'll just be the two of us until orders come in."
"Perfect." I remarked almost sarcastically, flicking the strands of auburn hair from out of my face absent-mindedly.
-x0x-
Preview of Next Chapter:
"What have we done," I murmured but my thoughts were cut short, "To think we had just found a home that accepted us, a peaceful town where they knew us as heroes, and I had just found someone to care about..."
"Hey, we have to leave too, or they'll know we did it- and lock us away!" Votheilia cried out as she began for the door through the rushing stream of convicts.
"You guys go ahead," I sighed and spoke calmly and quietly, "I'll just stay here and be caught. If I'm in jail, Thrall can't use me and his abduction plan will have failed. He'll let Nasrina go free, and we can-"
"Are you an idiot!" Alpine shouted out of no where, shocking us both, "They won't let her go, they'll kill her!"
"So be it! They'll kill her anyway!" I shouted back, "They'll dangle her in front of my very face and make me beg and work to get her back, then they'll just snatch her away again!"
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