*Reminder: Sit back from the screen! If you're just near sighted and need to lean close, wear your glasses or something, it's better for ya! Oh, and BTW, remember that this story is written in many different POVs, so don't be surprised if you're reading from the perspective of another character! It happens!
***This is the first chapter written entirely by STRAADLATER! (or at least in his POV...)***
DISCLAIMER: This entire story is Copywrite. MINE. Got it? World of Warcraft, however, is NOT. Characters, also mine except those like Thrall and the NPCs and all.
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Of Humans and the Horde
Chapter 5: Hell and High Waters
I snapped back to attention, feeling the rush of the cold midnight air with realism. Damn, I just couldn't hold my eyes open any more. You know how that feels, when you're just so tired that your body keeps drifting in and out, despite yourself. I felt my head get heavy and droop once more before straightening and shaking myself. It didn't work so well. I grumbled quietly and even still I noted the echo off the cave walls. I anxiously twitched my crossed legs and gripped at my staff, knowing full well never to leave my post. Never.
I'd been a guard for the majority of my adult life, with the exception of the few Calls to Arms that I've been enlisted into. I was well used to the all night shifts, but as of late it seems I'd be on watch for Thrall-knows-how-long, seeing as how we're no where near any of my companions. No relief in sight, and here I was, responsible for the failure or success of this important scheme. It was always me, alone, the keystone. I grimaced just thinking about how tired I'm going to be. How tired I already was.
I didn't know the time of night, and the only way I knew it was night at all was by the sounds of crickets from outside the cave. It was dark in here long before the sun fell. At this point, the only thing that would interest me would be the dawn. The easy, light sunbeams cast by the yawning dawn. There was a sound from behind me that sent a more than odd sensation up my spine. Maybe I spoke too soon. I narrowed my eyes and peered behind me at the sleeping figure that lay with her back to me. I huffed an attempt at irritated sneer, and tried to cool my face. It didn't work so well either, I found.
"Hmm," She moaned lightly and turned over onto her back, still sleeping soundly.
Her armour clanged and slid noisily as she turned, an odd contrast to her silent flowing hair. I was nervous about watching her and tried my best to feel indifferent about it, but there was something about her easy breath and slightly parted lips that churned my chest almost uncomfortably. I would hesitate to ponder too long on such a thought, not here nor now anyway. I noted the fresh scar peaking out from the bottom of her hairline and felt almost guilty, though I hadn't been there when it happened.
She sure was a noisy sleeper. She turned constantly and writhed restlessly. She'd often grind her teeth and scrunch up her eyes as if trying to remember something, and in doing so she'd make sharp little whines filled with such brevity I'd hardly manage to diagnose what I might construed to be fear. Maybe she was having a nightmare, and I almost didn't stop myself from chuckling cynically, just thinking at how even her awaken state was a nightmare right now. Again her face fell soft once more, and her body relaxed against the cold, hard dirt. The shackles were among the noisiest of her wearings, and once or twice I contemplated removing them before realizing my stupidity. Lack of sleep can make you thoughtless like that.
I traced her. Again. Like a painting or a sculpture, I traced her time and time again with my eyes. Her face was more refined and delicate than I might have expected from her personality. I smirked at the thought. She was as rude and sarcastic and fiery as any Orc would be, despite her looks. I suppose it was, well, comforting, that she was just like we were, in one way or another. Besides, I didn't really know too much about their side, I was more sure then than ever. The Alliance, as I knew them, were so clean and efficient that it struck me as odd to see her wrists raw and her hands worn, as well as the specks of dirt that clung to her cheek. But the few strands of hair out of place were what completed the look.
At the faltering of my better judgement I turned and reached out towards her, to sweep the strands from out of her face, when I was stopped just an inch short. It was a noise from just outside the cave that had me frozen still, my ears tuned to the slightest sound.
"He goes by Straadlater," A voice echoed lightly from the walls and I perked up. I didn't recognize it right away, but I was determined to do so. I was so quiet and attentive I hardly breathed at all.
"He's got a 'uman wid him!" Another voice shouted but was silenced by a thud.
"Be quiet!" The first voice hushed.
"Aye," an Ogres voice thundered in a grumble, "Let think... what in it for me?"
I whirled around quickly and peered around a small boulder that had my vision hindered. I caught the sight of a dark brownish Orc a ways away from the entrance to the cave, and a troll by his side. I cursed silently and spun around to face the girl, still sleeping obliviously. I hesitated then reached out and took hold of her shoulders, easily fitting my hands over top of her pauldrons. I leaned over her, shaking her heavily.
"Oi, Oi, Viola," I whispered, "Wake up."
"'Oi, Oi' your damn self," She grumbled sleepily as she shook awake and gripped my right wrist with her two chained hands, "What do you want?"
"We have to leave right now," I lowered my voice to signal her to do the same.
"Why?" She lowered her brow and became serious.
"It seems they've come after us," I smirked despite the situation, having seen her adorably innocent look of shock. I mean, I had to know this was coming. She certainly did too.
"Speak clearly, Ogre!" A voice bounced off the cave walls and reached us.
"They're at the mouth of the cave," I muttered, unsure, "The only way out."
"Then-" She cut herself off as she realized she was clutching my wrist for answers. Pulling away, she begun acting independent again, "Then how do you suppose we get out?"
"Haven't thought that far," I sat back and waited for the inevitable. This, it seemed, was the end. The man at the entrance to the cave far outranked me, and it would be disloyal to disobey him.
"So, what, we're giving up?" She asked, leaning forwards on her hands towards me with a stern expression. A firm, serious and still expression.
"Like it's my choice," I said louder, somewhat surprised by her enthusiasm. Though, thinking about it, I suppose I would feel the same.
"But-" She leaned forwards and stumbled over her shackles, which she had been leaning on, and tumbled forwards against me, catching herself on my chest, "I-I-"
Her blushing intensified as I gave her my irritated glare. I watched her lips tremble for words, and noted the darker hue of her lower lip. That's right, I had noticed this nervous habit of biting her lip. As the moment drew long I felt my own face begin to heat up as I heard the footsteps entering the cave. There was no way to slip by completely unnoticed, not to mention with the two Ogres now waiting at the entrance to the cave with torches, it would be too difficult to manoeuvre through even if you were a rat. Not even invisibility could save us.
"Dis way, Orc," The Ogre guided him.
"Straad..." She whispered, her voice almost pleading as it faded, so quiet even the cave walls couldn't detect it. It was too hard for me to resist it, her Human charms. Whether she knew that or not. Besides, I honestly didn't want to see her getting hurt, not by this man. Or any, I found myself thinking.
"Listen," I held her arms gently. I leaned forwards and my breath grasped her ear as she anticipated my words. "Now, don't you run off, y'hear?" I held the silence after those words, building the suspense. She watched me closely as if she could only read my lips as I spoke my one command, "Stealth."
And like a ghost she disappeared. No words, no confirmation, she just vanished. I stood up slowly and turned to face my superior as he rounded the corner towards me. He was clad in heavy and massive armour, armour which could protect a bear. His ever piercing eyes caught mine and he opened his mouth to speak.
"Have you found her, Garrosh?" I got the upper hand with my direct statement.
"Don't give me that, boy," He damn near charged over to me and took the front of my shirt in his oversized fist, "That wench was with you, where are you hiding her?"
"How did you get mixed up in this?" I asked, avoiding the subject directly.
"Some guards spread the word around the city about that girl from the invasion being in our grasps, but for some reason still alive," He snorted, "So I thought I'd fix that."
"She escaped." I said firmly.
"You're the best guard Orgrimmar's got, how could she escape from you?" He questioned, overly invasive.
"I made a mistake," I tried to act ashamed, "I turned my back for a moment and she got away, she sprinted into the marsh and I haven't heard from her since."
"Don't you lie to me," He barked, his other finger shaking and raising at me.
"No offence, sir," I tore his grip from my shirt, "But I believe myself to be true and devoted to the Horde," I took a firm stance, "I would not hide a wanted fugitive, my allegiance is firmly with Thrall." I was telling the truth about that.
"Hm." Garrosh studied my eyes, searching for traces of lies, "Search the cave."
The Troll that stood behind him didn't even nod before he began to look around the cave for any signs of a presence. He even went so far as to peek behind rocks and into cracks in the stone. Garrosh didn't even snap at him and his idiocy, as he usually would have. He must have been on guard himself for such a trick, or occupied with trying to decipher my lie. After a moment or two of searching, he shrugged and came up empty. Garrosh continued to stare at me, searching for a slip up in my performance. He frowned.
"Fine," Garrosh growled and began to leave the cave, but stopped short. No one said anything about it, even his Troll companion just stared at him. I could almost feel his grin then. He looked back at me and it was silent for a moment longer, "Throw a flare."
"Yessir," The Troll behind him tossed a flare in the middle of the cave and it sparked and flickered menacingly.
I glared at the flare, but the most I could do to the fire from this distance without making it look suspicious was to bend it in the opposite direction, as if wind had hit it. Even my Shaman powers were useless right now. I watched Garrosh stare at the flame, then slowly lift his eyes from the ground. I noticed it too. As if a glass shield had shattered, she burst into view, standing at the wall of the cave just beside me. I was almost surprised that she wasn't dumb enough to try and escape. That, and I was surprised that she had chosen to remain so close to me. We were almost shoulder-to-shoulder. Her eyes were fixed on the Orc in front of me, and his opposing gaze gleamed and flickered like the flare before him.
"Found you, Rogue," he grinned an oddly menacing grin, and I could all but feel Viola's will to shrink against the wall, but she stood firm. Garrosh walked towards her and took one of his axes from his belt, holding it towards her, "Why that sad excuse of a Warchief wants you alive, I'll never know." He swiftly lifted her chin with the dirty edge of his blade and frowned in a scornful, disgusted way.
"Garrosh, stay your hand," I started cautiously.
"Don't speak to me that way, Trash!" He waved his axe recklessly, "You're both going to die right here, Thrall's idiot gamblesmean nothing to me!"
"Has your ineptitude no bounds?" I asked, burying my words into his skin purposely. I knew how to get to him.
"Then you first!" He charged at me, grabbing his second axe and holding them both above his head.
I quickly rolled a dodge and ran to Viola, grabbing her by hand from her stationary shock and pulling her through the cave as fast as I could. We hurriedly evaded the surprised Troll who dared to reach for us, and the Ogre Innkeeper who really had no interest in helping or hindering us. Upon reaching the mouth of the cave, the two Ogres who stood ahead of me were tossed to either side from the force of my Thunderstorm.
"Get your wolf," I commanded her as we ran on foot out of the cave and I began to summon mine.
"Right," she summoned hers and mounted, quite quickly for someone with bound hands.
"Hold it!" Garrosh had reached us, and went immediately for Viola, but I Frost Shocked him and slowed him down, enough for us to mount and hurry away.
We rode off as quickly as we had flown in, but it seemed Garrosh wasn't far behind. He was shouting behind us as he mounted and made chase. I had to think quickly, a way to escape this buffoon. We rushed over bridges through the marsh, gradually moving west, as that was the only way I knew how to get out of this place. The Barrens were really no better, though, since they were so open and empty, and I was at a loss.
"Where are we going?" she called through the deafening sounds of whisking air in my ears.
"Just don't you break off and try to run," I warned her, "I can guarantee he'll kill you."
"I wasn't planning on it," she came up beside me and looked over, with a serious look that meant she wasn't lying.
"Leave everything else to me," I told her.
We rushed over hillsides, through dirt and mud, between trees and across bridges until we had reached the end of the marsh, but to my discontent Garrosh was right behind us. I cursed and hurried us past the ruins of an old building and into the Barrens. I was almost caught off guard by the brightness of the moon over the wide open Barrens, but kept my mind focused only on the path ahead. The steady galloping of paws was soothing in this echoic night air, and like a mimic of the chase there was a race of my heart. Upon reaching the southern Gold road, the sight of patrols darkened the otherwise moonlit pathway. They seemed to be coming from Camp Taurajo, headed south towards our position.
"Hey, who's there?" They held a torch out to us as we rode towards them.
"It's that girl!" Another yelled, "That Human girl!"
"Stop them!" Garrosh called from not far behind, and instantly they were mounted and heading off our escape to the north.
"Shit," I veered left and cut past them, looking back to make sure Viola had done the same, and we were on our way southbound.
There were now five pursuers, and in such a situation one might think to give up and surrender, but despite the thought my hands gripped and urged my swift wolf onward. Up ahead I saw our only source of possible refuge, perhaps if we could only get to Thousand Needles.
"Is that a cliff?" She called to me.
"Yes, but there are lifts, we might just make it," I nodded towards the end of a long bridge-like contraption, to which a platform had just arisen.
We bent forward to decrease wind resistance and rushed towards the shaking platform, or perhaps I was the one shaking. Between my wolves ears I watched as we came closer, and closer, and the platform began to lower, and lower. We hurried across the bridge and reached for the platform, but it disappeared from sight an instant too soon.
"Damn," My wolf skidded to a stop and whimpered in fear of the huge drop below.
My wolf backed from the edge, and to protect the poor thing's heart I dismissed it, landing on one knee. Viola dismounted and ran to my side, crouching beside me. It was strange to me, how even when surely we'd be killed on the spot, she didn't try to run. She came over to make sure I was all right. Though, she really didn't have anywhere to run to, I reminded myself. I stood slowly and peered back at the now blocked exit off the bridge. Garrosh hopped off his mount and smirked arrogantly in my direction.
"A cliff." He laughed, "What a good plan, boy," he mused as he cocked his head at the two of us, "Run to a place where I can corner you, like rabbits, then kill you-" his grin widened, "without even getting my axes dirty."
"Viola," I whispered to her as Garrosh approached us.
"Yeah?" She glanced over at me, from her still position barely a step behind.
"Listen, I know this might sound a bit rude," I told her under the cover of hush and the voice of the wind,"But honestly, I don't give much of a damn if you trust me yet or not," I said quietly as I reached back and took hold of her by the waist, "Just hold on."
"Euh?" She made a confused noise.
I stepped us backwards casually- right off the end of the bridge, sending us falling over the end of our line. I'd think she would have screamed out at the sudden shock of vicious wind that took arms of friction and resistance against us, but to my surprise she was silent. In fact, I barely even heard the shouting in my ears from the wind as dust passing by quicker than we fell. I took the time as we plummeted to not only flip myself underneath her, as to take the blunt of the fall, but to gauge the size of her small body against that of my hands. Somehow it struck me as odd how small she was, for I'd never really held something so delicate as a woman's body.
We hit the ground with a roaring thud, and I felt the shift into the spirit world. The white and grey skies stormed overhead and I felt absolutely nothing of myself. That is, nothing except the Ankh I held tightly in my right hand. The few seconds I spent in the other world were hardly anything new, but what was new was the bellowing from the real world against my real ear that truly shook me to the soul. The sky returned to normal and I sat up abruptly, shocking the girl kneeling over me, whose anxious face was barely a finger from mine.
"Straadlater!" Her voice hit me again as I awakened, "Hey, were you just dead there?" Viola all but shouted in surprise, her face red and her eyes wide.
"You! Raise these lifts now!" The screams from Hellscream above could be heard down here, and I immediately took to my feet and pulled her from her knees by the hand.
"Let's move it," I barked at her as the sound of her rattling shackles echoed off the close-by stone rock-side.
We both mounted once more and rushed off, her following close behind while retaining the same dumbfounded expression. We rode over rocks and boulders, dodging mountainsides and crevices in the landscape until Garrosh was but a speck waving his axes in the distance. I could still hear his fury from here, like waves of energy.
"Don't think you've won this!" He shouted after us as the lift slowly climbed towards him and he smacked the lift-bringer in rage, "Cowards!"
"..." She slowed at that, and I felt her resistance. She didn't like that word any more than I did, but I had my mission, and I wouldn't have any more delay. She'd probably opt to get us killed, but she was smarter than that, and she held her tongue.
We hurried past a centaur camp and a pack of hyenas, avoiding a confrontation as best we could. We were North-West bound, towards a place I was most familiar with. Our wolves huffed and grunted as we approached the end of Thousand Needles, and I sighed with relief as I looked back to find Garrosh no where in sight. He'd hardly be able to find me once we got past the boarder, I was sure of my own personal expertise here. We had lost him, for now.
"Where are we going?" She asked over the sounds of trampling paws.
"You don't know?" I mocked and she grumbled a pout, I knew she wouldn't, she's from the other side of the world for god-sakes,"To a place of ancient, untold mystics."
"Is it a secret or something?" She responded sceptically. Obviously she didn't like it when I was vague with her.
"Not at all," I answered as the sight came into view.
"A forest?" She pondered upon seeing the lush and overgrown trees. Must not have seemed like too much from here.
"Feralas," I denoted, wanting her to at least know the name, "I used to train here when I was learning Shamanism."
"Ah." She concluded, though she didn't seem very impressed. Not yet, anyway.
And just like I remembered, the deep woods took us in like misguided young, and down a winded path. On the trees hung drooping flora and tangled vines, for not a thing had changed. Of course, in such a short time as since I last visited, a forest as old as this hasn't barely aged a day, comparatively speaking. I still remembered the stream where I soaked my feet after a long day, or soaked my whole body when I tried to learn how to walk on water. The nostalgia almost brought a smile to my face, but I smothered it in a sneer as Viola spoke suddenly.
"Why are we going into a forest?" She asked. I guess she was bored with forests, else didn't like them too much. I think it was more the first one.
"Because." I stated simply. It would explain itself.
"Because why?" She pressed like a child wanting to know their birthday present.
"Because you're my prisoner and you go where I take you." I glared at her. I wasn't mad or anything, I just really didn't have a good reason at all. That was my best.
"That's not a very good reason." She looked away stubbornly, of course, she was right. Perhaps a better reason would have been 'to save your life', but I wouldn't say it.
"Aye," I agreed without further explanation.
As we trudged deeper and deeper into the forest I suddenly became aware of how futile it was to keep this girl with me. I was used to being here by myself, so now that there was someone else, I don't know, I guess it just felt weird. I was dragging her all over Kalimdor, and for what reason? She was completely clueless as to anything she had done, and out here at any time we could be attacked by anyone. How was I supposed to keep her safe? Thrall's intentions for her were even strange to me. I stole a glance and noticed that she was staring at her hands that held onto her wolf, with this really lost expression. I couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor girl. What would Thrall want? Would he want me to continue protecting her, and somehow find some place safe and await his orders?
This wasn't part of the plan, that's for damn sure. I shook my shoulders heavily and let out a long, drawn out sigh as I looked back to the path ahead of me. If things continue the way they're going, Garrosh will kill me the next time he sees me, I'll be labelled a traitor, who knows. He'll probably hang me upside-down and then cut my head off and put is on a pike. He'll think something up, I was sure. Perhaps I should just kill her, go back to Orgrimmar and beg for forgiveness before I get branded as scum. That would certainly be easier. But alas, my pondering was cut short.
"What's that?" Viola asked, snapping me to attention.
"Hm?" I asked.
"That village ahead," She pointed over yonder.
"That's," I spotted the camp ahead and immediately recognized it, "Camp Mojache." I continued towards it before coming to the realization. I turned my wolf towards her, nearly running her off the road, and dashed into the ditch, with her following irritably behind.
"What's the big idea?" She called after me, this time through the rustling of leaves.
"We can't stay there," I said quickly, "Usually, there's one, maybe two Orgrimmar Orcs out here, but as you can see there were five or six."
"What of it?" She raised an eyebrow.
"It means Garrosh possibly sent them here in anticipation of our escape from him," I explained, at least not wanting to take the risk.
"I think you're just paranoid." She went on evenly, though she still followed, which showed that she must have believed I knew what I was talking about.
"Even if that's not the case, staying at a place with that many Orcs can't be good for us. You see," I took a breath as we slowed our pace, "Many Orcs have somewhat of a vendetta against you."
"Yeah, I got that," She murmured, "But against me?" She frowned, because of course, she had no idea of what trouble she had caused. Though, I'm not surprised that she dug herself such a deep hole anyway, knowing her now.
"We had this plan that we'd been working on for months," I started to explain to her, "and thanks to you, it was all ruined," I continued after a duck beneath a branch, "Many were taken prisoner, killed, disgraced, you name it. Its no wonder that you're hated within our ranks."
"..." She remained silent but seemed to slump down a bit, as if being hit by some tragic news. "But why. Why, would I..." She resorted again to staring at her hands.
I stared at her, watching her reaction as if it was a science to study. She bowed her head and went pale and silent, as if she regretted something she wasn't knowingly responsible for doing. The only sounds were that of our wolves heaving breaths and the wind in the trees. No, there was another. It was distant, true, but I could faintly make it out. The familiarity was uncanny, I knew it well. It was the rushing of water.
"Come on," I gestured forwards and started, hearing her reluctantly follow suit. I didn't call her on it right away, I knew if she had something to say she'd say it. She wasn't shy about that, I learned quickly.
"Say..." She spoke up as we walked through the thicket.
"Hm?" I grunted in acknowledgement.
"Were you... really, well, you know," She seemed to have trouble with it, "dead, back there?" She asked, as if it was a sensitive topic.
"Yes," I nodded and told her straight out, "But that sort of thing happens a lot to me, so it's nothing to worry about. Honest."
"What do you mean?" She perked up, intrigued.
"Haven't you ever met a Shaman before?" I looked back over my shoulder at her that time, to gauge her reaction. She blushed a bit, perhaps embarrassed about it, before coughing and replying.
"Not directly..." She turned away and stuck her bottom lip out.
"Well," I smiled, "We're connected to the spirit world, so it's nothing new to die. One of the Shaman techniques is Reincarnation, in which you bring yourself back from the dead."
"Well," She shrugged it off, "I s'pose that'd come in handy." She acted casual with a lower mutter.
"Indeed," I said almost laughing at her, for somehow she always made me laugh, however unintentional. She was just so, I don't know, different that I'm used to. She just sort of jumped around with her tones and her actions. It kept things interesting, anyway.
And then she yawned. The sound was instantly recognizable, though I hadn't been looking at her. It was a brief, slightly higher pitched noise that sounded like an animal had made it, but I was sure it was her. She sighed afterwards, as to either cover up the yawn or to get my attention. Could have been either.
"Tired?" I spoke back.
"Nope," She defended as she sat up straight and acted awake. Must have been the first.
"There's a clearing ahead, by a large tree." I told her as we neared the end of the ticket, recognizing even the bark patterns of the trees, "We should rest."
"I said I'm not tired." She was stubborn.
"Well in that case, I am," I countered easily, "Not to mention these wolves just ran us through two or three areas, they've got to be exhausted."
"I guess that might be so," She finally agreed, however less than an agreement it was.
We approached the clearing and I could tell all she wanted was to go to sleep, even if she hid it well. I led her to the same overgrown willow tree and had her lay down against it. She grumbled a bit, but to herself more than me, and I stood over her for a minute, waiting for some kinda of remark directed at me. I blinked as I realized that she had already fallen asleep. I smirked to myself at the simplicity of it, before thinking a much grimmer thought. I stared down at the defenceless girl with dull eyes, and mulled over the option of murder. She surely was trouble, with a capital T. That was certain. I drew my mace from a bag and raised it in hand, watching her slumbered figure.
And surely she wasn't that important to Thrall, and surely she would be the death of me, I was sure. I couldn't drag her around in those shackles forever, I was aware of that. They were loud, awkward, and bound to bring nothing but harm. However, somehow, I hesitated to bring myself to drop the mace over her. Maybe it was the innocent, slow breath that broke from her slightly parted ruby lips, or the sweet brush of her eyelashes as they flickered in the breeze. I pursed my lips in thought before putting my mace away and laying my cloak over her.
I mean, I couldn't let her freeze...
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
The chirping of the birds and the soft, warm glimmer of sunshine on my face were like the lingering of a dream, that of whistling and sea-stars. I stirred, breathing the fresh and welcoming air slowly. It was too familiar. I cracked one eye and noticed a leaf drift though the air and land on my chest, before I came upon the memory of the forest. It sat there, that silly leaf, bright and lush green, each line down the spine as perfect as would have been carved by the easy stream of dew. But there was green all around me, that same glistening green that told of life and love and fantasy. And I was alone with it. I sat up with a start and looked around hurriedly, dashing a glance in every direction.
"Hey, you're awake," Her voice came from close behind me and I spun around into a fighting stance, both hands ready to grapple. They lowered on their own upon the realization she was simply standing beside the tree I was resting on, not any threat at all. She blinked incredulously at my abrupt movements, but didn't say anything.
"Aye," I frowned. I was not one to sleep in.
"Tell me," She leaned on the tree and pointed a thumb behind her, "Has that lake always been there?" What an odd question. I mean, I'm sure there was a time when it didn't exist, at least, not in that form. "I don't remember seeing it when we got here."
"Hah," I chuckled and lowered my guard, "And here I thought you were observant." She huffed a laugh, not offended or anything, and instead looked back at the lake she mentioned. She just kept her eyes there, though her mouth moved of its own accord.
"Says the guy who has yet to notice breakfast," She smirked as I looked around to find a small bunch of berries neatly arranged on a large leaf a few feet away. To my surprise, they were all edible. A welcomed surprise, for in this forest there are many poisonous and dangerous flora, and perhaps it was only luck she had not run into any. Or eaten any herself before consulting me.
"Glad to see you didn't wander off," I ignored her remark and went over to the berries, picking through them for my first.
"Well, I wandered," She shrugged and held the word, "but I decided to come back. You'd be starved without me." She joked.
"Come here," I gestured for her to come over. She ripped her eyes from the clear, glistening water and stared at me, her calm and kind eyes betrayed by her tongue.
"What am I, a pet?" She snorted, but came over anyway and sat opposite me, the berries between us. She sighed as her knees hit the soft, squishy ground.
"Listen here Viola," I leaned over and took hold of her hands while they were neatly placed in her lap, witnessing her red face, "You have a decision to make here," I went on, "You can either stay here, with me, and hopefully find a way to get your memory back," I wasn't even certain that much a very appealing choice, "or," I reached into my keyring and pulled the appropriate key, before silently unlocking the shackles that held her wrists together, "You can leave."
"..." She sat there, mouth agape, staring at her freed hands, "I-I can leave?" She looked up with a confused and somewhat disappointed expression. She should be jumping, clicking heels, and sprinting off. But nothing, except stillness and confusion, followed.
"If we continue on this journey, the chances of the both of us getting killed are extremely high," I explained with my reason, "But if you leave, and I go back and ask for forgiveness, we both may live."
"What about Thrall's plan?" She cocked her head, as if she had volunteered for this position to help him.
"I'm sure he'll get over it," I shrugged, looking away, "He's a lot more forgiving than Garrosh anyway," I was of sure the truth of that.
"..." She looked back at her hands, "My choice..." Her words were shallow. She waited a long moment before a response managed to surface, "So, I mean, if I don't want to leave," She started, as if asking if it was all right.
"Pardon me?" I squinted in disbelief.
"Well," She looked nervous, but tried to act indifferent, "I mean if I stick with you I may have a chance to discover my memories, I mean, alone-I'd be lost, especially since you dragged me into these damn woods," She glanced over at me shyly, "And well, if I'm going to get hunted down anyway, I'd rather take you down with me." She joked, but was serious again, "That is, if you don't mind."
"Not at all," I sat back without looking directly at her and began to eat the berries.
"Were you really going to let me go?" She pressed, as if I'd mock her like that.
"It's only fair," I smirked, "I mean, you gathered all these berries," It was more of a joke than anything, but I suppose she didn't find it quite as amusing as I did.
"Hah," She laughed unenthusiastically, "You're really something else."
"Well then," I finished the berries with a final handful and stood up, "If we're going to keep travelling around out in the open, we're going to need some kind of a disguise."
"Disguise." She huffed monotonously, "This just keeps getting better." Leaning back, she rubbed her neck.
"Perhaps..." I thought for a moment with her reluctance pushed far away from my thoughts, "Yes, that sounds good," I nodded to myself.
"Hey don't leave me in the blue, here." She spoke up, "We're like, partners or something, aren't we? You have an idea or what?"
"Can you wait here for a few minutes?" I asked her. She stared at me for a moment, as if asking if I were lying about returning, before responding.
"Well, sure I guess, but-" I cut her off.
"Okay, see you shortly," I mounted and rode off in the direction we had come from.
"Hey, wait a-" I had already gone through the bushes.
I hurried over to the nearby Camp, making sure to hide my head with my cloak and slouch over as if I was a wanderer. I took note of any special conversation between guards, but nothing struck my intrigue. If they were avoiding speaking of delicate subjects, they were good at it. Else they just didn't really care too much about the subject at all. I grabbed trade supplies and what I had gone there for before heading back through the thicket. I told her I'd be quick, and I keep my word. Upon arrival, I noticed that Viola had gone and sat on the bank of that lake, soaking her feet as I had done when I trained in these parts.
The sun in front of her bathed the lake in a shimmering glow, which rocked and waved as she kicked her feet slowly. Even through the thick green air and trees, the lake was blue as ever. One thing I'd never get tired of was the vibrant colours out here, it was endless. I approached her and dismounted, leaving my wolf to prowl around these parts. I cocked my head as I got closer, and she didn't notice. She let out a sigh and seemed bothered. Probably because I had left in such a rush. Well, of course not. She had bigger issues than me, I was probably the least of her concerns. I let my lips curl up a bit as I watched her long hair sway behind her back, though it was tied in a braid, as usual.
"Back," I spoke up easily, as to not startle her.
"What did you need that was just so important?" She looked back with a threatening glare.
"Here," I tossed the bottle over at her, and she fumbled to catch it.
"Huh?" She read the label, though it was in Orcish, "Bleach? I'm not a tailor, you know, not all girls sew and cook, for your informa-"
"It's for your hair," I cut her off, ignoring her somewhat feminist notion.
"My..." She read it again, slower, like her words, "hair..."
"Well, you're trying to disguise as a Blood Elf, remember? Blood Elves seldom have dark brown hair, you should know that," I nodded, having heard that she had a Blood Elf partner from the invasion.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She raised an eyebrow suspiciously, as if it was some kind of shot at her.
"Well you-" I stopped myself, "uh, never mind," I remembered her amnesia a second too late, and found it might be better not to bother with bringing up what she had lost. I couldn't believe something so obvious had slipped my mind.
"Does bleach really change your hair colour?" She disregarded the previous statement and hurriedly asked, curious.
"Yes, it lightens it," I said quickly, "Now, get on with it."
"But—wha—how?" She asked dumbly, giving me her innocent look instead of that striking gaze.
"Just put it on your head, silly." She had probably figured that much already, "Use the waterfall and the lake," I pointed to the fall of water from the rocks, "Just make sure to wash it all out after."
"With you here," She narrowed her glare at me, "I think not."
"I won't look," I put my hands up defensively.
"You'd better hope you don't," She said angrily as he jumped to her feet, "For your sake," She cracked her knuckles.
"Put those away before you start pulling aggro," I grinned, mocking her.
She grumbled and muttered curses, I was sure, before walking around the lake closer to the waterfall. She pointed to a protruding rock side and I knew she wanted me to stand behind it, as to not see her. I smirked at her shyness but obliged. I leaned with my back against the rock, but could clearly hear her armour coming off behind me, piece by piece, strap by strap. I found myself treading on crumbling ground as I wondered what Humans really look like. I hid the thought and stifled a cough. She must have jumped into the water, for I heard the waves rush through the water from the disturbance of her existence and could almost feel the light drops hitting the grass at the edges. She's crazy. I crossed my arms and thought for a moment.
Now that she was taken care of for now, how was I supposed to change my appearance? I felt at the shaggy sideburns that grew down to my jaw. That would be a start. I felt at my somewhat unkempt hair and frowned at that too. I wondered when I had cut it last, I had been so busy lately I must look somewhat less than civilized. My hand fell slow, until it reach my side and hung loosely open. At that moment I felt small. I felt like an animal, a cub maybe, sent to protect a standing-tall, two-legged, reason-blessed caged humanoid, something so proud and beautiful. I had an urge to lean over and peer behind the rock, but froze up at the thought of what would happen if she saw me.
It seemed that my mind focused on the sound of the falling water instinctively. I could hear where the water fell, where it hit either the lake surface or... As if I could hear where she stood, I imagined the water that didn't hit the lake from the fall, but instead ran down the entirety of her pale body. The suspense was enough to drive a man wild, and at last I summoned enough of my own fel courage to indulge myself.
My left foot moved first, turning towards the end of the rock side. I inched my back across the smooth stone and kept my palms to the face of the rock. It was as though I felt that perhaps she could feel the vibrato thumping of my heart through the rocks and lake water, but then knew myself to be delusional. For a moment I could have seen my breath, for my body felt so hot, but I was mistaken. I uneasily turned my head around the corner and looked behind at the figure beneath the waterfall.
Though the lower half of her body was submerged in the lake, I could see a wavy ripple of skin through the refraction of light as it hit the water around her. I turned fully around and clung to the rock, captivated. Her back was facing me, and her arms were raised to her head. She looked so tall and white, so slender and significant, as if the sun itself were watching her. I swallowed and hoped she couldn't see the sparkling of my eyes in the reflection of the water as I stood in awe. She ran her fingers through her long, dark hair like the water that flowed over her, and it split like the waterfall upon her hands.
She tossed her head back and let her hair fall down her shoulders, hugging her like infatuated lovers. As if overcome by the numbing sensation of being watched, her arms fell to her sides and her head was downcast. She was still in the rush of the water, beneath adrenaline and ecstasy. But despite it all, I knew that she must feel truly devastated on the inside. This water must have been all she really knew for sure, that and the smooth eroded pebbles between her toes. For a reason unbeknownst to myself I wished that I could be close to her, around her like the water, and maybe she wouldn't feel so alone.
I returned around the rock and slid down until I sat with my back to the waterfall once again, relieved that I had not become a stag through my temptation. I leaned my chin upwards, as if the canopy of trees and breaks of sky were any consolation. It was none to her. And she was the kind to hide her insecurities, as much as I could tell and knew about her. Yet, maybe I could help her to not feel so alone.
-x0x-
Preview of Next Chapter:
"Fine. We're going." Kujajin said forcefully, deciding for the lot of us.
"Wonderful," Thrall nodded in approval, "You'll meet up there with a fellow by the name of Hellscream," He told us, "He's not much of a strategist, but his brute force and diligence is something to be admired. Just," His words were of warning, "watch out for his temper. I can't even guarantee he'll watch out for you up there, given your past actions against the Horde."
"Understood," Votheilia nodded.
"Then I'll leave you with that," Thrall made to leave, but Kujajin pursued him.
"Wait," He stood before the Warchief with courage, "I want to see Nasrina."
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