Chapter 6: Fatal Attractions; The Rivalry Begins Part I

Two days till Trial, Day Two

Another day more and another new class to hopefully complete without any emotional outbreak, or at least I hoped. I learned yesterday that Brandi and I have been assigned to take up a very interesting course. Considered the most popular class throughout the whole Academy; Professional Breeders & Beast Masteries. Brandi explained to me that he was thrilled to be in the class so early in the courses ahead of us. It meant a better opportunity for him to become a Gryphon Specialist Breeder. He volunteered as a small boy many years ago to learn the basics from a dwarf gryphon master in the Hinterlands, and so he couldn't wait to start already. He came to my door early in the morning, before it was even time to go to class. Tired as I was, he almost didn't let me shower.

"Today is tha' day we finally learn about all kinds of beasts, but I am more interested in tha' gryphons."

"Only the gryphons? I honestly don't see what the big deal is about those kinds of beast. I was raised around Hyppogryphs. I find them to have more agility in flight than any other beast would have" I witness to see his reaction that he did not take too well. I watched as he seems to be lit up in flames.

"HYPPOGRYPH! 'Ave ye gone bleedin' mad lad! Gryphons 'ave been around fer many generations and dinna let ye down. Dey are highly superior when bred by da best breeder's who know what they be doin'!"

Poor Brandi is so admiring over a beast. I gave a faint smile; so far the day has gone a lot better than yesterday. He kept ranting on as to how gryphons look superior and were graceful in flight. How they have been used in the Great Battle against the Horde that had crossed over from the dark portal, as the Wildhammer clan bravely led the gryphon riders over for an ambush and won the war.

"Ye dinna hear them say Hyppogryph Riders! Nooooooooooo lad, clearly Gryphon riders is what ye hear when ye talk 'bout tha' war"

"Alright Brandi, you win. My Hyppogryphs obviously can't beat that kind of history your Gryphon's have." Best to end it at that, the poor dwarf was turning redder than what he normally looks with that long fiery red hair and braided beard. Even the unusual tattoo by the side of his face that went across his eye was starting to darken its pigment color.

"Aye lad, tha' be true. Am glad ye was able ta realize it before I lay ye a book in tha' head. Know yer history lad, it can help ye later"

I laughed with him heartedly as I told him thank goodness for it. I really wouldn't want that book he held dear to his heart on my head. The thing was garnished with copper and iron trims and a silver ocular emblem that broidered a bronze gryphon in the middle, with melted gold lettering that read "Gryphons History: The War Bound Heroes" lavishly written clearly by a dwarf. It was obviously a one of a kind book, and what a book. After we entered the class, he didn't even slam the book on the table when it made the desk tremor. I almost thought it would break the desk in half. I shockingly looked up at Brandi as he looked down at me with a proud smile on his face as he nodded.

"Tha' lad, is tha' real thing" pointing to the heavy book in front of him "Tha' there book has been passed down from one generation to tha' next, I have been given tha' proud honor in holdin' it, someday ta pass it down to my following generation"

I admired Brandi. He looked proud as he breathed in air puffing his hefty large chest out and exhaling in grand relief. A relief in which show how proud he was to be born a dwarf and to have be given such an honor to lead the next part of this book. I say that whoever dared to take up this big dwarf on as a life mate, would surely have to match that pride and glorifying demeanor. Soon after that the door opened and in came another hefty dwarf, no doubt…by Brandi's expressive look of gasp and amazement, eyes glistening to the point that it was almost scary, that this dwarf was someone he knew very well. Our professor for this course was none other than…

"Master Tarm Deepgale!" Brandi sprint over to greet this dwarf as the professor did so in return.

"Aug…Brandi me boi! It be good ta see ya laddie! Look a-cha', how ye grown!" He patted Brandi on the top of his head as though he was still a child " Ye finally taken tha' chance to come to tha' academy, just like ye said. Good fer ya lad. Does me proud to see ya here boi, as am sure yer family watchin' over ya in spirit surely are!"

A tear of joy fell upon this proud dwarf I knew. Their meeting became a touching moment for them. He mentioned family watching over Brandi in spirit, I wonder what exactly happened to them. Obviously coming to the academy had taken Brandi a while to get into since the professor had also mentioned how he finally took the chance to get in. Heh, it seems I will be learning a little more about my new friends after all, at least till tomorrow. I hope everything goes well, I'm actually being intrigued by them, knowing a little more to what makes others take on this same path I am taking. A young blood elf got up, red spiky hair and already wearing goggles normally worn by B ranking gryphon masters on top of his head, strapped tightly. He held a huge grin as he waved his arm above his head.

"Professor! I hope this doesn't mean you'll be favoring him over us; I wouldn't want that kind of competition! Hehe"

"Aye, there won't be any favoritism here unless ye pass me class with all A's"

"So I be guessin dis be easy mon. How hard can it be ta breed a few beast and get it done da right way?" A troll with an Armani paint on his face said calmly as his feet crossed on top of the table.

Professor Deepgale walked over to the troll and stared him down to his feet. Grin on his face but eyes narrowing on the troll.

"Trust me lad, this course is nothin' but easy. Now, would ye kindly put yer feet down, I dunna think ye want ye hatchling ta catch a bad bacteria after it comes and takes a gander at tha' new world" A fixated stare on the troll had caused him to slowly lower his feet from off the table "Thank ye lad, smart thing ye did there" He taps the troll on the shoulder and walks up front gesturing Brandi to take a seat.

Hatchlings? Are we going to have a hatchling in our midst? I pondered over it. Surely the academy isn't going to be careless to allow new students to care for a new laid hatchling? It wasn't an issue with me since I was raised around Hyppogryph parents. Father had trained me to care for them and know what signs of illness a Hypporgryph hatchling could catch or be born with. It was rare for a hatchling to be born with any defects, but it was possible. I also knew Brandi would not have any trouble in it since he had received training in the Hinterlands, but as for everyone else…that blood elf surely looked careless. He was flirting with the human female sitting beside him and she was falling for whatever he was saying to her. She was practically giggling like a school girl and blushing. Should a hatchling fall in the care to that guy, I would feel sorry for it.

"Professor, will our hatchlings be only gryphons? Or will be assigned to a particular kind?" asked a Tauren male who was having a bit of trouble in his seat as he tried his best to sit on the small chair, sadly he sighed knowing it was inevitable.

The professor approaches his personally large chair and rolled it over to the Tauren, the Tauren was grateful and bowed low in appreciation as Professor Deepgale was answering his question in the meantime.

"I am sure tha' most of ye have been among hatchlings from ye parents, friends or other family members whom have taken tha path of a Breeder or Flight Master. Most of ye have had Bats, Gryphons, Hyppogryphs, Hawkstriders and many new versions of beasts tha' have been tested fer flight training. Even highly trained Dragons have been assigned ta assist in this type of field, if ye never knew tha'"

The whole class was in awe, each whispering among each other. Dragons; Father had mentioned to me before that they had recently helped in providing aerial flight in this war against the Lich King, especially when I first visited Dragonblight in Nothrend. I got to meet the Flight Master who controlled them. I had so many questions that were barely answered by him. He was so busy that each time I tried to get his reply; more soldiers kept coming over to him. When Deepgale mentioned that we may one day get the opportunity to meet this Flight Master, I knew then I would get the answers I seek from him.

"Tha' would be quite a sight, I tell ya tha'. Tha' dragonflight are such amazing creature's tha' they are"

The notes taken in this class was pretty amazing. Deepgale explained that he was not the original professor to take up this task but a flight master in the twilight highlands. It seemed things in the Highlands were proving difficult for the Gryphon Master to come and train us, so he recommended the school with Deepgale. He had much knowledge that he spoke of remedies to use when a flight beast became fatigued or injured during a city raid. Sadly he mentioned most of the beast doesn't make it as they risk their lives to protect us. He also made clear that should a tragedy occur, never to look at it as a loss, even though it may feel that way, we should see it as a noble and brave thing. It was the beast way of saying 'thank you for taking the years to care for me and giving me a use in this war ridden life'. The class was so informative and I couldn't wait to come back for more.

After the class was done, I had to head over to the infirmary to get a physical. The nurse wanted to make sure everything was fine with me. I don't think anything was wrong since I felt great. As I entered a draenei male was sitting, apparently a senior in the academy. He was badly injured and he looked as though he was getting an uncontrolled fever. Other nurses were tending to him including an undead Medical Doctor. She checked for any signs that could be deadly for her patient. She didn't even care if he was a draenei. Now that's what I call loving your job. Not worrying if you were a horde or an alliance. If caring for your patients was more important than anything else then that was the kind of doctor I would want by my side.

The room next to the ill draenei had some sort of activity going on. I stepped in to look closely and I saw her, Viola, the nurse that had tended to my injuries that day was struggling with a hatchling that was growling and hissing at her. I wince my eyes and saw it was a wyvern hatchling. It would not cooperate with her and would leap away from every time she tried to grasp it in her hands. I approached her and confronted the young wyvern. I never handled that kind of beast, but for some strange reason, it stopped hissing, tilted its head as it looked at me. It then leapt up to my shoulder and rubbed its face onto my own purring like a cat. Viola turned around amazed to see how easily the beast was calm.

"Oh zank goodness, I thought you would not be here in time." Viola said relieved and catching her breath. It seemed she was struggling a lot longer than I thought.

"What's going on in here? And why are you trying to grab this fella" I said as I rubbed my hand underneath its jaw. It purred happily, begging for more. I picked it up and laid it on my arm to rub its back. Its leg would twitch like that you would see a dog react. I smiled, it was weird but it liked it.

"Ze poor hatchling belongs to ze draenei you see there. During his escapade with ze hatchling on his way home, a twilight hammer had attacked him. He barely was able to get there. So I have been assigned to care for ze hatchling but she does not like me at all"

She? So this hatchling is female and she belongs to him. I wondered how he would be able to care for her looking the way he is. When the doctor un-wrapped the cloth bandages off his back, I was almost revolted. His scar was a deep black and green that penetrated through his flesh and touched the bone of his ribs. I turned and looked the other way. I couldn't look at it. What kind of magic did that was unimaginable. It was bad that no blood would even drip; only some strange glob of puss would secrete from the scar. The smell itself was revolting but obviously the doctor could not smell anything wrong with it. She could only rely on the expression her nurses gave when the smell became unbearable. The draenei was finally breathing heavy and had fallen back onto the bed as I turned to look at him by the rear of my eye. I felt really bad for him. He really did not look too good in my point of view and it seemed the doctor was thinking the same way. She sighed heavily. It seemed there was nothing she could do to ease his pain or the wound. Everything she did would only make it worse.

"What evil power this is indeed" she groaned her words slowly as she looked down onto the heaving draenei in pain.

The doctor looked over to me and Viola. She stepped forward and told me she needed to have a word with me in private. Leading me to a office that belong to her, she told me to have a seat as I did and the wyvern hatchling laid its body curling up into a ball like a cat would do when laying on its owners lap. I began to pet the wyvern hatchling on its head as it began to purr again and fall asleep. The doctor took a good look at me and at the wyvern hatchling.

"You're the Night Elf Kai who came two days ago. The very Kai who is being on trial tomorrow, correct?"

"uh…yes mam" I swallowed hard, what can she possibly want to have a word with me about?

"Yes…well, as you saw in that room there, the draenei is in terrible shape. I don't believe he will make it or would soon go madly insane. That scar is demonic and it's piercing through his bone as with his flesh. The poor man didn't deserve it, but sadly he is undergoing the trauma. He is a senior who was to graduate this year but apparently he will not see that day coming." She narrowed her eyes at me "which is why I have to find someone to watch over her. That wyvern is very dear to him, but even she knows he is not who she once knew. The minute the demonic poison reached his blood stream she hissed and attempted to attack him, perhaps to end his misery. My highly trained nurses had stopped her from doing so, but regrettably her attempt to end his life was futile"

"Wait, what does any of this have to do with me? I came here for my routine physical exam" I asked concerned, I had a feeling where this was leading me into. I hoped it was not what I was imagining.

"She seems to be very fond of you Mr. Kai. I would recommend you take this opportunity to take up this little hatchling since it doesn't seem she wants to be near her master. My nurses are trained to care for the students, not hatchlings. That is your field of study, and seeing how you're also the son of Suralai, a former student who trained under the Headmaster, I am positively sure you would be the perfect candidate to care for her."

Good day ending that way? Not with my luck. I know how to raise Hyppogryph hatchlings; I never raised a Wyvern hatchling in my life. I sigh to myself again…it seems my regretting sighs will never cease.

"Don't look so down Mr. Kai, look at it as a wonderful opportunity in learning to raise a new breed that you're not familiar with. It is rare for a flight master in training to obtain not one but two newly hatched breeds in his profile, especially as a freshman."

Wait! Did she just say two!

"What do you mean…two?" I stared at her in a quizzical way.

She grinned devilishly, stood up and walked over to me. She then grabs my arm luring me to get up as the Wyvern hatchling open her eyes, yawns and leaps to my shoulder as it growled happily and dug its claws onto my shirt.
"Now Mr. Kai, I can see by just looking at you that you are perfectly fine. You don't feel pain do you?"

Only in my head I thought, but didn't say anything, just stuck in a shock…two?

"I'll take that as a no, are you then feeling sick, unable to hold in any bodily fluids?" she continued to slowly lure me out her door.

Right about now…yea, I feel like the world is practically collapsing on top my head. Sick? Of course, I feel like I have scarabs crawling from underneath my skin….two hatchlings!

"I'll take your secondary silence as another no. Please Mr. Kai, do enjoy yourself and your new companion, as you can see I'm very busy here and would require you and your new pet to leave my infirmary."

Viola greets me from outside the doctor's office as she closes her door. I was still in shock. Viola holds my hand and leads me to the exit of the infirmary since the doctor made it clear to escort me out. She waved me goodbye and then yelled out from the hallway…

"GOOD LUCK KAI! I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT!"

What I wanted to do was cry my head out. Walking down the hallway I saw Lexi walking with another gnome, female with silver hair and cut short but in a cute way. Lexi takes a good look at me and can see the stress I was having. He bids the young lady to meet him later in the mechanic shop after lunch. She agreed and bobbed her eyes telling him not to keep her waiting.

"Of course not my dear, I would never do that to you"

She blows him a kiss "See you soon my lil' Tinkerton" Lexi shoots out his hand to grab a make believe kiss in the air and brings his hand close to his heart. Once she was out of sight he walks over to me.

"Hey big guy, you don't look too good. Are you alright?"

I didn't say anything. The wyvern hatchling leaps and glides down around me as her paws touch the tiled floor. Lexi smiles and pets the hatchling.

"Hey little fella, how are you doing?" the wyvern enjoyed every petting motion Lexi gave her "Does she belong to you Kai?" he said as he looked up at me

I frowned in disappointment. I guess that answered his question. He chuckled lightly and tried to cheer me up.

"Ahh, it's not that bad. At least you don't have to worry about caring for it as an egg; now that's the hard part…you know…the worry of not dropping it."

"It gets worse" I told him

"How can it? She is capable of gliding on her own and stand on her own. It cannot possibly get any worse"

"She isn't the only one I have to raise Lexi, even though I'm watching over her, I will be assigned an egg of my own to care for while in the Professional Breeders & Masteries course"

Lexi's eyes widen larger than usual. Even he couldn't believe his ears.

"Wow, to raise two hatchlings is something an S rank Intern would be in charge of. Are you sure you can handle it Kai?"

I grimaced. I didn't know what to say. All I did was shrug, patted my leg calling to the small wyvern hatchling to leap up to my shoulder as she did, and started to make my way to the cafeteria. I was beginning to feel hungry and I sure as hell didn't want to miss out on my lunch break. Lexi walked beside me on our way there while continuing our conversation. I really didn't want to talk much about it. A lot has been happening lately and it's just becoming too much to take in all at once, even if a day is passing me by as it goes along with it. I thought coming to the academy things would turn out so well for me seeing how I learned after my father tutoring. My blood was starting to boil as my ears blocked anything poor Lexi was telling me. The wyvern could sense my inner emotion, she kurred as her wet nose touched the temple of my head. My head was starting to throb. I suddenly couldn't take it anymore. I stopped and just simply blurted out.

"FUCK!"

Lexi was drawn back a few steps away from me. I startled him. He wasn't expecting me to yell out randomly. I had my hands clenched into a fist. I really felt like hitting something so hard that it would make my knuckles burst with blood. I was so angry, so full of rage and utter disappointment that it didn't seem right. Lexi eased in a little closer with much caution. The little wyvern herself was crouched underneath my long silver hair. I felt bad scaring her like so; it wasn't my intention to do that to her or to Lexi. I was just so…so...Fed up. It almost felt as though my hopes were being replaced with despair and anguish. Almost felt depressing.

"Hey…Kai?" Lexi asked in concern as he walked to stand in front of me. He seemed really worried, but who wouldn't after suddenly yelling out like I did. "Listen Kai, I…I know things don't seem to be looking up, and…I can only imagine how you're feeling, but you really shouldn't let it get to you so easily. It's really not that bad, I mean, you're being assigned to watch over two hatchlings when the time comes for you to earn your egg. That's an honor, especially for a freshman. It shows how confident the faculties are about your skills. Surely that can't be seen as something terribly bad in your behalf"

I glanced at Lexi. He wore a worry smile across his face but it also showed how sincere he was. Maybe he was right; maybe I was taking things the wrong way. Still, the trial is tomorrow and the Headmaster had made no effort in keeping me posted. I only saw him yesterday morning when I left the Hymn Garden. I closed my eyes and kneeled down to meet Lexi at height level. Out of the three of them, Brandi, Leira and him, I did believe he was the more intelligent one of them all. Not because he was a gnome studying to become an Arial Flight Master Engineer, but because he knew what the hell he was talking about, even with jokes on the side.

"Lexi, I don't know what I'm going to do if the Headmaster can't find any proof of my innocence. That blood elf Zien and his Horde goonies told the captain of the bruiser force and the Headmaster I was the cause of the riot. Now, I'm being held responsible for watching over a hatchling that belongs to someone who may not make it out alive…and then…Leira…she…" I looked down and closed my eyes once more "She made Vellamoon think that something was going on between me and her…Everything is turning upside down for me. When I think things are looking up, I get set back four steps behind and reminded how cruel my luck has been. I'm at a loss here, and I fear that I'm about to lose my mind"

"Vellamoon…the blood elf I saw you with in the Hymn Garden, hmm…" Lexi rubbed his chin and then smiled at me "You really like her don't you?"

I gave a shy smile and nodded. He chuckled to himself and shook his head "Good grief Kai, you sure know how to pick your ladies….Dangerously" he said as he waved his hands in a spooky gesture with an eerie smile.

I gave a soft laugh as did he. He was an amusing gnome and I felt better telling him how I felt for Vellamoon. I told him everything that had happened and how Zien continuously attempts to stalk her, making sure she is as far away from me as possible. I know deep down she feels something for me and I know that she knew I felt the same way. I explained what went down between Leira and I. Things got a little interesting for him there.

"Ah, that would explain her unusual behavior towards you and your little blood elf girlfriend"

"Well, she's…not my girlfriend yet" I replied rubbing the back of my head and slightly blushing

"Yet?...hm, so you haven't really asked her to be. How interesting" He rubbed his chin once again, obviously planning something in that gnomish brain of his.

"I doubt I can, not with Zien hovering around her so much. Besides, I don't even know if they are intimately together" I frowned of the thought, I clenched my fist. I really wanted to hurt that guy, but I didn't want to risk being kicked out of the academy a lot sooner than I should be.

"Are you scared of the guy!" Lexi stepped forward to me as the wyvern leaped onto the tiled floor to look at me and growled lightly, almost asking the same thing herself.

"NO! Of course not! I just don't want to get myself into any more trouble than what I already am"

"Hah, I wouldn't worry too much about that. If anything you'll just get suspended for a couple of days, as it states in the academy rule book. Trust me Kai, if you want to make an impression on a lady, here's how you do things the r~ight way." Lexi spoke as he winked at me and gave me a clever grin. As for the wyvern, she just tilted her head and purred. I on the other hand was all ears for him.

In the cafeteria- 1 hour later

Upon entering the cafeteria, Brandi waved alerting us to him. We walked over with the wyvern hatchling on my shoulder. She plops on top of the table, Brandi goes dwarfing mad over it.

"Blimie! Wha' in Azeroth are ye doing with tha'!"

The tiny wyvern began to play with his long braided beard, and you wouldn't believe it. Big hefty Brandi was falling head over heels for her.

"She so dam cute, where did ya get her?"

Certainly not from a pet shop, that's for sure. I gave Brandi the full details on the wyvern but like I, he was raised among Gryphons. He didn't know a thing about wyverns. Lexi didn't have to worry about knowing this kind of stuff since his training is based on building and maintaining a mechanical plane that can transport people all across Azeroth. Lucky guy, I thought to myself. Here I have this little girl to care for and knew absolutely nothing on how to raise her. The blood elf guy with goggles passes by our table and stops dead on his tracks.

"Whoa! Where did you get that wyvern hatchling!" he pulls up an empty chair that was held for Leira, whom didn't come yet. He examines her eyes, fangs, claws and her bat like wings. He pulls up her pointy ears rubs her below the jaw, just how she likes it. He pulls out a collar that wasn't visible at first and it held a small golden tag with her name on it "Yukina…hm, unusual name, but you seem to like it, don't you" he rubs the long golden mane on her head.

"Yukina? I didn't even know she had a collar" I said as I watched him play with her.

"Oh? So then…she's not yours?" he asked

I hesitated for a moment to answer. Yukina turned her head to look at me, her tongue sticking out of her mouth. I smiled at how cute she looked. Her big green eyes, wide open staring at me. It reminded me how cute Vellamoon looked when I stared into her own green eyes. I thought for a sec and figured 'heck, she's been with me throughout these passing hours and I've already gotten used to her'. I doubt her master will be coming out of his current situation anytime soon…or possibly ever.

"Yea, she's mine alright; I just got her not too long ago. Sadly, I don't know a thing about Wyverns"

"Well of course not, why would an Alliance know anything about wyverns? They are highly used on the Horde side…Duh!"

Apparently Lexi found that remark quite amusing. He almost fell of his chair with how hard he was laughing. The blood elf with the goggles had an obnoxious smile to his face; still he was right about Alliance and wyverns. I did in fact know of one human who had both a gryphon and a wyvern, but can't recall his name.

"I don't know why the academy would give you an animal you know nothing about, but obviously you must be good at something for them to take this kind of risk. Still, if you like, I can give you some advice and help you in the training process."

It didn't take me long to accept his offer. He mentioned his name; Havien Sunflare. Brandi immediately recognized the last name. He stated that the Sunflare name was based on a group of Hawkstrider breeders. Their Hawkstriders were considered the best and by far the highest quality breeds in all Azeroth. They won several awards on best of breed in the Solarian Beast Shows held in Dalaran every year.

"First I ever heard of it" Lexi commented as he began to eat a delicious chocolate cake.

"It's ok, I don't like anyone to know how famous my family name is anyhow." Havien spoke as Yukina began to play with a string he held on his hand. Suddenly Leira walks into the cafeteria, not even looking at where she was walking until she was close enough to our table and Brandi let out a cheery cry to her.

"Leira me dear, come grab a chair and sit with us lassie"

Leira looked up surprised at Brandi and then drew her attention to me. I wanted to say hello but for some strange reason I couldn't say anything but stare at her. She couldn't say a word to me either. Havien looked at both of us back and forth, wondering on what the issue was. She then leads off to another table leaving Brandi with the lone face.

"Poor lass, has yet ta let go"

I leaned my hand over to my face as it held it up. I had hoped things between me and Leira would work out, granted I can't expect it to happen too quickly even though it would have helped if it did. I didn't want her to dislike me. Then soon after enters Vellamoon. I sit straight to look upon her, she too stopped on her tracks to look at me in return.

"Vellamoon…" I whispered out her name, she was about to speak to me when Zien suddenly was heard in the back of the cafeteria. He said something to her in their native language and she gave me one last look and walked away. I turned to look back at her and at Zien. She sat down with them as he sits closely to her. He made a face that meant in his way "what the fuck are you looking at?"

I felt my heart beat heavy, my blood burning in rage. I turned to face my friends but not exactly looking at them as they were with me. I was venting with myself in my mind. Then it hit me. I took a quick glance at Lexi and saw his evil grin as he nodded slowly to me. I found myself standing up slowly.

"Trust me" was the last I heard Lexi's voice as I turned my body away and began to make my move towards their table.

After every step I made, my heart felt like each heart beat was louder, beating in my ear as I remember Lexi's words in the hallway.

If you want the lady your heart desires, then you have to make a statement. Now, I don't mean with words, but more like with actions. There's nothing greater than to feel taller than life or anyone else around you, so when you make yourself clear to others, you earn your respect…

Respect, I never really got that when I first started here. Zien thinks that every time I make my presence known I have to stay back in the shadows. When she is around I need to keep my distance from her like a man with leprosy. To deny myself the privilege of ever knowing who she is and how I feel about her.

Anyone can tell you to back off just because they think they have every right to. Anyone can do whatever they feel is considered allowable because they believe they can. In all truth and knowledge, the only one who can and will allow it to happen…is in fact you Kai…I took that beautiful angel you just saw not too long ago from some rough rider goblin known as Ganxter. Was I scared to tell her how I felt?

Were you?

Yea, did it stop me?

I remember I took a long look into his eyes. He looked satisfied and I knew his answer. I shook my head to him and he smiled at me. He placed his hand over my shoulder, leaned closer to me and pointed his finger towards my face.

Then what is stopping you from taking this woman into your arms?

I didn't know what to say then, but for that split second. Sitting there on that table as I watched her walk away, I realized she needed me more in her life as I needed her. So what dawned on me before I stood up and began to walk towards what could be the worst case scenario?

What is stopping you Kai?

Nothing.